Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry

The Purpose of Scripture

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Church Government

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2008-07-20

Synopsis: John Weaver explains that the purpose of Scripture is threefold: to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ, to mature us in the faith through doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, and to thoroughly equip us for every good work. He contrasts general revelation (creation and conscience) with special revelation (the written Word and the living Word, Jesus Christ), emphasizing that the Bible alone is sufficient for all matters of faith and practice.

[John Weaver] Alright, well let's open our Bibles today, if you would please, to 2 Timothy chapter 3. 2 Timothy chapter 3. And I want us to begin reading at verse 15 and read through verse 17. 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 15 through 17. The message today is entitled, The Purpose of Scripture. The Purpose of Scripture. 2 Timothy 3, verse 15, Paul writes Timothy, and he says that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise of the salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

[John Weaver] All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and it's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Have you ever wondered why we have the Word of God? Have you ever thought about what exactly is the purpose of Scripture? Why did God reveal His Word to us?

[John Weaver] Now, there are several very general answers to that question. One of those answers could be found in Deuteronomy 29.29. I'll quote it for you. You don't have to turn there. Listen carefully to what God says, Deuteronomy 29, 29, the secret things belong to the Lord our God. But those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Now, very obviously, generally speaking, one of the reasons God revealed his word for us is that we may know his will and that we may do that will. So you can give a number of general answers to that question. But in order to comprehend and understand the greatness and the importance of scripture, you must consider the fact that the word of God is classified as special revelation. Now, special revelation differs from general revelation.

[John Weaver] You can pick up any theological book you want to pick up. And it will talk about general revelation and special revelation. When you talk about general revelation, you're normally talking about creation and conscience. In other words, there are certain things that you can know about God just from creation and just from conscience. For instance, if you will turn in your Bibles, whole 2 Timothy, but turn to Psalm 19, And begin reading their reverse one and from Psalm 19 will go to Romans chapter one. Bulletin Psalm 19. And let's begin reading their verse one and show you general creation. Or general revelation, which is revealed in creation. Notice Psalm 19 verse one. The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork.

[John Weaver] day-to-day uttered speech and night-and-night short knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. So it doesn't matter if you're in South America. It doesn't matter if you're in Africa. It doesn't matter if you're in Asia. It doesn't matter where you are. Here is God's creation speaking, saying, yes, there is a God. Their line is going out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.

[John Weaver] In them have they set a tabernacle for the sun. which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoicing as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the earth and the circuit of the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. So here the Bible is talking about creation being a general revelation. It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter where you are. You can look at the creation and deduce, yes, there must be a creator. There must be a God who is all-powerful to create the universe or to create the world.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look at Romans chapter one and notice verse 18 through 20, Romans chapter one, beginning there with verse 18. Notice what the scripture says again concerning creation. Romans one, verse 18, for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven. against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of man, who hold the truth in unrighteousness," now notice this,"...because Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead."

[John Weaver] Now watch,"...so that they are without excuse." Notice what God says. God says that creation light is enough to render all men without excuse. Just simply look at creation and you may know that there is a God.

[John Weaver] Now let me tell you something about general revelation. General revelation may tell you that there is a God. It may tell you that that God is powerful and that God is righteous, but it does not tell you anything about God's mercy and God's grace, nor does it tell you the grounds upon which God will be merciful to sinners. Let me put it like this. Creation like is enough to condemn you. But it's not enough to convert you. So creation like renders all men inexcusable. Because you can look at creation and know that there is a God.

[John Weaver] Now, likewise, you have conscience. So if you look at Romans 2, beginning there in verse 12. Conscience is also known as general revelation. For as many as have sinned without the law, now not all men had the law given to them as Israel had. He says, for as many have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law, and as many have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles or the heathen, when the heathen which have not the law, that is, they did not get the revealed word like Israel did, for when the heathen who have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law, These, having not the law, that is the written law, are a law unto themselves, which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing, or else excusing, one another."

[John Weaver] Now, God is telling us here there is in all men what is known as semin-religionists, that is, all men having innate knowledge, yes, there is a God, and yes, there is a right and wrong. Now, once again, conscience is not enough to convert you, but it is enough to condemn you. You can go to the darkest continent of Africa. You can go to the village that has never heard the word of God, never seen a Bible, and you let one of those men go up and murder his neighbor.

[John Weaver] You know what the other villagers will do? They'll probably take him and stake him out on an ant bed somewhere and pour syrup on him and let the ants eat him. Why? They know that murder is wrong.

[John Weaver] Now, does that mean that they're Christians? No, not by any stretch of the imagination. So all he's saying is this conscience, it doesn't matter if you're in an uncivilized world or a civilized world like we are, quote unquote. Your conscience has enough knowledge to condemn you, but certainly not enough knowledge to convert you. So this is known as general creation. Now, Let me just say this about the conscience.

[John Weaver] Everyone has heard this old adage. Let your conscience be your guide. You better not. You better not. A conscience, according to the Bible, is not only ignorant, it can be wrongly taught. It can be defiled. It can be seared. You never ever allow your conscience to be your guide. You always must allow the Word of God to be your guide. The Word of God alone is our standard for faith and practice. OK, now there are two aspects of special revelation been talking about general revelation, and that would be creation and conscience. But now there are two aspects of special revelation. One of those aspects is the written word of God, which we read about in Second Timothy three and verse 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. But then there is the aspect of the living word of God. If you look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of John, chapter one, John, chapter one, and notice beginning there with verse one.

[John Weaver] And you're going to see how Jesus Christ is referred to as the word. Notice John 1 verse 1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Note, the same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. Now, Jesus Christ is referred to as the Word of God. If you will skip down to verse 14, the Bible says this, And the Word, that is Jesus Christ, was made flesh, and dwelt among us, And we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." So, the Bible then is the written word, and Jesus Christ is the living word.

[John Weaver] So, if you want to keep an alliteration, you can say this. You can say general revelation deals with creation and conscience. The special revelation deals with commandments and Christ. In other words, you have the general and you have the special. Since you understand that the Bible is the written word and Jesus Christ is the living word, please understand this. It is impossible for you to have one attitude toward the Bible and a different attitude toward Christ.

[John Weaver] Or you could reverse it. It's impossible for you to have one attitude toward Christ and a different attitude toward the Bible. I've heard people during my lifetime say something similar to this. Well, I believe Christ, but I don't believe all the Bible. Or I believe the Bible, but I don't believe in Christ. That's impossible. It's impossible. Why? Because they are inseparable. They are so inseparable that Jesus Christ said to the unbelieving Jews in John 5 in verse 46. Listen carefully.

[John Weaver] He said, for had you believed Moses, you would have believed in me for he wrote of me. Note, if you had believed Moses. If you believe the written word, you would have believed the living word and John in verse 39, he told them. Search the scriptures. For in them you think you have eternal life. There they which testify of me.

[John Weaver] Now those unbelieving Jews were rejecting Christ. He said search the scriptures. There they which testify of me. So you have the written word and you have the living word. Do you remember in Luke chapter 24 in verse 27 when Christ was walking with those men on the Emmaus road? The Bible says this and beginning at Moses and all the prophets He expounded unto them all the scriptures concerning Himself." Wow! Everything in the Bible speaks about Christ. The written word speaks of Christ, the Living Word. The written Word bears record that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the Only Begotten of the Father.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to put this together for you. I'm just trying to show you how the written Word is God's inspired Word, how Jesus Christ is the Living Word. You cannot have one attitude toward the Bible and a different one toward Christ, or one attitude toward Christ and a different one toward the Bible. Christ Himself puts them both together in John 12 and verse 48. Now, since you're in John, turn there. I can quote this passage, but I want you to see it. I want you to see how specific Jesus Christ is in John 12 and verse 48. Look what He says. John 12, verse 48. Our Lord says, He that rejected Me, that is the living Word, and receiveth not my words, that is the written word, hath one that judgeth him, the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." Isn't that amazing? Christ says, he that rejected me, the living word, and receiveth not my words, the written word, hath one that judgeth him in the last day, even the word which I have spoken.

[John Weaver] So men are going to be judged from the written word, Because the written word testifies of Christ, the living word, and when the living word testifies against them, it's the same thing as the written word testifying against them. Because the written word gives testimony to Christ, the living word.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to 2 Timothy chapter 3, because I want you to understand that all Scripture is indeed given by inspiration of God. I'm going to explain this before I show you the purpose of Scripture. But notice verse 16, he says, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Now, I want to concentrate just momentarily on the phrase, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. When the Bible says all Scripture, it refers then to every word, to every chapter, to every book. It refers to Scripture as a whole. The whole, complete, and total writing of Scripture is given by inspiration. There is no part of Scripture that is not inspired. Obviously, when the Apostle Paul spoke these words in 2 Timothy 3, verse 16, he had reference mainly to the Old Testament, because the New Testament had not been completed at that time. Of course, this would also apply to those New Testament writings that were extant at that time or in existence at that time.

[John Weaver] Paul probably had written several other books prior to 2 Timothy. In fact, many say that 1 Thessalonians was the first book that he wrote. I'm just simply saying some of the other apostles may have written some things too. You would have to apply this equally to that which had been written by the inspired apostles, but primarily he was speaking of the Old Testament. All I want you to understand is this, that the Old Testament is just as inspired as the New Testament, and there is no ground for despising or disparaging the Old Testament. The Old Testament is equally the Word of God as the New Testament. Most of us have heard the old adage, the new is in the old concealed. And the old is in the new revealed. And that is true, the New Testament is concealed in the old and the Old Testament is revealed in the new. Let me just tell you very dogmatically and very emphatically, you cannot understand either the Old Testament or the New Testament without the other. They go together.

[John Weaver] They complement each other. They complete each other. We do not have two Bibles. We have one Bible. Albert Barnes, when he was commenting on 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16, he says this properly refers to the Old Testament. And certainly it does apply to the Old Testament. But Paul said all scripture is inspired of God. That certainly includes all of the Scripture, Old and New Testament alike. Now, when Paul said all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, let me just take a moment and explain inspiration.

[John Weaver] In fact, you should be asking yourselves. What is inspiration? If God says all Scripture is inspired of God, what is Inspiration. Let me give you a definition of inspiration. Listen carefully, because it's very important. Here it is. Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth. It is God speaking through men, so much so, that the words that they spoke and wrote were and are indeed the very words of God Himself." Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth. So much so that the words that they wrote and spoke were and are indeed the very words of God Himself. Inspiration means this, folks, It means these are God's word just as if God spoke them with his own mouth. Now, let me tell you why that's important.

[John Weaver] Because I've heard people say through the years when I'd be teaching something or making some comment from Scripture, I've heard some people say, well, for the weaver, if I heard God say that, I'd believe it. Let me tell you something, folks. If it comes out of this Bible, God said it. That's what inspiration is all about. Inspiration is the fact that these are God's words. God spoke these words, God said these words. In fact, the interesting thing is the word inspired in the Greek is the word theopneutos, and it literally means God breathed or God exhaled. God exhaled or spoke the words through his mouth. That's what inspiration is all about. Now you understand why Paul said all scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable. So if God breathed out his words, if these were and are indeed the very words of God himself, they have to be profitable. Interestingly enough, the word profitable is aphelimos in the Greek, and it's translated profitable not only here, but in 1 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 8, and in Titus 3 and verse 8 as well.

[John Weaver] It means that it's for our benefit. Listen to again what Barnes said. Barnes said, commenting on profitable, it is useful. It is adapted to give instruction to administer reproof. If all scripture is thus valuable, then we are to esteem no part of the Old Testament as worthless. There is no portion of it, even now, which may not be fitted in certain circumstances to furnish us valuable lessons, and consequently, no part of it which could be spared from the sacred canon. There is no part of the human body which is not useful in its place, and no part of it which can be spared without sensible loss." And that's a fact.

[John Weaver] Brother, can you spare an arm? Can you spare a leg? Can you spare a kidney? You see what I'm saying? Every part of your body you need. And if you lose a part of it, there is a sensible loss. Likewise, he is saying. Every part of the Bible is inspired and it is useful now. Let's get to the crux of the matter and let's answer the question.

[John Weaver] What is the purpose of Scripture? Why did God? Give us the scriptures. What is the purpose? Well, let's begin by looking in verse 15 of Second Timothy chapter 3. Paul writes Timothy and he says that from a child.

[John Weaver] Now it's known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make the wise and the salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. So the very first reason we have the scriptures, the very first purpose is because they have the wisdom of salvation. Please look what Paul said in verse 15. And from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which were able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ. It's important for you to note that salvation, real, genuine, true salvation is revealed only in the Bible. And Paul told Timothy, from a child you've known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation. Do you realize that you may study all of the religious books of the world, you may memorize them, you may quote them, you may enjoy them, you may relish them, but only the Bible, only God's Word teaches us God's salvation. Salvation is not to be found in any other book than the Word of God. It is the Bible that is particularly suited to convey salvation, God's salvation.

[John Weaver] You can take the book from the beginning, the book of Genesis, to the end, the book of Revelation, and all in between speaks of salvation by grace through faith through Jesus Christ alone. It's the Bible that tells us about our sin and our rebellion. It's the Bible that teaches us about God's grace and God's mercy in sending His only begotten Son as our substitute and as our sacrifice.

[John Weaver] And I want you to think about this. In all the other religions, salvation is something that you accomplish. Salvation is something that you work to receive. Only in the Bible is salvation something that God has done through Jesus Christ. Only in the Bible do you have an accomplished and a finished salvation. You remember what Jesus Christ said in John 19, verse 30? He said, It is finished. And when He said it is finished, He declared and accomplished salvation. It is something that God has done through Jesus Christ. It was Christ who propitiated the wrath of God. It was Christ who magnified God's law and made it honorable. It was Christ who satisfied the holiness of God. It was Christ who sacrificed Himself for our sins. It is finished. All the other religions spell theirs with two letters, D-O. Only in the Bible do Christians spell ours, D-O-N-E, done. It is finished through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ actually accomplished and worked out God's salvation. That's why the Bible says in 1 John 4 and verse 10, here in His love, not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins.

[John Weaver] Do you realize it is Christ alone who reveals the Father? In John 1, verse 18, our Lord said, No man has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, He has revealed Him. In Matthew 11, verse 27, our Lord said it like this, All things are delivered unto Me of My Father. And no man knoweth the Son but the Father, Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and He to whomsoever He revealeth." Isn't that amazing? Salvation is in Jesus Christ alone. Peter therefore rightly and correctly preached in Acts 4 verse 12,"...neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." Isn't that interesting?

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you this. I want you to hold Second Timothy. We're coming right back there. But look in your Bibles to the book of John, chapter 20. And let me ask you a question. Why in the world do we have the life, the conduct, the miracles and the obedience of Jesus Christ recorded in the Bible? Why did John even write the book of John? Well, look in John 20 verse 30. He says this. John 20 verse 30 and many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. So Christ performed many miracles that were not recorded. But look at verse 31. But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through His name.

[John Weaver] So why then did God give us The Scriptures, the answer is, first of all, to make us wise unto salvation. Why did he record all these things about Christ in the Bible, especially the book of John, that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God?

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note something in Second Timothy, Chapter 3 and verse 15 back again. Look what Paul told Timothy. Watch carefully. And that from a child. Thou hast known the Holy Scripture. And that from a child, thou hast known the Holy Scriptures. You know, it's a sad state of affairs in this age of enlightenment, in our civilized society, in our educated and enlightened academics and academia.

[John Weaver] We are so totally ignorant of the Word of God. Timothy knew the Scriptures from a child. Most adults do not know the Scriptures. Most professing Christian adults have never even read the Bible all the way through one time. Yet Timothy Newly scriptures from a child. Amazing. You want to know. Why there are so many different religions and why there are so many cults and isms and systems.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you why. Because of ignorance of the Word of God. In fact, Paul the Apostle said it like this in Romans 10 in verse 3, listen carefully, for they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. So when you're ignorant of God's righteousness, when you're ignorant of God's salvation, then you go about to establish your own. And I'm going to tell you, that is why most professing Christians really get angry and upset and downright mad when they hear the Word of God preached in its purity and its clarity, because the only salvation that most people have is that of their own making and not of God. And they're threatened. When they find out that their salvation will not work.

[John Weaver] He said, from a child that has known the Holy Scriptures, which were able to make thee wise unto salvation." Let me just spell it out like this. If you wish to die in your sins, ignore the Word of God. If you wish to discover God's salvation, study the Word of God. Because it's the Word of God that will make us wise unto salvation. That is the purpose of Scripture.

[John Weaver] Secondly, I want you to look at verse 16. Verse 16 says all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. So now we have another purpose, and that is the knowledge of maturation. The knowledge of maturing. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. Now you have to ask profitable for what? It is profitable for maturing us in the faith once we have been saved by grace through faith.

[John Weaver] Let me tell you something, people. Listen to me. You want to know one of the real problems in the average Bible-believing church. I'm not talking about the liberals now. Here's a real problem. The average Bible believing church, because most preachers and unhappily, a lot of Christians often speak and preach as if there was nothing else to Christianity other than salvation. I've had so many Christians over the years tell me how dissatisfied they were with their own church because they said preacher, Our pastor preaches salvation Sunday after Sunday after Sunday and said, I've been saved for 20 years. And I'd like to know something more than just being saved. Well. Do you realize the word of God was given not just for wisdom, salvation, but also for the knowledge of maturation, in other words, once you've been saved, God designs and God desires that you be a mature Christian. You know what Paul told those Ephesian elders, those Ephesian preachers in Acts chapter 20 and verse 32. Listen to what he said. Paul was talking to preachers now.

[John Weaver] He says, And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. He said, I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace which is able to build you up. In other words, if you want to be edified, if you want to be strengthened, if you want to be built up in the faith, strengthened in the faith, you must have the Word of God. It's the Word of God that's going to edify you.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles, hold a second. Timothy, but turn right over, if you would, to 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 3. 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 3. I want you to note this statement. In fact, I'll read this passage a little bit later on. But notice 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 3. After Peter gives a salutation in verses 1 and 2, he makes this statement.

[John Weaver] according as His divine power hath given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue." Now, I wanted you to pay close attention to that. God, according to His divine power, hath given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Him. Where do we get the knowledge of God? In the Bible. What does the Bible give us? All things that pertain unto life and godliness. Isn't that interesting? We have what we need in the Word of God.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians. Go back, if you would, to Colossians chapter 3 and look at verse 28. Paul is going to tell you three things that you need to be a mature Christian. Three things. Notice Colossians 3 and verse 28. Colossians 3. Well, that must be the wrong verse, Colossians 3. Let me see the verse. Well. Where the Apostle Paul says whom we preach. Chapter 1, thank you. Whom we preach. Chapter 1. I knew something was wrong there. Notice if you would. Whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man perfect or mature in Christ Jesus. Now, notice he says whom we preach. That's one. Warning every man, that's two, and teaching every man. So the Apostle Paul says there's three things that you need. You need preaching, you need admonition, and you need teaching to bring us to maturity in the faith. Now, since we know the Word of God has been given to build us up, let's go back to 2 Timothy chapter 3 and look, if you would, specifically of how the Word of God is designed to build us up.

[John Weaver] Notice if you would. Second, three verse 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine. Let's stop right there. First, the purpose of the word of God for maturation is to teach us doctrine. Doctrine.

[John Weaver] Now, the Greek word for doctrine is just simply didostolia, which means doctrine, teaching, or instruction, or precept. So, the Word of God is designed to give us instruction. It was John Calvin who said this, here he enters into a detailed statement of the various and manifold advantages derived from the Scriptures, and first of all he mentions instruction or doctrine, which ranks above all the rest For it will be of no purpose that you exhort or reprove if you've not been previously instructed. But because instruction taken by itself is often of little avail, he adds reprove and correction.

[John Weaver] In other words, he says you need all of it, and that's the fact which we shall see. But he says the purpose of Scripture is to give us doctrine or to give us instruction. When you consider doctrine, You have to consider the grand and glorious doctrines of God, His being, His perfections, His sovereignty, the creation and fall of man, the person and office of Christ, redemption by Christ, justification by faith, pardon by His blood, reconciliation, atonement by His sacrifice, eternal life for Him. All of these are doctrines.

[John Weaver] I get so frustrated today when I hear preachers and Christians say, well, I just don't like all that heavy doctrine stuff. I got news for you folks. You can't teach without teaching doctrine. You're either teaching the doctrine of God or the doctrine of man. Period. Because all instruction is doctrine. And He gave the Word of God that we may know true and right and accurate doctrine. Everything we need to know about God Everything we need to know about man and the fall of man. Everything we need to know about salvation. Everything we need to know about justification by faith. Everything we need to know about regeneration and conversion and eternity are all revealed to us in the Word of God. And if we would study it, we would have right doctrine.

[John Weaver] We would be rightly instructed in the precepts of Scripture. But now the Lord did not give us the scripture just for doctrine alone. Doctrine is first and foremost. It is needed and absolutely necessary. But look in verse 16. He says all scriptures given by inspiration of God is profitable doctrine. And then he says for reproof. Ah. How many of us like to be reproved? You see, the Greek word for reproof is elekon, and it literally refers to reproof or conviction. And when we talk about conviction, we talk about being either convicted of the truth or sometimes being convicted of sin. The Word of God will convince us either of truth, that we may believe it without any hesitation, or it will convict us of sin that we may be humbled for it without any extenuation. Usually the word reproof or convict is used to convict us of the error of our ways. When we're sinning, when we're obstinate, when we're abdurate, when we're apathetic, the Word of God will convict us.

[John Weaver] I don't know if you've come to this realization yet, and it may surprise some of you, may even shock a few of you to learn that none of us are yet perfect. And we have to be reproved. We have to be got known to. We have to be convicted. And when you and I do things carelessly and when we sin through ignorance or when we sin with deliberation, we need to be reproved. We need to be reviewed. We need to be convicted. We need to be brought into account to the Word of God. Dwight L.

[John Weaver] Moody, as I told you in times past, had a little motto written in the fly leaf of his Bible. And what he had written was very true and very accurate. He wrote. Either this book will keep you from sin. Or sin will keep you from this book. I don't know if you've ever noticed or not. But when Christians begin sinning. Begin disobeying. One of the first things they do.

[John Weaver] Is to slow down in their attendance to preach the word, and sometimes they just miss it all together. You know why? Because the Word of God will convict you. And when people determine they're going to have their sin rather than the Word of God. They're going to stay away from where they're made uncomfortable. It's just that simple. You cannot have the Word of God and your sin. Now it's the Word of God. They will convict us. So he said it's given to us for doctrine. It's given to us for reproof. But notice if you would, in verse 16, he says, here's the third reason it's given, and that is for correction. Do you realize if we're going to be mature in the faith, we don't only need doctrine, we don't only need reproof, we also need correction. Now, the word correction here is a very interesting word in the Greek. It's the word anaphora, and it literally means, listen carefully, it means to make straight. to make erect, to rear up again, to build anew.

[John Weaver] It is used in the correction of a deformed person, such as in Luke chapter 13 and verse 13, when our Lord healed this woman with her infirmity. And the Bible says, and immediately she was made straight and glorified God. So here's a woman that was crippled over. And when he healed her, he made her straight. The same word is used in Hebrews 12 and verse 13, where the Bible said it makes straight paths for your feet. Let that which is lame be turned out of the way, but rather let it be healed. So when he talks about correction now, listen carefully, he's talking about making something straight. Starting over, making it anew.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to look in your Bible, whole 2nd Timothy, but turn back to the book of Galatians chapter 6. Galatians 6. And verse one. Galatians 6 verse one. I love this passage and you'll see why in just a moment. Galatians 6 verse one. God says, Brethren. If a man be overtaken in a fault. You who are spiritual restore such in one in the spirit of meekness Considering myself, lest I also be tempted.

[John Weaver] So let's let's work this out. Let's work this out. Let's say Dr. Bowen falls into a grievous sin. What are we to do as Christian brethren? We're to seek to restore him. OK. But do we seek to restore him by saying, oh, look what he did? Boy, I'd never do that. No, no, what does God say? You seek to restore him considering yourself. Lest you be tipped also, in other words, it's only by the grace of God that you didn't do what he did. You see what I'm saying now? Let's go further. He says, Brethren, if a man be overtaken and fall, you are spiritual. Restore such a one. Now the word restore.

[John Weaver] Literally means to render fit, to render sound, to render complete. It has the idea of mending or setting straight that which has been broken. So when things are wrong, when they are broken, when they are out of joint in our lives, they may be corrected by the Word of God. When I was a boy, Goodman's Welding Shop, which is still in existence, by the way. But Goodman's Welding Shop had a big sign painted on it. And it said this. We mend everything but a broken heart.

[John Weaver] But I'm here to tell you. The Word of God can even mend the broken heart. It can mend the broken heart and everything else.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to stop and think about this. Look back in your Bibles to 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. I want you to think about now in light of Galatians 6 and verse 1. But look in 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16 again. Paul said, All scripture is given by inspiration of God. And it's profitable for doctrine. That is, it's going to instruct us. For reproof, it's going to rebuke us. It's going to convict us.

[John Weaver] Let me use this so you'll understand it. It's going to slap us down. OK. Then the next thing is for correction. I want you to notice something now. The same word that slaps us down. Is the same word that picks us up and sets our broken bones and puts us on the right path. So reproof and correction go together. God never just slaps us down. He might slap us down.

[John Weaver] But he does so if we're his to pick us up, straighten us out. Put us on the path. Everyone knows the story about the shepherd and the sheep. When that shepherd has a sheep, it constantly and continually goes astray. You know what the shepherd does? He'll catch that sheep. He'll take that staff and he'll break the sheep's leg. And then he sets the broken leg. And guess what? Now the sheep has to stay with the shepherd. So the same word that breaks us is the same word that lifts us up and straightens us out and keeps us right with the shepherd.

[John Weaver] Notice verse 16 again, he says, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for improved, for correction. Now he says for instruction in righteousness. So the purpose of the word of God is not only to give us the wisdom of salvation, but the knowledge of maturation. And if we're going to the tour, we have to have doctrine. We have to have reproof. We have to have correction. And now he says instruction in righteousness.

[John Weaver] By the way, the interesting thing here is this. The word for instruction is the Greek word, paideia, which is child training. He gives us child training in instruction. Paideia, or child training, refers to the whole training and the whole education of children. It refers to the cultivation of the mind, the cultivation of morals, the cultivation of everything in their life. It teaches them to obey child training not only includes reproof. But it also includes chastisement if you would look.

[John Weaver] In the book of Hebrews. Chapter 12 and verse 11. Hebrews 12 and verse 11. Look what the Bible says. Proverbs 12 verse 11. Could preach on this passage for an hour or two, but. He's talking about chastening and every time you see the word chastise or chase or chase it is the Greek word idea, which was child training. He says in verse 11 of Hebrews 12. Now, no chastening or no child training for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous.

[John Weaver] Nevertheless, afterward, it yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness under them that are exercised thereby. So in Hebrews 12 and verse 11, the Bible says no chastening for the present seems to be joyous. I never jumped up and down and thank God when I was a boy that I got the stuffing beat out of me by my father. Did you? However, the truth of the matter is, I thank God several times since then that he did whip me, that he did chastise me. And I've concluded, Joe, that I never got half of what I deserved.

[John Weaver] He probably should have whipped me a whole lot more than he did. But I'm thankful that he did now, but I wasn't happy when he did it then. But the Bible tells us in verse 11 that when God whips us, when God chastens us, what is the result? It yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who were exercised thereby. Let me spell it out to you. God's chastening always works. His never fails.

[John Weaver] You know, I've heard parents look at their children when they're acting up sometime and just kind of say, well, kiddo, you're cruising for a bruising. Or if you keep it up, you're going to get it. You know, God could say the same thing to us when we're acting unbiblically, unscripturally, and ungodly. Well, child, you're cruising for a bruising. You keep it up. I'm going to whip you. But God says, when I get through whipping you, number one, you'll know you've been whipped. And number two, it will work.

[John Weaver] It will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto those who exercise thereby. Now let me tell you, what is the joy of a parent's heart? I've been reading through the book of Proverbs again, and everywhere you turn in the book of Proverbs, a wise son maketh a glad father. And a wise son is a joy to his mother. All kinds of things like that. But you know what is a joy for a parent?

[John Weaver] It's when they brought up that child and sometimes they had to whip him, chasten him, to make him do right and to teach him what's right. When the child gets mature, he no longer has to be whipped or made to do what's right. He now does what's right because he not only understands But he loves to do what is right. And he wants to be an honor to his parents.

[John Weaver] Maturity in the faith is the same way. We know that we're mature when God doesn't have to make us. He doesn't have to threaten us. We want to do what's right. We want to please Him. We want to honor Him. We want to express our love and thanksgiving for Him. We no longer need the rod to motivate us. No, no. We're mature. And that's why the Word of God is given.

[John Weaver] That we might have child training in righteousness. That we might reach the stage where we just do what's right. Because it's right to do what's right. One last thing, I want you to look in verse 17. Here's the third purpose, and that is the consummate qualification. God gave us his scripture, not just for the purpose of making us wise in salvation and not just for the purpose of giving us the knowledge of maturation, but also that we may have a consummate qualification But if we have gone through verses 15 and 16 and had them applied to our lives, then we come to verse 17, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work. Now, why should we Be perfect in the word perfect refers to maturity. Why should we be perfect? Why should we be thoroughly furnished and every good work?

[John Weaver] Now, let me remind you, I told you earlier that I was going to repeat. Second, Peter one in verse three, listen carefully, according as his divine power had given to us all things that pertain to the life and godliness. Through the knowledge of him, that had called us to glory and virtue. Why should we be consummately qualified as Christians and as Christian workers? Because God has given us everything we need to make us mature and complete and to qualify us to worship Him and to honor Him and to serve Him. We don't need anything else. The Greek word for perfect is the word artios, and it has reference to that which is well-fitted, that which is complete, that which is perfect. And it also has reference to that which has been given a special aptitude for. In other words, God, in maturing us, gives us a special aptitude to worship Him and honor Him and love Him and serve Him. Boy! The two words, thoroughly furnished, are from the Greek word, exartizo, and once again it means to be completely furnished, or totally furnished, missing nothing.

[John Weaver] Let me give you three quotes before I really explain this. The first one is from Albert Barnes. He says this, the object is not merely to convince and to convert him, it is to furnish all the instruction needful for his entire perfection. The idea here is not that anyone is absolutely perfect, but that the Scriptures have laid down the way which leads to perfection, and if anyone were perfect, he would find in the Scriptures all the instructions he needed for those circumstances.

[John Weaver] There is no deficiency in the Bible for man in any of the situations in which he may be placed in life. And the whole tendency of the book is to make him who will put himself fairly under its instruction absolutely perfect. In other words, God says if you want to be more holy, and more holy, and more holy, and you want to be more mature, and more mature, and more perfect, and more perfect, then you must put yourself under the Scripture. Calvin says this. Perfect here means a blameless person, one in whom there is nothing defective, for he asserts absolutely the Scripture is sufficient for perfection. Accordingly, he who is not satisfied with Scripture, listen carefully, he who is not satisfied with Scripture desires to be wiser than is either proper or desirable. Scriptures are sufficient.

[John Weaver] They are our rule for faith and practice. And if you're not satisfied with Scripture, Calvin says, hey, You desire. Is neither right, proper. Or desirable. Then Matthew Poole said it like this, and I love this. Listen carefully, Poole says thoroughly furnishing all good works and be prepared to every work which is good and acceptable and well pleasing unto God, whether it be a work of piety or justice or charity. Now listen. The scripture as to all is so full of direction that the Christians need not go down to the Philistines to wet their tools, nor be beholden to unwritten traditions or to the writings of pagan philosophers for directions what to do, how to worship God or manage any part of their conversation or conduct,

[John Weaver] either as to their general calling or as to their particular relations. Now, let me spell it out for you. what Barnes, Calvin, and Poole said. Here's what they said in a nutshell. Here's what the scripture teaches. We do not need man-made philosophies. We do not need humanistic ideas. We do not need pagan opinions. We do not need rabbinical fables. We don't need Popish legends, nor politically correct tripe. What we need, and all we need, is the Word of God. The Word of God is sufficient in and of itself. Our problem is this. We just need to learn to read it, to study it, to love it, and to apply it.

[John Weaver] You've heard me say this and I'm convinced it's the absolute truth. I can work out any problem. Between any couple. Or in any family. Or even in this country. As long as people will be willing to submit to the Word of God. Why? Because the Word of God has the answers to every problem. Every problem. Our problem is not with the Word of God. Our problem is with the people who will not submit to the Word of God. Our problem is with individuals who think they're smarter than God.

[John Weaver] By way of application, I want you to learn the purpose of Scripture is exceedingly simple. It is to make us wise in the salvation, to be the means of our faith, then to mature us in that faith, than to make us so mature and so complete that we have need of nothing in the worship or in the service of God. All I ever need to know about salvation, about preaching, about teaching, about starting a church, about pastoring a church, about going to church, how to act in church, the role of church leaders, the role of church members, everything I need to know I find in the Word of God. I don't need additional manuals. The Word of God is sufficient. There is nothing. That God has left out that needs to be supplied by man. The second application of this, whether we need convicting, converting or chastening. The Word of God has all the answers. It teaches us.

[John Weaver] It rebukes us, it reproves us, it corrects us, it edifies us. The word of God is to be our teacher, our guide, our conscience, our director. And we need to learn to thank God daily for his word. You know, it's really been impressed upon me of late. But if you ever really just thank God, not just for salvation, but think of everything that's included. When's the last time you just thanked Him for the Scripture? For the ministry? For preaching? For teaching? You follow me? Have we ever really understood why God gave us His Word? If you and I really, genuinely desire to be mature, obedient children of God, then we must not and we cannot neglect the Word of God.

[John Weaver] Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14 and verse 20, Brethren, be not children in understanding, albeit in malice be ye children, But in understanding, be men. In understanding, be men. And if we are mature in the faith, we will be that way because God gave us His Word, not just for salvation, but for maturation, and included in that maturation is instruction or doctrine, reproof, correction, and child training in righteousness, that we may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work for His honor and His glory. Let's pray. Father, we do thank You today specifically for the holy Word of God. We thank You, Father, that it's the Scriptures that make us wise unto salvation. It's the Scriptures that mature us in the faith. It's the Scriptures, Lord, that make us complete and mature in Your worship and in Your service. We thank You for the ministry. We thank You for those men who teach the pure, clear, unadulterated Word of God. And we ask You, Heavenly Father, to build us up in the most holy faith and to make us godly and holy.

[John Weaver] In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

The Purpose of Scripture

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	91208165212
Subject	Church Government
Course	Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry
Genre	Sermon
Date	2008-07-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 039: Church Order and Worship - Volume 1 — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	81

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Reading of 2 Timothy 3:15-17

Weaver opens with the reading of 2 Timothy 3:15-17 and poses the question: What is the purpose of Scripture?

Alright, well let's open our Bibles today, if you would please, to 2 Timothy chapter 3. 2 Timothy chapter 3. And I want us to begin reading at verse 15 and read through verse 17. 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 15 through 17. The message today is entitled, "The Purpose of Scripture." The Purpose of Scripture. 2 Timothy 3, verse 15, Paul writes Timothy, and he says

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 3:15-17

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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Have you ever wondered why we have the Word of God? Have you ever thought about what exactly is the purpose of Scripture? Why did God reveal His Word to us?

General Revelation: Creation and Conscience

General revelation through creation and conscience reveals God's existence and power, rendering all men without excuse, but it is insufficient for salvation.

Now, there are several very general answers to that question. One of those answers could be found in Deuteronomy 29:29. I'll quote it for you. You don't have to turn there. Listen carefully to what God says, Deuteronomy 29:29, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Now, very obviously, generally speaking, one of the reasons God revealed His Word for us is that we may know His will and that we may do that will. So you can give a number of general answers to that question. But in order to comprehend and understand the greatness and the importance of Scripture, you must consider the fact that the Word of God is classified as special revelation. Now, special revelation differs from general revelation.

You can pick up any theological book you want to pick up, and it will talk about general revelation and special revelation. When you talk about general revelation, you're normally talking about creation and conscience. In other words, there are certain things that you can know about God just from creation and just from conscience. For instance, if you will turn in your Bibles—hold 2 Timothy—but turn to Psalm 19, and begin reading there verse 1, and from Psalm 19 we'll go to Romans chapter 1. But look at Psalm 19, and let's begin reading there verse 1 and show you general creation, or general revelation, which is revealed in creation. Notice Psalm 19 verse 1:

Scripture Reading — Psalm 19:1-6

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork." "Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard."

So it doesn't matter if you're in South America, it doesn't matter if you're in Africa, it doesn't matter if you're in Asia, it doesn't matter where you are. Here is God's creation speaking, saying, "Yes, there is a God."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 19:1-6

"Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."

"In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." So here the Bible is talking about creation being a general revelation. It doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter where you are. You can look at the creation and deduce, "Yes, there must be a Creator. There must be a God who is all-powerful to create the universe or to create the world."

Now, if you look at Romans chapter 1 and notice verse 18 through 20, Romans chapter 1, beginning there with verse 18. Notice what the Scripture says again concerning creation. Romans 1, verse 18:

Scripture Reading — Romans 1:18-20

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"

now notice this,

Scripture Reading — Romans 1:18-20

"because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead."

Now watch, "so that they are without excuse." Notice what God says. God says that creation light is enough to render all men without excuse. Just simply look at creation and you may know that there is a God. Now let me tell you something about general revelation. General revelation may tell you that there is a God. It may tell you that that God is powerful and that God is righteous, but it does not tell you anything about God's mercy and God's grace, nor does it tell you the grounds upon which God will be merciful to sinners. Let me put it like this: creation light is enough to condemn you, but it's not enough to convert you. So creation light renders all men inexcusable, because you can look at creation and know that there is a God.

Now, likewise, you have conscience. So if you look at Romans 2, beginning there in verse 12. Conscience is also known as general revelation.

Scripture Reading — Romans 2:12-15

"For as many as have sinned without the law"

—now not all men had the law given to them as Israel had—he says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 2:12-15

"for as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles,"

or the heathen,

Scripture Reading — Romans 2:12-15

"when the heathen which have not the law,"

that is, they did not get the revealed word like Israel did,

Scripture Reading — Romans 2:12-15

"for when the heathen who have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law,"

that is the written law,

Scripture Reading — Romans 2:12-15

"are a law unto themselves: which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another."

Now, God is telling us here there is in all men what is known as semen religionis, that is, all men having innate knowledge, "Yes, there is a God," and "Yes, there is a right and wrong." Now, once again, conscience is not enough to convert you, but it is enough to condemn you. You can go to the darkest continent of Africa. You can go to the village that has never heard the Word of God, never seen a Bible, and you let one of those men go up and murder his neighbor. You know what the other villagers will do? They'll probably take him and stake him out on an ant bed somewhere and pour syrup on him and let the ants eat him. Why? They know that murder is wrong.

Now, does that mean that they're Christians? No, not by any stretch of the imagination. So all he's saying is this: conscience, it doesn't matter if you're in an uncivilized world or a civilized world like we are, quote unquote. Your conscience has enough knowledge to condemn you, but certainly not enough knowledge to convert you. So this is known as general revelation. Now, let me just say this about the conscience.

Special Revelation: The Written Word and the Living Word

Special revelation consists of the written Word (the Bible) and the living Word (Jesus Christ), which are inseparable; one's attitude toward one reflects one's attitude toward the other.

Everyone has heard this old adage: "Let your conscience be your guide." You better not. You better not. A conscience, according to the Bible, is not only ignorant, it can be wrongly taught. It can be defiled. It can be seared. You never ever allow your conscience to be your guide. You always must allow the Word of God to be your guide. The Word of God alone is our standard for faith and practice. OK, now there are two aspects of special revelation. We've been talking about general revelation, and that would be creation and conscience. But now there are two aspects of special revelation. One of those aspects is the written Word of God, which we read about in 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." But then there is the aspect of the living Word of God. If you look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of John, chapter 1, John, chapter 1, and notice beginning there with verse 1.

And you're going to see how Jesus Christ is referred to as the Word. Notice John 1 verse 1:

Scripture Reading — John 1:1-3, 14

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Now, Jesus Christ is referred to as the Word of God. If you will skip down to verse 14, the Bible says this: "And the Word," that is Jesus Christ, "was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." So, the Bible then is the written Word, and Jesus Christ is the living Word.

So, if you want to keep an alliteration, you can say this: you can say general revelation deals with creation and conscience. The special revelation deals with commandments and Christ. In other words, you have the general and you have the special. Since you understand that the Bible is the written Word and Jesus Christ is the living Word, please understand this: it is impossible for you to have one attitude toward the Bible and a different attitude toward Christ. Or you could reverse it. It's impossible for you to have one attitude toward Christ and a different attitude toward the Bible. I've heard people during my lifetime say something similar to this: "Well, I believe Christ, but I don't believe all the Bible." Or "I believe the Bible, but I don't believe in Christ." That's impossible. It's impossible. Why? Because they are inseparable. They are so inseparable that Jesus Christ said to the unbelieving Jews in John 5 and verse 46, listen carefully.

He said, "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me." Note, "If you had believed Moses." If you believe the written Word, you would have believed the living Word. And John in verse 39, he told them,

Scripture Reading — John 5:39

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."

Now those unbelieving Jews were rejecting Christ. He said,

Scripture Reading — John 5:39

"Search the scriptures; for they are they which testify of me."

So you have the written Word and you have the living Word. Do you remember in Luke chapter 24 in verse 27 when Christ was walking with those men on the Emmaus road? The Bible says this: "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Wow! Everything in the Bible speaks about Christ. The written Word speaks of Christ, the Living Word. The written Word bears record that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the Only Begotten of the Father.

Now, I want to put this together for you. I'm just trying to show you how the written Word is God's inspired Word, how Jesus Christ is the Living Word. You cannot have one attitude toward the Bible and a different one toward Christ, or one attitude toward Christ and a different one toward the Bible. Christ Himself puts them both together in John 12 and verse 48. Now, since you're in John, turn there. I can quote this passage, but I want you to see it. I want you to see how specific Jesus Christ is in John 12 and verse 48. Look what He says. John 12, verse 48. Our Lord says, "He that rejecteth me," that is the living Word, "and receiveth not my words," that is the written Word, "hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." Isn't that amazing? Christ says, "He that rejecteth me," the living Word, "and receiveth not my words," the written Word, "hath one that judgeth him in the last day, even the word which I have spoken."

So men are going to be judged from the written Word, because the written Word testifies of Christ, the living Word, and when the living Word testifies against them, it's the same thing as the written Word testifying against them. Because the written Word gives testimony to Christ, the living Word. Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to 2 Timothy chapter 3, because I want you to understand that all Scripture is indeed given by inspiration of God. I'm going to explain this before I show you the purpose of Scripture. But notice verse 16, he says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." Now, I want to concentrate just momentarily on the phrase, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." When the Bible says "all Scripture," it refers then to every word, to every chapter, to every book. It refers to Scripture as a whole. The whole, complete, and total writing of Scripture is given by inspiration. There is no part of Scripture that is not inspired. Obviously, when the Apostle Paul spoke these words in 2 Timothy 3, verse 16, he had reference mainly to the Old Testament, because the New Testament had not been completed at that time. Of course, this would also apply to those New Testament writings that were extant at that time or in existence at that time.

The Inspiration of Scripture

All Scripture is God-breathed (theopneustos), meaning every word is from God and therefore profitable for our benefit.

Paul probably had written several other books prior to 2 Timothy. In fact, many say that 1 Thessalonians was the first book that he wrote. I'm just simply saying some of the other apostles may have written some things too. You would have to apply this equally to that which had been written by the inspired apostles, but primarily he was speaking of the Old Testament. All I want you to understand is this, that the Old Testament is just as inspired as the New Testament, and there is no ground for despising or disparaging the Old Testament. The Old Testament is equally the Word of God as the New Testament. Most of us have heard the old adage, "The new is in the old concealed, and the old is in the new revealed." And that is true, the New Testament is concealed in the old and the Old Testament is revealed in the new. Let me just tell you very dogmatically and very emphatically, you cannot understand either the Old Testament or the New Testament without the other. They go together.

They complement each other. They complete each other. We do not have two Bibles. We have one Bible. Albert Barnes, when he was commenting on 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16, he says this properly refers to the Old Testament. And certainly it does apply to the Old Testament. But Paul said all Scripture is inspired of God. That certainly includes all of the Scripture, Old and New Testament alike. Now, when Paul said all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, let me just take a moment and explain inspiration.

In fact, you should be asking yourselves, what is inspiration? If God says all Scripture is inspired of God, what is inspiration? Let me give you a definition of inspiration. Listen carefully, because it's very important. Here it is: Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth. It is God speaking through men, so much so, that the words that they spoke and wrote were and are indeed the very words of God Himself. Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth. So much so that the words that they wrote and spoke were and are indeed the very words of God Himself. Inspiration means this, folks. It means these are God's words just as if God spoke them with His own mouth. Now, let me tell you why that's important.

Because I've heard people say through the years when I'd be teaching something or making some comment from Scripture, I've heard some people say, "Well, preacher, if I heard God say that, I'd believe it." Let me tell you something, folks. If it comes out of this Bible, God said it. That's what inspiration is all about. Inspiration is the fact that these are God's words. God spoke these words, God said these words. In fact, the interesting thing is the word "inspired" in the Greek is the word theopneustos, and it literally means "God-breathed" or "God-exhaled." God exhaled or spoke the words through His mouth. That's what inspiration is all about. Now you understand why Paul said all Scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable. So if God breathed out His words, if these were and are indeed the very words of God Himself, they have to be profitable. Interestingly enough, the word "profitable" is ophelimos in the Greek, and it's translated "profitable" not only here, but in 1 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 8, and in Titus 3 and verse 8 as well.

It means that it's for our benefit. Listen to again what Barnes said. Barnes said, commenting on profitable, "It is useful. It is adapted to give instruction, to administer reproof. If all Scripture is thus valuable, then we are to esteem no part of the Old Testament as worthless. There is no portion of it, even now, which may not be fitted in certain circumstances to furnish us valuable lessons, and consequently, no part of it which could be spared from the sacred canon. There is no part of the human body which is not useful in its place, and no part of it which can be spared without sensible loss." And that's a fact.

Brother, can you spare an arm? Can you spare a leg? Can you spare a kidney? You see what I'm saying? Every part of your body you need. And if you lose a part of it, there is a sensible loss. Likewise, he is saying, every part of the Bible is inspired and it is useful. Now, let's get to the crux of the matter and let's answer the question.

Purpose 1: Wisdom unto Salvation

The Scriptures make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ, revealing a finished salvation accomplished by God, unlike all other religions.

What is the purpose of Scripture? Why did God give us the Scriptures? What is the purpose? Well, let's begin by looking in verse 15 of 2 Timothy chapter 3. Paul writes Timothy and he says 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. So the very first reason we have the Scriptures, the very first purpose is because they have the wisdom of salvation. Please look what Paul said in verse 15: "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." It's important for you to note that salvation, real, genuine, true salvation is revealed only in the Bible. And Paul told Timothy, "From a child you've known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation." Do you realize that you may study all of the religious books of the world, you may memorize them, you may quote them, you may enjoy them, you may relish them, but only the Bible, only God's Word teaches us God's salvation. Salvation is not to be found in any other book than the Word of God. It is the Bible that is particularly suited to convey salvation, God's salvation.

Scripture Reading — John 19:30

You can take the book from the beginning, the book of Genesis, to the end, the book of Revelation, and all in between speaks of salvation by grace through faith through Jesus Christ alone. It's the Bible that tells us about our sin and our rebellion. It's the Bible that teaches us about God's grace and God's mercy in sending His only begotten Son as our substitute and as our sacrifice. And I want you to think about this. In all the other religions, salvation is something that you accomplish. Salvation is something that you work to receive. Only in the Bible is salvation something that God has done through Jesus Christ. Only in the Bible do you have an accomplished and a finished salvation. You remember what Jesus Christ said in John 19, verse 30? He said, "It is finished." And when He said "It is finished," He declared an accomplished salvation. It is something that God has done through Jesus Christ. It was Christ who propitiated the wrath of God. It was Christ who magnified God's law and made it honorable. It was Christ who satisfied the holiness of God. It was Christ who sacrificed Himself for our sins. It is finished. All the other religions spell theirs with two letters, D-O. Only in the Bible do Christians spell ours, D-O-N-E, done. It is finished through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ actually accomplished and worked out God's salvation. That's why the Bible says in 1 John 4 and verse 10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Do you realize it is Christ alone who reveals the Father? In John 1, verse 18, our Lord said, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." In Matthew 11, verse 27, our Lord said it like this, "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." Isn't that amazing? Salvation is in Jesus Christ alone. Peter therefore rightly and correctly preached in Acts 4 verse 12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Isn't that interesting?

Now, let me show you this. I want you to hold 2 Timothy. We're coming right back there. But look in your Bibles to the book of John, chapter 20. And let me ask you a question. Why in the world do we have the life, the conduct, the miracles and the obedience of Jesus Christ recorded in the Bible? Why did John even write the book of John? Well, look in John 20 verse 30. He says this. John 20 verse 30: "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book." So Christ performed many miracles that were not recorded. But look at verse 31: "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

So why then did God give us the Scriptures? The answer is, first of all, to make us wise unto salvation. Why did He record all these things about Christ in the Bible, especially the book of John? That we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Now, I want you to note something in 2 Timothy, chapter 3 and verse 15 back again. Look what Paul told Timothy. Watch carefully. "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures." And that from a child, thou hast known the Holy Scriptures. You know, it's a sad state of affairs in this age of enlightenment, in our civilized society, in our educated and enlightened academics and academia. We are so totally ignorant of the Word of God. Timothy knew the Scriptures from a child. Most adults do not know the Scriptures. Most professing Christian adults have never even read the Bible all the way through one time. Yet Timothy knew the Scriptures from a child. Amazing. You want to know why there are so many different religions and why there are so many cults and isms and systems?

Let me tell you why. Because of ignorance of the Word of God. In fact, Paul the Apostle said it like this in Romans 10 in verse 3, listen carefully,

Scripture Reading — Romans 10:3

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."

So when you're ignorant of God's righteousness, when you're ignorant of God's salvation, then you go about to establish your own. And I'm going to tell you, that is why most professing Christians really get angry and upset and downright mad when they hear the Word of God preached in its purity and its clarity, because the only salvation that most people have is that of their own making and not of God. And they're threatened when they find out that their salvation will not work.

He said, "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation." Let me just spell it out like this. If you wish to die in your sins, ignore the Word of God. If you wish to discover God's salvation, study the Word of God. Because it's the Word of God that will make us wise unto salvation. That is the purpose of Scripture.

Purpose 2: Knowledge of Maturation

Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, building us up to maturity in the faith.

Secondly, I want you to look at verse 16. Verse 16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." So now we have another purpose, and that is the knowledge of maturation. The knowledge of maturing. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. Now you have to ask, profitable for what? It is profitable for maturing us in the faith once we have been saved by grace through faith. Let me tell you something, people. Listen to me. You want to know one of the real problems in the average Bible-believing church. I'm not talking about the liberals now. Here's a real problem. The average Bible-believing church, because most preachers and unhappily, a lot of Christians often speak and preach as if there was nothing else to Christianity other than salvation. I've had so many Christians over the years tell me how dissatisfied they were with their own church because they said, "Preacher, our pastor preaches salvation Sunday after Sunday after Sunday," and said, "I've been saved for 20 years, and I'd like to know something more than just being saved." Well, do you realize the Word of God was given not just for wisdom unto salvation, but also for the knowledge of maturation? In other words, once you've been saved, God designs and God desires that you be a mature Christian. You know what Paul told those Ephesian elders, those Ephesian preachers in Acts chapter 20 and verse 32? Listen to what he said. Paul was talking to preachers now.

He says, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." He said, "I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace which is able to build you up." In other words, if you want to be edified, if you want to be strengthened, if you want to be built up in the faith, strengthened in the faith, you must have the Word of God. It's the Word of God that's going to edify you. Look in your Bibles, hold 2 Timothy, but turn right over, if you would, to 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 3. 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 3. I want you to note this statement. In fact, I'll read this passage a little bit later on. But notice 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 3. After Peter gives a salutation in verses 1 and 2, he makes this statement.

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." Now, I wanted you to pay close attention to that. God, according to His divine power, hath given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Him. Where do we get the knowledge of God? In the Bible. What does the Bible give us? All things that pertain unto life and godliness. Isn't that interesting? We have what we need in the Word of God.

Look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians. Go back, if you would, to Colossians chapter 1 and look at verse 28. Paul is going to tell you three things that you need to be a mature Christian. Three things. Notice Colossians 1 and verse 28. Colossians 1. Where the Apostle Paul says, "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Now, notice he says "whom we preach," that's one. "Warning every man," that's two, and "teaching every man." So the Apostle Paul says there's three things that you need. You need preaching, you need admonition, and you need teaching to bring us to maturity in the faith. Now, since we know the Word of God has been given to build us up, let's go back to 2 Timothy chapter 3 and look, if you would, specifically at how the Word of God is designed to build us up.

Notice if you would, 2 Timothy 3 verse 16. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine." Let's stop right there. First, the purpose of the Word of God for maturation is to teach us doctrine. Doctrine.

Now, the Greek word for doctrine is just simply didaskalia, which means doctrine, teaching, or instruction, or precept. So, the Word of God is designed to give us instruction. It was John Calvin who said this, "Here he enters into a detailed statement of the various and manifold advantages derived from the Scriptures, and first of all he mentions instruction or doctrine, which ranks above all the rest. For it will be of no purpose that you exhort or reprove if you've not been previously instructed. But because instruction taken by itself is often of little avail, he adds reproof and correction." In other words, he says you need all of it, and that's the fact which we shall see. But he says the purpose of Scripture is to give us doctrine or to give us instruction. When you consider doctrine, you have to consider the grand and glorious doctrines of God, His being, His perfections, His sovereignty, the creation and fall of man, the person and office of Christ, redemption by Christ, justification by faith, pardon by His blood, reconciliation, atonement by His sacrifice, eternal life for Him. All of these are doctrines.

I get so frustrated today when I hear preachers and Christians say, "Well, I just don't like all that heavy doctrine stuff." I got news for you folks. You can't teach without teaching doctrine. You're either teaching the doctrine of God or the doctrine of man. Period. Because all instruction is doctrine. And He gave the Word of God that we may know true and right and accurate doctrine. Everything we need to know about God, everything we need to know about man and the fall of man, everything we need to know about salvation, everything we need to know about justification by faith, everything we need to know about regeneration and conversion and eternity are all revealed to us in the Word of God. And if we would study it, we would have right doctrine.

We would be rightly instructed in the precepts of Scripture. But now the Lord did not give us the Scripture just for doctrine alone. Doctrine is first and foremost. It is needed and absolutely necessary. But look in verse 16. He says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine," and then he says, "for reproof." Ah. How many of us like to be reproved? You see, the Greek word for reproof is elegchos, and it literally refers to reproof or conviction. And when we talk about conviction, we talk about being either convicted of the truth or sometimes being convicted of sin. The Word of God will convince us either of truth, that we may believe it without any hesitation, or it will convict us of sin that we may be humbled for it without any extenuation. Usually the word reproof or convict is used to convict us of the error of our ways. When we're sinning, when we're obstinate, when we're obdurate, when we're apathetic, the Word of God will convict us.

I don't know if you've come to this realization yet, and it may surprise some of you, may even shock a few of you to learn that none of us are yet perfect. And we have to be reproved. We have to be gotten to. We have to be convicted. And when you and I do things carelessly and when we sin through ignorance or when we sin with deliberation, we need to be reproved. We need to be reproved. We need to be convicted. We need to be brought into account to the Word of God. Dwight L.

Moody, as I told you in times past, had a little motto written in the flyleaf of his Bible. And what he had written was very true and very accurate. He wrote, "Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book." I don't know if you've ever noticed or not, but when Christians begin sinning, begin disobeying, one of the first things they do is to slow down in their attendance to preach the Word, and sometimes they just miss it all together. You know why? Because the Word of God will convict you. And when people determine they're going to have their sin rather than the Word of God, they're going to stay away from where they're made uncomfortable. It's just that simple. You cannot have the Word of God and your sin. Now it's the Word of God that will convict us. So he said it's given to us for doctrine. It's given to us for reproof. But notice if you would, in verse 16, he says, here's the third reason it's given, and that is for correction. Do you realize if we're going to be mature in the faith, we don't only need doctrine, we don't only need reproof, we also need correction. Now, the word correction here is a very interesting word in the Greek. It's the word epanorthosis, and it literally means, listen carefully, it means to make straight, to make erect, to rear up again, to build anew.

It is used in the correction of a deformed person, such as in Luke chapter 13 and verse 13, when our Lord healed this woman with her infirmity. And the Bible says, "And immediately she was made straight, and glorified God." So here's a woman that was crippled over, and when He healed her, He made her straight. The same word is used in Hebrews 12 and verse 13, where the Bible said, "And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed." So when he talks about correction now, listen carefully, he's talking about making something straight. Starting over, making it anew.

Now I want you to look in your Bible, hold 2 Timothy, but turn back to the book of Galatians chapter 6. Galatians 6, and verse 1. Galatians 6 verse 1. I love this passage and you'll see why in just a moment. Galatians 6 verse 1. God says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

So let's work this out. Let's work this out. Let's say Dr. Bowen falls into a grievous sin. What are we to do as Christian brethren? We're to seek to restore him. OK. But do we seek to restore him by saying, "Oh, look what he did? Boy, I'd never do that." No, no, what does God say? You seek to restore him considering yourself, lest you be tempted also. In other words, it's only by the grace of God that you didn't do what he did. You see what I'm saying now? Let's go further. He says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one." Now the word "restore"

literally means to render fit, to render sound, to render complete. It has the idea of mending or setting straight that which has been broken. So when things are wrong, when they are broken, when they are out of joint in our lives, they may be corrected by the Word of God. When I was a boy, Goodman's Welding Shop, which is still in existence, by the way, but Goodman's Welding Shop had a big sign painted on it. And it said this: "We mend everything but a broken heart."

But I'm here to tell you, the Word of God can even mend the broken heart. It can mend the broken heart and everything else. Now, I want you to stop and think about this. Look back in your Bibles to 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. I want you to think about now in light of Galatians 6 and verse 1. But look in 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16 again. Paul said, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine"—that is, it's going to instruct us—"for reproof"—it's going to rebuke us, it's going to convict us.

Let me use this so you'll understand it. It's going to slap us down. OK. Then the next thing is for correction. I want you to notice something now. The same word that slaps us down is the same word that picks us up and sets our broken bones and puts us on the right path. So reproof and correction go together. God never just slaps us down. He might slap us down,

but He does so, if we're His, to pick us up, straighten us out, put us on the path. Everyone knows the story about the shepherd and the sheep. When that shepherd has a sheep that constantly and continually goes astray, you know what the shepherd does? He'll catch that sheep. He'll take that staff and he'll break the sheep's leg. And then he sets the broken leg. And guess what? Now the sheep has to stay with the shepherd. So the same word that breaks us is the same word that lifts us up and straightens us out and keeps us right with the shepherd.

Notice verse 16 again, he says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction." Now he says, "for instruction in righteousness." So the purpose of the Word of God is not only to give us the wisdom of salvation, but the knowledge of maturation. And if we're going to mature, we have to have doctrine. We have to have reproof. We have to have correction. And now he says instruction in righteousness. By the way, the interesting thing here is this. The word for instruction is the Greek word, paideia, which is child training. He gives us child training in instruction. Paideia, or child training, refers to the whole training and the whole education of children. It refers to the cultivation of the mind, the cultivation of morals, the cultivation of everything in their life. It teaches them to obey. Child training not only includes reproof, but it also includes chastisement. If you would look

in the book of Hebrews, chapter 12 and verse 11. Hebrews 12 and verse 11. Look what the Bible says. Hebrews 12 verse 11. Could preach on this passage for an hour or two, but he's talking about chastening and every time you see the word "chastise" or "chasten" or "chastisement," it is the Greek word paideia, which was child training. He says in verse 11 of Hebrews 12, "Now no chastening" or no child training "for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous." "Nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." So in Hebrews 12 and verse 11, the Bible says no chastening for the present seems to be joyous. I never jumped up and down and thanked God when I was a boy that I got the stuffing beat out of me by my father. Did you? However, the truth of the matter is, I thank God several times since then that he did whip me, that he did chastise me. And I've concluded, Joe, that I never got half of what I deserved.

He probably should have whipped me a whole lot more than he did. But I'm thankful that he did now, but I wasn't happy when he did it then. But the Bible tells us in verse 11 that when God whips us, when God chastens us, what is the result? It yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who were exercised thereby. Let me spell it out to you. God's chastening always works. His never fails.

You know, I've heard parents look at their children when they're acting up sometime and just kind of say, "Well, kiddo, you're cruising for a bruising." Or "If you keep it up, you're going to get it." You know, God could say the same thing to us when we're acting unbiblically, unscripturally, and ungodly. "Well, child, you're cruising for a bruising. You keep it up, I'm going to whip you." But God says, when I get through whipping you, number one, you'll know you've been whipped. And number two, it will work. It will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto those who are exercised thereby. Now let me tell you, what is the joy of a parent's heart? I've been reading through the book of Proverbs again, and everywhere you turn in the book of Proverbs, "A wise son maketh a glad father," and "A wise son is a joy to his mother." All kinds of things like that. But you know what is a joy for a parent?

It's when they brought up that child and sometimes they had to whip him, chasten him, to make him do right and to teach him what's right. When the child gets mature, he no longer has to be whipped or made to do what's right. He now does what's right because he not only understands, but he loves to do what is right. And he wants to be an honor to his parents. Maturity in the faith is the same way. We know that we're mature when God doesn't have to make us. He doesn't have to threaten us. We want to do what's right. We want to please Him. We want to honor Him. We want to express our love and thanksgiving for Him. We no longer need the rod to motivate us. No, no. We're mature. And that's why the Word of God is given.

Purpose 3: Consummate Qualification

The Word thoroughly equips the man of God for every good work, making him complete and lacking nothing for worship and service.

That we might have child training in righteousness. That we might reach the stage where we just do what's right, because it's right to do what's right. One last thing, I want you to look in verse 17. Here's the third purpose, and that is the consummate qualification. God gave us His Scripture, not just for the purpose of making us wise unto salvation and not just for the purpose of giving us the knowledge of maturation, but also that we may have a consummate qualification. But if we have gone through verses 15 and 16 and had them applied to our lives, then we come to verse 17, "That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." Now, why should we be perfect? The word "perfect" refers to maturity. Why should we be perfect? Why should we be thoroughly furnished unto every good work?

Now, let me remind you, I told you earlier that I was going to repeat 2 Peter 1 in verse 3, listen carefully, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." Why should we be consummately qualified as Christians and as Christian workers? Because God has given us everything we need to make us mature and complete and to qualify us to worship Him and to honor Him and to serve Him. We don't need anything else. The Greek word for "perfect" is the word artios, and it has reference to that which is well-fitted, that which is complete, that which is perfect. And it also has reference to that which has been given a special aptitude for. In other words, God, in maturing us, gives us a special aptitude to worship Him and honor Him and love Him and serve Him. Boy! The two words "throughly furnished" are from the Greek word, exartizo, and once again it means to be completely furnished, or totally furnished, missing nothing.

Let me give you three quotes before I really explain this. The first one is from Albert Barnes. He says this, "The object is not merely to convince and to convert him, it is to furnish all the instruction needful for his entire perfection. The idea here is not that anyone is absolutely perfect, but that the Scriptures have laid down the way which leads to perfection, and if anyone were perfect, he would find in the Scriptures all the instructions he needed for those circumstances." "There is no deficiency in the Bible for man in any of the situations in which he may be placed in life. And the whole tendency of the book is to make him who will put himself fairly under its instruction absolutely perfect." In other words, God says if you want to be more holy, and more holy, and more holy, and you want to be more mature, and more mature, and more perfect, and more perfect, then you must put yourself under the Scripture. Calvin says this: "Perfect here means a blameless person, one in whom there is nothing defective, for he asserts absolutely the Scripture is sufficient for perfection. Accordingly, he who is not satisfied with Scripture," listen carefully, "he who is not satisfied with Scripture desires to be wiser than is either proper or desirable." Scriptures are sufficient.

They are our rule for faith and practice. And if you're not satisfied with Scripture, Calvin says, "Hey, you desire what is neither right, proper, or desirable." Then Matthew Poole said it like this, and I love this. Listen carefully, Poole says, "Thoroughly furnished unto all good works, and be prepared to every work which is good and acceptable and well pleasing unto God, whether it be a work of piety or justice or charity." Now listen. "The Scripture as to all is so full of direction that the Christians need not go down to the Philistines to wet their tools, nor be beholden to unwritten traditions or to the writings of pagan philosophers for directions what to do, how to worship God or manage any part of their conversation or conduct, either as to their general calling or as to their particular relations." Now, let me spell it out for you what Barnes, Calvin, and Poole said. Here's what they said in a nutshell. Here's what the Scripture teaches. We do not need man-made philosophies. We do not need humanistic ideas. We do not need pagan opinions. We do not need rabbinical fables. We don't need Popish legends, nor politically correct tripe. What we need, and all we need, is the Word of God. The Word of God is sufficient in and of itself. Our problem is this: we just need to learn to read it, to study it, to love it, and to apply it.

Application and Conclusion

Weaver applies the message by urging believers to rely solely on Scripture for all aspects of life and to thank God for His sufficient Word.

By way of application, I want you to learn the purpose of Scripture is exceedingly simple. It is to make us wise unto salvation, to be the means of our faith, then to mature us in that faith, then to make us so mature and so complete that we have need of nothing in the worship or in the service of God. All I ever need to know about salvation, about preaching, about teaching, about starting a church, about pastoring a church, about going to church, how to act in church, the role of church leaders, the role of church members, everything I need to know I find in the Word of God. I don't need additional manuals. The Word of God is sufficient. There is nothing that God has left out that needs to be supplied by man. The second application of this, whether we need convicting, converting or chastening, the Word of God has all the answers. It teaches us.

It rebukes us, it reproves us, it corrects us, it edifies us. The Word of God is to be our teacher, our guide, our conscience, our director. And we need to learn to thank God daily for His Word. You know, it's really been impressed upon me of late, but if you ever really just thank God, not just for salvation, but think of everything that's included. When's the last time you just thanked Him for the Scripture? For the ministry? For preaching? For teaching? You follow me? Have we ever really understood why God gave us His Word? If you and I really, genuinely desire to be mature, obedient children of God, then we must not and we cannot neglect the Word of God.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14 and verse 20, "Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." In understanding, be men. And if we are mature in the faith, we will be that way because God gave us His Word, not just for salvation, but for maturation, and included in that maturation is instruction or doctrine, reproof, correction, and child training in righteousness, that we may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work for His honor and His glory. Let's pray. Father, we do thank You today specifically for the holy Word of God. We thank You, Father, that it's the Scriptures that make us wise unto salvation. It's the Scriptures that mature us in the faith. It's the Scriptures, Lord, that make us complete and mature in Your worship and in Your service. We thank You for the ministry. We thank You for those men who teach the pure, clear, unadulterated Word of God. And we ask You, Heavenly Father, to build us up in the most holy faith and to make us godly and holy.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Sufficiency of Scripture

Summary: The Bible is completely sufficient for salvation, spiritual growth, and equipping for every good work; no additional human philosophies or traditions are needed.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'We do not need man-made philosophies... What we need, and all we need, is the Word of God.'

Inseparability of the Written and Living Word

Summary: One cannot have a right attitude toward Christ and a wrong attitude toward the Bible, or vice versa, because they are inseparable.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'It is impossible for you to have one attitude toward the Bible and a different attitude toward Christ.'

General vs. Special Revelation

Summary: General revelation (creation and conscience) is enough to condemn but not to convert; special revelation (Scripture and Christ) is necessary for salvation.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'creation light is enough to condemn you, but it's not enough to convert you.'

Inspiration of Scripture

Summary: All Scripture is God-breathed, meaning the words are God's own words, making the Bible authoritative and profitable.

Evidence: Weaver defines inspiration as 'the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth.'

Maturation through Scripture

Summary: Scripture is given not only for salvation but for ongoing spiritual growth through doctrine, reproof, correction, and child-training in righteousness.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'the Word of God was given not just for wisdom unto salvation, but also for the knowledge of maturation.'

Finished Work of Christ

Summary: Salvation is an accomplished work of God through Christ, not something humans achieve by their own efforts.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Only in the Bible do you have an accomplished and a finished salvation.'

Key Arguments

General revelation is insufficient for salvation

Summary: Creation and conscience reveal God's existence and moral law, but they cannot reveal God's mercy or the way of salvation through Christ.

Evidence: Weaver argues, 'creation light is enough to condemn you, but it's not enough to convert you.'

The Bible and Christ are inseparable

Summary: Rejecting the written Word is equivalent to rejecting the living Word, Christ, because the Scriptures testify of Him.

Evidence: Weaver cites John 5:46 and John 12:48 to show that Christ equates belief in Moses' writings with belief in Himself.

All Scripture is inspired and profitable

Summary: Every part of the Bible is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.

Evidence: Weaver explains the Greek word theopneustos and emphasizes that no part of Scripture is worthless.

Scripture alone reveals God's salvation

Summary: Only the Bible teaches salvation by grace through faith in Christ's finished work, in contrast to works-based religions.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'Salvation is not to be found in any other book than the Word of God.'

Maturation requires reproof and correction

Summary: Spiritual growth involves being convicted of sin and corrected by Scripture, which both breaks and restores the believer.

Evidence: Weaver uses the shepherd breaking a sheep's leg as an illustration of God's corrective work through His Word.

Scripture thoroughly equips for every good work

Summary: The Bible provides all necessary instruction for a believer to be complete and fully equipped for worship and service.

Evidence: Weaver quotes 2 Timothy 3:17 and explains that 'throughly furnished' means missing nothing.

Scripture References

2 Timothy 3:15-17

Context: Primary text for the sermon, emphasizing the inspiration and profitability of Scripture for salvation and maturation.

Deuteronomy 29:29

Context: Cited to show that God reveals His will so that we may do it.

Psalm 19:1-6

Context: Used to illustrate general revelation through creation, declaring God's glory.

Romans 1:18-20

Context: Shows that creation reveals God's power and divine nature, leaving men without excuse.

Romans 2:12-15

Context: Demonstrates general revelation through conscience, which accuses or excuses based on the law written on hearts.

John 1:1-3, 14

Context: Identifies Jesus Christ as the living Word of God, who became flesh.

John 5:46

Context: Jesus states that believing Moses' writings is equivalent to believing in Him.

John 5:39

Context: Jesus tells the Jews that the Scriptures testify of Him.

Luke 24:27

Context: Jesus expounded the Scriptures concerning Himself on the Emmaus road.

John 12:48

Context: Jesus says that rejecting Him and His words will result in judgment by His word.

1 Timothy 4:8

Context: Mentioned as another use of the Greek word for 'profitable' (ophelimos).

Titus 3:8

Context: Mentioned as another use of the Greek word for 'profitable' (ophelimos).

John 19:30

Context: Christ's declaration 'It is finished' signifies an accomplished salvation.

1 John 4:10

Context: God's love is shown in sending His Son as the propitiation for our sins.

John 1:18

Context: The only begotten Son has declared the Father.

Matthew 11:27

Context: No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son reveals Him.

Acts 4:12

Context: Salvation is found in no other name but Jesus Christ.

John 20:30-31

Context: The signs in John's Gospel are written so that readers may believe and have life in Christ.

Romans 10:3

Context: Ignorance of God's righteousness leads people to establish their own.

Acts 20:32

Context: Paul commends the Ephesian elders to God and the word of His grace, which is able to build them up.

Historical References

Albert Barnes

Context: Quoted regarding the profitability of all Scripture and the sufficiency of the Bible for perfection.

John Calvin

Context: Quoted on the manifold advantages of Scripture and the sufficiency of Scripture for perfection.

Matthew Poole

Context: Quoted on the thorough furnishing of Scripture for all good works without need for unwritten traditions.

Dwight L. Moody

Context: Mentioned for his motto: 'Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.'

Important Quotes

creation light is enough to condemn you, but it's not enough to convert you.

Significance: Summarizes the limitation of general revelation and the necessity of special revelation for salvation.

It is impossible for you to have one attitude toward the Bible and a different attitude toward Christ.

Significance: Emphasizes the inseparable link between the written Word and the living Word.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Significance: The key verse outlining the purposes of Scripture for maturation.

Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth.

Significance: Weaver's definition of biblical inspiration.

Salvation is not to be found in any other book than the Word of God.

Significance: Affirms the exclusivity of Scripture for revealing God's salvation.

Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.

Significance: Dwight L. Moody's motto illustrating the convicting power of Scripture.

We do not need man-made philosophies. We do not need humanistic ideas. We do not need pagan opinions. We do not need rabbinical fables. We don't need Popish legends, nor politically correct tripe. What we need, and all we need, is the Word of God.

Significance: Powerful declaration of the sufficiency of Scripture against all human traditions.

Discussion Questions

How does understanding the difference between general and special revelation affect our view of those who have never heard the gospel?

Context: Weaver explains that general revelation is enough to condemn but not to convert.

In what ways do we sometimes treat the Bible and Christ as separable, and how can we correct that?

Context: Weaver argues that one cannot have a different attitude toward the Bible and Christ.

Why is it important to affirm that all Scripture is inspired, including the Old Testament?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that the Old Testament is equally God's Word and profitable.

How does the Bible's teaching on salvation differ from other religions, and why is that significant?

Context: Weaver contrasts the finished work of Christ with works-based salvation systems.

What role does reproof and correction play in spiritual maturity, and how should we respond to it?

Context: Weaver explains that Scripture convicts and corrects us, like a shepherd breaking and setting a sheep's leg.

What does it mean to be 'thoroughly furnished unto all good works,' and how does Scripture accomplish this?

Context: Weaver discusses the consummate qualification provided by the Word.

How can we cultivate a greater love and reliance on Scripture in our daily lives?

Context: Weaver applies the message by urging thankfulness for Scripture and submission to its authority.

Applications

Rely solely on Scripture for faith and practice

Summary: Believers should not look to human philosophies or traditions but trust the Bible as completely sufficient for all matters of life and godliness.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'What we need, and all we need, is the Word of God.'

Submit to the convicting and correcting work of Scripture

Summary: When the Bible reproves or corrects us, we should humbly accept it as God's means of maturing us, rather than avoiding it.

Evidence: Weaver notes that people often stay away from preaching when they are sinning because the Word convicts them.

Thank God for the gift of Scripture

Summary: Weaver encourages believers to specifically thank God for His Word, not just for salvation but for the ongoing ministry of Scripture.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'When's the last time you just thanked Him for the Scripture?'

Pursue spiritual maturity through Scripture

Summary: Christians should not be content with only knowing salvation but should use the Bible to grow into mature, complete followers of Christ.

Evidence: Weaver laments that many churches only preach salvation and neglect teaching for maturation.

Use Scripture as the guide for all relationships and problems

Summary: Weaver asserts that any problem between couples, families, or even nations can be resolved if people submit to the Word of God.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'I can work out any problem between any couple or in any family or even in this country, as long as people will be willing to submit to the Word of God.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:25:24Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T14:56:48Z

Clean Transcript

The Purpose of Scripture

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Alright, well let's open our Bibles today, if you would please, to 2 Timothy chapter 3. 2 Timothy chapter 3. And I want us to begin reading at verse 15 and read through verse 17. 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 15 through 17. The message today is entitled, "The Purpose of Scripture." The Purpose of Scripture. 2 Timothy 3, verse 15, Paul writes Timothy, and he says 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.
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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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Have you ever wondered why we have the Word of God? Have you ever thought about what exactly is the purpose of Scripture? Why did God reveal His Word to us?
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Now, there are several very general answers to that question. One of those answers could be found in Deuteronomy 29:29. I'll quote it for you. You don't have to turn there. Listen carefully to what God says, Deuteronomy 29:29, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Now, very obviously, generally speaking, one of the reasons God revealed His Word for us is that we may know His will and that we may do that will. So you can give a number of general answers to that question. But in order to comprehend and understand the greatness and the importance of Scripture, you must consider the fact that the Word of God is classified as special revelation. Now, special revelation differs from general revelation.
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You can pick up any theological book you want to pick up, and it will talk about general revelation and special revelation. When you talk about general revelation, you're normally talking about creation and conscience. In other words, there are certain things that you can know about God just from creation and just from conscience. For instance, if you will turn in your Bibles—hold 2 Timothy—but turn to Psalm 19, and begin reading there verse 1, and from Psalm 19 we'll go to Romans chapter 1. But look at Psalm 19, and let's begin reading there verse 1 and show you general creation, or general revelation, which is revealed in creation. Notice Psalm 19 verse 1: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork."
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"Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." So it doesn't matter if you're in South America, it doesn't matter if you're in Africa, it doesn't matter if you're in Asia, it doesn't matter where you are. Here is God's creation speaking, saying, "Yes, there is a God." "Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."
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"In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." So here the Bible is talking about creation being a general revelation. It doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter where you are. You can look at the creation and deduce, "Yes, there must be a Creator. There must be a God who is all-powerful to create the universe or to create the world."
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Now, if you look at Romans chapter 1 and notice verse 18 through 20, Romans chapter 1, beginning there with verse 18. Notice what the Scripture says again concerning creation. Romans 1, verse 18: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;" now notice this, "because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead."
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Now watch, "so that they are without excuse." Notice what God says. God says that creation light is enough to render all men without excuse. Just simply look at creation and you may know that there is a God.
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Now let me tell you something about general revelation. General revelation may tell you that there is a God. It may tell you that that God is powerful and that God is righteous, but it does not tell you anything about God's mercy and God's grace, nor does it tell you the grounds upon which God will be merciful to sinners. Let me put it like this: creation light is enough to condemn you, but it's not enough to convert you. So creation light renders all men inexcusable, because you can look at creation and know that there is a God.
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Now, likewise, you have conscience. So if you look at Romans 2, beginning there in verse 12. Conscience is also known as general revelation. "For as many as have sinned without the law"—now not all men had the law given to them as Israel had—he says, "for as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles," or the heathen, "when the heathen which have not the law," that is, they did not get the revealed word like Israel did, "for when the heathen who have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law," that is the written law, "are a law unto themselves: which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another."
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Now, God is telling us here there is in all men what is known as semen religionis, that is, all men having innate knowledge, "Yes, there is a God," and "Yes, there is a right and wrong." Now, once again, conscience is not enough to convert you, but it is enough to condemn you. You can go to the darkest continent of Africa. You can go to the village that has never heard the Word of God, never seen a Bible, and you let one of those men go up and murder his neighbor.
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You know what the other villagers will do? They'll probably take him and stake him out on an ant bed somewhere and pour syrup on him and let the ants eat him. Why? They know that murder is wrong.
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Now, does that mean that they're Christians? No, not by any stretch of the imagination. So all he's saying is this: conscience, it doesn't matter if you're in an uncivilized world or a civilized world like we are, quote unquote. Your conscience has enough knowledge to condemn you, but certainly not enough knowledge to convert you. So this is known as general revelation. Now, let me just say this about the conscience.
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Everyone has heard this old adage: "Let your conscience be your guide." You better not. You better not. A conscience, according to the Bible, is not only ignorant, it can be wrongly taught. It can be defiled. It can be seared. You never ever allow your conscience to be your guide. You always must allow the Word of God to be your guide. The Word of God alone is our standard for faith and practice. OK, now there are two aspects of special revelation. We've been talking about general revelation, and that would be creation and conscience. But now there are two aspects of special revelation. One of those aspects is the written Word of God, which we read about in 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." But then there is the aspect of the living Word of God. If you look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of John, chapter 1, John, chapter 1, and notice beginning there with verse 1.
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And you're going to see how Jesus Christ is referred to as the Word. Notice John 1 verse 1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Now, Jesus Christ is referred to as the Word of God. If you will skip down to verse 14, the Bible says this: "And the Word," that is Jesus Christ, "was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." So, the Bible then is the written Word, and Jesus Christ is the living Word.
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So, if you want to keep an alliteration, you can say this: you can say general revelation deals with creation and conscience. The special revelation deals with commandments and Christ. In other words, you have the general and you have the special. Since you understand that the Bible is the written Word and Jesus Christ is the living Word, please understand this: it is impossible for you to have one attitude toward the Bible and a different attitude toward Christ.
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Or you could reverse it. It's impossible for you to have one attitude toward Christ and a different attitude toward the Bible. I've heard people during my lifetime say something similar to this: "Well, I believe Christ, but I don't believe all the Bible." Or "I believe the Bible, but I don't believe in Christ." That's impossible. It's impossible. Why? Because they are inseparable. They are so inseparable that Jesus Christ said to the unbelieving Jews in John 5 and verse 46, listen carefully.
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He said, "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me." Note, "If you had believed Moses." If you believe the written Word, you would have believed the living Word. And John in verse 39, he told them, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
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Now those unbelieving Jews were rejecting Christ. He said, "Search the scriptures; for they are they which testify of me." So you have the written Word and you have the living Word. Do you remember in Luke chapter 24 in verse 27 when Christ was walking with those men on the Emmaus road? The Bible says this: "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Wow! Everything in the Bible speaks about Christ. The written Word speaks of Christ, the Living Word. The written Word bears record that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the Only Begotten of the Father.
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Now, I want to put this together for you. I'm just trying to show you how the written Word is God's inspired Word, how Jesus Christ is the Living Word. You cannot have one attitude toward the Bible and a different one toward Christ, or one attitude toward Christ and a different one toward the Bible. Christ Himself puts them both together in John 12 and verse 48. Now, since you're in John, turn there. I can quote this passage, but I want you to see it. I want you to see how specific Jesus Christ is in John 12 and verse 48. Look what He says. John 12, verse 48. Our Lord says, "He that rejecteth me," that is the living Word, "and receiveth not my words," that is the written Word, "hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." Isn't that amazing? Christ says, "He that rejecteth me," the living Word, "and receiveth not my words," the written Word, "hath one that judgeth him in the last day, even the word which I have spoken."
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So men are going to be judged from the written Word, because the written Word testifies of Christ, the living Word, and when the living Word testifies against them, it's the same thing as the written Word testifying against them. Because the written Word gives testimony to Christ, the living Word.
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Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to 2 Timothy chapter 3, because I want you to understand that all Scripture is indeed given by inspiration of God. I'm going to explain this before I show you the purpose of Scripture. But notice verse 16, he says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." Now, I want to concentrate just momentarily on the phrase, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." When the Bible says "all Scripture," it refers then to every word, to every chapter, to every book. It refers to Scripture as a whole. The whole, complete, and total writing of Scripture is given by inspiration. There is no part of Scripture that is not inspired. Obviously, when the Apostle Paul spoke these words in 2 Timothy 3, verse 16, he had reference mainly to the Old Testament, because the New Testament had not been completed at that time. Of course, this would also apply to those New Testament writings that were extant at that time or in existence at that time.
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Paul probably had written several other books prior to 2 Timothy. In fact, many say that 1 Thessalonians was the first book that he wrote. I'm just simply saying some of the other apostles may have written some things too. You would have to apply this equally to that which had been written by the inspired apostles, but primarily he was speaking of the Old Testament. All I want you to understand is this, that the Old Testament is just as inspired as the New Testament, and there is no ground for despising or disparaging the Old Testament. The Old Testament is equally the Word of God as the New Testament. Most of us have heard the old adage, "The new is in the old concealed, and the old is in the new revealed." And that is true, the New Testament is concealed in the old and the Old Testament is revealed in the new. Let me just tell you very dogmatically and very emphatically, you cannot understand either the Old Testament or the New Testament without the other. They go together.
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They complement each other. They complete each other. We do not have two Bibles. We have one Bible. Albert Barnes, when he was commenting on 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16, he says this properly refers to the Old Testament. And certainly it does apply to the Old Testament. But Paul said all Scripture is inspired of God. That certainly includes all of the Scripture, Old and New Testament alike. Now, when Paul said all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, let me just take a moment and explain inspiration.
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In fact, you should be asking yourselves, what is inspiration? If God says all Scripture is inspired of God, what is inspiration? Let me give you a definition of inspiration. Listen carefully, because it's very important. Here it is: Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth. It is God speaking through men, so much so, that the words that they spoke and wrote were and are indeed the very words of God Himself. Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth. So much so that the words that they wrote and spoke were and are indeed the very words of God Himself. Inspiration means this, folks. It means these are God's words just as if God spoke them with His own mouth. Now, let me tell you why that's important.
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Because I've heard people say through the years when I'd be teaching something or making some comment from Scripture, I've heard some people say, "Well, preacher, if I heard God say that, I'd believe it." Let me tell you something, folks. If it comes out of this Bible, God said it. That's what inspiration is all about. Inspiration is the fact that these are God's words. God spoke these words, God said these words. In fact, the interesting thing is the word "inspired" in the Greek is the word theopneustos, and it literally means "God-breathed" or "God-exhaled." God exhaled or spoke the words through His mouth. That's what inspiration is all about. Now you understand why Paul said all Scripture is given by inspiration and is profitable. So if God breathed out His words, if these were and are indeed the very words of God Himself, they have to be profitable. Interestingly enough, the word "profitable" is ophelimos in the Greek, and it's translated "profitable" not only here, but in 1 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 8, and in Titus 3 and verse 8 as well.
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It means that it's for our benefit. Listen to again what Barnes said. Barnes said, commenting on profitable, "It is useful. It is adapted to give instruction, to administer reproof. If all Scripture is thus valuable, then we are to esteem no part of the Old Testament as worthless. There is no portion of it, even now, which may not be fitted in certain circumstances to furnish us valuable lessons, and consequently, no part of it which could be spared from the sacred canon. There is no part of the human body which is not useful in its place, and no part of it which can be spared without sensible loss." And that's a fact.
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Brother, can you spare an arm? Can you spare a leg? Can you spare a kidney? You see what I'm saying? Every part of your body you need. And if you lose a part of it, there is a sensible loss. Likewise, he is saying, every part of the Bible is inspired and it is useful. Now, let's get to the crux of the matter and let's answer the question.
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What is the purpose of Scripture? Why did God give us the Scriptures? What is the purpose? Well, let's begin by looking in verse 15 of 2 Timothy chapter 3. Paul writes Timothy and he says that from a child
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thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. So the very first reason we have the Scriptures, the very first purpose is because they have the wisdom of salvation. Please look what Paul said in verse 15: "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." It's important for you to note that salvation, real, genuine, true salvation is revealed only in the Bible. And Paul told Timothy, "From a child you've known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation." Do you realize that you may study all of the religious books of the world, you may memorize them, you may quote them, you may enjoy them, you may relish them, but only the Bible, only God's Word teaches us God's salvation. Salvation is not to be found in any other book than the Word of God. It is the Bible that is particularly suited to convey salvation, God's salvation.
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You can take the book from the beginning, the book of Genesis, to the end, the book of Revelation, and all in between speaks of salvation by grace through faith through Jesus Christ alone. It's the Bible that tells us about our sin and our rebellion. It's the Bible that teaches us about God's grace and God's mercy in sending His only begotten Son as our substitute and as our sacrifice.
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And I want you to think about this. In all the other religions, salvation is something that you accomplish. Salvation is something that you work to receive. Only in the Bible is salvation something that God has done through Jesus Christ. Only in the Bible do you have an accomplished and a finished salvation. You remember what Jesus Christ said in John 19, verse 30? He said, "It is finished." And when He said "It is finished," He declared an accomplished salvation. It is something that God has done through Jesus Christ. It was Christ who propitiated the wrath of God. It was Christ who magnified God's law and made it honorable. It was Christ who satisfied the holiness of God. It was Christ who sacrificed Himself for our sins. It is finished. All the other religions spell theirs with two letters, D-O. Only in the Bible do Christians spell ours, D-O-N-E, done. It is finished through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ actually accomplished and worked out God's salvation. That's why the Bible says in 1 John 4 and verse 10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
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Do you realize it is Christ alone who reveals the Father? In John 1, verse 18, our Lord said, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." In Matthew 11, verse 27, our Lord said it like this, "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." Isn't that amazing? Salvation is in Jesus Christ alone. Peter therefore rightly and correctly preached in Acts 4 verse 12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Isn't that interesting?
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Now, let me show you this. I want you to hold 2 Timothy. We're coming right back there. But look in your Bibles to the book of John, chapter 20. And let me ask you a question. Why in the world do we have the life, the conduct, the miracles and the obedience of Jesus Christ recorded in the Bible? Why did John even write the book of John? Well, look in John 20 verse 30. He says this. John 20 verse 30: "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book." So Christ performed many miracles that were not recorded. But look at verse 31: "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
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So why then did God give us the Scriptures? The answer is, first of all, to make us wise unto salvation. Why did He record all these things about Christ in the Bible, especially the book of John? That we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
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Now, I want you to note something in 2 Timothy, chapter 3 and verse 15 back again. Look what Paul told Timothy. Watch carefully. "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures." And that from a child, thou hast known the Holy Scriptures. You know, it's a sad state of affairs in this age of enlightenment, in our civilized society, in our educated and enlightened academics and academia.
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We are so totally ignorant of the Word of God. Timothy knew the Scriptures from a child. Most adults do not know the Scriptures. Most professing Christian adults have never even read the Bible all the way through one time. Yet Timothy knew the Scriptures from a child. Amazing. You want to know why there are so many different religions and why there are so many cults and isms and systems?
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Let me tell you why. Because of ignorance of the Word of God. In fact, Paul the Apostle said it like this in Romans 10 in verse 3, listen carefully, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." So when you're ignorant of God's righteousness, when you're ignorant of God's salvation, then you go about to establish your own. And I'm going to tell you, that is why most professing Christians really get angry and upset and downright mad when they hear the Word of God preached in its purity and its clarity, because the only salvation that most people have is that of their own making and not of God. And they're threatened when they find out that their salvation will not work.
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He said, "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation." Let me just spell it out like this. If you wish to die in your sins, ignore the Word of God. If you wish to discover God's salvation, study the Word of God. Because it's the Word of God that will make us wise unto salvation. That is the purpose of Scripture.
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Secondly, I want you to look at verse 16. Verse 16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." So now we have another purpose, and that is the knowledge of maturation. The knowledge of maturing. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. Now you have to ask, profitable for what? It is profitable for maturing us in the faith once we have been saved by grace through faith.
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Let me tell you something, people. Listen to me. You want to know one of the real problems in the average Bible-believing church. I'm not talking about the liberals now. Here's a real problem. The average Bible-believing church, because most preachers and unhappily, a lot of Christians often speak and preach as if there was nothing else to Christianity other than salvation. I've had so many Christians over the years tell me how dissatisfied they were with their own church because they said, "Preacher, our pastor preaches salvation Sunday after Sunday after Sunday," and said, "I've been saved for 20 years, and I'd like to know something more than just being saved." Well, do you realize the Word of God was given not just for wisdom unto salvation, but also for the knowledge of maturation? In other words, once you've been saved, God designs and God desires that you be a mature Christian. You know what Paul told those Ephesian elders, those Ephesian preachers in Acts chapter 20 and verse 32? Listen to what he said. Paul was talking to preachers now.
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He says, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." He said, "I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace which is able to build you up." In other words, if you want to be edified, if you want to be strengthened, if you want to be built up in the faith, strengthened in the faith, you must have the Word of God. It's the Word of God that's going to edify you.
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Look in your Bibles, hold 2 Timothy, but turn right over, if you would, to 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 3. 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 3. I want you to note this statement. In fact, I'll read this passage a little bit later on. But notice 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 3. After Peter gives a salutation in verses 1 and 2, he makes this statement.
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"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." Now, I wanted you to pay close attention to that. God, according to His divine power, hath given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Him. Where do we get the knowledge of God? In the Bible. What does the Bible give us? All things that pertain unto life and godliness. Isn't that interesting? We have what we need in the Word of God.
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Look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians. Go back, if you would, to Colossians chapter 1 and look at verse 28. Paul is going to tell you three things that you need to be a mature Christian. Three things. Notice Colossians 1 and verse 28. Colossians 1. Where the Apostle Paul says, "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Now, notice he says "whom we preach," that's one. "Warning every man," that's two, and "teaching every man." So the Apostle Paul says there's three things that you need. You need preaching, you need admonition, and you need teaching to bring us to maturity in the faith. Now, since we know the Word of God has been given to build us up, let's go back to 2 Timothy chapter 3 and look, if you would, specifically at how the Word of God is designed to build us up.
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Notice if you would, 2 Timothy 3 verse 16. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine." Let's stop right there. First, the purpose of the Word of God for maturation is to teach us doctrine. Doctrine.
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Now, the Greek word for doctrine is just simply didaskalia, which means doctrine, teaching, or instruction, or precept. So, the Word of God is designed to give us instruction. It was John Calvin who said this, "Here he enters into a detailed statement of the various and manifold advantages derived from the Scriptures, and first of all he mentions instruction or doctrine, which ranks above all the rest. For it will be of no purpose that you exhort or reprove if you've not been previously instructed. But because instruction taken by itself is often of little avail, he adds reproof and correction."
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In other words, he says you need all of it, and that's the fact which we shall see. But he says the purpose of Scripture is to give us doctrine or to give us instruction. When you consider doctrine, you have to consider the grand and glorious doctrines of God, His being, His perfections, His sovereignty, the creation and fall of man, the person and office of Christ, redemption by Christ, justification by faith, pardon by His blood, reconciliation, atonement by His sacrifice, eternal life for Him. All of these are doctrines.
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I get so frustrated today when I hear preachers and Christians say, "Well, I just don't like all that heavy doctrine stuff." I got news for you folks. You can't teach without teaching doctrine. You're either teaching the doctrine of God or the doctrine of man. Period. Because all instruction is doctrine. And He gave the Word of God that we may know true and right and accurate doctrine. Everything we need to know about God, everything we need to know about man and the fall of man, everything we need to know about salvation, everything we need to know about justification by faith, everything we need to know about regeneration and conversion and eternity are all revealed to us in the Word of God. And if we would study it, we would have right doctrine.
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We would be rightly instructed in the precepts of Scripture. But now the Lord did not give us the Scripture just for doctrine alone. Doctrine is first and foremost. It is needed and absolutely necessary. But look in verse 16. He says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine," and then he says, "for reproof." Ah. How many of us like to be reproved? You see, the Greek word for reproof is elegchos, and it literally refers to reproof or conviction. And when we talk about conviction, we talk about being either convicted of the truth or sometimes being convicted of sin. The Word of God will convince us either of truth, that we may believe it without any hesitation, or it will convict us of sin that we may be humbled for it without any extenuation. Usually the word reproof or convict is used to convict us of the error of our ways. When we're sinning, when we're obstinate, when we're obdurate, when we're apathetic, the Word of God will convict us.
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I don't know if you've come to this realization yet, and it may surprise some of you, may even shock a few of you to learn that none of us are yet perfect. And we have to be reproved. We have to be gotten to. We have to be convicted. And when you and I do things carelessly and when we sin through ignorance or when we sin with deliberation, we need to be reproved. We need to be reproved. We need to be convicted. We need to be brought into account to the Word of God. Dwight L.
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Moody, as I told you in times past, had a little motto written in the flyleaf of his Bible. And what he had written was very true and very accurate. He wrote, "Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book." I don't know if you've ever noticed or not, but when Christians begin sinning, begin disobeying, one of the first things they do
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is to slow down in their attendance to preach the Word, and sometimes they just miss it all together. You know why? Because the Word of God will convict you. And when people determine they're going to have their sin rather than the Word of God, they're going to stay away from where they're made uncomfortable. It's just that simple. You cannot have the Word of God and your sin. Now it's the Word of God that will convict us. So he said it's given to us for doctrine. It's given to us for reproof. But notice if you would, in verse 16, he says, here's the third reason it's given, and that is for correction. Do you realize if we're going to be mature in the faith, we don't only need doctrine, we don't only need reproof, we also need correction. Now, the word correction here is a very interesting word in the Greek. It's the word epanorthosis, and it literally means, listen carefully, it means to make straight, to make erect, to rear up again, to build anew.
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It is used in the correction of a deformed person, such as in Luke chapter 13 and verse 13, when our Lord healed this woman with her infirmity. And the Bible says, "And immediately she was made straight, and glorified God." So here's a woman that was crippled over, and when He healed her, He made her straight. The same word is used in Hebrews 12 and verse 13, where the Bible said, "And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed." So when he talks about correction now, listen carefully, he's talking about making something straight. Starting over, making it anew.
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Now I want you to look in your Bible, hold 2 Timothy, but turn back to the book of Galatians chapter 6. Galatians 6, and verse 1. Galatians 6 verse 1. I love this passage and you'll see why in just a moment. Galatians 6 verse 1. God says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
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So let's work this out. Let's work this out. Let's say Dr. Bowen falls into a grievous sin. What are we to do as Christian brethren? We're to seek to restore him. OK. But do we seek to restore him by saying, "Oh, look what he did? Boy, I'd never do that." No, no, what does God say? You seek to restore him considering yourself, lest you be tempted also. In other words, it's only by the grace of God that you didn't do what he did. You see what I'm saying now? Let's go further. He says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one." Now the word "restore"
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literally means to render fit, to render sound, to render complete. It has the idea of mending or setting straight that which has been broken. So when things are wrong, when they are broken, when they are out of joint in our lives, they may be corrected by the Word of God. When I was a boy, Goodman's Welding Shop, which is still in existence, by the way, but Goodman's Welding Shop had a big sign painted on it. And it said this: "We mend everything but a broken heart."
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But I'm here to tell you, the Word of God can even mend the broken heart. It can mend the broken heart and everything else.
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Now, I want you to stop and think about this. Look back in your Bibles to 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. I want you to think about now in light of Galatians 6 and verse 1. But look in 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16 again. Paul said, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine"—that is, it's going to instruct us—"for reproof"—it's going to rebuke us, it's going to convict us.
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Let me use this so you'll understand it. It's going to slap us down. OK. Then the next thing is for correction. I want you to notice something now. The same word that slaps us down is the same word that picks us up and sets our broken bones and puts us on the right path. So reproof and correction go together. God never just slaps us down. He might slap us down,
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but He does so, if we're His, to pick us up, straighten us out, put us on the path. Everyone knows the story about the shepherd and the sheep. When that shepherd has a sheep that constantly and continually goes astray, you know what the shepherd does? He'll catch that sheep. He'll take that staff and he'll break the sheep's leg. And then he sets the broken leg. And guess what? Now the sheep has to stay with the shepherd. So the same word that breaks us is the same word that lifts us up and straightens us out and keeps us right with the shepherd.
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Notice verse 16 again, he says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction." Now he says, "for instruction in righteousness." So the purpose of the Word of God is not only to give us the wisdom of salvation, but the knowledge of maturation. And if we're going to mature, we have to have doctrine. We have to have reproof. We have to have correction. And now he says instruction in righteousness.
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By the way, the interesting thing here is this. The word for instruction is the Greek word, paideia, which is child training. He gives us child training in instruction. Paideia, or child training, refers to the whole training and the whole education of children. It refers to the cultivation of the mind, the cultivation of morals, the cultivation of everything in their life. It teaches them to obey. Child training not only includes reproof, but it also includes chastisement. If you would look
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in the book of Hebrews, chapter 12 and verse 11. Hebrews 12 and verse 11. Look what the Bible says. Hebrews 12 verse 11. Could preach on this passage for an hour or two, but he's talking about chastening and every time you see the word "chastise" or "chasten" or "chastisement," it is the Greek word paideia, which was child training. He says in verse 11 of Hebrews 12, "Now no chastening" or no child training "for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous."
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"Nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." So in Hebrews 12 and verse 11, the Bible says no chastening for the present seems to be joyous. I never jumped up and down and thanked God when I was a boy that I got the stuffing beat out of me by my father. Did you? However, the truth of the matter is, I thank God several times since then that he did whip me, that he did chastise me. And I've concluded, Joe, that I never got half of what I deserved.
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He probably should have whipped me a whole lot more than he did. But I'm thankful that he did now, but I wasn't happy when he did it then. But the Bible tells us in verse 11 that when God whips us, when God chastens us, what is the result? It yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who were exercised thereby. Let me spell it out to you. God's chastening always works. His never fails.
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You know, I've heard parents look at their children when they're acting up sometime and just kind of say, "Well, kiddo, you're cruising for a bruising." Or "If you keep it up, you're going to get it." You know, God could say the same thing to us when we're acting unbiblically, unscripturally, and ungodly. "Well, child, you're cruising for a bruising. You keep it up, I'm going to whip you." But God says, when I get through whipping you, number one, you'll know you've been whipped. And number two, it will work.
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It will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto those who are exercised thereby. Now let me tell you, what is the joy of a parent's heart? I've been reading through the book of Proverbs again, and everywhere you turn in the book of Proverbs, "A wise son maketh a glad father," and "A wise son is a joy to his mother." All kinds of things like that. But you know what is a joy for a parent?
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It's when they brought up that child and sometimes they had to whip him, chasten him, to make him do right and to teach him what's right. When the child gets mature, he no longer has to be whipped or made to do what's right. He now does what's right because he not only understands, but he loves to do what is right. And he wants to be an honor to his parents.
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Maturity in the faith is the same way. We know that we're mature when God doesn't have to make us. He doesn't have to threaten us. We want to do what's right. We want to please Him. We want to honor Him. We want to express our love and thanksgiving for Him. We no longer need the rod to motivate us. No, no. We're mature. And that's why the Word of God is given.
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That we might have child training in righteousness. That we might reach the stage where we just do what's right, because it's right to do what's right. One last thing, I want you to look in verse 17. Here's the third purpose, and that is the consummate qualification. God gave us His Scripture, not just for the purpose of making us wise unto salvation and not just for the purpose of giving us the knowledge of maturation, but also that we may have a consummate qualification. But if we have gone through verses 15 and 16 and had them applied to our lives, then we come to verse 17, "That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." Now, why should we be perfect? The word "perfect" refers to maturity. Why should we be perfect? Why should we be thoroughly furnished unto every good work?
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Now, let me remind you, I told you earlier that I was going to repeat 2 Peter 1 in verse 3, listen carefully, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." Why should we be consummately qualified as Christians and as Christian workers? Because God has given us everything we need to make us mature and complete and to qualify us to worship Him and to honor Him and to serve Him. We don't need anything else. The Greek word for "perfect" is the word artios, and it has reference to that which is well-fitted, that which is complete, that which is perfect. And it also has reference to that which has been given a special aptitude for. In other words, God, in maturing us, gives us a special aptitude to worship Him and honor Him and love Him and serve Him. Boy! The two words "throughly furnished" are from the Greek word, exartizo, and once again it means to be completely furnished, or totally furnished, missing nothing.
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Let me give you three quotes before I really explain this. The first one is from Albert Barnes. He says this, "The object is not merely to convince and to convert him, it is to furnish all the instruction needful for his entire perfection. The idea here is not that anyone is absolutely perfect, but that the Scriptures have laid down the way which leads to perfection, and if anyone were perfect, he would find in the Scriptures all the instructions he needed for those circumstances."
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"There is no deficiency in the Bible for man in any of the situations in which he may be placed in life. And the whole tendency of the book is to make him who will put himself fairly under its instruction absolutely perfect." In other words, God says if you want to be more holy, and more holy, and more holy, and you want to be more mature, and more mature, and more perfect, and more perfect, then you must put yourself under the Scripture. Calvin says this: "Perfect here means a blameless person, one in whom there is nothing defective, for he asserts absolutely the Scripture is sufficient for perfection. Accordingly, he who is not satisfied with Scripture," listen carefully, "he who is not satisfied with Scripture desires to be wiser than is either proper or desirable." Scriptures are sufficient.
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They are our rule for faith and practice. And if you're not satisfied with Scripture, Calvin says, "Hey, you desire what is neither right, proper, or desirable." Then Matthew Poole said it like this, and I love this. Listen carefully, Poole says, "Thoroughly furnished unto all good works, and be prepared to every work which is good and acceptable and well pleasing unto God, whether it be a work of piety or justice or charity." Now listen. "The Scripture as to all is so full of direction that the Christians need not go down to the Philistines to wet their tools, nor be beholden to unwritten traditions or to the writings of pagan philosophers for directions what to do, how to worship God or manage any part of their conversation or conduct,
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either as to their general calling or as to their particular relations." Now, let me spell it out for you what Barnes, Calvin, and Poole said. Here's what they said in a nutshell. Here's what the Scripture teaches. We do not need man-made philosophies. We do not need humanistic ideas. We do not need pagan opinions. We do not need rabbinical fables. We don't need Popish legends, nor politically correct tripe. What we need, and all we need, is the Word of God. The Word of God is sufficient in and of itself. Our problem is this: we just need to learn to read it, to study it, to love it, and to apply it.
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You've heard me say this and I'm convinced it's the absolute truth. I can work out any problem between any couple or in any family or even in this country, as long as people will be willing to submit to the Word of God. Why? Because the Word of God has the answers to every problem. Every problem. Our problem is not with the Word of God. Our problem is with the people who will not submit to the Word of God. Our problem is with individuals who think they're smarter than God.
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By way of application, I want you to learn the purpose of Scripture is exceedingly simple. It is to make us wise unto salvation, to be the means of our faith, then to mature us in that faith, then to make us so mature and so complete that we have need of nothing in the worship or in the service of God. All I ever need to know about salvation, about preaching, about teaching, about starting a church, about pastoring a church, about going to church, how to act in church, the role of church leaders, the role of church members, everything I need to know I find in the Word of God. I don't need additional manuals. The Word of God is sufficient. There is nothing that God has left out that needs to be supplied by man. The second application of this, whether we need convicting, converting or chastening, the Word of God has all the answers. It teaches us.
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It rebukes us, it reproves us, it corrects us, it edifies us. The Word of God is to be our teacher, our guide, our conscience, our director. And we need to learn to thank God daily for His Word. You know, it's really been impressed upon me of late, but if you ever really just thank God, not just for salvation, but think of everything that's included. When's the last time you just thanked Him for the Scripture? For the ministry? For preaching? For teaching? You follow me? Have we ever really understood why God gave us His Word? If you and I really, genuinely desire to be mature, obedient children of God, then we must not and we cannot neglect the Word of God.
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Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14 and verse 20, "Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." In understanding, be men. And if we are mature in the faith, we will be that way because God gave us His Word, not just for salvation, but for maturation, and included in that maturation is instruction or doctrine, reproof, correction, and child training in righteousness, that we may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work for His honor and His glory. Let's pray. Father, we do thank You today specifically for the holy Word of God. We thank You, Father, that it's the Scriptures that make us wise unto salvation. It's the Scriptures that mature us in the faith. It's the Scriptures, Lord, that make us complete and mature in Your worship and in Your service. We thank You for the ministry. We thank You for those men who teach the pure, clear, unadulterated Word of God. And we ask You, Heavenly Father, to build us up in the most holy faith and to make us godly and holy.
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In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T00:25:24Z

The Purpose of Scripture

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver explains that the purpose of Scripture is threefold: to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ, to mature us in the faith through doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, and to thoroughly equip us for every good work. He contrasts general revelation (creation and conscience) with special revelation (the written Word and the living Word, Jesus Christ), emphasizing that the Bible alone is sufficient for all matters of faith and practice.

Introduction and Reading of 2 Timothy 3:15-17

Weaver opens with the reading of 2 Timothy 3:15-17 and poses the question: What is the purpose of Scripture?

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 3:15-17

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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Have you ever wondered why we have the Word of God? Have you ever thought about what exactly is the purpose of Scripture? Why did God reveal His Word to us?

General Revelation: Creation and Conscience

General revelation through creation and conscience reveals God's existence and power, rendering all men without excuse, but it is insufficient for salvation.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 19:1-6

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork." "Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 19:1-6

"Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world."

Now, if you look at Romans chapter 1 and notice verse 18 through 20, Romans chapter 1, beginning there with verse 18. Notice what the Scripture says again concerning creation. Romans 1, verse 18:

Scripture Reading — Romans 1:18-20

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"

now notice this,

Scripture Reading — Romans 1:18-20

"because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead."

Now, likewise, you have conscience. So if you look at Romans 2, beginning there in verse 12. Conscience is also known as general revelation.

Scripture Reading — Romans 2:12-15

"For as many as have sinned without the law"

—now not all men had the law given to them as Israel had—he says,

Scripture Reading — Romans 2:12-15

"for as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles,"

or the heathen,

Scripture Reading — Romans 2:12-15

"when the heathen which have not the law,"

that is, they did not get the revealed word like Israel did,

Scripture Reading — Romans 2:12-15

"for when the heathen who have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law,"

that is the written law,

Scripture Reading — Romans 2:12-15

"are a law unto themselves: which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another."

Special Revelation: The Written Word and the Living Word

Special revelation consists of the written Word (the Bible) and the living Word (Jesus Christ), which are inseparable; one's attitude toward one reflects one's attitude toward the other.

And you're going to see how Jesus Christ is referred to as the Word. Notice John 1 verse 1:

Scripture Reading — John 1:1-3, 14

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Scripture Reading — John 5:39

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."

Now those unbelieving Jews were rejecting Christ. He said,

Scripture Reading — John 5:39

"Search the scriptures; for they are they which testify of me."

The Inspiration of Scripture

All Scripture is God-breathed (theopneustos), meaning every word is from God and therefore profitable for our benefit.

Purpose 1: Wisdom unto Salvation

The Scriptures make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ, revealing a finished salvation accomplished by God, unlike all other religions.

Scripture Reading — John 19:30

You can take the book from the beginning, the book of Genesis, to the end, the book of Revelation, and all in between speaks of salvation by grace through faith through Jesus Christ alone. It's the Bible that tells us about our sin and our rebellion. It's the Bible that teaches us about God's grace and God's mercy in sending His only begotten Son as our substitute and as our sacrifice. And I want you to think about this. In all the other religions, salvation is something that you accomplish. Salvation is something that you work to receive. Only in the Bible is salvation something that God has done through Jesus Christ. Only in the Bible do you have an accomplished and a finished salvation. You remember what Jesus Christ said in John 19, verse 30? He said, "It is finished." And when He said "It is finished," He declared an accomplished salvation. It is something that God has done through Jesus Christ. It was Christ who propitiated the wrath of God. It was Christ who magnified God's law and made it honorable. It was Christ who satisfied the holiness of God. It was Christ who sacrificed Himself for our sins. It is finished. All the other religions spell theirs with two letters, D-O. Only in the Bible do Christians spell ours, D-O-N-E, done. It is finished through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ actually accomplished and worked out God's salvation. That's why the Bible says in 1 John 4 and verse 10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Let me tell you why. Because of ignorance of the Word of God. In fact, Paul the Apostle said it like this in Romans 10 in verse 3, listen carefully,

Scripture Reading — Romans 10:3

"For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."

Purpose 2: Knowledge of Maturation

Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, building us up to maturity in the faith.

Purpose 3: Consummate Qualification

The Word thoroughly equips the man of God for every good work, making him complete and lacking nothing for worship and service.

Application and Conclusion

Weaver applies the message by urging believers to rely solely on Scripture for all aspects of life and to thank God for His sufficient Word.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

The Purpose of Scripture

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	91208165212
Subject	Church Government
Course	Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry
Genre	Sermon
Date	2008-07-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 039: Church Order and Worship - Volume 1 — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	81

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Reading of 2 Timothy 3:15-17: Weaver opens with the reading of 2 Timothy 3:15-17 and poses the question: What is the purpose of Scripture?
General Revelation: Creation and Conscience: General revelation through creation and conscience reveals God's existence and power, rendering all men without excuse, but it is insufficient for salvation.
Special Revelation: The Written Word and the Living Word: Special revelation consists of the written Word (the Bible) and the living Word (Jesus Christ), which are inseparable; one's attitude toward one reflects one's attitude toward the other.
The Inspiration of Scripture: All Scripture is God-breathed (theopneustos), meaning every word is from God and therefore profitable for our benefit.
Purpose 1: Wisdom unto Salvation: The Scriptures make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ, revealing a finished salvation accomplished by God, unlike all other religions.
Purpose 2: Knowledge of Maturation: Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, building us up to maturity in the faith.
Purpose 3: Consummate Qualification: The Word thoroughly equips the man of God for every good work, making him complete and lacking nothing for worship and service.
Application and Conclusion: Weaver applies the message by urging believers to rely solely on Scripture for all aspects of life and to thank God for His sufficient Word.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

General revelation is insufficient for salvation

Creation and conscience reveal God's existence and moral law, but they cannot reveal God's mercy or the way of salvation through Christ.

Weaver argues, 'creation light is enough to condemn you, but it's not enough to convert you.'

The Bible and Christ are inseparable

Rejecting the written Word is equivalent to rejecting the living Word, Christ, because the Scriptures testify of Him.

Weaver cites John 5:46 and John 12:48 to show that Christ equates belief in Moses' writings with belief in Himself.

All Scripture is inspired and profitable

Every part of the Bible is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.

Weaver explains the Greek word theopneustos and emphasizes that no part of Scripture is worthless.

Scripture alone reveals God's salvation

Only the Bible teaches salvation by grace through faith in Christ's finished work, in contrast to works-based religions.

Weaver states, 'Salvation is not to be found in any other book than the Word of God.'

Maturation requires reproof and correction

Spiritual growth involves being convicted of sin and corrected by Scripture, which both breaks and restores the believer.

Weaver uses the shepherd breaking a sheep's leg as an illustration of God's corrective work through His Word.

Scripture thoroughly equips for every good work

The Bible provides all necessary instruction for a believer to be complete and fully equipped for worship and service.

Weaver quotes 2 Timothy 3:17 and explains that 'throughly furnished' means missing nothing.

Scripture References

2 Timothy 3:15-17: Primary text for the sermon, emphasizing the inspiration and profitability of Scripture for salvation and maturation.
Deuteronomy 29:29: Cited to show that God reveals His will so that we may do it.
Psalm 19:1-6: Used to illustrate general revelation through creation, declaring God's glory.
Romans 1:18-20: Shows that creation reveals God's power and divine nature, leaving men without excuse.
Romans 2:12-15: Demonstrates general revelation through conscience, which accuses or excuses based on the law written on hearts.
John 1:1-3, 14: Identifies Jesus Christ as the living Word of God, who became flesh.
John 5:46: Jesus states that believing Moses' writings is equivalent to believing in Him.
John 5:39: Jesus tells the Jews that the Scriptures testify of Him.
Luke 24:27: Jesus expounded the Scriptures concerning Himself on the Emmaus road.
John 12:48: Jesus says that rejecting Him and His words will result in judgment by His word.
1 Timothy 4:8: Mentioned as another use of the Greek word for 'profitable' (ophelimos).
Titus 3:8: Mentioned as another use of the Greek word for 'profitable' (ophelimos).
John 19:30: Christ's declaration 'It is finished' signifies an accomplished salvation.
1 John 4:10: God's love is shown in sending His Son as the propitiation for our sins.
John 1:18: The only begotten Son has declared the Father.
Matthew 11:27: No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son reveals Him.
Acts 4:12: Salvation is found in no other name but Jesus Christ.
John 20:30-31: The signs in John's Gospel are written so that readers may believe and have life in Christ.
Romans 10:3: Ignorance of God's righteousness leads people to establish their own.
Acts 20:32: Paul commends the Ephesian elders to God and the word of His grace, which is able to build them up.

Historical References

Albert Barnes: Quoted regarding the profitability of all Scripture and the sufficiency of the Bible for perfection.
John Calvin: Quoted on the manifold advantages of Scripture and the sufficiency of Scripture for perfection.
Matthew Poole: Quoted on the thorough furnishing of Scripture for all good works without need for unwritten traditions.
Dwight L. Moody: Mentioned for his motto: 'Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.'

Important Quotes

creation light is enough to condemn you, but it's not enough to convert you.

Summarizes the limitation of general revelation and the necessity of special revelation for salvation.

It is impossible for you to have one attitude toward the Bible and a different attitude toward Christ.

Emphasizes the inseparable link between the written Word and the living Word.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

The key verse outlining the purposes of Scripture for maturation.

Inspiration is the strong, conscious, in-breathing of God into men, qualifying them to give utterance to the truth.

Weaver's definition of biblical inspiration.

Salvation is not to be found in any other book than the Word of God.

Affirms the exclusivity of Scripture for revealing God's salvation.

Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.

Dwight L. Moody's motto illustrating the convicting power of Scripture.

We do not need man-made philosophies. We do not need humanistic ideas. We do not need pagan opinions. We do not need rabbinical fables. We don't need Popish legends, nor politically correct tripe. What we need, and all we need, is the Word of God.

Powerful declaration of the sufficiency of Scripture against all human traditions.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does understanding the difference between general and special revelation affect our view of those who have never heard the gospel?

[Context]

Weaver explains that general revelation is enough to condemn but not to convert.

[Question]

In what ways do we sometimes treat the Bible and Christ as separable, and how can we correct that?

[Context]

Weaver argues that one cannot have a different attitude toward the Bible and Christ.

[Question]

Why is it important to affirm that all Scripture is inspired, including the Old Testament?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that the Old Testament is equally God's Word and profitable.

[Question]

How does the Bible's teaching on salvation differ from other religions, and why is that significant?

[Context]

Weaver contrasts the finished work of Christ with works-based salvation systems.

[Question]

What role does reproof and correction play in spiritual maturity, and how should we respond to it?

[Context]

Weaver explains that Scripture convicts and corrects us, like a shepherd breaking and setting a sheep's leg.

[Question]

What does it mean to be 'thoroughly furnished unto all good works,' and how does Scripture accomplish this?

[Context]

Weaver discusses the consummate qualification provided by the Word.

[Question]

How can we cultivate a greater love and reliance on Scripture in our daily lives?

[Context]

Weaver applies the message by urging thankfulness for Scripture and submission to its authority.

Applications

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