Answers Found in Jesus’ Questions

-Introduction

-In the bulletin last week, I began my article with this statement, “If there was one thing

  that I could press upon the minds of others, it would be the vast importance of being a

  student of God’s word.”

            -We cannot overemphasize the importance of studying the scriptures – 2 Tim 2:15.

-By rightly dividing the word of truth, we can learn God’s will – what He wants, what He

  expects, what He requires, what He promises.

-By applying what we learn to our lives, we become more pleasing to God.

-So, there has to be an application of what is learned.

      -Jas 1:22-25

-A Wonderful Question

-Luke 10:25

-context:  At this point, Jesus is active in His Later Judean Ministry.  Jesus had worked in

  Judea previous to this but had been absent from the region for about a-year-and-a-half  

  while conducting the Galilean Ministry and the Ministry of Withdrawals.  The

  opposition of the Jewish leaders had continued to mount.  With Jesus in their midst, the

  Jewish leaders grew more bold in their hatred against Jesus.  Yet, in the face of such

  opposition, Jesus continued to show compassion toward the people and continued to teach.

-On one such occasion, a lawyer asked a wonderful question:  “Master, what shall I do to

  inherit eternal life?”

            -Was this question asked with poor motives?  After all, it says that he “tempted” Jesus.

            -tempted – (Strongs) – “to test thoroughly”

            -This can be used in a good sense and in a bad sense.

            -“We need not suppose that the lawyer who ‘stood up,’ and proposed to our Lord the

        question…had any malicious intentions, nor even a desire to perplex and silence the

  Saviour.  The question…was not an ensnaring one.  He is said, indeed, to have put

  the question to Christ, ‘tempting him.’  But to tempt properly means to make trial of,

  and whether the tempting be good or evil, is determined by the motive from which it

  springs” (Trench, Richard Chenevix, Notes on the Parables of Our Lord, Grand Rapids,

  Michigan, Baker Book House, 1963, pg 109).

            -The lawyer “…’tried,' or 'tested Him'…in no hostile spirit, yet with no tender anxiety

              for light on that question of questions, but just to see what insight this great Galilean

              teacher had” (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database.

              (c) 1997 by Biblesoft).

-Jesus Shows We Can Understand

-Luke 10:26

-As so often was the case, Jesus responded to a question with a question – in this case, two

  questions:  1.  What is written in the law?  2.  How readest thou?

-We can extract some very important lessons from these two questions:

1.  We can find the answer to this important question in God’s written word.

      A.  The answer doesn’t come through a special, direct revelation brought upon us personally

            by the Holy Spirit.

            -It comes through the word delivered by way of the Holy Spirit.  (1 Cor 2:9-11, 2 Pet

        1:19-21, 2 Tim 3:16)

-Unfortunately, there are those who wait for some special “spiritual experience” - a direct

        revelation – rather than seeking God through the avenue of His word.

                  -Jesus says the answer is in the word.  In it we find the way of salvation.

                  -1 Pet 1:9, 22-23; John 6:66-68 (John 12:48-50)

B.  The answers are not in our own minds nor determined by our own will.

      -Jer 10:23, Isa 55:8-9

      -Our thoughts are not the standard of truth.  God’s word is that standard.

C.  We are not to base our understanding of the truth solely on what others tell us.  We must

      base our understanding on what God’s word tells us.

      -We need to be able to attach a “God’s word says…” to our understanding of truth.

2.  We each have a responsibility of and accountability to the reading of God’s word.

            -Matt 9:12-13

            -Matt 12:1-3, 5; 19:4; 22:31

                        -What’s the implication of these statements? – Had they properly read the scriptures, they

                          would have properly understood them.

3.  Inheriting God’s gift of eternal life goes beyond an understanding of the truth.  It also requires

            the doing of God’s word.

            -This man had a good understanding.  Jesus Himself told him, “Thou has answered right…”

            -But, notice what Jesus then said, “…this do, and thou shalt live.”

            -We must allow God’s word to have an impact on our lives – to make a difference.

                        -Luke 6:46-49, Matt 7:21-27,

-Invitation

-In these questions and statements made by Jesus, we see that we each can gain a proper

  understanding of God’s truths.

            -To learn those truths, we must be a student of God’s word.

            -We must then apply the things that we learn to our lives.

-What about you this evening?  Are you doing these things?

            -Are you striving to learn more of God’s will?

            -Are you applying His word to your life?

-Through His word, God offers eternal life.  Have you responded to that word?

      -If not, obey the Gospel of Christ:  believe (John 3:16, 8:24), Confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-

  10), Repent (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), Be Baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38, Gal 3:26-29)

-If you’ve obeyed the Gospel, have you remained faithful?  If not, confess your shortcomings,

  repent of them and pray to God for forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).

Date:  Nov 6, 2005