Part 4: The Doctrine of the Word of God
Chapter 24 - God speaking in events and words
The Word of God almost always comes to us through some medium: words on a page, or spoken language with a person, or events, etc. This does not make it necessarily flawed.
I. Events
A. Nature and general history
God speaks through nature, clearly and powerfully.
Nature is not itself the Word of God.
We must know about nature or history to apply Scripture meaningfully.
B. Redemptive history
Exodus, resurrection, apostolic miracles are all examples
These make God's presence and power and lordship known
It's wrong to say this is grace, while nature reveals law. Both show His kindness and judgment.
Lessing's ditch, separating history and faith is also wrong. Events call forth faith.
Faith is required to understand history.
II. Words
Word and event complement each other. Words explain and preserve events uniquely.
A. Divine Voice - Sinai is the most powerful example, Elijah's still, small voice, and many others.
How do we know it's really God, when there are lying spirits out there? We just do.
There is no standard above God's Word to test whether it is from Him or not.
B. Prophets and Apostles
There is no downgrade" in God's Word when He speaks by prophets (Ex. 4:14-16; Jer. 1:10-12).
OT prophets include Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Samuel, etc.
In the NT, the Spirit comes on the 12 apostles, and they pass Jesus' words on to the church.
John 14:26; 15:26 prove this urgent question of where we find the words of Jesus.
There ARE false prophets, after all. True prophets truly represent and apply God's covenant.
C. Jesus is the ultimate prophet, who both receives and speaks the Father's words faithfully.
He fulfills Deut. 18:18. His words are life, and must be obeyed.
Where are those words? That's the next chapter...
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