The Bible Can Make Christians Wise and Well Equipped
2 Timothy 3
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 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.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Introduction
The Bible is vital in the conversion of a person. And the Bible is vital in the maturing of the convert. The Holy Spirit uses the written word of God to convict the individual of sin. The Holy Spirit uses the written word of God to instruct the believer in righteous living.
The Importance of Continuing in the Word.
Explanation
The increase and expansion of evil people and evil actions makes the acceptance of evil difficult to resist. Desensitization occurs. That which was so important becomes insignificant. Deception takes place. People are fooled. It is vital to resist this. God’s written word is helpful in that resistance.
This continuing in the word has understood to be important to the people of God. Before the word was written and so readily available, the people of God were to talk about it daily with one another. Parents were to teach to their children the things that God had done. God had clearly declared the importance of the word to HIS people. One entire chapter in Pslams is devoted to emphasizing the importance of continuing in God’s word.
Illustration
Clarence Darrow, the famous criminal lawyer of the well-known Tennessee Scopes monkey trial, died at age 78.
Near the end of his days, Darrow confessed he had spent his life seeking for proof of God. He wanted some proof he could nail down and say, “This is a fact.” But he lamented he never found it.
Once, when asked about his soul, Darrow snorted, “My soul? There is no such thing.”
Contrast Darrow’s skepticism with the faith of Michael Faraday, one of England’s greatest chemists and physicists.
As Faraday lay dying, someone asked, “And now, Mr. Faraday, what are your speculations?”
“Speculations!” Faraday replied. “I have no speculation; I am resting on certainty.”
(Proclaim: the Pastor’s Journal for Biblical Preaching. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Nashville, TN. A-M-J, 1988. P. 34)
Application
You would undoubtedly agree that it is important to continue in the word of God. A response of more than verbal agreement is called for from these verses. Speculation and uncertainty of our eternal destiny and of the things God would have us to do here and now will disappear as we continue in the word.
Apart from continuing in the word, there is greater susceptibility to the evil lifestyle. The Bible immunizes the believer against the infection of sin. You are going to more clearly realize that which will not please the Lord as you read and study the sacred word of God on a consistent and disciplined basis.
The Scriptures Make Wise unto Salvation through Faith in Christ.
Explanation
Timothy’s mother and grandmother had taught Timothy the truths of God from the word of God. Timothy had come to a saving faith in Christ Jesus as a child. It was the life that his mother and grandmother lived in obedience to the word of God that had prepared the heart of Timothy when he was a child. It was the world of God that had learned as a child that God used to bring Timothy to saving faith.
Illustration
The American Bible Society reports that many years ago a lady in Spain wanted to do something special for the Lord and decided to give away Bibles. While seeking possible recipients, she came upon a man building a wall. When she discovered he had never owned a Bible, she offered him one, writing his name in it.
The man was too embarrassed to refuse it. But when she left, he resolved, “I will never read this, and I’ll make sure no one else will either.” He placed the book behind one of the stones and finished the wall, certain that at least this copy would be hidden forever.
A few years later an earthquake hit that area; and an inspector, looking for damage, found a crack in the wall. He peered in and, to his amazement saw a book. He carefully removed it, hurriedly turned the pages, and decided to take it home. That evening he was earnest in study the written word of god. Soon the inspector was on his knees, thanking Jesus for dying for him. He yielded his life to his new-found Savior and became a distributor for the Bible Society in Spain, selling God’s Word from town to town.
It was not long before he came upon a stonemason and offered him a Bible at very low cost. The man told him he had sealed in a wall the only Bible he had ever owned. The distributor drew from his pocket the very Bible and, glancing at the fly leaf, told the man his name. The startled laborer sat down and listened to the distributor’s story. Then he too decided to have a closer look at this book.
The printed word of God was again productive as the stoneworker became a Christian.
(Proclaim: the Pastor’s Journal for Biblical Preaching. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Nashville, TN. J-A-S, 1988. P. 33)
Application
The word of God, engrafted into the minds and souls of people, is able to make them wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus. Even if you had never known a believer, if you read the Bible, the Holy Spirit can use it to lead you to faith. That can encourage us.
Most of us realize that though we seek to live to please the Lord, there are too many occasions when the old man refuses to stay dead. Sinful nature, crucified with Christ, is raised in us. Those whom you seek to lead to faith can find in you those sins that would keep them from accepting Jesus, if you alone are the source God uses to call. You are a visual aid. The Bible is the instrument the Holy Spirit is able to lead to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
The Scripture Is Profitable for Instruction and Correction in Righteousness.
Explanation
When a person has been saved through faith in Christ Jesus, the Bible remains an instrument God, by the Holy Spirit, desires to use in the life of the Christian. The seventeenth verse of this third chapter of 2 Timothy declares the uses the Lord wants to make of the Bible in the life of the believer.
When Paul wrote to Timothy that “all scripture was given by inspiration of God,” it is fairly certain that Paul referred to the Old Testament. At the time that Paul wrote, he would not have referred to his own letters as “God breathed.” Nor had the gospels all been written by the time Paul wrote this letter. The Church has come to regard the books of the New Testament as inspired. In fact, there were groups of scholarly and spiritual men who were used to compile the canon of 66 books that we so commonly call the word of God. One of their criteria for placing a book in the canon was their agreement that it was inspired.
Paul declared to Timothy that they were profitable for correction, instruction, reproof, and doctrine. The God inspired scripture, the sacred texts, taught about God and the way he desired that people live. The God inspired scripture, the sacred texts, corrected the errors in the life of the people who read and heard them, and were open to the changes God desired to make. The Bible is the information center for the believer.
Illustration
There was an occasion when two friends were looking for the apartment of a third friend in a complex with which they were unfamiliar. When they arrived at the entrance of the apartments, signs welcomed them. They didn’t know exactly where their friend lived, so they just walked around for a few moments. Then they remembered that there was a sign at the entrance indicating the “information Center” was in the rear of the complex. They hopped back in the car and drove to the rear of the complex. Sure enough, there was the “Information Center.” Inside, they asked the receptionist where their friend lived. The response was classic. “We don’t give that information here.”
Surprise! Shock! An “information Center” that would not give the information needed.
That is a commentary on the world in which we live. Many lead others to believe that they will give answers regarding the way to live. Truth is, that information is available only God, and HE uses HIS written word to give instruction and correction.
(Proclaim: the Pastor’s Journal for Biblical Preaching. The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Nashville, TN. O-N-D, 1987. P. 38.)
Application
The Bible will teach you what pleases God. The Holy Spirit will use the written word to impart truth to you that will shape life so that from it comes that which God desires. You will produce more godly fruit from the instruction and teaching of God’s word. Your life will have greater righteousness and holiness.
Take every opportunity to let the word correct and instruct and reprove and teach you. It may be that the person leading you in Bible study is not as far advanced as you, in your view. Remember that it is not the person. It is the word of God that the Holy Spirit uses. The Holy Spirit can use a spiritual new born to give you rebuke, if you are willing to receive it. Do not tolerate in your life that which does not please the Lord.
God will use the rebuke and that instruction to equip you so that every instance HE presents to you to do some work that will glorify HIM, you are prepared for it.
Illustration
In 1944, Leander McCormick-Goodheart, a recruiter for the Ford Motor Company, toured fifty universities across the United States to recruit the outstanding graduating student of each institution. At Leigh University, he met a young man named Lee Iacocca and offered him a position at Ford. This was a dream come true for Iacocca. His greatest ambition was to one day word for Ford. Yet Iacocca asked if he could delay the starting date of his employment for one year. He had the opportunity to earn a master’s degree from Princeton University. Even though the ambitious and talented Iacocca had the opportunity to launch his meteoric automaking career immediately upon his graduation, he determined to be fully prepared for whatever opportunities might come his way in the future.
(Richard and Henry Blackaby. Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda. Holman & Broadman Press. Nashville, TN. 2001. P. 114-115)
Conclusion
God intends to thoroughly equip you. Do not cease letting the word of God reprove, instruct, and rebuke you. Approach it daily looking for reproof and instruction and rebuke. It will equip you fore every good work the Father presents to you in the future.
