God's Plan: Silence, Scripture, and Salvation

 

Summary

In reflecting on the profound actions of God throughout history, we see a pattern of divine intervention and periods of seeming silence. From the flood to the crossing of the Red Sea, God has shown His mighty power. Yet, there were long stretches where God appeared inactive, allowing humanity to question His presence. This delay, from a human perspective, serves a greater purpose: to silence the devil, God's great antagonist, who accuses God of unfairness. God has given humanity every opportunity to save itself, yet all efforts have failed, proving His justice and the futility of human endeavors without Him.

The Apostle Paul, in his writings, emphasizes the continuity of God's plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament. He insists on the importance of the scriptures, not as a departure from the past but as a continuation of God's grand purpose. This is evident in his letters, where he consistently references the Old Testament to validate the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul’s method was to reason from the scriptures, demonstrating that the Messiah was always meant to be a suffering servant, fulfilling the prophecies of old.

Paul's insistence on the scriptures serves multiple purposes. It establishes that the gospel is not a new teaching but a fulfillment of what was promised. It also addresses the Jewish expectation of a political Messiah, showing instead that Jesus fulfilled the role of the suffering Messiah. Furthermore, Paul uses the scriptures to address the Jewish problem, explaining that the current state of Israel is a fulfillment of the doctrine of the remnant, as prophesied.

For us today, these lessons underscore the importance of knowing and understanding the scriptures. The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is a complete revelation from God, inspired and authoritative. It is crucial for us to grasp these truths firmly, as they equip us to answer questions and defend our faith.

Key Takeaways:

1. Divine Timing and Silence: God's timing often includes long periods of silence, which serve to demonstrate human inability to achieve salvation without Him. This silence ultimately silences the devil's accusations against God's fairness. [13:36]

2. Continuity of God's Plan: The gospel is not a new doctrine but a continuation of God's plan from the Old Testament. This continuity is crucial for understanding the fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus Christ. [22:30]

3. Scriptural Validation: Paul consistently used the Old Testament to validate the gospel, showing that Jesus was the prophesied suffering Messiah. This method underscores the importance of scripture in understanding and defending the faith. [25:28]

4. The Doctrine of the Remnant: The current state of Israel is not a denial but a fulfillment of scripture, demonstrating the doctrine of the remnant. This understanding is vital for addressing questions about God's promises to Israel. [29:02]

5. The Completeness of the Bible: The Bible, comprising both the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and inspired revelation from God. It is essential for believers to know and understand the scriptures to effectively live out and defend their faith. [31:22]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [13:21] - God's Mighty Actions and Silence
- [14:27] - Silencing the Devil
- [15:19] - The Apostle's Emphasis on Scripture
- [16:10] - Justification by Faith
- [17:01] - Beginning and Ending with Scripture
- [18:26] - Paul's Method of Preaching
- [19:49] - Proving Christ through Scripture
- [21:25] - The Importance of Old Testament Knowledge
- [22:30] - Continuation of God's Purpose
- [24:05] - Paul's Preaching Points
- [25:28] - The Suffering Messiah
- [27:45] - Addressing the Jewish Problem
- [29:28] - The Role of Scripture Today
- [31:22] - The Completeness of the Bible

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 1:1-2
2. Acts 17:2-3
3. Romans 9:6-8

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Observation Questions:

1. What examples of God's mighty actions and periods of silence are mentioned in the sermon? How do these examples illustrate God's timing? [13:21]

2. How does the Apostle Paul use the Old Testament scriptures to validate the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the sermon? [19:31]

3. What is the doctrine of the remnant, and how does it relate to the current state of Israel as discussed in the sermon? [29:02]

4. How does the sermon describe the completeness of the Bible, and why is it important for believers today? [31:22]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of divine timing and silence challenge or affirm one's understanding of God's presence in their life? [13:36]

2. In what ways does the continuity of God's plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament impact the understanding of Jesus as the Messiah? [22:30]

3. How does Paul's method of reasoning from the scriptures serve as a model for defending the faith today? [19:49]

4. What implications does the doctrine of the remnant have for understanding God's promises to Israel and the church? [29:16]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's silence in your life. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [13:36]

2. How can you deepen your understanding of the Old Testament to better appreciate the continuity of God's plan through Jesus Christ? [22:30]

3. In what ways can you incorporate reasoning from the scriptures into your conversations about faith with others? [19:49]

4. How does understanding the doctrine of the remnant influence your view of current events in Israel and the broader church? [29:16]

5. What steps can you take to ensure that your study of the Bible is comprehensive, including both the Old and New Testaments? [31:22]

6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust in God's timing. How can you actively practice patience and faith in this area? [13:36]

7. How can you use the scriptures to address questions or doubts you or others may have about the faith? [29:57]

Devotional

Day 1: Divine Timing and Silence: God's Purpose in Waiting
God's timing often includes long periods of silence, which serve to demonstrate human inability to achieve salvation without Him. This silence ultimately silences the devil's accusations against God's fairness. During these times, it may seem as though God is inactive, but these periods are intentional and serve a greater purpose. They allow humanity to recognize its limitations and the futility of trying to achieve salvation without divine intervention. This divine silence is not a sign of absence but a strategic pause that highlights God's justice and the necessity of His presence in our lives. [13:36]

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel God is silent? How can you trust His timing and purpose during these periods of waiting?


Day 2: Continuity of God's Plan: From Old to New Testament
The gospel is not a new doctrine but a continuation of God's plan from the Old Testament. This continuity is crucial for understanding the fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul emphasized this in his writings, showing that the gospel was always part of God's grand design. By referencing the Old Testament, Paul demonstrated that Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophecies and promises made long ago. This understanding helps believers see the Bible as a cohesive narrative that reveals God's unchanging purpose and plan for humanity. [22:30]

"Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'" (Isaiah 46:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding the continuity of God's plan from the Old to the New Testament change your perspective on the Bible as a whole?


Day 3: Scriptural Validation: The Role of the Old Testament
Paul consistently used the Old Testament to validate the gospel, showing that Jesus was the prophesied suffering Messiah. This method underscores the importance of scripture in understanding and defending the faith. By reasoning from the scriptures, Paul was able to demonstrate that the Messiah was always meant to be a suffering servant, fulfilling the prophecies of old. This approach not only validated the gospel but also addressed the Jewish expectation of a political Messiah, showing that Jesus fulfilled the role of the suffering Messiah. [25:28]

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27, ESV)

Reflection: How can you use the Old Testament to deepen your understanding of Jesus as the Messiah and strengthen your faith?


Day 4: The Doctrine of the Remnant: Understanding Israel's Role
The current state of Israel is not a denial but a fulfillment of scripture, demonstrating the doctrine of the remnant. This understanding is vital for addressing questions about God's promises to Israel. Paul explained that the situation of Israel was prophesied and that a faithful remnant would always remain. This doctrine helps believers understand that God's promises are being fulfilled, even when they may not align with human expectations. It also reassures us of God's faithfulness to His word and His people. [29:02]

"And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled. The holy seed is its stump." (Isaiah 6:13, ESV)

Reflection: How does the doctrine of the remnant help you understand God's faithfulness to His promises, even when circumstances seem contrary?


Day 5: The Completeness of the Bible: A Unified Revelation
The Bible, comprising both the Old and New Testaments, is a complete and inspired revelation from God. It is essential for believers to know and understand the scriptures to effectively live out and defend their faith. The Bible is not just a collection of ancient texts but a unified narrative that reveals God's character, purpose, and plan for humanity. By studying both Testaments, believers can gain a deeper understanding of God's revelation and be better equipped to answer questions and defend their faith. [31:22]

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the Bible as a complete and unified revelation from God?

Quotes


permissions there are accounts here of the tremendous activity of God when he came in as it were and erupted onto the human scene and did things the flood Sodom and gomorra crossing the Red Sea entering into Canaan the Waters of the Jordan being divided and so on the mighty actions of God oh yes but there were long periods when God seemed to be doing nothing and permitted all sorts and kinds of things to happen and people said where is your god and then God acted and finally acted in the sending of his son [00:13:07]

so you see the very delay as it were we shouldn't use the term but from our human standpoint there isn't a better one but this tremendous length of time between the fall and the coming of the son has demonstrated and established all these things I'm not at all sure in my own mind that finally the ultimate reason is this that the devil should be silenced who is God's Great antagonist and who is always ready to say that God is dealing with mankind unfairly [00:13:49]

I believe that the ultimate purpose of this long Gap this great interval was that the mouth of the devil might be silenced God has given mankind full opportunity to save itself to put its World in order to emancipate itself he's blessed them in spite of their sin he chose this people he gave them a law still nothing worked and he allowed all these efforts and endeavors to be made and they all came to nothing the devil is silenced and God is just [00:14:31]

why do you think the Apostle insinuated this statement you know he he always does this I just glanced at this in passing last Friday evening let me show it you still more even you see here in the introduction when he rarely is wanting to rush on to his big statement which is the gospel of God concerning his son whom he's going to describe ah but even before he says that he must say this which he had promised a four time by his servants the prophets in holy scriptures [00:15:30]

now now why did he do that why why did he feel he must do it and why did he always feel he must do it because he does the same thing in the third chapter in the 21st verse but now he says he's got his great argument here on justification by faith therefore by the Deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sin but now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the law and the prophets [00:16:08]

Paul as his manner was there you are went in unto them and three Sabbath days what did he do reasoned with them out of the scriptures he didn't tell them stories he didn't talk about himself and illustrate them with affecting stories he didn't just conduct singing he reasoned with them out of the scriptures opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead and that this Jesus whom I preach unto you is Christ [00:19:06]

you see his method the scriptures Old Testament Moses and the prophets the Lord the prophets he took them and he reasoned with them out of them proving and alleging demonstrating his point that was his method and then you remember when he writes his first epistle to the Corinthians there was trouble in that church at Corinth since the Apostle had been there there had been other teachers and so on he writes a letter and in the 15th chapter he begins like this [00:19:49]

first epistle chapter 15 moreover Brethren I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you which also ye have received and wherein ye stand by which also ye are saved if he keep in memory what I preached unto you unless you have believed in vain for I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose the third day according to the scriptures [00:20:15]

the Jews had got an idea of the Messiah that he was going to be a great military and political personage who would come along and set up a great Kingdom and found a great Army attack the Roman conquerors and Destroy them and become a great world ruler immediately their ideas were material istic mercenary they thought purely in those terms in a nationalistic manner and to them the idea that this Carpenter was crucified in weakness could conceivably be the Messiah was unutterable nonsense [00:24:37]

the first thing the Apostle had to do therefore when he preached to Jews was this was to prove to them out of their own scriptures that the Messiah must need suffer that the Old Testament scriptures had always taught that the Messiah was going to be a suffering Messiah a suffering servant one who was going to be rejected and put to death he must need suffer be put to death and Rise Again from the dead if he couldn't establish that how could he possibly convince them [00:25:19]

Paul in chapter 8 has been telling these Roman Christians about The Marvelous Promises of God that they needn't worry that there are all these great Promises of God behind them and around them and the moment he said that somebody got up always and said this oh that doesn't help us very much because we read our Old Testament scriptures and we see there The Marvelous promises that God gave to the Jews Jews but what of the Jews now they don't seem to be much in evidence in your church [00:27:58]

the Apostle simply by going through the Old Testament scriptures show that the doctrine of the Old Testament scriptures is ultimately the doctrine of the remnant they are not all Israel that are of Israel there's a flesh an Israel of the Flesh and Israel after the spirit he proves it from the scriptures so that what is happening he says far from being a denial of the scriptures is a fulfillment of the scriptures but of course if he didn't know his scriptures if he didn't bring this in he couldn't have done that [00:28:56]

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Transcript
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