We talk about reading the Bible and honestly, I know some parts are boring and sometimes hard to understand. I know that some parts are hard to believe. And I know that we sometimes think we find contradictions between different parts of the Bible. And we hear some people carry on about how it was written by man and therefor is fallible. I want to settle all that and hopefully leave you with some confidence that you can be a Bible Hero.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
OK, my first admission: When Paul wrote this from a Roman jail in probably 67AD, he was writing to one of his favorite mentorees or disciples that he had placed over the church that they had built together in Ephesus. So when he referred to scriptures, the only thing considered to be scriptures was what we call the Old Testament. What we call the New Testament was happening. During WWI it wasn’t called WWI, it was called the Great War or the World War, because they had no idea that a mere 20 years later it would happen again. The Gospels and the letters from Peter and Paul to the churches and the other writings contained in the last 27 books of the Bible that we now call the New Testament were writings about things that were happening as Christ taught and as the disciples tried to make more disciples and teach them in Christ and letters the apostles wrote to the churches they had established. But there are several references in the New Testament that indicate the authors knew they were being led by the Spirit, they knew the words they had to share were from God and you frequently see the Old Testament books, especially the prophets quoted by the New Testament writers.
So, all that to say that Paul at the time he wrote this letter to Timothy was specifically speaking of the Old Testament when he referred to scriptures, but it is clearly appropriate to apply that to the New Testament as well.
So, all scripture is inspired by God. I want to stop here and make sure that we understand this.
When we look back at the Greek, we see that there is one word that is translated into the phrase: “is inspired by God,” and that is θεόπνευστος theópneustos
Theópneustos comes from theos, which is God and pneō which is to breathe or blow. So, literally, God breathed.
All scripture is God Breathed.
In Genesis 1, God created everything that is. In the description of that, 8 different times we see the phrase, “God said” and then something came into being.
Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 (NASB)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. John 1:1-3 (NASB)
I’m not going to dive into this too far, these verses alone frequently consume multiple hours of a college Bible course. But the main take-away is that Jesus was the Word of God when God spoke creation into existence. From a mechanical standpoint, how do we talk, what has to happen to make sound? We have to deliberately move our breath through our vocal cords, right?
So, when we say that all scripture is God Breathed, well we can see the significance of that, we can see the power and authority of the Breath of God. Yes, God used the different perspectives and even personalities of the authors as He Breathed the scriptures into existence. Hear me, if the Word is God Breathed, then He knew and intended to use the perspective and personalities of the different authors, it wasn’t some oversight or accident, it was deliberate. There are no inconsistencies or errors. We might not get it, but we don’t get everything God is doing most of the time anyway, so why should that be a surprise?
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
I don’t want anyone to think I’m skipping this one, but it is as obvious as it says. We have something to learn from ALL the scriptures.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
All scripture is good for reproof which in the Greek is essentially proof, evidence, conviction, in the same spirit as Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (NASB)
So, we can use the scriptures to be confident and sure of what is there, of our faith if firmly based on the Word.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Correction is epanórthōsis
I.restoration to an upright or right state
II.correction, improvement of life or character
The website openbible.info has 100 scriptures that relate to correcting a brother. You ready? There will be a quiz later. OK, no, just a couple.
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Galatians 6:1(NASB)
Obviously this would be talking to the alcoholic that goes into a bar to talk his friend out of drinking. Any control freaks here? It’s probably talking to you too. What is your reason and attitude when correcting a brother? Amen? And don’t miss the gentleness aspect. The how is important too.
“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.” Matthew 18:15 (NASB)
You have won your brother. We miss that in all the talk and fear of church discipline, but don’t miss the good you can do.
This passage from Matthew goes on to describe how to follow up if your brother doesn’t listen. But that is definitely it’s own discussion and Pastor Bob touched on that a couple weeks ago. The point I want to make is that all scripture is good for correction. These verses tell us that we should be looking out for the spiritual well being of one another. So how do we do that? With the use and authority of the scriptures. If you are going to go confront or encourage a brother or sister, know and use the scriptures that apply.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
But wait a minute, what about Romans 3:10?
as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE” Romans 3:10 (NASB)
And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17 says (NASB)
So, Christ is the great physician and all Scripture is profitable for training in righteousness. You see, we come to Christ as we are, but like a hospital, the church should be full of sick people getting better. Pastor Bob has been rocking the boat as he felt convicted to preach messages that he knew some people would find offensive. Well we will not run a hospice to make people more comfortable while they slowly die.
In Philippians 3:12, Paul said
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12 (NASB)
So all scripture is profitable for training in righteousness, but it is a process that we won’t complete here on earth. Like Paul, your pastors have not obtained righteousness, but we are pressing on and we ask you to join and follow us. Let the Word teach you how to become more righteous.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
And that is the point right there, isn’t it. Love your neighbor as yourself. Go and make disciples. These are good works, but the world can be a dangerous place and we need to be equipped as it says for the good work that we will do.
Now, I explained that verse. I used my education on expository preaching. So, we could end here. But you know I’m not going to don’t you? Without some examples of how to move what we’ve learned into real life I have done nothing to help you grow in the real world, the mission field.
I joked earlier that there would be a quiz at the end. Of course, there won’t be. But the quiz is how you grow every day. Now if we look at the Bible, it’s essentially just a book on ancient history, right? This guy had a son by this name. The Israelites defeated that people group and the other people group defeated the Israelites. Blah blah blah. Sometimes we see it that way.
But I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase history repeats itself.
Well, His story repeats itself too. What I mean is that what we read in the Word was deliberately placed there for us to use. In Matthew chapter 4 we see the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. But, right before that, we see Him tempted.
Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” 5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,
‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’;
and 6 ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’” 8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’” 11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. Matthew 4:1-11 (NASB)
How did Jesus send the devil away? What did He do? He used the Word, the scriptures. Jesus Christ, all man – all God, didn’t blast the devil with light and power. He was in the likeness of man and did what we can do as men and women. He didn’t act out on temptation because He relied on the Word. He did exactly what you and I can and should do.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB)
This says that when we are tempted God always provides a way of escape from the sin. Sometimes we don’t see it, but the passage from Matthew tells us how to see it. How do we do that? By knowing the scriptures. By going back to them when we are tempted and relying on them.
What about tough situations where we don’t know what to say? I’ve talked before about the time that Kimberly and I were missionaries at Teen Challenge of Kansas. I’ve told you about Dale and how he would get angry and go toe to toe with anyone that he disagreed with. Usually, that person was me as I was the staffer that was catching him doing something he shouldn’t be or assigning work to him he didn’t want to do. Every single time I had to talk to Dale it ended up with him puffing out his chest and screaming in my face. It got really old.
Then one morning at breakfast, I saw that things were getting rowdy at one of the tables. Sure enough, right in the center of it was Dale. I was not ready to have to deal with Dale and the inevitable screaming in my face. So, I stopped and prayed before I got up from my table and I asked God for help. He reminded me of Moses. When Moses approached the burning bush and God instructed him to go back to Egypt and tell the pharaoh to let God’s people go, there was an exchange, remember? Moses pushed back, he didn’t want to go. No, in the middle of their exchange, God made a promise that Moses didn’t take God up on, no he continued to push back until God relented and allowed him to use his brother Aaron as his mouthpiece. That unused promise is found in Exodus 4:12. Moses, in his efforts to get out of the job, said, “Hey, uh, I don’t speak well. I never have.” And God responded with a promise.
“Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.” Exodus 4:12 (NASB)
If Moses just went, God would be with his mouth and teach Him what to say. Now as I said, Moses didn’t take God up on that deal, he pushed back more. So why is that passage even in the Bible? Why didn’t God leave that out?
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching
So, that morning at breakfast as I was praying, I said to God, “OK, I’ll go, you speak. I’ll trust you.” And for the first time ever something was different. I went over to the table where Dale was sitting and as I approached him, he stood up. I told him whatever I needed to say, and his response was brand new, he simply said, “Yes Brother Matthew, I understand.”
Maybe Moses didn’t take God up on His offer, but it’s in the scripture for a reason, because YOU CAN.
What about reproof or proof? Well, depending on the way you count them, there are on the conservative side well over 300 Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled by the specific details of Christ’s birth, life, and death. Again, depending on how you count, some scholars have numbered the Christ fulfilled prophecies as high as 456. Now, are you ready to go through all of them? Yeah, me neither. But, Paul was writing to Timothy who was born to a Jewish mother and Greek father. His mother had come to follow Christianity and so we understand a little about who Timothy was, and Paul left him in the Greek city of Ephesus (that is currently in Turkey, by the way) to lead the congregation there. By this time, between trade and all the times that the Israelites had been conquered and drug off as slaves, Jewish people and their faith could be found throughout the known world. So, between the fact that the scriptures that Paul would have been referring to would have been the Old Testament and much of Christianity was based on the Jewish faith, it is likely that this was Paul’s intent in reproof. He likely was wanting to emphasize that the scriptures legitimized following Christ. We too can use these.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for correction
This one’s easy. It’s almost hard NOT to find some sort of correction wherever you look in the scriptures. Whether it’s in Proverbs or the story of King David or any number of New Testament passages, we can apply the corrections of others to ourselves and those that we lovingly try to encourage.
Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
Pastor talked a couple weeks ago about standing up for what is right and correcting each other. This is what it’s supposed to be. Whether we directly refer to scriptures or we just apply shared understandings, we can lift each other up.
My old friend Brett was there when Kimberly and I were, well not who we are now. He was there when I needed a friend and when I needed to be able to be real about my own failings. Today, Pastor Bob is one of those people for me. When we encourage each other, invariably the Word makes its way into the conversation. One Tuesday morning when Kimberly was flown from Kingman to Las Vegas by helicopter to have surgery on her spine, the flesh in me wanted to cancel all my sessions that day and drive up there. But, she was flown out at about 4AM. The van was leaking oil and I didn’t know why for sure and didn’t feel like driving a hundred miles at speed was a great idea at the moment. So, I had to wait around long enough for the mechanic to open. He changed the oil and fixed the leak. I was still planning on heading for Vegas. But, as my friend Don’s shop came into view, I felt compelled to pull in and see him and let him know what’s going on and maybe pray together. We did pray together, but Don said, “Is Kimberly a big girl?” Yes. “Do you trust God with her?” Yes. “Are you going to change the outcome of the day?” No “These people that you are scheduled to meet with today, they need you and God called you into the counseling ministry, right?” Yes. “Then it sounds like you need to obey God.” Well, I didn’t like his answer. So, the logical thing to do was to go to my other wise counsel and drive over to the church and pop in on Pastor Bob. Surely, he’d agree with me and bless my desire to go sit with my bride. I told him she had been flown to Vegas and I wanted to cancel my sessions to go be with her. I thought I didn’t like Don’s answer. Pastor Bob as is like him was very to the point. He simply said, “No.” My brothers leaned on the wisdom and Word of God, even if neither directly quoted it to correct me and remind me of what was my most important duty for the day. I didn’t like it, but I listened. And sure enough, it was an incredibly powerful night with God moving and changing lives. I was blown away with the night and how much God used my obedience to Him.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for training in righteousness
By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 1 John 2:3-8 (NASB)
Let’s look at verses 5 and 6 for moment
5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 1 John 2:5-6
This is training in righteousness. When we learn to keep His word, then the love of God has truly been perfected. God showed His love through Christ in the shedding of blood and redeeming of our souls. But it becomes full and complete when we live it out through obedience. That is the indication of God’s love taking root in us.
The point continues that we ought to walk as He walked. Who’s He? Obviously, it’s Christ and we’re not talking something mysterious and Heavenly, we’re talking about how did He walk and live while on this earth? The only way to know that is to know the Word. Historically, Christians have been very good at pointing out sin in others despite the admonition to remove the log from your eye before trying to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye. But if we truly walk as He walked then we will love first.
In John 4, Jesus and His disciples were travelling through Samaria. While the disciples went to buy food, Jesus sat down by a well to rest. A Samaritan woman came to the well and Christ talked with her. Not only was He stepping out of tradition by talking with a Samaritan woman, but He offered her salvation BEFORE he let on that he knew she was living with a man she wasn’t married to.
In John 8, the Pharisees dragged a woman out into the street. They are ready to stone her to death because she had been caught in the act of adultery. Christ talked to the men and scribbled on the ground, causing them all to leave and tells the woman that he doesn’t condemn her BEFORE he said, “Go and sin no more.”
Christ didn’t condone sin or leave it alone, he confronted it. But, He loved first. We need to learn to walk as He walked if we are to walk in the path of righteousness.
7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. 8 On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. 1 John 2:7-8 (NASB)
Now this is a completely separate thought from the previous verses, but it affirms that we aren’t to just view the Old Testament, but the New Testament as scriptures that are God Breathed, because the true Light shone not only in Christ but will also in us as we grow in righteousness.
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Colossians 2:6-8 (NASB)
So, to become righteous, we are to walk in Him. That’s a strange way to say something. How do you walk “In Him”? When I arrived in Sweden as a teenager, I knew Ja and Nej. Yes and No. I had sort of tried to listen to the Berlitz LP that I had borrowed at the library to learn the language before I left. But that was all I picked up. There were four other Americans that arrived in town at the same time I did. We were all exchange students through different programs. I can’t even remember the name of the girl that left first. But by October, Jenny and Scott had both headed back home to the states too. When I first arrived, for two weeks I had to take a one-hour bus ride to Stockholm to an 8 hour immersive Swedish language class. The instructor never spoke any English. The owner of the little café behind the school knew who we all were and would tell us one time what something was called as we looked in his glass case. After that, if we couldn’t ask for something by name, he wouldn’t sell it to us. It goes without saying that most of us ate the same thing every day for two weeks because we could only remember one food name out of everything he had. And I don’t think I picked up much from the class. I think I learned bussen or bus. Of course I had to get on one every day, so that needed to stick.
As I watched the other students fall away, I made an agreement with my few new Swedish friends. Although they wanted the opportunity to practice their English on me, they agreed that they would only speak Swedish to me. By Christmas, I was fluent and can still speak the language, albeit roughly today. I learned the language through true immersion.
This is much the same idea here. We are to walk in Him, we are to become like Him, joined with Him through choosing to spend our time and energy learning about and from Him. And as we do, we will become firmly rooted and grateful for the new life we lead. And as we learn the Word we will become able to stand firm and not get pulled aside by things that might look good and smell good but are mere cheap imitations of Christ.
In his introduction to his book The Call, talking about our search for purpose, Os Guiness wrote, “…the final reality is that neither chance nor an impersonal ground of being but an infinite personal God who has created us in His image and calls us into relationship with Himself. Our life purpose comes from two places at once – who we are created to be and who we are called to be. Not only is this call of our Creator the source of the deepest self-discoveries and growth in life, it gives our lives an inspiration and dynamism that transforms them into an enterprise beyond any comparison.
…are you open to the possibility that there is one who created you to be who you are and calls you to be who he alone knows you can be? Then listen to Jesus of Nazareth and His two words that changed the world – Follow Me.”
All scripture is God breathed and the more time we spend in the word and follow Him, the more like Him we will become, like Paul, striving to lay hold of Holiness which is why Christ laid hold of us first.
Do you want to become a Bible Hero? Follow God through the scriptures all of which were God breathed and profitable for us to learn from and change.