Sola Scriptura (edited)
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-In this Epistle, we’ve seen a main theme:
-Christians are to be bold and be ready for persecution
But how are Christians supposed to do this?
-How can we be bold and hold our ground in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation?
-How are Christians to stay strong and faithful in the face of false teachers who overturn people’s faith?
-How are Christians supposed to maintain the course in a wicked society that does not want the truth?
Vs. 1-9
Vs. 1-9
Vs. 1-5
-These are the things that characterize wicked cultures and wicked men as Christ nears His return, so this list really can refer to all people
-And surely, this does aptly describe the culture in which we find ourselves in America, and also describes sinful humanity in all of the world
-But this list specifically refers to Timothy’s opponents, people who claim to be Christians but are actually false teachers and enemies of the true Gospel
-This afternoon, I googled “love yourself preacher”, and several popular “preachers” came up, preaching a message about your need to love yourself. People such as Joyce Meyer and Stephen Furtick
-Lovers of money
-Jesse Duplantis, a famous televangelist, caused a stir a few years ago when he was asking his followers to pay $54million for him to get a new private jet, claiming that if Jesus were here on earth, “He’d be on an airplane preaching the Gospel all over the world.”
-Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
-I thought about googling “preacher sex scandal” for this one, but I didn’t even want to
-They have a form of godliness!
-They call themselves Christians!
-They quote Scripture sometimes in their sermons or interviews!
-But they deny it’s power
-They don’t live in obedience with God’s commands and conformity to His Word
Paul tells Timothy: “turn away from these kind of men”
-Don’t have any part of them or their ministries
Vs. 6-9
-These men are characterized by taking advantage of people (vs. 6)
-How many sex scandals or child molestation charges come from popular TV Christian pastors?
-Or how many of them take advantage of their followers financially?
-These men are characterized by learning but never able to come to the truth (vs. 7)
-Stephen Furtick went to seminary at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (where Al Mohler is the president)
-That’s a good school!
-Though these kind of people can read the Word of God and try to learn, they’re never able to come to the knowledge of the truth
-These men are characterized by their resisting truth with their corrupt minds (vs. 8)
-They balk at rebuke and being called out by biblical Christians
-Benny Hinn is famous for lashing out at critics of his one time by saying, “Sometimes I wish God would give me a Holy Ghost machine gun. I blow your head off!"
-These men are characterized by resisting the truth of God’s Word
-These men will ultimately make no progress and their foolishness will be made evident (vs. 9)
-Famous televangelist Peter Popoff was exposed in the 1980’s when he was famously caught with an earpiece through which his wife would tell him information about audience members that he could use to claim that God was speaking to him
-Often times, these people’s fraudulent behavior exposes them
-But even if it doesn’t catch up to them on earth, they will be exposed before God
2 Timothy 3:13-15
2 Timothy 3:13-15
Vs. 13
-Evil men will grow worse and worse
-This is referring to vs. 1-9
-These are men who are characterized as lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, etc.
-These are men who take advantage of others
-Men who are always resisting the truth
-Men who have corrupt minds
Vs. 14
-In contrast, Timothy is instructed to continue in the things he has learned and been assured of, as well as knowing whom he has learned these things from
-What did he learn, and who did he learn it from?
-Let’s answer the second question first
-We know that Timothy had learned primarily from Paul
-He is called Paul’s son in the faith (1 Timothy 1:2)
-Timothy also learned from his godly mother Eunice and godly grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5)
-Paul describes these women as having a sincere faith.
So, what has he learned that he needs to continue in?
Vs. 15
-Whatever has been taught him by his godly mother and grandmother, and definitely what has been taught to him by the Apostle Paul is based on Scripture
-He tells Timothy that you have known the Holy Scriptures from childhood!
-Timothy grew up having the OT taught to him from the youngest age
-Notice how Paul wants him to continue in the Scriptures though!
-Just because you’ve grown up in church, hearing the word of God at home and at church, doesn’t mean you’re good!
-You might feel like you’ve heard it all before, and you now you’ve got it!
-First of all though, I highly doubt you remember everything in the whole Bible
-But secondly, we always need to be listening to and receiving the Word of God
Notice what the Scriptures do:
-“which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ”
-The Scriptures are sufficient for salvation
-We must receive the Scriptures in faith, but it is even the Scriptures which help produce faith in us
-Here’s what the Bible teachers about how Scripture leads us to salvation:
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
We see then, that Scripture is what is necessary for someone to repent and place their faith in Christ
-There is no need for visions of God, audible messages from God, or anything of the like. The Word of God is what produces saving faith in people.
-The Scriptures, or someone teaching us the truth of Scripture, is what God uses to bring us to salvation
-That’s why catchy phrases like “preach the Gospel wherever you go, use words if necessary” is complete baloney
-No one gets saved purely by you being a nice person!
-The Scripture shows someone how they can pass from death to life
Why does the word of God lead to salvation?
-one of the biggest reasons is because the whole Bible points to Jesus Christ
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
Even in John 1, John calls Jesus the Word of God
-Why?
-Because Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God
-He is the fulfillment of all Scripture, in that the whole of Scripture ultimately points to Him
All people need Jesus, and He is found in the Scriptures.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Vs. 16
-All Scripture
-This mainly speaks of the OT, but also would include the teachings of Christ, and can also include the whole NT
-Already by this time, Paul was quoting Christ and calling it Scripture (1 Timothy 5:18), and Peter talks of Paul’s writing as Scripture (2 Peter 3:16)
-All Scripture is given by inspiration
-the literal translation is that it is “God-breathed”
-All Scripture is given to us by direct revelation from God
-Scripture is God’s self-revelation
-Although we can look at creation around us and see God’s eternal power and God-head, there is so much about God we can never learn just by looking at creation around us
-Therefore, God chose to reveal Himself to us
-This does not contain everything to possibly know about God, since how can a book with a finite amount of books, chapters, and verses fully describe and detail an infinite God?
-But this book does contain everything that God wants us to know about Himself and His plan, and it is given directly by Him, through Spirit-filled men
-Because it is from God, it is therefore infallible and inerrant, since our holy, righteous, and truthful God is not capable of confirming or giving anything contrary to truth.
-Every last part of the Bible is inspired by God. From Genesis to Revelation, from OT to NT, from history, prophecy, poetry, wisdom literature, Gospel, Epistle, and Apocalyptic Literature, all of it is inspired and God-breathed
-It is authoritative in our lives
-We don’t argue with the Bible
-We don’t negotiate with the Bible
-We don’t edit the Bible
-We don’t add to the Bible
-We don’t take away from the Bible
-We don’t pick and choose what we like and don’t like in the Bible
-We don’t reinterpret the Bible to fit our needs or desires
-We submit to it, we reverence it, we heed it, we love it, BECAUSE it is the very Word of God Almighty
-There are so many churches today, and small groups, community groups, Bible studies, group chats, etc. where its a “let’s just all get together without any kind of judgment and let’s just all discuss this passage and how it makes us feel and what it means to me, where no one is wrong and every feeling or interpretation is valid.”
-Absolutely not! The Bible is to be studied expositorily, in context, seeking to understand God’s intended message and purpose, and NOT every interpretation is equally valid or correct. God’s word is not based on your feelings or what you think it should mean to you. We do not reshape the Bible, the Bible reshapes us
Furthermore, All Scripture is profitable
-it is useful
-I once heard a famous atheist say that if you go into any bookstore in America, and pick up any book on the shelf, it would be more helpful and relevant than the Bible or other holy books
-Baloney!
-The Bible is the most relevant, helpful, and authoritative book in human history. It always has been and always will be
-Maybe a more modern, southern view: I was at waffle house, and an older lady who was a waitress told me something to the effect of: “I loved this one church I used to go to because my pastor told tons of stories about his life. It was just awesome and relatable. I don’t wanna go to a church where all they do is talk about the Bible and this verse and this chapter.”
-My friends, all the motivational speeches, all the wisdom that the smartest men and women can muster in all the world is not more helpful or profitable than the most seemingly insignificant or obscure passage in all of Scripture. I would rather someone come up here to the pulpit and read from Leviticus or one of the geneologies than the most sought after motivational speaker in the world come and give it their best shot at imparting wisdom.
-Scripture is profitable and useful for what?
Doctrine and reproof:
-This is the positive and the negative
-Doctrine is what is right
-What does the word of God say
-I know that many people get weird idea when they hear the word “theology”
-Maybe you think of a stuffy professor arguing or debating some obscure fact of the Bible. When I was young, I thought something similar
-I want to encourage you, if you think that theology is irrelevant or not important, than my dear brother or sister, you need to mature out of that kind of thinking
-The truth of the Word of God on matters
-You need to be a life-long student of doctrine, always seeking to know God better through the truths of His word
Reproof:
-What is wrong
-The Bible corrects our mistakes and often our bad theology
-I guarantee that every single person here believes something that is unbiblical
-But how will you ever know that if you don’t study the word of God
-I remember a couple months ago, I was listening to a sermon on Spotify at the gym, and the speaker started out by saying “here’s what the Bible says on this issue.” And I thought to myself, “I don’t think that’s what the Bible actually says. He’s gonna really have to show me a convincing argument from Scripture to have me believe that.”
-20 minutes later, I had realized I was dead wrong on what I used to believe
-The bible shows us what is wrong. Reproof
Correction and Instruction in Righteousness:
-This is once again dealing with the positive and negative aspects of something, and these 2 things point us more to the practical side of daily living that flows out of our theology
Correction:
-how to get right
-The word of God rebukes me for my bad theology and my bad living, so then how do I fix it?
-The word of God is profitable for that
-it teaches us how to get on the right path
-“how shall a young man cleanse his ways? By taking heed according to Your word.” Psalm 119:9
-As Christians, we need constant correction
-I remember as a young kid, we went to some amusement park, and there was a ride where 2 passengers got in this tiny car, and you would actually get to drive it. The cars were self-propelling, so it was constantly going forward. But there was a rail that would keep the cars on track. So if you didn’t stay on course, you would just constantly bump the rail. I rode on it with one of my parents, and was very small, but I remember, I couldn’t stay on track. And so we were constantly bumping on this rail.
-The word of God corrects us. It has the ability to keep us on track and set us right when we submit to it in humility
Instruction in Righteousness:
-it teaches how to stay right with God
-We need to continually be instructed
-We need constant wisdom from God’s word
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
So the Bible is profitable for:
-doctrine
-reproof
-correction
-instruction in righteousness
Or:
-what’s right
-what’s wrong
-how to get right
-and how to stay right
To what end?
-“That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”
-The word of God makes us complete
-What does that mean?
-the next phrase answers that question
-“thoroughly equipped for every good work”
-the Word of God equips us to live rightly, to live wholeheartedly for God
-Now I’m not much of an outdoorsy person
-imagine me trying to hike Mount Everest with flip flops, a Tshirt, a granola bar and a water bottle
-I am not very well equipped or ready for what is coming!
-I need to be equipped, and then trained on how to do all the wilderness-y stuff necessary to survive!
God’s Word equips us for every good work!
-How do I become mature in Christ?
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
-How do I keep from sin?
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
-How do I become a person of understanding and wisdom?
The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
How do I become a successful Christian in my walk with Christ?
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
How can I bear fruit as a Christian in all situations?
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
How can I have joy in the Lord?
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
How can I be a Christian is effective in good works and in ministry?
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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
How can I be sanctified for use for the Master?
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
-You may be asking “Scripture is great! But what I really want is to experience something! To hear something from the Lord audibly or to see something. I really need an experience like that!
we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
We have something more sure than even personal experience — we have the written word of God.
-Well, surely God still speaks to us directly right?
-In countries where there is little to no access at all to the Word of God, sometimes God does use dreams or visions. But these seem to a lot of times be just to point someone to where they can find a Bible or meet a Christian.
But by and large, no, God does not speak directly to people anymore today.
-How can you say that?
For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
If God were to still appear and speak directly to individuals, that would mean it is just as authoritative as Scripture is. God cannot REALLY mean something in Scripture, and then only kind of mean something when He speaks to people
-Since God is not giving continuing revelation and adding to the Bible, then God is not speaking to people like that still today
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
“If you want to hear God speak, read the Bible. If you want to hear Him speak audibly, read it out loud.”
2 Timothy 4:1-2
2 Timothy 4:1-2
Verse 1
-Paul is charging Timothy with something very very important
-He’s charging him before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead
-what is this all important charge?
PREACH THE WORD!
-As pastor-teachers of God’s flock, we must preach the Word!
-As pastors, we should not be preaching our political views!
-Our messages should not primarily be concerned with the culture
-Our messages are not motivational speeches to get people pumped up for the week
-Our messages should not coddle our people about their lives and hardships
-Our people don’t need “you’re so awesome, and if someone doesn’t like you then they’re just a hater” sermons
-Our people don’t need little practical life seminars each week about topics we deem “relevant” (such as how to invest wisely, how to become more of a people-person, etc)
-No! preach the Word!!
Why?
-Because this is the God-ordained way that people get saved and that Christians grow in faith and maturity
-This is how we stand firm despite false teachers and despite a wicked culture
-And this is one reason it’s so important to be faithful to the preaching and teaching of your local body!
-You must be here to hear the word of God faithfully exposited each and every service. This goes on Sunday school, worship service, afternoon service, and Wednesday nights
-When the word of God is exposited, you need to be there
-Furthermore, even beyond that, you can meet with your discipler to study the Word
-You can maybe get a group of men or ladies from our church and study the word
-Find someone, someone you really respect for their walk with the Lord, and beg them to teach you
-There’s also a wealth of good teaching and preaching available for free
-Go to Pastor and ask him to recommend some good preachers to listen to through the week
Why do that??
-Because we NEED the word!!
Why is preaching the word so important?
-Because the time is coming when sound preaching won’t be endured, but people are going to want teachers to scratch their itching ears, and will be turned aside to fables (vs. 3-4)
-How do we fight against false teachers who are deceiving the church?? preach the Word!!
-How do we combat the pull of worldly and perverted thinking that seems to be all around us? How do we keep from being conformed in our own thinking to this?
Preach the Word!!
-We must be in the word, and be under the teaching and preaching of the word if we want to be all that God wants us to be!
Do you see how important Scripture is??
-We believe in the Sola Scriptura
-Scripture alone
-It is sufficient and necessary for us
-We need the Word of God
Vs. 6-8
-Paul has done this!
-He’s been faithful!
-He hasn’t back down on the authority of Scripture
-He’s been faithful to God’s Word and God’s truth
-And it’s cost him, has it not?
-Yet, it’s worth it!
-He’s going to receive the crown!
Application
Application
Stop seeking any kind of direct or special revelation
2. Stop worshipping kinds of feelings or spiritual experiences
-Forgiveness isn’t a feeling
-Salvation isn’t a feeling
-Holiness is not a feeling
-Being close with God is not a feeling
3. Stop seeking to find God’s will in mystical ways
-Use your biblically renewed mind (Romans 12:2) and think. Pray. Read the Word. See the counsel of those who are praying and reading the word. And make a decision, trusting God’s sovereignty (Prov. 3:5-6, Psalm 32:8)
4. Cultivate a love for and reliance upon God’s Word