The Word of God Is From God!

Dateline … WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Fewer than one in four Americans (24%) now believe the Bible is "the actual word of God, and is to be taken literally, word for word," similar to the 26% who view it as "a book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man." This is the first time in Gallup's four-decade trend that biblical literalism has not surpassed biblical skepticism.

Meanwhile, about half of Americans -- a proportion largely unchanged over the years -- fall in the middle, saying the Bible is the inspired word of God but that not all of it should be taken literally.

From <https://news.gallup.com/poll/210704/record-few-americans-believe-bible-literal-word-god.aspx>

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From the mid-1970s through 1984, close to 40% of Americans considered the Bible the literal word of God, but this has been declining ever since, along with a shrinking percentage of self-identified Christians in the U.S. Meanwhile, the percentage defining the Bible as mere stories has doubled, with much of that change occurring in the past three years.

Still, while biblical literalism has waned, the vast majority of Americans -- 71% -- continue to view the Bible as a holy document, believing it is at least God-inspired if not God's own words.

The latest results are based on Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs poll, conducted May 3-7,2022.

From <https://news.gallup.com/poll/210704/record-few-americans-believe-bible-literal-word-god.aspx>

Estimates suggest that between 65% and 75% of the US population claims to be Christian that's about 230 million people.

Today's Message is Titled "The Word of God Is From God"

The scripture for today is taken from 2 Timothy 3:15-17

2 Timothy 3:15–17 NLT

15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

So, Where do I begin? Let me start with this analogy …

God saves us through His Word. The Scriptures are like a high power transmission line that carries heaven’s power to your door.

So, let walk though the text and you can decide for yourselves.

The Exclusivity of Holy Scripture (v. 15)

The first item of note in this passage is the exclusivity of Scripture. What is meant by exclusivity of Scripture is that only the Scriptures reveal the gospel of Jesus Christ and the way of salvation.

The Koran, Book of Mormon, pop psychology, and humanistic literature do not reveal the way of salvation. Verse 15 states that Timothy knew the Scriptures “from childhood,” which literally means from infancy. As a toddler, Timothy was taught the truths of Scripture.

2 Timothy 3:15 NLT

15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

“Holy Scriptures” refers to the Jewish Scriptures, or our Old Testament. So Timothy, as a child, had a steady diet of the Word of God fed to him. And look at what happened as a result. The end of verse 15 states that the Scriptures are able to give the wisdom of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Scriptures don’t save, but they are the only accurate and reliable road sign that points out the way of salvation. What is truly staggering about this is that Paul is referring to the Old Testament. We all agree that the New Testament gives a clear road map of heaven, but from Genesis to Malachi the focal point also is Jesus Christ.

Next let's look at …

The Authority of Holy Scripture(v. 16a)

The term authority of Scripture refers to what makes it binding on our lives. This can be seen in the first part of verse 16. All Scripture—both the Old and New Testaments—is inspired of God. The fact that the Scriptures are inspired means many things.

Notice these three points:

1. The Scriptures come from God’s innermost being and contain the mind of God, or the revelation of God to man.

2. The words within the Scriptures themselves are inspired by God. Inspiration happened in different ways, but typically God superintended the authors, whereby they maintained their own personality and style in writing. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit moved the authors to record exact truth from God.

3. Since the Bible is inspired of God, it is also inerrant and infallible. Simply put, the Bible is true. And it is true without any mixture of error, which is what Jesus said about the Scriptures in Matthew 5:17–18 and John 17:17. Here let me read it into the record.

Matthew 5:17–18 NLT

17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

John 17:17 NLT

17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

The authority of Scripture shapes everything about life. Since the Bible is God’s Book, it has unique authority on life. It is not a book full of suggestions, but commandments.

It is binding upon every believer, as well as every church. The Bible is the standard to which we must conform our lives and our churches. Now, let's not get it mixed up, We do not conform the Bible to our lives and our churches, although we may try.

The Efficacy of Holy Scripture(v. 16b)

The Bible is capable of doing what it is purposed to do. It is able to accomplish that which it intends to accomplish.

Bing.com defines EFFICACY as the ability to produce a desired or intended result

The efficacy of Scripture means that the Word of God is powerful to change lives.

The Bible conforms believers into Christlikeness. Notice that Paul lists four specific uses for Scripture: teaching (doctrine), reproof, correction, and training for righteousness (instruction). The first two of these uses deal with what one believes and the last two deal with how one lives.

What you believe affects how you live. Sound doctrine is necessary for sound living. So, Paul deals with the two most important areas of a person’s life: what one believes and how one lives.

As Scripture shapes our beliefs, it does so in two ways: by teaching and by reproof. The first is positive and the second is negative. Teaching refers to instructing a person in the truth. Reproof refers to correcting a person in error.

That is what preaching is. It is presenting the truth of Scripture in such a manner that on the one hand teaches sound doctrine and on the other hand corrects false doctrine. This two-fold ministry takes place all of our Christian life. No one has a corner on the truth and we all need to grow in our knowledge of it. The Word of God is to be continually growing us into a fuller understanding of the Christian faith.

Once someone’s mind is convinced of the truth of Scripture, their heart is convicted to live it. That is why the Word is not only good for teaching and reproof but also for correction and training in righteousness.

Remember these two concern our actions. Correction means to restore something to its original and proper condition. It refers to the ministry of Scripture to put us back on the right path.

Let's be for real, we are sinners by nature and we are, in the words of the hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

“prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God of love.”

But, listen closely, the Scripture also trains in righteousness, or sets before us the positive way of life. The Scripture beautifully maintains the balance between correction and training.

The Word of God has power. It has the efficacy to change your life. It accomplishes its work.

Moving on … Oh I’m just walking through the text …

The Sufficiency of Holy Scripture (v. 17)

Lastly, the final aspect of Scripture seen in these verses is its sufficiency; the Bible is all that is needed to complete us in Christ. The immediate context of verse 17 refers to the minister, but arguing from the greater to the lesser, we can apply this to all believers.

2 Timothy 3:17 (NLT)

17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

The question should be asked … What does the Word of God produce? What is its end result? The answer is … That the people of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. The ministry of the Word in our lives makes us adequate and equipped for the Christian life. Let me correct the world's thinking … It is not Scripture and something else. It is Scripture and Scripture alone.

Paul emphasizes Timothy’s godly heritage in as stated in 2nd book of Timothy chapter 1 verse 5. His mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois had faithfully taught him the Holy Scriptures. The truths of God’s Word directed Timothy to Christ. God’s Word and the Spirit of God are both essential for our salvation.

The Word of God without the Spirit of God is lifeless; it has no power to act. But the Word of God empowered by the Spirit of God becomes a living force in our lives.

The study of Scripture will make a believer complete, meaning “capable” or “proficient.” Thoroughly or fully prepared. The person who masters the Word of God will never lose his or her way. Paul emphasizes the essential link between knowing God’s Word and applying it to one’s daily life. Right doctrine should produce right practice.

Tony Evans writes this about the Word of God, When a plane takes off it needs a control tower. The Control Tower can see what the plane cannot.

The pilots have a limited vantage point.

They can’t see underneath or above them. The pilots even with all their instruments, cannot see all the weather conditions that will affect their flight plan. The folks in the control tower can provide the pilots information they wouldn’t have because of their limited vantage point.

The Word of God is the control tower for the Christian. Where we have only a limited vantage point, God’s Word can communicate to us what is going on in the Spiritual realm that we can’t see.

I want to leave you with this one thought …

If you want to be complete in your spiritual journey, then immerse yourself in the inspired Word of God.

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