In any bookstore you will find a number of books which tell you how to invest your money. Really, investing your money in buying these books is what makes the authors rich.
But there are two questions we must ask about such books: First, is it reliable? Second, is it useful for me? The problem with most of these books is they assume you have a big wad of cash just waiting to invest. That doesn’t help me. I need a book that speaks to where I’m at.
Now, if you show me a book that’s proven to be reliable and useful, I’ll buy it and read it; and so would you - maybe. The fact is, most of us own a book that has been proven to be totally reliable. And, this book is useful to every person, right where they’re at. Yet, strangely, it often sits neglected. I’m talking, of course, about the Bible. It is a book that is totally reliable and useful for every person.
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Most of us own several copies of the Bible in different translations. But the Bible is not a good luck charm. Having a copy in a prominent place in the house will not rub off on a family. Like any book, the Bible will profit you only if you read it, study it, and apply it to your life.
The committed Christian recognizes the value of the Bible. As a result, he gives his allegiance to God’s Word. God’s Word always has the final “say” in his life. This is seen in the fact that . . .
1. He shares God’s Word boldly – v. 16a
The committed Christian is unapologetic about sharing God’s Word with others . . .
A. Because he is convinced of it’s powerful inspiration.
The committed Christian is convinced of that what Paul tells us here is absolutely true, that just as I am breathing out the words I am sharing with you, the Bible was inspired from the very heart of God.
Though our purpose today is not to focus on the evidence for the Bible’s inspiration, allow me to share four interesting facts with you point to the Bible being “God breathed.” Though it is popular today to insist that there is conflict between the science and the Bible, I want to use four examples from science that illustrate the Bible’s inspiration.
Example #1: Up through the 19th century doctors and scientists believed that many ailments and diseases were a result of the human body having too much blood. Barber shop poles are red and white striped, not because it’s candy cane, but because the red stripe signified that you could go there to be “bled”. Doctors would prescribe that you go to the barber to be bled! When George Washington became ill, his doctors bled him 3 times, the 3rd time they removed almost a quart of blood, and he died! But now, science knows, it’s the blood that fights diseases and brings nourishment to repair tissues and promote growth and health. Just like it says in Leviticus 17:11 (NLT), “the life of the body is in its blood.” How is it that this fact is found in the Bible, centuries before what is commonly accepted about the importance of blood was discovered? All Scripture is God breathed!
Example # 2: In the 14th century, the black plague decimated Europe, as 1 in 4 people died! But when it came to an end, it wasn’t the scientists and doctors who brought the plague under control, it was the church. The church applied a principle that was unheard of in that day, but which we take for granted today - quarantine. That principle is taught in Leviticus 13:46 (The Voice), “As long as the disease persists, he will be unclean. He must live alone, outside the camp, away from the rest of the community.” How did Moses understand the principle of quarantine? All Scripture is God breathed!
Example #3: Ancient Egyptians believed that the earth was supported by 5 marble pillars. The Greeks believed earth rested on the shoulders of the god Atlas. Hindus believed the earth rested on the backs of elephants; and the elephants rested on the back of a huge tortoise; which was on top of a coiled serpent in the midst of a cosmic sea. But in the oldest of Biblical writings, in Job 26:7 (NIV), Job declares, “He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.” How did Job know that perhaps 8,000 years ago? All Scripture is God breathed!
Example #4: Nobody believed the earth was round until 1492. But some 700 years before Christ, In Isaiah 40:22, the prophet said, “God sits above the circle of the earth,” (NLT). Science has always needed to catch up with the Bible. How did Isaiah know that the earth was round? All Scripture is God breathed!
The committed Christian understands that if the Scriptures are “God breathed,” then they are as reliable as God is.
B. Because he is convinced of it’s power for transformation.
Another idea behind the significance of the Scriptures being “God breathed” is that they have the breath of God, that is, the Spirit of God on them. The committed Christian understands that if the Scriptures are “God breathed,” then the power of God resides within them. Therefore, he shares God’s Word with confidence.
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” - Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV)
2. He studies God’s Word diligently – v. 16b
We are told that all Scripture is useful for four things:
A) Teaching - it reveals what path we are to walk on;
B) Rebuking - it reveals when we have gotten off the right path;
C) Correcting - it reveals how to get back on the right path; and
D) Instruction in righteousness - it reveals how to stay on the right path; and how to not repeat our mistakes.
At different times in each of our lives we are always in need of one of these four things. Whether it is truth to discover, or a sin to confess, or a correction to make, or a lesson to learn, I will find it in the pages of the Bible.
“The Bible is an armory of heavenly weapons, a laboratory of infallible medicines, a mine of exhaustless wealth. It is a guidebook for every road, a chart for every sea, a medicine for every malady, and a balm for every wound.” - Thomas Guthrie
3. He submits to God’s Word completely – v. 17
“The Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives. - D.L. Moody
Because the committed Christian truly believes that “ALL Scripture is God breathed and is USEFUL,” he will seek to faithfully apply all of its truth to his life so that he might become everything God has in mind for him to be and so he might be able to perform everything God has in mind for him to do.
“We must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” - A.W. Tozer
Interestingly enough, that is the literal translation of verse 17:
“That the man of God may be whole.”
The idea here is that true fulfillment in life, is found in seeing God’s purposes for my life fulfilled. And the submitting the truth found in God’s Word is the key to being equipped to live the life of fulfillment that God saved me to live.
“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't.” - Anonymous
The committed Christian recognizes this, so he gives his allegiance to the Word of God.
Conclusion:
“Usually we think of methods of intake as falling into four categories – hearing the Word taught by our pastors and teachers (Jeremiah 3:15), reading the Bible ourselves (Deuteronomy 17:19), studying the Scriptures intently (Proverbs 2:1-5), and memorizing key passages (Psalm 119:11). All of these methods are needed for a balanced intake of the Word… [But] we must do more than hear, read, study, or memorize Scripture. We must [also] meditate on it (Joshua 1:8).” - Jerry Bridges
How might you need to grow in your allegiance to God’s Word in the days to come
