The greatest scriptures: (3:16-17):
All scripture means more than the ancient Hebrew OT. The scripture is given to if he breathed them through the human writers. Apostle Peter says: “For prophecy never had its origin in the will holy men of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet.1:21). The scriptures are the real Word of God. A few thoughts to remember about Scripture are:
Given by the breadth of God:
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- God uniquely and wonderfully brought forth Scripture from the time of prophets in OT and apostles in NT period.
- The Word also fulfilled the promise made by the Lord Jesus Christ that Holy Spirit would lead and guide us into faith.
- The Word of God includes that is spoken by the prophets and apostles and nothing else.
- Paul commanded public reading of his letters and apostle John commanded to read the word of God loudly (Rev.1:3).
Profitable:
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- For doctrine: It tells about God, man, the world and the end of humanity.
- Reproof and correction: It has the authority to correct, rebuke us. We are under the authority of God’s word.
- Instruction in righteousness: God’s word tells us how to live in true righteousness.
- We may be complete: Bible makes us thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- The Bible transforms us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom.12:2)
The scriptures show us what sin is. By them God tells us that all people have sinned. He uses them to convince us that we have done wrong things. The scriptures teach that, as we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, God can forgive us our sins. If we repent of them and bring them to God, he will remove them from us. By doing what the scriptures tell us, God can change us.
The purpose for which God gave the scriptures was to prepare His people for good works. As they obey the word of God, they are able to do what He expects them to do. When God has chosen people to do tasks, He qualifies the people to do them. God makes them able to do all that the tasks require.