Toronto Young People's Lectures 2015
Vinemount, ON, Canada
November 21, 2015
Lectures
The Word of God
What does the Word of God mean to you? What does it mean to me? I do not merely refer to the volume called the Bible, but the very expression “the Word of God”.
What is said of Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel helps us to understand that a little more clearly. Nebuchadnezzar was an absolute monarch, with full unquestioned dictatorial powers. God gave such power to him that “all people, nations and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; whom he would he kept alive; whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down” (Dan. 5:18, 19).
However, in the matter with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, he challenged God, gave his commandment and saw it carried out. But “God changed the king’s word...” (Dan. 3:28). The most powerful monarch that this world has ever seen realized that the Word of God possessed authority and power over him. How about you and me? Do we recognize the authority that the Word of God possesses?
Introduction
Hadley Hall
The Word of God is to the creature (creation):
- It reveals Himself for His creation: Jn. 5:39; 1 Jn. 1:5; 4:8
- About His creation for His creation: Gen. 1:27; Ps. 51:5; Heb. 9:27
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The Contents: Gal 4:30 “What saith the Scripture?”
It is what is noted in the Scripture of truth (Dan. 10:21)
2 Tim. 3:14-16: Salvation for the child; maturity for the man of God
2 Tim. 3:15: All Scripture
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The Carefulness: Lk. 10:26 (b) “How readest thou?”
Neh. 8:8 ...read in the book distinctly, gave the sense, and caused the people to understand ...
2 Tim. 2:15 ...study to show thyself approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth
1 Tim. 4:13: ...give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to teaching
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The Comprehension: Acts 8:30 “Understandest thou what thou readest?”
1 Cor. 2: 13 in the words ...which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual
2 Pet. 1:20 No prophecy of Scripture
Lecture 1: The Word Of God
John Redekop
Its Nature: The composite of qualities; its essence, that which distinguishes it from all other writings
- Living – Heb. 4:12 (a); 1 Pet. 1:23
- Good – Heb. 6:5
- Incorruptible – 1 Pet. 1:23
- Eternal – 1 Pet. 1:23
- Complete – Ps. 119:89; Dt. 4:2; Rev. 22:18
- Pure – Ps. 12:6; Ps. 18:30; 119: 140; Prov. 30:5
- True – Ps. 119:160; Jn. 17:17
The Word of God brooks no amendment
Its Character: the expression of its essence
- Powerful (operative) – Heb. 4:12; Isa. 55:11
- Separator – Heb. 4:12
- Sphere of operations: physical and spiritual realm – Heb. 4:12
- A discerner (critic) of what is not even expressed – Heb. 4:13
- A revealer – Heb. 4:13
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Source and support of life:
- 1st Creation – Heb. 11:3; 2 Pet. 3:5, 7
- New Creation – 1 Pet. 1:23; Acts 13:26
- Liberating power – Jn. 8:32; Eph. 1:13
- Sanctifying power – Acts 4:31; 20:32
Cf. Jer. 23:29:
- Characteristic of fire: to cleanse (purify); consume
- Characteristic of a hammer: to break the rock (in judgement)
Lecture 2: The Living Word
Gregory Mayhew
- Jn. 1:1-3, 14 His Essential Being revealed to humanity
- 1 Jn. 1:1 His Essential Being for fellowship with humanity
- Rev. 19:13 “As His name is so is He”
- Gal. 2:20 the Son of God (individual confession)
- Dt. 8:3 People called out unto God to live by His Word
- Mt. 4:4ff.; Lk. 4:4 ff. The example of the Lord Jesus for His people: “It is written”, not dreamed, imagined, or suggested by man or any other source. Cf. Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:2, 3; Gal. 1:7
Lecture 3: The Power of the Word: Cf. Lk. 4:32
Joe Wilson
Ps. 33:6, 9; Heb. 11:3; 2 Pet. 3:6, 7 –Created by His Word
Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3 –Sustained by His Word
Mk. 4:35-5:43 –The universal greatness of the Word
Threatened disaster prevented: great storm, great calm
Controlling demons expelled: great herd; great things
Dominating disease healed: great pleadings; great suffering, great relief
Death turned to life: great wailing; great astonishment
Rev. 19:13 universal judgement
Lecture 4: Responsibility to the Word – Dt. 29:29; Cf. Jer. 17:15 –The Challenge
David Rice
- Ps. 119:9:
- The Standard for all
- Ps. 119:11:
- The preventive Capacity for the heart (cf. Prov. 4:23)
- Ps. 119:50:
- Life-giving capacities
- Ps. 119:67:
- The Preserver –cf. Ps. 17:4
- Ps. 119:105:
- 20/20 vision; light for the way –cf. conscience (Rom. 2:15; 1 Tim. 4:2)
- Ps. 119:140:
- enjoyment
- Ps. 119:162:
- to be prized
- Ps. 119:169:
- The measure of wisdom
Lecture 5: Responsibility to the Word of the Lord: the servant’s place of obedience
Brian Baptiste
1 Ki. 13:1-32: The man of God; sent by God; disobedient to God; Cf. Jonah 1:1, 2
How not to do it
The Word of Jehovah (the Lord) x 10: man’s responsibility to God = OBEDIENCE
Isa. 66:1, 2, 5 (a)
Josh 5:13 – “What saith my Lord to His servant?” –the individual responsibility recognised
1 Sam. 15:15 –The corporate responsibility recognised.