30 Days of Truth

Day 21 – scriptures are for you

Many people quote verse 16 or verse 16 and 17, but rarely present these scriptures in context.

Verse 15 says, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures”.

Timothy is referring to those that were raised up in the teachings of the Old Testament.

It can only be guessed at how much, if any, of the New Testament scripture was available in Timothy’s time.

Timothy is reminding these people of what they have learned from their childhood, and then in verse 17, he concludes with the results of what the scriptures can do in a person’s life.

Verse 17 days, “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

It says, “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t SEE myself as perfect.

I don’t FEEL perfect.

But thanks be to God that FAITH goes beyond what I can SEE or FEEL.

Hebrews 11:1 KJV

[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is evidence of things that are not seen.

By faith, we believe that in our spirit we ARE PERFECT, just as Christ IS PERFECT.

We reject the lies that say that Christ’s work was not completed for us or in us.

While Timothy was preaching to those that were raised from childhood in the scriptures of the Old Testament, many people today do not have the benefit of knowing the scriptures or being raised in church.

We are blessed to have the New Testament scriptures, because in them, we can see the fully-realized plan of God’s salvation in Christ Jesus.

The Old Testament testified of the Messiah to come, but in the New Testament, BELIEVERS have become the testimony of Jesus.

Even Timothy didn’t have this benefit.

Timothy says that the scriptures are “able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith…”

Did you know that having more “scripture” doesn’t equal “more faith”?

You might say, “If I can just learn more of the Bible, I’ll be stronger in the faith.” That isn’t true.

There are inherent benefits to knowing more scripture and understanding more about God, but “more scripture” doesn’t mean “more faith.”

There are those that have had less scriptures to read than any of us, and yet they have unshakable faith in who God is and who they are in Christ Jesus.

If a person had no Bible but heard about John 3:16 and believed what it said, it would be enough to save their soul.

You see, it has never been about just the words of scripture on paper.

It has always been about faith and revelation of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 16 days, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

This does not mean that believers should use scripture to indoctrinate, reprove, correct or instruct others. If you are called to teach, then teaching sound doctrine and instruction is required, but some believers have taken this scripture and used it as an excuse to manipulate and control others. Some believers have used this scripture to accuse and “correct” other believers when that was never the intention of this scripture.

Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that THE MAN of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The scriptures are given to indoctrinate YOU, to reprove YOU, to correct YOU, to instruct YOU, so that YOU in God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works!

People will often quote this and other scriptures as an excuse to try and speak correction into someone else’s life or to try and reprove someone else’s words or behavior.

Many times, this correction and reproof is wrong, and not according to the Spirit of God or the spirit of what these scriptures are communicating.

It isn’t that we are not supposed to reprove the works of darkness.

It isn’t that if we see our fellow brother in Christ stumbling in sin that we aren’t supposed to try and correct their path.

It is the manipulative, selfish nature of such correction and reproof in the body of Christ that must not be tolerated.

Using scriptures to defend and support your viewpoint when God requires no such defense from you.

People on Facebook and in churches are doing this sort of thing every day, sowing division and doubt instead of unity and faith.

The scriptures plainly speak and defend themselves.

You are merely defending your own ego.

Using scriptures to condemn those in sin is wrong, as though it is up to you to decide who should go to heaven.

These practices must stop.

The scriptures are given for YOU!

The scriptures are given for YOU to grow and mature and be fully equipped in this life for every good work!