So as we move through the idea of change, our guide passage is . We see Scripture can be used to make the change in us toward God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. Today we will be looking at the concept of teaching.
But before we talk about teaching, we must address the subject of Scripture. The world tries hard to sidestep the Bible and its authority. It will try and argue of it being made up or as some work of literature. The world will strike out to those who hold the Bible as the true word of God. There is nothing about the Bible that will make someone popular, but instead might bring scorn. Paul lived in the reality that there were those who wanted to kill him because he trusted in God, trusted Jesus as Savior, and put ultimate authority in the the Bible and the Gospel.
Truth has quickly become relative to the extreme in our time. But the Bible represents an ultimate authority on truth, and as such opposite of relative truth. It is the ruler to measure one’s life, but no one can measure up all the time. Timothy wasn’t perfect or else we wouldn’t have these letters from Paul to Timothy. But we have modern stories of CS Lewis, Josh McDowell, and Lee Strobel who wanted to disprove the Bible. But instead they found God’s truth and now write book defending the Bible.
Remember that Paul’s reference to “Scripture” is that of the Old Testament. But the New Testament follows exactly with the promises of the Old Testament when canonized into what we call the Bible. God used men and authors throughout the years of history to record His truths. The conviction of that will lead us back to where Paul is just telling Timothy to keep the scripture in your hands all day, every day. Because to live in the truth of the Bible will allow you to make every decision and every choice molded by God’s Word. ALL Scripture is inspired, God-breathed. ALL scripture is profitable. The more we live in it, the better we become! God will add to me and make me better spiritually and draw me closer to Him.
Some of us function as if God’s word is not valid at all. We think that reading the Bible is something we have to do or something we have to grudgingly go through. But when we open ourselves to allow God’s Word to speak to us, we start to realize how much more we enjoy having scripture as a working knowledge in our life. When we are away from the physical text, Scripture still influences us.
As we then begin to enjoy the working knowledge as we dig in more and more to Scripture, we then realize how God will use it to rebuke us. Rebuking is just highlighting that we are not in the right place. Scripture will show us where we are not in line with God’s purposes and paths that he has for our lives. Scriptures make us adequate. Scripture equips us fully, and Scripture equips us for every good work. In the hard moments in life, Scripture will allow us to fully, adequately equipped for those very hard moments. We will make the choices that align with God. We won’t allow the false suppositions and false accusations deter us because we hold close to Scripture.
Next week we will move forward at the other areas uses for Scripture.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (ESV)
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (ESV)
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (ESV)
2:1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (ESV)
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (ESV)