2 Timothy Series - Holy Scriptures Are Able to Make You Wise for Salvation

       

 Holy Scriptures Are Able to Make You Wise for Salvation

2 Timothy 3:10-17

It all begins with salvation, for Paul, Timothy and for all us. It is the starting point of wisdom, the fear of the Lord (Prov. 9:10), the understanding and knowledge of God’s Word and the perfect will of God (Rom. 12:2). Paul's ministry had been through twenty some years of joy, strength, and rejoicing, but also persecution and suffering . He had Timothy on some of these missionary journeys and recalled in this last letter the victories and sufferings for the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor.11:23-29) So let’s reading the first portion of the text, “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 

Paul hadn’t backed down from the demonic attacks, the betrayals and jealousy among those who opposed the gospel and his ministry among the Jews and the Gentiles. Paul reminded Timothy that he had not withheld anything in his training and his own anointed ministry in Ephesus.

Paul began with the anointed messages spoken in the various cities and countries and the Holy Spirit inspired letters to the churches. It was the Lord Jesus Christ who gave the words through the Holy Spirit to Paul for the church. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John 16:13-15) 

Timothy had been privy to the prayers and supplication times with Paul and as he received and spoke the word of God. Timothy had rejoiced with Paul in the overcoming of adversities and sufferings. For it was clear to Timothy what the purpose of the gospel was for; it was God's message and act of salvation for those who believe in Christ's death and resurrection to the Jews and the Gentiles. And it was this gospel that taught Timothy the faith, patience, and love Paul had in Jesus and for the lost in the world. Through the adversities, suffering, and persecutions, Paul and Timothy both learned endurance, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” 

( Rom. 5:3-5)

Yet in all of the persecutions and sufferings, it was the Lord who had rescued Paul and his associates. It is here Paul reminds his young protege that to live for Jesus Christ meant that he and all who followed Jesus would be persecuted for the gospel and their faith. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” And even though it didn’t seem right, for even the prophets of old experienced (Habakkuk 1:2-4) atrocities at the hands of the sinful state of mankind, and it seemed that carnality and debauchery continually got worse, “…evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 

Application -  It has been written, spoken, and understood that those who serve the Lord, do it with all their hearts, minds, strength and soul, and God’s peace rests upon them in all facets of life and service. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,” “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.” (Col. 3:23, Isa. 26:3-4)

The key to a life of service to God is total submission and yielding to His Word and Spirit. The testimony of Paul and Timothy’s lives are all focused around their spiritual stature before God: humility, loving with their whole hearts, steadfastness, and the faith that trusts the Lord in everything, good or bad. “What does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul…

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You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. (Deut. 10:12.20)

Many are the testimonies of the goodness of God in our lives, but it isn’t because of our goodness, righteousness, abilities, skills, or talents. For all of these and much more have been given to us by God for His glory and will, that His purpose will be fulfilled in our lives and in this world to His glory and honor, and His name’s sake. For the results of the fruit of the Spirit: faith, love, and patience are the evidence of the power of God in us. And the staying power that the Holy Spirit has in the midst of persecution to help us to love our Lord and our enemies is again the evidence of God’s goodness. For as Paul wrote,  “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Not that we go looking for persecution, but that it will come because of whose we are. “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” (Matt. 10:22; John 15:18-20)

 Hatred, anger, hostility, and the most diabolical acts imaginable are seen today in increased ferocity and in insidious evil acts. But there is coming a day of recompense and judgment by God upon the enemy of God and all that have blindly enacted these heinous acts of wickedness upon God’s people and creation. The increasing deception will and has blinded the world against God, but he will have the last word.

Last, Paul exhorts Timothy to standfast and faithful, convinced in the power and truth of God’s Word, will, and purpose to sustain him and protect his life. So let’s read the last portion of the text, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Paul knew the power of the written Word of God (Logos), but he was used equally as powerful in the spoken Word of God (Rhema). For the instruction of the Lord came in both forms. The scriptures were written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and the spoken word was evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit. Timothy had seen and learned the scriptures at the feet of his grandmother and mother, and Paul. “A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer…He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.” “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” (Acts 16:1-2, 2 Tim. 1:5)

He was chosen by the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands…who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus…” (2 Tim. 1:6,9)

It was here that the iconic words of Paul to Timothy that have been used to substantiate the Truth of God’s Word to every believer. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 

The Holy Spirit, the breath of God, inspired every word in scripture as men were carried along and commanded to write down. “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” “the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David…” “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” “Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” “The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue.” “And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.”(Matt. 4:4; Acts 1:16; 2 Cor. 2:12-13; 1 Thes. 2:13; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; 2 Sa. 23:2; Jer. 1:9)

Paul taught and lived the Word of God, and he taught and trained Timothy to do the same. For it was this Word, the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17b) that was sharper than any double-edged sword (Heb. 4:12) that would help Timothy in pastoring and serving God in the churches in Ephesus. For the Word will be used in “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” for the believers in church and in Timothy’s own life as well. Timothy was to train the people in the way of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it was through the Holy Scripture that this would be accomplished. He was equipping the believers for the ministry, “so the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” to take the Word of God out to their neighborhoods and workplaces, to the city and the countryside in order to spread the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, ascension, and the Blessed Hope of His return for all believers.

Again, Paul and Timothy understood the persecution that would come, but the gospel was the power of God for salvation, and Paul taught the church in Ephesus the value and need for the Sword of the Spirit. Just as Jesus used the Word of God to parry the attack of the Devil’s temptations to disarm him.

Application - I can’t emphasize more the need for knowing and rightly understanding and the applying of the Holy Scripture. Salvation does begin with the youngest as well as for those who are older but had never read the Bible. For salvation is revealed through the Holy Scripture of God. For in it is the testimony of those who have known and received Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, and God the Son. It reveals the absolute truth, wisdom, and knowledge from God, and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the world. For all the words of God to mankind is through the Holy Scripture that is directly from the Holy Spirit’s inspiration to mankind.

 Because it is given through the Holy Spirit, it is also through the Spirit of God that it is revealed to all who have ears to hear the wisdom, understanding, discernment, and instruction for a godly life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Scripture will train us in righteousness and equip us for the work of the gospel. For salvation only comes through the Son of God, Jesus Christ, for he said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) For our lives are saved by the grace of God through our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9), and he equips us for the good works which he works through the Holy Spirit that dwells within us as believers.  “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10) Amen  

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today. Thank you http://uss-warfare3.web node.com