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.
I charge you therefore before
God and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who will judge the living
and the dead at His
appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word!
Be ready in season
and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with
all longsuffering and
teaching. For the time will come when
they will not endure
sound doctrine, but according
to their own desires,
because they have itching ears,
they will heap upon
themselves teachers; and they
will turn their ears
away from the truth, and be
turned aside to
fables.
2Timothy 3:16:4:4
The Scripture written
by Paul to Timothy in his second letter (3:16) is often quoted but only that
verse. This is a wrongful manner to read the Scripture. First, the Bible was
written without verses, or chapters, they were applied to aid us in our study.
It is context, context, context, as Scripture interprets Scripture. Paul was
instructing Timothy but this teaching or instruction was not just for Timothy
for all Scripture us profitable and inspired for everyone. The quote above from
the New King James Version is correct but can be misused or misunderstood that
Paul was just speaking to Timothy and what he said was just for Timothy. No!
This letter was read before the congregations and applied to all believers.
Chapter 4, verse 1, says: “I charge you…” and is not a bad translation
but the Greek word used is in the future and middle voice, and the literal
translation is; I solemnly witness” or to make a solemnly charge; and it
was to Timothy, but the Scripture was inspired for all future generations who
would read this instruction to Timothy and apply that instruction to their
lives. The Bible is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind. The Bible speaks
about the greatest gift that the prophets and people of old looked for and that
gift was Jesus Christ, announced by angels: “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14). John tells us that
Jesus is: In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).
The early Church valued this message and they received it with the greatest of
joy.
Can
you now see why we must come to terms with the unspeakable value of true
Authentic Biblical Faith? But, what can be seen is that this gift of God is so
often rejected in one form or the other, or treated with so little worth. On
the other hand if we study God’s word we will see the value of this gift. Why
must we be prodded to study the Bible? Does not the Bible exhort us to study?
Yes! Peter clearly teaches this: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts,
and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the
hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1Peter 3:15). By two witness
all things shall be proved: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to
God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth” (2Timothy 2:15). There is so much value in this effort.
Unfortunately many have Bibles in their homes that sit on a shelf, untouched
for the most part, and the Bible remains a mystery. What is the result? In the
Christian world men and women settle for a cultural version of Christianity;
this is far from the real thing.
Am
I speaking about unbelievers? No! I am speaking of those who say they believe
the Bible and claim to be committed to Jesus Christ. What they have is nominal
faith. They may agree with the statements of the Church in some manner, but the
actually agree with the statement: “It doesn’t matter what you believe; it is
how you live that counts” and “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as
you are sincere in your belief.” Sincerity and about $3.50 will get you a cup
of coffee. To think like that is absurd!
What
we believe does determine how we live. Adolf Hitler believe that he was doing
what was right and killed more that 5 million people, others within their
beliefs did horrendous acts of cruelty or crimes. You say that is not you, for
you believe that you are living good and moral lives. The measurement for this
belief is don with subjective criteria and you many not realize this but vices
are produce often due to this ignorance or error. It is often difficult to
distinguish right from wrong, or truth from error.
This
is why it is important to diligently study God’s word. It is within God’s word
that God has given us instruction that we need to live by so that we can tell
right from wrong, truth from error. If we do not understand the Bibles
precepts, and principles we then become the victim of our own subjectivity.
When our hearts become hardened and our consciences seared how profitable is
subjectivity? All that has occurred is to become blinded to all moral
distinctions.
Authentic
Biblical Faith requires a person to be honest in the mind, the consistent use,
that is the Bible, as the means to obtain true knowledge and instruction, to
become humble so that you desire to be instructed, and you will come to a
conclusion that is unprejudiced. This is how we approach our study of God’s
word: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and
it will we opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,
and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).
WE
have such an opportunity, but this opportunity comes with responsibility. If
you have settled for cultural Christianity and are ignorant or unresponsive to
Authentic Biblical Faith, you can change even though it be hard for we have the
promises of God to give to us what is needed, and if not what kind of
justification can you give to God?
Therefore whoever hears
Sayings of min, and does
Them, I will liken him to a
Wise man who built his
House on a rock….
Matthew 7:24
You Are A New Creature—Believe
It!
Richard L. Crumb
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