The Source of Truth

Fall ‘23 Doctrinal Series: Identity

Message One

2 Timothy 3:16-17.

ETS: The Word of God is the absolute source of truth.

ESS: We should trust in the Word of God for every issue in life.

OSS: [Devotional] {I want the hearers to renew their affirmation and belief in God’s Word as fully true and reliable.}

PQ:

What truths are present in this Passage?

UW: Truths

Intro: [AGS]: A church sign once read, “Moral confusion; sexual confusion; gender confusion; author of confusion: Satan.” This is true. We might ask, “Why is there so much confusion, today? Even among believers?” Statistically speaking, more than half (53%) of Americans admit to only reading a small portion of the Bible. Much smaller are the statistics of Americans who have read almost all of the Bible (12%) or at least half (15%). [1] According to another article, most Americans still claim Christianity, but only 6% have a biblical worldview. The breakdown is this: of those 30 and younger, 1%; 30-49 3%; 50-64 5%; 8% of those 65+ years of age. [2] Thus, the obvious trend and results are as follows: people are not reading and studying the Bible; thus, people are not living according to the Bible anymore. [TS] Yet, the text today asserts that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. As such, it is trustworthy and relatable to our lives. [RS]: Do you read Scripture? Beyond just the “verse a day to keep the devil away”? Do you meditate on and live Scripture? The Word of God is “living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to joint and marrow” (Heb. 4:12a) As such, we need to ensure that it is the source of authority in our lives. It is the only point of which we are being guided on issues pertaining to life and living among others. Today, let us look at what the Scripture asserts about itself and why it is the source of truth for our lives.

TS: Let us examine a few truths together now:

The Bible has God as its author. [v. 16a]

Because God is the author, we can trust it as a source of unchanging, absolute truth.

The Word of God is inerrant (will not lead us into error), infallible (will not fail us), authoritative (possessing the authority of God since He is the author), and sufficient (it directs us in all matters of life).

The Bible has many benefits for its readers. [v. 16b]

The following are the benefits:

Teaching man how to live according to God’s standards

Rebuking (calling out) man when he does not live according to God’s standards

Correcting man when he has erred and fallen short of God’s standards

Training man how to live righteously according to God’s righteousness

The Bible has a distinct purpose for the believer. [v. 17]

The purpose of the Bible for the believer is to grow the individual to maturity, being equipped for every work God calls the individual to do.

CONCLUSION:

Do you trust the Bible as a source of truth, providing relevant guidance for your life today?

Do you trust the Bible as sufficient to deal with issues we face even today?

If you answer no to these questions, what hinders your embracing God’s Word for what it truly is- the inspired Word of God?

Consulted Sources:

[1] Bob Smietana. “Americans Are Fond of the Bible, Don’t Actually Read it” from Lifeway Research. Published April 25, 2017. (Nashville: Lifeway Research, 2017).

[2] Tracy F. Munsil. “Biblical Worldview Among U.S. Drops 33% Since Start of COVID-19 Pandemic” in Arizona Christian University. Published February 28, 2023.