ASSURANCE-II—Luke 1:1-4
ATTENTION:
‘My Children Are Not My Children’
When Lydia Fairchild fell on hard times(in Washington State ca. 2002), she & the father of her children separated. And when Lydia applied for state benefits for their children, DNA tests were required for proof of parentage.
•The state’s DNA test claimed that none of the children she was claiming were really hers. She had two children & was claiming them as her own! She was pregnant with a third, supposedly by the same father.
Lydia received a call from a prosecutor who wanted to talk with her about the test results. He assumed she was using a false name, & was hiding the fact that ‘her’ kids were really someone else’s. She explained her name was not falsified & that though she was not currently married, she had had all of the children thru the same father(Jamie Townsend), so that they were all her biological children. The prosecutor responded that they knew the kids belonged to the father, but also ‘knew’ that Lydia could not have given birth to the children!...Because the DNA test results showed the children to be 99.9% the stated father’s, but 00.0% Lydia’s. She was snidely told by officials, that there was no way possible that she was the mother of the children!
•Lydia was then informed that Social Services was going to take her children away. She was facing charges of fraud & for kidnapping her own children!
•Attorney Alan Tindell looked into Lydia’s case. His job was to prove that Lydia was not a criminal. Or to discover whose children they really were.
•Since Lydia was nearing the due date of her third child, Mr. Tindell had the court order someone to be in the delivery room as Lydia gave birth. DNA taken from Lydia & the baby immediately at birth, again revealed that her new baby was the father’s but was not her own! Obviously the baby was hers but the DNA test said otherwise.
•The obvious conclusion was that the DNA tests were wrong, which could threaten the entire DNA testing regime/system. After all, people have been sent to prison & to even put-to-death based on DNA results!
Lydia’s case baffled the experts. Near the same time, Attorney Tindell became aware that a lady in Boston needed a kidney transplant, but none of the three sons born to her showed any maternal DNA compatibility!
Other tests were ordered for Lydia. It turned out that Lydia’s reproductive parts were not her own!
•Doctors put forth a theory that unbeknownst to Lydia she had started life in the womb as a twin. Early on in her mother’s pregnancy, her twin never fully developed, & that Lydia’s developing body absorbed her twin’s cells without destroying them. The result was that Lydia was made up of two separate sets of DNA. It was discovered that her ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, & cervix were composed entirely of her sister’s DNA, to the exclusion of her own! So technically Lydia was not the biological mother of her own children that she gave birth to!
There are only 30 people in the U.S. known to have this condition, but then again not many people have their DNA tested.
*Truth can be challenging to uncover, but it's certainty brings Assurance!
*Likewise, certainty of the truth gives confident Assurance to your ‘spiritual’ well-being & thus to every aspect of your life!
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.”
Previously we discovered that
Luke’s Assurance offers us Historical...
1. FACT(:1)
2. TRANSFER Of FACT(:2)
Today we’ll continue to see that:
3— Luke’s Assurance offers us Historical...
DETAIL Of FACT(:3)
Explanation:(:3)Occurance/Focus
:3—“...it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,”
“It seemed good to me also,...”
Luke took the task to heart, of compiling & presenting his Gospel(‘Good News’).
There had obviously been a great deal of interest regarding the reliability of historical information about Jesus & His ministry.
*Luke is relating his personal commission from God & his unique ability & determination in accomplishing it.
•We won’t find this perspective or these details anywhere else. God commissioned Luke to give us this Gospel as well as the other Gospels.
So, to arrive at a full picture of what took place in the years surrounding Jesus’ birth, growth, & ministry, we must particularly examine all 4 Gospels(Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John), as well as the remainder of Scripture.
All the Gospels are from different perspectives & positions, they are all unique, but speak of the same events & people involved!
All 4 Gospels give detailed accounts from 1)First-hand witnesses & experiences from the disciple’s perspective(Matthew & John); as well as the witnesses & experiences from 2)Those who were not specifically of the twelve(Mark & Luke)...
“Seemed”—dokew—1) To be of opinion, think, suppose; 2) To seem, to be accounted, reputed; 3) It seems to me.
“Good/Fitting”—kamoi—Accusative—1) And I; 2) I also, I as well, I likewise, in like manner I; 3) Even I, this selfsame I.
*Luke then relates to us ‘WHY’ it “seemed good” for him to “write”, as well as the others that had already written...
“Having had perfect understanding of all things”...
“... having investigated everything carefully”...[NASB]
Luke’s account is born of having undertaken a “perfect” exacting, diligent & careful ‘investigation’ of the historical validity of which he writes.
“Perfect Understanding”—Lit. = ‘Accurate Following’
“Perfect/Carefully”—akribwv—Adverb—1) Exactly, accurately, diligently. Strong—Exactly. Used 5X--Mat. 2:8; Lk. 1:3; Acts 18:25; Eph. 5:15; 1Thes. 5:2.?From the same as—akribestatov—Most exact.?Superlative of—akribhv—Strong—Exact, careful. Vine’s—Accurate, exact.?From the same as—akron—The extremity; neuter of an adjective.
“Understanding/Investigated”—parakolouyew—Perfect Active Participle Dative Sing. Masc.—1) To follow after—1a) So to follow one as to be always at his side, 1b) To follow close, accompany; 2) metaph.—2a) To be always present, to attend one wherever he goes, 2b) To follow up a thing in mind so as to attain to the knowledge of it—2b1) To understand(follow a matter up, trace its course), 2b2) To examine thoroughly, investigate, 2c) To follow faithfully i.e A standard or rule, to conform one's self to. Strong—To follow near, i.e. figuratively--Attend(as a result), trace out, conform to. Used 4X--Mk. 16:17; Lk. 1:3; 1Tim. 4:6; 2Tim. 3:10.?From—para—From, of at, by, besides, near. Strong—properly--Near, i.e. From beside; At(or in) the vicinity of; To the proximity with; Beyond or opposed to; On account of.—&— akolouyew; from A(as a particle of union) & keleuyov(a road); properly--To be in the same way with, i.e. To accompany(specially, as a disciple).
“From the very first,”
“from the beginning...”[NASB]
Luke’s ‘investigation’ included starting at the ‘beginning’ of the chain-of-events recorded within his Gospel(1:5-24:53).
Luke’s material covers the time from the point at which he recognized the enactment of God’s plan for the salvation of mankind thru Jesus.... ‘beginning’ with the background of John the Baptist(Lk. 1:5ff.).
“Very first/Beginning”—anwyen—1) From above, from a higher place—1a) Of things which come from heaven or God; 2) From the first, from the beginning, from the very first; 3) Anew, over again. Strong—From above; by analogy, from the first; by implication, anew:-- From above, again, from the beginning (very first), the top.
“To write to you an orderly account,”
Luke’s account is largely chronological by design. But we must be careful not to press Luke into a strict event-by-event chronology. Some things must be stated out of their time, in order to make sense to the reader.
“Orderly account/In order/Consecutive order”—kayexhv—One after another, successively, in order.
“Most excellent Theophilus,”
Luke is writing this account for the use of a particular person by the name of “Theophilus.”
“Theophilus” is not a non-sensical name, but literally means: ‘God-lover’ or ‘God friend’. Some scholars argue that it may not be a personal name at all, but a designation for any of those reading & hearing Luke’s Gospel. Cf.-2Jn. 1:1—“to the elect lady & her children”[‘possibly’ to a local church].
However, “Theophilus” is addressed as: “Most Excellent”—a title for dignitaries or of high social standing. And so Luke appears to address a person of some influence.
•“Theophilus” is also the recipient of the book of Acts(1:1).
“Most excellent”—kratistov—Mightiest, strongest, noblest, most illustrious, best, most excellent—1a) Used in addressing men of prominent rank or office.
Argumentation:
There are Extra-biblical(secular) accounts of darkness on the day of Jesus’ death. The Gospels give us the DETAIL of its existence...& its purpose—an open statement of the judgement of God upon the sin of mankind....
The Historical DETAIL Of FACT supplied by the Scriptures, explain for us the PURPOSE of the Cross, of the Christ, of His sacrifice, etc.
Illustration:
An entire article as opposed to merely headlines. Historical DETAIL Of FACT opens the full understanding of truth....
•A headline appeared in a Boston newspaper on June 2, 2009—‘Missing Baby Found in Sandwich’.....Sandwich, MA, that is!/Historical DETAIL Of FACT
•MSNBC posted this headline July 25, 2009— ‘China Court Sentences Drunk Driver To Death.’ BUT—The drunk driver was speeding in the capital of Sichuan province when he struck four other cars. Four people were killed & another person was seriously injured. He was also driving without a license. Historical DETAIL Of FACT
Application:
?Are YOU Assured of the Historical DETAIL Of FACT of God’s Good News?
?Are YOU assured of the Bible’s truth?
4— Luke’s Assurance offers us Historical...
DISCERNMENT Of FACT(:4)
Explanation:(:4) Error/Reality/Comparison
:4—“that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.””
Just so we won’t get lost in the DETAILS(:3), Luke’s account grants DISCERNMENT to the one who wishes to honor the God of Israel...
Luke’s PURPOSE is:...
“That you may know...”
Thorough Knowledge:
“Know”—epiginwskw—1)To become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly; 2) To know.
Mat. 11:27—“All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, & no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, & the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
1Cor. 14:37—“If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge[know] that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.”
2Cor. 1:13—“For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand[know]. Now I trust you will understand[know], even to the end.”
“The certainty of those things in which you were instructed”
Luke’s purpose in presenting this account to “Theophilus”, is so that “Theophilus” might know the ‘exact truth’ about “those things” in which he had already received some degree of “instruction.”
•“Theophilus” had no doubt heard ‘God’s truth’ verbally—orally, by ‘word of mouth’—but had no written or ‘enduring’ confirmation other than that of his own memory, & the Christians who were possibly around him.
This is not to say that ‘verbal communication’ of God’s truth is antiquated, unreliable, unusable, or inaccessible. It is neither of those! Even the ‘apostolic source of sharing’ eventually gives way to death—So that none of the apostles is extant/living today. Therefore ‘the Scripture’ is ordained for the sake of knowledge & direction for the people in Luke’s day, as well as for future generations of people!
•?Are you able to recall what the apostles Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Simon the Zealot, or Thaddeus said?...ME NEITHER! WHY?....Because, there is no reliable ‘extant record’ of anything that they wrote! Instead, we DO know what they said or their circumstances, & that they were part of the 12 disciples, ONLY because of what was written about them by others, such as Luke!
To ‘DISCERN’ Truth from Error...
Requires your personal decision to trust that these things recorded in this Gospel, actually took place in real time, in the past, some 2000+ years ago.
•Luke offers an invitation to his readers. He offers them a grasp of the significance of Christian faith that is historically verified in Christ Jesus of Nazareth, & is applicable to all people.
?Do you trust the history, the reality, the “certainty”, attached to Luke’s offer?
Prov. 19:2—“Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet.”
Mk. 12:18-27—READ—:24-27—“Jesus answered & said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, & the God of Jacob’? “He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.””
1Thess. 2:3-7— “For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness--God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.”
The REALITY is:
*John 20:30-31—“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, & that believing you may have life in His name.”
“Certainty/Exact truth”—asfaleia—1) Firmness, stability; 2) Certainty, undoubted truth; 3) Security from enemies & dangers, safety.
We must make a personal Choice by DISCERNMENT Of FACT:
?Why choose Christianity above any other ‘religion’?
Jos. 24:15—““And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me & my house, we will serve the LORD.””
1Kings 18:21, 36-39—And Elijah[the prophet] came to all the people, & said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.”
2Pet. 1:10-13— “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call & election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know & are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,”
2Tim. 3:16-17—“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, & is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
*Your problem & my problem is the very same as that which faced Theophilus in Luke’s gospel.
People hear ‘bits & pieces’ of truth in their normal encounters. Our world hears & reads Christian ‘headlines’ as it were—just enough information to make a person either inquisitive, indifferent, or accepting of truth or of the greater lies of spiritual ignorance.
The general population will ‘probably’ never know ‘the whole truth’, UNLESS you personally offer it to them in a loving & godly manner!
The sad fact is...our society has God’s truth at their fingertips, readily available, but generally refuse it outright!
Argumentation:
2Cor. 13:5—“Examine[peirazw] yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test[dokimazw] yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.”
Mat. 7:13-15—Jesus said,—“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate & broad is the way that leads to destruction, & there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate & difficult is the way which leads to life, & there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
Mat. 10:16—Jesus said to His disciples,—“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise[shrewd] as serpents, & harmless[innocent] as doves.”
2Pet. 1:20-21—“knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Prov. 1:1-7—“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom & instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, & equity; To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge & discretion-- A wise man will hear & increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, To understand a proverb & an enigma, The words of the wise & their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom & instruction.”
Illustration:
A grandmother didn't know if her granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so she decides to ‘test’ her. Grandma would point out something & ask what color it was. The granddaughter responded with the correct answer every single time. But it was fun for grandma, so grandma continued to find more colors. At last the granddaughter got bored with the color-game & headed to her bedroom. On her way out she turned to Grandma, & with wisdom beyond her years, said, “Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these colors for yourself!” DISCERNMENT Of FACT
Application:
?Are YOU Assured of the Historical DISCERNMENT Of FACT of God’s Good News?
?Are YOU assured of the Bible’s truth?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Remember the 'official' DNA fiasco surrounding Lydia Fairchild’s three children. They were really hers, but official decision-makers, were certain that they were not her children!
Action:
Luke’s Assurance offers us Historical...
3. DETAIL Of FACT(:3)
4. DISCERNMENT Of FACT(:4)
1. FACT(:1)
2. TRANSFER Of FACT(:2)
pt#s 3-4 Presented 09/03/2023am 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 10/25/2000am to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Road
Whigham, GA 31797
