Save the incarnation, there is no greater revelation than God’s Bible. A commitment to the Word of God is paramount for faithful ministry. Charles Spurgeon was convinced of this—it was the reason why he died as a theological outcast, forced to leave his association and stand alone as a voice for truth.
More than 100 years later, speaking on the Spurgeon and the death of his denomination, Baptist preacher W. A. Criswell said: “Whether we continue to live or ultimately die lies in our dedication to the infallible Word of God.”
But it was not just the seasoned Spurgeon who knew this lesson. From the very beginning of his long and fruitful ministry, he knew that the right hearing and right understanding of the Scripture is the means to reach the “fountain head of truth.”
In Lost Sermon no. 114, “The Noble Bereans”, Spurgeon encourages his readers to mimic the Bereans in a voracious study and searching of the Scriptures.
“Bible searchers are the peers of heaven. Noble in their aims, noble in their spirit, noble in their conduct, noble in thought and principles. God demands that you search the Scriptures.”
The surest way to know God truly is to pick up and read. A care not just for appetite, but for the mind is necessary. A soft heart and a open mind, ready to be molded by the powerful Word, are both vital in receiving life from the Bible.
In the end, those who search the Scriptures faithfully are noble. God bestows grace, conviction, and encouragement by the Spirit, all through the reading of the Word. Above all, Spurgeon is sure that the Scriptures reveal Christ—they “bear witness about him”. He is the beginning and end of the text, the living Word made flesh. Taking up to read gives a “bright display of Jesus as to ravish the soul.”
"Sinner, dost thou desire salvation? ’Tis by faith, and that comes by God’s word. Christian, wouldest thou increase thy faith? Search the scriptures daily. Pull out your dusty Bibles."
You can read an excerpt from “The Noble Bereans” below. Be sure to pick up The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon, vol. 2, available now, for more sermons from Spurgeon’s earliest ministry.
About The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon
In 1857, Charles Spurgeon–—the most popular preacher in the Victorian world—–promised his readers that he would publish his earliest sermons. For almost 160 years, these sermons have been lost to history. In 2017, B&H Academic began releasing a multi-volume set that includes full-color facsimiles, transcriptions, contextual and biographical introductions, and editorial annotations. Written for scholars, pastors, and students alike, The Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon will add approximately 10 percent more material to Spurgeon’s body of literature. Click here for an interview between Jared Wilson and Christian George about the Lost Sermons project.