Gospel Certainty: Gospel of Luke #01
This is an exposition of Luke 1:1-4. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 14, 2016. (We apologize for the poor quality of this recording.)
Intro:
When it comes to your faith do you ever struggle? Do you ever question, wonder, or doubt? I don’t mean fall into rank unbelief but are there times when your faith falters? Are there times when salvation seems improbable if not impossible? Have you ever had nagging questions such as, “Is the Bible really true? Does God actually hear my prayers? Are my sins truly forgiven? Will I really go to heaven when you die?” Poet Roger White spoke of the “mosquito of doubt buzzing around his faith.” We are people of faith. We live trusting in the substance of what we hope for and cling to the evidence of what we’ve not seen. To live by faith is to live trusting in the word and the promise of God. It’s normal to question, to wonder and to struggle. So, Luke wrote a Gospel. Luke the physician, missionary and traveling companion of the apostle Paul took pen in hand to write to his friend Theophilus an “orderly account” of the life and ministry of Jesus. This morning we begin a study of the Gospel of Luke. Our text is found in the opening verses.
Text: Luke 1:1-4
What do we know about this man?
- His name is a Greek name so we assume he is a Gentile.
- Consider also the testimony of Paul – Colossians 4:11, 14:
…and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me…Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas… - Note Paul refers to him as a beloved physician.
- He is without doubt a cultured and educated man.
- We know also he is a careful historian.
- He is universally accepted as the author of both the Gospel of Luke and Acts.
- He was an intimate acquaintance of Paul – “we” sections of Acts and his statement in Col. 4.
- He was with Paul until the end:
Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. (2 Timothy 4:11) - Most also believe Luke to be the fellow worker Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 8:18:
With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.
He is writing to his friend Theophilus.
The name means, “Beloved of God” which has caused some debate.
Is this an individual or a way of referring to believers or the church?
I’m convinced it is an individual due to the fact “Theophilus” was a fairly common name and the fact that Luke adds the descriptive, “most excellent.” Luke used the same descriptor in Acts 23:26 when addressing the Roman governor Felix. So in all likely Theophilus was a real but otherwise unknown nobleman. Whether he was a follower of Jesus we cannot say with certainty but he has at least been exposed to the teaching of Jesus and the Gospel. Luke tells him he is writing to that he might have certainty regarding the things he had been taught.
Luke was writing in the early 60s.
We believe this because there is no mention of the execution of Paul (AD 64-67).
There is no mention of the Nero’s persecution (AD 65).
Why is he writing?
The answer is found in 1:3-4.
Let’s consider our text (Read the text).
Thesis: Certainty or assurance, for the people of God rest solidly in the person and work of the Lord Jesus.
Luke 1:1-4 is one sentence. Within this sentence Luke gives the reason for his writing, the method and substance of his writing and the goal of his writing – that we might be certain of the things we’ve been taught.
Luke wanted to present an account of Jesus’ life and ministry that was historically accurate, carefully researched and well organized.
There are three things I want to drive home from this text.
- Our assurance rest on a faithful historical account of the person and work of Christ.
- This historical account is founded upon the painstaking research of a gifted, trained and inspired scholar.
- This story is told in a careful, orderly manner intended to inspire faith and belief.
Conclusion:
How can we be certain? Luke gives us an answer. We do not look at our own outstanding spiritual performance. Nor do we look back to the moment we first trusted Jesus as if our conversion experience could save us. Assurance does not come by looking within or by having some special experience. The only way we become sure of our salvation is by looking to Jesus!
Thus we need this historically accurate account of Jesus’ life and ministry from a careful, gifted and inspired scholar that leads us to confidently trust in Christ and him alone for salvation.