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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto
all good works.
In the Greek there is just one word for the phrase
inspiration of God. That word means
God-breathed. So Scripture is given, not just something written
by man, but given to man by God. Men acted as secretaries as God dictated
to them. These men did not always understand what they were writing, but
were faithful to obey God.
PROFITABLE. They are worth looking into.
1. Doctrine. Doctrine is teaching. Much that we learn comes from teaching.
That learning is good if it has been correctly taught. There can also be
false doctrine, taught by liars and evil spirits. But the doctrine we find
in The Book is good doctrine, the
profitable kind.
2. Reproof. This we do not like. But it can be very profitable if
we will but take it. The Bible reproves people of sin. That is why so many
will not read it. It is a mirror in which we can see ourselves as we really
are. It does not flatter.
3. Correction. We do not always like this either. We like to go our
own way. But the Word is a corrective, turning us from our own ways and the
crooked paths to the straight one. Our speech needs correction. Our activities
need guidance and correction: Our worship and service also need it.
4. Instruction in righteousness. It seems that man's imagination is
continually evil. It comes naturally. When it comes to righteousness, or
rather doing right, he needs instruction. He has to be taught it. And
The Word does just that. Things that the natural man might think to
be right are not found right according to the standard of the Word. The first
step in doing right is to love. No step that is profitable can be made till
this first one is made. Even the 10 words for Israel demand love for God
and for fellow men.
THE GOAL. All the above leads up to something.
1. That the man of God may be perfect. Left to his own devices, man
goes the downward grade. His progress has always been the opposite of evolution.
The sons of Adam were highly civilized, but they soon went back and many
lived in caves and used the crudest of tools and weapons. They killed and
often ate each other. But the measure of the perfection of man is
The One Who was the express image of God, Christ. Civilization does
not make a man perfect. It is an inner work by the Spirit.
2. Thoroughly furnished unto all good works. We are reminded in
Eph 2:10 that the man who is saved is created unto good works. Not
only do we have to find what these good works are, but we have to be trained
to do them. We also have to have the tools with which to work. All these things
are furnished by the Scriptures. There is no other way to attain unto this
goal then by a reading and study of the Scriptures. So let's get busy!
