SetApart1

2. Word of God is profitable: (Profitable: beneficial; useful) 2 Timothy 3:16-17All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

We have been talking about how important the bible is to us as believers. Last post we saw that the bible is important to us because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. What else does Paul tell us that makes this book important? Well lets look at our passage again.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Secondly Paul tells us that the bible is important to us because it is:

Word of God is profitable: (Profitable: beneficial; useful) It’s useful for something. Its not a waste of our time. I have friends that keep telling me that I should go work out with them. You see I am not very buff I could use a good work out. I am finding that as I get older it is only smart for me to work out. They try to encourage me because they feel that working out will help me. They feel that it we be beneficial for my puny self. It would be profitable for me. 
Working out would be profitable it would be beneficial for me. Paul says Gods Word is profitable it beneficial to us. As a matter of fact I sometimes think that Timothy was faced with his friends buggin him about working out too. I mean look what Paul tells Timothy.

1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

God’s word is profitable for all things for this present world and for the afterlife. It might be useful for me to workout but as I get older my body will began to take its toll. Muscles no matter how much I work them will someday deteriorate. My abs will one day decompose. It may be useful while I live a little but God’s word will profit me for eternity. God’s word is useful or beneficial. How is a book useful? Many think why should I read the bible? It can profit you. It can profit your family. It can profit friends. It can profit this world. Whats the profit that we can get from the scriptures? Paul tells us its profitable for doctrine. Look at what Paul says.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

For Doctrine: all doctrine means is something that is taught. We follow the doctrine or the teachings of Jesus words. What am I to believe about God? What am I to believe about man? What am I to believe about sin? What am I to believe about angels or the future? Or life, or death, or life after death? The scriptures are profitable to establish the foundation of my beliefs. They’re profitable for doctrine. I can base my beliefs upon what God has said because it is indeed God’s word. That is why when people say I don’t care about doctrine they are saying they don’t care about God’s word and how stupid is that. The word of God is profitable because it teaches us doctrines that Jesus taught. It is our foundation for our faith.

Jesus said Matt 7:24-27, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

This word is profitable because it gives us a foundation to stand upon. This Word is our foundation when the hardship comes. People will come and serve the Lord but then the hardships will come and they are washed away. Because they have no foundation. They don’t know what they believe. You see you can come to church and not listen. You can sit in that chair sing the songs and be a christian but if you are not reading your word and finding out the truth of the scriptures then when hardships come you will wash away. Read the parable of the sower when you get a chance. You’ll see what I mean.

A college student came to me confused about things in the scriptures. She had heard this and that. Someone had told her something from one church. Another person had told her something else from another church. She was confused. So we went through the scriptures to see what God said. As we read the scriptures she kept saying, “wow, it says that?” She said, “wow that is really clear!” Once we read the scriptures she understood exactly what God said and there was no confusion. She was all joyful and confident in what she believed. She went away happy. Why? The word is profitable for doctrine that is why. She now knew the truth of the scriptures and her confusion was gone. Are you confused with all the things in this world? Well Jason Oprah says this. Dr. Phil says this. My teacher says this. My mom says this. My friends say this. Forget about what people say and open this book that is inspired by God that is profitable for doctrine. Read it and find out what you believe and why. Paul doesn’t stop there. He goes on and tells us that there is another reason why the scriptures are profitable.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Reproof & Correction: It tells us when we are wrong in our thinking or conduct. Oh I cannot tell you how many times I have got a good ol whipping from the Word of God. Just like Vernon Mcgee says he takes us out to the woodshed.

Just recently I was reading about how powerful the tongue is. James says whoever can control it is a mature man. I was reminded about some stupid things that I had said. Oh how the Lord gave it to me through His word. I was so convicted as I read. Have you ever been corrected by the Word. You hear the scriptures in a message and they don’t even have to expound on the passage because as they read it and your already repenting. The Word is profitable because it correct us. You might ask how is correction profitable? Well the writer of Hebrews tells us

Hebrews 12:5-11 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8   But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9  Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10  For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,

The writers says Fathers only corrects those who are His to prove you are a child and to make you holy not a spoiled brat. When is the last time you have been convicted or corrected by the word? If it has not been lately I might say you haven’t been in the word or possibly you are not a child of God. Christians! Has God corrected you lately? Have you been reading? Seriously I find that when I think I am pretty spiritual I have found that I have not been in this book. When I have been dwelling in this book I find that I realize just how messed up I am but just how great He is. Because I am constantly under His correction. The other day my son was going to bed and he wanted to eat chocolate before going to bed and i told him no. I told him maybe in the morning. I knew it was bad for him. I knew eating chocolate every night before bed can began to rot his teeth. So he through a fit. I would not let him have candy no matter how he screamed and cried. Why? Is it because I am mean and I don’t like to give my son anything. NO! it is because I love my son and I want him to learn how to take care of his teeth so when he is older he will still have his teeth. He is my son and I love him and I care more about his future then for his present desires. God disciplines us through his word to get us back on the right track. We grew up learning wrong things from this world and God has to correct us and bring us back to a place of being right with Him. The word is profitable for reproof and correction. Thats not all. Paul also tells us that God’s word is profitable for. . .

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Instruction in Righteousness: (it tells us how to live rightly before God and men)This word speaks of early childhood instruction; As a father gently teaches his child about the world or how to have manners. It’s instructing you on the right kind of life. This is the right thing to do. It’s instructing us in righteousness. God’s word teaches us how to walk with others and God. Maybe you have questions in your life about situations? Perhaps you don’t know what to do when this or that happens.Like stealing for example. In the world when you wanted something you stole it. You have known that your whole life. Now that your a christian what are you to do? Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Or Maybe you had a foul mouth. In the world you would cuss when people got you mad or cut you off. Now that your a christian what do you do? Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Or maybe you love the E channel. You love the latest gossip. Or we have anger problems. Or maybe your bitter against someone for what they did in the past. Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

So what makes the scriptures so important? We saw firstly in our last post that they are inspired by the Spirit of God. Secondly Paul points out that the scriptures are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and also to instruct us how to do what’s right. Thats not it. Paul still has a little more to tell us why the scriptures are so vital to us. Have you realized the importance of the scriptures yet? We get so sidetracked we forget just how vital the words in this book are to us.

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