"Not the word of men... but the Word of God!"

"Not the word of men... but the Word of God!"
1 Thessalonians 2:1-6, 13

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dearly Beloved in Christ,
We suffer in our day from having too much information coming at us to comprehend. This forces us to become extremely selective in what we read, watch and listen to. Unfortunately, we naturally select the easier material to digest in place of solid, substantive material. But we Christians, of all people, ought to make and take time for the Word of God, because no other message can possibly do us so much good in so little time!

Thus faithful preachers refuse to cut down on the Word of God, because God's people increasingly need more of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not less. For we "Believe, teach and confess" in our Church: "Not the word of men... but the Word of God!"

I. We preach the Word of God, not the word of men.

A. Because man's word is never completely right about anything.
1. The creation we contemplate is temporal because of sin.
a. Thus the "laws" which govern our universe are not really universal! (Time, space, matter,
energy, gravity, etc.)
b. So even Christians who are alive at Christ's return must be changed before they can enter
heaven. (1 Cor. 15:50-53)

2. Our human logic is flawed by sin.
a. So that even in the realm of science, yesterday’s “truths” are today’s laughing-stock.
b. Today’s scientific “truths” are just as vulnerable. Those who hook their star to such will be
disappointed.

3. Our natural minds cannot even comprehend a perfect God!
a. (1 Cor. 2:14) "A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are
foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised!”
b. Which is why false prophets can so easily deceive people. (Isa. 52:5)

B. Because God's Word is always perfectly true and accurate.

1. God cannot lie.
a. This does not deny His omnipotence, but is a natural corollary of it.
b. His very Name, “I AM that I AM,” declares this truth! (Ps. 119:89)

2. He has told us all we need to know about us and Himself.
a. That we are helplessly stuck in this thing called sin – so deeply that we cannot even
understand that we are, until His Word reveals it to us by His Law!
b. That He Himself is the only reasonable object of trust. (vss. 6 & 9)

3. Human beings can understand & communicate what God says.
a. 1 Cor. 2:14-16 (Repeat 14 and add 16) "A natural man does not accept the things of the
Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they
are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is
appraised by no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should
instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ!"
b. How? 1 Cor. 2:12-13 "We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from
God, so that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak,
not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual
thoughts with spiritual words." (vs. 13)

II. We preach salvation in Jesus Christ alone.

A. Because it is God's greatest revelation of Himself.
1. That He cares about us sinners.
a. Greater than the 1st Article, though that, too, is true and necessary.
b. Greater than the 3rd Article, without which we could not know it.

2. That He has come in Christ to suffer and die for us. (1 Thess. 1:9-10; Matt. 16:16-17)

3. That He has risen from the dead, returned to His heavenly home, and will soon return for us!
a. The Christian Church Year begins celebrating His 1st coming and ends preparing for His 2nd
coming!
b. When? “Soon,” say the Scriptures. “Any moment now” repeats God’s Word over and over.

B. Because only this Word changes human beings from damned sinners to blessed saints.
1. Such as are willing to preach this Word of God, not for gain, nor to please men, but for Christ!

2. Such as are willing to suffer al things for the sake of this Kingdom, no matter how persecuted.

3. Such as are wiling to listen to and learn the Word of God! (vs. 13)

No other message on earth can do what this Word of God does – save souls for eternity! No other message can reduce our frustration or calm our hearts like Scripture. For there is no one but God who is daily, constantly in control of our lives and destinies. Therefore, no other message is as worthwhile for human beings as this one.

Remember that Jesus promised that when "This Gospel of the Kingdom has been preached in the whole world for a witness to the nations, (only) then shall The End come!" (Matt. 24:14) This is what Isaiah foresaw, c. 700 B.C., saying, “Our SAVIOR has bared His holy Arm in the sight of all the nations, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God!” (Isa. 53:10)
Jesus is that holy Arm of God, who is also the very Word of God by which alone you may be saved. Therefore, may He make you among those who increasingly want to hear it, and who are also privileged to do so throughout their lives, to His glory and to your salvation. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts & minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.