There are many places in God’s Word where He teaches us that the Bible is not only true, but sufficient. One of these texts is found in 2 Timothy 3:14-17. Paul writes this to Timothy, who was a young pastor:
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Paul’s first challenge to Timothy is for him to continue in what he has learned and has firmly believed. The more a believer studies God’s book, the more one becomes intellectually convinced of its supernatural origin. Paul reminds Timothy that it was his mother and grandmother who first taught him God’s Word. I can relate to Timothy in this. My mother became a Christian three months after I was born. My father was a secularist, and I praise God for a mother who filled my heart and mind with prayer and Scripture. As a side note here, parents, it is never too early to be reading the Bible to your children! Timothy’s mom and grandma were reading Scripture to him “from infancy.” My wife, Amy, has done this with our little ones as well. She puts the baby on a blanket, sets down some toys, and reads the Bible out loud. She calls it the “Bible spa,” as the room is filled with the Words of God, and the Holy Spirit is working on a little heart.
God then, through Paul, teaches us truth about His Word.
“…the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” —2 Timothy 3:15
The Bible has supernatural power. It is able to make us wise for salvation. The Bible has the ability through the Holy Spirit to bring us to repentance, transform us, change us, and renew our minds. God teaches us this in many places in His Word:
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12
The Bible is, in a spiritual sense, alive. The words of the Bibleii, because they are God’s words, can penetrate the human heart, convict us of sin, and bring us face to face with the truth and love of God.
You have read from Hebrews 11:6 that, “without faith it is impossible to please [God].” But how do we get faith? If we need it to please Him, where does it come from?
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” —Romans 10:17
God’s words are powerful. These revealed words, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, are able to bring people to repentance and faith in Jesus! When a sermon is preached, it is not the wise or eloquent words of the preacher that have the power to transform lives, rather it is when he speaks the words God has already given us. As a parent, my words do not have the power to renew the minds of my children, but God’s words do!
If you were Satan and the demons, what do you think one of your strategies might be to keep people from faith in Christ, and for those who have faith, to keep them from growing? You would keep them as far away from the Bible as you possibly could. His attack in the church is subtle. Maybe he can get us to read a lot of Christian books, books about the Bible, but spend only a few minutes here and there in the real thing. In fact, the best use of your time right now might be to put the phone or computer down, and pick up His book. Most Christians I know, including myself, struggle to spend consistent time reading and studying the Bible. I believe it is because of this constant spiritual attack.