Breath Part 4

We’ve seen that the Bible is God’s word, that it is breathed out by God; and so it is extremely valuable and useful to teach us how to think (gospel) and how to live the gospel.

But why? What’s the point? What’s the goal?

Main Idea: The Bible is is valuable and profitable to us so that we can be complete and fully ready for every good work.

God’s Word Makes Us Complete

God’s word is designed to make his people complete, full.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἄρτιος

to being well fitted for some function, complete, capable, proficient=able to meet all demands

The Bible is fully suficient to bring us to completion.

Scripture is complete and is all that we need to have a right relationship with God. We don’t need a vision. We don’t need a new revelation or a voice from heaven. We need to sit at the feet of Jesus like Mary not like Martha (Lk 10:38-40).

What does it mean to be a "compete" man or woman of God?

I would say that it means that we are completely saturated with the word of God ("God's Breath"), which is the gospel.

And we are so saturated, that when we are squeezed by the struggles of this life (like a sponge), what comes out is gospel realities.

God’s Word Equips Us For Every Good Work

A main purpose of God’s word is that we be “completed” for “every good work”

We are saved for 2 main reasons. 1) that we would be in a new relationship with God 2) that we would live in “good works”

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

But these two reasons go together.

Our relationship with Jesus in the love of the Gospel should begin to produce a life of love and grace.

This is the “good works” Paul is talking about.

Not religious pietism … Not just eternal religious actions

But this requires “equipping” or “training”

Training in God’s words is not always pleasant, but its end it beautify.

Illustration: Golf—learning bad habits and forming good ones

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Illustration: “Eustace and the dragon”

Conclusion

Illustration: Most of the time, bad breath is the result of what we’ve eaten. Like garlic or onions.

What does your life smell like? What have you been eating?

We are always breathing out. What is the “breath” of your life?