Good News

GOOD NEWS—Luke 1:1-4

We were asked to dinner by a new friend. When we sat down at the table, we noticed that the dishes were dirty.

"Were these dishes washed?", I asked the hostess as I rubbed my fingers over the surface.

She replied, "They’re as clean as soap & water could get them.”

I felt a bit apprehensive, but started eating anyway.

Dinner was delicious, despite the dirty dishes.

When dinner was over, the hostess took the dishes outside & yelled, "Here Soap! Here Water!"

Being properly informed is vital to your well-bein!.

Luke assured Theophilus of the validity of his faith because his faith was based on fact.

The readers of Luke’s gospel can be certain of their faith because it is based on fact.

What assurance is gained thru Luke’s Gospel?

4 assurances gained thru Luke’s Gospel.

Investigate— ‘To observe or study by close examination & systematic inquiry; To make a systematic examination’

If your heart is not equipped for study then your mind will not be.

Acts 17:11-12—[of the Bereans]—“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women & men.”

1— Luke’s good news gives us...

Assurance of FACT(:1)

Explanation:(:1) Truth/Tradition/Method/History/Process

“Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,...”

It is an established fact that, prior to the writing of Luke, “many” people had set out to compile/compose an account of the (historical & spiritual) truths which actually took place among “us”(Those with whom Luke was associated, OR Men in general OR The apostles.

Luke himself was familiar with the attempts at penning descriptions of the truth. Luke traveled directly with the Apostle Paul, becoming very familiar with the truth from Apostolic authority.

“Inasmuch”—epeideper—Strong— Since indeed (of cause):-- Forasmuch.—Triple compound particle=Since-Truly-Indeed—‘Seeing that’—‘The reality/proof of’; ‘With the fact in mind’; ‘Knowing that.’

“Taken in hand/Undertaken”—epiceirew—1) To put the hand to; 2) To take in hand, undertake, attempt. Used 3X.

“Set in order/Set forth in order/Compile/Draw up”—anatassomai—To put together in order, arrange, compose. Used 1X.

“Narrative/Declaration/Account”—dihghsiv— Narration, Narrative. Strong—A recital:-- declaration. From—dihgeomai—To relate fully:-- Declare, show, tell.

“Things”—pragma— Noun—{prag’-mah}=Eng. Pragmatic—Practical—Strong—A deed; by implication, an affair; by extension, an object (material):-- business, matter, thing, work.

“Fulfilled/Most surely believed/Accomplished”—peplhroforhmenwn —To bear or bring full, to make full. Strong—To carry out fully (in evidence), i.e. Completely assure (or convince), entirely accomplish:-- Most surely believe, fully know (persuade), make full proof of.—Dbl. compound=Fully worn or borne—A Perfect Passive Participle—Perfect=An action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once & for all, not needing to be repeated.

Argumentation:

Jn. 8:31-32— “Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; & you shall know the truth, & the truth shall make you free."”

Acts 26:26—[Paul to King Agrippa & Gov.Festus]“ "For the king knows about these matters, & I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner.”

Illustration:

Assumptions:

19th Cent. composer & poet Thomas Moore/Soon after marriage called away on extended business/Arrival home/He was informed that his wife had contracted small pox & her face was scarred from disease/She refused to be seen/He wrote & read her a love song/She opened the curtains/She had been living apart from the Fact of her husband’s love/Assurance of FACT

Application:

?You Assured of the FACT of God’s Good News?

?You Assured of the Bible’s truth?

2— Luke’s good news gives us...

Assurance of KNOWLEDGE / Experience(:2)

Explanation:(:2) of God’s people

“...just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses & ministers of the word delivered them to us,...”

“Just as”—In the same way as was done verbally by the apostles

“Those who from the beginning”

“The beginning” of Jesus’ public ministry:

Acts 1:21-22—upon choosing Matthias—““Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in & out among us, “beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.””

“Beginning”—arch—(properly abstract) A commencement, or (concretely) Chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank):-- Beginning, corner, (at the, the) First (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.

“Were eyewitnesses”

“Eyewitnesses”—autopthv—Seeing with one’s own eye, an eye-witness—1a) A medical term: autopsy, a detailed examination. From—optanomai— To gaze i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable. Not casual or passive sight, but more intensive & discerning.

“& Ministers of the word”—Apostles