GOD'S REVELATION TO MAN
(1 Corinthians 2:6-13)
INTRODUCTION:
1. The consequences of denying God have long hurt societies.
a. Those which turn to paganism suffer in darkness, superstition, and evil.
b. Those which turn to atheism suffer in immorality and social destruction.
2. When nations turn to atheism and its accompanying theory of evolution the price paid is severe.
a. Atheism and evolution make man nothing more than a living organism with no
soul or direction, or purpose.
b. Children with no direction or purpose, with no moral compass, with no better
view of man, have little to hold them back from pulling the trigger on a gun.
3. Men deny God though God's existence has been made evident.
a. His existence is evidenced in the creation (Rom. 1:20).
b. The design within the universe is evidence of a great and powerful Designer (Heb. 3:4).
4. The Sovereign Creator and Ruler of All is God.
a. He has revealed His existence in nature.
b. He has revealed His will in words (1 Cor. 2:6-13).
5. It is the Word of the One True God which provides a moral compass for this life and a
map to guide us into the life to come.
a. It is God's Word which provides direction and purpose in the lives of those who
believe and obey it.
b. It is God's Word which elevates man to a higher level than the animals.
c. It is God's Word which makes man responsible to a higher standard than
survival of the fittest.
DISCUSSION:
I. THE BIBLE GIVES US GUIDANCE.
A. Man cannot guide himself to heaven.
1. Jeremiah said, "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is
not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jer. 10:23).
a. Man cannot see or know all that God can see.
b. Our knowledge cannot, nor will it ever compare to the knowledge
of the One who created this universe in all of its complexity.
c. We simply do not have the ability in and of ourselves to make our
own way to heaven.
2. Solomon wrote, "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man; but the
end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 16:25).
a. When men try to guide themselves without the light of God's Word
they end up in the darkness of denominationalism, paganism, or humanism.
b. Those who go by the standards set by men will be lost.
c. We cannot be guided by what other men say, by what we feel is right,
by family tradition or by anything but the Bible if we want to be in
heaven some day.
e. Those who go by their own standards will find death is the end result.
3. The Bible is the only true and accurate guide to salvation. (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
a. It is all inspired of God.
b. It gives us all that we need to make us spiritually complete.
c. The Bible is the very Word of God (1 Cor. 2:6-13).
e. Who is better qualified to guide man?
1) The One who Created man?
2) The One who was created?
3) Clearly the Creator must be followed.
B. Man needs God's guidance in this life also.
1. When we fail to follow God's guidance through the Bible we will
suffer the consequences. (Gal. 6:7,8).
a. This is true on an individual level as the consequences of sin
sometimes affect people for the rest of their lives.
1) The drug addict destroys his body and life.
2) The gambler looses his home or worse.
3) The fornicator becomes infected with disease and passes it on to
others.
b. This is also true on a national level.
1) When millions are hurting from the painful consequences
of sin you have a nation in trouble.
2) A nation cannot long stand when its citizens reject the Word of
God on a wholesale level.
2. When the Loe we study the more we understand what sin is and how to resist it.
c. The more Bible we know the more pure our hearts and minds become.
d. As we become increasingly familiar with the Bible will become
increasingly aware of Satan's tricks (Eph. 6:11, 17).
C. The Bible gives us strength for enduring suffering.
1. Continual study of the Bible helps us to focus on spiritual things.
a. Focusing on spiritual things can help us endure suffering (2 Cor. 4:17,18).
b. When we put things in Biblical perspective we know the suffering will
someday end, and give way to something far better.
2. Reading the Bible can bring an incredible sense of peace to those in pain.
a. The 23rd Psalm has an unsurpassed ability to comfort people in time of distress.
c. I have seen individual who are suffering intensely grow stronger
spiritually as they thrive on reading God's Word.
IV. THE BIBLE GIVES US HOPE.
A. It gives us hope in all the areas we have discussed.
1. Hope by providing guidance in this life and to eternal life.
2. Hope by giving us purpose in life.
3. Hope by blessing us with great strength.
B. The Bible tells us of many things which ought to cause us to be a people of hope.
1. When death surrounds us take comfort from what the Bible says about
a great resurrection day (1 Thess. 4:13-18).
2. When perversion, darkness, and wickedness surround us, have hope
in the knowledge that our Lord will someday put an end to all of this
(2 Thess. 1:7-9; 2 Peter 3:9ff.).
3. When pain and sorrow are our lot the Bible gives us hope of a place where there
is no pain and sorrow (Rev. 21:4).
4. When sin and its associated guilt is killing us spiritually, the Bible can give
us hope by telling us how God can save us from sin (John 8:32).
CONCLUSION:
1. There is no higher, no more beautiful, no more powerful book than the very one given to
us by our Creator.
2. This book can be a powerful force in our lives to help us cope as it gives us...
a. Guidance.
b. Purpose.
c. Strength.
d. and Hope.
3. These benefits provided to us by God's Word will only come to us if we study and apply the Bible.
a. We need to know what it says.
b. We need to do what it says.
c. Don't let it collect dust on the shelf, for the cost of such neglect will be your own soul.
4. The Bible can give you hope of salvation if you will obey from the heart.
a. Has a knowledge of God's Word produced faith in your heart?
b. Has that faith caused you to repent?
c. Do you have the courage to confess that faith before men?
d. If so, then why not come now to be baptized?