Equipped

After seventeen years, we bought a new car. The technological differences are vast between the old and new. The old did not have USB ports or blue tooth. It didn’t have a screen displaying a variety of information. It did not have a back-up camera, and it definitely didn’t have alerts like when we are diverting from our lane. We are still learning the capabilities of the new car.

What if we have this new car with all these incredible features, but all we use the car for is driving to our mailbox and back? We don’t want to get it dirty or put wear and tear on it. Instead, we call Uber if we want to go somewhere. Or if we do drive and it is cold outside, and I don’t turn on the heated seat? What if the lane diversion alert is going off, but I ignore and drift back and forth between lanes? What if the seat adjusts, but I leave it all the way back and sit on the edge so I can reach the gas pedal? What if the gas alert is warning that I have only 5 miles left to drive, but I decide to wait to fill the tank until gas comes down to $1.89?

God blessed us with this great resource to improve our driving experience (even if some features are annoying) and get us places we need to be. Instead of gratefully using all that God has given us, we don’t use our new car at all, or we ignore most of the benefits this newer car has. You might be thinking, “Give me the car. I’ll use it.” Or “This is ridiculous. Why did you spend money to buy a new car if you aren’t using it?” And you would be right.

Is God’s Word any different? God has given us His very Word breathed out, but how many of us take our Bibles out only on Sundays or we pick and choose what we want to use or apply? In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul writes to Timothy who he is mentoring,

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for revery good work.

If you have a few minutes, read all of 2 Timothy chapter 3. There are only 17 verses. Verses 16 and 17 are impactful on their own, but they took on even richer meaning when I read all of chapter 3. It’s always wise to read in context anyway. In verses 12-13, he writes, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” In the previous verses, Paul has depicted some of what these evil people are doing. In verse 13, Paul also calls out imposters, those who have an appearance of godliness but are far from it.

Paul contrasts Timothy with the false teachers, evil people, and imposters – “You, however” (vs 10), and “But as for you” (vs 14). He reminds Timothy of the Scriptural background he received from Paul, his mother, and grandmother. This brings us to verses 16 and 17 which stand out stronger and brighter against the backdrop of false teachers, evil people, and imposters. It is Timothy’s faithfulness to Scripture that will equip him for every good work (vs 17).

“All Scripture is breathed out by God…” Much has been written on this already. I am currently going through a devotional on the Five Solas, the first being Sola Scriptura or Scripture alone. I am going to keep this part brief, but as a foundation of our faith, it is critical. First, Paul says “all Scripture.” He is not solely referring to the Hebrew Scriptures which we know of as the Old Testament. He is including Jesus’ and the Apostles’ teaching (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 5:18; Colossians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:27; 2 Peter 3:15-16). We now know this as both the Old and New Testaments that we are privileged to have.

Second, all of Scripture is breathed out by God. This means Scripture is the very words or speech of God. God used men of His choosing to pen the words, but the words are God’s words. This means they are inspired, infallible, and inerrant. If God is perfect, cannot do wrong, then His Words are without error. Scripture is without error. Many claim to believe this principle but in practice they deny the sufficiency, inerrancy, and infallibility of Scripture. One way we can do this is by adding or subtracting from Scripture – adding our own opinions and meanings. We don’t let Scripture stand on its own or interpret itself. We pick and choose which parts we think are true or relevant. God declared through Paul that all Scripture was breathed out by Himself, His Words. There is no altering, adding, subtracting, or twisting. God’s Word is sufficient and inerrant the way He breathed it out.

Because all of Scripture is inerrant and infallible, all of it is profitable – understandable by the Holy Spirit’s work in us and useful. Not useful merely like the windshield wipers on my car when it is raining, but Paul says it makes us complete, equipped for every good work. Scripture is all we need for a life that glorifies God. We will lack nothing. We are equipped for every good work, and those works glorify God and point others to glorify God as well (Matthew 5:16).

Scripture transforms us. Let’s look at the four ways Paul instructs Timothy in the profitability of Scripture in our lives. Just like the various parts of my car, we need them all to be complete, equipped for every good work. We can’t pick one or two and disregard the rest.

1. Teaching – Scripture teaches us doctrine. It teaches us what is true about God, man, our fallen world, the future, and God’s absolute, unchanging standard. We learn why we need salvation and how God provided salvation through His own Son Jesus. Yes, we are taught through sermons, Bible studies, and reading books about Scripture, but we also need to study Scripture ourselves. For some this may be daunting, but God has given you His Spirit to help you discern and understand. There are many tools out there that can help walk you through studying Scripture on your own (message me if you need ideas). Learning from others teaching good and useful, but God also wants each of us to be avid students of His Word. Remember that Paul warned Timothy about imposters? We need to study God’s Word ourselves, so we can recognize false teachers, deception, and where God’s Word is being altered, added to, subtracted from, or twisted.

2. Reproof – Scripture confronts our sin which we are often blind to. It reveals how our sin compares to God’s holy standard. It reveals where we need to change. We often compare our sin to others or make excuses, but when confronted by Scripture, there is no excuse. Our righteousness is as filthy rags. Our only comparison is to God’s perfect standard. Our sin, no matter how insignificant we may think it is, cannot stand before our Holy God. The good news is that we need not fear reproof. Those in Christ are already forgiven. God knows everything about us, every sin we’ve ever committed or will commit, and He loves us still. He always will. No amount of reproof will make Him love us less or change our standing in Christ before Him.

3. Correction – Scripture shows us what needs changing and how we change. Not only does Scripture tell us what to put off (sin), but it tells us what to put on (righteousness). God’s Word gives us specific examples of what to put off and what to put on. He doesn’t leave us in our own strength to follow through on correction. In Jesus’ death and resurrection, He broke the power sin had over us, and He gave us His Spirit to help us. We have received His own perfect righteous record already, so we can put off sin and put on the things that will glorify God out of thanksgiving and love for our Savior.

4. Training or instruction in righteousness – Scripture trains us or instructs us to walk in faithful obedience, to put into regular practice what we have learned through teaching, reproof, and correction. Day by day we are renewed inwardly (2 Corinthians 4:16). We are conformed more and more to the image of Jesus. Paul exhorted Timothy to continue in what he had learned (2 Timothy 3:14). Training isn’t a one-time event which is why we need to spend time in God’s Word daily. Memorize it. Talk about it. Meditate on it. Apply it.

I am guilty of forgetting how amazing God’s Word is. How essential it is to every aspect of my life. I need it not just for teaching on a Sunday morning to feel like I’ve gotten my Scripture quota, but I need it to teach, reprove, correct, and train me each day if I want to be complete, equipped for every good work.

Reflection

1. When have you treated God’s Word as insufficient or errant?

2. Do you spend time studying God’s Word on your own or do you gravitate towards other’s teaching or writing about God’s Word? What is one thing you can put into practice to study God’s Word on your own? Maybe start reading a chapter or even a few verses on your own and thinking about what they mean or memorizing them. Remember, outside sources of teaching aren’t necessarily bad, but they shouldn’t be a substitute for God’s Word.

3. Out of teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, which do you struggle with the most? Why? Take time to ask God for His help in this specific area and to believe that each way that Scripture profits you really is for your good in becoming complete, equipped for every good work.