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December 6, 2021 3:00 am
We are regenerated born-again given life by the word of God which lives and abides forever. And this is the word by which the gospel is preached to you is why Paul says in Romans one.
Not ashamed of the gospel of Christ is the power of God and gives to make wise decisions to avoid sin to love others so what's missing.
Why does the Bible seemed just like another book. The problem could be this you forgotten or maybe never been told exactly what Scripture is and how it can change your life, consider that today on grace to you as John MacArthur, Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary continues his study titled, God's own defense of Scripture here now is John with today's lesson I want to talk to you about God's own defense of Scripture sufficiency from Psalm 19 Psalm 19 in Psalm 19.
Starting in verse seven and running to the end of the chapter or call your attention to three specific emphases one the sufficiency of Scripture to the value of Scripture and three. The right response. That's what were going to look at here.
There are six titles for Scripture. The law of the Lord. The testimony of the Lord in verse seven in verse eight the precepts of the Lord, and the commandment of the Lord in verse nine, the fear of the Lord, and the judgments of the Lord. Six titles for Scripture. Scripture is law, testimony, precepts, commandment, fear, and judgments. There are also six characteristics of Scripture notice is perfect. Sure right, pure, clean and true, and there are six benefits of Scripture. It restores the soul makes wise the simple rejoices the heart enlightens the eyes endures forever, and the final one produces comprehensive righteousness. Let's take them one at a time. First of all, the law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul. It is perfect not perfect, as opposed to imperfect but perfect as opposed to incomplete, not perfect, as opposed to imperfect note is that, but the primary thrust of this Hebrew word is not about perfect, as opposed to imperfect but it's about perfect, as opposed to incomplete.
It is comprehensive, it is sufficient.
It leaves nothing out. So what we learned in this first thing the law of the Lord Scripture is sufficient to totally transform the whole inner person powerful state powerful powerful state it's able to save it's able to regenerate its able to convert its able to transform that gets repeated all through Scripture. Peter puts it this way. First Peter 123 being born again, not of corruptible seed, but by incorruptible, by the word of God.
We are regenerated born-again given life by the word of God which lives and abides forever, and this is the word by which the gospel is preached to you. That's why Paul says in Romans one not ashamed of the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. It gives life its powerful listen to the testimony of Psalm 119 and I'm only going to be able to read without comment a few verses that support this point it is Psalm 119 that reiterates again and again the same truths concerning the word of God.
Verse 41, made eye lovingkindness also come to me oh Lord, listen, thy salvation according to thy word.
Verse 50. This is my comfort and my affliction that thy word has literally given me life. Verse 81 my soul languishes for thy salvation. I wait for thy word again the word is linked to salvation.
I cried to the verse 146, save me. I shall keep thy testimonies verse 155 salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek thy statutes. Salvation comes through the word. I long for thy salvation.
Verse 174, oh Lord, and thy law is my delight the Scripture.
The law of the Lord.
Statutes of the Lord, inseparable from salvation. No wonder Paul said preach the word in season, out of season law of the Lord is perfect, comprehensive sufficient for the total transformation of the whole inner person number two, number two, Psalm 19 law all of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.
Listen to this was the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple testimony. This looks at Scripture not as God's divine law, but as God's own personal testimony is his self revelation is his own witness is God disclosing his character and his will so you look at Scripture, not just as a manual for life but as that which is a perfect reflection of the nature of God. This is God's own testimony to what is true concerning himself and everything else. When you read Scripture you're getting to know God. This is God's own testimony, his own self disclosure and, as such, it is sure unlike other books, the Bible is perfect, comprehensive, complete needs. Nothing. Unlike other books, it is sure what is that mean unwavering, unmistakable, reliable, in a word, trustworthy, trustworthy, trust or call the LA public library, one-time asking how many books they had their I think it's only similar 25 million books or something ridiculous that were either there or in accessible several million there and accessible to other library connections and I just said kind of a funny thing to lady I was talking I said and how many of them are always and only absolutely true to that's a strange question. Well, you just want to work through 25 million to try to find one that's always true, and I suggested the answer was only one that was the Bible the word of the living God. It's always true. It is Peter who says it's a more sure word right thing. Peter one some more sure word more sure than signs, wonders and miracles the world by wisdom knew not God first Corinthians 1. Can't get to divine truth spiritual truth.
Eternal truth. You can't get to the way it really is apart from the Bible.
So here is this wonderful self-disclosure, God's own testimony absolutely trustworthy you can trust all its statements, all its insights all its promises and so it makes wise the simple. I love the word simple in Hebrew Hebrew language is a concrete language, not abstract Greek language lot of abstractions, but in the Hebrew language. Everything is sort of concrete earrings tied down to something tangible in the word simple. The root of the Hebrew word means an open door and open door because an open door doesn't discriminate right if the door is open. Everything comes in, everything goes out no discrimination. That's a great word you ever hear anybody say well I have an open mind will shut it because you gotta decide what to lead and what to keep out having an open mind is not a virtue. That's one step above being a moron render a judgment on something like the people who say I am an egg Gnostic proudly from the Greek, one who doesn't know they did. I'm an agnostic hear people say that you know the Latin word for agnostic is ignoramus you hear anybody say I am an ignoramus really give a door in your house and we have a door in your house to keep some things in and some things out. You want to keep the cool air in the children and everything else that belongs to you and you shut the door to keep those things in you make a judgment as to when you open it and when you don't. That's why a hole in it ride you don't live in your neighborhood earlier door wide open and welcome everybody be a fool too much danger make a discerning decision when you shut the door and that's a great analogy for the mind, the word simple meant naïve undiscerning on informed, but the testimony of the Lord Scripture is trustworthy and makes the simple wise wise Hebrew shall come again very different than the Greek word Sephia which is kind of an esoteric word referring to wisdom should come as it is a word that means skilled in practical aspects of living. You see wisdom to the Hebrew mind was not some ethereal kind of thing wisdom was living life in the right way to produce the best and most beneficial results.
The art of living.
Mastering the art of living. Living life to its fullest and best word of God is trustworthy. It can take the naïve, unexperienced, undiscerning, uninformed ignoramus and make him skilled in the art of living. First Thessalonians chapter 2, there is a verse in that chapter that defines the response of the Thessalonians to the gospel. It's verse 13 for this reason, we also constantly thank God when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is the word of God. I love this wedge also and they are gay energizes its work in you who believe the word of God takes over and shapes your life and makes you skilled in the art of living.
This is the ability to make right choices. This is the ability to see things the way they really are. This is the ability to seize the moments in life on earth and act with heavenly insight and heavenly wisdom to apply the word of God to every aspect of life like babes are the pure milk of the word that you may grow and as you feed on the word of God. You grow you grow in your discernment you growing your mastery of the issues of life. We somehow believe the word of God doesn't do this.
This is what God says it does do we question that we need to put our trust in psychology or sociology or human wisdom for what it takes to live our lives to relate need to learn some silly gimmicks manipulating our own minds and the minds of others around us is in the word of God enough. Again I call you to God's extended testimony in Psalm 119, in which he embellishes the same truth. Look at verse 27 maybe as a starting point. Psalm 119 make me understand the way of thy precepts so I will meditate on by wonders God help me understand. Give me understanding, and the corset comes through his precepts. Another way to refer to the word of God. Verse 34. Give me understanding that I may observe thy law and keep it with all my heart. Verse 66 teach me good discernment and knowledge for I believe in thy commandments. You can't separate knowledge, discernment, wisdom from Scripture verse 98, thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies. They are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation. That's true for Christian in a university setting, or any other setting with very sophisticated intellectuals you know more than they do about the things that matter everlastingly. Verse 104 from thy precepts I get understanding. Verse 125. I am thy servant.
Give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies God's testimony God's word and understanding go together well. There are more verse 169. Give me understanding, according to thy word. Again, God's testimony is that if you want to be saved.
You turn to the word if you want to be wise you turn to the word sufficient is the word then to give us salvation and skilled living in the wisdom of God coming to the third 1K verse eight precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart where you go to find joy where to go to find happiness where to go to find relief from sorrow, relief from depression relief from anxiety where you go.
The psalmist says the voice of God says go to the word verse eight the precepts of the Lord precepts. What are those principles doctrines. Here is the manual for man's living here is God's self revelation his own testimony, and here are doctrines truths absolutes that are the guidelines. The requirements for blessing and for joy divine statutes or precepts same idea principles doctrines and they are right. I love that word right doesn't mean right as opposed to wrong means right in the sense of a right path. K. And there are some nuances in the Hebrew here, but it means the right path. That is to say doctrines that the Lord has given are going to send you in the right path by word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path. More than that.
The word is the path here. The word is the guide that shows the straight path to the divine end were not left without principles for life. He was a doctrine doesn't matter. All it matters what is it mean to have a Bible and not understand its principles you want to wander around in a fog of human opinion. You have a true word to follow. What is the product of this if you go in the right path, rejoicing the heart, true joy, true joy. Jeremiah 1516. Jeremiah said this, your word was found. Your words were found, and I did eat them and your word was in me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. Now understand your my situation he's trying to proclaim the word of God to a recalcitrant, rebellious, obstinate people they wanted.
They want to hear it. They resented they hate him. They finally throw in a pit and what is he say if nobody listens your word was found.
I ate it and it is the joy and rejoicing of my heart in the worst of circumstances where he's trying to deliver a ministry that nobody wants, he has no popularity no interest in what he saying he ends up in a horrible situation and yet is filled with joy because that's what the word does my joy comes from what I know to be true about God and his purposes. When you have anxiety when you have fear when you have sorrow when you have difficulty in life you go to the things that the word of God affirms and you stand on those great promises and principles and doctrine. They show you the right path you walk in that path, and it produces joy. John Wright's first John 14. I write these things unto you, that your joy may be full joy, not a superficial, giddy kind of thing but a deep down settled confident peaceful satisfaction that the goodness of God is unfolding in my life in good and bad circumstances. That's the kind of deep joy. I don't need voices from heaven.
I don't need miracles. I don't need to talk to angels. I don't need supernatural experiences, neither do you. We don't need visions. I don't need to have some kind of vision to boost up my faltering faith.
I know from the word of God. What is true. I know the path of truth in which I walk. And in that path of truth. I find my heart rejoices, depression, anxiety, fear, doubt comes from not knowing not believing not trusting the truth revealed in Scripture. Follow the word walk in its precepts and you will know complete joy. All our true pleasure all our true delight comes from following the path laid out in the word of God, not from seeking self-fulfillment, self-esteem, personal purpose, self-indulgence, self-satisfaction, not from getting miracles and things happening in your life that bring you money, prosperity, health, no true joy, true pleasure, true delight comes by walking confidently in the path of biblical doctrine and resting in the things that are true because God has declared them so again. Psalm 19. One more time affirms this verse 14. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies as much as in all riches, I rejoice in the way the path that your testimonies have led me as much as in all riches verse 54 thy statutes. I love this are my songs in the house of my pilgrimage, they transcend all the petty issues of life. Verse 70 60 may thy lovingkindness comfort me according to thy word to thy servant will need comfort. There always those times when life is very difficult for us.
We need comfort.
He says very simply, may thy lovingkindness.
According to thy word. Comfort me.
I'm comforted in the lovingkindness of God.
That's a principal. That's a precept revealed in Scripture verse 111.
I have inherited thy testimonies forever, for they are the joy of my heart. They are the joy of my heart and 114. He says that the word is his hiding place and his shield so the Scripture source of true joy. True wisdom and true transformation that is God's own testimony to his glorious word but it's been refreshing to go back and wash ourselves again in the word to feel the richness and the sweetness of these great statements in Psalm 19 and Psalm 119. Thank you Lord for the fact that we can rest in these truths and we have some of us for a long, long years, and we thank you that by this word many, many are being saved and all who are saved are being made skilled in the manner of holy living and being given joy as they walk in these precepts. What a gift.
Your word is to us to save to sanctify, and to direct and guide us toward real deep abiding settled confident joy we find our life wisdom are joy in your it is enough is enough. What more could we ask for eternal life. True wisdom everlasting joy that comes from your thank you God for this great gift. Your son's name. This is grace to you with John MacArthur. Thanks for being with us. Today's lesson looked at the transformative power of God's word, encouraging truth from John's compelling series here on grace to you titled God's own defense of Scripture. Now perhaps you're wondering how to pass along your trust in the sufficiency of Scripture to other people, and especially her own children, John. All four of your kids are grown adults now and they love the Lord and they are raising their kids with a commitment to God's word.
How did you instill in your sons and daughters of love for and a confidence in the Bible.
Well, I preached to them their whole life and basically but I'd I think it was not just that the preaching to them but it was the, the affection, the love, the passion that I had for biblical truth that they saw in every every part of my life right if you grew up in Grace Church, me, my kids are 40s and up there, they seen 40 years of the work of the word in the people of Grace Church and it's been and it's been an amazing amazing reality to see and so I write. I often say to people when they say you all for your kids love Christ what happened and I say I have a good church.
That's where the things that I was saying were being reinforced by everybody around them and there was some authenticity and that also. We had lots of resources and offer the kids reading the Bible reading missionary biographies reading theology all through their growing years and I would just suggest that you fill your home with those kinds of things. Whatever age your kids are and that you can place a Christmas order today for the MacArthur New Testament commentary series of 34 volumes. If you want the whole thing.
Or you can select the volumes of your favorite books of the New Testament get some commentaries you can you can see on the website what's available.
Each book of the New Testament.
Or you might want to order biblical doctrine that is a systematic theology that I wrote along with Dr. Dick Mayhew, longtime Dean and Prof. at the master seminary and it's for anybody and everybody and it's is like a reference book you can always go back to look in the index find a doctoral subject you're interested and it'll take you to the page where that's discussed another very good thing to think about Christmas time is starting a new year. Get a copy of drawing near. That's a daily devotional 365 days a year, and these are just suggestions. We have so many available things you can check the website but the flagship resource and I want to mention one more time is the MacArthur study Bible in the new American Standard, the new King James of the ESV 25,000 footnotes explaining the Scripture.
Everything from hardback to premium leather and special discount still holds 25% off any addition of the study Bible. If you order by December 23 yes and friend.
These books make great gifts for anyone who wants to understand the Bible better and grow in his or her love for God's word to purchase biblical doctrine.
MacArthur study Bible, or the MacArthur New Testament commentary series.
Contact us today to order go online to Jide TY.org and choose the second day shipping option to ensure delivery before Christmas, or place your order by phone you can call us at 855 grace our staff is here to help you Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 4 PM Pacific time and they will make sure you get the right shipping option on your order. Our phone number again 855 grace and if you're grateful that these Bible teaching programs are reaching your community. If you want to help connect God's people with biblical truth that changes lives. This is a great time of year to express your support giving to your local church comes first. We affirm that just know that your year-end gift will help us launch into 2022 on solid footing. Mail your tax-deductible donation to grace to you. Box 4000 panorama city, CA 91412. You can also get online@jidety.org or when you call us at 855 grace now for John MacArthur in the entire staff. I'm Phil Johnson inviting you back tomorrow when John looks at the one and only way to read Scripture. If you truly want to understand. Don't miss the next half hour of unleashing God's truth wonders at a time on grace to you