The Importance of the Word

Introduction: Has it ever occurred to you the significance of what we do on Sunday morning (in Sunday School and Morning Worship), on Sunday evening, on Wednesday evening, and Lord Willing what you do in the privacy of you home each day? Do we realize the overwhelming supremacy of this Book, which is no ordinary book? Do you come to this time with the sensation that you’re going to hear the very Words of God preached and taught to you? Does that significance have any bearing on your mind and person as you sit before the Word? Often times I know what my attitude is toward the Word and have been convicted of that attitude. I also believe that there are some here, tonight, whose attitude toward the Word involves only Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday night, even if that much, and when we come to the Word it is not our primary focus, but our attention is directed elsewhere. I submit to you ladies and gentlemen that the Bible’s Author motivates one to a different attitude and response to the Word of God.

Thesis: Because of the Bible’s Supreme Author, man must respond to its instruction and revelation in humble obedience and goal-oriented growth.

II Timothy 3:16-17

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Divine Author

The believer’s rule of faith is none other than the whole of God’s breathed out Word.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,

The whole of Scripture is God’s Word.

The term for all means all, any, every, the whole.

No part of the Scripture is left out.

Though secular writers and scholars would discredit the integrity of parts or even the whole of His Word, we can be confident knowing that this is God’s true revelation of Himself to men.

Though some would teach that some parts become Scripture only when you make it Scripture, God does not hold that standard but has testified to the whole of Scripture being His.

The term for Scripture refers to the sacred writings found in the Bible that reveal God to man.

When we say that something is sacred we refer to it as being set apart by God for an intended purpose.

His writings are special and He intends for us to treat them as such. (I John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.)

How are we treating God’s Word right now?

The whole of Scripture is personally delivered by God to men.

The phrase “is given by inspiration of God” is all one word in the Greek.

It means that God literally breathed into mankind His Word.

In the process of writing the Scriptures, God was actively involved.

Though each man wrote out of his own personality and understanding, God supernaturally worked through the natural process to write His Word to mankind. (II Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.)

Divine Rule

The believer finds spiritual yields from the practice of the whole of God’s breathed out Word.

And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The Whole Word is beneficial to the believer for teaching.

The term for profitable refers to something being helpful or advantageous.

It is to our benefit to search diligently God’s Word that we might find teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.

The term for doctrine means simply teaching or instruction.

As believers in Christ we are to avail ourselves of the foundational teachings that instruct us about our faith, God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, etc.

The Whole Word is beneficial to the believer for admonition based upon evidence.

The term for reproof connotes in my mind a courtroom where someone has been found guilty based upon evidence.

God’s Word through the prosecuting power of the Holy Spirit reveals to us in our lives where we are not living and acting in accordance with God’s revealed standards, or we are sinning against Him.

His Word acts as the evidence that is presented by the Holy Spirit against our sin that we might correct that sin.

The Whole Word is beneficial to the believer for putting right what once was wrong.

The term for correction refers to making something straight that once was crooked.

God’s Word acts as the spiritual straightener to put right those things that we have committed in our lives that are wrong.

The Whole Word is beneficial to the believer for training in God’s righteousness.

The term for instruction is the term from which we get our word pedagogy.

The term for instruction refers to a structured education.

God’s Word lays out for us in great detail and structures the sort of education in righteousness that we are to have.

The term for righteousness refers to someone being virtuous or moral.

God has patterned out for us the righteousness He has intended for us to have and laid the foundation for our education to become righteous.

Divine Goal (devoted or sacred goal)

The believer responds to the whole of God’s Word in growth and full equipping in works that please God.

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The believer strives for change through his working through God’s Word.

Whereas once before the believer did nothing for Christ, he now works to please Christ.

This work of completing stems from the relationship that one has to God’s Word.

The believer in working through God’s Word finds full provision for God’s Work.

The term for all is the same found above in reference to the Scripture.

God has loaded His Word with all that we need in order to serve and please him.

Conclusion: Ladies and gentlemen what is our relationship to God’s Word tonight? Do we spend time with Him in it everyday or do we lag? Do we have a relationship with God’s Word? Do we treat it with the respect that it deserves being the very Word of God? Do we listen intently as it is preached to us in every service? My fellow believers, God has divinely authored His Own word, set it as our divine rule for living, and has a divine goal for each believer: that they have all they need in order to serve Him to the fullest. If you are a believer in Christ, this is your mark that you are to aim for. Study the Word and please your Lord.