WHAT THE BIBLE DOES FOR US
2 Timothy 3:13-17
INTRODUCTION:
The Holy Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to man. Without the Bible, we
would know very little of the person and nature of God.
The Bible is the Word of God. “20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the
scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For 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). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God . . .” (2 Tim. 3:16). Over 2500 times
the expressions “the word of God,” “the word of the Lord,” “thus saith the Lord,” and
“the Lord said” appear in the Bible.
The Bible is referred to as a sword Heb. 4:12), the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17),
a hammer and a fire (Jer. 23:29), a lamp and a light (Psa. 109:105). It is milk for
spiritual infants (1 Peter 2:2) and meat for mature believers (Heb. 5:12-14).
First Timothy 3:16 tells us that the Bible is “profitable.” That means that reading,
studying, and practicing the Bible is good for us—it makes us better.
1. THE BIBLE IS PROFITABLE FOR SALVATION,
“15And 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” (verse 15).
Timothy was well-acquainted with the scriptures, because his mother and grandmother
had taught them to him from the time he was a little child (2 Tim. 1:5). The Bible was
instrumental in Timothy’s salvation.
The Bible tells us of our need of salvation.
The Bible tells us that we are not righteous. “As it is written, There is none
righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10).
The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”
(Rom. 3:23).
The Bible tells us that we are condemned sinners, and that “this is the
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).
The Bible tells us that “ . . . Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
The Bible tells us the way of salvation.
While men devise many religions and propose many ways to get to Heaven, Jesus
said “ . . . I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me” (John 14:6).
The Bible tells us that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him
might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God” (John 3:16-18).
The Bible tells us how to have assurance of salvation.
Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).
Jesus also said “27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow
me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all;
and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and my Father are one”
(John 10:27-30).
Jesus asked “36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).
The Bible is profitable for us because it helps bring us to salvation.
2. THE BIBLE IS PROFITABLE FOR DIRECTION
“14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured
of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (verse 14).
Timothy was a young man with many opportunities and many choices available to
him. His mother and grandmother had pointed him in the right direction. Paul, his
father in the ministry, had spent countless hours training and teaching him. Paul
encouraged him to continue in the same direction.
We have so much freedom with so many choices available to us. God allows us
to choose whether to trust Him and obey Him. We can choose whether to go to church
and what church to join. We can choose our friends. We can choose the person we will
marry. We can choose what kind of education and training we will pursue. We can
choose what kind of job or career to pursue. We can choose how we will treat other
people. These choices and decisions can overwhelm us and confuse us.
Jeremiah confessed “23O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it
is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer, 10:23). Solomon admitted “2There is a
way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (Prov.
14:12).
The psalmist wrote “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path” (Psa. 199:105).
The Bible is profitable for us because it enables us to recognize the right paths
and make the best choices.
3. THE BIBLE IS PROFITABLE FOR DETECTING FALSE TEACHING
False teaching was a reality then and is a reality now.
Paul warned Timothy about the false teachers which troubled the churches (verses
1-8). Paul warned Timothy that false teachers would continue to spread their false
teachings. “13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and
being deceived” (verse 13); “3For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching
ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables”
(2 Tim. 4:3-4).
False teaching is dangerous.
Jesus said that because of their hypocritical living and false teaching, most of the
Pharisees would not enter heaven, and that they hindered others from entering heaven
(Matt. 23:13).
The Bible says we are not to teach or practice false teaching, and neither are we to
assist or encourage false teachers. “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth
not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he
hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this
doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed” ( 2 John 1:9-10).
The Bible is profitable for us because it enables us to recognize false teaching and
false teachers.
4. THE BIBLE IS PROFITABLE FOR LEARNING TRUE TEACHING
“16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine . . .”
(verse 16).
In his first letter to Timothy, Paul instructed the young pastor, “Till I come,
give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:13). Many people say
that truth is relative, that one religion is as good as another, that it doesn’t matter what
you believe as long as you are sincere. But it is very important to know and recognize
the truth. What you believe determines how you live. You can’t live right if you don’t
believe right. You can’t believe right if you don’t know right. You can’t know right if
you aren’t taught right.
The Bible is profitable for us because it is our source of true doctrine.
5. THE BIBLE IS PROFITABLE FOR REPROOF
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable . . . for reproof” (v.
16).
Reproof tells me what is not right in my life. God reproves me when He tells me
what I am doing wrong. Man’s standards of right and wrong are constantly changing, but
God’s standards of right and wrong never change. The Bible tells me that murdering
people is wrong; that disrespecting and disobeying parents is wrong; that lying is wrong;
that using profanity and foul language is wrong; that stealing is wrong; that sex outside of
marriage is wrong; that drinking alcohol is wrong. When I do wrong things I not only
disobey God, but I do harm to myself as well. “36But he that sinneth against me
wrongeth his own soul” (Prov. 8:36).
The Bible is profitable for us because of its reproof—it lets us know when we are
doing wrong.
6. THE BIBLE IS PROFITABLE FOR CORRECTION
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable . . . for correction.”
God doesn’t reprove me just so that I can know that I am doing wrong and feel
bad about it, but so that I can get right and live right. To get right with God, I have to
recognize my sins, confess my sins, and forsake my sins. “9If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1
John 1:9). “13He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Prov. 28:13).
The Bible is profitable for us because of its correction—it helps us do right and
live right.
7. THE BIBLE IS PROFITABLE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
“16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for . . .
instruction in righteousness” (verse 16).
The Bible helps us stay right. The Bible describes our relationship with God as
our walk with him. In order to stay right with God and walk with God, we need to stay
morally and spiritually clean. The Bible helps us do that. “Wherewithal shall a young
man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psa. 119:9).
The Bible is profitable for us because it instructs us in righteousness.
8. THE BIBLE IS PROFITABLE FOR SERVICE,
“That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works”
(verse 17).
God has work (service) for all of us to do. “For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them” (Eph. 2:10). “14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to
serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14).
Can you imagine trying to serve God without having read or studied the Bible?
The Bible tells us how and what to preach. The Bible tells us how to pray. The Bible
tells us how to worship. The Bible tells us how to sing. The Bible tells us how to give.
The Bible is profitable for us because it helps us in our service.
CONCLUSION:
The Bible is profitable—it makes us better.
Read it to be wise. “. . . the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the
simple” (Psalm 19:7).
Believe it to be saved. “ 7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul”
(Psalm 19:7). Jesus said, “39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have
eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39).
Study it to be approved. “ 15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim.
2:15).
Meditate on it to be prosperous. “ 1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the
counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the
scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day
and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth
his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall
prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3).
Practice it to be holy. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by
taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9).
Share it to rejoice and be rewarded. “5They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with
rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6).
