Last Words 8.8.2024

    I spent last week an Oil Belt Christian Service Camp. My primary responsibility was teaching High School students and recent graduates Basic Doctrine. If you follow this blog, or even read it somewhat regularly you won’t be surprised that we spent two days talking about hermeneutics and the last three covering two primary doctrines: Christology and Ecclesiology. In a limited amount of time, I wanted to go into some detail about what is of critical importance rather than merely skimming a broader constellation of doctrinal concepts. One passage I highlighted while we segued from hermeneutical to doctrinal focus was the following:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3 ESV)

    Anyone who knows anything about Paul, even those who are hostile to his theology, understands that Paul endorsed, taught, defended, and preached the whole fabric of Christian doctrine. Yet in this passage his focus was on the basic facts of the Gospel as they led directly to an extended discussion of the resurrection. 

    Some are uncomfortable with the notion that not every Christian doctrine is of equal importance. The phrase “First importance...” Implies that there are matters which are of secondary, tertiary, and even peripheral importance. Some assume that making such judgements is tantamount to denying the inspiration and authority of Scripture. The mere fact that Paul himself makes this distinction should alleviate any fears and give us confidence in making such judgements in our preaching and teaching. 

    By its very nature a sermon, a lesson, a study, a seminar has a limited scope. At some point we must understand that time, talent, and treasure conspire against the idea that everything we do is about everything we know or everything the Bible says. I like the following quotation in Hans Dieter Betz’s commentary on the Sermon on the Mount:

This commentary does not claim to explain everything, or to collect all the evidence on everything, or to deliver the last word on anything. Betz, Hans Dieter. The Sermon on the Mount:  A Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, including the Sermon on the Plain (Matthew 5:3-7:27 and Luke 6:20-49). Hermeneia. Edited by Adela Yarbro Collins. Translated by Linda M. Maloney.  

This is a refreshing admission from a world-renowned scholar. We don’t always need to pretend that our latest lesson or sermon is anything more that the progress we have made on this topic to the present time. In fact, to assume otherwise is an act of hubris, out of character with our task. We are always working to understand the scriptures better. Our judgements are always provisional, always the best we can do to the moment.  We trust God to inhabit our understanding of the Text at the moment of proclamation. That does not mean we should quibble or hedge our bets. It is those who speak for God with humility that understand what Paul meant by God using humble jars of clay for redemptive purposes. 

    We are proclaiming the Word of God. We are called in the Christian assembly to say, “Thus says the Lord!” The message of the Gospel is Gods proclamation in Christ Jesus. Those who are called to preach, are set apart from within His Body as messengers. God knows our limitations. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. He knows and yet allows us the honor to speak for Him. A significant part of that trust is understanding that we are not Him and that we stand beneath His authority. He has chosen to use human beings to animate the inspired Word with a human voice, in a specific context. The moment we begin to think our humble, halting, provisional words are the last word on anything is the moment that we forfeit the trust to speak for Him. 

    This should not minimize our work but enhance it. Every week we enter our study-room with an air of inquisitive faith, determined that the text(s) we exegete will speak to God’s gathered people. Because of that faith, we seek to understand. Because of our curiosity and the needs of God’s people we commit ourselves to diligent study and clear presentation because in working well we honor the God whose gifting is His calling. 

    Every sermon we preach brings our entire understanding of Scripture to this point in this place. We consider the whole counsel of God as we execute the task before us but by God’s Spirit and grace we declare this word, in this time, in this space. Every sermon is preached “as of first importance.” The pretense of exhaustive knowledge leads to burn out, pride, and overkill. Even when the sermon before us is ready to preach, we are not done. God uses the spoken word to engage the indwelling Spirit in each believer. We speak from faith to faith accepting the responsibility not for just for this sermon but for every sermon. We get satisfaction not because we have said the last word, but because He has.