All Scripture is God-Breathed – Equipping Us for Every Good Work

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.

I wrote about this passage – or at least verse 16 – on June, 2011.  You can read that devotional thought here if you desire.  Today I want to deal more with verse 17 but we’ll take a peek at verse 16 as well.

2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Of course Paul didn’t know when he was writing a letter to Timothy that it would become part of what we call the New Testament – unless God revealed it to him and there is not indication that happened.  As God gave him these words through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he probably had what we call the Old Testament in mind – the Scriptures for his day – but God – I would imagine – had the whole of the Bible in mind.

I want to write something about teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.  I believe this might be one area where many churches or the church falls short.  In this day and age many do not want to seem too harsh.  It is not politically correct these days to rebuke or correct anyone.  We can teach and we can train – but many times fall short of this as well – using outdated or bad material and/or techniques.  The church needs to be reawakened – IMHO – to the fact that the Scripture is to be used to teach, rebuke, correct and train believers.

The reason we need to be reawakened to this truth – to the Word of God – is so men and women can be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:17 – so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  The Greek word translated man here means human (the Greek letters wouldn’t post – I tried) so it refers to men and women.

In order to be all we can be in Jesus – to be thoroughly equipped for every good work – we must be intentional about our study and use of the Bible.  This is one reason I didn’t see eye-to-eye with some of my professors in Seminary who wanted to discount the Bible in favor of reason or some other resource.  Too often I heard professors say most learned people believe instead of God’s Word says!

As United Methodist we are to use the Bible as our primary resource – according to the laws of our denomination.  I define primary as essential.  Using the other resources available to us – namely reason, tradition and experience – Scripture is still primary.  The way I look at primary is this – if all three of the other resources available to us point one way and Scripture points in the other – we better follow Scripture.  A Scriptural way to look at this can be found in the following Scriptures.  we can also look at today’s passage.

Colossians 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:19 – For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

2 Corinthians 10:5 – We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

So church – study the Bible – read it every day – learn it through and through – so that we will be able to apply it to life and have more than knowledge – we will have wisdom – and be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I invite you to read along with me on YouVersion the Robert Robert’s reading plan.  I’m on day 47 but you can either catch up or start today and read it through next February.  The reading plan will take you through the whole Old Testament once and the New Testament twice in a year.  You can also read shorter plans – some topical plans.

Another topic all together – what are the good works God has called you to accomplish in your life?  I believe God has a plan for each of us.  God is not a God that flies by the seat of God’s pants – if God has pants (lol).  NOTHING catches God off guard and All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man (or women) of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

The Bible is Primary and Not Subordinate to Reason, Tradition or Experience

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Seeking the Lost: Do we have a heart to reach the lost?

Luke 15:1-7

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

¹Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. ²But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” ³Then Jesus told them this parable: ⁴“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders ⁶and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

I love this story – Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

Jesus – sitting with the sinners of His day according to society – was trying to teach the religious leaders of His day the heart of God.  They didn’t get it and at times I don’t think we do either. A quick look at how we spend our resources in the church will reveal that we spend way more on the 99 in the flock (church) than the 1 lost in the world.

When we come to worship week after week – are we more concerned with what we want or how we can be used to help someone come to Christ?  Have we gone out of our way – even attending the other service if need be – to reach a neighbor, a friend, a family member and invite them – even bring them to worship with us?

When is the last time we went out looking for the lost?  When is the last time our small group invited someone to join us?  When is the last time in youth group we stepped out of our clique and helped make a new person feel welcome?  When is the last time we worried more about making someone feel welcome at our worship service or any activity?  When is the last time we went out looking for someone to invite?

Easter is fast approaching – April 4 – and it is a perfect opportunity to begin to invite the lost – who do you know that doesn’t know Jesus?  Who could you invite and tell them you will meet them here and sit with them so they know someone?  Or even offer to pick them up?

God rejoices in the new converts – the lost being found. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.

How about this Easter we all invite 5 people to worship with us?  And then make that our practice each week – seeking those who do not know Jesus and going out of our way to help them see Jesus.

If I offered the person who brought the most people to worship on Easter $100, would it be worth the effort?  Or is the possibility that a family member, friend, or neighbor, comes to know Jesus worth it?  Two Sundays ago I counted seven people who raised their hand – saying that they received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior in one of our worship services.  That could have been someone you love – if you would simply invite them and not give up.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

There is No Excuse!

Romans 1:20

²⁰For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

I’ve always appreciated this passage.  It is a bottom-line type of passage.  If all other means of reaching a person or a society have failed – God is still evident in the creation – there is no excuse for not seeing and understanding God’s presence and awesomeness.

Have you ever argued this point or had someone argue it with you?  What if there are people who have never heard of God?  How will God deal with them? The example given is usually a deserted island somewhere with people who haven’t seen or heard from the rest of the world in centuries.  You could argue that all people came from Adam and Eve and so they had a faith in God as a root.  You could argue that all people came from Noah and his family after the flood and had a root of faith.  Somewhere along the way the ancestors of those who are on the deserting island made a break from faith in God and now generations later the descendants are living without faith in God.  So what happens to them?

You could suggest that the sins of the fathers and mothers are visited upon the generations to come, but some do not like that argument.  Yet there is some truth to it.  If I left the faith and raised my children that way and they did the same – my sin started generations of sin.

The best answer, in my humble opinion (IMHO), is today’s passage.  Even if there were a people somewhere who had never heard about God, God is still evident in the creation, and there is no excuse.  Let me put today’s verse in context.  Paul is beginning his letter (Epistle) to the church in Rome.  He introduces himself in what we have labeled the first chapter and he lays out the reason for his letter.  He is called to preach to Greek and non-Greek alike in Rome and throughout the world.  His is eager to share with them the truth of the Gospel and to empower them with spiritual gifts.  The reason he is so eager to carry out the ministry before him is that the wrath of God was being revealed and he wanted folks to avoid it.

Romans 1:18-20 - ¹⁸The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Paul wanted those in Rome to believe, so that they would avoid the wrath of God.  What a word for us today.  Is there someone in your family, someone in your close circle of friends, that doesn’t know God?  Are you eager to share what you know with them so they may avoid the wrath of God?  There is no excuse – if you don’t share – God is made evident by creation – but – God may wish to use you to help bring someone to faith.  Are you willing to be used by God?  Paul said he wasn’t ashamed of the Gospel – are we? Romans 1:16 -I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:

Easter is coming my friends.  One of the easiest times of the year to invite folks to church.   How about starting now and praying about who God would have you invite to worship with you on Easter morning?  Begin as soon as God lays people on your heart.  Fill up a whole row or several rows with family and friends.  If you are a parent with grown children or a grandparent – and your children or grandchildren ask you what they can get you for Easter or your birthday, anniversary, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or some other special day,  tell them just come to church with me on that Sunday.  Who knows, but that one Sunday might be just what is needed to prick their hearts to become people of faith.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way. 

The Bible: God’s Word

2 Peter 1:16-21 (The Message)

^16-18We weren’t, you know, just wishing on a star when we laid the facts out before you regarding the powerful return of our Master, Jesus Christ. We were there for the preview! We saw it with our own eyes: Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father as the voice of Majestic Glory spoke: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight.” We were there on the holy mountain with him. We heard the voice out of heaven with our very own ears.

^19-21We couldn’t be more sure of what we saw and heard—God’s glory, God’s voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You’ll do well to keep focusing on it. It’s the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts. The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word.

I want to look at Scripture and its authority.  If Scripture is authoritative in our lives than Scripture is the base of our understanding as we sculpt doctrine. I believe that our theology reflects our view of the Bible.  If we believe the Bible is the Word of God we will weigh it heavily in our understanding of God.  If we see it as a good book, a nice guide, but humanly created, we will not.  On one hand the Bible is authoritative, on the other it is no more authoritative than our personal experience, community history or our reasoning.

I love the way The Message puts the last part of today’s passage.  The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word.

The Bible – God’s Word – has been divinely transmitted to us.  Peter, an Apostle, firmly believed this truth.  He shares this understanding with his readers.  The Scriptures are not from human minds. The Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak and write God’s Word.

Paul, an Apostle, wrote something very similar about Scripture in one of his letters.

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.

Jesus Himself understood the Scriptures to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.  He is quoted in Mark’s Gospel saying that David was inspired by the Holy Spirit when he wrote in the Psalms.

Mark 12:36 – 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ‘

One could argue that these writers were all referring to the Old Testament, because that was Scripture for them.  The church has adopted both the Old and New Testaments as Scripture.  I believe that God was referring to the whole of Scripture when He inspired the writers about Scripture.  Even though the writers knew very little about what we call the New Testament, God knew.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 – 1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

What are your thoughts concerning the authority of God’s Word?