Posted on 10/27/2023 12:07:09 AM PDT by metmom
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16). Scripture is a manual of divine truth.
This month we've considered many benefits of Scripture. Second Timothy 3:16 lists four more that will be the focus of our studies as we draw this month to a close: teaching truth, reproving sin and error, correcting behavior, and training in righteousness. We've touched on each of those to some extent in our past studies, but they warrant additional discussion from this verse, which is Scripture's most concise statement on its own power and purpose.
First, the Bible is profitable for teaching. The Greek word translated "teaching" refers more to content than to the process of teaching. Scripture is God's manual of divine truth for patterning your thoughts and actions.
As a believer, you have the capacity to understand and respond to Scripture. That's because the Holy Spirit indwells you and imparts spiritual discernment, wisdom, and understanding (1 John 2:27). You have "the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16).
But having the ability to understand spiritual truth doesn't guarantee you'll exercise that ability. God said to the Israelites through the prophet Hosea, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (4:6). His truth was available to them, but they ignored it and lived in disobedience.
I've heard many people lament that they could have avoided much grief if only they had known the Bible more thoroughly—if only they had taken the time to learn what God expected of them in a particular situation. Perhaps you've felt that way. The best way to avoid making that mistake in the future is to faithfully, prayerfully, patiently, and thoroughly saturate your mind with biblical truth, then discipline yourself to live according to its principles. Now that's the challenge of a lifetime, but it's the only way to profit from biblical teaching and avoid unnecessary heartaches.
I pray you will be encouraged today as you study God's Word and diligently apply it to your life.
Suggestions for Prayer
Ask God to use the circumstances you face today to draw you closer to Him and motivate you to dig deeper into His Word.
For Further Study
Read Exodus 24:1-8. What was the Israelites' response to God's Word? What is yours?
From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
Studying God’s Word ping
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto 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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
The first verse refers to what Timothy was orally taught, which was that of Scripturally substantiated Truth in word and in power, for an authoritative body of wholly God-inspired writings had been manifestly established by the time of Christ as being "Scripture, ("in all the Scriptures") . (Luke 24:27.44,45; Acts 17:2; 18:28, etc.) And thus Scripture provided the **doctrinal and prophetic epistemological foundation for the NT church. And the other verses refer to the type of writing Scripture is, and thus its supreme authority, and what it instrumentally is able to do as an "arms supplier" and spiritual food, conditional upon the reader's heart for it. To the glory of God.
“All Scripture...”. For me ...and you.
The best way to avoid making that mistake in the future is to faithfully, prayerfully, patiently, and thoroughly saturate your mind with biblical truth, then discipline yourself to live according to its principles. Now that’s the challenge of a lifetime, but it’s the only way to profit from biblical teaching and avoid unnecessary heartaches.
.......................................
Best advice ever.
Yup, abiding in Christ.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.