Welcome to Timeless Truth with Pastor Jim Thomas. This season, Pastor Jim is leading us in a study of The Sermon on the Mount.
The Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew, chapters 5-7.
“All the wisdom of this world is but a tiny raft upon which we must set sail when we leave this earth. If only there was a firmer foundation upon which to sail, perhaps some divine word.”
Socrates (469-399 BC)
“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
Psalm 119:105
This is why we keep coming back to the Bible. This is God’s Word: unique in its source, timeless in its truths, broad in its reach and transforming in its power.
Here are four ways to summarize Jesus’ own views of the ancient scriptures:
- Jesus affirmed the authority of scripture.
- Jesus fulfilled the scriptures.
- Jesus regularly taught and quoted from the scriptures.
- Jesus often clarified the real and true meaning of the scriptures.
“Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, with all his supernatural knowledge and wisdom, accepted and endorsed the divine origin and authority of the Old Testament Scriptures. He believed them. He obeyed them in his own life and ministry. He quoted them in debate and controversy.”
John Stott, Christ the Cornerstone
“Christian righteousness is greater than Pharisaic righteousness because it is deeper. It is a righteousness of the heart, a righteousness not of words and deeds only but especially of thoughts and motives. It is in this sense that Jesus was the fulfillment of the law. He took it to its logical conclusion. He looked beyond a superficial understanding of it to its radical demand for heart righteousness.”
John Stott, The Incomparable Christ
“Suppose a number of persons were to take it into their heads that they had to defend a lion, a full-grown king of beasts! There he is in the cage, and here come all the soldiers of the army to fight for him. Well, I should suggest to them, if they would not object, and feel that it was humbling to them, that they should kindly stand back, and open the door, and let the lion out! I believe that would be the best way of defending him, for he would take care of himself; and the best “apology” for the gospel is to let the gospel out. Never mind about defending Deuteronomy or the whole of the Pentateuch; preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. Let the Lion out, and see who will dare to approach him. The Lion of the tribe of Judah will soon drive away all his adversaries.”
C.H. Spurgeon, Christ and His Co-Workers, a sermon delivered in 1886
