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The Lord's Day Bible Message Outlines

October 18, 2009
Pastor Dana Johnson

"God...has...spoken to us by His Son...." -Hebrews 1:1-2

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.

Introduction:

a. Apostate Christianity can be largely divided into two general factions:
1) Conservative, traditional, authoritarian

2) Liberal, progressive, democratic

b. While poles apart philosophically, they share a common fatal flaw: they subvert the authority of Christ.

1. It is clear that there will be no additional revelation from God beyond what was already given by Jesus Christ: "God's last Word."

a. The past tense limits the revelation to that which Christ communicated in association with His first Coming.
Jude 3 - Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

b. The fact that the revelation was given in the last days implies that it is His last revelation.

c. The list of Christ's credentials establishes His supremacy as the Son. This implies that, now that the Son has spoken, there will be no revelation from any other source: neither man nor angels.
Hebrews 1:2-3 - Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

2. The authority of Christ's revelation is understood by His authoritative position relative to Israel and the church.

 a. To Israel, He is the Messiah, the Son of God. Therefore, Israel must receive His word.
Matthew 21:33-42 - "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 34Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' 39So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" 41They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." 42Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?

b. To the church:

1) Christ alone is the head of the church.
Ephesians 1:22-23 - And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

2) Christ alone is the foundation of the church.
Ephesians 2:19-20 - Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone.

3) Therefore, the church must not add to, subtract from or otherwise alter/change Christ's word.

3. Consider the Scriptural emphasis on God's last word through Christ alone:

a. God's last word regarding the gospel.
Galatians 1:6-9 - I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

b. God's last word regarding salvation.
Hebrews 2:1-4 - Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

c. God's last word regarding church ministry.
1 Timothy 1:12 - And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.
1 Timothy 2:7 - For which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle; I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying; a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
1 Timothy 3:14-15 - These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1 Timothy 6:13-14 - I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing,

d. God's last word regarding the future.
Revelation 1:1 - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants; things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.
Revelation 22:18-19 - For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

 
(All Scripture quoted is from the New King James Version)