Follow His Steps
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Luke 1:1-4
The Book of Luke was the first of two volumes written by the Gentile medical doctor, Luke.
Both books that he authored, Luke and Acts, are addressed to Theophilus.
Luke accompanied Paul on many of his missionary journeys and came to be with Paul during his last days of his ministry.
Luke’s writings are very detailed.
This may be due to the fact he was a doctor.
There are many events found in Luke that are not found in any other Gospel account.
These details show us with certainty that our faith is built on facts.
All throughout the book of Luke, one part of the life of Christ stands out more than any other…that is the humanity of Jesus.
Luke portrays Christ as the compassionate Son of Man, who came to dwell among sinners, love them, help them, and die for them.
I have entitled this series Follow His Steps, because that is what I want us to do.
As Jesus is portrayed as 100% human, yet 100% God in this gospel account, we can follow each step along the way, and pattern our own lives after Him.
Although our eyes are going to remain on Christ throughout this study, we are going to look at three men today and see the examples that they left for us in these few verses.
I. The Declaration of Christ
I. The Declaration of Christ
Of course our pattern always must begin with Christ.
Here in verses 1-2 we can see Luke’s declaration of Christ.
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
Jesus is the very basis of our beliefs.
Luke begins by declaring the facts of the life and ministry of Jesus.
Our faith is not just a series of ideas written by men, it is based upon historical facts.
As Luke investigated and interviewed eyewitnesses, the events of Christ’s life and ministry were declared.
We see here Three Sources of this declaration:
A. Declared by First-Century Writers
A. Declared by First-Century Writers
1a Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration...
Luke wrote this gospel under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
There is no doubt of the true author of this gospel.
However Luke was the man God used to pen the words, and in so doing Luke consulted the written works of other men.
Luke uses different literary terms in these first few verses to suggest that others had written historical narratives of the life of Christ.
to set forth in order - atatassomai - to put together in order, to arrange, to compose.
declaration - diegesis - suggests a narrative composed of notes that are compiled into a digest and then circulated.
So Luke used first century written accounts to compose this gospel.
He also wrote that which was...
B. Declared by First-Century Believers
B. Declared by First-Century Believers
1b ...those things which are most surely believed among us,
It is popularly believed that Luke interviewed first century believers who witnessed these events as another source for his material.
Through these interviews with these witnesses, there was no question or doubt about their faith — they saw it for themselves!
We in this century can take it as eye witnessed accounts, and therefore we can believe in faith, that what they saw is true.
Don’t be dissuaded by scorners and skeptics.
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Jesus birth, life and death has fulfilled over 320 prophesies.
One mathematician said, The odds of one man fulfilling all these prophesies is like a man winning the lottery 22 times in a row.
We just need to believe what God has revealed to us through His Word.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Luke wrote what was declared by first-century writers, as well as first-century believers who saw these events…but these facts were also ...
C. Declared by First-Century Ministers
C. Declared by First-Century Ministers
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
These ministers were ...
1. Eyewitnesses
1. Eyewitnesses
Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses...
These eyewitnesses were the apostles, who followed Jesus on his Ministry journeys
These were most likely the primary source for information about Christ’s life.
These men had walked with him, travelled with him, stayed with him, witnessed his miracles, his death and his resurrection.
But these ministers were currently...
2. Ministers of the Word
2. Ministers of the Word
…and ministers of the word
Each of the apostles carried forth the good news of the gospel.
These early Christians held the ministry of the Lord in very high esteem as a sacred trust.
They counted the gospel as their most precious possession.
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Albert Barnes in his commentary, says, “The term ‘word’ here means the ‘gospel.’ Luke never uses it, as John does, to denote the second Person of the Trinity. These eye-witnesses and ministers refer, doubtless, to the seventy disciples, to the apostles, and perhaps to other preachers who had gone forth to proclaim the same things.”
So we see the Declaration of Christ and His example by those who witnessed Him…the second example we see is in the form of...
II. The Determination of Luke
II. The Determination of Luke
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
Luke was not content to merely learn about the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel.
After researching the life of Christ, he became determined to share the truth of the gospel with others.
This determination to share what he had learned was accomplished in three ways:
A. By the Spirit
A. By the Spirit
Luke did not write his Gospel account by his own power; he was prompted and inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Luke claims to have perfect understanding of these events.
We may at first pull back from a statement like this.
But there are a couple of things that we need to understand.
First of all this gospel is inspired by God.
Secondly the word perfect here is not the same as we would use it.
The Greek word akribos beans diligent, accurate, exact.
But it is true, every word and every mark, because the Holy Spirit led him.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
B. By Experience
B. By Experience
As a result of his investigations, Luke wrote from a clear, precise, diligent understanding of the events that happened in Christ’s life.
Probably more than anyone in the early church he had the abilities and opportunity to consult with eyewitnesses of Jesus’ ministry and consolidate their accounts.
For more than two years of Paul’s imprisonment in Caesarea, Luke had the chance to meet and interview many of the apostles and other eyewitnesses of Christ’s ministry.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul details the many people who saw with their own eyes the resurrected Christ.
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
Luke would have had the opportunity to meet many of these people.
C. By Order of Events
C. By Order of Events
Equipped with the Holy Spirit and the vast amount of information he had received through eyewitness accounts, Luke carried out his task of writing to produce and orderly narrative of the life of Christ.
Verse three tells us that Luke wrote “in order,” meaning he intentionally recorded the events in chronological order, making his Gospel easy to follow.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
So Luke talked to these witnesses and wrote down their testimonies in order.
And because of Luke’s faithful example, we have a vivid, and accurate account of Christ’s life.
The third example we are given, is that of ...
III. The Devotion of Theophilus
III. The Devotion of Theophilus
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
The name Theophilus means “Lover of God.”
Based on the meaning of this name, we could easily say that Luke’s Gospel was written to every person who loves God.
Because of the desire to know more about Christ, we can deduce that Theophilus was probably ...
A. A New Believer
A. A New Believer
He had received some instruction about the life of Christ, but evidently was seeking more.
This new believer also exhibited a desire to keep growing as a Christian.
We can also deduce that Theophilus was ...
B. A Prominent Believer
B. A Prominent Believer
Luke addresses this man as “most excellent Theophilus.”
It is likely that he was a wealthy, educated man, possibly in the Roman government, based upon the title given.
We can also deduce that Theophilus would be...
C. A Growing Believer
C. A Growing Believer
Theophilus was living in a time when people declared Caesar as lord.
But after placing his faith in Christ, Theophilus was changing his allegiance.
If he was in the Roman government, there was a real chance he could lose his prominence because of his faith in Christ.
Luke was essentially discipling Theophilus, writing to convince him of the certainty of the Christian faith.
Giving him the courage to go farther with Christ.
The Christian faith is not built up on blind belief but upon specific facts that, when related to history, can be proven true.
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
F.F. Bruce, in his book, The Historical Reliability of the Gospels, says, “There is, I imagine, no body of literature in the world that has been exposed to the stringent analytical study that the four gospels have sustained for the past two hundred years. This is not something to be regretted: it is something to be accepted with satisfaction. Scholars today who treat the Gospels as credible historical documents do so in the full light of this analytical study, not by closing their minds to it.”
And then we see that Theophilus, most likely was...
D. A Generous Believer
D. A Generous Believer
It is very possible that Luke may have been paid by Theophilus to investigate and write this Gospel.
In verse three, Luke was possibly acknowledging the man who had sponsored his research and made it possible to write the Gospel of Luke.
Throughout the centuries God has used the wealthy and the poor to give to the work of Christ!
The Philippians were able to contribute to Paul’s ministry.
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As we begin the book of Luke, we are challenged with three questions from these three men...first few verses:
1. The Declaration of Christ — Do you believe?
The Christian faith is based on historical facts.
But these facts do not make a difference unless we believe them and trust in Jesus Christ to save us.
2. The Determination of Luke — Do you want others to know?
The entire reason that Luke wrote this Gospel was so that Theophilus could know the certainty of the Christian faith.
Will we only grow in knowledge about Jesus, or will we share that knowledge, the gospel, with others?
3. The Devotion of Theophilus — Will you help others to know?
Theophilus risked his prominent position to become a Christian.
He gave financial support to Luke’s mission of gathering information and compiling the gospel.
Every Christian can give to the Lord’s work and help to accomplish the ultimate goal of reaching every person with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What will you do with this gospel?
I hope that you will take the example of Christ that we will be studying and choose to “Follow His Steps.”
