ASSURANCE-I—Luke 1:1-4
ATTENTION:
A couple was asked to dinner by a new friend. When they sat down at the table, they noticed that the dishes appeared to be dirty.
It was so obvious that they even asked the hostess, “Were these dishes washed?”, as they rubbed my fingers over the surface of the plates.
She replied, “These dishes belonged to my great-grandmother, & have some imperfections in the finish. But believe me, they’re as clean as soap & water can get them.”
The couple felt a bit more at ease, & started eating.
The meal was delicious, despite what had appeared to them to be ‘dirty’ dishes.
However, when dinner was over, the hostess began taking the dishes into the kitchen as expected. As expected that is, until they heard the back door open, the hostess whistle loudly, & yell, “Here Soap!...Here Water!”
•Being properly informed is vital to your well-being!
*Likewise, being properly informed gives confident Assurance to your ‘spiritual’ well-being!
Luke assured Theophilus of the validity of his faith, because his faith was based on fact.
Likewise, readers of Luke’s gospel can be certain of their faith because it is based on fact.
But What historical assurances are offered/gained thru Luke’s Gospel?
4 historical assurances are maintained thru Luke’s Gospel.
If your heart is equipped for study, then your mind will be also.
Acts 17:11-12—of the Christians in the city of Berea—“These were more fair-minded[noble-minded] than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, & searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, & also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.”
1—Luke’s Assurance offers us Historical...
FACT(:1)
Explanation:(:1) Truth/Tradition/Method/History/Process
:1—“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 Luke’s writing this Gospel, “many” people had set out to compile, compose or “set in order a narrative” as well.
Luke himself was familiar with the efforts of others toward penning descriptions of the historicity surrounding Christ Jesus.
•This does NOT mean that the others had ‘failed’ to produce truth—consider Matthew, Mark, & John.
•Nor does it mean that there are other ‘Gospels’ out there that are on equal footing with those in the Canon of Scripture—the Christian Bible you hold in your hand.
•However, it DOES mean that God saw a need to include Luke’s experience, research, & perspective in the genuine Canon of Scripture regarding Jesus’ life.
“Those things which have been fulfilled among us”
Luke’s account as well as the accounts of others, are attempts to divulge real events & real people, that actually took place in real time.
“Those” historically accurate “things”, actually found their “fulfillment” “among” the people whom Luke regarded as “us”...
•“Us” being—1)Luke & Theophilus(:3); &/or—2)Those others with whom Luke & Theophilus were associated—God’s people...
“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—“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, & the truth shall make you free.””
Acts 26:24-29—Paul making his courtroom defense to King Agrippa & Gov. Porcius Festus—“Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth & reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost & altogether such as I am, except for these chains.””
Illustration:
Assumptions:
19th Cent. composer & poet Thomas Moore. Soon after he married, he was called away on extended business. Upon His arrival home—He was informed that his wife had contracted small pox & her face was badly scarred from the disease. She refused to be seen. So Thomas Moore wrote & read his wife a description of his love for her. She opened the curtains. She had been covering up, dreading, & living APART FROM the actual FACT of her husband’s love. Assurance of Historical FACT
Application:
?Are YOU Assured of the Historical FACT of God’s Good News?
?Are YOU Assured of the Bible’s truth?
2—Luke’s Assurance offers us Historical...
TRANSFER Of FACT(:2)
Explanation:(:2) Experience/of God’s people
:2—“...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”
From “the beginning” of the angel Gabriel’s promise to Zacharias about John the Baptist’s birth, thru Elizabeth.
“Beginning”—arch—Noun Fem.—1) Beginning, origin; 2) The person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader; 3) That by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause; 4) The extremity of a thing—4a) Of the corners of a sail; 5) The first place, principality, rule, magistracy—5a) Of angels & demons. Strong—(properly abstract)--Commencement, or concretely--Chief(in various applications of order, time, place, or rank).
“Were eyewitnesses”
“Eyewitnesses” are important to the veracity/truth of Luke’s writing. In order to have any ‘Assurance’ of belief, a person must go back to the origin of what is examined...
And/or a person must have good reason to trust a person’s experience from whom they receive God’s truth.
“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”—
Luke’s account is offered in the same spirit as those who were the actual “eyewitnesses” to the events & subsequent “ministers of the word”(Apostles) as received directly from God.
Those “eyewitnesses” verbally &/or in writing, gave first-hand accounts of their experience as Apostles concerning the events.
The “eyewitnesses” were also “ministers of the word”, by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, as apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ—who had risen from the dead & ascended to heaven. They saw it as necessary to share their experiences with others.
?Who are “Ministers of the word”?—Apostles, under the ‘Chief Apostle’ & Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
?What do “ministers/servants” do?—They proclaim God’s truth/reality.
“Ministers/Servants”—uphrethv—Servant. 1a) An underrower, subordinate rower—1b) Any one who serves with hands: a servant—1b1) In the NT of the officers & attendants of magistrates as -- Of the officer who executes penalties, 1b2) Of the attendants of a king, servants, retinue, the soldiers of a king, of the attendant of a synagogue, 1b3) Of any one ministering or rendering service, 1c) Any one who aids another in any work—1c1) An assistant. Strong—An under-oarsman, i.e. generally--Subordinate(assistant, sexton, constable).
“Delivered them to us”—
“Them”—The events/truths in the word shared.
*Luke traveled directly with the Apostle Paul(Col. 4:14; 2Tim. 4:11; Phmn. 1:24), becoming very familiar with the truth directly from Apostolic authority.
Col. 4:14—“Luke the beloved physician & Demas greet you.”
2Tim. 4:11—“Only Luke is with me. Get Mark & bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”
Phmn. 1:23-24—“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.”
“Delivered”—paradidwmi—Strong—To surrender, i.e. Yield up, intrust, transmit:-- Betray, bring forth, cast, commit, deliver (up), give (over, up), hazard, put in prison, recommend.
*You might ask....Preacher, what’s different about this Bible versus say, the Mormon Bible or the Jehovah’s Witness Bible or the Islamic Quran, etc.? Aren’t they all pretty much equal?...Just different pictures of the same thing?...
!!*NO, they are not all on equal footing!!
• ‘The CHURCH Of JESUS CHRIST Of LATTER DAY SAINTS’(Mormons)—Joseph Smith(the founder of Mormonism) claimed an angel ‘Moroni’ showed him some golden tablets from which he copied the information known as ‘the Book of Mormon.’ That information not only contradicts Scripture but physical history as well. There is not one shred of evidence to confirm the existence of any of the peoples described in ‘the Book of Mormon.’ It is a fanciful novel which has undergone numerous ‘theological’ revisions, but is presented as fact.
• ‘JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES’—The Jehovah Witness Bible(‘New World Translation’) has many addenda & interpretive statements in it. NO knowledgeable Greek Scholar accepts the ‘New World Translation’ as legitimate! Legitimate Biblical scholars recognize the ‘New World Translation’ as being eis-egetical(reading INTO the text what they want it to say). Whereas, any serious or legitimate study of Scripture will be exe-getical in it’s approach(drawing the truth from the text). The ‘New World Translation’ is published ONLY by the Watchtower Bible & Tract society. The ‘Governing Board’ of JW’s act as Apostles, in that they present their decisions as if God’s truth came only thru them. Thru that continuing revelation, they continue to ‘add to’ the Scripture, false ideals that oppose God’s will.
• ‘ISLAM’—The Islamic Holy Book, ‘the Quran’ came 500+ years AFTER the Canon of Scripture was closed/determined. Islam is another ‘works religion’, & contradicts Scripture at every turn. In the Quran, there are references to some of the prophets of the OT. Jesus is recognized as a real historical figure in the Quran. Jesus is even recognized as a prophet! So we have a ‘prophet’ whom God empowered to declare His truth, yet Muslims believe no truth actually survives of Jesus’ ministry! Muslims believe that the record of Jesus’ life & ministry, was neglected, corrupted or altered by the Jews & Christians. Islam holds that the so-called ‘corrupted record’ has been replaced by ‘God's final & perfect revelation’ which, in their opinion, is the Qur'an.‘—Qu’ran— from Wikipedia.
* ‘The early church’ actually met in John Mark's home[Acts 12:12]. So minimally, Peter, & John Mark knew each other. Beyond that, ‘the early church’ held that Mark is the amanuensis(writer/copyist) for Peter. And Mark & Luke knew each other, because both traveled with the apostle Paul. Luke thru his traveling with Paul, would have ‘likely’ become acquainted with other apostles & other witnesses, during the two years that Paul was imprisoned at Caesarea(Acts 24:27). At that time, Luke would have had access to eye-witnesses in Israel.
1Cor. 11:2—“Now I praise you because you remember me in everything, & hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you.”
Why?—They are fact!
*The “traditions” Paul speaks of, are NOT EMPTY traditions or mere rituals! They are practices built on truth.
2Thess. 2:15— “So then, brethren, stand firm & hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”
Why?—They are fact!
2Thess. 3:6—“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly & not according to the tradition which he received from us.”
Why?—They are fact!
Acts 4:16— “...saying, "What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, & we cannot deny it.”
2Pet. 3:3-7—“knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, & saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, & the earth standing out of water & in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens & the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment & perdition of ungodly men.”
Argumentation:
Jer. 20:9— “But if I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,” “Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it.””
Acts 1:6-8— :8—“but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; & you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, & in all Judea & Samaria, & even to the remotest part of the earth.””
Acts 4:1-3; 18-20—:18-20—“....And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.””
Illustration:
*MADD—‘Mothers Against Drunk Drivers’. Innocent lives are directly effected by the corporate advertising of, easy availability of, & ultimately of the abuse of alcohol. MADD members are adamant about informing others about the facts regarding ‘drunk driving’. TRANSFER Of FACT that speaks thru them.
•9/11/01 tragedy. Many witnesses & survivors are still around who will readily & directly share their experience. TRANSFER Of FACT
•Foreign & Domestic Missions exposure. Mutual TRANSFER Of FACT supports foreign & domestic missions
Application:
?Are YOU Assured of the Historical TRANSFER Of FACT of God’s Good News?
?Are YOU Assured of the Bible’s truth?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Remember the hostess’s statement about the dishes,
“Believe me, they’re as clean as soap & water can get them”.....
!!’Here ‘Soap’, Here’ ‘Water’!!
Action:
Luke’s Assurance offers us Historical...
1. FACT(:1)
2. TRANSFER Of FACT(:2)
pt#s 1-2 only! Presented 08/27/2023am to:
Salem Baptist Church
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
pt#s 1-4 Presented 08/22/2010am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
Pt#s 1-4 Presented 10/25/00am to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Road
Whigham, GA 31797
CHILDREN’S— ‘Just the Facts’
Any brand of cough syrup.
This medicine has both a ‘cough suppressant’ & ‘an expectorant.’
Because of what both of these things contradict each other, putting them both together won’t work.
The truth is you need either one or the other, but you can’t have both.
The Bible gives us the truth.
When you combine other things with it, it is not the truth.
