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Wednesday, March 12, 2014
“To: You, From: God”
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Episode Transcript:
It’s Wednesday, March 12, 2014, I’m Robert Hatfield and this program delivers daily thoughts for new Christians. This is THE NEW YOU!
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 (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The Old Testament wise man acknowledged this fact: “of making many books there is no end” (Eccl. 12:12). But when you pick up God’s book, you’ve found a volume unlike anything else on earth.
No book compares to the Bible. It is a book of books: 66 total, 39 books in the Old Testament, and 27 books in the New Testament. It was written over a period of 1500-1600 years. As I read to you a moment ago from 2 Timothy 3, it’s words are inspired of God. Human penmen were used to record the Word of God – about 40 total. These inspired writers came from all varieties of backgrounds, and economic statuses, and yet their message was unified. Prophets foretold the events in the Old Testament, and, several hundred years later, those events transpired and were recorded by the New Testament writers. This is truly an amazing feat!
We could go on and on discussing the accuracy of the Word of God. Though it isn’t a science book, it has been proven to be scientifically accurate! Though not a history book, the Bible’s history is continually proven to be true.
I’m telling you: your copy of the Bible – whether digital or hard copy (or, for most of us, both several times over) – is an incredible treasure. It’s important that we understand just how valuable the “Good Book” is. It is more than an all-time best seller filled with great advice for a good life. It is our guide book. Whatever it says to do, that we must do! Why? Because it is the very Word of God.
In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul says that the Bible was given to us so “that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (1 Cor. 2:12).
And so, we return to the text that I read a moment ago: 2 Timothy 3:16-17. God’s Word is all-sufficient. It has everything we need. Peter said that God has “given us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). He has revealed those things to us in His Word. Back to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul illustrates the all-sufficiency of Scripture in four ways:
First, the Scripture is profitable for doctrine, that is, teaching. It is the standard, or rule book, of faith and practice. We need nothing other than the Bible for spiritual guidance.
Second, God’s Word is profitable for reproof, or refutation. The Bible refutes sin and convicts us of the error in our lives.
Third, the Bible is profitable for correction, or restoration. In other words, God’s Word tells us what to do to make right whatever is wrong.
Fourth, the Word is profitable for instruction, or education, in righteousness. God’s Word is the lamp to our feet and the light to our pathway to heaven (Psa. 119:105). As such, it shows us the way not only to get right with the Lord, but to stay right with Him! It instructs us on how to live faithfully.
Listen to R.C.H Lenski’s thoughts on the passage before us:
“The Scripture is thus absolutely incomparable; no other book, library, or anything else in the world is able to make a lost sinner wise for salvation; no other Scripture, since it lacks inspiration of God whatever profit it may otherwise afford, is profitable for these ends: teaching us the true saving facts—refuting the lies and the delusions that deny these facts—restoring the sinner or fallen Christian to an upright position—educating, training, disciplining one in genuine righteousness. The character of the source (God-inspired) is matched by the profit produced; the profit attests the character of the source” (Lenski, 841).
Let’s wrap it up: Any opportunity you and I have to open the Word is one we should take. We should definitely make time every day to talk to God in prayer and to allow God to talk to us. We have His book so readily available! What a shame to let it sit, only to be carried to church assemblies on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Memory Verse: It’s memory verse time! Paul has a message of persistence and faithfulness for us in this week’s verse. I love the last part which reminds us that our labors are not empty or useless! Say it with me:
1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Sometime today: Return to Colossians chapter three and read over verses three and four. As you do, contemplate in what sense a Christian’s life is “hidden with Christ in God.” We’ll study that together tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Thanks for joining today me on The New You. Archives of this program and more Christian podcasts can be found online at thelightnetwork.tv.
Remember Q & A Saturday! Send in your questions now either by email or by phone, and we’ll answer them in an upcoming Saturday broadcast. The email address is robert@thelightnetwork.tv. Call 903-265-4448 to ask a question by phone.
I’ll meet you tomorrow for another edition of The New You.
View the Word of God as a great blessing, and remember that with great blessing comes great responsibility. May God bless us all as we hear and apply His Word.