What The Bible Does For Us

WHAT THE BIBLE DOES FOR US

2 Timothy 3:13-17

INTRODUCTION:

The Holy Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to man. Without the Bible, we

would know very little of the person and nature of God.

The Bible is the Word of God. “20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the

scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For 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” (2 Peter

1:21). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God . . .” (2 Tim. 3:16). Over 2500 times

the expressions “the word of God,” “the word of the Lord,” “thus saith the Lord,” and

“the Lord said” appear in the Bible.

The Bible is referred to as a sword Heb. 4:12), the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17),

a hammer and a fire (Jer. 23:29), a lamp and a light (Psa. 109:105). It is milk for

spiritual infants (1 Peter 2:2) and meat for mature believers (Heb. 5:12-14).

First Timothy 3:16 tells us that the Bible is “profitable.” That means that reading,

studying, and practicing the Bible is good for us—it makes us better.

1. THE BIBLE IS PROFITABLE FOR SALVATION,

“15And 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” (verse 15).

Timothy was well-acquainted with the scriptures, because his mother and grandmother

had taught them to him from the time he was a little child (2 Tim. 1:5). The Bible was

instrumental in Timothy’s salvation.

The Bible tells us of our need of salvation.

The Bible tells us that we are not righteous. “As it is written, There is none

righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:10).

The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

(Rom. 3:23).

The Bible tells us that we are condemned sinners, and that “this is the

condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,

because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

The Bible tells us that “ . . . Except a man be born again, he cannot see the

kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

The Bible tells us the way of salvation.

While men devise many religions and propose many ways to get to Heaven, Jesus

said “ . . . I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by

me” (John 14:6).

The Bible tells us that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten

Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For

God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him

might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is

condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of

God” (John 3:16-18).

The Bible tells us how to have assurance of salvation.

Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and

believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into

condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

Jesus also said “27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow

me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any

man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and my Father are one”

(John 10:27-30).

Jesus asked “36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

The Bible is profitable for us because it helps bring us to salvation.

2. THE BIBLE IS PROFITABLE FOR DIRECTION

“14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured

of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (verse 14).

Timothy was a young man with many opportunities and many choices available to

him. His mother and grandmother had pointed him in the right direction. Paul, his

father in the ministry, had spent countless hours training and teaching him. Paul

encouraged him to continue in the same direction.

We have so much freedom with so many choices available to us. God allows us

to choose whether to trust Him and obey Him. We can choose whether to go to church

and what church to join. We can choose our friends. We can choose the person we will

marry. We can choose what kind of education and training we will pursue. We can