Sermon Central
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The Purpose Of The Scriptures Series
Contributed by Carl Allen on Apr 20, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Why did God give us the Bible? Why did He feel that He needed to inspire man to write the words that lay before us. These are just a few of the questions that I believe are answered in the text for today.
God’s Perfect Word
The Purpose of the Scriptures
Intro: In our text tonight, Timothy is challenged to maintain a close relationship with the Word of God. Paul tells him of the benefits that come from such a relationship. He is reminded that it is the Scriptures which have taught him what he knows about God. It is the Word of God that has fed him and led him to this point in his life. The Scripture has been foundational in making him the man of God he is. He is to continue in them so that he might continue to progress as a believer and as a man of God.
Friends you and I need the Scriptures in our lives as well! If we are going to be all we can be for the glory of the Lord we need a close relationship with the Bible. If we are going to grow in the Lord as He wants us to, then we need the Word of God. The verses we have read tonight have something to say to us about the purpose of the Scriptures.
Why did God feel the need to give His revelation to the original authors of the Bible? Why did God feel the need to exert supernatural power to inspire His Word? Why has He demonstrated the same supernatural power in preserving that same Word? I believe we can look into His Word tonight and see for ourselves just why God gave us His Word. So let’s examine The Purpose of the Holy Scriptures.
I. They Serve the Purpose of Revelation
Revelation is the process of God telling the original author exactly what He wanted to say. Of course, just as God revealed His mind to the original author, His inspired Word continues to reveal Him and His mind to all those who open the book and read, this is illumination and it is what Timothy had already experienced, according to Paul, verses 14-15. Notice what the Bible reveals about God.
A. They Reveal God’s Person
• The only way God can be known by us, at least now, is through His Word.
• The Scriptures reveal God to be holy, loving, just, eternal, glorious, exalted, loving, gracious, merciful and infinitely good.
• They teach us that He is Lord, He is Sovereign, He is a consuming fire, He is terrible and a God of wrath.
• In the Bible we learn truth that man could never have come to by himself.
• In the pages of the Bible, we meet God Himself!
• We could never know Him as well any other way.
B. They Reveal God’s Power
• In the pages of Scripture we can read of the awesome power of God.
• We can read of His power to create; of His power in impossible situations, (Feeding 5,000 and walking on the stormy sea); of His power to heal; of His power to do anything that He desires to do, Luke 1:38; Job 42:4; Eph. 3:20.
C. They Reveal God’s Promises
• Thousands of promises fill the pages of the Word of God, and every single one will be kept, Rom. 4:21!
• The saints of God need never fear that any of the promises of God will fail!
• Note: Everything God does is for the glory of His name!
• God does nothing that does not exalt Him!
• However, we are told that He has exalted His Word above His very Name, Psa. 138:2.
D. They Reveal God’s Plan
• It is in the pages of God’s inspired, infallible, inerrant book, the Bible that we can read of God’s plan to Save the Sinner - Rom. 5:8; Rom. 10:13; Satisfy the Saint - Psa. 103:5; Secure the Saved - John 10:28; John 6:37-40; Supply His Sons - Phil. 4:19; Psa. 37:25.
II. THEY SERVE THE PURPOSE OF REDEMPTION
The Bible is the unfolding of the story of redemption. Verse 15 reminds us that the Scriptures are “able to make thee wise unto salvation.” From the moment man sinned in the garden of Eden, there is a continuous red thread that can be traced through the pages of the Bible. This story of redemption culminates with the death of Christ on the cross for the salvation of the lost.
A. They Demonstrate The Wickedness Of The Sinner
• The Bible is what teaches us that we are sinners in need of a Savior, Rom. 3:10; 3:23; Gal. 3:22.
B. They Demonstrate The Wrath Of The Sovereign - Rom. 6:23; John 3:18, 36.
C. They Demonstrate The Worth Of The Soul - 2 Pet. 3:9; John 3:16.
D. They Demonstrate The Way Of Salvation – John 3:16; the Roman Roads.
III. THEY SERVE THE PURPOSE OF REINFORCEMENT
Verses 16 and 17 speak of the benefits that can be derived from a careful and close study of the Bible. After we have received God’s revelation and are part of His redemptive plan, the Bible serves as a reinforcement tool, helping us to grow and to develop into all that God wants His children to be. I want to point out two ways in which the Scriptures can help us to develop as believers.
