GOD’S HEART IN THE SCRIPTURES

“ALL SCRIPTURE is given by INSPIRATION of GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” – 2 Timothy 3:16

We encounter inspiration when we discover GOD’S HEART IN THE SCRIPTURES: “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” (2Tim.3: 16-17). All sixty-six books of the Bible are God’s special resources to provide instruction and empower us to live out His Heart, Purpose, and Will for our lives. There are increasing sources of knowledge all about us, including the saturating social media. However, no matter how old and worn our Bible may be, it outshines all other resources we might have.

Every finely crafted tool or instrument is designed for a purpose. The true benefit of a tool is seen not in the possession of it but in its utilisation. A tool can perform assignments that no other tool can do. The glory of the tool is seen in it being used for its end purpose. Similarly, the Power of God works in our lives through His Word so that we might live for the purpose we were designed and made.

That “all scripture is given by inspiration of God” implies that we need a close relationship with Him and help from His Spirit to rightly discern and apply God’s Word to our lives. The proper use of His Word requires a proper relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit is the Inspirer, Interpreter, and Illuminator of God’s Word. The Word belongs to Him, reflects His Heart, and was especially given to us to accomplish His good and greater purposes in and through our lives: doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.

Doctrine or Teaching: We cannot fully understand God, His world, and the things therein, apart from teaching. General observable ideas of the senses are wonderful in giving clues about God and His world, but they fall far short of providing fuller understanding of good, evil, spiritual matters, God’s Person, His Heart, Plans, and Purposes. Teaching is essential for us to know what exists and their purposes, and to develop faith which becomes a basic framework by which we perceive God, fellow humans, and the world.

Reproof: God’s Word convicts of wrong thoughts and ways. The Holy Spirit not only teaches about what is (doctrine) but helps us to be aware when we have not properly responded to truth: “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin…” (Jh 16:8). For example, “Man is made in the image of God” is a doctrine. A man may specifically be reproofed for mistreating his wife or vice versa.

Correction: This infers to straighten up – back to the standard. God through the Agencies of His Word and the Holy Spirit is not only interested in reproofing us of wrong thoughts, actions, and motivations; He wants to build us up back to where we should be. The evil one desires to keep us in guilt so that we give up, but God encourages us through teachings about forgiveness and restoration how to find His peace. He then straightens out our perspective that we would not need to fall anymore; like Jesus restored Peter!

Training: This combines life events and instruction to effect godly life changes. The Spirit of God uses His Word to train us to rightly live in relationship to others. For example, He trains us how to have a good marriage, not just teaching us what a good marriage is!

All four functions of God’s Word are for a purpose: Righteousness – living in a right relationship with God and others. Without either the Word or the Holy Spirit being active in our lives, we cannot grow much in the Christian faith. Satan tries to detach us from God’s Word in order to remove us from the Heart of God, and from the faith. He tries to substitute faith with fables and myths. Those who claim to know Jesus but show little regard for the Scriptures are deceivers or being deceived. May neither be our lot, in Jesus name!