Psalm 1:1-3
“Seven Broad Biblical Principles” (nos. 1-4)
Pastor Martin introduces a two-part series on 'The Healthy Christian and His Reading Habits,' focusing in this sermon on four foundational biblical principles. He expounds passages like Psalm 1, Matthew 4, and Psalm 119 to establish the supremacy of Bible reading, then uses Titus 1, 1 Timothy 6, and Romans 16 to underscore the necessity of discernment in all other reading. He further argues from Isaiah 8, 1 Thessalonians 5, and Acts 17 that all human writings must be judged by God's infallible Word, and finally, drawing from Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 3, he asserts that healthy Christians are conscientiously bound to utilize Christ's gifts in the printed page when providentially available. The sermon aims to cultivate a Bible-conditioned conscience regarding reading habits for spiritual health and maturation.
Primary Texts
Topics
Outline 8 sections · 56 min
- Introduction to the Series: The Healthy Christian and His Reading Habits 0:00
- Principle 1: Prize Bible Reading Above All Other Reading Matter 4:28
- Application of Principle 1: Self-Examination 15:04
- Principle 2: Exercise Discernment in Reading Beyond the Bible 16:29
- Principle 3: Judge All Human Authors by the Infallible Word of God 28:46
- Principle 4: Conscientiously Use Christ's Gifts in the Printed Page 38:25
- Concluding Application of Principle 4 and Summary of All Four 51:54
- Prayer for a Bible-Conditioned Conscience 54:38
Key Quotes
“The healthy Christian will prize his reading of the Bible itself above all other reading matter.”
“But it is that person whose delight is in the law of Jehovah itself. Primarily and fundamentally his mind and spirit are in direct contact. With the word of God itself.”
“It is amazing how many people think if someone's thoughts or opinions are embalmed in printer's ink, that makes them as true as God Himself.”
“You have heard it said, you are what you eat. Well, in a very real sense, you will be spiritually what you read.”
“To the law. And to the testimony. If they speak not according to this word. Surely there is no morning for them.”
“But though teachable they were not naively gullible. Examining the scriptures daily. Whether these things were so.”
“He'll end up crippled. With serious error. Because God has given these to us. For our being equipped. For service. Our being built up. Our being brought to maturity.”
“If an apostle. Never outgrew. His conscience. In the matter of using. Christ's gifts. Contained in the printed page. When they're providentially available. Who in the world do you and I think we are. To be so presumptuous.”
Applications
Believers
- Seek to be brought to a new level of a Spirit-Bible-conditioned conscience for increased maturation and usefulness.
All listeners
- Ask yourself if reading the Bible is your chief delight and primary source of knowing God's mind and will; if not, recognize a spiritual malady and change your ways.
- Exercise discernment with respect to all reading matter beyond the Bible, recognizing that 'you will be spiritually what you read.'
- Plead with God for discernment before picking up any book other than your Bible.
- Pray that God will illuminate your mind when you pick up your Bible.
- Cry to God for the ability to exercise your divinely given birthright and responsibility to judge all human authors by the infallible Word of God when reading any human author.
- If you providentially have access to Christ's gifts embodied in the printed page and do not use them, you are guilty of arrogant, prideful presumption.
- Make it a matter of conscience to use Christ's gifts contained in the printed page when they are providentially available.
- Consider these matters and have dealings with God in light of them.
A full transcript is available on the tab. 227 paragraphs, roughly 56 minutes.
Introduction to the Series: The Healthy Christian and His Reading Habits
The following message was delivered on October 4th, 1992, in the adult Sunday school class of the Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, New Jersey.
Now those of you who regularly attend this adult class are aware that in recent weeks we have been privileged to have Pastor Steve Hoffmeier, our missionary to the Philippines, presenting to us a rich study of the biblical teaching concerning the missionary mandate of the Church. And God willing, two weeks from today, Pastor Steve will complete that series of studies on the Lord's Day, which marks the beginning of our annual Pastors' Conference. Now since this class is designated as a framework for dealing with the Bible, for dealing with matters not as appropriate for the morning or evening ministries of the Word in our regular worship services, or for dealing with subject matters appropriate for those services, but dealing with them in a format of teaching not suited to those services, I will be taking the next two classes to lead you in a very practical and vital area of concern to any congregation seeking to learn the Bible. This is a subject that, to my knowledge, though we have occasionally touched upon it in various ways by way of application in this class,
and even in the ministry of the Word, it is a subject that I do not believe has ever been taken up and addressed in a concentrated way. And that subject that we'll take up today and, God willing, next week, is entitled, The Healthy Christian and His Reading Habits. The Healthy Christian and His Reading Habits. Now, in using the term, The Healthy Christian, I am simply seeking to make a distinction which the Bible makes between the Christian who is presently in a good spiritual state, that is, a state of present realized communion with God, a good blood-washed conscience, one who is walking in the Spirit, as opposed to a Christian who may be presently in a condition where the Spirit is chronically grieved, a condition of arrested growth, such as we read about in 1 Corinthians 3 and Hebrews 5, or, Now, since I'm assuming that all true Christians desire to be healthy Christians,
and that many of you are presently healthy Christians, I have chosen the title, The Healthy Christian and His Reading Habits, so that if you are a healthy Christian, hopefully these things will not only disrupt, but encourage you to perhaps improve on those habits, and for you who are not in a presently healthy spiritual state, that by the grace of God you'll take the shortest route into such a state, and know what place your reading habits will then have in maintaining and increasing in that condition of spirituality. will help. Now, what I propose to do in these two sessions is, first of all, to set before you seven broad or general biblical and practical principles. I hope to cover the seven of them today, but since this is the first time I've prepared and presented this material, I may not cover all seven, but hopefully, if I don't cover all seven, the one or two remaining ones will form the first part of our study next week, and then the second broad body of our study will be that
Principle 1: Prize Bible Reading Above All Other Reading Matter
of making a specific application of these principles in terms of actual suggested reading material in the various categories that will be mentioned today. So today, my goal is to set out the broad biblical and practical principles, and then next week to flesh out those principles with specific suggestions, hopefully even putting something in your hand that will constitute a working bibliography of books that, by and large, would be helpful to the vast majority of the people of God in this place. So then, let me begin with what my goal is for today, namely the stating of these principles. Principle number one. The healthy Christian will prize his reading of the Bible itself above all other reading matter. The healthy Christian will prize his reading of the Bible itself above all other reading matter. The healthy Christian will prize his reading of the Bible itself above all other reading matter.
above all other reading matter. Now, when I speak of other reading matter, I mean devotional books, commentaries, books on the Christian life, the newspaper, news magazines, pamphlets, etc., etc. And I'm asserting that the healthy Christian, whatever else he may read of either Christian literature or of secular literature, the healthy Christian will prize his reading of the Bible itself above all other reading matter. Now, on what grounds do I make this assertion? Well, I want you to turn with me to Psalm 1. Which is one of the pivotal passages that undergirds this principle.
For here the blessed man is described first negatively. Oh, the blessedness of the man that walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. But his delight is in the law. And on his law doth he meditate day and night.
And then such a healthy Christian is described under the figure of a well-watered and fruitful tree. He shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also doth not wither. And whatsoever he doeth shall. Because the root system of his inner life is in direct contact with the only pure stream of truth, the word, the law of Jehovah, the blessed man is both fruitful and always manifests the vigor of his spiritual life. And notice he is not described as the one who meditates daily.
He is not described as the one who meditates day and night in his favorite devotional book, his favorite Puritan author, his favorite teacher on the Christian life, who meditates on the taped sermons that he or she listens to. But it is that person whose delight is in the law of Jehovah itself. Primarily and fundamentally his mind and spirit are in direct contact. With the word of God itself.
And then when we turn to the New Testament, we find in our Lord Jesus in the setting of his wilderness temptation on the front end of his public ministry. That when he encounters the devil in this fierce hand-to-hand combat of temptation. And as the last Adam tempted. He does not.
Fall. He wards off each temptation by making it known that he is committed to a life framed and shaped and directed by the word of God. And in response to that first temptation to turn stones into bread, our Lord answers, quoting from the book of Deuteronomy, Matthew 4, 4, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word. And there is only one place where we come into direct contact with the words that proceed out of the mouth of God unmixed with any possibility of human error as innocent and sincere as it may be. And that is when our minds and hearts are in direct contact with the words of. Scripture themselves and the picture of a healthy Christian is again and again set before us in varying highlights and side lights in Psalm 119.
And here I refer you to just several verses from that entire song, which celebrates the blessedness of the precepts, the statutes, the judgments, the law, the word of the living God. Notice verse. This is 15 and 16. I will meditate not on the comments of bridges or Spurgeon or anyone else on thy precepts, though that has its place and will come to it.
But I will meditate on thy precepts. That is, I will fix my mind upon the words of God themselves. I will meditate on thy precepts. And have respect unto thy ways.
I will delight myself in thy statutes and I will not forget thy word. Here is the healthy Christian prizing his reading of the Bible itself above all other reading matter. Verse 20. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto.
Not my favorite Christian. Author. But unto thine ordinances at all times. Here was a fixation of soul upon the ordinances of God in all of their naked authority and purity.
Verse 24. Thy testimonies also are my delight and literally the men of my counsel. Not thy testimonies. Not thy testimonies.
Not thy testimonies. Not thy testimonies mediated through this author or that author, this preacher or that. But the testimonies of God themselves were the delight of the psalmist heart and the men of his counsel. Verse 72.
The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. And here again there is this. Expression of delight in direct contact with the primary source of the mind and will of God. The very law that was spoken from his mouth and is embodied in the words of scripture.
Verse 97. Oh how love I thy law. Yes I may love those who expound thy law. Who comment upon thy law.
Who illustrate thy law. Who help explain thy law. But oh how I love thy law itself. It.
It is my meditation all the day. Verse 99. I have more understanding than all my teachers. He was not a man who was indifferent to human instruction.
But he says I have been given more understanding than my teachers for thy testimony. The word of God itself is my meditation by testimonies are my meditation and see there is a contrast here between the human teacher and the direct source of the mind and will of God in the testimonies of God themselves. One final example verse 140 thy word is very pure. It is trying.
Pride and refined thy word is very pure therefore thy servant loveth it. Now surely these verses in their combined impress upon any thoughtful reader underscore this principle that the healthy Christian will prize his reading of the Bible itself above all other reading matter. Therefore. If there is any other reading matter.
Which has replaced your Bible. As your chief delight. And as your primary source of knowing the mind and will of God. There's been a subtle shift.
From the primary source of the nurture of your life. To all be at what may be good but secondary sources. The healthy Christian. Will.
Application of Principle 1: Self-Examination
his reading of the Bible itself above all other reading matter ask yourself then is this true of me if not then to some degree I am afflicted with a spiritual malady and if I don't change my ways I will be vulnerable to other viruses and spiritual diseases in days to come principle number two the healthy Christian will exercise discernment with respect to what constitutes his reading matter beyond the Bible the healthy Christian will exercise discernment with respect to what constitutes his reading matter beyond the Bible unless I am in an unusually disrupted tortured emotional and spiritual state in which case sometimes it's not even safe to read certain portions of the Word of God but in a spiritually healthy state I need never fear to open up to any part of the Word of God and know that I am in a healthy state and know that I am in a spiritually healthy state and know that I am in a spiritually healthy state
Principle 2: Exercise Discernment in Reading Beyond the Bible
that my mind and heart are coming in direct contact with that tried, pure, infallible, spirit-inspired word of the living God. However, the moment I pick up any other reading matter, whether it is Discussions, Evangelical and Theological, Volume 2 by Robert L. Dabney, which has an article to which I will refer later, whether it is my hymn book to read through the hymns of uninspired authors of the hymns, whether it is Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, whether it is the Star Ledger, the New York Times, whether it is religious or secular literature, the healthy Christian will exercise discernment with respect to what God, constitutes his reading matter beyond the Bible. It is amazing how many people think if someone's thoughts or opinions are embalmed in printer's ink, that makes them as true as God Himself. I am amazed how many people say, well this must be so! I read it in such and such a magazine.
I read it in such and such a newspaper. I read it in such and such a book. That's a horribly naive perspective, to have. Books and magazines and pamphlets all contain ideas that are either healthful insofar as they are in touch with truth or poisonous insofar as they reflect error and evil. And Psalm 1, as we read a few moments ago, makes it plain that a healthy Christian rejects certain things. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, who does not stand in the way of sinners, who does not sit and look out at life through the eyes of the scoffer. He is not only described positively as one who has his chief delight in the word of God itself, but one who exercises discernment.
If he does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, the clear assumption is he can identify the counsel of the ungodly and reject it. He knows how to identify the sinner when he puts his thoughts into printer's ink. He knows how to identify the scoffer when he picks up his word processor or when he picks up his pen and puts his writing right here. His thoughts — both in matters of religious ideas and moral standards — we are to avoid all unnecessary contact with that which is false and evil. We are to avoid studiously, conscientiously, all unnecessary contact with that which is false and evil. Now how do we know that? Well, turn to a passage such as chapter 18, verse 5.
Where the blessing comes, it bringsılı Его wigiti . Seleção o offering pedestrians. Because it's not just a person that so also, as a matter of fact, is the Acts of the smokestown. A person can't see themselves in the smokeless world — there will be no fire in their. Instead it does. It is therefore, it is what we callмент & haunting error and unpacking their sins. It's not a surface. It is the sin environment, and that's where these sheep unseen God, the such as Titus chapter 1.
As Paul is writing to Titus, giving to him the biblical standard for elders who will be Christ's gifts to the church for its maturation, its preservation, its growing up into the fullness of the stature of Christ, one of the requirements for such elders is verse 9 of Titus 1. He must be one who holds to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that is, according to the truth of apostolic tradition, apostolic teaching,
that he may be able both to exhort in the sound or healthy teaching and convict the gainsayers. Now, why must he have an ability to bring those things, who speak against the truth, into the open and by means of well-structured, sound biblical arguments, expose them until they stand, hopefully self-condemned in their own consciences, but surely condemned in the consciences of the people of God. Verse 10, for, for, here's the connective. This must be the ability of a public teacher for there are many unruly, unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped. And may I say, it is no stretching of it to say, in a day of the printed page, whose pens must be stopped, whose word processors must be stopped, in old days whose linotype machines must be stopped, whose laser printers must be stopped, as far as they...
they're impinging upon the people of God. Why? Because by the things that they propagate, they are men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not. And here you see that evil is an infectious and powerful thing when it comes floating in the words of those who teach error.
And a discerning, a healthy Christian therefore, will exercise discernment with respect to what constitutes his reading matter beyond the Bible. Turn back to 1 Timothy chapter 6, verses 20 and 21.
A closing exhortation to Timothy in his first letter to him. Oh, Timothy, guard that which is committed unto thee. And that commitment was committed unto thee. It was the commitment of apostolic truth, the body of revealed truth.
Timothy, it is given to you as a steward to maintain it in its integrity, to commit it in its integrity to the people of God. Guard that which is committed unto thee, turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge, which is falsely so-called, which, some professing, have erred concerning the faith. What happened? Timothy, don't follow in the path of those who, not exercising discernment or tempting God, put themselves into contact, unnecessary contact, with false knowledge and have erred concerning the faith as it is in Jesus. There are many more, but I'm trying to confirm these with the required two or three biblical witnesses. Romans 16 and verse 20.
I'm sorry, verse 19. Romans, see if I have the right reference here. Let me stick to my notes here. Romans chapter 16, starting with verse 17.
I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary, to the doctrine which you learned, and do what? Turn away from them. In other words, he expects the Roman Christians to exercise discernment with reference to identifying those who are teaching things contrary to apostolic doctrine. Now, whether they teach it by the living voice or whether they teach it by the printed page, whether they teach it by the airwaves, whether they teach it by the television tube, it matters not.
We are to exercise discernment, turning away from anything contrary to the doctrine, which we have learned. Turn away from them. And then he exposes their motives, for they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus, but their own belly. Then he says, here's their baneful influence.
And by their smooth and fair speech, they beguile the hearts of the innocent. You see, this is not a case of someone who has a devious evil desire and is looking for someone to teach error that will confirm him in his so-called right to pursue his evil desire. That's why some people embrace heresy. They already have a moral controversy with God.
And now they're looking for some teaching, that will take some of the barbs out of their conscience. But in this case, it says these are innocent people. They have no known moral controversy with God. They have up till now been healthy Christians, but they unwisely put themselves in proximity to the poisonous gases of error.
To change the imagery, they began to nibble at the rancid food of error, and their hearts, were beguiled. We could look at Ecclesiastes 9, 17, and 18. We don't have time to do it. I believe I need to pause at this point and say, the finest thing I've ever read that addresses this whole question in a topical manner is in Volume 2 of Dabney.
And I personally hope we can print this in at least an in-house printing job and distribute it among you, the Lord's people. Volume 2, there is an article beginning on page 158 to 169. It's just 11, 12 pages, called On Dangerous Reading. And Dabney was disturbed with what he saw happening in his day, primarily when Christians were reading secular novels.
But almost everything he says with tremendous incisiveness concerning the bane, the sinful effects of the reading, the indiscriminate reading of cheap novels, can be applied one to one to the majority of television watching that is not directly a nature film or something historical, et cetera. Anything that is a so-called innocent diversionary sitcom, family programs, et cetera. I urge you to read Dabney's article, and you will see there is no such thing as an innocent half an hour spent before those things that reflect the evil perspectives of men who have rinsed themselves loose from the truth of the word of the living God. You have heard it said, you are what you eat. Well, in a very real sense, you will be spiritually what you read. Therefore, the healthy Christian will exercise discernment with respect to what constitutes his reading matter beyond the Bible, and he will do so in the light of these biblical principles that I have sought to expound in your hearing.
Principle 3: Judge All Human Authors by the Infallible Word of God
Principle number three. The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God. The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God. The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God.
The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God. The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God. The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God. The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God.
The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God. The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God. The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God. The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God.
The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God. The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors by the infallible word of God. By the infallible word of God.
There's a marvelous text in the book of Isaiah. In which the prophet says in chapter 8 and verse 20. These words Isaiah 8 and verse 20. In the context of condemning the Israelites who had turned as Saul did.
To the seeking of those who have familiar spirits that chirp and mutter. And he said should not a people seek unto their God on behalf of the living. Should they seek unto the dead. To the law and to the testimony.
If they speak not according to this word. Surely there is no morning. There is no dawning of any light. That will be illuminating upon their path.
There will be no light in the way of duty and privilege. To the law. And to the testimony. If they speak not according to this word.
Surely there is no morning for them. The healthy Christian will judge the writings of all human authors. By the infallible word of God. First Thessalonians 5 21.
This has peculiar relevance. Or I should say an intensified relevance. Because here. In the early church.
You had real prophets. New Testament prophets. Who were actually the organs. Of delivering the mind of God.
The Bible knows nothing of two levels of prophecy. Prophecy with a uppercase or capital P. And prophecy with a lower case or small p. Prophecy.
In the old and the new testaments. Is that unique utterance. In which the human instrument. Becomes.
The very mouthpiece of God. So that the prophet's words. If he's a true prophet. Are the very words of God.
And just as in the old testament. There were fake prophets. Who came with mantle. And who came with all the semblance and language.
And said thus saith Jehovah. God's people had to exercise discernment. In seeking to ascertain. Who were true and who were false prophets.
So in the new testament. John says in first John 4. Believe not everything. But try the spirits.
Whether they be of God. Look at first Thessalonians 5 21.
Back to verse 19. Quench not the spirit. Despise not prophesying. Do not treat lightly.
Any message that comes from a new testament prophet. Whom God has raised up in your assembly. But notice. Though you're not to despise the prophesying.
Treat them lightly. Treat them with disdain. You are to prove all things. That is put everything to the test.
And hold fast. That which is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Even when evil thoughts.
Come in the name of someone who stands and says. Thus saith the Lord. You are to put his pronouncements to the test. To the test of what?
To the previous. Proven body of divine revelation. Which at that time would have been the Old Testament scriptures. And the teaching of the apostles.
And this was their responsibility. They were to put everything to the test. And they were to hold fast. Only to that which was good.
And then a text so often quoted in this place. And it bears the weight we place upon it. Acts 17 and verse 11. Here are ordinary people.
Listening to the preaching of the apostle Paul. His reasoning out of the scriptures. Opening and alleging. That Jesus of Nazareth.
Perfectly fulfilled everything. Which the Old Testament prophesied of Messiah. And how did these Bereans receive him? Verse 11 of Acts 17.
Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica. In the Old Testament. In that they received the word with all readiness of mind. They had a teachable spirit.
They were not proud and arrogant. And saying nobody can teach me from nothing. I've got my Old Testament scrolls. And I don't need any human teacher.
No. They received the word with readiness of mind. But though teachable they were not naively gullible. Examining the scriptures daily.
Whether these things were so. They were exercising this God given responsibility. Of judging the pronouncements of this preacher. By the infallible word of God.
This is why in the apostolic prayers that are recorded for us. So often the focus is upon the illumination of the mind. With respect to the truth. And in a special way in Philippians chapter.
1. There is an even intensified emphasis on this very principle. Philippians chapter 1 verse 9. This I pray that your love may abound yet more and more.
How? Go out like Sherwin Williams paint and drip all over the earth. Wherever gravity pulls it. No.
I want your love to abound more and more. Within these channels of what? Knowledge and discernment. So that you may approve the things that are excellent.
That you may be sincere and void of offense. Till the day of Christ. He wants that queen of all of the graces. Which are the fruit of the spirit to abound more and more.
But he wants that love to cut channels that are determined. By knowledge and discernment. John is confident that the people of God. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Will exercise this right and responsibility. Of judging the writings and the pronouncements of human authors. By the infallible word of God. For he says in 1 John 2 and verse 27.
1 John 2 27. And as for you the anointing which you have received of him. Abideth in you. And you need not that anyone teach you.
But as. As his anointing teaches you concerning all things. And is true and is no lie. And even as it taught you.
Ye abide in him. Or abide ye in him. It's one of those forms of the verb. That both the indicative and the imperative.
Are exactly the same in the Greek. So we must try to determine from the context. Whether it's an indicative. You are abiding in him.
Or an imperative. Abide ye in him. But that's irrelevant. For the purposes.
For which I'm bringing this text forward. The point I'm making from it is this. John is confident. That every believer has the indwelling spirit.
Who will function within him. As the spirit of discernment. The healthy Christian. Will judge the writings of all human authors.
By the infallible word of God. Without this. You will remain or become. One of those described in Ephesians 4.14.
Children. Tossed to and fro. By every wind of doctrine.
And that is not what God wants you or me to be. He desires that we be rooted. And grounded in the truth. Therefore plead with God for discernment.
Before you pick up any book. Other than your Bible. When you. Pick up your Bible.
Pray that God will illuminate your mind. In this. His own infallible word. When you pick up any human authors.
Whether it be your newspaper. Whether it be Spurgeon's morning and evening. Whether it be Dabney's article. On dangerous reading.
Whether it be pamphlets. Whatever it be. Cry to God. That you will exercise.
Your divinely given. Birthright and responsibility. To judge all human authors. By the infallible word of God.
Principle 4: Conscientiously Use Christ's Gifts in the Printed Page
Principle number four. The healthy Christian. Will make it a matter of conscience. See some of you taking notes.
So I'll give this slowly. This is the most wordy of all the principles. And I labored long to shrink it. And was unable to do it.
And still say what I wanted to say. The healthy Christian. Will make it a matter of. Conscience.
To use Christ's. Gifts. Contained in the printed page. When.
They are providentially available. The healthy Christian. Will make it a matter of. Conscience.
To use Christ's gifts. Contained. In the printed page. When.
They are providentially. Available. Now what am I talking about? Well turn to Ephesians 4.
Some of you have already anticipated that. I'm sure. Or I would be surprised. If some of you had not.
I am not sure. But I would be surprised. If you did not. And here in Ephesians 4.
The apostle indicates. That it is the ascended Christ. That the flourishing of his church. Gives to his church.
Gifts. For the edification. The stabilization. The maturation.
Of his people. And who and what are those gifts? Verse 11. He gave some apostles.
And some prophets. And some evangelists. And some pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints.
Unto the work of service. And the building up. Of the body of Christ. Now Christ has given apostles.
To his church. He does not continue to give apostles. How do you and I. Receive and appreciate.
To our spiritual maturation. Christ's gift. Of the apostles. Well you say.
I think that's obvious. Someone want to venture the answer. How do we receive Christ's gift. Of the apostles.
And appreciate them. And use them. Jerry. By reading their writings.
As embodied in the scriptures. Of the new testament. How do we receive the word. Of any new testament prophets.
Who were not apostles. But who became penmen. Of the spirit of God. The gospel of Mark.
Mark was not an apostle. But he was a new testament prophet. Who sent him out. To be the one through whom.
We would be given. The gospel of Mark. So recognizing the gift of Christ. In apostles and prophets.
We feel conscience bound. To make use of Christ's gifts. Leaving the off debated question. Of evangelists.
What is their precise identity. And function. Pastors and teachers. They are the ordinary standing.
Gifts of Christ. Though he no longer gives. Apostles and prophets. They are Christ's gift.
But you see they have. Continued to be Christ's gifts. From the apostolic age. Down to this day.
And in the providence of God. Not a few of them. Have exercised their teaching. Pastoring gift.
Not only by preaching. To live congregations. But by taking some of the fruit. Of those labors.
And performing them. In printers ink. And for whom then. Does that wealth of teaching.
From Christ's gifts. Well the scripture answers it. In 1 Corinthians 3. 21 and 22.
This to me is the pivotal text. In answering that question. Here some of the people are lining up. With a carnal party spirit.
Behind not only. Two apostles. But someone who was not. An apostle.
By the name of Apollos. And Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3. Wherefore. Verse 21.
Let no one glory in men. For all things are yours. Whether Paul. Or Apollos.
Or Cephas. Or the world. Or life or death. Or things present or things to come.
All are yours. And ye are Christ's. Gifts are mine. To be used for.
My profit. If he providentially brings them. Within the realm. Of accessibility.
To my own mind. And to my own understanding. And the healthy Christian. Though.
And I go back to principle number one. And I'm in no way neutralizing it. Or in any way. Watering it down.
Though the healthy Christian. Deprives his reading. Of the Bible itself. Of all of the reading matter.
The Christian. Who providentially has access. To Christ's gifts. Embodied.
In the printed page. And does not use them. Is guilty. Of arrogant.
Prideful presumption. That he does not need. Those gifts for his spiritual maturation. And most generally.
He doesn't end up a heretic. He'll end up crippled. With serious error. Because God has given these to us.
For our being equipped. For service. Our being built up. Our being brought to maturity.
No longer unstable. Battered about. Tossed about. Little children.
Now you'll notice. That I use the terms. When providentially. If a man is shut up.
In prison. Away from all living pastoral care. Can Christ keep him. Even without his Bible.
To be read. Yes. And he has. And continues to do that.
In certain parts of the world today. But if a man in the providence of God. Has access to his Bible. And doesn't read it.
Will he be kept healthy. And stable. Will he have access to Christ's gifts. Embodied in their writings.
And out of pride. And out of a notion. I have God. The Holy Ghost.
And my Bible. I don't need human offers. Can he disdain the gifts of Christ. And profit.
No. God will curse his pride. And his arrogance. With spiritual immaturity.
If not actually give him up. It is a matter of conscience. To use Christ's gifts contained. In the printed page.
When they are providentially. Available. Now would someone be serious. About growing in God's ways.
Who despised living teachers. You say of course not. But you know that the pride. And naughtiness of the human heart.
Is such. That going back to the first Thessalonians passage. Paul had to exhort. These young Christians.
Not to regard lightly. Even. Direct pronouncements from God. Coming through New Testament prophets.
Now that sounds impossible to us. Especially in a day. When all these pseudo prophets. In the charismatic movement.
Who say we have the gift of prophecy. And they stand. Some of you have heard them. And with very poor butchered.
Elizabethan English. I the Lord sayeth unto thee. Be not afraid. For I am with thee.
I intend to do a great thing. In thy days. Thou shalt not be fearful of the enemies. For I will conquer them.
And this is supposed to be prophecy. I have magazines in my study. Where at the bottom it says. Holy Spirit prophecies.
And they are put in the same way. That passages of scripture are put. And so you have people. Clamoring after.
So called prophecies. When they are no true prophets. Like Thessalonica. There were true prophets.
Apparently. Or at least one. Who really spoke the word of God. Who gave spirit wrought insights.
With reference to the will of God. And the mind of God. And the salvation of God. Real prophets like Agabus.
Recorded in Acts chapter 21. And yet Paul had dismayed. Don't treat them lightly. Don't despise them.
Why? Because they will be gullible. Or sinfully proud. And will make itself.
The ultimate determiner. Of what is truth. And what is needed. In the way of truth.
No. We need to show the spirit. Of the apostle Paul himself. Who though he was an apostle.
When providentially possible. He also read. Other books. I want you to turn.
The pages. In all of the Pauline. Corpus of literature. Second Timothy.
Chapter four. Second Timothy. Chapter four. Here the apostle knows.
That he has but a short time. And he'll go into the presence. Of his Lord. Says in verse six of chapter four.
I'm already being offered. I'm already being poured out. Of the good fight. I've finished the course.
I've kept the faith. Nothing for me to do now. But just sit around. And think of seeing the face of Jesus.
Nothing to do but sit around. And long for the beatific vision. Nothing to do now. But pray for the churches.
No that's not the apostle. Look at verse nine. Give diligence to come shortly unto me. I don't have much time.
Timothy. Having loved this present world. My heart is grieved. That one whom I previously called Demas.
My fellow worker. Has now forsaken. Having loved this present world. And went to Thessalonica.
Crescens to Galatia. Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you.
He is useful to me for ministering. I've heard the reports of what happened. When Barnabas took him off. After we had this sharp contention.
And now it's evident. That the opinion I then held. Has been overturned by the facts. It was right that I had it then.
But now. He has come to maturity. And he's proven himself. Bring him with you.
Tychicus I sent to Ephesus. Now notice. The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus. Bring when you come.
A cold winter is before me. Timothy. Give diligence to come before winter. A coat that would be like a heavy.
Rough. Double thick shawl. That would keep him warm. There in the dampness of that prison.
But now notice what else he wants. Bring the cloak. When you come. And the books.
The papyri. The Biblia. Which would be made of papyrus. But especially the parchments.
The more expensive scroll. Made of the skin of an animal. Most likely. Though we cannot dogmatize.
Probably having great sections. Of the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Called the Septuagint. Paul's working Bible.
But here he is all ready to go home. And he wants not only the parchments. His Bible. He wants the books.
He wants human authors. To stimulate. To develop. To enlarge.
Now if an apostle. Never outgrew. His conscience. In the matter of using.
Christ's gifts. Contained in the printed page. When they're providentially available. Who in the world do you and I think we are.
Concluding Application of Principle 4 and Summary of All Four
To be so presumptuous. Pretty convicting isn't it. Well. God willing.
We'll take up the following three principles. They will be able to cover them. Much more quickly. At the end of next week's study.
Because it's 10. 29 and 52 seconds. And I want to stick to the time. Let me simply say.
In concluding this fourth principle. In the light of what we heard last week. And I have listened to the sermons. By Pastor Steve.
And by Pastor Lamar. And surely the Spirit of God spoke a clear note. To Trinity Church last week. On the stewardship.
Of responsibility. Both in terms of our gifts. In terms of our opportunities. And our privileges.
And to whom much is given. Luke 12.48 says of him. Shall much be required.
And dear people. In terms of providential availability. Of the gifts of Christ. Who have expressed.
The dimensions of their gift. In the printed page. We are blessed above all peoples of the earth. Thank God.
That more and more solid literature. Is being printed in Spanish. Thank God. That in the languages of Eastern Europe.
Already I was thrilled to hear. That the brethren at Mebane asked permission. Of the banner of truth. To do 20,000 copies.
In the Romanian language. Of my little tract. On what is a biblical Christian. And literature and Bibles.
Are going in by the tons. But dear people providentially. We are surrounded with Christ's gifts. To whom much is given.
Shall much be required. So I leave you then. With these four principles. As we seek to consider together.
This subject. Of the healthy Christian. And his reading habits. Number one.
The healthy Christian will prize. His reading of the Bible itself. Above all other reading matter. Two.
The healthy Christian will exercise discernment. With respect to what constitutes. His reading matter. In the Bible.
Certain things he will willfully refuse. To even open the pages. Of that book or magazine. The healthy Christian will judge.
The writings of all human authors. By the infallible word of God. And the healthy Christian. Will make it a matter of conscience.
To use Christ's gifts. Contained in the printed page. When they are providentially. Available.
Prayer for a Bible-Conditioned Conscience
May the Lord help us. To consider these matters. And to have dealings with God. In the light of them.
Let us pray. Our Father we are again grateful. For the fresh confirmation. To our hearts.
That the scriptures are indeed. The sufficient rule of faith. And of practice. And we thank you that they do.
Contain a doctrine. Of what a Christian ought to do. In this matter. Of having a balanced.
Godly commitment. To reading. And we pray that you would bring us. As a congregation.
To a new level of a spirit. Bible. Conditioned conscience. That by your grace.
There may be increased maturation. And increased usefulness. As we avail ourselves. Of the gifts of Christ.
Providentially set. Before us. Write these things. Upon our hearts.
And help us. That we will not simply. Slough them off. As the mere mouthings of someone.
Who's obsessed with books. Lord may our hearts. Have dealings with you. And with your word.
And may our consciences. Feel the impress. Of that word. We ask in Jesus name.
Amen.
This transcript was generated by automated speech recognition and may contain errors. It is provided for study and reference only; the audio recording is the authoritative source.
Passages Expounded
This psalm describes the blessed man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, serving as the foundational text for prizing Bible reading.
This entire psalm is extensively drawn upon to illustrate the healthy Christian's deep love for and meditation on God's Word above all other writings.
This passage on Christ's gifts to the church (apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers) is central to arguing for the conscientious use of these gifts as embodied in the printed page.
Texts Expounded
Also Referenced
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