Thoughts on 2 Timothy 3:16-17

¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

This passage of scripture speaks to the value of understanding the doctrine of God's Word.  At first glance you might consider that this passage is for the called minister.  All ministers should have this understanding, but this passage is for the everyday Christian to understand the importance and profit of studying the word of God. I find that today's Christian is not so in tune with the study of the word of God as a whole but in bits and pieces to justify their thinking.  I will seek to answer three important questions that I hope will guide you to a greater understanding and importance of studying the word of God.   

Why is scripture profitable for: teaching, reproof, correction, training in righteousness in order to adequately equip the Christian? 

Let us first talk about the profit of teaching the will of God.  If we fail to understand the will of God as a Christian we are not really living as a Christian, but a person trying to live out our view of righteousness.  Second, if we fail to understand the will of the Father, then we will not communicate the importance of the salvation offered through Jesus Christ as well as understanding the Holy Spirit as the comforter.  So all scripture should teach the will of the Father and the salvation offered through Jesus Christ as revealed by the Holy Spirit as a foundation to any doctrine. 

When we understand the importance of teaching then we can understand why we need to speak the truth to all those who fail to rightly divide the word of God.  This is the issue that so many Christians do not fully understand today.  We must preach the message of the Gospel in Love by saying this is what the word of God says, and then read the Words of God allowing the Holy Spirit to move in the midst of this conversation.  It is important that the word of God not be used to preach a different Gospel message that is counter to His will.

So many denominations, bible colleges, Christian universities, and institutions of higher learning claiming Christian values have failed to develop real Christians. These institutions have failed because they did not maintain a proper view of scripture or church doctrines.  These new approaches to silencing the message of God has begun to grow a community of people that are far from understanding Godly living.  It seems that the new age philosophy of Christianity today is more in line with heathen immorality of the past than Christian doctrine.  Therefore, the reason why scripture is profitable for: teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness is to equip the Christian to rightly understand the word of God in order to live out the word of God.

How is scripture profitable for: teaching, reproof, correction, training in righteousness in order to adequately equip the Christian?

In the last few years our nation has become divided over many hot topic issues.  These issues once settled by the church are now under fire by some who claim Christ's message of love, but seeks to remove the elevated message of Christ's message of purity and holiness.  The divided message is fracturing the church and causing discord among believers.  By divorcing the message of holiness and purity as an obsolete doctrine and inserting the label of intolerance to true Christianity is resulting in our freedom to worship freely as coming under attack. Lastly this is confusing the church's doctrines that have been founded and established since before 100 A.D.

Therefore, as the traditional church is being viewed as intolerant towards the new progressive message the agenda of progressive tolerance is to demand change from the tradition church seeking to undermine 2000 years of settled doctrines.  The new progressive agenda is to declare certain passages of scripture obsolete not useful for teaching, reproof, correction, training in righteousness, etc... in order to allow for more open community of believers.   The new voice calling in the wilderness for a more inclusive message and a more open doctrine seems to be a political agenda. 

How does this happen?  Because Christians are not teaching the Bible for living, rebuking immoral policies, or correcting within the Body of Christ, or training ministers to rightly divide the word of God.  60 years ago Christian religious education was very much a part of public education.  As we have become more relaxed and comfortable in our pews, the wolf has attacked the flock: through public education, progressive political activism.  Why do this happen?  To devalue and destroy the Christian message.  

How we provide instruction in the things of God is more important than how we build the church.  When we teach the word of God today let us teach the whole not just the parts.  Giving a reproof to those who desire to take away the Old Testament teachings must be done using God's word not man's opinion.  Those who desire to live a different life can do so that is their choice, but I humbly ask that you do not call yourself a follower of Christ.  A follower of Christ seeks to live in accordance to the whole message found between the pages of the Holy Bible.  If you desire to have a different standard or to change the message, then God says you are not living in accordance to my message.  Therefore, He will be your judge not me. The word of God teaches me everyday that I must decrease so He may increase.  Yes, we all make mistakes. We all fall short of the glory of God.  But as a Christian I must examine myself before God, asking Him for the corrections that need to be made in my life.     

What is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, training in righteousness in scripture that will adequately equip the Christian?

A return to Biblical Christian Education is needed that builds up the next generation of believers to live for Christ.  As a new parent my heart breaks each day when I hear about another shooting, a terror attack, a child killed by a parent for no reason, a political law that attacks the church's doctrines, and the list grows.  The richness of the message of holiness will change the community not for our good, but for the glory of God.  

Image a church that is not divided over the message or the doctrines.  Image a church that returns to the message of holiness of heart and mind.  Image a church where those who come broken in spirit are restored with hope and healing.  Image a church that proclaims the message and change begins to take place in those that hear it.  

There are many churches like this, but we need unity in the message not division.  We need clarity in the teaching not confusion.  We need holiness in our living not laziness.  We need revival in the hearts not just in the mind.  We need examination of our inner walk not just our outer actions.  We need spiritual filled worship not just good phases to sing.  We need prayerful warriors not just a blessing during the evening meal.  We need restoration of family values not government assistance.  We need more of God and less of self.  This is why, how, and what profitable biblical teaching is called.  Change comes not from our doing but Christ's response to all call for help.  

Let us begin the work of teaching reproof, correction, training in righteousness by using the whole Bible not just the parts that allow us to continue to fall away.  Let us live in peace not division.  Let us speak clearly the message without confusion.  Let us come together and call upon Christ to restore those who have fallen away from his message of holiness.  Let us start today the call for revival in our family and that God would spark a fire in me to do so.  

Amen.