2 Timothy chapter 3, and our text this morning is verses 14 through 17. Paul speaking to Timothy in contrast to those false teachers that are not following the apostolic example of Paul. Paul says this, you however, verse 14, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them. and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate and equipped for every good work. Father, we bow in our hearts before you this morning and acknowledge the grace that you have shown to us to just reveal yourself to us. The fact that we even have your word in our hands is evidence of remarkable grace. And so we start looking at this text this morning by simply worshiping you for your mercy and revealing yourself. We acknowledge that as you revealed yourself, that meant you revealed that you are a loving God, and that means that you would send your son. And as you revealed yourself, that would require you to reveal that you are also totally holy, that your love is a holy love. And that would require that when your son came, he would die in our place on the cross so that your holiness might be satisfied. And we rejoice that he rose again. We rejoice that we hold in our hands this remarkable revelation of who you are and what you have done and what you have done in your grace and your mercy toward us. Help us now to learn how to Continue on in that word, this wonderful word that you've given to us in this new year. We pray this in Christ's name. Amen. Once again, this morning, we're looking at a text that will help us orient ourselves to the new year in a helpful way, and it is. Very much a helpful text in conjunction with what we looked at last week. So let me just recapture what we considered last week and show you how the two connect. Last week we considered Paul's command to stand what? Remember? To stand firm. And we saw the only way we can do that is if we stand firm in the Lord, right? He's the only one that can enable us to stand firm. So why do we need to stand firm? What's the reason for that? Well, because there are false teachers that are going to encourage us not to. And because we are citizens of heaven. And then we saw six very practical ways in which we can stand firm in the new year. From Philippians chapter 3, verses 4, chapter 3, 17, and then 4, 1 through 9. And they were this, by living in harmony with other believers in this local church, by rejoicing in the Lord always, by being gentle toward everyone because the Lord is near, by being anxious for what? For nothing. by dwelling on the right things and by practicing the things that we are taught in Scripture. Now we need to ask a really important question about those six ways to stand firm in this new year, and that's this. How can we stand firm in the Lord in this new year? Notice I said, I'm assuming already that we only can if we're in the Lord. How can we stand firm in the Lord in this new year? What is a practical way That God has ordained that we would be able to live in harmony, that we would be able to rejoice always, and to be gentle with everyone, and to be anxious for nothing, and to dwell on the right things, and to practice apostolic teaching. What is God's ordained means in the life of a Christian so that we might stand firm in the Lord in this new year? Well, there are various means God has given His people to enable us to stand firm and to live a life that's pleasing unto God. But the means in this text is the same thing we've been talking about from the beginning of this service until now, and that is the Word of God. And so you could say, coordinating this text with Philippians 3, 17, through chapter 4, verse 9, that you can stand firm in the Lord, as you give yourself to Him in His Word. Our text is in Paul's second letter to Timothy. In this book, as Paul's writing it, he's in his second Roman imprisonment. Last week we were in Philippians, and that was when he was in his first Roman imprisonment. And in Philippians, it's very clear. Paul considers the fact that he might be leaving and going to heaven, might be staying, but he's pretty confident he's going to get out of prison that first time, right? But he's in his second Roman imprisonment here, and in this book, he is not so confident. In fact, he's actually confident of something very different. Look at 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 6. This is what Paul says to Timothy. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering. Referring to martyrdom. And the time of my departure has come. He doesn't mean departing from the prison physically. He means dying and being with the Lord in His spirit. I fought the good fight, I finished the course, I've kept the faith, and the future there's laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing." Very clearly, the Apostle Paul thinks he's going to what? He's going to die. So he is writing to Timothy, believing, and tradition says that he actually never did get out of prison, but that he was martyred there. He's writing, believing, these are some of his last words to his, really, child in the faith, and the one he has mentored in ministry. So everything that's in this letter is really kind of like Paul's last words to Timothy. Timothy was a non-apostolic co-worker of Paul. He would represent Paul in various places. In fact, last month when we were considering 1 Thessalonians 3, we saw that Paul actually sent Timothy back to Thessalonica as his representative. This is like 15 years later. It's the end of Paul's life and further along in the ministry of Timothy. I think you can see how that situation has some similarities to facing a new year. Timothy is facing something brand new. That is ministry without who? Without Paul. And we're facing something brand new. That is 2015, a new year. A new year that holds many circumstances that we are largely ignorant about. And the very ones we think we know, probably a good majority of them, maybe a minority, but a good majority of them are going to be different than we thought. We simply do not know all that 2015 has in store for us. But I believe, scripturally, the best way for us to prepare for what we don't know is to remind ourselves of what we do know, and what God has given us to face the new year, and that would be His Word. How did Paul counsel Timothy and exhort him in that situation that he was in? Well, there's a lot in this book, but there's a theme that just keeps resurfacing. Look back at chapter 1, verse 8. 1 Timothy 1 verse 8. Paul says this, Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me, his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God. Okay, so don't be what? Don't be ashamed, he says. But look at chapter 1 verse 13. Retain the standard of sound, what's the next word? Words, right? Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us the treasure which has been entrusted to us. Talking about the word of God and specifically that central message of the word of God, that treasure of Christ, the good news, the gospel. Turn to chapter two, verse one. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, the things which you have heard from me, and the presence of many witnesses, and trust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." What are they teaching? The words they heard from Paul, but those are what? God's words. Turn to chapter 2, verse 8. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal, but the word of God is not imprisoned. Okay, isn't that a great imagery? You can imprison the apostle, but you cannot imprison the word of God. Look at chapter 2 verse 15. Paul says this, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling what? The word of truth. Accurately handling that treasure that was given to you. Look at chapter 4 verse 1. Paul says this, getting closer to the end of the letter. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom. Wow, that's pretty intense. I solemnly charge you before that God who's going to judge. What? Verse 2. Preach the Word. Be ready in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction. Did you hear the theme? What is Paul constantly talking to Timothy about? The Word of God and His ministry of it, right? Well, we are in a text that Paul also does that. And that's chapter 3 verses 14-17. We skipped over it as we took that little survey. As Paul faced what he viewed to be his very soon martyrdom, he was concerned that as Timothy faced life without him in ministry, that he'd be really focused on God's Word and the ministry of that Word. And I would say that if Paul was writing to us specifically thinking about the New Year, there is no doubt of the many things he could say. One of the things that would probably be likely he would say is, you need to be focused on God's Word. So what we're going to do is we're going to look at this command that's in God's word. Look at chapter 3 verse 14. Paul gives a command to Timothy. You, however, continue in the things which you have learned. And if you keep going on that text, which we're going to do, it's very clear. The things that he has learned are the sacred writings. They are the scriptures. Continue on in God's what? Continue on in God's Word. And so we're going to consider how we, like Timothy, ought to continue on in God's Word. And this text gives us really six interconnected reasons for continuing on in God's Word. in 2015. But before we look at those six reasons, let's look closely at this command to continue in God's Word. Verse 14 says this, you, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of. Paul is talking in chapter 3 verse 10 and saying to Timothy, you have followed my example. There are some that have not. They are evil people. They are teaching people false doctrine. But you have followed my example and I want you to continue in those things that you have learned and become convinced of. So the counsel on continuing in God's word this year assumes something about us. It assumes that we've already learned some of God's word, doesn't it? It also assumes what? Look at verse 14. We've learned it and we've become what? Convinced of it. Okay, so that's the assumption. The assumption is we're dealing with God's people. The assumption is, if you're going to continue on, you've got to be someone that already knows it. You already have learned the central truths of Scripture. You are a child of God and you've become convinced of those things. And so this is counsel for believers that have learned and have become convinced and are truly children of God. So I just wanna pause again and say, if you are someone who has not learned, have not become convinced, keep listening, all right? This is counsel for God's people, but you're gonna learn some amazing things about God's word that ought to draw you into full trust in Christ. If you're someone who has, Learn the truths of the gospel. You have become convinced of them, and this is counsel for you in relationship to this new year. There are six reasons why we are to continue in God's Word. First of all, because of the testimony of those who have taught it to you. Because of the testimony of those who have taught it to you. Alright, look at verse 14. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them. Why continue on in those things you've learned and become convinced of? Because you know something. You know who has taught you God's Word in the past. That's the logic. Continue on in God's Word because you know the testimony or the character of those who have taught God's Word to you in the past. Now, who was that for Timothy? Who had taught Timothy God's Word in the past? Paul, okay? Absolutely, right? And you're very clearly saying, continue on. You've already been following my example. Continue what you've learned from me, right? In fact, look back at verse 10. Now you've followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, practice, love, perseverance. Okay? You have followed that. You've learned from me. But there's other people as well. Turn back to chapter 1, verse 5 of this book. 2 Timothy chapter 1, verse 5. Paul is speaking to Timothy again here. And he says this, For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that is in you as well. Who do you think also taught God's word to him? His grandmother and his mother. So Timothy was to continue in God's Word even after Paul was gone in light of the fact that he had been taught God's Word both by Paul and by his grandmother and mother, no doubt, maybe others as well. But let me ask you this, who is that for you? Who is it that has taught God's Word to you before? Having you had individuals in your life teach God's Word to you and exemplify those words in such a way that you can look back at their example and say, as you face the new year, I really ought to give myself to God's Word like that person did. I ought to be motivated by their example of exemplifying God's Word, and I ought to continue on in God's Word. I can certainly think of individuals in my life that have taught me God's Word, that exemplified it before me. And as I think about their example, it spurs me on to faithfully follow the Lord and His Word in this new year. You know, some of us had or have godly parents that taught or teach us God's Word. Maybe there's a past Sunday school teacher. or a kids club teacher or a pastor or whoever that taught God's Word to you and exemplified it. If you're a believer, then you ought to look at those examples just like Paul was calling Timothy to do and be motivated to continue on in God's Word. By the way, we're going to talk about this later, but that's quite an exhortation to all of us that currently teach God's Word, isn't it? We ought to be exemplifying the Christian life such that someone could look at our example, whether we're parents or a Sunday school teacher or whatever it would be, and say, boy, I want to continue on in God's Word this year. The second reason for continuing in God's Word this year is this. Because you have a past with God's Word. Look at verse 15. And that from childhood, You have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Paul says this, continue in the things you've learned and become convinced of, knowing that from childhood you have known the sacred writings. Timothy, you've got a past with God's Word. Continue on in harmony with your past in God's Word. Continue on because you have a pass with God's word. Now, what are the sacred writings? Well, very clearly in this text, it's talking about scripture, right? And specifically, given the fact that these are texts, scriptures that he learned from his childhood, given the time of this writing of this book and the age of Timothy and whatnot, these would have been what part of our Bible, what part of our Bible would this be referring to? The New Testament or Old Testament? The Old Testament. The New Testament was still being written and circulated at this point, okay? So Paul is saying, you've got to pass with God's Word. You've got to pass with the Old Testament. Those first 39 books of our Bibles today. Timothy had the privilege of access to and instruction in God's Word from his childhood. And some of us here have had or are having that very privilege. And I want to just talk to the children right now that are here. And just point out that if you're in a Christian home, And your parents are teaching God's Word to you. They're giving you a wonderful gift. The reason you're here this morning is because your parents love you and they want you to hear God's Word. And one day someone will be able to come up to you and say, you need to keep on in God's Word. Don't you know all of the last times you've had God's Word in your past? As a child, you were taught God's Word. So you should be really thankful to the Lord that your parents want to give you God's Word. One day someone will be able to exhort you in that way, and that's a wonderful thing. But notice the way that I word this point. Continue on in God's Word this year because you have a past with God's Word. I don't say because you had a past in God's Word with your childhood. That's the point Paul's making here. I'm generalizing it. Why? Because not everyone has had God's Word in their childhood, have they? But if you're a child of God here today, you have a past with God's Word somewhere, right? It might have been just last week. It might have been just last year. It might have been five years. It might have been forty years. But you have a past with God's Word. There's no way you're a child of God here today unless you've had God's Word taught to you in some way. You've had to hear the message of the Gospel. Here's the logic. Don't you know what God has done in your life through His Word in the past? Continue on in that Word this new year. Don't you know the joy of being taught God's Word and having the spiritual lights go on and your soul saying, yes, that is who God is, that is who Christ is. He is worthy of my whole worship. He's worthy of me living a whole different life than those around me. He is altogether glorious. Jesus is the fairest of them all. Beautiful Jesus. Wonderful Savior. Don't you know that? Don't you know how God's word has impacted you in your past? Think about your past and then be motivated in this new year to continue on in God's word. Paul says, continue on in what you've learned and are convinced of. Don't you know that from your childhood, you had the scriptures taught to you? Many things have changed. in 2014 or did change in 2014. Many more things will change in 2015, but you can be sure of this, believer, in 2015, God's Word will not what? It will not change. All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls off, but the Word of the Lord stands forever. It endures forever. And this is the Word which was preached to you. Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if indeed you have tasted the kindness of the Lord." You see? Continue on if you've already tasted the kindness of the Lord in the Word, the message. from God, His revelation to you. So why continue on in God's Word this year? Well, first, because of the testimony of those who have taught it to you. Second, because of your past with God's Word. But third, continue in God's Word this year because it gives the good news of Jesus Christ. Look at verse 14 again. You, however, continue in the things which you've learned and become convinced of, knowing, alright, that you've learned it in your childhood, okay, But look at this in verse 15. The sacred writings, and it's defined a little bit for us, and it really is another reason. What are these sacred writings? Which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. Okay, these sacred writings that you have seen others teach you, that exemplify them, that actually you've had a past with, that God has done a work through them in your life with, they are the writings which actually lead to salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. It gives you the wisdom that leads to salvation. Continue on in God's Word this year because it is the most important message in all the world. Right? I mean, what could be more important than a book that actually tells you that when you die, you can know for sure you will be in heaven and not face God's deserved judgment on your life? What could be more important than that? These are the sacred scriptures that have taught you this message. What is that message? Look what it says. are able to give you wisdom that leads to salvation. The Bible teaches that you can know you are saved from your sins. The Bible teaches a message that leads to salvation. Those are the very words of God. Through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. How do you get saved? The Bible tells you about getting saved. How do you get saved? Through faith in Christ Jesus. Simply trusting in Him. Turning from your sin, trusting in Him. In a moment of time, you are regenerated, born again, made alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved through faith. And that not of yourselves, it's a gift of God, not of works, so that no one may boast. The world gives its wisdom about the big questions in life, doesn't it? Why you're here, what's gonna happen, what's going on, and all of it is foolishness in those answers. The world's wisdom is earthly, natural, demonic. The world's wisdom is passing away. The world's wisdom is energized by Satan. The world's wisdom will all be burned up one day. But the Word's wisdom leads to salvation in Jesus Christ. Continue on in God's Word because of what God's Word teaches. Continue on in God's Word because you have been born again, not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable. That is through the living and enduring Word of God. Continue on in the word, because in the exercise of his will, he brought you forth by the word of truth. So that we would be the kind of first fruits among his creatures. James says this, you know, my beloved brethren, but everyone must be quick to hear, quick to hear God's word, slow to speak, slow to speak against God's word, slow to anger, slow to be angry at the implications of God's word. For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all the remains of wickedness in humility, receive the word implanted, which very similar to 1st 2nd Timothy 3 15 is able to save your Souls, you're here this morning and you have not trusted in Christ. Just keep listening to God's word because it teaches the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. And it is able to save your souls. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. Why continue on in God's Word this year? Well, because of the testimony of those who have taught it to you in the past. Secondly, because of your past with God's Word. Third, because it gives the good news of Jesus Christ. The fourth reason for continuing is this. Because all of it is what? Look at verse 16. All of it is what? Inspired. All of it is inspired by God. Now, what does it mean that God's Word is inspired? That's a word that our culture really uses in ways that is not intended by this use of the word. When I was dating Sarah, we were away for a summer from each other. And I love Sarah. I still love Sarah. And I would write to her often. I can't remember how much, but it was a lot. She was at a camp and counseling, so she couldn't write back. So it felt horrible. I'm thinking, pursuing her, she's not writing back. There's a reason, right? It was just lovesick. But you know what? I am not a poet. I am not. But do you know what I wrote to Sarah that summer? A few times I wrote poetry to Sarah. I am not a poet. It probably wasn't very good poetry either. It was the best I've ever written. It's the only ones I've ever written. Except assignments in school in the past. But you could say I was inspired to write what? Poetry to Sarah. Is that what the Bible's talking about here? That is not what the Bible's talking about. That is not the inspiration that's under discussion here. Authors are interviewed about their New York Times best-selling books, and someone will lead them into a question like this. What inspired you to come up with that storyline in the novel? And they say, well, this and that. That's what really inspired me. What do they mean? What really... Showed you what to do. What motivated you? What made you have freedom to do it? Is that what it's talking about here? That's not what it's talking about. So what's going on here? All scripture is inspired. That Greek word is reflected in our text. The Greek word that's reflected in our text by the word inspired is the word, and I'm going to tell you the word because it's helpful for us to break it down and understand it. It's the Greek word theopneustos. And the word theos means what? You know, God. And neustos means breath, wind, or spirit. So the Greek word translated inspired really means God breathed. In fact, the ESV says it that way. All scripture is breathed out by God. It's a very helpful translation of that. So what does it mean that all scripture is inspired? It is that all of scripture is God-breathed. So why should we individually and corporately continue on in God's word this year? Very simply because it's whose words? It's God's words. Let that sink in. I mean, the Christian understanding of this book and the truth is that this is God's revelation. There's no other book like it. Why should you continue on in it? Well, because of what it is. It's God's Word. God breathed out these words. Now, this text doesn't tell us how He did that. And we're not going to take a lot of time to talk about this, but if you'll just listen, 2 Peter chapter 1 does tell us more of how that worked. Verse 20 and 21 says this, But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. And that word moved is illustrated by a text in Acts where the boat, the ship that Paul was in was being blown along by the wind. Men were moved by the Holy Spirit and spoke from who? God. So, whose words are these? These are God's words, but does man have anything to do with it? Yeah, God breathed out those words through the authors of Scripture. He moved them along in such a way that He used their personalities, and their background, and even their vocabulary, but it's what He wanted to be said. And what He said, as we're going to see in a minute, was purely His Word, His truth. So let's go back to 2 Timothy 3 and look at this. And note three important things. First, what is meant by the word Scripture? All Scripture is inspired or breathed out by God. What's that word Scripture? Well, that underlying Greek word for Scripture shows up in the New Testament 51 times. And all 51 times, except for one, very clearly is a technical term for what portion of God's Word do you think? New or Old Testament? Old Testament. I just want to stop and say something here. You'll notice today that people are okay if you believe in Jesus, as long as you redefine who He is and don't actually believe what He said. And certainly, as long as you don't believe in the Old Testament, being God's Word. Because that Old Testament is messed up, they say. They misunderstand the flow of God's redemptive history and what's going on there. But this is very clearly saying that all of Scripture is God's Word. All of it's breathed out. But, so when it says all Scripture is inspired, the first obvious focus is... The very scriptures that Timothy grew up on, the Old Testament. But, there is a cross-reference that's important. You could even write this in in your Bible next to this. It would be very helpful for you to show, demonstrate to yourself in the future and to others that there is a tactical term, the same term used for the New Testament. Turn to 2 Peter, chapter 3. It's kind of a humorous text. It's not humorous because it's serious. People are twisting God's word, but it's a little humorous to us if you've worked through the book of Romans in any fashion and gotten bogged down with all the amazing minutia and all the amazing truths, but wondered, what does that mean sometimes? Peter kind of tips his hat to you and says, yeah, you're on to something there. There's some difficult things in there. Look at 2 Peter 3 verse 14. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you, so Paul's writing, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of things in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures." Peter is assuming Paul's letters are what? Scripture, the technical term for God's Word. So when you go back to 2 Timothy chapter 3, and it says all Scripture is breathed out by God, you just don't understand, even though the focus there to Timothy is the Old Testament, the New Testament assumes that it also is what? Scripture. The technical term for God's Word. Alright, so Scripture can refer to both Old and New Testament, and Scripture is inspired or breathed out by God. Second, how much of it is breathed out by God? All scripture is breathed out by God or inspired. So both the Old Testament and the New Testament is God's Word. And every text in it. In Matthew, Jesus says, not one jot or tittle will pass away from the law. Which means, down to the minutia, is God's Word. God breathed it out verbally the way He wanted it breathed out. That's why when we read God's Word, when I preach God's Word here, we try to say what it says. Because if we don't say what it says, we're not getting God's Word. All of it, every single text in the Bible is God's Word. So why continue with God's Word this year? Because it's all His Word and it's all breathed out by God for you to read and to know Him better in. It is His self-revelation to you and you can know Him in it because you believe in Christ who reveals Him to you. Third, there is a necessary implication that flows from this truth that all scripture is breathed out by God. What if you met someone, some children, who said that their father was perfectly factual in every way? That he never said anything wrong, that he always was speaking the truth. And they actually said that he's incapable of speaking error. Well, you would rightly question them, right? Unless they were talking about their Heavenly Father. And let's say you challenge them. Okay, I don't believe you. Prove it. And so they give you a book that their Father wrote. And you take that book, and very self-evidently, it's got historical errors in it. And you can go through several things, and there's no way to deny it. There's no way to get around it. This guy is off of his rocker. Okay? Let's say it's like the Book of Mormon that gives us whole history of the United States that's totally not founded in truth. Okay? And you went back to them and you showed them and they said, well, yeah, I mean, that's not factual, but he always says factual things. He's perfect. You would rightly question that, wouldn't you? Wait, wait, wait. Is this what he wrote? Yes. Are there errors in it? Yes. But you're telling me He's not able to make errors? But He wrote this? This is His Word? Right? Yes. That is crazy, isn't it? So here's an implication. All Scripture is breathed out by God. Therefore, all of it is perfect like He is. Right? It is without error. It is inerrant. And that's why Bible believers believe that God's word is inerrant. It's a claim from scripture. It's a necessary implication. Bible's claim is that God is good and perfect and righteous and totally true. And therefore, if God is good and perfect and righteous and totally true, then his words, which he breathed out, must be good and righteous and perfect and totally true. To say God's word are breathed out by him is to say that they are inerrant. Now let me be clear, all of God's word is breathed out by God and therefore without error in the original autographs. And by God's wonderful mercy, we have preserved for us translations that are based on thousands of manuscripts that were copied. over time, going back to those original autographs. And we've talked about this before, there are variants in them. Okay? Because God did not promise that the process of preservation would provide no copying errors. But when you have that many manuscripts and you look at all the evidence, it's very clear that we have an accurate representation of what was originally given in those autographs. And I've said this before, I'll say it again. Much of our understanding of ancient history is built upon very, very few manuscripts of ancient historians. And everybody says it's good. We've got thousands of them that reflect the original autographs. So in as much as you're holding in your hands a translation that is faithful to the original text, by faithfully translating from the manuscripts, it is God's Word. And it is... inerrant. Now, why should you continue on in God's Word this year? Because of the testimony of those who have taught it to you, because of your past with God's Word, because it gives the good news of Jesus Christ, because all of it is inspired by God and is therefore inerrant. And number five, why should you continue? Because all of it is what? Look at verse 16. All scriptures inspired by God and profitable. Continue on in God's Word this year because all of it is profitable. All of this God-breathed and therefore inerrant Word that you hold in your hands right now is profitable. The word profitable means useful or beneficial. We speak of things being profitable or useful. We go to a seminar and at the end of the day we say, that was really beneficial. Or we go on a business trip and say, that was a very useful trip. We go to the store and come away with several really good deals and we say that that was a very helpful or beneficial trip to the store. We use the word profitable for many low-level things, don't we? So there's a sense in which to say this of the Scriptures is almost a massive understatement in our ears. Right? We say, you know, I was profitable last year, or that was profitable last year, or the business was profitable. No. God's Word is profitable. That's a whole other level, isn't it? God's Word is profitable. This word profitable shows up several times elsewhere in Scripture in reference to spiritual things, and specifically in reference to God's Word. Jesus said this, Mark 8, 36, For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and yet loses his own? Salt. 1 Timothy 4.8, For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. This year, we should probably all exercise our bodies more. But don't miss out on the reality that that is not nearly as profitable as exercising your soul in God's Word. That has eternal consequences. Titus 3.8, this is a trustworthy statement referring to wonderful truths of the gospel and doctrine he just taught or spoke to Titus. And concerning these things, I want you to speak confidently so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things, these things that I've spoken to you, these truths of God's Word are good and profitable for men. They are good and profitable for men. John 6, 63, Jesus says this, it is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. Implication being, my words are highly profitable. They give spirit. They are spirit and are life. Continue in God's Word this year because all of it is profitable. Just as all of it is inspired, therefore all of it is profitable. That means both the Old and the New Testament. Again, primarily in this text, probably focusing to Timothy on the Old Testament, though certainly implying the New Testament. What is all of God's Word profitable for? Well, there's four things. First of all, for teaching. Look what it says in verse 16. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching. You could put it this way. Teaching what is right. It's profitable for teaching what is right. Romans 15, verse 4 says this. For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction. Continue in God's Word this year, because as you do, God will instruct you through His Word. That's remarkable. The creative God instructing you in your soul. The world is constantly instructing us in error. Our flesh, the remaining sin in us, is constantly telling us things that are not true. Satan is constantly giving us opportunities to go against the truth. So brothers and sisters, give yourself to God's word this year. For it is profitable for instructing you in what is right. But secondly, it's profitable for reproof, for showing us what is wrong. For showing us what is wrong. This word has to do with being shown our sin. And depending on the context, it can mean something very mild to something very, very, very harsh or very strong, you could say. Matthew 18.15 says this, if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private. That word show is the word reprove. The Word of God is profitable for showing you your sin. What is wrong? Do you remember John the Baptist when he was speaking to Herod the Tetrarch because of his sexual immorality? It says this in Luke 3, Herod the Tetrarch was reprimanded by Him. He was reproved. That's what the Spirit does. He does it through the Word, which is profitable for that. The Spirit does this through the Scriptures when we hear them preached, right? We're told in John 16a, and he, when he comes, the Spirit will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. That's talking about the world, unbelievers. But he also does that, he convicts or reproves believers. He does it when the Word is preached. Preach the Word, be ready in season and out of season. And this is interesting. The preacher is actually to reprove God's people with God's Word. But really, if he's giving God's Word, God's Word is reproving, isn't it? Preach the Word, be ready in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction. So continue in God's Word this year because God's Word is profitable for showing you what is right, teaching you what is right, and showing what's wrong in your life. And brothers and sisters, if we were left up to our own selves, we would never really see what's wrong in our lives, would we? We would twist it and turn it and deceitfully make it look okay. We need God to show us where we are wrong. But what else is it profitable for? For correction. If reproof is God's spotlight through His word on our sin, then correction is God's using His words, through His words, being a great physician in our soul and correcting what is wrong. You can put it this way, it's profitable for setting straight what is wrong. It shows us what is right. It reproves us for what is wrong. It corrects in our lives what needs to be corrected. And finally, for training in righteousness, let me just go back for a minute for correction. Don't you sometimes long to have that sin problem in your life? I hope you do if you're a child of God. You do if you're a child of God. Don't you desire that problem to be dealt with and taken care of? Don't you want it to be corrected? God's Word is profitable for that. And also for training in righteousness. What does that mean? The word at its root is the word for young child. And the background of that word is child training. So the scripture is profitable for child training. And we are children of God. And we need to be trained as children in the ways of God. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Discipline is the word training. Scripture is profitable for that kind of training in the life of a believer. It's profitable because it trains God's children in righteousness. Not only does it instruct us in what is right, reprove and show us what's wrong in our lives, And correct what is wrong in our lives, but God's word trains us positively in what is right. So that there are less and less things that need to be reproved in our lives. Because we're growing to be more like Christ. So why continue in God's Word this year? Well, there are people that actually instructed you in your word, in God's Word, that ought to motivate you because you see them exemplify that and you want to follow after God in His Word this year. Because of your past with God's Word, God has done great things in your life in His Word. Because it teaches the good news of Christ, because it's inspired by God and therefore inerrant, and because all of it is profitable for those things. And boy, we could spend a lot more time with that, but we're going to move on to the final point here. Why continue on? Because its purpose is to do something in your life. Look at verse 17. So that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. Why continue on in God's Word? Because there is a purpose. Don't you love to know the purpose of something? You ever, you know, if you're like me, there are tools that I've, you know, I was given a toolbox one time, and it was, it wasn't nice, it was just, everything was thrown in there, and there's tools in there that, frankly, to be very honest, I don't know what they're for, right? Okay, because, you know, I'm gonna be very honest, I'm not as good with my hands as most people, but I don't know the purpose of that tool. Boy, it's nice when somebody tells me the purpose. Right? The purpose of God's word in your life is to do something. What is that? So that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good word. Its purpose is to equip you for good works. Who does God's Word equip? Look what it says there, the man of God. And in the New Testament, it's used only for Timothy. In the Old Testament, it's used 70 times, and it's always focused on a specific person that's officially charged with communicating God's Word. Okay, so we're going to cut this text straight. The primary point would be this, that the Word of God equips people that are set aside by God and His people to preach or teach God's Word. That's the point. But we obviously can generalize that. If God's Word equips men of God set to teach God's Word, then certainly it equips all of God's people in these ways. Let me just stop and say this for a minute. If you are someone that desires the office of overseer, or pastor, or elder, it's a fine work to desire. And the exhortation from this text is, give yourself to what? Give yourself to God's Word and it will equip you for that. And one day, by God's grace, you will be recognized as appointed by the Spirit as a leader among His people. But again, this can be generalized and applied to all of God's people. The Word of God equips His people. In fact, here's the connection. All of scripture is breathed out by God and profitable in these ways for this purpose, that you might be adequate, equipped for every good work. Why did God give you His word? One huge reason is that you might be qualified or made ready, adequate, to be competent, to be made capable or complete. And equipped for every good deed. In other words, every single child of God is called to good deeds, right? So we're commanded to live lives full of good deeds. God has given us the tool for that. That is His Word. So if we are going to be in obedience to God for many different reasons, one would be this. If we're going to be in obedience to God to grow in fruitfulness this year, we must give ourselves to the very tool that He has given to us for that purpose. Now, in the time that we have remaining, I want to just work back through and make some practical things here. Practical applications. Why should you continue? Well, because there are people who have taught it to you in the past. All right. I want to exhort all of us here, parents, Sunday school teachers, those who teach God's Word here at the church or in some other venue. You want to be the kind of example, the growing example to your children, to those you're teaching in your classes, to whatever it is, whoever you're teaching, that actually you could be used as a way to encourage someone to get into God's Word in a new year. That's what you want. And all of us need to grow in that. Secondly, continue because of your past with God's word. Just think about all of the things God has done in your life in the past through God's word. Now, some of us would say, you know, I know it's like yesterday, this morning, it's amazing what God's doing in my life through his word. Some of us are saying it's been a few months. Some are saying, you know, about 10 years ago. God was just changing me through His Word. And since then it's just kind of been... You have a past with God's Word. Continue on in it this year. Be motivated by what He's done in your life in the past. And parents, let me just exhort us for a few moments as well. We have children in our homes and what we want to do is, by God's grace, build a rich, luscious past of God's Word in their lives. And we want them to know that God is changing us. And we want them to know the message of that truth. We want our children to grow up and someone can come up to them and say, don't you know the past you had in God's Word? Continue on. That means we're going to need to do everything we can to read God's word to them as a family, individually, to get them involved in opportunities here at the church where they're being instructed. Turning our children unto the Lord. Third, because it gives us the good news of Jesus Christ, that's why we should continue. Again, I want to exhort, if you don't know Christ, just keep reading. Have a heart that wants to know him and you will know him in Christ. And brothers and sisters, you need the scriptures for the gospel just as much as you did the day you trusted Him. You need to live the Christian life on the gospel, so read the Bible, because it teaches you the gospel. All of it is inspired by God and therefore inerrant. That means that whenever you gather to hear God's words preached, whenever you read it on your own this year, whatever God's word says is what? True or so, you could say. If you want to stand firm in the New Year, you must give yourself to God's Word. How much of it? Just the Psalms, right? Because those really hit me well. No, no, no. How much of it? You need to systematically work your way through the Bible. Now, there's no specific statement in Scripture about how long that should take. One year is a good one. It only takes you about 10 minutes a day, every day of the year, to get through the Bible. Do you have that for Christ? Do you want to grow? Do you want to glorify God, okay? You can do it another way, you can take longer because you're digging in more, I understand that. But systematically you need to work through all of Scripture. And also continue because it is profitable. Whatever you're about, just think about this, this next year. If you get through a day and you realize, I have not even fed myself with God's Word. Just face yourself with God's Word and say this, whatever I'm about to do instead of that is not nearly as profitable as God's Word. You see, part of a heavenly minded person is to make choices as they face earthly things in light of heaven. And valuing the most important things above the earthly things, so that you can actually live for God in those earthly things. In 2015... You know, think about this. When you get to eternity, whether or not you kept up with every detail of every news event is not going to matter, is it? But how you approach God's Word is. Whether or not you got to see that program is not going to matter. The Word of God is more profitable than the stock market. Okay? It's more profitable than the time you spend on Facebook and surfing the net. It's more profitable than your house being perfect and all the laundry always being caught up. It's more profitable than getting overtime pay at your job. It's more profitable than anything else. than maintaining a certain reputation or getting a job promotion. There's really nothing more profitable for you in this new year than God's Word. That is not to say that you neglect necessary things. I'm not saying that. What I am saying is that if you will give yourself to God's Word in this year, you will be amazed to see how God enables you to carry out the necessary things with a joyful heart. Without hopelessness and without Anxiety. This is true. Those who wait for the Lord in the Word, I would add, will gain new strength in the new year. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not become tired. They will walk and not faint. That's true. How can you live this year as if you actually believe that? Well, really by deliberately exposing yourself to God's Word. I want to just take just a moment here and give you three areas to do that. First, personally. We've already talked about it. Read it systematically. Secondly, family. Read God's Word together. Do you know, just because, even as your family grows older, I know when you have young children, you've got to read it to them, or you've got to direct them. But even if you're older, the fact is you all live in one house. And it needs to be very clear to everyone that everyone's on the same page that who's Lord of that house. Christ. Read God's Word together. Briefly at dinner. Just read a little bit together. And thirdly, with God's people at the church. Now, how do we continue on God's Word this year at church? Well, we read Scripture like we did earlier. We preach God's Word. And every service is focused on God's Word. So I want to entice you, based on the truth of Scripture on this, alright? At the 9 o'clock service, we're going through the book of Colossians. It's God's Word. All of it's profitable. At this service, we're going to finish up the Gospel of John, and we're going to take a little time and look at a text about the church. And then we're going to spend probably the next couple of years going through the book of Acts, starting in March. and it's going to all be profitable. At the 115 time, we're finishing up the book of Genesis, and it's all profitable. At the 115, the children are hearing God's Word and learning God's Word, and it's all profitable. Expose yourself to God's Word in this new year. Continue in God's Word this year by turning the TV off, the radio down, getting off your phone, And doing whatever is necessary so that you might discipline yourself to actually memorize God's Word. You know, Wednesday night I introduced the new memory schedule. And this is more profitable than anything else that we're spending our time on. It really is. Give yourself time to meditate and memorize God's Word this year. It will do you good. Six, because it equips you for good works. And let me just close with this. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It's the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for what? For good works. This should blow you away, this next phrase. Which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Whoa! A lot of hope there. You were saved for good works, and He actually prepared before time that those good works would be in your life. Wow! Right? So that means you can just sit back and see it happen, right? No. It means you can give yourself to God's Word, and what His Word says will happen, will happen. It means this new year, the Word of God will equip you in every good work. God will do remarkable things among us if we continue on in God's Word and take steps of obedience and submission to Him. But I do want to give one final admonition along this line. You could read God's Word every day. You could memorize it. You could come to every service. You could come to every men's and women's fellowship. You could do all these things. But if it's not united with faith, it will not do anything. Hebrews 4.2, for indeed we have good news preached to us, they also, just as they also, speaking of Israel, but the word they heard did not profit them. What? I thought God's word was profitable. It is, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. And who gives us faith? So if you want God's Word to be profitable this year, because it is, and it takes faith, what do you need to do? What do we need to do right now? We need to pray for faith to believe every word that we might know its profitability in our lives. And so that's what we're going to do. And I hope that you will commit, as I pray, to a year focused on God's Word. In fact, the last song we're going to sing is a prayer. about God's Word and as we read God's Holy Word. So it'll be a prayer and song as well. Let's pray. Father, I pray that you would graciously build this church up in your truth. I pray in your mercy that you would cause every single believer here to give themselves to your Word. And would you show us how wise that is? Lord, we don't want to be a people that reads your word as if that's all we have to do. And we're in our ivory tower. We want to we want to see your word do exactly what it's intended to do in our lives. We want to see it change us. And as we spend times in solitude in your word that we would face the world valiantly with the gospel and we would serve others for the truth. And that you would build your church for your glory. We ask that you would give us the grace to make changes in our lives that we might give ourselves to what is truly profitable. I pray for anyone here this morning that does not know you, that you and your mercy would give them faith. We know that is a gift from you. Would they trust you, Lord? And we pray as well that for those of us that know you, that we would have faith to believe every one of your words that we read this year. We pray these things in Christ's name. Amen.