The Power Of The Scriptures - 2

Paul has one mandate and one only. You see, this is Paul’s dedication, direction and declaration. He has dedicated his life to Jesus, the Living Word, and is now under Jesus’ direction. He cannot but declare the things of Christ Jesus. Is this not what we also see in his Master and Lord, Jesus? In these words of Jesus, does He not show His life’s dedication to His Father in heaven? Does He not make it abundantly clear that He is under the direction of His Father and He will declare all that is His Father’s?

Will you listen with deep, Spirit-filled hearing? Most assuredly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. John 5: 19b. Jesus’ mission was His Father’s mission and even in the synagogues, He declared the things of God, His Father. Paul is under this discipline, just as his Lord, in that he publishes, not himself, but Jesus, just as Jesus published not Himself, but His Father in heaven.

Paul, speaking in the synagogue, uses the Scripture as the infallible, efficient, effective and ever-powerful fountain and source of all truth. He reasoned with them from the Scriptures. Paul’s reasoning, explaining and demonstrating all truth, was firmly rooted and grounded in the Scriptures. He never based and grounded his preaching on his experiences, as miraculous as they were. He never used any great present-day happening of his time, as the source of his reasoning. Even if there might have been some spectacular occurrence in town, which occurred the day before, Paul stuck to the Scriptures as the one and only source of his reasoning. Is this not true of his Teacher, Jesus?

Jesus spoke by the Scriptures and through the Scriptures, in His wisdom. In the synagogue we note how Jesus used the Scriptures. When Jesus stood up to read and the Book of Scriptures was handed to Him, it is interesting how Jesus opened it and found the specific Scripture from which His living text would be based. We see how Jesus made the Scriptures, which were dead in the hands and on the lips of the priests and teachers, come to life in His Hands and on His lips. Eyes were fixed on Jesus, so all bore witness to Him and the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. Luke 4: 22a. Like his Master, Paul made the Scriptures come alive and made it all relevantly true to all.

Paul reasoned, explained and demonstrated that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead. Paul read to the congregation, using the Scriptures that Christ, Messiah, had to suffer, die and rise from the dead. Then he tells them that Jesus, whom he is preaching to them, is Messiah, Christ. Are we able to see the same with Jesus? Can we say, as we saw with Paul, that Jesus his Master also read – reasoned, explained and demonstrated - truth to His hearers, using the Scriptures?  Study these few examples.

Reasoned - Jesus is being objected to by Pharisees and Scribes who are telling Him how disingenuous and misleading He is to the people. Jesus is reasoning with them, but to no avail. He then tells them that the only reason they are being so objectionable to Him, is because of what the Scriptures say about people such as they are. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying. Matthew 15: 7.

Explained – Jesus is listening to His disciples speak about Elijah and what the leaders say about him coming first. Jesus explains it all to them. He answered and told them, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Mark 9: 12a. Then Jesus goes on to explain about what is written in the Scriptues. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I say to you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.  Mark 9: 12b - 13

Demonstrated – Jesus is walking along the road with two of His disciples, who are all sad and disheartened. As they walk and talk, Jesus shows them truths about Himself, and He demonstrates these facts using the Scriptures. Then He said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? Luke 24: 25 - 26 

Although these examples are few, they are most adequate and will suffice in convincing the believer of the absolute power and proficiency of the Scriptures. They are, without doubt, most necessary, as we have seen with both Paul and our Lord and Master, Jesus. The Scriptures are the Word of God and it is a living, active, doing Word. The Word must always be our source, our fountain, as it never ever runs short or runs out. God’s Word is our forever, flowing fountain.

It is from Scripture, a true believer is able to Reason about the things of Jesus.

It is from the Word of God, a genuine believer is able to Explain about the things of Jesus, Saviour of the world.

It is from the Bible, an astute believer is able to Demonstrate the things of Christ Jesus.

Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.