Biblical Basis for Studying O.T. Characters

Introduction to a New Series: Studying Old Testament Characters

0:01 The following message was delivered on Sunday evening, February 23rd, at the Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, New Jersey.

0:10 Now let us once again ask the aid of the Holy Spirit as we come to study the Word of God together. Let us pray.

0:27 Our Father, we would indeed have our hearts hushed to hear your voice. We would take the posture of young Samuel and say from the depths of our being, Speak, Lord, for thy servants hear. We thank you that you have sent the Holy Spirit, that he is the one who illuminates our minds in the understanding of your truth. May he be present as the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of yourself this night.

1:02 And realizing that there sit among us those who are strangers to your grace, may he be present as the spirit who is comforter. May he come to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. And may he do his own mysterious yet mighty work, making boys and girls and men and women acutely to feel their horrible and wretched state, and then point them to the fountain open for sin and uncleanness, that there they may find cleansing and pardon and acceptance the beloved one oh god meet with us we pray for those who are weary at the end of the day grant mental alertness and physical quickening that all that we need to profit from this hour may be given to us out of the fullness of grace that is in christ jesus by whom alone we seek these things from your hand amen now as many of you know it was announced this past wednesday evening that this lord's day evening i would be starting a new series of messages a series which

2:24 would find us studying the lives of some old testament characters and there are at least two men i met in the hallway this morning who were i don't know that they were laying bets but they were discussing their conjectures as to which characters would be opened up and preached upon in these evening messages and over the next couple of months we will be examining the record of individuals whose lives are set before us in the old testament scriptures some of these individuals in great detail others very scanty information given about them and yet that scanty information often contains a lot of information about them and that information is often contained in the scriptures and that information is often contained in the scriptures and that information is often profound and very helpful truth and as we do this study of these old testament characters the base basic method we will follow is one in which we will in each case seek to establish the facts as they are recorded in the text of scripture and then as we establish those facts or subsequent to establishing the facts in some cases it will be the former method method, in others the latter. We will then seek to highlight the doctrines enforced and

The General Biblical Basis: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

3:46 illustrated by these facts, and then to underscore the virtues illustrated, the vices displayed, and make appropriate exhortations and admonitions based upon those things we have discovered together. Now as we embark upon such a series of studies, the $64 question is, what warrant do I have to do this with the Scriptures? On what biblical grounds will I follow such a course with you? And I think it only fair that I answer that question tonight, and so our subject this evening, standing as it were on the threshold of this series, is the biblical basis and background for a study of Old Testament characters. The biblical basis and background

4:42 for a study of Old Testament characters. And in taking up this subject, I have four very simple and straightforward headings. The first is, the general biblical basis for the study of Old Testament characters. The general biblical basis for the study of Old Testament characters.

5:03 The general biblical basis for the study of Old Testament characters. The general biblical basis for the study of Old Testament characters. of Old Testament characters, and I see that general biblical basis in what is indeed a watershed text regarding the Old Testament scriptures, namely 2 Timothy chapter 3, verses 14 to 17. I had occasion to make reference to this passage in the ministry of the Word this morning. Tonight we look at it a bit more carefully. In 2 Timothy chapter 3, the apostle has informed Timothy, beginning in the first verse of chapter 3, that the characteristic of the time between the first and second advent of the Lord, and possibly with increasing intensity as that

5:59 nears near, is going to be marked by abandonment to sin, sensuality, rebellion to constituted authority, and yet in the midst of all of those things, men being the religious creatures that they are, verse 5 tells us, they will hold to a form of godliness, having denied the power thereof. And he goes on further to describe the deviations from truth and the moral corruption that will follow. But he then says to Timothy, in spite of all of this, verse 10, you have followed my teaching, my conduct, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, patience, persecutions, sufferings, what things befell me at Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me. Then he draws a generalization. A general principle saying, Timothy, what happened to me is not unique. All who in an ungodly age will seek to live a godly life out of love to Christ and in the power of the Spirit with me will also suffer persecution. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

7:24 And even though men see people in a godless, lawless age, loving God and loving Christ and loving truth enough to go against the tide, it will not influence them, verse 13 says, but evil men and imposters shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. So what is Timothy to do? What are modern-day Timothys to do? What are the people of God to do when they find themselves in similar circumstances?

7:58 Well, Paul answers that question in verses 14 and following, but abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. He says, in essence, Timothy, it doesn't matter how far men may go in the abandonment of the truth and in their opposition of those who believe and obey the truth. The truth is the truth. God's claims over you in the light of the truth are unchanged. Abide in the things you have learned and been assured of. And those things he had learned and been assured of had their tap roots in the inscripturated revelation of God. For we read in verse 15, and that from a babe, from an infant, you have known the sacred writings, the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired of God and also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,

9:17 for instruction or discipline or training, which is in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work. And that is the truth. And that is the truth. Timothy, regardless of the opposition, regardless of widespread declension all around you, abide in the things you have learned and been assured of. And Timothy, those things had their roots in the Old Testament scriptures, which, knowing them from infancy, have been made instrumental in the blessing of God to bring you to salvation. In the Lord Jesus. We learn then from this passage that the Old Testament scriptures were known by Timothy from his infancy. Secondly, that the Old Testament scriptures rightly understood are able to make a man wise unto salvation. But then there's a third thing we learn from

10:23 this passage, and that is that the Old Testament scriptures are also profitable to teach New Testament believers doctrine and practical righteousness. For he says, Timothy, they are not only able to make you wise to salvation, but they are also profitable for teaching what you are to believe about God and man and his world and the relationship of man to God in his world and his salvation, how it comes to us, how it is to be approached. These Old Testament scriptures are not only able to make you wise to salvation, but they are profitable to teach New Testament believers doctrine. But not only profitable to teach doctrine, but to teach practical righteousness. They are profitable to reprove, to rebuke, to correct, to instruct in, I'm sorry, for reproof, for correction, and for discipline, or training in righteousness. And then the fourth thing he says is that the Old Testament scriptures are able to furnish man unto every good work, that the man of God may be complete, furnished thoroughly unto every good work. Now, am I saying that this passage is limited in its

11:52 meaning to the Old Testament scriptures? No. Anything that is legitimately designated scripture fits under this description. But what is expressly in focus in the context is the Old Testament scriptures. It was those sacred writings with which Timothy was familiar from his infancy.

12:16 It was those writings which are able to make one wise to salvation, are also profitable for doctrine, for practical instruction in righteousness, and the man of God unto every good work. Now, what's that have to do with our subject? The biblical basis and background for a study of Old Testament characters? Well, just this. Whole blocks of Old Testament God-breathed scripture are historical in nature. And great blocks of that historical material is to be found in the form of biography.

13:00 And God says that that scripture, with its great blocks of historical narrative, and within those great blocks, many large blocks of strict biography, are profitable for doctrine. Profitable for training in righteousness. Profitable to teach the way of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. So, in summary, I would say this passage alone would give all the warrant we need to study Old Testament Bible characters, seeking to see illustrated in those characters, and in the events of their lives, as recorded by the Holy Spirit, a fleshing out into living characters of the vast array of glorious biblical doctrine taught by the sum total of the witness of Holy Scripture. We can see in those lives

14:20 what it is to be a godly man, a godly woman. What it is to be shut up to the only way of life and salvation through the intervention of the Holy Spirit. And we can see in those lives what it is to be a godly man, a godly woman. the Lord Jesus Christ.

14:36 Suffice it to say that according to this passage, long term ignorance of these characters can only leave us, to some degree, deficient in doctrine and in life. If the scriptures are given to make the man of God complete, and it's the Old Testament scriptures, In particular, and much of the Old Testament is Bible biography, then to be deficient in the knowledge of those biographies is to some degree to be deficient in doctrine and life as a new covenant believer. So, in answer to the question, what is the biblical basis and background for a study of Old Testament characters? My first part of the answer is, the general biblical basis for the study of Old Testament characters is rooted in the teaching of 2 Timothy 3, 14-17.

Specific Biblical Basis: Using Characters for Basic Bible Doctrine

15:44 But now, secondly, the specific biblical basis for using these characters for teaching basic Bible doctrine. You see, we're moving from the general now to the specific. The specific biblical basis for using these characters for teaching basic Bible doctrine. these characters for teaching basic Bible doctrine.

16:09 Some might say why we should get all of our major doctrinal formulations from such books as Romans and Ephesians and the other New Testament epistles. And in a very real sense, the Old Testament, particularly biography, the history of Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel and Enoch and Noah and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and the patriarchs, surely whatever is there, we would not really be too deficient in doctrinal understanding if we were simply to limit the source material for our understanding of Bible doctrine to the rich, dense doctrinal deposits in the epistles, the epistles of the New Testament. Well, is that the way the New Testament writers themselves viewed the situation? I want you to note with me, and I've only picked five specimens. These could be multiplied, but these are the five that as I prepared, I felt gave a broad enough spectrum, I hope, to convince the judgment of every fellow and girl and man and woman that this is a proper way to handle these Old Testament characters.

17:26 Let us take, first of all, the doctrine, the high doctrine of God's free, sovereign election of grace. The exercise of His own prerogative to sit upon a throne when He determines to show mercy to equally hell-deserving sinners. Some have the notion God can be enthroned in every activity He chooses except His saving activity. He can make a world when He wants to, make as many galaxies as He wants to, how He wants to, when He wants to, can put the seas where He wants to.

18:04 God can be sovereign in anything and everything, but if He would show mercy to sinners, He must get off His throne and cease to be a sovereign showing mercy. And the teaching of the Bible is He is a sovereign in all of His works. And even His love is exercised freely and sovereignly. And it is in the history of, of two Old Testament characters that that doctrine is powerfully illustrated.

18:36 In fact, when Paul is arguing with great intensity in defense of that doctrine, he reaches back to two Old Testament characters in order to buttress it. Turn, please, to Romans chapter 9. Romans chapter 9, where we see the inspired apostle, an organ of new, true covenant document revelation in the book of Romans saying, as he seeks to demonstrate that God's promise to save His people has not failed. For God's true people have always been a select people, a people of promise, not those who merely had the right bloodlines. Verse 6 of Romans 9. It is not as though the word of God is come to naught, for they are not all Israel. It is not as though the word of God is come to naught, for they are not all Israel that are of Israel, neither because they are Abraham's seed are they all children, but in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

19:44 That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are the children of God, but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed. For this is a word of promise. According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only so, and now we have a bit of history, but Rebekah also having conceived by one, even by our father Isaac for the children being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that is in their own life history, this does not deny their solidarity in Adam, their badness in Adam, but having done nothing yet in their own life history, good or bad, no virtuous deeds to present to God, to tip the scales, no vicious deeds to tip them the other way, that the purpose of God according to election might stand not of works, but of him that calleth. It was said to her, a bit of Old Testament history from the biography of these two men, the elder shall serve the younger, and then a quotation from Malachi based upon that activity of God, even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. Now what is the apostle doing?

21:10 He is demonstrating that God's free sovereign electing activity is fleshed out and powerfully illustrated in the case of Jacob and Esau. In the case of Isaac and Ishmael, there were such differing factors someone might argue, that well those factors foreseen by God make the difference. But now here is Rebecca impregnated by the same man. So there was no distinguishment in the sperm which entered her womb and impregnated her.

21:51 And there are twins in her womb. And they have no brownie points nor check marks against them in her womb. Before they do anything good or bad in their life history, God sovereignly says the elder shall serve the younger. And behind that exercise of God's sovereign right, lay the disposition of free sovereign love.

22:25 Jacob have I loved, Esau I hated. There was a discrimination illustrated in that historical narrative that takes the doctrine and as it were sets it before us in such concrete terms that we must either fall down before a God like that and say, Oh God, you have a right to be God. Or rise up in arrogance and defiance and run the risk of entering into the lists and into conflict with this God who is a consuming fire. But the high doctrine of election is buttressed and illustrated from the narrative, the biography of these twins, Jacob and Esau. We could also illustrate it as seen in Luke 4.25, but in the interest of time we'll pass over it where Jesus takes a couple of incidents again from Old Testament biography. But now what about the glorious doctrine of justification by faith apart from circumcision, and the works of the law?

23:39 Oh, you say that's the teaching of Romans. Yes, it is. But it's interesting that when Paul comes to nail that truth down with authority, he doesn't do it on the basis of some additional revelation given to him. But by going back to the historical circumstances in which God dealt with Abraham, both with reference to speaking to him and saying, You're justified.

24:06 And with reference to the timing of his circumcision. And bound up in when God justified him and when God directed him to be circumcised, Paul says, is this tremendous demonstration that justification is by faith apart from circumcision and the works of the law. Romans chapter 4, What then shall we say that Abraham our forefather hath found according to the flesh? For if Abraham were justified by works, he has whereup to glory, but not toward God.

24:41 For what saith the Scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. And that's a quote from Genesis 15, 6. Now then, drop down to verse 9, and notice how the historical facts recorded in the biography of Abraham are woven into the argument.

25:04 Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision? Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision? Or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say, to Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness.

25:16 How then was it reckoned? When? Adverb of time. Think of the narrative.

25:22 When did God say this to him in the biography of Abraham? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? When did the word of God say, When did the word of God say, It was reckoned unto him for righteousness? And if we read the narrative, it's clear.

25:43 Abraham was not yet circumcised in Genesis 15, not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision later on, Genesis 17, a seal of the righteousness of the faith, which he already had when he was uncircumcised. Well, if he had uncircumcision, he would have been circumcised. He had the righteousness received by faith when he was not circumcised.

26:13 And before the ceremonial law was imposed by God upon his own covenant nation, God is loudly proclaiming to the world this doctrine, manner justified by faith apart from circumcision and the ceremonies of the Mosaic economy. And the whole doctrine you see is embedded in the facts of the history of this man, Abraham. So when people say, Oh, you can't find high doctrine in simple biography. Well, we've seen Paul finds the high doctrine of election in biography.

26:53 He finds the high doctrine of justification by faith apart from circumcision and the works of the law. But then thirdly, the doctrine of the nature of saving faith as always productive of good works. That's also found in the history of the life of Abraham. Turn to James chapter two, a vital doctrine.

27:17 The Bible, which teaches that we are saved by faith alone, also teaches the faith by which we are saved is never alone. Miss either one of those and you miss the teaching of scripture. Yes. Justified through the instrumentality of faith alone.

27:41 Yes. Justified through the instrumentality of faith alone. Yes. Justified through the instrumentality of faith alone.

27:43 But that faith that unites us to Christ and brings us into the possession of his virtue. It is that faith which is never alone, but always productive of a life of obedience. And that's the great burden of James in his epistle. And so we find in James chapter two, James also uses a little dipping into an Old Testament character to prove his thesis.

28:11 James chapter two, verse 20 articulates the heart of his burden. Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? A barren faith is no saving faith. Saving faith is never barren, but very fruitful.

28:31 Was not Abraham our father justified by works in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God. What is he doing?

29:05 He is arguing from a historical incident in the life of Abraham to demonstrate, not only what we have heard from this pulpit as another dimension of justification, actual justification, declarative justification, but also to demonstrate that the nature of that faith highlighted in Genesis 15, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness. That was no barren, dead faith, but it was that very faith that in chapter 2 enables him to demonstrate that he loves God more than he loves his own son. By faith he offered up Isaac. It wasn't a different grace at work. It was the same grace at work in a different area. That's all.

30:01 And whenever there is the faith of God's elect, the saving faith, the fruit of God's regenerating work, that faith will not only be seen, in that it fastens upon Christ alone as he's offered in the gospel for acceptance with God, but that faith will be operative and demonstrate that that Christ has become to us the pearl of great price, and that we love him more than even the fruit of our own union with our wives. And any faith that doesn't demonstrate that God is loved above all else and all men, and all others, is not a faith that saves. It's a dead faith. It's a barren faith. It's a vain faith.

30:51 And how does James prove that vital doctrine so crucial in our day of shallow believism? He proves it by dipping into a little bit of Abrahamic biography. You convinced yet? It's right to read those biographies, snooping around for the glorious doctrines that are fleshed out in those biographies.

Specific Biblical Basis: Using Characters for Christian Living and Warnings

31:16 Let me take another. The doctrine of God's preservation of his true children in spite of abounding wickedness. Where is that doctrine taught in Old Testament biography? Well, turn to 2 Peter chapter 2.

31:30 In 2 Peter chapter 2, Peter's been warning, as Paul warned Timothy. It's amazing how many whole chapters are given over in the New Testament to warning about spiritual declension these days in which we live between the two comings. I frankly cannot understand those who believe in the so-called doctrine of the latter-day glory. The vision of some of our old Puritan forefathers and the vision of some in our day that there's going to be this marvelous great outpouring of the Spirit in which we'll basically have a converted world prior to the coming of Christ.

32:10 Seems to me that every explicit warning about what to expect is in another direction. Frankly, it doesn't wash with me. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find one sinner on the earth? That's not what Jesus said.

32:25 Shall he find thee faith in the earth? And Peter again brings that gloomy prospect. Chapter 2 verse 1. There arose false prophets among the people as there shall also be false teachers who will privily bring in destructive heresies.

32:43 And then he mentions and describes what their heresies will be and how successful they will be and how destructive they will be. But now he wants to encourage the people of God. They say, wait a minute, Peter. If they're so subtle and so persuasive and so many are going to follow them, what hope is there for me that I'll be preserved?

33:04 He said, just go back and read a little Old Testament biography. Look, verse 4. If God spared not angels when they sinned but cast them down to hell, spared not the ancient world but preserved Noah, turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, now verse 7, and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked, for that righteous man dwelling among them in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their lawless deeds. If God spared not angels, if God spared not the ancient world, but only the remnant, Noah and his family, and if God delivered righteous Lot with his soul vexed and tormented with that ungodliness, but God almost dragged him out of Sodom and Gomorrah before hell rained down out of heaven. He says, learn this from that Old Testament biography. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation.

34:15 God knows how to keep his people in the worst of times. Fret not, child of God. Yes, I told you some dark, dreary, foreboding things. But don't fret.

34:29 Tremble in unbelief. Study some Old Testament biography and take hope. He delivered righteous Lot. He knows how to preserve his people.

34:43 Now isn't that a glorious doctrine, the preservation of the saints? But when you see it fleshed out in the life of a man like Lot, it becomes an exhilarating doctrine. You mean even, even. If I'm at a low peak in my spiritual experience and you see some of the blots and blotches upon Lot, God will yet preserve me?

35:07 Yes. You say, that's a dangerous doctrine. Well, there's no doctrine that isn't dangerous if you've got an evil heart to use it to hang yourself. God's doctrines all have enough rope with which people can hang themselves, but they also make ladders to climb to heaven.

35:24 And whether you make a rope to hang yourself or a ladder is your business, and God isn't going to change a rope. But I thank God for that doctrine. If I thought that somehow, in some period of spiritual dullness, there could be such a combination of forces as would wrench me from my union with Christ, I think I'd become a hermit. But I'd have to take myself into my hermit's hold and that would be enough to scare me yet more.

35:55 What's my confidence? The Lord knows how to keep His people. Look at Lot. Study Lot!

36:01 And learn the doctrine of preservation. You see? And then one more illustration of how you find high doctrine in Old Testament biography. The doctrine that regeneration always produces a life of love.

36:17 And where do we find that doctrine? 1 John chapter 3. Look at it. One of the great emphases of John in his first epistle is to give us the marks of those who are born of God.

36:31 By this we know that we are born of God, if. By this we know that we know Him, if. And one of the cardinal marks of a regenerate man or woman is that he has love to his brethren. Verse 10 of chapter 3.

36:47 Already having emphasized this two or three times in the epistle, John, as the Lutheran commentator Lenski sets forth, I believe accurately, John, unlike Paul, Paul argues in logical blocks. He lays a foundation block and then puts another on it, another on it, another on it. You get the first block right and see the cement that connects it. You get the next block right and the cement that connects it.

37:12 You follow the argument. But John argues like a spiral staircase. And he brings in an incident here, moves on to another, and before long he's around to it again, only a little step higher. But look down and there it is.

37:24 And you come around and you hit it again. And this thing here you hit again. Well, one of those steps that recurs about every third step in the spiral staircase is John's emphasis that love is a cardinal mark of new life in union with Christ. Verse 10.

37:41 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. And now Old Testament biography.

38:00 Not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil and his brothers righteous. He says reflect upon that ancient story.

38:18 In Genesis 4 of the first two children born. Of the first two parents, Cain and Abel. And in this man Cain is the negative example. He was a child of the evil one.

38:32 His alignments were with the seed of the serpent. He was not of the line of the seed of the woman. And he showed his alignments by his hatred manifested in murder. How does John buttress in this?

38:48 To illustrate the doctrine. That regeneration always produces a life of love. By dipping into ancient Old Testament biography. Now obviously more examples could be brought forward.

39:02 To demonstrate that fundamental doctrines are clothed in living features. And the activities of living men and women. And it is not irresponsible or fanciful. Or a forced use of scripture to study those biographies.

39:22 Looking for the doctrines which they enflesh. We may state it this way. That the New Testament gives us the keys. For the unlocking of the riches of doctrine.

39:37 In the treasure chest of Old Testament characters. And in that treasure chest of Old Testament characters. Are marvelous examples. Of the great doctrines that may be stated with more technical precision.

39:54 In many parts of the New Testament. With greater verbal density. But they are beautifully illustrated. Some of us can still remember the first time.

40:05 As we were just beginning to really revel in the doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty. Over every facet of his world. And we were studying the life of Elijah. And we came to the incident.

40:17 Where the brook Kireth dried up. And the water was no longer there to nourish him. And it says God sent ravens morning and evening. With flesh and bread to feed him.

40:30 And when you think of a raven. A carnivorous flesh eating bird. In the midst of a famine. In all likelihood that bird came to the widow.

40:40 The window of the very place where Jezebel was feeding the prophets of Baal. And took the true prophet's portion. And God in his sovereignty disposed the disposition. Of a flesh eating bird.

40:52 In the midst of a famine. To carry the flesh in its beak. And not to steal a bit. To drop it fresh.

41:02 Into the hand of the man of God. You see the sovereignty of God takes on tremendous life, livingness, color. When we see it fleshed out. In God overruling the very disposition he gave to a raven to eat flesh.

41:18 And to suspend that disposition for a couple of hours a day. That he might feed his prophet. Is God sovereign over all things? Well hopefully as we study these Old Testament characters.

Specific Biblical Basis: Illustrating Christian Life and Calls to Repentance

41:32 We'll have that experience many times over. Well more quickly now. Having demonstrated the general biblical basis. For the study of Old Testament characters.

41:42 Second Timothy 3, 14 to 17. The specific biblical basis for using these characters. For teaching basic Bible doctrine. We've looked at five passages.

41:53 Now thirdly the specific biblical basis. For using these characters to illustrate and enforce. Valuable lessons concerning the Christian life. And the call to repentance and faith.

42:10 Is there some specific basis. For using these characters to illustrate and enforce. Valuable lessons concerning the Christian life. Is it right to use these biographies.

42:26 And find in them calls to repentance and faith. Again as with doctrine. Some might say surely. The teaching of the Christian life.

42:38 Is set forth in Romans 6 to 8. And 12 to 16. In Ephesians 4 to 6. Colossians 3 and 4.

42:45 And first Thessalonians and the book of Philippians. Surely that's sufficient. As new covenant believers. To teach us all our duty.

42:53 And to enhance. And to impel and motivate. To all the graces. Of a spirit filled life.

43:01 Well my answer is. If God thought that were so. Why did he preserve the Old Testament for us. And say it is also profitable for.

43:08 Reproof, correction and discipline. Or training in righteousness. No. God has given us.

43:17 A marvelous doctrine of the Christian life. In Old Testament. Biography. Let's take a couple of illustrations.

43:30 The classic one. I'm sure that's already come. Or I would be surprised. If it had not already come to the minds.

43:35 Of not a few of you. Is Hebrews 11. The great theme of Hebrews. Is the necessity of persevering faith.

43:44 Under the better things. Of this better covenant. With its better priesthood. Its better sacrifice.

43:53 And having said in verse 39. Of chapter 10. But we are not of them. That shrink back to perdition.

44:00 We are not of those who apostatize. But of them that have faith. Under the full salvation of the soul. And now we have chapter 11.

44:10 Which focuses upon. The actings of this persevering faith. And how does the writer to the Hebrews. Set forth his doctrine.

44:20 Verse 4. By faith Abel. 5. By faith Enoch.

44:26 7. By faith Noah. Verse 8. By faith Abraham.

44:30 And all the way through. He describes. Not faith. In some technical.

44:34 Philosophical. Complex. Description. But he shows.

44:38 Persevering faith. In action. In terms. Of snippets.

44:42 In terms. Of things. In terms. Of things.

44:46 In terms. Of things. In terms. Of things.

44:50 In terms. Of things. Of things. In terms.

44:54 Of things. Of things. Of things. Of things.

44:58 Of things. Of things. Of things. Of things.

45:03 And the. And the. And he says. When you read.

45:07 Your old. Testament. Don't. Read.

45:11 These. Things. As. Interesting.

45:16 And fascinating. Stories. Read. Them.

45:20 As. The. Examples. more. In other words, the richest deposit of the actings of persevering faith is not found in the New Testament. It's found in the Old Testament. Does that shock you? Well, it shouldn't. There's simply a lot more biography in the Old Testament than in the New. New Testament biography is primarily taken up with our blessed Lord, some of his intimate associates, and those people who come into play in the expansion of the church in the first century. But Old Testament biography is taken up with great epochs of time as God deals with his people throughout the ages, and therefore the richest deposit of how that faith works, and how it manifests itself, and how it is strengthened and weakened and attacked, how it shows itself in vigor and full-blown action, and how it is manifested.

Specific Biblical Basis: Illustrating Virtues and Warnings Against Sin

46:21 When it is dampened by an evil heart of unbelief. And then one of the incidents I love to contemplate in this regard is in 1 Peter chapter 3. Remember what we're trying to show now, the biblical basis for scrutinizing Old Testament biblical characters and looking for vital lessons of the Christian life. 1 Peter chapter 3, Peter has exhorted wives to take the place of loving submission to their husbands.

46:55 And he says in verse 5, For after this manner aforetime the holy women also who hoped in God adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands. Now he's going to illustrate it. As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord. What does he do? He reaches into a segment of the narrative from Genesis 18, when the angel of the Lord, the angel of the Lord, the angel of the Lord, the angel of the Lord, the angel of the Lord, the angel of the Lord, the angel of the Lord, the angel of the Lord, the angel of the Lord, has appeared to Abraham. And when he's so old that the Bible said his body's as good as dead, and it hath ceased to be with her after the manner of women, God has made a marvelous promise, saying, I will certainly return to you when the season comes round, and lo, Sarah your wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard in the tent door which was behind him. Apparently she was hiding behind the tent flat. And she heard the announcement of the Lord. And she heard the announcement of the Lord.

47:55 And how did she respond? Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age. It had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. She'd passed through the change of life. Her childbearing days were over. And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I'm waxed old, shall I have pleasure, my Lord being old also? She's giggling in unbelief at the promise of God. What a terrible thing.

48:26 To be giggling, at least inwardly, in unbelief at the promise of God. It wasn't hidden from God. Jehovah said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child who am old? Is anything too hard for Jehovah? He saw it was a giggle of unbelief. But in the midst of it, the virtue of her submission broke through when she addressed, she spoke of Abraham as her Lord. You see that in the passage?

48:59 It says, She laughed within herself, saying, After I'm waxed old, shall I have pleasure, my Lord being old also? And the one thing the Holy Spirit picks out of that whole incident is the virtue of her godly submission and highlights it in the New Testament.

49:20 So that very practical virtue of godly submission is based upon the word of a woman giggling in unbelief behind a tent flap. So we can go poking behind tent flaps looking for practical lessons. And we're not forcing the word of God in any way. And I invite you to come snooping behind tent flaps with me to see what lessons of the Christian life God has tucked away for us. What about the necessity of patience in suffering? And in the light of the time, as it quickly gets away, let me just mention James 5, 10, and 11, where we are told to take the prophets for an example of suffering. And then he focuses upon Job, the necessity of confidence in earnest prayer. Later on in the same chapter, Elijah, a man of like passions, prayed and it rained not. He prayed again and it

50:21 rained. Oh, what lessons there are on the duties and privileges of prayer, the duty and privilege of bearing up in patience in the face of suffering. But now what about warning, against sin and calls to repentance and faith? Well, let's take just two examples quickly. In Jude 11, Jude 11, three Old Testament characters are mentioned in one verse. Woe unto them, speaking of these false teachers, these who turn away from the light and privileges they have, even as God's ancient people turned away, even as. Angels turned away, those fallen angels, verse 11, woe unto them, for they went in the way of Cain,

51:19 ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. And there he expects that we will go back and study those incidents. What is the way of Cain? It's the way of the formalist who thinks he can bring an offering to God and be accepted regardless of the state of his heart and the pattern of his life. The issue is not blood sacrifice as opposed to non-bloody sacrifice. I don't believe that can be substantiated exegetically. The issue is Cain did not come in faith. He did not come in a way of righteousness. His deeds were evil and his

52:05 brothers righteous. By faith Abel offered unto God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain. So he's the picture of the formalist and when we study the life of Cain and Abel I've let slip what we're going to study. Some of you can collect your bet money tonight or hand it over tonight. Seriously there we have a warning about the formalist and when we study the way of Cain we're to study it. in such a way that we feel a war coming upon us if we are mere religious formalists thinking that by going to church and taking the wafer and taking the cup and going through the motions we're right with God. We need to be warned if such formalists are here tonight God says woe woe woe to you if you belong to the society of Cain. And what is the society of Balaam? That's covetousness. Who for

53:08 money would see Cain? He would seek to pervert the very word of God but God restrained him and he says even the dumbass spoke to restrain the madness of the prophet. It's the covetous man. He's willing to even stretch and twist God's word if he could for a buck. Woe to any covetous man in this place tonight. God warns you by Balaam.

53:35 And what is the warning of Korah? That's the warning of rebellion and ambition for power. Remember Korah? How can we forget it? During the pastor's conference comes to Moses you take too much upon yourself. We all have the spirit. What he was saying is ain't left enough room for me to move get out of the way. And God opened up the earth and swallowed him. And anyone sitting here tonight with a spirit of rebellion to God's dealings with you and God's disposition and where he's placed you in your job. In any other sphere that involves relationships to others God issues a warning to us. Remember what Jesus said? Remember Lot's wife. Simple little word. He says think back. Her body was out of

54:30 Sodom but her heart was still there and God turned her to a pillar of salt. You may be externally out of the Sodom of this world but your heart has never left this world. My friend sooner or later God will reveal you to be what you really are. Your body your external practice is out of Sodom but your heart and your affections are still in Sodom. That pillar of salt preaches a message. Get yourself by the grace of God body and soul out of Sodom or you'll be judged by God. Remember Lot's wife. You see the Bible's full of this. Now I come around full circle and conclude with this final point very briefly.

The Overarching Redemptive-Historical Backdrop: Genesis 3:15

55:22 Having looked at the general biblical basis for the study of Old Testament characters the specific biblical basis for using these characters to establish doctrine specific biblical basis for using these characters to flesh out virtues of the Christian life to issue warnings against sins to make a call to repentance and reformation. Fourthly and finally what's the basic background and framework for our study of these characters. old testament characters in trying to set this out in a way would make it stick this was helpful to me i hope it's helpful to you while the drama of each of these characters unfolds coming across the stage of the pages of old testament history unlike a broadway play or an opera at the met there is not a constant changing of the scenery in the backdrop act one may have as its backdrop a night scene with some willow trees act two the backdrop may be a village square and and an eating place and as the plot unfolds and the different characters come there is a changing

56:39 backdrop but there is one backdrop to every single one of these actors who comes in the will of god the stage of old testament history and you know what that backdrop is it's the backdrop of genesis 3 15 and i want us to turn there as we close tonight not for an exhaustive exposition but just to sketch in that backdrop and to bring our message to a conclusion you'll remember the setting man has sinned against god adam and eve have run from god they've aligned themselves with the serpent whom we know was the tool the instrument of the devil himself he is called that old that ancient serpent the devil and now the alignment of the man and the woman is with the arch enemy of god and god comes to deal with the man with the woman and with the serpent and notice what he says he begins speaking to the serpent in verse 14 and jehovah god said unto the serpent and still speaking to the serpent verse 15 i will put enmity between thee and the woman you see what

58:01 it happened the woman had aligned herself with the serpent god says i'm going to break up that alignment that's grace i'm going to put enmity division where there is now union when she listened to your voice and took an eight and gave to her husband she cast in her lot with you satan but i in gracious omnipotence i'm going to alter this arrangement i'm going to put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed he shall bruise thy head and thou shall bruise his heel i heard a sermon by the late professor john murray on this text and as long as i have something less than great advantage i will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thee you be forgive me for that i was an agonist and i measure plenty that folly for all my zombines then the semicolon to err and this is true for six months to you shall turn this into sufficient peace and работу and as long as thou shalt work thy word that thou shalt know that thy God is quench the pain and fear of Class A you shall be Prophet and square and gotta stand to thy words you

59:24 his heel a minor wound in the process and there is the seed declaration of god that contains the heart of god's commitment to gospel mercy to sinners god says the human race in adam and eve has aligned itself with the devil but i will intervene and put enmity and i will not only put enmity between the woman and the serpent but between her seed and the seed of the serpent now obviously both seeds come out of the woman physically but spiritually that one seed that comes out of the woman will be broken into two seeds a seed that will be on this side of god's cleavage of grace aligned with jehovah god in redemption mercy and those whose alignments remain with the devil the seed of the serpent and then he says that will eventually be consummated when in the process of time there will be a bruising of the

60:44 very head of the serpent you want to kill his snake shoot him in the head not the tail you want to kill a snake bash his head on the rock not his tail and the seed of the woman who eventually is you christ he crushes the head of the serpent in the process his heel is bruised his heel is crushed but that is only a minor wound in the pursuit of his conquest and when we pick up the old testament dear people what we pick up is a backdrop in which that drama is being unfolded god who injected the enmity is perpetuating it and we will see that seed of the woman that godly seed and it comes to light in the first two children born able one has alignments god's gracious intervention one has alignments with the serpent for he was a what from the beginning a murderer and all the way through no matter which life we study

62:01 there is the same backdrop on the stage god's mighty intervention in grace injecting enmity perpetuating enmity and consummating enmity in the conquest of christ the seed of the woman over the serpent and all who are united to christ share in his conquest my friend what are your alignments what are your alignments that's the great issue so that when we focus on cain and focus on abel let's always keep the backdrop in our peripheral vision and ask where am i on that stage what are my alignment and if this night you are not aligned with him who has crushed the serpent's head i plead with you go to this god of grace and ask him for jesus christ's sake to have a mercy upon

63:21 asking to break the chains by which the devil finds you to use настоящing shells finally to him 各 should we not simply looking at the historical み a little historical can yanose that have some interesting information of the unfolding of the great on her bitch and chef And that our hearts may long to flee from the patterns of those whose alignments are with the devil. And find ourselves with those alignments who are with the seed of the woman. Let us plead that God will bless us in our study. And cause many to be brought into that proper alignment. And that all of us shall grow in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Of our privileges in him.

Conclusion and Prayer

64:21 Of our duties. And of his grace toward us his people. Let us pray.

64:28 Our Father we thank you for your holy word. We thank you for the clear warrant established from the New Testament. That it is right for us to study these Old Testament characters. It is right for us to look for the establishment and illustration of doctrine.

64:49 For the establishment of doctrine. For the establishment and illustration of doctrine. For the setting forth and the enfleshment of the Christian life. And to see warnings and admonitions.

64:57 And calls to repent. And to flee from the wrath to come. And always to look for your mighty activity. In carrying on that enmity injected.

65:11 Until it is consummated in the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh Lord do bless your truth to our hearts. Send us. Send us on our way rejoicing in you the God of gracious sovereign saving intervention.

65:28 For we know had you not come and injected the enmity. We would all be aligned with the serpent in time and for eternity. Thank you for your grace. And may that grace rest upon us as we leave this place.

65:45 We ask in Jesus name. Amen.