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and II work day on today utter speech and night unto night reveals knowledge there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard their line has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world in them he has set a tabernacle for the Sun which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoices like a strong man to run its race it's rising is from one end of heaven and its circuit to the other end and there is nothing hidden from it see the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple the statutes of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes the fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether more to be desired are they than gold yea than much fine gold sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb moreover by them your servant is warned and in keeping them there is great reward who can understand his errors cleanse me from secret faults keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins let them not have dominion over me then I shall be blameless and I shall be innocent of great transgression let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight O Lord my strength and my Redeemer amen well please turn to Psalm 134 Psalm 134 will stand as we sing together [Music] [Music] amen well let us pray father we thank you for the privilege to gather again in your house on this Lord's Day evening we give praise to you for your works of creation and Providence as the scripture declares you reveal yourself in this book of nature so clearly as to render men without excuse certainly we see you displayed in the in the created order your righteousness and your glory and your your majesty and your excellence as well we witness your goodness in the created order father we also see you reveal yourself in and through our Lord Jesus Christ in a special way how we give you praise and glory for that work of Christ on behalf of his people how we thank you for the the work that he did in obedience to that law his death at Calvary in our place and for our for our forgiveness and for his resurrection again and his enthronement now at your right hand God may these things encourage us not just as we gather Lord's Day to Lord's Day but each and every day may we live in light of that blessed gospel of our salvation how we give praise to you that you are from everlasting to everlasting that you are indeed the God who has entered into covenant with us and you have blessed us so richly you've given us all things necessary for life ever lasting and for our our life here in this lower world and we would even pray tonight that as we gather together it would be for your glory and honor and praise that you would encourage our hearts that as we look at your word and as we sing your word and as we pray to you Father may these things encourage our hearts and may you strengthen us with might and the inner man so that Jesus Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith we would pray now Most High that you would be pleased to bless this meeting together tonight we pray father that your spirit would be at work in our hearts and lives that as we look to Scripture you would you would show us glorious things wondrous things from your law and help us by the power of the Holy Spirit to put these things into practice and to and to glorify you as your blood-bought children we pray our Father that you would bless this congregation in terms of the the physical we there are many that struggle with ongoing health issues and problems and so we pray that you would be gracious to them that you would bless them and and and strengthen that meet in in the outer man and give them that health and that that ability father to navigate each and every day we also pray father for your blessing upon our children and our young people we give thanks to you God we know that children are a gift from you and we would pray as parents and his grandparents that we would be faithful in our lives before these little ones that father you would give them ears to hear and hearts to receive truth as its received at home and as its received here at church we pray that you would bless these young ones and that father day and in by your grace would remember their Creator in their youth we also pray for the ladies that are pregnant how we give thanks and praise unto you and ask that you would look with favor upon them that you would bless both mother and child and that in your time these little ones would come forth healthy and well and one day come forth again in the power of the Holy Spirit we also pray Lord God that you would be gracious to forgive us now for our sins so we read the scripture as we consider who you are as we know and ponder the the glory of God the holiness of God we see in contrast our own lack of holiness and we confess our transgressions and our iniquities to you knowing that you are a God who forgives knowing that you are a God who is full of mercy a God who does visit his people with with grace and with healing and with comfort and kindness and we would appeal to you even now for that we ask Lord for the conversion of more people through the preaching of the gospel we know and are blessed at what is going on in our own hearts and lives and our own experience of salvation David said then I will teach transgressors your ways I pray that you would give us boldness to hold forth that word of truth to others and we would pray that by the power of the Spirit many more would come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and our God we pray for this country we see in this last week that man arrested for preaching the gospel on the streets of Vancouver we see further encroachment by the government to oppress Christianity reminded this morning is we're reminded every time we open up our Bibles and God in heaven we just cry out to you that you would be merciful that you would indeed provide continue to provide this context for us that we could worship that we could gather together if these things are further removed from us nevertheless may we with Daniel worship the true and the Living God we do pray father for your blessing to go forth in this land in so many ways it's a blessed country there's many good things of course to be thankful for there's so many things to be discouraged about we see the promotion of lawlessness we see the promotion of godlessness we see a lack of of concern whatsoever for that law of God and we pray that you would be merciful we pray for your churches that we would be faithful in prayer that we would be faithful in declaring the truth of God's Holy Word that we would be faithful living as we are called you in a manner that is consistent with our our calling in the gospel we also pray for other countries all over the earth we are encouraged at the work of Christ going on we know father that the the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea and we see bits and pieces even now and we see more and more coming out of darkness into marvelous light and we pray that you would continue this for your glory and honor as the psalmist said we are to be still and know that you are God you will be exalted among the nations that you'll be exalted in the earth and may this truly cause us that to have that stability in that security in our God so lord please continue with us now bless this time together and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well you can turn with me in your hymn books to number 223 two to three will stand as we sing together [Music] you can turn with me in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 2 for our scripture reading this evening Genesis chapter 2 [Music] in this chapter we have the sabbath of god in verses 1 to 3 and then we have the creation of man in verses 4 to 7 and then the preparation of the garden in verses 8 to 14 and then finally the provision of a wife for adam so beginning in chapter 2 at verse 1 thus the heavens and the earth and all the host of them were finished and on the seventh day God ended his work which he had done and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because in it he rested from all his work which God had created and may this is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth and there was no man to till the ground but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground and the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into the nostrils or breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden and there he put the man whom he had formed and out of the ground the Lord God made every tree that is every tree that grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food The Tree of Life was also in the midst of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil now a river went out of Eden to water the garden and from there it parted and became four river heads the name of the first is pichon it is the one which skirts the whole land of havilah where there is gold and the gold of that land is good bdellium and the Onyx stone are there the name of the second river is Gihon it is the one which goes around the whole land of cush the name of the third rivers hit aquel it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria the fourth River is the Euphrates then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it and the Lord God commanded the man saying of every tree of the garden you may freely eat but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat from the day that you eat of it you shall surely die and the Lord God said it is not good that man should be alone I will make him a helper comparable to him out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them and whatever Adam called each living creature that was its name so Adam gave names to all cattle to the birds of the air and to every beast of the field but for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him and the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam and he slept and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man he made into a woman and he brought her to the man and Adam said this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and they shall become one flesh and they were both naked the man and his wife and we're not ashamed amen let us pray our Father we thank you for the written word of the Living God and we thank you for this passage in Genesis chapter 2 and the great things taught here in help us Lord God to receive joyfully that word we thank you that you've given us this explanation of the the creation you give us the step-by-step description of how you undertook and created the world in the space of six days and all very good we thank you for this pattern established in your own Sabbath which grounds our conduct each and every Sunday and how we praise you that you have in your grace given us this gift giving us this good thing that was made for the man and God help us to pray to treasure it to prize it help us to sanctify and keep it and help us to call it a delight and a blessing and we ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen well for our final hem we'll turn to psalm 119 our that's psalm 119 Romeo and you can turn a stand with me when you find that [Music] well please turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Proverbs proverbs chapter 30 proverbs chapter 30 I'll begin reading in verse 1 the words of agar the son of jockey his utterance this man declared fel to fel and you cow surely I am more stupid than any man and do not have the understanding of a man I neither learned wisdom nor have knowledge of the Holy One who has ascended into heaven or descended who has gathered the wind in his fists who has bound the waters in a garment who has established all the ends of the earth what is his name and what is his son's name if you know every word of God is pure he is a shield to those who put their trust in him do not add to his words lest he rebuked you and you be found a liar two things I request of you deprive me not before I die remove falsehood and lies far from me give me neither poverty nor riches feed me with the food allotted to me lest I be full and deny you and say who is the lord or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my god do not malign a servant to his master lest he curse you and you be found guilty there is a generation that curses its father and does not bless its mother there is a generation that is pure in its own eyes yet it is not yet is not washed from its own filthiness there was a generation oh how lofty are their eyes and their eyelids are lifted up there was a generation whose teeth are like swords and whose fangs are like knives to devour the poor from off the earth and the needy from among men the leech has two daughters give and give there are three things that are never satisfied 4 never say enough the grave the Barren womb the earth that is not satisfied with water and the fire never says enough the eye that mocks is far and scorns obedience to his mother the Ravens of the valley will pick it out and the young Eagle Eagles will eat it there are three things which are too wonderful for me yes for which I do not understand the way of an eagle in the air the way of a serpent on Iraq the way of a ship in the midst of the sea and the way of a man with a virgin this is the way of an adulterous woman she eats and wipes her mouth and says I have done no wickedness for three things the earth is perturbed yes for for it cannot bear up for a servant when he reigns a fool when he is filled with food a hateful woman when she is married and a maidservant who succeeds her mistress there are four things which are little on the earth but they are exceedingly wise the answer of people not strong yet they prepare their food in the summer the rock Badgers are a feeble folk yet they make their homes in the crags the locusts have no king yet they all advance in ranks the spider skillfully grasps with its hands and it is in King's palaces there are three things which are majestic and pace yes four which are stately and walk a lion which is mighty among beasts and does not turn away from any a greyhound a male goat also and a king whose troops are with them if you have been foolish in exalting yourself or if you have devised evil put your hand on your mouth for as the churning of milk produces butter and the ring and ringing the nose produces blood so the forcing of Wrath produces strife amen well let us pray father thank you for the written word thank you for proverbs chapter 30 we asked that you would give us the Holy Spirit now and guide us as we consider verses five and six we would pray for again the forgiveness of all sin and everything that darkens our understanding and help us to see afresh the glory and the beauty and the purity of God's holy word and as we were exhorted this morning is we hope to exhort tonight may we love that word and may we find it to be our delight day and night we ask this for your glory we ask this for our well-being and we pray these things through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well these are proverbs attributed to this man augur he is in fact the son yah Kade and he's writing to fel and to uh cow any highlights or he demonstrates or he says right at the outset that he doesn't understand there's a reality where God is incomprehensible that doesn't mean we can't know anything about God but we will never be able to fully investigate and exhaust God and so agar recognizes this and therefore augur points these particular men that he's writing to and us by extension to the word of the Living God notice what he says in verses five and six he says every word of God is pure he is a shield to those who put their trust in him do not add to his words lest he rebuked you and you be found a liar so in the first place I want to consider the purity of God's Word and then in the second place I want to look at this warning attached to God's Word we are prohibited here from adding to the Word of God now Deuteronomy chapter 4 and verse 2 Deuteronomy chapter 12 and verse 32 and Revelation chapter 22 at verses 18 and 19 have similar warnings those particular passages make sure that we not only don't add to the Word of God but that we don't take away from it either and certainly augur would agree with that but the emphasis here falls on the the inability of man puny man low man creature lead man to be able to add to the very word of God the thought that we would even engage in such as they ought to us with with humility the thought that we would ever think that we can suggest or put words on par with God's Word really ought to strike fear in their hearts that into our hearts that this is even something that the creature would would would even attempt to do well let's look first at this the purity of God's Word now notice this is an attribute this is something attributed to God's Word every word of God is pure and the purity of the word reflects the purity of the author it's a pure word because the author of it is in fact pure in the profit of a kkuk the Lord God through that profit or profit aback accesed of purer eyes than to behold evil and ten look on wickedness so when we see verse 5 every word of God is pure it's pure because God Himself is pure Titus 1:2 the Apostle Paul speaks of God in hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie promised before time began and then Psalm 31 the Lord Jesus echoes and quotes this particular Psalm on the cross when he commits his spirit into the hands of God but in Psalm 31 verse 5 the psalmist their addresses God as Oh Lord God of truth and so the reality that every word of God is pure that reflects the purity of the author himself as well the purity of God's Word contrasts with this impure world that we live in now Psalm 19 tells us that God reveals himself in two ways he reveals himself in the book of nature and he also reveals himself in special revelation or the Word of God it's not that the revelation of God in nature is bad it's not that the revelation of God is twisted or it's incomplete but rather we see that we know that God exists according to Romans chapter one and it does that which it is intended to do but man in Adam man in sin distorts man in Adam man in sin twists man in Adam man in sin reads Genesis chapter one and concludes there's no way that God could have created the world in the space of six days and all very good so he concocts these theories of evolution he looks out at the created order he denies God he suppresses the truth and unrighteousness and therein he concocts these theories these fables these myths to try and explain reality around him but the Word of God stands in contrast to that impurity every word of God is pure and I think that the purity of the word invites contemplation on the part of the creature in other words if God's Word is what God says it is then we ought to be students event the Creator has spoken to the creature the God of heaven and earth the glorious being who did make this world and all things in it the God who governs all his creatures and all their actions the God who is orchestrated by his son the Lord Jesus Christ has actually given you a book and you ought to read that book you ought to examine that book you ought to search that book you ought to love that book in fact another passage with reference to the purity of God's Word the psalmist in psalm 119 40 says your word is very pure therefore your servant loves it the purity of God's weren't results in this very practical implication we love it it's something that our hearts delight in the crea the the Christian the believer he doesn't hate preaching he doesn't hate Bible reading he doesn't hate family worship now there's remaining corruption he probably doesn't love it as he ought to we don't always focus the way we should but there is this desire in our hearts to love that which God is author to love that word that is in fact pure so he says every word of God is pure so other passages that detail this Psalm 12:6 the words of the Lord are pure words like silver tried in a furnace of Earth purified seven times that purification process it yields that blessed alloy that that that silver or that gold psalm 19 8 we read it the statutes of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes and again psalm 119 140 your word is very pure pure in and of itself is is great isn't it but God's Word isn't just pure it's very pure you look at a field that's freshly covered with snow it's pure it's very pure there's no sort of blemish on it whatsoever and that's what the psalmist says concerning God's word and as a result of its purity he says I love it I love your word it's something that my heart delights in CH Spurgeon comments on Psalm 12:6 he says for truth certainty holiness faithfulness the words of the Lord are pure as well refined silver and then he goes on to say the Bible has passed through the furnace of persecution literary criticism philosophic doubt and scientific discovery and has lost nothing but those human interpretations which clung to it as alloy to precious or the experience of saints has tried it in every conceivable manner but not a single doctrine or promise has been consumed in the most excessive heat I love that I think he's right on there in Psalm 12 verse said so not only those external things hostile to and contrary to the scriptures but also the very trials and the experiences and the afflictions of God's people who have had recourse to that word the word has never come up short the word has never come up lying the word has never come up impure for us we all know that and can testify to that and and highlight and heartily amen what augur says here every word of God is pure but notice it's not only this attribute of purity but notice the extent he says every word of God is pure it's a beautiful statement it's not just some of it it's not just a part of it is not just the gospel records but it's number since Leviticus it's Deuteronomy it's Genesis every word of God is pure according to this sage now of course there are parallels to this psalm 119 verse 160 the psalmist says the entirety of your word is truth that's a beautiful statement the entirety of your word is truth and every one of your righteous judgments endures forever of course the New Testament equivalent or the New Testament parallel is found in 2nd Timothy chapter 3 you can turn there 2nd Timothy chapter 3 highlights the same thing with reference to the extent of God's pure Word 2nd Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 Paul writes all Scripture is given by inspiration of God it's very important you know we all have our hobbyhorses don't we we all have things that we gravitate toward we all have sort of affinity with certain things in Scripture I hope we all have that it's an assumption that I hope is good but you know some are just given a prophecy all they do is read and study prophecy you get in balance that way others never look at prophecy you get in balance that way some really love the law well that's great we should all love the law but we need to love the gospel to some focus only on the gospel to the neglect of the law it's the entirety of God's Word that is pure therefore it is the entirety of God's Word that we are encouraged to search it is the entirety of God's Word that we love and when the Apostle says all Scripture is given by inspiration of God here he obviously means the Old Testament look back for just a moment at verse 15 that's primarily what's in view verse 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus so Timothy as a young man was exposed to Scripture by a godly mother and by a godly grandmother that wasn't Timothy the book of Timothy didn't have the book of Timothy Timothy had the Old Testament and notice what Paul says the Old Testament is able to do it is able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus as we were reminded this morning the prophets wrote of Christ they set forth Christ in his offices they set forth Christ at his work they set forth Christ as the altogether lovely and chief among ten thousand now Paul statement in verse 16 all Scripture is given by inspiration of God certainly applies to the old but it also applies to the New Testament as well you have the instruction of the Apostle Paul in the letter sent to the churches in the first place he demands that his letters are read in the churches first Thessalonians 5 verse 27 he demands that his letters are exchanged among the churches in Colossians 4:16 this is important because this idea that the Apostles weren't really sure what it is they were doing they were absolutely positively sure what they were doing they knew of a truth what they were doing and they did it very very well so this thought that they just you know it was just this movement that was spawned and they just sort of bumped into each other and an out pop the New Testament no that's not the way it was these men moved by the Holy Spirit scripture Paul demands that his letters are read in the churches he demands that his letters are exchanged among the churches he demands that his words written in letters are obeyed they are obeyed now I can tell you to obey Scripture but if I have a particular word from for you from my own heart you don't have to obey it you have to obey what the Apostle Paul has to say he also highlights that his words are taught by the Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians chapter 2 and then there's a few specimen passages in the New Testament that highlight for us that the New Testament is certainly recognized as off as authoritative infallible and inerrant Word of the Living God notice back in first Timothy chapter 5 first Timothy chapter 5 verse 17 let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor especially those who labor in the word and doctrine here's the reason for that command verse 18 for the scripture says you shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain and the labourer is worthy of his wages you see he quotes the scripture there an Old Testament passage and a New Testament passage he quotes from the book of Deuteronomy and he quotes from the book of luke luke 10:7 the labourer is worthy of his wages both are called Scripture by the Apostle Paul 2nd Peter chapter 2 2nd Peter chapter 2 again this was alluded to I'm sorry 2nd Peter 1 this was alluded to this morning in the sermon we heard from 1st Peter chapter 1 but in 2nd Peter chapter 1 at verse 19 and so we have the prophetic word confirmed which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts knowing this first that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation for prophecy never came by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit and then look at chapter 3 in 2nd Peter at verses 14 to 16 2nd Peter chapter 3 verse 14 therefore beloved look forward to these things be diligent to be found by him and peace without spot and blameless and consider that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation beautiful thing isn't it the long-suffering of God the fact that he has not consumed this dross the fact that the earth still stands we ought to interpret the long suffer a suffering of God to be salvation I've ever looked around and thought how in the world can we continue down the pathway we are moving I mean you look at the world around us and there's one brother recently reminded us there are monsters among us there are horrible things that take place in this world they're just wicked wretched despicable things you might wonder how much longer until the last of the Elector called by the power of the Holy Spirit that's what Paul says here in 2nd Peter chapter 3 we need to interpret the long-suffering of our Lord to be salvation there are still sinners out there I'm often wondered about the last of the elect that gets called I think about that life of sanctification he gets saved and then Jesus comes we're all going boy I wish that would have been me that would have been great wouldn't it somewhere somehow at some particular time that's going to happen the last of you'll act will be called and then our Lord will come the reason our Lord has not come is there are sinners to be saved and that is precisely Peters point now notice what he goes on to say consider that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation as also our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given to him has written to you incidentally this is one of the arguments for Paul's authorship of the book of Hebrews remember that Peter is writing to Jews Paul the Apostle is the one that many respecters think wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews and this is a piece of evidence he has written to you Jews you believing Jews he wrote to you specifically in the book we call Hebrews but then notice specifically the ascription to screw the attestation rather of Paul's writings to being scripture verse 16 as also in all his epistles speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to understand don't ever get discouraged if you don't understand anything in the Word of God Peter says there's things in Paul that are hard to understand I would suggest there's things in Peter that are hard to understand there's things in Paul that are hard to understand there's things in James that are hard to understand there's things in David in the Psalms they're hard to understand this thing's the gospel record that are hunted to enter into the state understand never ever get down on yourself because I just don't get it all well you're never gonna get it all let me just you know blast that myth you'd be just as successful as putting the Pacific Ocean into a glass as getting it all have you ever had that experience you know you've read through a passage maybe I don't fold times and then you pick it up again you go wow I never saw that well it's not like it just magically appeared or you hear a sermon well I I never saw that it's interesting as preachers sometimes people tell me they'll hear a sermon from somebody else if I never knew that I've said it to you on you know 20 occasions over the last twenty years but but now they got it so praise God right that's just the nature of the study right it's the way things go but with reference to this idea of all scripture being pure there are these things that are difficult at times for us to get our minds wrapped around but then notice what Peter goes on to say in which are some things hard to understand which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction as they do also look at the text the rest of the scriptures so he appeals to Paul's writings and he identifies Paul's writings as scriptures so when we go back to proverbs chapter 30 when we look at psalm 119 when we contemplate 2nd Timothy chapter 3 at verse 16 it is every word of God that is pure both the old and the New Testaments each of the particular genre the the the the the writings which include the the Psalms and the Proverbs and the Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon the the prophets in the law all those things every word of God is pure according to augur here and according to other man now there was a reprint of the Baptist confession several years ago I think it was the fellows in the church in Grand Rapids they did a shorter catechism Baptist version of course we have teaches catechism back there I encourage everybody to be familiar with those things they're great sort of summary statements and definitions of Christian theology they're fantastic catechetical instruction is wonderful sometimes people hear that Nadine Roman Catholicism I think Protestants did it first so there's anybody that should get freaked out it should be Catholics not not Protestants Catechism is a good thing it's a great means for you as parents to teach Christian doctrine to your children it's a it's a valuable resource and though it may not be experientially received by them at an early age it's there it's in them and when by God's grace they come into that place of confessing faith in Jesus Christ they know how to define justification and they feel it and they know it and they benefit from it in a blessed way so catechism good thing but these brothers and grand rapids-- supplemented a little bit to deal with particular talent our own generation and in our own day and number three in this particular edition of the Catechism asks the question or the Scriptures trustworthy and all that they affirmed remember the debates concerning inerrancy some of you may not remember that but there was this big debate and it probably still is lasting as to whether or not the Bible is inerrant inerrant means that the Bible does not contain errors the confession of faith are our second London confession doesn't say the Bible is inerrant better it says it's infallible infallible means that the Bible cannot lie therefore it necessarily follows that it does not lie if you have an infallible Bible You certainly have an inerrant Bible but these brothers are responding to the particular threats made against the church and scripture today so the question are the Scriptures trustworthy and all that they affirm the scriptures of both the old and new testaments being god-breathed are infallible and inerrant in all their parts beautiful in all their parts we've never been called to pick and choose we've never been called the way or consider or ask is this what I think should be in Scripture no it's all God breathed it's infallible and inerrant in all their parts and are therefore trustworthy in all that they affirm concerning history science doctrine ethics religious practice or any other topic it's a great statement that we need to embrace and understand concerning the value and the integrity of God's holy word now before we move on what are a couple implications that we should draw out of this statement every word of God is pure in the first place we ought to appreciate the sufficiency of Scripture the sufficiency of Scripture God's Word gives us everything necessary that we need for his glory and for our salvation in fact our confession says the whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory man's salvation faith and life is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture everything we need you have a great resource in Scripture a sufficient word from the living and true God for you to bring glory to him and for you to know that salvation wrought out by Jesus and then as well the Word of God is profitable see Paul doesn't stop after saying all Scripture is given by inspiration of God he then goes on to highlight its utility its profitability in the hearts and lives of God's people it's profitable for doctrine it teaches us it instructs us it gives us the data necessary for God's glory for our salvation it is profitable profitable for reproof brethren do not shy away from reproof we all need reproof we've all got issues we've all got problems this this idea when somebody reproves you you know you flip out you freak out well what about you we all need to be corrected and the Bible does that so not only reproves us but it's also profitable for correction once God reproves us he then sets us on the right path he then sets us on the place where we need to be and then it's profitable for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work notice that every good work everything that pertains to life in this world certainly salvation and what in the world to come but also life in this world politics history science doctrine ethics religious practice any other topic the Word of God is sufficient for us and it is profitable to us consider psalm 119 verse nine how can a young man cleanse his way by what by taking heed according to your word psalm 119:105 your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path so i'm 119 130 the entrance of your words gives light it gives understanding to the simple so I'm 119 133 direct my steps by your worded and let no iniquity have dominion over me beautiful testimony to the integrity and the beauty in the and the glory of God's Word psalm 119 stands as a great beacon concerning the glory of God's Word and then of course Jesus in John 17:17 sanctify them by thy truth thy Word is truth and then back to proverbs 30 at verse 5 he says every word of God is pure that deals with the particular attribute of purity deals with the extent to which it applies every word but then note the blessing attached verse 5 B it says he is a shield to those who put their trust in him it's a bit of an incentive isn't it it's a bit of a of an enticement that's a bit of a go ahead come on every word of God is pure he is a shield to those who put their trust in him in other words the Word of God isn't simply given to reveal data it does do that and that's a blessed thing that it does and we need to avail ourselves of that revelation of data but it also invites us to a relationship with the living and true God he is a shield to all those who put their trust in him Bruce walki says the revelation of God aims to promote trust in the speaker not simply to give bear knowledge so every word of God is pure he is a shield to those who put their trust in him every word of God is pure put your trust in him he will be your shield that's incentivizing that is enticing that is a blessing attached to this particular statement that every word of God is pure not just bare knowledge but a relationship with the one who gave us this word that is pure now the specific background to this statement is likely David King David in Psalm 18 and also second Samuel 22 both those passages are parallel you can put them side-by-side and they say just about the same thing couple of differences along the way but in Psalm Psalm 1830 David said as for God his way is perfect the word of the Lord has proven he is a shield to all who trust in him about that well I don't think we do think about that because we're not wandering out into battle this men we recently considered d-day on Thursday the 75th anniversary of d-day shields are important aren't they especially when you're storming a beach at Normandy without a shield you are subject to execution you're subject to death you are subject to passing out of this life a warrior going into combat without a shield is very ill prepared what's the emphasis those who are God's people going into the world without his shield ship are very ill prepared we need God as shield and probably the broader context is as Genesis 15 where the Lord God says to Abraham he said I am your shield your exceedingly great reward consider this theme throughout the Psalter Psalm 84 11 for the Lord God is a Sun and shield the Lord God or the Lord will give Grace and glory no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly psalm 115 9 to 11 highlights the fact that God will be a shield to Israel to the house of Aaron to those who fear the Lord and then in psalm 119 114 you are my hiding place and my shield I hope in your word those are blessed concepts and when augur says every word of God is pure he is a shield to those who put their trust in him he means it why would you live your life without a shield why would you go into battle without a shield why would you try to function in this world without a shield if you have not put your trust in him put your trust in him look under the Lord Jesus Christ he will be your shield the the Lord is a strong tower the righteous run to it and are safe that is the beauty that we have with Our Blessed Lord remember this morning in John chapter 18 are you a king jesus says you say rightly for this cause I was born our King is our shield blessed are those who put their trust in him John Gill explains the beauty of the shield as a shield to protect such by his power and Grace from all their enemies sin Satan and the world and also from all errors and false doctrines again I think that's something we under appreciate if we had a man or men or women in our church that we're looking at pornography we would be very upset and we would want to discipline that and yet within our churches there are people that are looking at the equivalency of pornography in terms of era see and false doctrine and false teaching that is absolutely positively alarming there is some antique god stuff that parades itself as being a pro God there is some anti-christian stuff that parades itself as being Christian there is some anti biblical stuff that parades itself as being biblical we need to be aware and we need to be in tune and we need to understand that every word of God is pure he is a shield to those who put their trust in him and a shield is what you and I desperately need now let's look at this warning attached to God's Word verse 6 says do not add to his words lest II rebuke you and you be found a liar to spit those other text before us Deuteronomy 4 you turn there Deuteronomy chapter 4 so this beautiful God not only tells us the positive every word of God is pure he is a shield of those who put their trust in him there's this warning see we live in this world where there's always the true and there's always the false there's always the right there's always the wrong and God doesn't leave us without instructing us in the in the problems that attach with reference to the Word of God we have that susceptibility to take away from it and I remember a famous comedian one time say oh I believe in seven of the Ten Commandments and everybody laughs and all that sort of thing but but how much is that actually the with people how much is that actually the way people function well I like nine of them but but you know this other one I just don't want that know what the entirety of God's work the the every word of God is pure you see we need to understand that but as well we need to make sure that we we not take away we don't add Deuteronomy 4:2 you shall not add to the word which I command you nor take from it that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you your eyes have seen what the Lord did at bail payor for the Lord your God has destroyed from among you all the men who followed bail of peor but you who held fast to the Lord your God are alive today every one of you Deuteronomy chapter 12 Deuteronomy chapter 12 verse 32 this is a great textbook inspired textbook definition of the regular principle of worship whatever I command you be careful to observe it you shall not add to it nor take away from it if anybody ever asks you why do you guys not have bongo drums and puppeteers and and and mariachi bands in your church because of Deuteronomy 12 32 why don't you parade or have ponies walking up and down the aisle or pastors rappelling down from the ceiling with their headgear on in their their holey jeans and their lattes and I don't know if they do all that at once with the latte and the repelling but I'm sure that'll be the next stat the next phase Deuteronomy 12 32 brother you and I have problems conducting the daily affairs of our lives let alone orchestrating how it is to be the case that we worship the God of heaven and earth see we're not supposed to encroach on that territory it isn't innovation it isn't creativity it is obedience that God demands when it comes to worship the 12:32 whatever I command you be careful to observe it you shall not add to it nor take away from it and then revelation 22 revelation 22 verse 18 for I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book if anyone adds to these things God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy God shall take away his part from the book of life from the holy city and from the things which are written in this book now keep these passages in mind because if we add to the Word of God according to augur then the Lord will rebuke us what does that mean the Lord rebuking us well it's right here if anyone adds to these things God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book it's the same as in Deuteronomy 4:2 is the prohibition but three and four indicate the punishment or penalty don't be like the men at bail pay or that they committed fornication with those Moabites and engaged in gross wickedness and God destroyed them you are not to be that kind of person so when it comes to this whole idea of adding to the Word of God this is a prohibition against addition to the Bible doctrinally this means we reject the sufficiency of Scripture doctrinally if we add to the Word of God it is to suggest that the Word of God is insufficient it means something it needs some supplementation it needs some addition it needs something to sort of round it out but as well practically in terms of of the the status of a man who would think that it's arrogant pride isn't it to think that you and I can add to God's Word that is just out landish matthew henry makes the observation he says this forbids the prohibition here of auger do not add to his words this forbids the advancing of anything not only in contradiction to the Word of God but in competition with it I thought that was masterful the way he points that out it's not just that which is in contradiction to the word but it's that which is in competition to it as if somehow our Edition will we'll fill things out and we'll we'll help God he goes on to say yet if if it pretend or rather he says though it be under the plausible pretence of explaining it there's a great danger here for preachers teachers interpreters we need to make sure that we're giving what God's Word actually says we're not giving what we hoped it would say or what we want it to say or what we think it should say he says though it'd be under the plausible pretense of explaining it yet if it pretend to be of equal Authority with it it is adding to his words which is not only a reproach to them as insufficient but opens a door to all manner of errors and corruptions which again should be self-evident now who does this every word of God is pure he is a shield to those who put their trust in him do not add to his words why that prohibition who potentially adds to the Word of God well in the first place unbelieving Jews the unbelieving Jews have a book it's called the Talmud and the Talmud is made up of two things the Mishnah and the Gomera and Mishnah is basically oral interpretation of the Bible and then Mishnah is commentary on that you see Jesus reproved the religious leaders of his own day in Matthew chapter 15 highlighting to them that they held on equal par the traditions of men so don't think that this doesn't happen it absolutely positively happens Roman Catholicism sorry but that's just the way it is papal tradition and the the traditions of men but not only Jews Papists but also charismatic s' this idea that we have received this word from the Lord that's not Scripture is wrong Gill says he calls them enthusiasts that's what they used to call them charismatic sand Pentecostals he says and as all enthusiasts do who set up their pretended dreams visions revelations and prophecies upon a foot with the Word of God or as superior to it again brethren this isn't not done this is done by Jews by Romanus by charismatic s' our confession again I already quoted the sufficiency of Scripture the whole Council of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory man salvation faith in life is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture now listen to this last Clause unto which nothing at anytime is to be added whether by new revelation of the Spirit there is mattes ism or traditions of man so in the 17th century they saw the propensity and they wrote or commented about it so there's Jews there's papist there's charismatic but I want to go one step further and said suggests that it may be us as well it might be you and I the the well-meaning believer we get a B in our bonnet we think there's a way to obey God that everybody else ought to do it - you're looking at me puzzled okay I guess I've maybe it's just me you know sympathize with me pray for me for you know after this sermon well I think it's in a lot of God's people this desire to be the Lord over other people's consciences this is typically what goes on fundamentalism this is typically what goes on in reformed as well I've quoted many times Charles Hodge from his systematic theology says it is a common saying that every man has a pope in his own bosom that is the disposition to lord it over god's heritage is almost universal men wish to have their opinions on moral questions made into laws to bind the consciences of their brethren we don't want Christian Liberty we want everything our way we want our preferences to be a part of the Ten Commandments we want our our our our focus and our desire to be the law to bind every other man a brethren if you have a preference in something that happens to work and you encourage somebody with that that's fine but if they don't opt to do it you cannot hold them in contempt that's simply unacceptable when I gave them advice it's like pastors people come to pastors for advice sometimes it's not you know specific tax and specific passages you ask a question I'll give you an answer if you don't follow that advice that's okay there's no potpourri here I don't have a big hat and I don't have that cheers just a regular chair there's no X kenitra going on there I may give you advice and you may not like it you may not take it nah that's okay do you understand we're not to be the Lords of each other's conscience is we're not to hold things over person's heads we're not to make laws where God has not we're not to legislate where the Lord has left freedom we're not supposed to go back to the Old Covenant theocracy and assume the posture of Moses for our brethren that is not our calling as God's people are calling us to obey God our calling is to respect Christian Liberty our calling is to understand that the Ten Commandments are what binds God's people and what we have found to work in terms of application is not necessarily on par with the commandments themselves we need to be aware that this temptation to add to his words is in our hearts now at the end a ger makes this statement do not add to his words lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar you received the judgment of God this is the response of God to a person who denies the sufficiency of Scripture this is the response of God to a person who arrogantly thinks that their words are on par with God's words it is right legit and glorious that God revealed such a person that tries to be a rival lawmaker with God himself so on the part of God you will be rebooted but on the part of man you will be found a liar you see church history is filled with page after page vindicating the heroes of the faith and what did the heroes of the faith do they preached accurately the Word of God that's it that was their claim to fame what marked the blessedness of a Calvin aloof or or an O n or a Spurgeon I mean we're in do we hold them up as heroes in that they accurately proclaim the truth of God but those same history books page after page reveal those who lied and the liars are those who added to the Word of God there are those who subtracted from the Word of God those who did not confess with augur that every word is pure they didn't do that and therefore they are found out as Liars well in conclusion I'll make a couple practical observations and then we'll close first the purity of the entirety of God's Word that's a good thing for us to consider and ponder the purity of the entirety of God's Word the recognition that the purity of the word reflects the purity author now in having said that God the pure author oftentimes reveals to us impure man doesn't he I mean I don't know if you all are getting this benefit on Wednesday night but isn't it wonderful to see God's grace God's mercy God's forgiveness you see Abraham you see law you see the various persons in the Old Testament and their foil to show and demonstrate to us that there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared it's commenting to brother brothers yes sir there's a book by David Steinmetz called Luther in context and one of the things that Luther really liked in the Bible wasn't the virtuous man he liked a man of ice now because Luther wanted to sin not because Luther wanted to go out and do wicked things not because Luther wanted to you know get drunk and uncover himself or anything like that but in the vices that we see in the men of God we see the grace of God we see the forgiveness of God now for the genuine believer there is never that that that yearning that that desire to say wow you know God forgave David so I'm gonna go out and commit adultery and murder to know that the believer doesn't do that the believers can constrain by that that Romans 6:1 ethic what shall we say that shall we continue in sin that grace may about may it never be I don't want to sin against my god but if I do sin I have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous that's who know I had that's who Abraham had that's who lot had that's who all the men of God in the Old Testament that's what David had see David doesn't ever use that experience say well you know I got away with it once I'm gonna go out and do it again no that's not the genuine Christian response the genuine Christian response is I don't want to sin against God but if I do sin I have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous as well the recognition that we possess a pure word in an impure world I think this is real getting more and more important for us and the brother this morning alluded to it that the activity that happened in Toronto this past week shows us this there is animosity there is antipathy enmity against the word of the Living God it's getting to the point where we're to even mention God or Christ is just horrifying to the unbelieving mind it is to invade them it is to to harass them it is to to just betray them it is to to be a horrible person in their sight brethren freedom of speech is going to ultimately be freedom of speech as they determine it and we need to be aware of that and we need to thank God for a pure word in an impure world and then the recognition that the purity of God's Word extends to every word brethren I really encourage you to read your Bibles every day now I get it there's things that come up and hinder you from that but let's be honest we've got it pretty good here in the West we have cars we have you all of the what's the word amenities to make life Pleasant and delightful into free up time notice how we always find time in each day to eat I'm guessing that's true cuz we're all here we're all breathing so we've all taken that time along the way to stop and eat we need to find time to eat God's Word the entirety of God's work don't just focus on one particular area don't just highlight one particular passage understand that we do gravitate to things that interest us and there are times when we need to go to things that perhaps aren't as interesting because the tire T of God's Word is pure and we need to search it out Bridget says if every word is pure take care that no word is slighted how few range over the whole revelation of God secondly we need to understand the propensity to add to God's Word I have recently shared with a couple of the brothers a quote from CS Lewis I wondered how I was going to get it into a sermon and I was able to do so listen to what Lewis says okay here's where I want to caution all of us not that just the Jews not just the Papists not just the charismatic that have a propensity to add to the word but you and I do too now Lewis wrote this in a particular essay called the humanitarian theory of punishment if anybody's interested in searching that out it's in the book God in the dock essays on politics and ethics or ethics and politics and he's specifically speaking to the civil state he's talking about the government and the way that they deal with men but I think there are ecclesiastical implications in this in this quote I think that the church means to guard against what the state is being warned against by Lewis in this particular situation because remember when you and I add to the Word of God for the benefit of our brethren we do it out of love we do it out of a desire to see good in their hearts and lives don't we but our motivation doesn't justify our addition to Scripture please remember that you may have in your head the desire to do good to your brother if you add to God's Word he's gonna rebuke you and you're gonna be found a liar here's Lois again civil state tyranny and I'm not saying everything by CS Lewis is phenomenal I think he had issues in his theology but he's spot on here he says of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims maybe the most oppressive it would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies against civil state but the church to the robber barons cruelty may sometimes sleep his cupidity may at some point be satiated but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience they may be more likely to go to heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a hell of Earth they're very kindness stings with intolerable insult McKenna you may not feel the full weight of that particular statement as applied to the civil sphere you probably will eventually but presently just like you don't want the government involved in your life where God has not authorized them neither do you want moral busybodies within the context of the church doing that either do not add to his words lest he rebuked you and you be found a liar this is grave stuff this is serious stuff it's not just a jew thing it's not just a papist thing it's certainly not just a charismatic thing but it can be a reformed thing too when we are the moral busy bodies that make laws over people where God never has so brethren please take this to heart enjoy and delight in the entirety of God's Word and respond like the psalmist because it is truth I love it well let us pray our Father we thank you for your word we thank you that every word of God is pure we thank you that you are a shield to those who put their trust in you and keep us from this grave sin of adding to that word or taking away from it but give us the grace to be obedient and to be submissive to that authoritative infallible and inerrant Word of the Living God and grant us help to be faithful in our own society help us to be faithful in our families and and in our churches and help us in all things to bring glory to you our great God we ask that you would go with now please protect us and watch over us in this coming week keep us by your spirit keep us by your truth and we pray in Jesus name Amen and close with a brief time of meditation and then be dismissed