FOUNDATIONS OF THE FAITH:
THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
2 TIMOTHY 3:1-17
I WANT TO CONTINUE MY SERIES ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FAITH TODAY, BY LOOKING AT THE AUTHORITY AND INSPIRATION OF THE SCRIPTURES.
TODAY WE LIVE IN A TIME OF GREAT CRISIS. FAMILIES ARE BEING DECIMATED BY DIVORCE, SUICIDE RATES ARE HIGH, SKYROCKETING AS FAR AS TEENS ARE CONCERNED. THE ECONOMY IS FRAGILE AND CONSTANTLY IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE. WE ARE UNDER ESCALATING THREATS OF WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND GENOCIDE IS HAPPENING IN MANY COUNTRIES FOR THOSE BRAVE ENOUGH TO CLAIM TO BE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.
OUR CHURCHES IN NORTH AMERICA, PARTICULARLY HERE IN CANADA ARE IN A STATE OF STEEP DECLINE AS FAR AS MEMBERSHIP IS CONCERNED. MOST OF OUR CHURCHES IN THE ATLANTIC BAPTIST CONVENTION HAVE MEMBERSHIPS OF 50 OR LESS, WITH MANY CHURCHES RESORTING TO FIELD RELATIONSHIPS, GOING PART-TIME, OR USING A GRADUATE OF THE LAY-PASTORS TRAINING PROGRAM, TO HAVE A PASTOR.
WE DO LIVE IN A TIME OF CRISIS, BUT WE ALSO LIVE IN A TIME WHERE PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS. PEOPLE ARE LOOKING IN VARIOUS PLACES TO FIND ANSWERS ABOUT LIFE. SOME LOOK TO MUSIC, OTHERS LOOK TO PHILOSOPHY, SOME LOOK TO HISTORY, WHILE STILL OTHERS DEPEND ON THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR OWN THOUGHTS TO HELP THEM.
I AM CERTAIN THOUGH OF TWO THINGS:
1. PEOPLE ARE NOT LOOKING TO GOD OR THE BIBLE FOR THEIR ANSWERS.
2. PEOPLE ARE NOT FINDING THE ANSWERS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR, BY THE MEANS THEY CHOSE.
I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU TODAY, THAT THE BIBLE HAS THE ANSWERS FOR TODAY’S WORLD. EVERY WORD OF THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED BY GOD HIMSELF, EQUIVILENT TO BEIND DICTATED VERBATIM, ALLOWING FOR THE CULTURE AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DAY.
YOU WILL NOT FIND A PROBLEM IN THE WORLD, THAT HAS NOT BEEN DEALT WITH IN THE BIBLE. THE ISSUE THEN HAS TO BE, NOT THAT THE BIBLE HAS THE ANSWERS FOR TODAYS WORLD, BUT WHY ARE PEOPLE RESISTING WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS?
I KNOW FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IT IS PEER PRESSURE TO A GREAT EXTENT. YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO BELONG, AND IN A WORLD WHERE MOST OF THE POPULAR TEENS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BIBLE OR CHURCH, THAT IS WHAT THEY DECIDE ON AS WELL.
THEIR ARGUMENTS ARE NOT NEW, NOR ARE THEY REALLY THEIR OWN. THEIR ARGUMENTS ARE IN MOST CASES WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY SOUND GOOD AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIT IN AND BE POPULAR, THEY PROCLAIM THE IDEA AS THEIR OWN. THE FACT IS THAT IN MOST CASES, IF YOU PRESS THE DISCUSSION FURTHER, YOU WILL FIND THAT THEY DON’T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE POSITION AT ALL. THAT’S WHEN THE UNIVERSAL “YOU JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS FOR ME.” AND THEY STORM OFF IN DISGUST.
PEER PRESSURE IS SOMETHING FELT BY ADULTS AS WELL. EVERYONE HAS A DESIRE TO FIT IN AND BE ACCEPTED.
I THINK FOR ADULTS THOUGH A GREAT FACTOR AS TO WHY THEY TURN AWAY FROM THE SCRIPTURE IS THAT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO SUBMIT TO IT. WE LIKE TO BE OUR OWN PERSON AND NOT HAVE TO SUBMIT TO SOMEONE ELSES LEADING.
THE STRANGE THING IS THAT WE SUBMIT TO VARIOUS THINGS ALL THE TIME. IF YOU DRIVE DOWN ROSEBERRY STREET YOU SUBMIT TO AND TRUST THE DETOUR ROUTE. WHEN YOU MAKE A RECIPE YOU SUBMIT TO THE INSTRUCTIONS. IF YOU ARE GOING SOMEPLACE YOU SUBMIT TO THE DIRECTIONS ON THE MAP. GUYS WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, SUBMIT TO THE INSTRUCTIONS WHEN BUILDING SOMETHING. WE SUBMIT TO THE LAWS OF THE LAND. OUR LIVES ARE FULL OF AREAS WE WILLINGLY SUBMIT TO, AND ARE NOT THOUGHT OF LESS FOR DOING SO.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO LOOK AT THE BIBLE IN A VERY NEGATIVE SENSE. IT IS JUST A BOOK OF “THOU SHALT NOTS” AND THEREFORE THEY DECIDE NOT TO SUBMIT TO IT. I CHALLENGE THAT THOUGHT BY SAYING THAT IF WE DO SUBMIT TO WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS THAT IT WILL BRING US TO A POSITIVE OUTCOME. THIS IS THE WHOLE POINT OF FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS, TO LEAD US TO A POSITIVE OUTCOME.
I THINK THE GREATEST REASON THOUGH WHY PEOPLE ARE TURNING AWAY FROM THE BIBLE, IS BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS TURNING AWAY FROM THE BIBLE. WE ARE AFRAID TO STAND ON ITS AUTHORITY. SIN IS NO LONGER SIN, AND RIGHT AND WRONG ARE DETERMINED, NOT BY AN OBJECTIVE STANDARD THAT APPLIES TO EVERYONE, BUT ON A SUBJECTIVE STANDARD DETERMINED BY THE INDIVIDUAL AND THEREFORE SOMETHING WE ARE NOT ABLE TO CHALLENGE.
IT APPEARS TO ME THAT IN THE CHURCH RIGHT NOW AT LEAST, WE ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE GET THROUGH THIS LIFE, AND ARE NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THEY WILL SPEND ETERNITY. WE TALK PHILOSOPHY AND NOT THEOLOGY.
TODAY I WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF OUR TIME TO SPEAK OF THE AUTHORITY AND INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. I WANT TO PRESENT TO YOU SEVERAL REASONS WHY WE CAN, AND NEED TO, PUT OUR TRUST IN THEM.
POINT ONE: THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU IS THAT WHEN WE PUT OUR TRUST IN THE BIBLE, WE ARE PUTTING OUR TRUST IN THE GOD OF THE BIBLE, AS THE BIBLE DIRECTS US TO GOD AND HE SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS WORD.
OUR TEXT TEACHES US:
2TIMOTHY 3:15-17:
“15 AND HOW FROM INFANCY YOU HAVE KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, WHICH ARE ABLE TO MAKE YOU WISE FOR SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. 16 ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, REBUKING, CORRECTING AND TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, 17 SO THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.”
LET’S LOOK AT THE CONTEXT OF THE PASSAGE TO SEE WHO PAUL IS SPEAKING TO.
PAUL HERE IS SPEAKING TO A VERY YOUNG DISCIPLE IN THE FAITH NAMED TIMOTHY. THESE ARE SOME OF THE LAST WORDS THAT PAUL WILL EVER SPEAK. THESE WORDS WILL SPILL OVER INTO CHAPTER FOUR, WHERE WE HAVE PAUL’S GREAT TESTIMONY:
2 TIMOTHY 4:7-8:
“7 I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH. 8 NOW THERE IS IN STORE FOR ME THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, WILL AWARD TO ME ON THAT DAY— AND NOT ONLY TO ME, BUT ALSO TO ALL WHO HAVE LONGED FOR HIS APPEARING.”
PAUL WAS TELLING TIMOTHY WHAT HE COULD COUNT ON TO KEEP HIM STRAIGHT AND TRUE. PAUL’S DAY, AS WELL AS OURS, HAD MANY INFLUENCES THAT COULD DRAW PEOPLE FROM THE TRUTH. THE TEMPTATION TO FOLLOW THESE PHILOSOPHIES WERE ALWAYS PRESENT, AS WAS THE PERSECUTION TO THOSE WHO CHOSE TO FOLLOW JESUS.
PAUL’S PURPOSE IN WRITING THIS WAS TWO-FOLD. FIRST HE SOUGHT TO ENCOURAGE TIMOTHY AS HE WOULD NOW BE INVOLVED IN MINISTRY WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF PAUL. HE WANTED TO HAVE TIMOTHY HEAR THE ULTIMATE STATEMENT OF SUCCESS IN MINISTRY. THAT STATEMENT IS THE FACT THAT PAUL “HAD BEEN FAITHFUL TO THE LORD.” PAUL SAID “I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH”, AND THIS SHOULD BE THE STANDARD FOR US ALL.
THESE WORDS OF PAUL’S ARE ALSO WORDS OF WARNING. HE WAS TELLING TIMOTHY TO STAND ON THE WORD OF GOD. THE WORD OF GOD IS THE ONLY OBJECTIVE STANDARD THAT PEOPLE OF PAUL’S TIME COULD COUNT ON, AND THE SAME IS TRUE TODAY.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ITCHING EARS. THEY WANT TO HEAR WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEM. THEY DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT SIN, AND THE NEED FOR THE SAVIOR. IT IS OKAY TO SPEAK OF HEAVEN, BUT DO NOT MENTION HELL.
THERE IS AN INCREASING MOVEMENT IN THE CHURCH TO DRAW AWAY FROM THE WORD OF GOD. THEY LOOK TO THE PHIOLSOPHIES OF THE DAY FOR ANSWERS AND THE ULTIMATE RESULT IS THAT IT DRAWS PEOPLE FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE LORD. THIS IS WHAT PAUL IS WARNING TIMOTHY ABOUT IN THE FIRST FEW VERSES OF THE PASSAGE:
2 TIMOTHY 3:1-5:
“1 ¶ BUT MARK THIS: THERE WILL BE TERRIBLE TIMES IN THE LAST DAYS. 2 PEOPLE WILL BE LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, LOVERS OF MONEY, BOASTFUL, PROUD, ABUSIVE, DISOBEDIENT TO THEIR PARENTS, UNGRATEFUL, UNHOLY, 3 WITHOUT LOVE, UNFORGIVING, SLANDEROUS, WITHOUT SELF-CONTROL, BRUTAL, NOT LOVERS OF THE GOOD, 4 TREACHEROUS, RASH, CONCEITED, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD— 5 HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER. HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.
JESUS MADE OUR WALK VERY SIMPLE WHEN HE SAID “I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.” HE DIDN’T MAKE IT EASY, BUT HE DID MAKE IT SIMPLE. PEOPLE TODAY WANT AN EASY PATH TO FOLLOW, A PATH WITHOUT SACRIFICE. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THIS?
MATTHEW 7:13-14:
“13 "ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE. FOR WIDE IS THE GATE AND BROAD IS THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, AND MANY ENTER THROUGH IT. 14 BUT SMALL IS THE GATE AND NARROW THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO LIFE, AND ONLY A FEW FIND IT.
PAUL IS URGING TIMOTHY AND US TO STAY TRUE TO THE WORD. LOOK AT WHAT HE SAYS TO TIMOTHY IN VERSES 14-15:
2 TIMOTHY 3:14-15:
14 BUT AS FOR YOU, CONTINUE IN WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED AND HAVE BECOME CONVINCED OF, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THOSE FROM WHOM YOU LEARNED IT, 15 AND HOW FROM INFANCY YOU HAVE KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, WHICH ARE ABLE TO MAKE YOU WISE FOR SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
MOST OF US HAVE BEEN IN THE PLACE WHERE TIMOTHY WAS. I REMEMBER AS A CHILD ON SATURDAY NIGHT, HAV ING TO LEARN MY MEMORY VERSE FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL, AND GETTING MY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON READY.
NOTICE THE WORDS PAUL USES HERE. “CONTINUE IN WHAT YOU HAVE BECOME CONVINCED” AND THAT THE HOLY SCRIPTURES ARE ABLE TO MAKE YOU WISE UNTO SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. WHY?
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17:
16 ALL SCRIPTURE IS GOD-BREATHED AND IS USEFUL FOR TEACHING, REBUKING, CORRECTING AND TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, 17 SO THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.”
SO EVERY WORD OF HOLY SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED BY GOD TO EQUIP US FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. THE EMPHASIS HERE IS ON “ALL SCRIPTURE”, NOT JUST THE SCRIPTURE WE LIKE, NOT JUST THE SCRIPTURE THAT IS EASY TO FOLLOW, BUT EVERY WORD OF HOLY WRIT IS INSPIRED BY THE LORD HIMSELF.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US IS THAT WE CAN DEPEND ON IT. WE CAN LEARN FROM IT. WE CAN BE ENCOURAGED AND COMFORTED BY IT.
BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS TRUE AND AUTHORITATIVE WE CAN:
1. KNOW THE ORIGINATOR AND ORIGIN OF CREATION. THE BIBLE TELLS US IN GENESIS THAT IN 6 DAYS GOD CREATED THE WORLD. HE CREATED THE WORLD OUT OF NOTHING.
SCIENCE HAS NOT COME CLOSE TO THE ORIGIN OF THE WORLD. IT CAN’T FOR ONE REASON. IT CANNOT EXPLAIN WHERE THE FIRST ATOM CAME FROM.
WHEN IT COMES TO CREATION WE ARE FACED WITH MAKING A CHOICE AND SO I ASK YOU WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER BELIEVE IN.
A) SCIENCE: WHICH TEACHES THAT CREATION WAS THE RESULT OF A BIG BANG THEORY, PURELY RANDOM IN ORIGIN. IT BASICALLY STATES THAT CREATION WAS A COSMIC FLUKE. BY CHANCE THIS EXPLOSION OCCURRED, AND BY CHANCE WE WERE PROPELLED INTO JUST THE RIGHT ORBIT. BY CHANCE WE EVOLVED INTO WHAT WE ARE TODAY. EVERYTHING IS BY CHANCE, BUT NOT ONE SHRED OF EVIDENCE AS TO ORIGIN OR ORIGINATOR.
B) THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT GOD CREATED OUT OF NOTHING. GENESIS STATES “IN THE BEGINNING GOD.” THE PLAN OF CREATION GIVEN FOR US IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS SHOWS A DEFINITE PLAN AND ORDER OF CREATION. NOTHING WAS LEFT TO CHANCE.
THE BIBLE TEACHES US THE REASON FOR CREATION AND THAT IS THAT MAN SHOULD HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. IT TEACHES US THAT THIS RELATIONSHIP WAS DESIRABLE BY GOD.
HERE THEN IS THE CHOICE YOU NEED TO MAKE. WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER BELIEVE IN? A WORLD THAT IS RUN BY CHANCE WITH NO RHYME NOR REASON TO IT. IN SHORT THAT IT IS JUST BY CHANCE THAT YOU ARE IN THE SITUATION YOU ARE IN TODAY.
OR WOULD YOU RATHER BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ORDER AND A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE. THAT GOD CHOSE TO CREATE THE WORLD AND ALL THAT IS IN IT. THAT GOD CHOSE THIS TIME AND THIS PLACE FOR YOU TO COME INTO EXISTENCE. THAT GOD DELIBERATELY CHOSE AS A PART OF HIS MASTER PLAN YOUR CHILDREN AND LOVED ONES.
IF YOU WANT TO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE, THEN YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN THE SCRIPTURAL ACCOUNT OF CREATION. A WISE OLD FRIEND OF MINE SIMPLY PUT IT THIS WAY. GOD MADE HIS PLAN AND HE DON’T MAKE ANY MISTAKES.
2. TO BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE IS TO LEARN OF GOD’S LOVE:
TO BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE IS TO BELIEVE IN THE GREATEST LOVE STORY EVER TOLD. IT IS THE STORY OF HOW GOD NEVER STOPPED LOVING HIS PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH ON MANY OCCASIONS THEY TURNED THEIR BACKS ON HIM.
JEREMIAH 31:3: “THE LORD APPEARED TO US IN THE PAST, SAYING: "I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE; I HAVE DRAWN YOU WITH LOVING-KINDNESS.”
THE BIBLE IS TELLING US THAT GOD LOVES US ETERNALLY. HE CANNOT LOVE US ANY MORE THAN HE LOVES US RIGHT NOW, NOR CAN HE LOVE US ANY LESS. HIS IS A TOTAL CCOMMITMENT TO LOVING US, AND THE SCRIPTURE IS THE ONLY THING THAT TEACHES THIS PROMISE.
THE SCRIPTURES ARE WHERE WE LEARN THAT GOD WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH US AND DID NOT SPARE HIS ONLY SON IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP.
ROMANS 8:32: “HE WHO DID NOT SPARE HIS OWN SON, BUT GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL— HOW WILL HE NOT ALSO, ALONG WITH HIM, GRACIOUSLY GIVE US ALL THINGS?”
NO OTHER RELIGION IN THE WORLD SPEAKS OF A GOD WHO WANTS THIS KIND OF PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CREATED. LOVE IS WHAT THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD ARE LOOKING FOR AND BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS TRUE, WE CAN SAY WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT WE ARE LOVED BY GOD. THE HYMNWRITER WROTE “JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW” HOW DO I KNOW IT? “THE BIBLE TELLS US SO.”
3.BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS TRUE WE CAN KNOW THE PLAN OF SALVATION:
TODAY WE CAN KNOW BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT THAT IF WE WERE TO DIE TODAY WE WOULD GO TO HEAVEN.
I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION NOW AND I WANT YOU TO ANSWER IT IN YOUR HEARTS. IF YOU WERE TO DIE TODAY, WHY SHOULD GOD LET YOU INTO HIS HEAVEN?
IT’S A SIMPLE BUT VERY COMPLEX QUESTION FOR THERE IS ONLY ONE RIGHT ANSWER. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY I HOPE SO, OR, I THINK I’M GOING TO MAKE IT. EITHER YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE, OR YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT READY.
LET’S TURN TO THE BIBLE AND LOOK AT THE PLAN OF SALVATION IT GIVES US:
1. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO BE SAVED. JESUS CLEARLY STATES:
JOHN 14:6: “JESUS ANSWERED, "I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.”
THIS MEANS THAT ONLY BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS WILL BE ENTERING INTO THE KINGDOM.
2. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT WE HAVE A NEED OF SALVATION FOR WE ARE ALL SINNERS.
ROMANS 3:23: “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD,”
THIS MEANS THAT WE ARE ALL SINNERS. WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT. THERE WAS ONLY ONE SINLESS MAN EVER BORN IN THIS WORLD AND THAT WAS JESUS. HOW DO WE KNOW THIS? DEATH HAS OR WILL COME TO EVERY PERSON IN THIS WORLD. IT IS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE FALL. SO I SIMPLY ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, IS JESUS IN THE TOMB TODAY OR ALIVE IN HEAVEN?
3. THE PENALTY FOR OUR SIN IS DEATH. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THE SACRIFICE HAD TO DIE TO CLEANSE THE OFFERER BY THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD. JESUS WENT TO THE CROSS TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR OUR SIN.
ROMANS 6:23: “FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.”
THIS PASSAGE ALSO TELLS US THAT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. WE CAN KNOW WE ARE SAVED TODAY. PAUL TEACHES:
2 TIMOTHY 1:12: THAT IS WHY I AM SUFFERING AS I AM. YET I AM NOT ASHAMED, BECAUSE I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED, AND AM CONVINCED THAT HE IS ABLE TO GUARD WHAT I HAVE ENTRUSTED TO HIM FOR THAT DAY.
BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS TRUE WE KNOW WE HAVE A HOME PREPARED FOR US IN GLORY:
AS CHRISTIANS WE KNOW WHAT LIES BEYOND THE GRAVE. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A HOME PREPARED FOR US.
JOHN 14:1-3:
“1 ¶ "DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED. TRUST IN GOD; TRUST ALSO IN ME. 2 IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ARE MANY ROOMS; IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I AM GOING THERE TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. 3 AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU TO BE WITH ME THAT YOU ALSO MAY BE WHERE I AM.”
JESUS WAS TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES ABOUT HIS UPCOMING DEATH.
HE USED THE ANALOGY OF THE HEBREW WEDDING TO TEACH THE FACT THAT HE WAS GOING TO PREPARE HEAVEN FOR US AND THEN HE WAS COMING BACK TO TAKE US HOME TO BE WITH HIM.
THIS MEANS THAT THE GRAVE IS NOT OUR FINAL HOME. ONE DAY THE SCRIPTURES DECLARE THE GRAVES OF THE SAINTS WILL OPEN AND WE WILL GO TO BE WITH THE LORD IN THE AIR.
PAUL TAUGHT THE CORINTHIANS:
2 CORINTHIANS 5:1: “NOW WE KNOW THAT IF THE EARTHLY TENT WE LIVE IN IS DESTROYED, WE HAVE A BUILDING FROM GOD, AN ETERNAL HOUSE IN HEAVEN, NOT BUILT BY HUMAN HANDS.”
THE SCRIPTURE IS THE ONLY BASIS TO STAND IN THE WORLD TODAY. IT IS THE WORD OF GOD. IT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME. IT IS THE GREATEST LOVE STORY EVER TOLD AND TODAY THAT LOVE IS STILL SHARED WITH US.
THE BIBLE TELLS US WHERE WE CAME FROM AND WHERE WE ARE GOING TO. THERE IS NO SITUATION THAT YOU CAN THINK OF THAT THE BIBLE DOES NOT HAVE AN ANSWER FOR.
THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE ARE LOVED WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE. IT TELLS US THAT JESUS SACRIFICED HIS LIFE ON CALVARY AND ROSE THREE DAYS LATER BECAUSE OF THAT LOVE.
THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE HAVE A HOME PREPARED FOR US WHERE WE WILL SPEND ETERNITY WITH GOD.
THE BIBLE TEACHES US HOW TO GET ALONG WITH OTHERS.
IT TEACHES US HOW TO LIVE OUR LIVES TO THE FULLEST.
IT TEACHES ME ABOUT GOD AND WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW HIM.
THIS IS WHY I PUT MY FAITH AND TRUST IN THE GOD OF THE BIBLE, AND WHY I USE IT AS A FUNDATION FOR MY LIFE AND MY MINISTRY.
WE CAN HEAR GOD SAY:
MATTHEW 25:21: “"HIS MASTER REPLIED, ‘WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT! COME AND SHARE YOUR MASTER’S HAPPINESS!’”
