Christ and the Scriptures (2)

This post follows on from my last blog entry in which I stated that I had gathered together seven ways in which the Lord valued Scripture. I noted that the Word of God was His Meditation, the subject of His Conversation, and the source of His Instruction. 

Today consider the four remaining uses made by the Lord of the Scriptures:

1. His Temptation. In Matthew Ch 4 the Lord is subjected to the onslaught of Satan in the wilderness. We know that, being God, there was no danger of a failure in Him, but we must ask - How did He defend Himself? Three times over, in response to the three separate suggestions of the Devil, the Lord says "It is written"! In trial, in temptation, He rested fully on a proper understanding of the Scriptures of Truth. 
2. His Proclamation. There were many who gathered at the house in Capernaum to hear the Lord. It had been reported that He was there. So many assembled that "there was no room to receive them". The house was packed full. What was the Lord's response to such a gathering? He "preached the Word unto them"! Nothing but the Word was sufficient to meet the need.  
3. His Exposition. One of the most beautiful stories recorded for us in the NT is in Luke 24 when two troubled and disappointed disciples were travelling to Emmaus. "Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them" (v15). What did He have as comfort for their troubled spirits? He "expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (v27). What an occasion! We are not surprised that the disciples later said "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (v32).
4. His Conviction. It was the Lord's firm statement in John 10v35 that "the scripture cannot be broken". Of His own words He said "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away". What confidence and assurance He had in the Word of God, what a high view of Inspiration! 

In conclusion, I ask myself again: In temptation, when MY mind is under attack, do I have sufficient knowledge of the Word of God to say "It is written..."? In MY preaching, is my subject the Word of God or my own ideas? Likewise, when I am teaching, do I give a proper exposition of the text of Scripture? And, finally, do I share the conviction of the Lord concerning the infallibility and inerrancy of the Word of Truth? 

This is a big subject, much bigger than this blog allows, but it is great to note that He has left "us an example, that ye should follow His steps" (1 Peter 2v21)!  

"There was of course but One who never failed

In every circumstance He faced, prevailed -

Our blessed, glorious Lord.

How was it then He won the day in trial?

How did He so defeat a raging devil?

By resting in the Word".

Sin and the Christian

This is a little poem I put together some years ago now. I came across it today and thought I would share it. The rhyme may be a little hard to catch in places but I hope it's a benefit! 

When Adam sinned he ruined the human race,

And forfeited the blessing of a place,

In close proximity to God.

He also caused that death should enter in,    

As the result of just a single sin,

Corruption spread abroad.

One sin, a hasty word, sufficient was,

To close the promised land to great Moses,

The leader of the Jews.

His privilege and knowledge of His God,

Should have made him more careful with the rod,

And guarded his mouth too.

It was one sin that marred King David’s life,

When he took for himself Uriah’s wife,

Against Divine decree!

And with him too the problem greatly spread,

Until he planned to have Uriah dead,

And ruined his family!

Sin therefore is revealed to have a cost,

To every saint, as well as to the lost,

Though different we know!

The penal consequence for us has gone,

But God can act in government upon,

Our path while here below.

There was of course but One who never failed

In every circumstance He faced, prevailed -

Our blessed, glorious Lord.

How was it then He won the day in trial?

How did He so defeat a raging devil?

By resting in the Word.

And so, to win is open to us all,

As Peter writes that “ye shall never fall”,

By “adding to your faith”.

And John says that it’s only “If we sin”

The ministry of Advocate is seen.     

Let’s view what Scripture saith:

The Christian died to sin, as teaches Paul,

For when Christ died he represented all,

Who trust Him wholly now.

We rose with Him as well – He’s now alive

And thus we need no longer be a slave,

Or to that master bow.

The master, sin, no longer can be bold,

To order us to do what he has told –

Requested we perform.

For we have died to him, and never yet,

Was there a master who could get,

The dead to obey him!

But we’re alive, not now enslaved to sin,

We live to God who reckons us for Him,

Identified with Christ

In the freshness of a life that is made new

We owe alone to God, all that’s His due

And we are His by right.  

We know it’s true, we must account it so,

If we would have a victory here below,

Over that awful power.

Then God requires we yield ourselves to Him

And live to righteousness, instead of sin,

Through each and every hour.

David Williamson 15/12/09