R.C. Sproul

Now, I know I'm saying that at a time in history where there has been wholesale rejection of of the authority of sacred scripture. But there's a reason why we have it on the front of our bulletin every Sunday morning. Because in this church, we believe that the truth of God stands or falls with the integrity of the apostolic word that comes to us in the Bible.

Now, I know I'm saying that at a time in history where there has been wholesale rejection of of the authority of sacred scripture. But there's a reason why we have it on the front of our bulletin every Sunday morning. Because in this church, we believe that the truth of God stands or falls with the integrity of the apostolic word that comes to us in the Bible.

The supreme source for the content of Scripture is not some person who's spinning out yarns and myths from his own perspective, but the claim that the apostle is making here, the apostolic claim, is that the source of Scripture is God Himself, that God breathes it out.

The supreme source for the content of Scripture is not some person who's spinning out yarns and myths from his own perspective, but the claim that the apostle is making here, the apostolic claim, is that the source of Scripture is God Himself, that God breathes it out.

Today we're going to begin with the first of these five means of grace, and that is to do with how we study the Bible. And to start, I want to look first of all at what the Bible says about the importance of Bible study. So I'll direct your attention initially to Paul's second letter to Timothy. to the third chapter.

Today we're going to begin with the first of these five means of grace, and that is to do with how we study the Bible. And to start, I want to look first of all at what the Bible says about the importance of Bible study. So I'll direct your attention initially to Paul's second letter to Timothy. to the third chapter.

Now, it's important for us to understand the context in which the apostle writes the admonition that we're going to read in a few moments, that Paul is at the very end of his life. He stands accused by the Roman government. He is under a death sentence, and he is awaiting his imminent execution. And so, his final advice to his disciple Timothy is contained in this second letter to him.

Now, it's important for us to understand the context in which the apostle writes the admonition that we're going to read in a few moments, that Paul is at the very end of his life. He stands accused by the Roman government. He is under a death sentence, and he is awaiting his imminent execution. And so, his final advice to his disciple Timothy is contained in this second letter to him.

And so, as we read it, we observe that what Paul is instructing his disciple Timothy to do, by extension, has enormous relevance for us. Now, he says in chapter 3 in verse 12, "'Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.'" But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."

And so, as we read it, we observe that what Paul is instructing his disciple Timothy to do, by extension, has enormous relevance for us. Now, he says in chapter 3 in verse 12, "'Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.'" But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."

Now, that's the immediate context in which he gives the following exhortation. He's talking about how facing persecution is the lot of every Christian and the Christian community. And Paul, in the midst of this violent persecution under the emperor Nero, is saying to Timothy, hey, things are going to get worse.

Now, that's the immediate context in which he gives the following exhortation. He's talking about how facing persecution is the lot of every Christian and the Christian community. And Paul, in the midst of this violent persecution under the emperor Nero, is saying to Timothy, hey, things are going to get worse.

and worse, and people are going to come along who are imposters, who will seek to defraud you, to lead you into falsehood, who will deceive the people of God, and they themselves are deceived. And so this problem of deceiving people by distorting the truth of God is one that presents itself as a major problem in every generation and for every Christian community.

and worse, and people are going to come along who are imposters, who will seek to defraud you, to lead you into falsehood, who will deceive the people of God, and they themselves are deceived. And so this problem of deceiving people by distorting the truth of God is one that presents itself as a major problem in every generation and for every Christian community.

And the apostle following after Jesus is profoundly concerned that Christian people be solidly rooted and grounded in the truth so that they may not be deceived and led astray by false teaching. I'll just say in passing that just recently there was this major television program that

And the apostle following after Jesus is profoundly concerned that Christian people be solidly rooted and grounded in the truth so that they may not be deceived and led astray by false teaching. I'll just say in passing that just recently there was this major television program that

a network television dealing with the nature of the quest for the historical Jesus put on by members of the Jesus Seminar. And when I read the results that are published by the Jesus Seminar people, where they gather together and they debate among themselves,

a network television dealing with the nature of the quest for the historical Jesus put on by members of the Jesus Seminar. And when I read the results that are published by the Jesus Seminar people, where they gather together and they debate among themselves,

what is authentic in the New Testament, what can justly be attributed to Jesus, and what is an accretion that is added on by some later editor or redactor or so on. And we see in this Jesus seminar an unbelievably biased group of skeptics who have ripped the Scriptures to shreds.

what is authentic in the New Testament, what can justly be attributed to Jesus, and what is an accretion that is added on by some later editor or redactor or so on. And we see in this Jesus seminar an unbelievably biased group of skeptics who have ripped the Scriptures to shreds.