Faithful Witness

Q: What does the Bible say about salvation according to God's word?

The Bible teaches that salvation is according to God's word, revealing His mercy and everlasting love to His people. In Psalm 119:41, the psalmist expresses a longing for God's mercies and salvation according to His word. This highlights a crucial aspect of sovereign grace theology, which holds that salvation is rooted in God's eternal decree and is made real to believers through the revelation of His word. The psalmist's plea for understanding demonstrates that true salvation is not merely an abstract concept but a relational and experiential reality grounded in God's loving kindness and communication through Scripture. Therefore, God's word plays an essential role in the believer's assurance and understanding of their salvation.

Q: How do we know that God's mercy is for us?

We know God's mercy is for us through faith in His promises as revealed in Scripture. The psalmist in Psalm 119:41-42 articulates the hope found in God's mercy and the assurance of salvation through His word. Sovereign grace theology teaches that God's mercy is not arbitrary but is specifically directed toward His Elect. The believer's understanding of God's mercy is fortified through the Spirit's work in revealing the depth of God's grace as expressed in Scripture. As believers meditate on the law and promises of God, they come to know His unfailing love and mercy, which gives them confidence in their relationship with Him. This understanding comes not from mere intellectual assent but from a heart transformed by God's Spirit.

Q: Why is being a faithful witness to God's word important?

Being a faithful witness to God's word is crucial for sharing the truth of the gospel and affirming God's power in our lives. The importance of being a faithful witness is underscored in Psalm 119:46, where the psalmist expresses a desire to speak God's testimonies before kings without shame. This reflects the believer's obligation to declare the truth of God's word with confidence, as it is foundational for the church's mission. In sovereign grace theology, faithfulness to God's word stems from a deep understanding of its transformative power in one's own life. Through the Holy Spirit, believers are equipped to bear witness authentically, countering false teachings and affirming the truth of the gospel. This witness serves to glorify God and further His kingdom on earth, embodying the centrality of Christ's righteousness and mercy in our witness.

Q: How does the Holy Spirit work through the Scripture?

The Holy Spirit works through Scripture to reveal truth and transform hearts, enabling believers to understand and live out their faith. In Psalm 119, the psalmist's plea for understanding God’s word reflects a deeper truth about the role of the Holy Spirit in revealing scripture to believers. According to Romans 10:17, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, emphasizing the necessity of divine intervention for true comprehension. The Spirit engages with the heart and mind, instilling a lively hope and an authentic understanding of God and His promises. This transformational work enables believers not only to grasp doctrinal truths but to apply them in their daily lives as new creations in Christ. Thus, the Holy Spirit’s role is essential for growth in grace and knowledge of the Lord.

Okay, Psalm 119 beginning with the letter VAU. I've seen it variously spelled W-A-W, V-A-V, V-A-W, and W-A-V, and pronounce it how you'd like. But we're going to read these verses. 41. Let thy mercies come unto me, also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation according to thy word.

So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me, for I trust in thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in thy judgments. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty, for I seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. By hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved, and I will meditate in thy statutes."

And we looked at this a little bit before, and a couple of thoughts as we start. This letter, the Hebrew alphabet, is very few words in the Hebrew language that start with this letter. and they're almost always conjunctions. And, if, but, since, those type of, now, different conjunctions that are used to tie things together and not just to keep the sequence going of alphabet, These were not just, as some suggest, David or the psalmist who ever wrote this particular psalm, that they were just trying to keep in the rhyme going, you know. This is inspired by God Almighty, how this is put down, and that we have to always keep in mind that this is not man's word.

This is God's word, uh, that was given to him that we have record of it for and was given for the church for us to have and to hold into by the spirit to receive some light about him, about our Lord himself. Um, he seeks Here, the psalmist, in verse 41, where it says, let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation according to thy word. Those words there, mercies or everlasting love, is one other way it's translated, that the abounding, everlasting love, come also unto me, Lord, thy salvation according to thy word." God's people indeed. that he has revealed himself have received salvation to everlasting life according to his word by his spirit. And here, and I think it has a double meaning here that the psalmist recognizes the salvation of God in that manner, but he seeks the mercies of God to him that the reality of the Word would come to him, that it would be given his as his own, and understand that.

We read a lot of the Scriptures from time to time, and daily, and however we might do that, and a lot of that we read it and agree to it, and we rejoice in that we can hold those things, But we pray that we understand those things, that they are ours, not just text on a page, but that He reveal Himself to us from that, and that He speaks about salvation in a real way, not necessarily from sin and those things, but here he's speaking as we go on, he's speaking that the word become real to him so that he can be a faithful witness of that word when he comes into those that either condemn him or as it says here, them that reproacheth me, for I trust in thy word, verse 42, the last of verse 42. and that truth be given to us that we understand the truth, not just recite back verses.

And we can answer people logically from that we know the error of religion in different places, and we can recite verses against that. And there are many that can stand in the defense of the faith, as it were, and not understand what the meaning of it, just arguing against a religion. And I can remember being that and doing that and see somebody that wasn't a Calvinist, maybe, or whatever, and argue the points of that and not really understand the true fact of the matter.

And that's, I think, what David is partly seeking here, of a real and lasting meaning to him, and deliverance, the word in deliverance, and safety from, and also the building up of that as far as when he speaks of salvation. David was a believer. He understood a lot of things at this point. This wasn't just pleading that God save him from sin and from hell, but that he truly give him the light and the meaning of what the scripture was, and not just to rebuke somebody that has a different point of view, but rebuke them from what the scripture says and that true meaning of it.

We can't do that if it's not been revealed to us. You can't teach something or relate something that you don't know. You can read words of that, of the words of Scripture, but if it's not real to you, If the one behind that is not real to you, it's pretty tough to impart that to somebody else.

And I think that's part of what he is requesting here and pleading for from God, that he pleads for the faith that the Spirit, using the true word, can do. And as we know that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. And if we have to not just hear the audible word of that, but the Spirit has to deliver that to us. I think he's asking also that it's not just the words or the form of the words, baptism or obedience or whatever words might be placed to religion and to that, but the gospel, the good news, peace with God by pardon, atonement, and justification by Christ. And those, like I said, I think he's pleading again, not just to know where to turn to argue against something, but that he be given the truth of that, that he be delivered from not understanding those things, and only the Spirit can do that.

And so we're going to look at a few other places. There's one verse while we're in Psalm 119, that in a couple of places in all of Psalm 119 going through here is David pleading for God to open his eyes to these things. And here the second half of this is as it relates to sharing or it says with them that reproach him and those that we've heard it said many times, lying on God, lying on what the truth is that that he be able to be a faithful witness against those errors of, and in our day, whether it's misuse of the scripture or just sinful men that know nothing, and that the word be brought to bear on them, and that we do that in a faithful way that the Lord would have us do that. But in Psalm 119, Just a section before that, before the one we're looking at.

Verses 37 and 38, it says, Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way. Establish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. And here, it says, Turning eyes from vanity, quicken thou me in thy way, and establish thy word unto thy servant.

And I think part of what he's saying there and here where we're looking at in verses 41, 42, that truth has to be revealed to us before we can impart any wisdom or any truth of the Scripture to somebody else. And I think that's the highest desire that is shown here, that He teach us that. and not just the wrote or memorized passages and words, but that he revealed to us himself by doing this and showing us that. And here in those established verses 38 of Psalm 119, establish thy word unto thy servant who is devoted to thy fear. and establish thy word.

It has to make it true to us. It has to be more than just the words as they go together philosophically or academically, but that we understand these things. And that is part and parcel of the new birth. And only by the new birth and the Spirit working His people can any of this ever take place. And it's a working of God and not any of our self.

I'd like to turn to a few places that bear on this. 1 Corinthians 1. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 is, And I used to view the books of Corinthians as the place where there are some real problems. And so Paul kind of beats him around a little bit and straightens him out on some things. He may do that, and he does do that, but he starts out with some important things to begin with.

And all through this, whenever an issue comes up that they're talking about in Corinthians, especially, or any of the other books, It soon gets around to what God has to say about it. It points to the Lord himself and to what the answer to the question really is, or the problem. And we've seen that many ways. The answer to the problem, sooner or later, is going to come out that it's Christ himself is the answer to that, whatever that issue is. But in 1 Corinthians, I'd like to read just a few familiar verses. Well, I'm going to start with the first verse and read down a ways farther than I had in mind, a couple more verses, because it, I think, speaks to this directly.

Verse 1 of chapter 1 of 1 Corinthians says, Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sostenes, our brother. under the church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ. that in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, said that ye come behind in no gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. who shall also confirm you to the end that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

He starts out by saying how you've gotten to where you are, as several of the other books that we have that begin with that God had a people that he has brought about. It's not an offer up there that you might take or leave, or an invitation. It's stating what God has done, and God is the first cause of all things, and especially unto the church, his own people. But then skip down to verses 27 and following a bit. It says in the same chapter, But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen.

Yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are. that no flesh should glory in his presence, but of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, that in according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." And then 2nd chapter, verse 5 says, He came with preaching not with enticing words of man's wisdom, verse 4, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. And then chapter 3, before we say a couple of things about this, Chapter 3, verses 7 and 11 say, So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase. And verse 11 says, For no other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

And speaking to those things, not only that he has done this, but here, in verses 27 and following, the things that God has used to confound the wise and the mighty, and those things that speaks of the base things and things which are despised, things which are not, but of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." And I think that part is showing that the faithful witnesses are, as one man said, hoes and hoses.

They are used of God to to bring His Word, deliver His Word, and recount His Word to others. And as David's speaking that he's able to do this to those that reproach him or have the incorrect view of the God that he speaks of and what the Word is, that God uses—as Paul says, I didn't come to you with man's wisdom. We can study and we can understand a lot. God has given us the capability to understand a lot, to read what some other scholars and stuff have understood a lot of in that way. But it's God's wisdom that he gives to his people that that makes the difference. There are a lot of scholars that don't understand who they're talking about or what the Scripture's talking about.

They may use the right words and the right catchphrases, the right catechisms or all those different things, outline that they have. the five points or whatever they might wanna use, but those mean nothing if they don't understand who it's talking about. And only God himself can reveal that. And not only to those that are spoken of as David here wants to be a request and desires to be a faithful witness of that, but that the witness has to be faithful. The witness has to have understanding and not just information to pass along. We do that sometimes and there's a lot of scripture that we read over many times maybe and not understand some of what is being said. But God alone can do that and can reveal that to us, what is needed.

In 1 Peter, the book of 1 Peter, again here in, Peter starts out with an introduction of to God's people and how they are God's people and why they are God's people. First chapter of 1 Peter, and starting with the first verse, and down a few, it says, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace unto you and peace be multiplied.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Now let's stop just for a second here, and I've underlined this in verse 3 where it says that, "...begotten us again to a lively hope." not a dead hope, but a hope that he has instilled and put in us that what the Lord has done and does do for his people, but that it's a lively hope, not just a static academic hope. And that's what I feel that David was requesting here, that it be a lively hope, those words and the words and the testimonies and the commandments commands in the different words that are used in Psalm 119 for God's Word. In verse 4, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved for you in heaven, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations. that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen ye love, in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." And it goes on from that. But here, where it says, the lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and then that it says, verse 7 down here, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the praying of Jesus Christ.

And here that the trial of your faith, whether it be inward trials that come to us or outward, as David's speaking about those who reproach in whatever form that may take, that trial of your faith, that Plaincy puts it in, is to our benefit and our furtherance and for our furthering knowledge of our Lord and who he is to us.

And that reminds me here that where it talks about that gold being refined, that it's an ongoing process in that once a person is that the Lord reveals himself to a person, that's not the end of the story there. It's not a one and done in that life, although there are those that say, well, I went through this back when, and since then nothing's happened, but, you know, I know I'm good. Well, God doesn't reveal Himself to His people. The new birth doesn't come.

It's that new birth as a baby, it grows and matures by the feeding and the care of the Lord Himself to His people, and that through the Word is used for that, it does that. The Spirit uses His Word that the the thought comes to mind where Paul said that these things that he'd been through was for the furtherance of the gospel. And that's what, at least partly here, it speaks to, is that the furtherance of the gospel. And I think David referring to those things he requests in the first couple of verses here, 41 and 42, we've been looking at, that the furtherance of the gospel in his people, and not just furtherance of the gospel as far as evangelical reach-out type thing, that the gospel be furthered in his people.

And I think that maturing The maturing of his people never ends. It's a constant progress and a process of understanding and grace and knowledge in him all our life until we meet him, until we see him. The book of Romans. The book of Romans chapter six.

He's speaking just before this about that we're justified by the faith of Christ, that we're dead to sin, and it speaks about sin in our bodies and what those things are and what shall we say about those things. But in chapter six of Romans, starting with verse Verse 17 and down a bit, it says, But God be thanked that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you.

Being then made free from sin, you became servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as you have yielded your members, servants, to uncleanness and to iniquity, even so now yield your members, servants, to righteousness and to holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?

For the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. through Jesus Christ our Lord. And then up here, verse 17, where it says, God be thanked that you were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you. And here speaking of what all men are like, the sheep too at one point were, as it said, the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you.

And that obeyed from the heart isn't that I really believe this. This was from the heart. This was an instilled belief that obeyed from the heart from life, and not from just check that box off that this has been done or agreed to. But this was obeyed from the heart.

And I think, again, tying back to what David is saying here, that God's mercy and His salvation to him in this regard, that He that he obeyed from the heart and does these things from the heart and is able to be a faithful witness as it goes on the rest of those verses down of what God do this and this is what will be the outcome of it.

In Galatians chapter six. In Galatians. Just a few verses here in chapter 6 of Galatians. Chapter 5 speaks about the freedom we have in Christ, that we're not yoked to bodges, but we have a freedom in Him. But in chapter 6 here, Let's start with verse 14, down to the end here of Galatians 6.

It says, But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumciseth availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." And up here, verses 15 and 16, where it says, In Christ Jesus there neither circumcision availeth, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature, or a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God."

And here, this rule, that's walking according to this rule, is that the only way that God can be pleased or anything can be done is, as it says up here. a new creature, a new creation. That's what David's referring to. Not that just salvation in the sense from eternally from sin and damnation and those things as commonly thought, but that as a new creature and as walking, as it says, according to this rule, not according to just outward things, but we walk, and that's the desire we have as we truly approach God's Word, that He reveal it to us for our good, that He reveal Himself to us. Then we can pass on that because of knowledge that we have of Him.

There's a lot of passing on things that's not based on knowledge, on religious things that aren't based upon this and not based upon a new creation or a new creature. There are many that are given rules to walk on, and walk by that have been assured by man that they're a new creation and there's no life in it. And there are many of us that can attest to that in just plain religion, that there's nothing in that. If Lord doesn't make a new creation and put life there, that life is not there.

And then, in 1 John. All right, we're going to start with what John starts with in Chapter 1, and we're going to read down into Chapter 2. So bear with the reading, but it has much to say about what we're looking at today, and I think you'll see the connection here.

1 John 1, verse 1, it says, That which was from the beginning which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life. For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us. that's which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that she also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the father and with his son jesus christ and these things we write unto you that your joy may be full and i stop just for a second here that, and it says, which was manifested unto us, that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. And this means much more than just we were a witness to an occasion or something going on. And I think it says much when it says, which we have heard, seen with our eyes, looked upon with our hands, and handled of the word of life, And that's a capital word, capital W there in the word of life. This was. This was a spiritual revelation to them that they had in their hands, and what they're bearing witness of, and what he's bearing witness of.

And then, starting with verse 5 again, it says, This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare we unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He's faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word's not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but the sins of the whole world.

And hereby do we know that we know him if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. Hereby know we that we are in him.

He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." Much said here about God and God's work and God's work in his people and God's work for his people. Hear that statement, the propitiation for our sins. satisfaction, payment in full, important word that I think is skipped over in a lot of places and a lot of times in the scriptures, what it's speaking about. And then it says, Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. Hereby know we that we are in him.

He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked. I don't think that means in sandals, poor, that type of thing. As he walked was what the word of God said. as He walked. He wasn't just going about saying whatever came to mind, as it were, like we might do, but He walked according perfectly, not only walked according perfectly to God's Word, He was God's word in the true sense of that, and that we are to, in the true sense of that, bring that word to bear upon wherever we find that.

He goes on later, and read that for yourselves again, the rest of that section of the Psalms, and he says, I can go before kings. and not be afraid. If you put that in me and make that real to me as the foundation, and you are the foundation, I can stand before anybody and bring this and be on in a good spot because it's true and it's given to us of him. And I think this is at least a part and some thoughts on what he is saying here, David is saying here. not put me out there and let me be a good witness, but make me faithful to it first of all. And then we can relate that.

And I think what John is saying, exactly what he's saying, 1 John, he's got firsthand knowledge of this, not just in a physical sense, but he had been shown this and shown who he is, who the Lord himself is, and was said, was manifested unto us. And I think that same type of word as the book of Revelation, that word was shown, revealed who the Lord himself was. And as he says at the start of here, the word of life. And I think without understanding that and having been shown that and revealed that, It's pretty tough to rebuke anything that comes against the Scripture if we don't understand who He is and what that is for the furtherance of the gospel and for God's glory and not for God's people's glory.

And I think that's what he has, that we can, with confidence, he says, with confidence, I can know that I'm bringing that Scripture to bear that's true, because it has been made true to me. And that, I think, is constant prayer of God's people. is that reveal yourself to me. Show me what this means. And we're going to see a lot more in the 119th Psalm. It's a long way to verse 176. that we're going to see a lot of similar thoughts and words in that. And we pray that he reveal himself along the way to us. And with that, we'll move on to the next section, starting with verse 49, next time around. Thank you. And as always, in him, be free.

Faithful Witness

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about salvation according to God's word?

How do we know that God's mercy is for us?

Why is being a faithful witness to God's word important?

How does the Holy Spirit work through the Scripture?

Sermon Transcript

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Faithful Witness

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about salvation according to God's word?

How do we know that God's mercy is for us?

Why is being a faithful witness to God's word important?

How does the Holy Spirit work through the Scripture?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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