KNOWING FOR SURE
Luke 1:1-4

Introduction:     Each of the Gospel writers speak of the life of Christ from a different perspective. It is through all four Gospel accounts that we have a balanced view of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every mature Christian should study the life of Christ and Luke presents a most unique insight into the life of our Lord for us because:

·        He was a gentile. His perspective is completely unclouded by religious tradition.

·        He was a physician. (Col.4:14) He gives us an accurate, orderly account of Jesus’ gospel. A minister sees a man at his best; a lawyer sees a man when he is at his worst; but a doctor sees a man as he really is! Thus Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man; God coming to walk in human flesh and coming to minister to every person in every walk of life.

I believe the key verse in the Book of Luke and its theme is (Luke 19:10 ) "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
The Gospel of Luke teaches us that we can be certain about our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ! What a joy it is to know for sure! These first four verses outline the theme that is illustrated by the life of Christ throughout this Gospel.

I.          THE PREEMINENCE OF SAVING FAITH (V.1)
Luke reminds us again that all man has to do to be saved is place simple heart trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the only way to heaven and of that you can be sure! (Illus: it’s not 7 or 12 steps to heaven etc. there’s just one way!)

·        There is no such thing as a secondary experience. – Someone else’s faith won’t do. What someone else believes is not good enough. Our experience (like Luke’s) must be first hand! (Illus: second hand religion…you cannot be saved by association! You must meet Jesus personally!)

·        The simplicity of salvation in Jesus. – Just believe! Place your heart trust in the finished work of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection! (Illus: this is not blind faith…it is faith in the facts recorded in this BOOK!) Luke is writing in this Gospel the things (truths) “most surely believed” = actually fulfilled. What he is saying is, “We have placed our heart trust in the Christ who actually walked on the earth.” Saving faith simply believes on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation! Can you do that?

II.         THE PURSUIT OF GENUINE CHRISTIANS (V.2)
A genuine Christian:

·        Continually seeks the Lord. – (Illus: here today…gone tomorrow…no change in their life). “Eyewitnesses” = self-seeing; It is a medical term - we also get our word autopsy from this word. It is seeking to know more and more about our Lord. Genuine Christians are continually seeking the Lord with the desire to know Him in His fullness.

·        Continually serves the Lord – “Ministers of the word” “Minister” = under-oarsman. The lowest of the low; all they did was row the boat. Genuine Christians serve the Lord humbly without need of recognition or predominance.

III.       THE POWER OF HOLY SCRIPTURE (V.3)
How do we know that everything in this Book the Bible is true and what Luke is writing is the truth? Notice how he wrote this gospel.

·        Scripture is a careful record - “Understanding” = to study or analyze; to gather all the evidence together. Luke checked and double checked these eyewitness accounts to assure accuracy. The Word of God is a careful record.

·        Scripture is a supernatural record – Luke not only did his research flawlessly but he was directed by the Holy Spirit. “From the very first” = from the very beginning of the life of Christ, but also this phrase can be translated, “from above.” This speaks of the inspiring work of the Holy Spirit! (Illus: if there is a contradiction in the Bible the Bible is not the problem…I’m the problem; everything in this Book comes from above…everything in this Book is inspired by the Holy Ghost…there are no errors, no flaws, no fairy tails, it is all the inspired, inerrant, infallible, pure, perfect, powerful Word of the Living God! That is the way we got our Bible…it is a careful Book…it is a supernatural Book.

·        Scripture is an orderly record – Notice it is not written in chronological order, but he thematic order. (Illus: for example; in chapter 15 everything there is about “lost things” – a lost coin; a lost sheep; a lost son). This Bible is the very Words of God and everything in it is true (salvation & heaven and judgment & hell).

IV.       THE PROMISE OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP (V.4)
The promise is to know the certainty of the things written in this Book! “Theophilus” = friend of God. A real person but I believe also any child of God seeking to walk with God! The Bible says there are some things I can know for sure! What can we know for certain?

·        God is a Holy God – as holy God must judge sin. Man as a sinner cannot have a relationship with God until that sin is dealt with.

·        Jesus Christ is Holy God – God became flesh and paid in full mans debt of sin on the Cross of Calvary.

·        The one thing that God requires of man is that he simply repent and trust (believe on) Jesus as Savior and Lord.

·        That if you come to God in Christ you will be forgiven!

·        You can know you’re saved…for sure!

Conclusion:       (Illus: I’ve got my boarding pass and the fare has been paid in full.) What do you know for sure? Jesus is waiting for your answer.