Pieper, 1968, Chapter B3, “The Verbal Inspiration of Holy Scripture”

Chapter B3, “The Verbal Inspiration of Holy Scripture”

Pieper appeals to the biblical text for documentation of verbal inspiration of Scripture. Based on 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21 he establishes a biblical claim to divine inspiration. He then discusses additional ideas which he ties to the Scriptural view of inspiration.

1) Inspiration is not that of topics or people but of words, since the Scripture consists of words. Pieper concludes that this inspiration of words extends to the specific words used.

2) Inspiration is not merely guidance or protection from error. If that is the extent of inspiration the Scripture is left a merely human word.

3) Inspiration extends to all of Scripture, including those things commonly known to “everybody” at the time.

4) Inspiration requires inerrancy. In a quotation of Quenstedt, Pieper offers inerrancy in the original text as that which the Bible claims.

5) Inspiration includes God giving authors the desire to write.

Sermon for 3/12/14 "What Does God Say?"

Sermon: What Does God Say?


Matthew 4

We are surrounded by many trials.
 mistreatment at the hands of others (1 Cor.)
 scorn
 fear - from within and from without
 even the danger we consider when we try to follow God’s command
   giving
   moving
   trusting
   surrendering our sovereignty
Bottom line question - is God good to his word?
What did he tell Abraham?
 go to the place I will show you
 I will make you a mighty nation
 I will bless you
 I will make you a blessing to all nations
Does God keep his word?
 always
 not always in ways we can see
 sometimes through others
 sometimes through his supernatural means

We can always be secure as we are trusting in Jesus, the one through whom God has blessed the entire world.

Kilcrease, 2013. Chapter 5, “The Mystery of the Person of Christ, Part 1”

Chapter 5, “The Mystery of the Person of Christ, Part 1”

Kilcrease now moves into a discussion of descriptions of Jesus’ person and work in terms of dogmatic theology. First he observes that his perspective will be that of the historic creeds recognized by Lutherans. the Bible will be seen as normative. Kilcrease states that in the abstract, the person and work of christ can be separated, but in the concrete, they cannot.

Kilcrease speaks in the language of postmodern philosophy throughout this chapter, with narrative creating reality and meaning. Because of this tendency it is difficult to identify his concrete, underlying points. It seems that he is affirming Jesus’ work to be that of giving himself to this world in order to triumph through death and resurrection.

This emphasis on sin and salvation, alienation and restoration leads Kilcrease into a discussion of the mystery of Christ and his context within creation. Theology then becomes the practice of bringing the message of, or rather, the reality of, the incarnation to our world. This message creates something. It is not clear what it creates, whether faith, conviction, or maybe reality. Through the messages God convicts of sin and shows his forgiveness. This forgiveness is delivered through trust in Christ and his Word, rather than trust in our own opinions. The Law of God then becomes again that which encourages us to righteousness.

While in the time before the Fall God’s Law only showed his people what was good, after the Fall the Law always accuses us. In Christ we find ourselves trusting God’s Word again. This, God’s self-donation, ends my need to give myself to pay for sin.

Pieper, 1968. Chapter B2, “Holy Scripture Identical with the Word of God”

Chapter B2, “Holy Scripture Identical with the Word of God”

Modern theology objects to the Early Church and the Reformation because of its dependence on Scripture. Identifying the “Word of God” with the writings of the Bible is seen in modern theology as an attempt on the part of theologians to grasp power by a claim of divine mandate. This position on Scriptural authority is taken unapologetically by the Apostles, by the Reformers, and by the Scripture itself.

Pieper discusses and illustrates how the Old Testament is used extensively within the New Testament and is considered God’s Word. He also illustrates New Testament statements which equate other parts of the New Testament with God’s authoritative word. The Reformers, especially Luther, took a very high view of the Bible, affirming that their writings were true only insofar as they agreed with the Bible. Pieper’s conclusion is that just as the apostles were considered mere men by their critics since they appeared perfectly normal, so the Bible is considered by its critics to be a normal, human book. Yet he will defend the Scriptures as the very Word of God.

Tillich, 1948. Chapter 20, "Born in the Grave"

Chapter 20, “Born in the Grave” pp. 164-168

Matthew 27:57-66

Tillich tells the story of people during World War 2 who escaped gas chambers and lived in hiding in a graveyard. A baby boy was born in a grave then, after three days, had nothing to drink but his mother’s tears. “Could this be the Messiah?” asked the grave-digger. Tillich’s observation for us is that we are not easily enough shocked by the accounts of the Gospel or the Creed. The Messiah must be one who dies, as he is overcoming death. The Christ was dead and buried. He was all the way dead, really dead. There is no sugar-coating to the work of Jesus. However, he rose again from the dead, an act which shows his victory. It is only when we grasp the reality of Jesus’ death that we can comprehend the wonder of the resurrection.

Sermon for 3/9/14 Led by the Spirit

Sermon: Led by the Spirit

We live in a world full of trials and temptations.

 still want to be led by the Spirit

 how?  what spirit? where?

In Adam the garden becomes a wilderness.

 fall prey to temptation

 start seeing Law as that which kills

What of Jesus? He surely is led by the Spirit!

 into the wilderness

 Mark says with wild animals

 surrounded by the law of death

 understands our weakness

We who have been led by the Spirit know our frailty.

What will we do? What did Jesus do?

 tempted to take matters into his own hands

 refused - life is receiving from God, not forcefully trying to recreate something.

Does this this mean that we do not stay active?

 No, it means we invite others to believe, to receive, to know the grace of God in Jesus.

In this way the leading of the Spirit is complete. He takes us out of the place we are by nature - sinfol and unclean in Adam. He brings us into the place of the Gospel, as those who have been rescued by Jesus' perfect life, death, and resurrection. We live, and call the world to live, in that perfect grace.

Sermon for 3/7/2014 World Day of Prayer - John 4

Streams in the desert

John 4

Jesus in a dry place

 Samaria

 People who have departed from promises of God

 People in bondage

 No hope

 No inheritance

 Dry and weary land, hard to get water

What happens when the woman meets Jesus?

 First would ignore him

   Jewish man would have nothing to do with any Samaritan

   Much less a woman who was at the fringes of society at best

Jesus approaches her with something very simple.

She would like to hide but he is the only one with forgiveness and life.

What has made our world dry?

 Sin

 Doubt

 Anger

 Pride, prejudice

 Neglect

Whatever the story we all arrive together at the well

 Deep, no rope, no bucket

Who has an answer? Only Jesus.

 All the other religions in this world finally look to us as our own savior. Only Christianity has that focus in what God has done for us.

 Came in the person of Jesus, God the Son, to bear our sins

 Entirely man, entirely God

 Perfect sacrifice

Loved us while we were still sinners

Died in our place

Promises an inheritance to all who trust him.

Springs of living water

Nourishment in Word and Sacrifice

Everlasting hope in sure and certain promises

All this only in Jesus, the only hope for the world.

Jesus calls all people to trust only in him

Jesus calls you and me to trust him as the only savior of the world.

Join as we pray for the redemption of those who are far away, without hope, alienated from the true and living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Lord, have mercy