Wednesday, March 19, 2014

March 20, 2014

“and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”  II Timothy 3:15

Paul, writing to the young believer Timothy, outlines three purposes for the Word of God. Those three purposes are:

1) To save you, V, 15
2) To shape you, V. 16
3) To sharpen you, V. 17

Let's look at that first purpose in this post!

The purpose of the Word is to save you!

Save you from what?

 Your sin!

Romans 3:23 declares, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Sin separates you from a holy God. Since He cannot become unholy, the only hope you have of having a relationship with Him is to have your sins forgiven. And the only chance you have of knowing how to find forgiveness is to read the Word of God. 

The Gospel is the "power of God unto salvation".

Your selfishness!

s   Selfishness is a function of sin. Selfishness tries to use God  instead of allowing God to use you. The temptation that enticed Eve was the thought that she could become like God and as God, she could do whatever she wished without consequences.
      
   A regular student of God's Word will find himself consistently challenged to reject sin and selfishness   humbly obey the Word.

     Your stupidity!

Yes, I said, stupidity!

The definition of stupid includes; "dense", "dull", "ignorant", and you are all those things AND MORE apart from the Word of God.

Your stupid, depraved human nature will tell you that you're good enough to please God - or you can be with a little work!

Reading God's Word will confront your pride and foolishness bound up in your human nature.

You need the truth and wisdom of God's Word to save you from your sin and your selfishness and your stupidity! 

It is sinfully stupid not to depend on the Word of God!