The Bible — Our Pattern From God
Categories: Audio Sermons, Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon OutlinesPart 1
Part 2
Date written: September 24th, 2001
Scripture ref: Romans 6:17
SUBJECT: Bible
TITLE: The Bible – Our Pattern from God
PROPOSITION: In this lesson, we want to understand more about the Bible – God’s Pattern: 1) The Definition of God’s Pattern 2) The Source of God’s Pattern 3) The History of God’s Pattern 4) The Application of God’s Pattern.
OBJECTIVES: We want everyone to understand that the Bible is a pattern; it has always been a pattern; and it will continue to be God’s pattern and the final authority upon which we all are judged.
AIM: It is my aim to show from the scriptures that the Bible is God’s pattern and any teaching that implies otherwise is contrary to God’s intentions for His scriptures.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Romans 6:17
2. About the Text:
1) Paul is answering the question, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”
2) His answer involves the proper understanding of what and how we became dead to sin and alive unto God.
3) He explains in verse 17 that though you were once servants of sin, you obeyed “that form of doctrine.”
4) The word “form” here is the Greek word “tupos.” This word is translated in various ways: type, example, form, pattern.
5) In essence, Paul was emphasizing that it was through obedience to the pattern of doctrine that they became righteous and put away sin from their lives.
6) The pattern of doctrine includes baptism, but is not limited to baptism as baptism is in and of itself a form of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, the central theme of the New Testament (1 Corinthians 15:1ff).
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: To understand more about the Bible as God’s Pattern, we must learn…
I. The Definition of God’s Pattern
1. What is a pattern?
1) A pattern is a “form or model proposed for imitation.” Webster’s Ninth New College Dictionary.
2) If form or model is followed, then you will achieve the determined result.
3) If this form or model is not followed, then you will achieve something less than the determined result.
2. What is the meaning of the Greek word “tupos?”
1) John 20:25 “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
2) Acts 7:43-44 “Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.”
3) Acts 23:25 “And he wrote a letter after this manner:”
4) Romans 5:14 “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”
5) Romans 6:17 “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”
6) 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11 “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
7) Phi. 3:17 “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”
8) 1 Th. 1:7 “So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.”
9) 2 Th. 3:9 “Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.”
10) 1 Tim. 4:12 “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
11) Tit. 2:7 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity.”
12) Heb. 8:5 “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.”
13) 1 Peter 5:3 “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”
3. What is the Essence of God’s Pattern?
1) It is The Truth. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (1 John 16:13).
2) It is The Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ. “And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth” (Hebrews 9:15-17).
3) It is The Blueprint for Salvation.
a. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
b. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).
c. “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13).
II. The Source of God’s Pattern
1. Prophets of the Old Testament
1) “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).
2) “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” (2 Peter 1:21).
2. Jesus and His Apostles
1) Jesus was sent by God to teach and preach The Truth-“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:17-18).
2) Jesus said of his apostles, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).
3. The Inspired Word of God – The Bible
1) “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:10-13).
2) “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:3-4).
3) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 2:16-17).
4. Because the Bible is inspired of God, it is authoritative and it is a pattern. You cannot have any words from God that do not constitute a pattern.
III. The History of God’s Pattern
1. 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11 Example, Ensample, Pattern.
2. Moses and the 10 Commandments
1) Hebrews 8:5 “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.”
2) Exodus 25:9 “According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.”
3) Exodus 25:40 “And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.”
4) Numbers 8:4 “And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.”
3. Josiah and the Restoration of the Passover
1) 2 Chronicles 34:15ff – found the book.
2) 2 Chronicles 34:31-32 – “stand to it”
3) 2 Chronicles 35: 4, 12; 2 Kings 23:21 – “as it is written”
4) 2 Chronicles 35:18 – no Passover kept like this since the days of Samuel.
IV. The Application of God’s Pattern.
1. We have a new pattern today.
1) The Old Pattern has been done away with. Heb 8:13
2) We are commanded to hear the Christ. Hebrews 1:1-2; Matthew 17:5.
2. The New Testament claims to be a pattern for our life today.
1) Romans 6:17
2) 2 Peter 1:3
3) Titus 2:11-12
4) 2 Timothy 3:16-17
3. It is an authoritative pattern.
1) Matthew 28:18-19
2) Colossians 3:17
4. We are commanded to keep/hold the pattern.
1) 2 Timothy 1:13.
2) Jude 3.
5. Those who say otherwise blaspheme God and dishonor the Christ.
1) They do so by rejecting Christ’s covenant (Hebrews 9:15).
2) They do so by implying that God has not provided us everything we need to live righteously.
3) They do so by implying that God is not capable of instructing his creation in a way which they can understand.
CONCLUSION:
1. Let us remember God’s Pattern
1) Its definition.
2) Its source.
3) Its history.
4) Its application.
2. Invitation
1) If you are a Christian, have you left the pattern?
2) If you are not a Christian this morning…
a. Obey God’s pattern for salvation today.
b. Hear the word; Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing…”
c. Believe with all your heart; Hebrews 11:6 “For without faith it is impossible…”
d. Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30).
e. Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 16:16).
f. Be Baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15-16).