“The Word That Brings Transformation”
2 Timothy 3:10-17
Sermon Series: “God’s Playbook For A Winning Life”
Introduction: We are beginning a new series this week with the plan of communicating four principles over the course of five weeks in order to accomplish four goals. The four principles are:
1. The Bible is God’s perfect Word that He uses to transform us.
2. The Bible is God’s perfect Word that must be boldly and accurately preached.
3. Staring into the mirror of God’s perfect Word and receiving it leads to life change.
4. Obedience to God’s perfect Word is not optional.
The four goals are:
1. Confidence in the truthfulness of the Bible.
2. Submission to its authority.
3. Digging into it personally.
4. Obeying what God says through His Word.
Let’s examine the first of these principles that is taught in 2 Timothy 3.
1. The Nature of the Bible-It is God’s perfect Word (“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God”)
Meaning Of Inspiration-All Scripture (not part of it) is God-breathed
Process of Inspiration-The Holy Spirit led the writers (2 Peter 1:16-21)
Extent of Inspiration-To the very words (Matthew 5:18, 1 Corinthians 2:13)
Result of Inspiration-The Bible (all of it) is true (John 17:17). God doesn’t breathe error. Jesus said the Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35). This is why we speak of the Bible being without error (inerrant) and the Bible being incapable of erring or leading us astray (infallible).
1 Thessalonians 2:13 says, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” Do you believe the Bible is the word of God or the word of men? It really cannot be both. Beyond a doctrinal statement, what role does the Bible play in your life? Do you read and obey it?
2. The Purpose of the Bible-The transformation of our lives
God did not give us the Bible so we could be inspired, be religious, or have a lot of knowledge. His ultimate purpose for our lives is making us like Jesus, and the Bible is a big part of that process. Scripture does that by:
Enlightening us to the way of salvation (v.15) [Romans 10:17]. Jesus is the hero of the Bible. He is the main message (Luke 24:27). However, the Bible teaches us about Jesus so we can trust Him. The Bible does not save us. Jesus does. We do not worship the Bible. We worship Jesus. However, we cannot accurately know about Jesus and genuinely trust Him apart from the Bible.
Educating us toward spiritual maturity (v. 16-17).
Profitable for doctrine-teaches us what to believe
Profitable for reproof-shows us what we should not believe; corrects our thinking
Profitable for correction-shows us what we should not do
Profitable for instruction in righteousness-teaches us how to live in order to please God and fulfill His will
Equipping us for every good work of service (v. 17). Scripture teaches us how and why to serve the Lord.
Enabling us to avoid satanic deception (v. 14). We can avoid deception through the Bible because it teaches us the truth and enables us to detect the lies of Satan.
