Does The Bible Tell Me So?
First Preached at Broad Run Baptist Church 10/6/2002
Scripture:
2 Timothy 3:16,17 KJV
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16,17 NIV
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Introduction:
Some time ago, a little boy named Joey who was nine years old, went to his Sunday School class and heard his teacher talk about how Israel escaped the clutches of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. When Joey got home, he was asked by his mother what he had learned that morning.
Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his engineers build a pontoon bridge, and all the people walked across safely. He used his walkie-talkie to radio headquarters and call in an air strike when the Egyptians were closing in on them. They sent in bombers to blow up the bridge and destroy the enemy, and all the Israelites were saved.
"Now, Joey, is that REALLY what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked.
"Well, no, Mom, but if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it!"
While we might find this little story amusing, it does show an attitude that is prevalent in our world today as far as the status of the Bible is concerned. Many would talk about the Bible as if it were based on myth or legend. Some question its historical accuracy. Others propose it is merely fiction and the invention of mankind.
When we examined George Barna’s report on what American churches believe last week, we saw the following percentages when Christian denominations were polled on whether they agreed with the following statement, “The Bible is totally accurate.”
All Adults 41%
Adventists 64%
Assemblies of God 77%
Baptists (any type) 66%
Catholics 26%
Church of Christ 57%
Episcopal 22%
Lutheran (any type) 34%
Methodist (any type) 38%
Mormons 29%
Non-denominational Christian 70%
Pentecostal/Foursquare 81%
Presbyterian (any type) 40%
It appears that our culture has penetrated our churches with skeptics in both the pulpit as well as the pew. Many who proclaim to be Christians doubt the absolute truthfulness of the Bible. Yet, it is from within its pages we are schooled about the teachings and messages of Jesus and the early apostles.
Historic Christianity is based upon the Bible. Sola Scriptura—Scripture alone—was the motto of the Protestant Reformation and it should still be ours today. Yet, many believe that the opinions of others or their own are more reliable to trust than the Bible. It is no wonder that the differences between the church and the world are narrowing!
Today the question, “Does the Bible tell me so?” has been posed. It is a question that will determine by what you and I will govern our lives.
This morning we will look at three questions to help us decide what emphasis we should place on the Holy Scriptures as we live from day to day. These questions are: How is Scripture unique? What is the Bible good for? and What will living my life according to the Bible do for me?
1. How is Scripture Unique?
In our Scripture today, we read in the first phrase, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God—that is every testament, book, chapter, verse and every word of the Bible is God inspired—that is to say filled with God’s breath. The little word ‘all’ includes everything!
Notice the completeness of this affirmation—All Scripture. It is not that some sections of the Bible are God’s Word and other sections are not. The Bible does not contain the Word of God—it IS the Word of God.
Many critics of the Bible want to point out that Paul didn’t think like James, or that John’s view of Jesus ministry was so different than Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s. This difference in focus and subject matter does not mean there are contradictions or disagreements in the Bible. God had a purpose for doing things this way. There are no disagreements between Jesus and Paul, or Paul and James, or between Peter and John or anyone else. God chose to offer truth in and through different perspectives. God oversaw the whole process of His thoughts being communicated to us through the spoken, written, and Living Word. This is why we can trust God’s Word to be true because He is true.
The Bible is a cooperative effort between God Himself and the individuals He chose to write Scripture. The Bible is truly a human and Divine effort as both contributed to its formation. While God used the individual personalities of the men who first penned Scripture to explain what God wanted to communicate to us, He was the originator of the Bible. Peter tells us in his second epistle how this came about:
2 Peter 1:20-21
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For 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.
God’s Holy Spirit moved the human authors of Scripture to write what they did using their own personalities and writing styles. This explains the differences between Paul and John and Matthew and every other human agent that God used to bring His Word to us.
God’s Word is also unique because it gives us specific insight to who God is and what He expects of us. It is God’s autobiography and His commentary on History. It is also The Owner’s manual that He intends for everyone to read and understand. Ignorance of it is no excuse.
2. What is the Bible good for?
The second part of verse 16 informs us that because the Scripture is inspired, it is therefore profitable, beneficial, useful, and valuable for four things:
First, it is to be used to instruct and teach us as to what the beliefs of the Christian faith are. It is to be used to instruct us in God’s truth. It is God’s manual as to how we are to conduct our affairs in the workplace, church, home, and society in general. It deals with personal discipline and behavior as well as how we should treat those in our families and in our fellowships as well as how we should conduct ourselves in the presence of those who mock and jeer us. This is a positive activity as it promotes the correctness of Christian doctrine and practice.
Second, it is to be used to reprove and rebuke those who are in sin. It is to refute error and challenge our deviant behavior. To refute error allows one to promote the truth. The Bible shows errors in other belief systems that differ from Biblical Christianity.
Third, It is to be used to correct one from a bent to upright state. It is to be used to restore people and improve their life and character. It reforms us as it rehabilitates us. The Bible has been given to us to straighten us out.
Fourth, It is God’s manual to instruct and train us in righteousness. The Bible gives us a discipline to follow and it trains us to live righteously. It also chastens and convicts us when we stray and err. The idea of punishment is present. This term is often used of rearing children. We are being raised and trained to live as Christians. It trains me to live and be rightly related to God and to live in such a way that I gain His approval.
3. What Will Living My Life According to the Bible Do for Me?
The individual who wishes to be called a man or woman of God will be a man or woman who abides in His Word. The old and simple adage, “This book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book.” is true.
Verse 17 further tells us that the goal of instruction, correction, restoration, and being reared up in righteousness that comes as a result of implementing God’s Word to one’s life will be that the individual will be perfect, thoroughly equipped, and complete. The word ἄρτιος is defined as functional, competent, efficient, and capable. The idea of fullness, completeness, thoroughness and mature is in view here.
But the end result of this completeness is not just personal godliness and piety. While these inner attitudes of the soul are important in the life of the believer, they will be manifest to the world through the good works the good soul brings about. Thus, right belief brings about right living or, error in doctrine is translated into sinful behavior.
Conclusion:
Paul tells us in this third chapter of 2 Timothy that perilous times will come, when men will no longer abide in sound doctrine, and will become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Sadly, this is taking place in our day.
Yet in this time of falling away, we read that the Scriptures are able to make one wise unto salvation. It is the very Scriptures that we were taught from our childhood that we are to convey to our children and grandchildren even as Timothy had received them from his family.
The end result of being people who live by the book will be that its teachings and values will be engrained in our thoughts and actions as we live during these last days. The transformational power of Scripture will be seen by others as we commit ourselves to live by its teachings. Does the Bible Tell Me So? Yes!
Perhaps you have used your Bible at home to keep your coffee table in place. Maybe now you see it in a different light. Spend five minutes a day in the Bible for the next few weeks. I guarantee that your appreciation for God’s Word will grow as you see its practicalness to everyday situations. And, as you get to know the Bible better, you’ll understand God’s plan for your life more clearly. You’ll find peace and comfort even in troubled times as you claim the rich and magnificent promises God has laid in His Word for you to claim and take hold of.
Make a resolution today to be a Biblical Christian.
