The Believer and the Word

The Believer and the Word

II Tim 3:14-17

Intro

Dr. William Evans, who pastored College Church from 1906–1909, was an unusually accomplished man. He had the entire King James Version of the Bible memorized as well as the New Testament of the American Standard Version. Dr. Evans also authored over fifty books. His son, Louis, became one of the best-known preachers in America and for many years pastored the eminent First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. When Dr. William Evans retired, he moved to Hollywood to be near his son, and when Louis was away he would substitute for him.

One unforgettable Sunday Dr. William, as he was affectionately called, spoke on the virgin birth. All were amazed when he raised his Bible and tore out the pages that narrate the birth of the Lord. As the tattered scraps floated down toward the congregation, he shouted, “If we can’t believe in the virgin birth, let’s tear it out of the Bible!” And then as he drove home his point, he tore out the resurrection chapters, then the miracle narratives, then anything conveying the supernatural. The floor was littered with mutilated pages.

Finally, with immense drama he held up the only remaining portion and said, “And this is all we have left—the Sermon on the Mount. And that has no authority for me if a divine Christ didn’t preach it.” After a few more words, he asked his listeners to bow for the benediction. But before he could pray, a man in that vast and sedate congregation stood and cried, “No, no! Go on! We want more!” Several others joined in. So Dr. Evans preached for another fifty minutes.[1]

What we believe about the word or scripture and how important it is to us has everything to do with how we live our life and what we do for God

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I. The Word is Valuable (14-15)

A. You must continue in it

- Continue—to abide, remain, dwell, and stay in the scriptures

- It is the same word that is translated “hold to” or “remain” in John 8:31; 15:5-6

- This word demands more than merely continuing in orthodoxy, it calls for a commitment to live and abide in what Timothy had learned

- Timothy and we have to live in the scriptures

- We have to live, move, and have our being in the word

- It also means to live out the scriptures

- We have to do what scripture says

B. You must believe it/ remember who taught you

- Timothy had been taught the scriptures all his life

- When Timothy was a child, his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois rooted his young life in the Word

- 2 Tim. 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also

- These ladies were strong believers in Jesus

- Paul had also grounded him in the scriptures (OT) and the doctrines of the faith

- But…

o It’s not enough to have learned the scripture

o It’s not enough to be assured that what scripture teaches is true

o It’s not enough to know that your teachers teach truth

- Timothy knew and believed all these things

- But be had to do what the scriptures said and apply it to his life

C. You must be changed by it

- How are we changed by it?

- Paul says it makes us wise to salvation

- The bible is a book that leads to salvation

- Paul consistently used OT scripture to preach Christ

- Acts 17:2

- Acts 18:4-5

- Acts 26:22-23

- The bible alone tells us…

o That God loves the world

o That Jesus has taken care of the problem of righteousness and perfection

o That Jesus has taken care of the problem of sin and death

o That Jesus has taken care of the problem of living forever

- Scripture doesn’t change our life but it points us to the one but they point to the one who can

- Jesus is the hero of the bible

- Gospel

- I Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures

- Daniel Webster said, “If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper, but if we and our posterity neglect its instruction and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury our glory in profound obscurity.”[2]

II. The Word is Flawless (16 A)

A. It is entirely inspired

- Every passage of scripture is inspired

- We can’t pick and choose what is inspired or not

- Textual or expository preaching important can’t leave out what we don’t like

- Not just OT

- II Peter 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction

- God spoke to the writers and told them what to say but allowed them to use their own style

- Paul does not go beyond this simple but profound statement.

- How God did this, we’ll never know.

- On the one hand, the writings are certainly human.

- The writings of Paul, for instance, are clearly distinguishable from those of Matthew, and those of Matthew from Mark, and those of Mark from Luke.

- On the other hand, we affirm them as the Word of God written, for indeed we find them to be God’s Word to us as we read and study them.

B. It is Godly inspired

- Inspired—(theos) God (pneustos) breathed

- God breathed out or produced the scriptures somewhat like he did creation

- II Peter 1:20-21

- Satan has constantly attacked God’s word Gen 3:1 “ hath God said”

- Today people want to take away and so that’s not inspired or true

- Inerrancy of scripture

III. The Word is Beneficial (16 B)

- Profitable, useful, helpful

- God gave us the word to help us

A. For doctrine (teaching)

- Teaching shows you the path to walk on

- Scripture is the source of our doctrine

- Doctrine matters (BMA doctrinal statement)

- Teaching was timothy’s primary task in Ephesus

- I Tim. 4:6, 13

B. For reproof (rebuking)

- Shows you when you have gotten off the path

- Have you ever noticed that when we are caught in sin the 1st thing we do is avoid scripture or anyone that will speak truth in our life

- God wants man to sense conviction and be rebuked when we are disobedient to His Word and will

- The word teaches us God’s will and the consequences of disobeying it

C. For correction (direction)

- Shows you how to get back on the path

- God wants men to be set right when we are wrong

- We don’t find anywhere that Jesus or the apostles appealed to tradition in order to correct error

- They constantly used scripture however

- Acts 17:2-3, 11

D. For instruction (training)

- Shows you how to stay on the path

- God wants man to know the right things to do, to think and to say.

- The Bible reveals how to live “soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2:12–13)

IV. The Word is Effective (17)

A. It matures the believer

- Perfect does not mean we are sinless

- Scripture matures the believer it helps us to grow

- We can not be made complete or mature without scripture

B. It prepares for ministry

[1] Hughes, R. K., & Chapell, B. (2000). 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: to guard the deposit (pp. 235–236). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

[2] Hobbs, H. H. (1990). My favorite illustrations (p. 21). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.