| II Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: |
ALL SCRIPTURE - The Bible is ALL God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation.
GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD - In the Greek this is translated “God breathed.” God does not breath - but what this is, is a figure of speech, giving human characteristics to God. Figures of speech in the Bible mark out what God wants emphasized. God wants us to understand that this is His Word.
PROFITABLE - God’s Word is profitable. In business, if I know something is profitable, I do it. If I believe something is profitable, I work to build it into my way of doing business. This takes deliberate application and commitment. It takes a commitment of time and resources to implement a profitable business principle. It does not just happen.
If Christians believe the Bible is God’s Word and that it is profitable, they will commit time and resources to applying it in their lives. God’s Word is only profitable if we listen to it, if we apply it, if we take the time and effort necessary to live according to it - it doesn’t just happen. This is what I mean when I say I feel that many Christians really do not believe II Timothy 3:16.
FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION - For the most part, I feel Christians do not have a hard time with doctrine, being told what is right. But not many people like to be told that what they are doing is wrong or how to change what they are doing. In today’s society the popular teaching is that we should not correct children because you might cause harm to them. How contrary to God’s Word is that?
When we come to God’s Word, we needs to understand that God’s Word will tell us what we should be doing, what we are doing wrong, and how to correct what we are doing wrong. If we do not expect this from God’s Word, we may have a difficult time.
Light makes manifest. The brighter the light the more the darkness is exposed. But the reason for exposing the darkness is so we can correct it in our lives. God’s Word sets the standard, exposes the darkness in our lives, and tells us how to correct it. This is how God’s Word is profitable. If we do not desire to change, God’s Word will not be profitable for us.
FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS - Another word for instruction is training. God’s Word is given for training in the right way of living. Training does not occur by just hearing something and agreeing with it. Training takes application by way of repetition, discipline, and commitment. We need to be trained in the right way of living. We need to be disciplined and commit ourselves to God’s way of living. Then God’s Word will be profitable to us. Then we will be living the best life possible, the way God intended it to be lived.
| II Peter 1:21
For 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. Galatians 1:11, 12
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. |
| II Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. |
APPROVED UNTO GOD - Who are we trying to impress? We don’t study God’s Word to satisfy people. What is important is what God is saying, not that we agree with the current ideas of society. We don’t study God’s Word to agree or disagree with current ideas, we study to find out what God has got to say.
RIGHTLY DIVIDING - To rightly divide is to cut right or straight. Rightly dividing indicates that there is only one way to divide God’s Word. All other ways of dividing are wrong.
Have you ever gone to the store to buy something and then give the clerk one penny less than the price? The clerk may get that penny from a cup or some other person, but unless they get that penny, you are not going home with all the merchandise. Being close is not good enough!
When it comes to God’s Word, being close is not good enough. Being close is not rightly dividing God’s Word. When you do not rightly divide God’s Word, you no longer have God’s Word. And when you do not have God’s Word, it will not profit you the way God intended it to profit you; and it will not be instruction in righteousness. Being close is where the devil wants us to be, rightly dividing is where God wants us to be.
The Bible is God’s word and will to a Christian for profitable training in the right way of living. But the Bible needs to be studied and rightly divided. Many people are sincere when it comes to God and His Word, but it is not a matter of sincerity. It is a matter of rightly dividing God’s Word so that we can be instructed in the right way of living. It is a matter of rightly dividing God’s Word so that God’s Word can be profitable to us, and so we can have profitable training.