Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

THE TRUTH OF THE WORD

Introduction:

The Gospel of Luke is a written proclamation of the truth about Jesus Christ. This is the thrust of this first passage in Luke’s gospel. Luke is writing to declare the glorious news that the Son of Man, God’s Son, has come to earth to seek and to save all who are lost.

Luke tells Jesus’ story from the unique perspective of a Gentile, a physician, and the first historian of the early Church.

Luke was not an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry. Nevertheless, he is concerned that eyewitness accounts be preserved accurately and that the foundations of Christian belief be transmitted to the next generation.

Luke’s Gospel is an accurate, orderly account of the truth about Jesus Christ.

This introduction of Luke is the very form that was used by the historians of his day.

This points strongly to the fact that Luke intended it to be circulated among the churches.

I want us to examine these first four verses in this first message:

I.         LUKE’S GOSPEL IS A RECORD OF HISTORICAL EVENTS. (1:1)

            A.        “Many...set forth” the events of Christ’s life.

Many had written about the life and work of Christ, but they were not as complete nor as orderly as Luke wished to record (cp. Luke 1:3).

A quick comparison of the first two chapters of Luke with Mark and Matthew will show this.

Luke includes many more events than the other two Synoptic Gospels, and the Gospel of John had not yet been written.

The fact that many had written a record on the life of Christ is strong evidence that the events are true.

            B.        The events or things of Christ’s life were “most surely believed.”

The words translated as “most surely believed” also mean “things that were fulfilled, that were actually performed, or that had run their full course.”

Luke is saying that the things of Christ were not only believed, but they were also accomplished or fulfilled among the believers of that day.

The things (events, matters) of Christ actually took place; they were purposeful; they were destined to be accomplished and fulfilled.

The point is this: the things of Christ are a record of historical events, things that actually happened and that actually fulfilled the purpose of God.

                        Therefore, the things are “most surely believed among us [believers].”

What are the things accomplished and believed? Both the things of the Old Testament and of the New Testament. The whole Bible is a record of “those things.”

The early believers had no difficulty whatsoever believing the things of Christ.

                        1)        The things were “most surely believed.”

                        2)        Many were writing accounts of the various events that they were eyewitnesses to.

                        The “many” who wrote about the life of Jesus are not known by name.

They are the silent and humble heroes of God, never known by the world, but well-known by God.

                        Some of their writings served as a source for Luke.

                        1)        Their ministry of writing was used greatly by God.

Some of what they wrote was either included in the Gospel of Luke or at least stirred thoughts in Luke’s mind to record an event.

2)God’s silent, quiet, and humble servants are always used by Him just as much as the ones out in the forefront.

                                    Their ministry is just as important, if not more so.

            LUKE’S GOSPEL IS A RECORD OF HISTORICAL EVENTS.

II.       LUKE’S GOSPEL IS BOTH A RECORD OF EYEWITNESSES AND A RECORD OF MINISTERS OF THE WORD. (1:2)

It does not appear that Luke himself was an eyewitness of the day to day life of Christ.

            If he ever saw Christ personally, there is no mention of it in his writings.

However, Luke was a constant and very dear companion of Paul. He no doubt also had contact with the other apostles. What Luke says is that the sources of his writing were eyewitnesses of Christ and ministers of the Word of Christ.

The apostles, of course, would be his prime sources. In addition, there were other disciples who followed Jesus either continuously or occasionally.

1.The ministers of the Word were eyewitnesses of both The Word (Christ Himself) and of the Word of Christ (His teaching, doctrine, and instructions).

2.The ministers of the Word he speaks of were eyewitnesses “from the beginning,” eyewitnesses of every event and word of Christ, eyewitnesses of His life day by day.

3.The ministers of the Word heard as well as saw Christ; some heard and saw Him day by day. Therefore, Luke’s gospel is a true record of both the acts and words of Christ.

4.These ministers of the Gospel set out immediately to minister the Word to others. The Word was of critical importance to them. They gave their lives to the ministry of the Word.

5.These ministers of the gospel did not create the Word (message) themselves. They were not ministering their own ideas and thoughts; they were ministering “The Word of God.”

6.These ministers of the Word have (through their testimony recorded by Luke) given us a written gospel that is an eyewitness account. It agrees exactly with what was seen, heard, and proclaimed by Christ and preached to the people of His day and to the world since then.

1 John 1:1-4–“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full”

            LUKE’S GOSPEL IS A RECORD OF HISTORICAL EVENTS.

LUKE’S GOSPEL IS BOTH A RECORD OF EYEWITNESSES AND A RECORD OF MINISTERS OF THE WORD.

III.      LUKE’S GOSPEL IS THE RECORD OF A MAN WHO WAS LED TO WRITE.

            (1:3)

            Four facts point out just how strongly Luke felt led to record the life of Christ.

            A.        Luke says he had “perfect understanding of all things.”

The word “understanding” means “to study, to follow up, to search out diligently, to investigate, to trace accurately, to become acquainted with.”

Luke says that having been acquainted with and having investigated all things, he was determined to record the facts himself.

B.        Luke says he had perfect understanding of all things “from the very first.”

            The Holy Spirit is most certainly Luke’s guide in recording all things from the very first as directed from above, investigating and searching diligently to write what “the Spirit of Christ which was in [him] did signify.” (1 Peter 1:11)

Luke is most certainly speaking as a holy man of God who was “moved by the Holy Spirit” to write these things. (2 Peter 1:21)

            C.        Luke says he is writing things “in order.”

Luke is the only writer in the New Testament to use the word that is translated “in order” here.

                        He uses it in this gospel twice and in the Book of Acts three times.

                        It means consecutively or chronologically.

            D.        Luke is writing to a man named “Theophilus.”

                        Who was Theophilus? We are not told. His name means “one who loves God.”

                        1.         He was called “most excellent Theophilus.”

                                    “Most excellent” is a title of rank and honor.

                                    The same title is used of Felix and Festus (Acts 23:26; 24:3; 26:25).

                        2.         He was a person who desired or needed to know about Jesus Christ.

                                    He was probably a convert for whom Luke deeply cared.

                                    Some feel he was a man investigating the validity of Christianity.

                                    Theophilus was the immediate reason Luke felt led to write.

What a tremendous challenge this should be to us!

Luke cared so much for one man that he dedicated himself to writing not a long letter, but a whole book in order to instruct the man. Imagine the dedication and the days and months required! All for one person (initially)!

            LUKE’S GOSPEL IS A RECORD OF HISTORICAL EVENTS.

LUKE’S GOSPEL IS BOTH A RECORD OF EYEWITNESSES AND A RECORD OF MINISTERS OF THE WORD.

LUKE’S GOSPEL IS THE RECORD OF A MAN WHO WAS LED TO WRITE.

IV.      LUKE’S GOSPEL IS A RECORD TO ESTABLISH THE TRUTH. (1:4)

Luke’s purpose is clearly stated: “That thou might know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”

Theophilus had already heard, but Theophilus needed to know the absolute truth of those things.

Luke wanted Theophilus to know that his account of Christ is the absolute truth.

            He wanted him to know that he could “know the certainty of those things.”

Luke wanted Theophilus to know that he could have great confidence in the truth and accuracy of his written record of Christ.

We also can read Luke’s account of Jesus’ life with confidence that it was written by a clear thinker and a thoughtful researcher.

Because the Gospel is founded on historical truth, our spiritual growth must involve careful, disciplined, thorough investigation of God’s Word so that we can understand the plan of God for our lives.

2 Timothy 2:15–“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Conclusion

Peter said in 2 Peter 1:16–“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”

The Word of God is truth!

Have you believed the truth?

Are you studying the truth?

Is the truth making a difference in your life?

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!