“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching for reproof for correction for training in righteousness that the man of God may be complete equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16
Dan M. is filling in for Pastor Dan this week.
I would like to look at three things from this text. 1. We can see the nature of scripture. 2. The function of scripture. 3. The result of scripture.
2. The function of Scripture. As we have seen, the nature of scripture is divine being God breathed. This is the ground of its authority. This means scripture was authoritative as it was being written whether anybody recognized it or not. But God does not speak in a vacuum. When God speaks it is not without intention and that intention does not fail, Isaiah 55:11. Here in 2nd Timothy 3 we see that the nature of scripture being God breathed is precisely what makes it profitable for teaching and therefore learning. All of our knowledge is seen through the framework of God’s Word. What God thinks about a matter, what God says about it and what God does about it should be our primary concern as believers in all of learning and life. Scripture is also profitable “for reproof,” meaning to stop doing that. Not only to stop doing something but stop thinking a certain way. Any thought, mindset, paradigm, or supposition that does not emanate from scripture needs to be abandoned in favor of a biblical worldview. This is what is meant by “correction.” So, reproof; stop doing or thinking that. Correction; start doing or thinking this way. In following Scripture’s reproof and correction we find ourselves “training in righteousness.” This IS the means by which God successfully brings a believer to completion, “equipped for every good work,” for He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus, Philippians 1:6. We must ask God, is my heart brought to bear in light of Your Word? Am I corrected in my thinking and in my actions? Am I growing in righteousness? Am I equipped for what You are calling me to do? As we seek His Word we find His answer, I AM bringing your heart to bear, Hebrews 4:12. I AM correcting you Psalm 19:11. I AM growing you in righteousness, 2Peter 1:1-11. I AM bringing you to completion, Colossians 2:10. I urge you to read Psalm 19:7-11 to find six attributes of Scripture and six corresponding functions of Scripture. Meditate on these things and you will find sweetness and treasure in the only Words that can be called God breathed.