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Scripture Reading:  Jeremiah 6:10-20

Hermeneutics (Part 3)

The New Hermeneutics:

Certain Departure from God

Intro.

1.  Last lesson we noted 3 essentials to understanding Bible (God has spoken through Christ; Christ’s authority found in His word through commands, examples & necessary inferences; we must speak where the Bible speaks & be silent where it is silent).

2.  There is a divine pattern we must hold fast (Exo. 25:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:13).

3.  When there is departure from the divine pattern, restoration becomes necessary – Jer. 6:19; 10-15, 16-17.  (Set in place by the original pattern.)

4.  How we view/approach the subject of restoration reveals a major difference between the “old” & “new” hermeneutics.

  a.  Old:  There is a pattern to learn & follow; Bible precedent for this way of using scripture (Acts 15); constant, objective standard to which we appeal (Col. 3:17; 2 Tim. 1:13; 3:16-17).

  b.  New:  Truth adjusts to cultural shifts, “adapt to the times to survive.”

5.  Concept of restoration rests on the premise that there is a pattern from God that we can properly understand & accurately obey – 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Pet. 3:16.

I.  DEPARTURE FROM THE DIVINE PATTERN OF TRUTH DESTROYS A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD & HIS PEOPLE – 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Jno. 9-11; cf. Mal. 4:5-6.

  A.  Word of Life Establishes Fellowship with God & with His People – 1 Jno. 1:1-7.

  B.  Departure from the Faith Implies a Pattern to Stand in – 1 Tim. 4:1-3 (truth, 3:15; 4:3; word of God, 4:5; words of fait, doctrine, 4:6).

  C.  Departure Disrupts & Destroys Fellowship with God & His People – 2 Jno. 9-11.

  D.  Answer:  Restoration by Returning to God’s Pattern – cf. Isa. 1:4-6, 10, 16-20; Jer. 6:16; Mal. 3:7; 4:4-6.

II.  EACH STEP AWAY FROM GOD’S WORD LEADS TO FURTHER DEPARTURE – 2 Tim. 2:16-18; 3:13-17.

  A.  Apostasy Possesses a Lawless Spirit that Knows No Stopping Place.  (Nature of error.)

    1.  Its work is gradual, but sure - Jgs. 2:10; 21:25; 2 Ths. 2:7.

    2.  Illustrations of departures from NT pattern (Acts 20:27, 29-30):

      a.  Plan of salvation.

      b.  Acceptable worship.

      c.  Organization of the church.

      d.  Work of the church.

   B. One of Two Things Promotes Each Step Away from the Bible Pattern of Truth (apostasy):

    1.  Twisting Scripture in order to claim Bible authority for what is taught / practiced – 2 Pet. 3:16-17 (cf. 2 Ths. 2:1-2).

    2.  Claiming we do not need Bible authority for what is taught / practiced (ignoring the revealed pattern of truth).

      a.  Appeals are made to tradition, emotion, & silence (“where does the Bible say not to?”).  (Heb. 7:14; Acts 15:24)

      b.  All such pleas minimize the pattern of God’s word.

III.  RESTORATION IS A RETURN TO GOD’S WAYS.

  A.  Restoration Requires Two Things:

    1.  Understanding what the Bible teaches (1 Tim. 1:5-7; Jno. 8:32).

       -(To do so, we must know how the Bible teaches, Acts 8:30-31; 2 Tim. 2:15); therefore, grow – 2 Pet. 3:18.

    2.  Willingness to abide in Bible teaching (not go beyond it) – 1 Cor. 4:6 (1 Tim. 4:1); Lk. 8:8, 18; Jno. 7:16-17.

  B.  Illustration:  Josiah’s Reforms – 2 Chrn. 34:14, 19-21, 30-33.

    1.  Restored worship, feasts, & purged the land of idols.

    2.  He used “the book of the law of Moses” to restore God’s ways – 2 Kgs. 23:24-25.

    3.  Jeremiah (a contemporary) pleaded for a return to ancient paths – Jer. 18:15; 6:16-17.

      a.  Sadly, the people only pretended to reform – Jer. 3:10; 4:14.

      b.  A return to the objective truth of Scripture would have restored Judah to God’s favor, but they refused & fell under punishment.

    4.  God requires us to submit to objective truth – Gal. 1:6-10.

Conclusion

1.  Bible continually warns against cycles of apostasy among the people of God – Jgs. 2:10; Hosea 4:6; 8:11-13; 2 Ths. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4:1.

2.  Remedy:  Restoration to the ancient paths to have fellowship with God.

  a.  Knowledge of & obedience to truth (genuine repentance) – Isa. 1:18-20.

  b.  To do so we must handle God’s word properly (2 Tim. 2:15).