"Inspiration or Expiration"
Text:
Matthew 4:1-11
Grace, mercy
and peace be multiplied to you from God our Father, from God the Son, and from
God the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear Fellow Christians:
It is an unfortunate fact that Satan
has been successful more times than he has failed. Thanks be to God, however,
that the devil's one great defeat means that he lost the war. Because of the
victory of Jesus, as Luther says, "One
little word can fell him (Satan)."
Satan lost the war, but he continues
to win tragic victories in individual battles. Mankind has been offered free
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus; but mankind has, en masse, rejected
the offer. Each time a human being dies in unbelief, Satan wins another
victory. What is even more tragic, some of the devil's greatest triumphs today
are taking place right in the Christian church.
Satan
understands full well that the true invisible Christian Church will remain
until the end of time. There is simply nothing he can do about that fact, for it
is a promise from our God. Jesus himself said, "The gates of hell shall not overcome the Church." Yet
that does not mean that the devil is powerless to attack the visible church
that today calls itself Christian. In fact he continues to do so, but he had to
alter his plan of attack, and that plan was as devious as it was effective. He
effectively removed the rudder that gives direction to the Church by raising up
Bible critics that denied the inerrancy of God's Word. The result is that whole
segments of the visible Christian church today are actually semi-religious
organizations that can be blown about by every warm breeze of false doctrine
that blows from hell itself. Any church without the inerrant, infallible Word
of God is powerless to steer any but Satan's course. It is no wonder the devil
works so hard at discrediting God's Word. God's children literally live and die
by it Inspiration or expiration.
The effects of
the denial of Bible inerrancy today are tragic and terrifying. It has warped many
churches to the point that they are now "Christian" in name only. The
denial of inerrancy has twisted heretofore-unchallenged truths of the Bible -
even the very basics - into obscure and deceptive lies. Even the most fundamental
Christian truths are now attacked relentlessly bedrock teachings concerning
sin, grace, the Resurrection, the virgin birth, and the divinity of Christ. The
Bible is quite clear on all of these subjects, and yet these truths have clouded,
distorted, abandoned lost not just to our godless society that never really
knew right from wrong in the first place, but lost also to much of modern
Christianity.
With this
introduction we are prepared to hear our text, a portion of Scripture very
familiar to us, but used today to teach us something very basic about the Word
of God itself. Our text is found in the Gospel of Matthew, the Fourth Chapter:
Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2
And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was
hungry. 3 Now when the
tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that
these stones become bread." 4
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' " 5 Then the devil took Him up into
the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, "If You
are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His
angels charge over you,' and, 'In their
hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'
" 7 Jesus said to him,
"It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' " 8 Again, the devil took Him up on
an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and
their glory. 9 And he said to
Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship
me." 10 Then Jesus said
to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the
LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " 11 Then the devil left Him, and
behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
So far the very words of God. May
that same God who gave us these words fill us with proper reverence for them,
never for a moment doubting that they are what they claim to be God's
verbally inspired words to mankind and the only sure source of all that is true.
Even so we pray, "Sanctify us through Your truth, O Lord; your Word is truth!"
Amen.
We begin with
something of a riddle:
Who
needs to study the Bible more than the person who knows almost nothing about
the Bible?
Answer:
Anyone
who believes he knows just about everything there is to know about the Bible.
The point is
only a fool imagines that he has ever done more than just barely scratch the
surface of God's great revelation to mankind. In fact the more we study God's
Word - really dig into it - the more we come to appreciate the depth and wisdom
contained therein. Our text for this morning is no exception. It is a
masterpiece of divine wisdom and revelation. In these few short verses is
contained, among many other things, all the truth we need to know about sin and
temptation, together with how the child of God can emerge from both victorious.
What a pity we take so little notice of such great gifts from our God. It is
for that very reason that we take up a question this morning as basic as the
inspiration of God's Word. The world refuses to look and listen to what the
Bible has to say, and therefore the simplest truths elude them. We take up this
study because we are in constant
danger of forgetting what God has said, and adopting instead the lies of our
great enemy.
I doubt anyone
hearing or reading these words is in need of a lecture on just how evil are the
times in which we live. Perversion of every sort is both rampant and appalling.
What is particularly disturbing is not so much that the godless do what they
do, but that Christians today do what they do, and accept what they accept. How
do we explain, for example, that the head of the Anglican Church, the
Archbishop of Canterbury, recently voiced his support for the importation of
elements of Islamic Law? How do we go about putting the best construction on those
who profess Christianity while they defend the crassest of sins like fornication,
abortion, and homosexuality? Are these folks just weak Christians trying to
compromise with our perverse society, or are they hypocrites (and therefore not
true Christians) who are in fact acting out their true beliefs? The answer is
probably that these are folks who have been sailing on the rudderless ship of
modern "Christianity" and therefore have lost all sense of direction.
They quite literally no longer know right from wrong, for their moral compass
has been pitched overboard.
Once verbal
inspiration of the Bible was lost, all moral direction was lost with it. With
that loss of direction came the forfeiture of the knowledge, for example, of
what sin really is. The result is that the Christian church today is little
more than an assembly of Pontius Pilates, all wandering about stupidly
muttering, "What is truth? What is
truth?" Think about it. What is the definition of sin for those who
have lost the Bible? A sin is now defined as that which hurts someone (or even something) else. The natural result is that a man who tortures a
dog is treated far more harshly than a woman who pays a doctor to murder her
unborn baby. So too prostitution, pornography, drug use, and premarital sex have
all become non-sins (because society believes that no one is actually harmed)
while hunting, logging, and spanking a child are all now condemned as sinful.
The problems
all began with Satan's attack on the inspiration of Holy Scripture. If you and
I are to survive, we need to understand just what is at stake here and the
diabolical nature of the problem that we face.
Understand that this is not one of
those problems in society that is "out there somewhere." This is the
sort of perversion that is growing in acceptance in our own country, our own
community, our own neighborhoods and schools. Every time the topic of
"adult entertainment" is discussed in the local papers, for example,
the ever-present defense is the same godless "What's the harm?" and "Who gets hurt?"
Satan has an
ancient tie to this sort of nonsense. It was, in fact, the basis for Satan's
temptation of Jesus in our text for this morning. You will note that, without
exception, Satan tempted Jesus to do only that which would, at least on the
surface, hurt no one else. Yet note too that each time Jesus answered, he did
so by quoting God's Word. So too our
Old Testament lesson spelled it out clearly. It began by giving us the basis
for God's right to set down laws and commandments for us: He created us. There we read "The LORD God formed the man from the dust
of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man
became a living being." God as Creator is a fact that has also
been denied by the world, out of necessity, since any acknowledgment of God as
the Creator of mankind would put their definition for sin in great doubt. The
Genesis account went on to describe how God provided for all of man's needs,
and yet also set down one prohibition: They were not to eat from the Tree of
the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Would eating
from that tree "hurt anyone"? Not according to the world's reckoning.
And yet it was a sin. Why? Because
God said, "Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."
Here we find our true definition of sin. Sin
is disobedience to God; it is nonconformity to the will of God. Here we
also find, amazingly enough, an even more vital piece of information: mankind
is and will remain lost without that clear revelation of God's will that he has
provided in the verbally inspired words of Holy Scripture. Our Bibles therefore
represent God's clear and permanent record for all time and eternity his
record of law and gospel, sin and grace, right and wrong.
The definition
of sin is just one example of how important it is to have God's inspired word
as our only source and guide. Salvation itself is at stake. For example, if sin
were only a matter of not hurting someone else, then many of us could manage
our way to heaven on our own in which case we would have no need for a savior.
But since sin is actually systemic; that is, since the Bible teaches us that all
men are shot through with sin from birth and inclined only to a life of sin, we
come to realize how desperately we need a savior. That same inspired Word then
teaches us that the only viable candidate for that job is Jesus Christ, and he
is offered only in true Christianity. Our Epistle Lesson put is so well, as it
ties together our Old Testament lesson (the successful temptation of man) and
our sermon text (the unsuccessful temptation of Jesus) when it says: "Consequently, just as the result of
one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of
righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as
through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through
the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." (Romans
5:18-19)
Our Old
Testament lesson and our sermon text give examples of two rather similar
events, but with two very different results. You and I ought to be intensely
interested in how and why Eve failed miserably; and even more interested in how
and why Jesus was so successful. The key difference is that Eve's actions were
based on her own thoughts and desires, while Jesus' actions were based on the
Word and will of God the Father, as revealed in the inspired Scriptures. Where
Eve saw the forbidden fruit as the means to satisfy her desires, Jesus
condemned the devil's temptations on the basis of his Father's desires. Every temptation was met with a Bible passage
that set down God's holy will and therefore answered the temptation. Even when
Satan tried to twist that same Word of God into a distorted half-truth, Jesus
successfully countered with the Word of God. And nothing but the Word of God.
That means he never allowed his gaze to linger on that which was forbidden. He
never entertained fantasies about how much fun it would be to succumb to the
temptation. In fact some of the temptations were so subtle that only a thorough
understanding of the Scriptures and a careful application of the same saw him
through.
Or, more to
the point, saw us through. Ours were the souls that hung in the balance.
Had Jesus failed, our only hope would have been lost forever. The souls of all
mankind depended on the correct understanding and application of God's Word.
The notion that that Word of God could contain errors never even entered the
picture. Let that same confidence be shared by each of us.
As we walk
again through the season of Lent, we give special thanks to our God, who has
taken care of our sin problem by exacting the punishment upon his own Son. How
blessed we are beyond compare that we now stand perfect, holy, and victorious
through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. These things we know to be true only
because we have God's verbally inspired Word to teach us that it is so. God
grant that we highly prize that Word of God, study it faithfully, trust it
implicitly, and defend it tirelessly from all enemies. Amen.
Scripture Readings and Sunday Bulletin
for February 10, 2008
NKJ
Genesis 3:1-7 Now the serpent was more cunning than any
beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman,
"Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the
garden'?" 2 And the
woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the
garden; 3 "but of the
fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said,
'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.' " 4 Then the serpent said to the
woman, "You will not surely die. 5
"For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and
you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the
tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a
tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also
gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew
that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made
themselves coverings.
NKJ Romans 5:12-19 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered
the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all
sinned -- 13 (For until the
law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from
Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of
the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 ถ But the free gift is not
like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the
grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded
to many. 16 And the gift is
not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the
judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation,
but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in
justification. 17 For if by
the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who
receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life
through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 ถ
Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men,
resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free
gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's
disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will
be made righteous.
NKJ Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2
And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was
hungry. 3 Now when the
tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that
these stones become bread." 4
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' " 5 Then the devil took Him up into
the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, "If You
are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His
angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' " 7 Jesus said to him, "It is
written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' " 8 Again, the devil took Him up on
an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and
their glory. 9 And he said to
Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship
me." 10 Then Jesus said
to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the
LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " 11 Then the devil left Him, and
behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Bismarck, ND 58501 (701) 223-4885 Cell: (701) 425-5483
Mr. Mark Johnson, President (222-1855) Mrs. Eileen McEnroe, Organist
Michael Roehl, Pastor mjroehl@bis.midco.net
The First Sunday in Lent February 10, 2008
|
The Opening
Prayer by the Pastor
The Opening
Hymn ‑#756- (Brown Hymnal)
"Jesus Lover of My Soul"
The Order of Morning Service Brown Hymnal page 12.
The Scripture Lessons: (Printed on the bulletin insert)
The Old Testament Lesson: (Genesis
3:1-7) As we enter the Lenten season it is fitting that we examine the cause
for the suffering of our Lord Jesus. The cause was sin, brought into the world
through Adam and Eve and passed from them to all men. Yet blame is not limited
to Adam and Eve. Our sin too had to be carried by Jesus. Lent is therefore a
time to reflect on just what Jesus has done not just for others, but for me.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 2, (Brown
Hymnal page 30)
The New Testament Lesson: (Romans 5:12-19) Sin was and is
the cause for all trouble in this world. It is the reason Christ had to be born
and die. Yet we make a mistake if we regard sin as someone elses problem. It
was our sin that separated us from
our God. In Adam we all sinned, yet in Christ Jesus we all have been given
Life!
The
Confession of Faith ‑
The Nicene
Creed (Brown Hymnal page 5)
The Pre‑Sermon
Hymn ‑#725- (Brown Hymnal)
"No Tramp of Soldiers' Marching
Feet"
The Sermon Text: Matthew
4:1-11 (Printed on the back of this bulletin)
"Inspiration or Expiration"
"Create
In Me" (The Offertory) Brown Hymnal page 16 insert
The Offering, followed by the Prayers
Offering Hymn - #788 (Verses 1 &
3)
The Pre-Communion Hymn -#755- (Brown Hymnal)
"What
Is This Bread"
The
Preparation for Holy Communion (Brown Hymnal page 17)
The
Distribution -Hymn #305- (Red Hymnal)
The Nunc
Dimittis and Thanksgiving (Brown Hymnal page 20)
The Benediction
The Closing
Hymn ‑#49- (Red Hymnal)
"Almighty God, Thy Word is Cast"
Silent
Prayer
Attendance ‑ Last Sunday (52) 2007 Average (50) Wednesday
(29)
This Week
at
Today -10:00 a.m. Worship Service w/ Holy Communion
-11:15 a.m. Fellowship Hour
Wednesday -5:45 p.m. Confirmation & Bible
History
-7:00 p.m.
Midweek Lenten Services
Next Sunday -8:45 a.m. Sunday School and Bible Class
-10:00
a.m. Worship
Service
-11:00
a.m. Fellowship
Hour
Communion Reminder Communicants are reminded to
dispose of individual communion cups in the baskets that have been placed at
the ends of each of the front church pews as you return from communing.
Lenten Season Church attendance should not just
be the result of "felt needs." In other words, Christians will not
always feel like going to church, nor will Christians always feel a pressing
need for spiritual strengthening, let alone a need to worship our Creator God.
We can be especially resourceful in finding reasons not to attend the Wednesday
evening services during Lent and Advent. Yet both wisdom and experience teach
us that it is often only in going to church that we recognize our need to go to
church, as it is often only in praising our God that we are reminded how good
and right that human activity truly is. God grant us the grace and wisdom to
make the best possible use of all of our worship opportunities throughout the
Lenten season.
Confirmation and Bible History Parents and students please note
the start time for this week (5:45 p.m.)