Sunday, March 1, 2020 am
FIRST PRINCIPLES
“All Scripture…”
2 Timothy 3:15-17
This morning I want to address the Bible as the word of God.
We will focus on 2 Timothy 3:15-17 and make application.
In this may we be reminded of what the Bible is and why we need
to regularly use it in our lives.
The context is Paul encouraging Timothy to continue in his faith
(things he has learned and been assured of – vs. 14).
Let us notice some things about scripture.
a.
God has taken the time
to reveal to us what we need to know about Him and His will.
He has not left us to blindly guess what He would have us to do.
Paganism, on the other hand, was rooted in speculation and man
made theory about what they supposed would please the gods.
But we have the word of God – revealed and verified in various ways.
1 Corinthians 2:10-12 finds Paul verifying that God has revealed
to us His will through His Spirit.
b.
God expects us to
understand.
Ephesians 5:17 – this is written as a command.
Earlier in that same letter Paul noted that God had revealed His
will to him and he had written it down so that you may understand
(Ephesians 3:3-4).
c.
NOTE: In this text, Paul
may be primarily speaking of the OT. This
is what Timothy had learned from his youth and was applying its
fulfillment. Having said
that, we can apply these principles to God’s word, the New Testament,
today. I am convinced that
is Paul’s ultimate point here.
NOTE John 5:39 where Jesus Himself notes, “You search the scriptures…”
and then observed they testified of Him.
d.
We can with confidence
accept that what we have is God’s revealed word to us.
a.
The word for
scripture in vs. 14 was actually a common word that means a
document. While most were
not literate during the time of Christ and the early church, there were
enough who were educated.
Writings, while precious and valuable, were readily available.
This is one of the characteristics of that time that made it an ideal
time (“the fullness of time” – Galatians 4:4, esp. Ephesians 1:9-10) for
the beginning of the gospel.
b.
Holy scriptures
– they are sacred writings – meaning devoted to service for God.
They were treated with respect.
Why? Because the Old
Law, to Jews, was their sacred law.
They treated the Old Testament as if it had come from God (and it
had). There were special
processes associated with the scrolls as they were opened and read in
synagogues, as well as in attempts to copy the text to ensure accuracy.
Consider Nehemiah 8:5, when Ezra opened the book, they stood.
This shows reverence.
We need to treat God’s word with reverence.
Its not a novel, a book of
suggestions and good sayings.
It is the word of God.
Consider 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – they welcomed it as the word of
God.
c.
We need to distinguish between what is holy and what is not holy.
The teachings of men are not holy!
That is why we need to be careful with commentaries, or even
preachers that we have high regard for.
WE ARE MEN – fallible!
While I try to reveal what I firmly believe to be truth, I ask
you to “trust, but verify”.
I CAN be wrong! But God’s
word is not!
III.
They are able to make you wise unto salvation –
a.
Through God’s word, we
can understand what we need to do to be saved and stay saved.
Romans 1:16-17 – the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed…
Ephesians 1:13 speaks of “the gospel of your salvation”
b.
Consider the OT – it
leads us to Christ (Galatians 3:19, 24).
Again John 5:39, where Jesus noted the scriptures testified of
Him. It helps us understand
God’s plan as it unfolded through Christ and His church.
1 Peter 1:10-12 speaks of the prophets at times not understanding
themselves, but ultimately they spoke of the time when Jesus came to
fulfill His plan.
Romans 15:4 makes this point plainly!
Friends, we can have
confidence in God’s plan of salvation revealed in the New Testament
because of the Old Testament.
c.
The rest of our text
explains some ways that the New Law makes us wise unto salvation.
a.
Scripture here is
another Greek word that was common meaning writings.
It is obvious Paul was not saying everything ever written was
inspired by God.
His point is “ALL writings that are from God” are inspired.
This would have included the Old
Testament and to us, the New Testament.
b.
Inspired literally, “God
breathed” – it is as if God is speaking it Himself.
Cf. 1 Peter 4:11 – let him speak as the oracles (utterances) of
God (Himself).
This comes back to respect for what is established as the word of God.
c.
it will not be in error.
If it from God, it is going to be the truth.
John 17:17.
Galatians 1:6-9
a.
The word profitable
means useful or beneficial.
We need to approach God’s word with an attitude that it profitable to
us. We have already seen God
expects us to understand what it teaches.
But He also expects us to apply it.
His word is able to make us better, and if applied universally,
it would make us all better.
b.
For doctrine
– a simple word for teaching or instruction.
We open the word of God and we learn.
2 Timothy 2:15 – be diligent to present yourself approved unto God…;
1 Timothy 4:13 & 16 both speak of Timothy’s studies and example and how
he is to teach others.
The word is found some 21 times in the NT, 15 of which are in Paul’s
letters to Timothy and Titus.
There is something to be said about learning.
c.
Reproof –
rebuke or conviction. This
is the identifying of error to the point that one is convicted and sees
the need to repent. Consider
Acts 2:37 – they were cut to the heart.
Ephesians 5:11, have no fellowship…expose them
1 Timothy 5:20, those who are sinning rebuke..
(spoken of elders in sin).
d.
Correction
– this is getting us back on the right path.
Reproof is pointless if the direction back to a restored state is
not provided. Even in 2
Timothy 4:2 there is the exhortation which is bringing one back to where
he needs to be.
God’s word gives us plenty of instructions about HOW to deal with our
sins. What to do when we
sin.
e.
Instruction in
righteousness
– His word guides us in how to be right with God.
We continually emphasize that
serving God is living righteous (by His standard).
Recall our recent lesson on Matthew 5:6, we hunger and thirst
after righteousness. We want
to be right with God. That
is why we KEEP STUDYING God’s word.
We want to learn how to be right and live it daily. See Titus
2:11-14.
f.
NOTE; In this
verse we have a list of 4 different things God’s word does.
Some have insisted that preaching ought to be 2/3 negative and
1/3 positive (cf. 2 Timothy 4:2-3).
I do not agree. I see
preaching as a process where you expose error, to whatever degree that
is needed, and then you give the solution.
This text describes scripture as ½ positive and ½ negative if you
will. But again, see what I just
said – PROCESS!
a.
It is all you need.
2 Peter 1:3 - “all things that pertain to life and godliness”.
b.
Mankind, especially
today, seems to think that God’s instructions are not adequate.
They seek to help God by adding or taking away from His word.
Such things can only weaken the truth or even divide us.
c.
Scriptures in many
places emphasize how it is all that we need.
Consider 2 Peter 1:4-11 which instructs us to build upon our
faith and promises that if we master these qualities (they are yours and
abound), we will never fall (or even stumble).
We can make our call and election sure.
a.
Complementing the
previous phrase, when we are complete we are fully equipped.
It equips us to do what we need.
b.
We are called upon to be
filled with good works – the life of a Christian is an active life.
Matthew 5:16, when our light is shining it includes good works that
prompt them to glorify God.
2 Corinthians 9:8, when we give as we ought to we have the promise that
“God is able to make all things abound toward you, that you, always
having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every
good work.”
Ephesians 2:10 notes that we are His workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works.
c.
What exactly these good
works are is another lesson, but here let us suffice it to say – it is
doing whatever we can as Christians for God, others and ourselves, based
upon what His word instructs us to do.
We
are blessed to have the word of God, a proven guide that gives us all
the direction we need to live a godly life on earth, and ultimately
prepare for the life that is to come.
Does His word govern your life?