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The context of that verse is
warning about false teachers, and how to tell the
difference. A very important rule of Bible study is to
find several verses that say the same thing,
and then you have a truth that should be heeded.
The
Bible’s value
II Tim. 3:15-4:1, “… from child-hood you
have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to
make you wise for salvation through faith which is
in Christ Jesus.
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 (mature),
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 … preach the Word!
Be ready in season and out of season.
Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering (patience) and teaching.”
Before I give you more verses, please notice in
the first few lines of this one that the Holy
Scriptures are what leads to salvation. That word salvation
means complete soundness; including health,
wealth, length of life, protection, and eternal life.
It’s nearly the same word as peace in the
Hebrew of the Old Testament. Notice Psa. 119:165,
“Great peace have those who love your law (the
Bible).”
Josh. 1:8, “This book of the
law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall
meditate on it day and night that you may observe to do
according to all that is written in it. For then
you will make your way prosperous and then you will
have good success.”
Psa. 1:2-3 and James 1:25 have the same
message.
Prov. 4:20-22 say the same
thing, but say that the Word (healing verses) is
health (medicine,
literal Hebrew) to our bodies. Psa. 107:20 agrees.
Psa. 119: 97-100 say that the
Word of God makes us wiser than anybody.
Psa. 119:105, the Word is
direction and shows us the way to go.
Matt. 7:24-27, “Whoever hears
these sayings of Mine and does them I will
liken him to a wise man …”
Isa. 55:10-11, Psa. 103:20-21,
and Jer. 1:12 all explain that the Word works. After all, it is alive, Heb.4:12. Get my brochures on faith to see how to get it to work for
you.
There are so many more verses
like these, but let’s go on to show you the value of
teaching the Word.
Teach
for Maturity
Notice that the first verse used in column one
said this: “for instruction in righteousness, that the man of
God may be complete (mature)” The King James
uses the word perfect there which means mature.
The
Word is spiritual food to help us grow up according
to Heb. 5:11-14 and I Cor. 3:1-2. I Pet. 2:2 uses the
words “milk of the Word.” This is why it is so important
to go to a church that teaches the Bible in
practical terms so that the people can understand it
and put it to practice, helping them in their everyday
lives.
Heb. 5:11-14 reads like this:
“…we have much to say, and hard to explain since
you have become dull of hearing.
For though by this time you ought to be
teachers, you need someone to teach you again the
first principles of the oracles (sayings) of God; and
you have come to need milk and not solid food. For
everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in
the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.
But solid food belongs to those who are mature,
that is, those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised (trained) to discern both good and evil.”
Teaching
Commanded
Realize
that the books of Timothy and Titus are written to
young pastors. II
Tim. 2:2,
“All the things that you have heard
from me
among
many witnesses,
commit
these to
faithful men who will be able to teach others
also.”
II Tim.2:24-25, “A servant of
the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able
to teach, patient, in humility correcting those
who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them
repentance so that they may know the truth.”
Col. 1:28, “Him we preach, warning
every man and teaching every man in all wisdom,
that we may present every man perfect (mature)
in Christ Jesus.”
I Tim. 4:11and 13, (after a list
of things) “These things command and teach.” 13--
“Till I come, give attention to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine (teaching).”
I Tim. 5:7, “And these things
command, that they may be blameless.“
And at the end of 6:2, “…Teach and exhort
these things.”
Titus 1:9, “Holding fast the
faithful Word as he has been taught, that he may be
able by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict
those who contradict.”
Titus 2:15, “Speak these
things. Exhort
and rebuke with all authority.
Let no one despise you.”
I Thess. 2:11, “As you know
how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one
of you as a father does his own children.”
II Pet. 1:12-13, and 15, “I
will not be negligent to remind you always of these
things… Yes, I think it is right …to stir you up
by reminding you. (15) Moreover, I will be careful to
ensure that you always have a reminder of these things
after my decease.”
And 3:1-2, “Beloved, I now
write to you this second epistle in the both of which
I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder, that you
may be mindful of the words which were spoken
by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us,
the apostles of the Lord and Savior.”
Acts 20:31-32, “Therefore
watch, and remember that for three years I did not
cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So
now brethren, I commend you to God and to the word
of His grace, which is able to build you up and
give you an inheritance among all those who are
sanctified.”
Rom. 1:16, “For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the
power of God unto salvation, to everyone who
believes.”
Do you remember from earlier what salvation
means? This verse says that believing or faith is the
way to get everything that God wants us to have. God
doesn’t decide who gets healed or protected, or
prospered. It’s all been paid for by the cross of
Jesus, and our faith gets it.
Faith works, and the Word works for
those who will put it to work. |
