2nd Sunday after Trinity

SERMON - The Bible Is the Word of God, Through Which He Intends to Save Our Souls!

INI

Text: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

In Christ Jesus, who promises us both truth and freedom as we abide in His word, dear fellow redeemed:

Over the last 150 years there has been a terribly serious battle going on within Christendom regarding the Bible. Is the Bible the inspired Word of God, or is it a collection of men’s writings about God? Is it inerrant, that is a book without errors, or is it a book that is factually flawed? Is it the one, true revelation from God to man, or is it merely one of many attempts by men to explain their conceptions of God? In this debate very intelligent men, and at times somewhat irritated men, have debated the issues using terms like “plenary” and concepts such as “biblical criticism.” These seemingly endless and all-too-intellectual sounding arguments have left many people confused, at times bored, and frequently disillusioned. Yet, so very much is at stake! The moral decline and confusion so prevalent in our day has its roots in a rejection of the Bible as God’s authoritative word. In a recent article in World magazine entitled, “The Unending Debate Over Gays,” the writer in closing quoted a theologian who made this observation: “This is not ‘a gay debate.’ It’s ‘a matter of authority, chiefly the authority of Scripture. Is the Bible the Word of God? Or simply a nice book of stories.’” [World, April 5/12, 2008, p. 52]

Dear friends, the battle for the Bible is vitally important. However, what is unfortunately overlooked at times in the debate over the Bible’s inspiration and inerrancy is its purpose—the saving of souls! As we consider today the Word of God, in this the first in our series of summer sermons on the “Great Doctrines of the Bible,” I would focus your attention on this truth—THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD, THROUGH WHICH HE INTENDS TO SAVE OUR SOULS!

I.

On the basis of our text from 2 Timothy, I would point out, first of all, that the Bible will be opposed, as will we who embrace it! 2 Timothy is the last of the apostle Paul’s epistles. He was in prison in Rome for a second time and would soon be executed for his faith. In the verses immediately preceding our text, he warned Timothy, even as he warns us, that “in the last days perilous times will come” (3:1). Sinful, self-centered men and women would arise, who would serve their own wants and desires, rather than placing their faith in God or helping their neighbors. In contrast Paul alludes to Timothy’s attitude and conduct and says: “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

The Bible is very clear when it says that it together with those who believe in it will be hated in this world. Why is this so? The bottom line is that mankind is living in the spiritual darkness of sin, and does not want that sin or that spiritual darkness exposed! As Paul explains to the Corinthians: “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14). Consequently, the Bible reveals that “the carnal (sinful or fleshly) mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Rom. 8:7). Man, because of sin, cannot understand and remains adamantly opposed to God’s Word! When Jesus came into this world, we are told that “the world did not know Him…and His own did not receive Him” (Jn. 1:10-11). Jesus came as “the light shining in the darkness” of sin and death, but those living in that darkness “did not comprehend” who He was or accept what He had come to do (cf. Jn. 1:5). Instead He was reviled, ridiculed, rejected, and killed. Jesus’ words of warning, therefore, should not surprise us. He tells us: “You will be hated by all for My name’s sake…. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household?” (Mt. 10:22, 25)

Is this not true of anyone who takes a stand on biblical teaching today? To maintain that there is only one, true God—the Triune God—is labeled narrow-minded. To claim that there is only one way of salvation—by God’s grace through faith in Jesus—is considered hateful. To believe that God created this world in six days as presented in Genesis in opposition to evolution is derided as ignorance. To suggest that homosexual activity is sinful and that marriage is indeed the union of one man and one woman for life is considered homophobic. Yes, if you believe in and express your support of the Bible, you will find that it will be opposed, as will you and I who embrace it!

II.

In spite of such opposition, however, the truth is that THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD, THROUGH WHICH HE INTENDS TO SAVE OUR SOULS! Paul continues in our text by pointing out that it is inspired and therefore profitable for us who use it! Paul writes: “You must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable….”

Notice how Paul identifies the key purpose of the Bible. It is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus!” The debate over the Bible’s inspiration is not simply an intellectual exercise. It goes straight to the heart of biblical teaching, and it affects each and every human being in the most direct sense. Each human being whether he believes it or not will one day stand before God and give an account. Our works—no matter how wonderful—will not and cannot make up for our sins and thereby save us. Only those who have faith in Jesus as their Savior from sin will be saved. All others will experience eternal damnation.

In view of the fact that God planned from eternity to save this world through His beloved Son, it only makes sense that He would provide an accurate revelation of that plan of salvation. Consequently, Paul tells us that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable!” The word “inspiration” means literally “God-breathed.” My dear friends, in order that you and I might be certain of God’s view of us and His plans for us, He breathed into the minds and hearts of those people who wrote the Bible the very thoughts and words He wanted them to record. The Bible is “God-breathed,” and my dear friends, God does not have bad-breath! What God has moved the prophets, evangelists, and apostles to write is true and therefore profitable for us as we use it.

In a recent exchange of e-mails that I made with a local gentleman claiming to be an atheist, I was asked to respond to his thought that if there were a God perhaps He would place errors in the Bible to test us. Such an idea conflicts with the very nature of God. God cannot and would not lie! If He says, “All Scripture is inspired by God,” then it is! Jesus prayed to His heavenly Father regarding His believing followers: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). Anything that is false is not profitable. Is a recipe that mistakenly calls for tablespoons of salt rather than teaspoons going to be profitable? Of course not! Is taking a trip with an old AAA map citing road construction projects from two years ago going to provide you with the best route? Certainly not! Information must be true in order to be profitable!

The purpose of God’s inspiration is to provide us with a sure knowledge of the truth of God’s plan for the salvation of our souls. He does not want us to live in uncertainty, for uncertainty fills our hearts and lives with fear. Jesus came to remove fear and to fill our lives with the certainty of His love! Yes, THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD, THROUGH WHICH HE INTENDS TO SAVE OUR SOULS! It is inspired and therefore profitable for us who use it!

III.

It is also instructive and able to equip us for every good work! Paul concludes: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The fact that the Bible presents to us absolute truth from God assures us that the notions so prevalent today—that there is no absolute truth, that all morality is relative, and that each individual is free to decide for himself and herself what is right and wrong—are false!

The Bible is the Word of God! It is able and does indeed reveal to us “doctrine”—the truths that can and do save us! The truth that God created the world, that all human beings are by nature dead in their sins, that Jesus is the Son of God who became man in order to die as our substitute upon the cross, that the Holy Spirit alone can create new spiritual life within us, and that we are saved by the undeserved love—the grace of God—are all “doctrines” revealed in the Bible.

The Bible is profitable for “reproof.” When I am living outside the moral standards God has established in His law that law reproves me. Such reproof is not a mere exercise in God’s sovereign control. Rather and primarily it is an act of His love for me; for my sin, whether committed in ignorance or through willful disobedience, endangers my soul and life. That is why it is so important that we, as God’s children, maintain in spite of political opposition and in a spirit of love, our support, for instance, of human life and our opposition to abortion, our support for the biblical concept of marriage and our opposition to the concept of same-sex marriage. Continued opposition to the will of God can only and inevitably will end with His judgment.

The Bible is profitable for “correction.” Correction follows reproof. I need to know when I am doing something wrong, but I also need to know what I must do that is right! Consequently, after I am reproved for selfishness, the Bible directs me to follow the example of the Good Samaritan and strive to help my neighbor who is in need (cf. Lk. 10:37). After being reproved for stealing, the apostle Paul urges me to work so that I will have something to give to my neighbor (cf. Eph. 4:28).

Likewise the Bible is profitable for “instruction in righteousness.” Genuine righteousness finds its source and strength in Jesus. Jesus bestows His righteousness upon us by faith. Through His word He indwells our hearts and moves us in love to strive for the true righteousness of life commanded in His law. The Bible provides us the information we need to be “complete” and “thoroughly equipped” to do everything that God would have us do as His children and heirs.

Dear friends, THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD, THROUGH WHICH HE INTENDS TO SAVE OUR SOULS! It will be opposed, as will we who embrace it! It is inspired and therefore profitable for us who use it! It is instructive and able to equip us for every good work! May we hold it sacred and always gladly hear and learn it! Amen.

—Pastor Paul D. Nolting
To God alone be the glory!