God's Glory & the Bible
Series: Your Word is Truth
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 2nd June 2024
Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
00:00:00 --> 00:00:09 Well, greetings St Paul's family. The staff team, you're probably aware of this already, are away at the moment on a retreat out in Bathurst.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:16 We are training, we are planning, we are praying for our life together here at St Paul's and we're praying for you this morning as you gather.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:22 Although it is a little bit different today, I'm coming to you via the screen.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 We are continuing our series in the Bible.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:40 Our aim in this whole series is to build confidence in the Bible, in what the Bible is, what God says about it, so that we might grow in confidence and relationship with the God who gives us the Bible for our joy.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:48 Now, last week in this series, we were in Psalm 19 and the topic was the necessity of the Bible.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:59 The Bible is necessary in order to know God correctly, to know ourselves correctly, to know the way of salvation and to navigate life well in God's world.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:13 Although God, we saw there in Psalm 19, although God communicates in a general way his glory and his majesty through his created order in such a way that all of humanity is without excuse,
00:01:13 --> 00:01:28 he communicates specifically who he is, who we are and how we are to live through his perfect and powerful word.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 He communicates specifically in that way to us.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:41 So the truest and the most vivid glimpse we get of the majesty and the glory of God is in his word, the Bible.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:53 Not by sitting on the edge of the Pacific Ocean and gazing into the abyss or even just staring at the glory of the French Alps, God's nature and created order.
00:01:53 --> 00:02:14 So how can we get to this point where we are confident that this is in fact so, that God, all of his majesty and glory is revealed to us in his word in such a way that we find that it is sweet and our souls are refreshed.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:25 Now to answer that question this morning, I want to intertwine, if you like, the Bible text we're looking at with the life and the work of John Calvin,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:31 someone who was a phenomenal student of God's word.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:33 Why would I want to do that?
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 Why am I bringing Calvin to you today?
00:02:35 --> 00:02:49 Well, B.B. Warfield, who was the last principal of Princeton Theological Seminary, and in fact one of the great theologians of the 19th and 20th centuries,
00:02:50 --> 00:02:51 said this of Calvin,
00:02:52 --> 00:02:58 No man ever had a profounder sense of God than he.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:05 That is a remarkable, remarkable commendation from someone as great as B.B. Warfield.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 So who was Calvin?
00:03:09 --> 00:03:16 And what happened to him that someone like Warfield would praise him so highly?
00:03:17 --> 00:03:21 Well, Calvin was born in France in 1509.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:28 When he was 14, his father sent him to study theology at the University of Paris.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:38 When he was 19, his father had some issue with the Roman Catholic Church at that time, which Calvin himself was.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:44 And he told his son to leave the studying of theology and to study law himself instead.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 And so as a dutiful son, that's exactly what he did.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:59 However, two years later, his father died and Calvin abandoned his studies of law and moved to the thing that he loved the most, and that was the classics.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:05 He published his first book in 1532 at the age of 23.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:16 And it's during this time, somewhere around this time, he came into contact with the teachings of the Reformed faith.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 He came into the Reformed faith.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:19 He came into contact with the Reformed faith.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:19 He came into contact with the Reformed faith.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:25 He came to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time.
00:04:26 --> 00:04:37 And so by 1533, at the age of 23, 24, something dramatic happened in Calvin's life and totally changed the whole course of his life.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:42 This is how he describes it in his own words.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:50 God, by a sudden conversion, subdued and brought my mind to a teachable frame.
00:04:51 --> 00:05:04 Having thus received some taste and knowledge of true godliness, I was immediately inflamed with an intense desire to make progress.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:10 To make progress in the things of the Christian faith.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:16 In fact, 24 years later, he died when he was 54.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:27 24 years later, unchanged in his passions and goals, and one month before he died, he wrote in his will,
00:05:27 --> 00:05:48 That statement there describes Calvin's entire life.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:54 In all things, he pursued the majesty and the glory of God.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 So what happened to him?
00:05:58 --> 00:06:04 He saw the supremacy and the majesty and the glory of God for the first time when he was 23.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 He couldn't see it, and then he did see it.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 And when he saw it, it captivated his life.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:20 So let's jump into seeing God's glory in the Bible.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:25 First of all, I've got four points there you'll notice in your outline.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:29 Seeing God's glory in creation, in Jesus Christ, in the gospel, and in the scriptures.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 Let's just quickly jump through those things.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 So seeing God's glory in creation.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:42 The Bible shows that God intends for us to have a well-grounded conviction that he is powerful,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:54 that he is wise, that he is a merciful creator and sustainer of the world by means of sight of his glory in and through creation.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 That's where we were last week in Psalm 19.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:02 The heavens declare the glory of God.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 They reveal the glory of God.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 They communicate God's glory.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:12 Notice, though, in Psalm 19, the heavens themselves are not the glory of God.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 The heavens are not God.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:19 They are pointing, they are a window to see the glory of God.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:30 We need eyes to see through the glory of nature in order to see the glory of the God who created all nature.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:40 But it is possible to see the glory of creation, but not the glory of the God behind creation.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 We see that in Romans chapter 1.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:48 But we also see God's glory in Jesus Christ.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:53 That is God's self-authenticating glory shines in Jesus Christ.
00:07:54 --> 00:08:05 That is, God expected people in Jesus' day, first century Palestine, to see the glory and the majesty of God in Jesus,
00:08:05 --> 00:08:18 and therefore knowing that he is himself the Son of God, even though he was as human as we are and looked just as ordinary as we do.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 John chapter 1 verse 14 says,
00:08:20 --> 00:08:49 So many, many people in first century Palestine looked at God in human flesh, Jesus Christ himself, and they did not see God.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:57 The glory of God in Christ was missed by a whole heap of people.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:05 And yet, the Son of God was really there for those who had eyes to see the glory.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:13 The problem was not that the glory of Jesus was not adequately revealing his divinity.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:21 The problem, according to Matthew 13 verse 13, was that those seeing, they do not see.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 Though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 So that's God's glory is revealed in creation.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 It is revealed in Jesus Christ.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 Thirdly, it's revealed in the gospel itself.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:37 God's self-authenticating glory shines in the gospel.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:42 And that brings us to the text for this morning, 2 Corinthians chapter 4.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 And verse 4 says this,
00:09:44 --> 00:09:56 The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 The gospel, the word gospel is here.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 It's a story of how God came to save sinners.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:10 And the gospel shines a supernatural light to the eyes of the heart.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:14 It's called there the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:21 The light of the gospel shatters our blindness in verse 6.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:22 God says,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:40 So in verse 4,
00:10:40 --> 00:11:08 What Paul is saying there in those two verses is the way that we come to know that the Christian gospel,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:12 as recorded in the Christian Bible,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:17 is in fact God's word, that it is God's truth,
00:11:17 --> 00:11:23 is by seeing the glory of God in it, in the face of Christ.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 That's what he's saying there.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:33 This glory of the gospel shines throughout all of the Bible because it all points to Jesus.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:40 But most brightly in the gospel of the Son of God crucified for the sake of sinners.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:49 And part of what makes the glory of God in the scriptures so unusual and yet so spectacular
00:11:49 --> 00:11:53 is the way that God's glory is described.
00:11:53 --> 00:12:05 It is the way God's majesty and his supremacy and his complete otherness is expressed through his total meekness,
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 through his mercy, through his grace.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:12 God magnifies his glory.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:21 We see a magnified, spectacular God as we see a God who descends to save us.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:26 That is glory like our world does not know.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:33 He magnifies his magnificence, his supremacy, his glory
00:12:33 --> 00:12:37 by making himself the supreme treasure of our hearts,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:41 even at great cost to himself.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:45 God satisfies us.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 God serves us in the gospel.
00:12:50 --> 00:12:53 And in the very act of doing that,
00:12:53 --> 00:12:57 he reveals and magnifies his magnificence.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:02 This is the light of God's glory
00:13:02 --> 00:13:05 that shines through the whole Bible
00:13:05 --> 00:13:09 and it comes to its most beautiful radiance
00:13:09 --> 00:13:13 in the person and the work of Jesus Christ,
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17 dying and rising for his creatures,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:20 the very ones who have rejected him.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25 Fourthly, we see the glory of God in the Bible.
00:13:25 --> 00:13:30 God's self-authenticating glory
00:13:30 --> 00:13:34 shines in the Bible itself.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:40 God confirms that the world is his
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 by revealing his glory through it.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:47 God confirms that Jesus Christ is the son of God
00:13:47 --> 00:13:50 by revealing his glory through him.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:54 And that the gospel is the gospel of God
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 by revealing his glory through it.
00:13:58 --> 00:14:02 And so the whole Bible authenticates itself
00:14:02 --> 00:14:06 by shining with the majestic and meek glory
00:14:06 --> 00:14:09 of the God who inspired it.
00:14:10 --> 00:14:14 That is the only way that we can know
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 that the Bible is the word of God
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 is because in their true meaning,
00:14:20 --> 00:14:24 we see the self-authenticating glory of God.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 But there's a problem here
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 and it's a massive problem.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:32 It's an insurmountable roadblock.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 It is something that we as human beings
00:14:34 --> 00:14:37 cannot fix, we cannot get over,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 we cannot see.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 By nature, we are told here in 2 Corinthians 4
00:14:42 --> 00:14:46 that we are blind to the glory of God.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:49 We cannot see the glory of God
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 any more than a blind person
00:14:51 --> 00:14:55 can see the heavens themselves.
00:14:58 --> 00:15:01 Romans 1, in fact, says we're not just blind,
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 innocently walking around blind,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:07 but Romans 1 says that we actually suppress
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 the glory of God.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 We suppress the truth of God.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:16 We are not just innocent people
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 stuck in blindness hoping to see.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 John chapter 3 tells us
00:15:22 --> 00:15:25 we love the darkness.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:28 We want to be in the darkness.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 We want to be blind.
00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 Paul says,
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 in 1 Corinthians 2, verse 14,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 the person without the spirit
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 doesn't accept the things
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 that come from the spirit of God,
00:15:43 --> 00:15:46 but considers them foolishness
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 and cannot understand them
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 because they are discerned only
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 through the spirit.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 The only hope
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 for any person
00:15:56 --> 00:15:59 to see the glory of God
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 in the Bible
00:15:59 --> 00:16:03 and have a well-grounded confidence
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 that it is, in fact,
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 God's word
00:16:05 --> 00:16:09 is for God himself
00:16:09 --> 00:16:13 to take away our blindness,
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 for God himself
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 to perform a miracle,
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 to take away the blindness
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 that we are born with,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 the blindness that we delight in,
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 for himself to remove it.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:27 And Paul says
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 that that's exactly what God does.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 This is the miracle of new birth,
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 even though he doesn't use that language
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 specifically here in 2 Corinthians 4.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 This is the miracle of new birth.
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 God comes to us
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 and he speaks a word
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 of new creation,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 just like he did
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 at the beginning
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 with the created order
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 when he said,
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 let there be light.
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 And it was so.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:55 No further actions required.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 And it was so.
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 And so he does the same
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 in the human heart.
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 2 Corinthians 4 verse 6,
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 God, who said,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 let light shine out of darkness,
00:17:07 --> 00:17:10 made his light shine in our hearts
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 to give us the light
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 of the knowledge
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 of God's glory
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 displayed in the face of Christ.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 And when God
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 flicks that switch
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 in our hearts
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 that moves us
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 from darkness
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 to light,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 a moment that we're not
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 even looking for it,
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 we don't think we need it,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 we're not asking for it,
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 and God chooses to do it,
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 in that moment
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 we know
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 that Christ is real.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 You know
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 that the gospel
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 is real.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 You know
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 that the scriptures
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 are true.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 And it's because
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 God said,
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 let there be light
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 in that heart.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 it's then
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 that we see
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 God's glory
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 and you know
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 that this is God.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 You see lights
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 and it's the first time
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 you realise
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 that in fact
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 my whole life
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 has been plunged
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 into darkness.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 What the Apostle Paul
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 declares here
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 that John Calvin
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 experienced
00:18:10 --> 00:18:13 and later wrote about
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 and what you have
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 experienced
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 as a Christian
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 and where I started
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 in fact
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 my first message here
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 when I said
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 I was sitting
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 in a shed
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 in Katoomba
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 and all of a sudden
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 it's like
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 someone lit a candle
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 in my heart
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 to help me see.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 That experience
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 is what theologians
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 call
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 the inward witness
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 of the Holy Spirit.
00:18:38 --> 00:18:42 Why do Christians
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 believe
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 that the Bible
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 is the word of God
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 in which God
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 reveals
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 to us
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 the reality
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 of his presence
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 the reality
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 of his glory
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 the reality
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 of the universe
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 the reality
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 of our sin
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 the reality
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 of redemption
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 through the Lord
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 Jesus Christ
00:19:00 --> 00:19:02 why do we believe
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 that that is true?
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 The answer is not
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 because we're smart
00:19:07 --> 00:19:10 it's not because
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 of our
00:19:10 --> 00:19:12 our cultural
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 environment
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 that we're brought
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 up in
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16 it's not because
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 we can follow
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 a logical chain
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 of human reasoning
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 about the historical
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 reliability
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 of scriptures
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 that pushes me
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 over the line
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 and convince me
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 it's true
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 those things
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 might be helpful
00:19:26 --> 00:19:29 the answer
00:19:29 --> 00:19:31 is that God
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 himself
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 has confirmed
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 it through
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 the Holy Spirit
00:19:34 --> 00:19:38 it is entirely
00:19:38 --> 00:19:40 an act of grace
00:19:40 --> 00:19:42 it is not
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 by our own
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 reasoning
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 but a pure
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 gift
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 from God
00:19:46 --> 00:19:50 we do not
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 the Christian
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 does not
00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 hold a position
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 of the Bible
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 stubbornly
00:19:55 --> 00:19:58 and cling
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 to it
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 despite all
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 the assaults
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 on it
00:20:00 --> 00:20:03 what we
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 discover is
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 that in fact
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 God is holding
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 us
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 through his
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 word
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09 and at every
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 point confirming
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 to us
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 it is
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 his
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 word
00:20:13 --> 00:20:19 so how do we
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 pursue God's
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 glory then
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 what does
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 it mean
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 for us
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 if it's
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 purely
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 an act
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 of God
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 what does
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 it mean
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 for us
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 to pursue
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 his glory
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 well in
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 his early
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 20s
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 John
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 Calvin
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 experienced
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 the miracle
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 of having
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 the blind
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 eyes of
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 his heart
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 opened by
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 the Spirit
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 of God
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 to use
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 his words
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 and I'm
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 not sure
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 if he pulled
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 this directly
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 out of
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 2 Corinthians
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 4 but
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 to use
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 his word
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 I at
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 length
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 perceived
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 as if
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 light
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 had broken
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 in on
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 me
00:20:51 --> 00:20:54 and what
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 he saw
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 immediately
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 and without
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 any intervening
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 chain of
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 human reasoning
00:21:00 --> 00:21:02 were two
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 things that
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 would determine
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 the entire
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 rest of his
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 life
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 number one
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 he saw
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 the glory
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 of God
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 and number
00:21:10 --> 00:21:10 two
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 he saw
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 the glory
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 of God
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 in the
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 word of
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 God
00:21:13 --> 00:21:17 through
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 the work
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 of God's
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 Spirit
00:21:19 --> 00:21:21 the Bible
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 facilitated
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 seeing the
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 glory of
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 God
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 and the
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 glory of
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 God
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 once saw
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 seen
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 vindicated
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 the Bible
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 as God's
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 word
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 he said
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 that the
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 highest
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 proof
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 of Scripture
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 derives in
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 general from
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 the fact
00:21:39 --> 00:21:41 that God
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 in person
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 speaks
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 through it
00:21:44 --> 00:21:49 and
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 neither
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 the Holy
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 Spirit
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 nor the
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 Bible
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 by
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 themselves
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 allow
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 a person
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 to see
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 the glory
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 of God
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 the Holy
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 Spirit
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 can't do
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 it by
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 itself
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 and the
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 Bible
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 can't do
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 it by
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 itself
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 they have
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 to work
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 together
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 the Spirit
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 works through
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 God's
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 word
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 to bring
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 light
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 into the
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 darkness
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 of our
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 hearts
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 so that
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 we might
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 see the
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 glory of
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 God
00:22:16 --> 00:22:18 that
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 realization
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 for Calvin
00:22:21 --> 00:22:23 completely
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 changed his
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 life
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 geographically
00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 and vocationally
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 in 1537
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 he took up
00:22:29 --> 00:22:31 in Geneva
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 the role
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 of professor
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 of sacred
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 scripture
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 again still in
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 his 20s
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 in sacred
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 scripture
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 and within
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 four months
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 he was
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 appointed
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 as the
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 pastor
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 of St
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 Peter's
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 church
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 the city
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 council
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 was not
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 happy with
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 Calvin
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 at all
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 and so
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 they banished
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 him roughly
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 a year
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 or something
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 later
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 in April
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 1538
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 Calvin
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 thought in
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 that moment
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 that oh
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 this is
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 fantastic
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 God is
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 relieving
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 me from
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 the crush
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 of pastoral
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 duties
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 so that I
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 could get
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 back to
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 studies
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 you know
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 get back
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 into my
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 study
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 and just
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 write
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 stuff
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 instead
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 he ends
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 up in
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 Strasbourg
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 where for
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 three years
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 he served
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 as a
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 pastor
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 for 500
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 French
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 refugees
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 as well
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 as teaching
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 the New
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 Testament
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 in the
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 university
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 he also
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 wrote his
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 commentary
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 on Romans
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 in those
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 three years
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 and put
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 out his
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 second
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 enlarged
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 edition
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 of the
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 absolute
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 bedrock
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 foundational
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 theological
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 book
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 of the
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 institutes
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 of Christian
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 religion
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 back in
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 Geneva
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 however
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 is
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 making
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 the
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 city
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 council
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 think
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 that
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 maybe
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 they
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 were
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 a
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 bit
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 hasty
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 on
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 Calvin
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 things
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 were
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 better
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 when
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 Calvin
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 was
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 there
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 and so
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 three
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 years
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 after him
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 being
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 banished
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 the
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 city
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 council
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 of
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 Geneva
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 reversed
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 the ban
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 on
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 Calvin
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 and held
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 him up
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 for the
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 first time
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 to be
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 in fact
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 a godly
00:23:56 --> 00:23:56 man
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 he
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 served
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 there
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 the
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 church
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 there
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 until
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 his
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 death
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 on
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 May
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 27
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 15
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 64
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 160
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 years
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 ago
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 last
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 Monday
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 he
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 wrote
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 tracts
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 the
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 institutes
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 he
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 wrote
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 commentaries
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 on all
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 of the
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 New Testament
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 books
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 except the
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 book of
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 Revelation
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 plus he
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 wrote
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 commentaries
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 on the
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 first five
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 books of
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 the
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 Bible
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 he
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 wrote
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 commentaries
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 on the
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 psalm
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 which I've
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 used
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 in
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 looking at
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 Psalm
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 19
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 last week
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 he wrote
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 commentaries
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 on Isaiah
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 and Joshua
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 he gave
00:24:31 --> 00:24:31 biblical
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 lectures
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 throughout
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 the course
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 of the
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 week
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 in the
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 university
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 in Geneva
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 and he
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 preached
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 10 sermons
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 every two
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 weeks
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 plus the
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 leading of
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 multiple
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 Bible studies
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 everything in
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 his life
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 everything in
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 his life
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 in his
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 ministry
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 was the
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 exposition
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 of scripture
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 this was
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 the ministry
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 that was
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 unleashed
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 in him
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 having seen
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 the glory
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 of God
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 in scripture
00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 Calvin
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 preached
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 steadily
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 through
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 book
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 after book
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 after book
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 of the
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 Bible
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 he never
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 wavered
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 from this
00:25:06 --> 00:25:06 approach
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 to preaching
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 for almost
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 25 years
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 of his
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 ministry
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 in the
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 pulpit
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 in Geneva
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 to give
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 you some
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 idea
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 of the
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 scope
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 of his
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 preaching
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 he began
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 his series
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 on the
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 book of
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 Acts
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 on the
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 25th
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 of August
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 1549
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 and ended
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 it in
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 March
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 1554
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 after
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 Acts
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 he went
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 on to
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 Thessalonians
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 46
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 sermons
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 Corinthians
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 186
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 sermons
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 pastoral
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 epistles
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 86
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 sermons
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 Galatians
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 43
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 sermons
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 Ephesians
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 48
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 sermons
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 until
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 1558
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 because he
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 was sick
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 in 1559
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 he began
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 what his
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 series called
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 the harmony
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 of the
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 gospels
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 and he
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 had not
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 yet finished
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 it when
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 he died
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 in May
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 1564
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 it's a
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 five year
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 sermon
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 series
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 he preached
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 139
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 sermons
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 on Job
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 200
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 on
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 Deuteronomy
00:25:59 --> 00:26:01 353
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 on Isaiah
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 123
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 on Genesis
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 and so
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 on
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 and so
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 on
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 and so
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 on
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07 and this
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 was a
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 specific
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 self
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 conscious
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 to work
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 in
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 truth
00:26:13 --> 00:26:15 in fact
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 on
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 Easter
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 day
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 1538
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 after
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 preaching
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 he left
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 the pulpit
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 of St
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 Peter's
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 Church
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 in Geneva
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 because he
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 was banished
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 by the
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 city council
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 three years
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 later
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 in September
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 the 3rd
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 1541
00:26:31 --> 00:26:33 he climbs
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 the stairs
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 into the
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 pulpit
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 on the
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 very next
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 Sunday
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 picks up
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 on the
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 very next
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 verse
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 that he
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 left
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 three years
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 earlier
00:26:43 --> 00:26:45 Calvin
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 saw
00:26:45 --> 00:26:47 the
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 majesty
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 of God
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 in his
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 word
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 he
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 believed
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 with all
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 of his
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 heart
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 that the
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 word
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 of God
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 was indeed
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 the word
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 of God
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 and that
00:26:56 --> 00:26:56 all of it
00:26:56 --> 00:26:58 was inspired
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 it was profitable
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 it was radiant
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 with the light
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 of the glory
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 of God
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 the very thing
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 that every
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 single human
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 being
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 is designed
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 to see
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 we were
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 created
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 to glory
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 to marvel
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 in God's
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 magnificence
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 and glory
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 for our
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 joy
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 and he
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 said
00:27:19 --> 00:27:19 we see
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 it
00:27:20 --> 00:27:23 unadulterated
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 clearly
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 in the
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 scriptures
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 through the
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 work of
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 the spirit
00:27:27 --> 00:27:29 now through
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 this series
00:27:30 --> 00:27:32 I've used
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 various
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 arguments
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 to build
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 confidence
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 in Bible
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 as God's
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 word
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 how can
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 we really
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 know the
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 Bible
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 is God's
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 word
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 and that
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 it is
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 right
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 that it
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 is good
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 that it
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 is sweet
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 for our
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00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 God
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00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 what is
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00:27:52 --> 00:27:55 divine
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00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 shining
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 in
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 and
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 through
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 nature
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 divine
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 glory
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 really
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 is
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 in
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 and
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 shining
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 through
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 the
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 person
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 of
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 Jesus
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 Christ
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 divine
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 glory
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 really
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 is
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 in
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 and
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 shining
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 through
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 the
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 gospel
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 of
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 Jesus
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 Christ
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 divine
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 glory
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 is
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 really
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 shining
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 in
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 and
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 through
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 the
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 God
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 intent
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 meaning
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 of
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 the
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 God
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 inspired
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 Bible
00:28:20 --> 00:28:22 and what
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 this means
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 for us
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 here at
00:28:24 --> 00:28:24 St. Paul's
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 is really
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 simple
00:28:26 --> 00:28:28 really
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28 simple
00:28:28 --> 00:28:31 for
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 instance
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 don't
00:28:33 --> 00:28:33 ever miss
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 the preaching
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 of God's
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 word
00:28:34 --> 00:28:36 if you
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 want to
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 see
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 glory
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 glory
00:28:37 --> 00:28:40 it
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 means
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 that
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 we
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 will
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 bend
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 every
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 effort
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 to
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 find
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00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 meaning
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 and
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 to
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 see
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 that
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 glory
00:28:45 --> 00:28:47 we
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 will
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 take
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 every
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 opportunity
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 make
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 every
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 effort
00:28:51 --> 00:28:53 every
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 single
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 effort
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 we
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 can
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00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 find
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 the
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 meaning
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 and
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 to
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00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 the
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 glory
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 we
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 will
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 not
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 presume
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 to
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 see
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 the
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 glory
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 in
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 scripture
00:29:02 --> 00:29:04 where
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 we
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 have
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 not
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 seen
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 the
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 meaning
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 of
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 scripture
00:29:06 --> 00:29:08 and
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 we
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 will
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 not
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 be
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 satisfied
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 that
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 we
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 have
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 seen
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 the
00:29:11 --> 00:29:11 meaning
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 of
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 scripture
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 as
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 we
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 ought
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 to
00:29:13 --> 00:29:16 if
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 we
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 have
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 not
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 seen
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 the
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 glory
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 of
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 God
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 coming
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 through
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 it
00:29:18 --> 00:29:24 if
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 we
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 labor
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 to
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 know
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 God
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 and
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 his
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 word
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 in
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 this
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 way
00:29:27 --> 00:29:29 our
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 confidence
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 in
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 the
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 scriptures
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 will
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 be
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 well
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 grounded
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 and
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 our
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 joy
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 in
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 the
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 glory
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 of
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 God
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 will
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 be
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 great
00:29:38 --> 00:29:40 and
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 will
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 be
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 able
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 to
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 live
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 a
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 life
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 of
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 Calvin
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 I
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 wish
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 I
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 had
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 more
00:29:43 --> 00:29:43 time
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 to
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 express
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 to
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 you
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 the
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 adversity
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 he
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 went
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 through
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 in
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 life
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 and
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 how
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 steadfast
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 and
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 constant
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 he
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 was
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 as
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 he
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 gazed
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 on
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 God's
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 glory
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 and
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 endured
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 everything
00:29:53 --> 00:29:56 so
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 so
00:29:56 --> 00:29:56 my
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 challenge
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 to
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 you
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 this
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 morning
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 if
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 you
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 are
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 not
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 laboring
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 to
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 know
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 the
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 Bible
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 you
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 cannot
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 see
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 the
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 glory
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 of
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 the
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 God
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 who
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 has
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 created
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 you
00:30:07 --> 00:30:09 and
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 therefore
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 you
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 cannot
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 know
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 the
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 deep
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 joy
00:30:11 --> 00:30:13 in
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 life
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 that
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 he
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 offers
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 you
00:30:14 --> 00:30:16 your
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 joy
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 is
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 at
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 stake
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 read
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 your
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 Bible
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 and
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 pray
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 for
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 the
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 miracle
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 God
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 help
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 me
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 see
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 help
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 me
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 see
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 your
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 majesty
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 and
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 your
00:30:28 --> 00:30:28 glory
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 for
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 my
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 joy
00:30:30 --> 00:30:32 Amen