Scripture: The Very Word of God, Part 3.2

This is the last in a series of posts that was originally developed as a Sunday School lesson that I taught on August 28, 2011.

There is a point to the Bible. Why did God speak? What was His purpose?

2 Timothy 3:17 tells us that God’s word is useful for the purpose that “the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” This means that the Bible provides everything that the believer needs to live a fruitful life, well pleasing to God. Adequate and equipped mean roughly the same thing: being fitted and complete; outfitted as for an expedition.

Romans 16:25-26 says that God is able to establish, that is strengthen and prop up, the believer according to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Scriptures of the prophets, and God’s commands, “leading to obedience of faith.” This means that as we study the Bible, God is able to use that to strengthen our walk and our faith in Him, and as we do so, we become more and more obedient in our faith, submitting ourselves willingly to the truth.

Romans 15:4 says that “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” The Bible teaches us and promises to us hope. We can have an expectation, a trust, that God will fulfill His promises: For salvation through Jesus Christ and for eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Scripture instructs, it equips, it leads to obedience, it gives us hope. But more importantly, the Scriptures points to Christ. Jesus says in Luke 24:44-47:

Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

The Old Testament pointed to a coming Christ, a future Redeemer. The Gospels record the life and ministry and teachings of Jesus who is the Christ. The rest of the New Testament provides us instruction on how to live out and grow in our faith as well as encouragement and hope for the future.

What can we take a away from all of this?

Because the Bible is the very word of God, it should not be treated lightly. It can be trusted because it is true. Since God’s word is everlasting, its truths are applicable for all humanity, for all time. Because the Bible is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness, we can use it to instruct and lift ourselves and each other up, being confronted and convicted of the state of our faith, having our lives straightened out by the very breath of God, and being provided with all that we need to live a godly life. It equips us, it strengthens our faith to obedience, and it gives us hope. The Bible points to Jesus Christ: our Savior, our Lord, and our Redeemer.

In closing, here is Psalm 19:7-11:

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.
They are more desirable than god, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is a great reward.