Text: II Timothy 3:15-17
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
II Timothy 3:15
Introduction: The need of our day is a need for faith. We need intelligent faith that can face the realities of life and still be anchored to the reality of God and His love and care for us. There are many sad conditons in life. There is divorce, child abuse, runaway children, high taxes, unemployment, depression, anxiety, sickness and an array of other tools in Satan’s toolbox to take apart the faith of the believer. There is a faith that is sufficient for these frightening times.
What is the authority for this faith? It is the Bible. Only by reading the Bible can we know of God’s character and work. Only in the Bible can we read of God’s acts among us.
The editor of a well known London newspaper once sent a questionnaire to one hundred important men – peers, members of parliment, university professors, authors and merchants. He asked: “Suppose you were sent to prison for three years and could only take three books with you, which three would you choose? please state them in the order of their importance.” Out of the replies, ninety-eight put the Bible first on their list! Few of these men were christians, many were not even church goers. Others were agnostics or athiests. Yet, they knew no other book could give them cheer and comfort in dark and difficult times.
I. THE BIBLE IS THE AUTHORITY FOR FAITH BECAUSE OF ITS
INSPIRATION
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
II Timothy 3:16
INSPIRATION: 2315. theopneustos {theh-op’-nyoo-stos}; from 2316 and a presumed derivative of 4154; divinely breathed in: -given by inspiration of God.
All of the Scriptures were written by men who were inspired, or breathed into, by God. Paul was writing about the Old Testament scriptures at this point. At the time of this writing the New Testament had not been completely written and collected. But if what Paul claimed for the OT was true, it surely is true for the NT scriptures as well.
We must confess that we do not know exactly how God went about inspiring men who wrote the Scriptures. We know that they recorded the acts of God. We know also that they used their own personalities and vocabularies to do so.
We know that God acted among us. The Holy spirit then inpired someone to record these acts of God. The Holy Spirit also illumines these records. God still speaks to us out of the pages of the Bible. So it seems to be a process of revelation, inspiration, and illumination.
We must also consider that the Bible still stands as the authority for our faith. Repeated attacks have been made upon it, but it still stands, and God still speaks through it. Only Divine inspiriation can account for this.
II. THE BIBLE IS THE AUTHORITY FOR FAITH BECAUSE OF ITS
IMPORTANCE.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
II Timothy 3:16
PROFITABLE: 5624. ophelimos {o-fel’-ee-mos}; from a form of 3786; helpful or serviceable, i.e. advantageous: -profit(-able).
This ought to mean something in this materialistic culture of ours. The Word of God has profit for us: it is useful; it is important to our lives.
A. It is important for the teaching of Doctrine.
The Bible must be the source of our doctrine. All teaching or doctrine to which we subscribe must be tested against the Word of God. What we believe and how we live are tied closely together!
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Acts 2:42
“Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
Acts 5:28
“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.Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
Romans 6:17
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive”
Ephesians 4:14
“As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.”
I Timothy 1:3-6
In the Bible we find principles that guide the believer, no matter what century it is. The partiular problems might change. The principles never do.
B. It is important for for conviction.
REPROOF: 1651. elegcho {el-eng’-kho}; of uncertain affinity; to confute, admonish: -convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove.
Reproof does not mean faultfinding. It means conviction. In the Bible we find conviction of our sins.
“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
John 16:8
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
Ephesians 5:11
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
II Timothy 4:2
C. It is important for correction.
The Bible must correct our understanding and our obedience. All theories, theologies and teachings must be tested by the teaching of the Bible.
“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:”
Job 5:17
“For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”
Proverbs 3:12
D. It is important for instruction in righteousness.
RIGHTEOUSNESS: 1343. dikaiosune {dik-ah-yos-oo’-nay}; from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification: -righteousness.
This could be understood as “training in good living”. There is no other place to learn the meaning of righteousness than from Him who is righteous – God as revealed in Jesus Christ!
“If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”
I John 2:29
“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”
I John 3:7
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:31
III. THE BIBLE IS THE AUTHORITY FOR OUR FAITH BECAUSE OF ITS
INTENTION
A. It has the intent of salvation.
Through the Bible we can come to salvation.
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
II Timothy 3:15
A missionary was caught one night by soldiers in a forest in Sicily with a load of Bibles in his possession. He was held up at the point of a revolver. He was ordered to light a fire and burn his books. He lit the fire and then he asked if he might read a little from each book before he dropped it in the flames. He read the 23rd Psalm from one; the story of the good Samaritan from another; from the Sermon on the Mount from another; from another I Cor. 13. At the end of each reading, the soldier said, “We won’t burn that one, give it to me.” In the end, not a book was burned. The soldier left the missionary and went off into the darkness with the books. Years later, that same man turned up again. This time he was a Christian minister, and it was to the reading of the books he attributed the change.
B. It has the intent of equipping for service.
“That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
II Timothy 3:17
FURNISHED: 1822. exartizo {ex-ar-tid’-zo}; from 1537 and a derivative of 739; to finish out (time); figuratively, to equip fully (a teacher): -accomplish, thoroughly furnish.
Salvation is only the beginning of the Christian life. The Lord intends for the Christian to serve HIM. The Bible will completely equip a person for service!
“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Ephesians 4:16
Conclusion: In these frightening times we can have faith in God. The authority for faith is the Bible. It leads us to God.