Series: Who We Are
Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-17
John Son
Introduction
Throughout church history, different Christian traditions have emphasized different aspects of the Christian faith.
For example, some traditions place a strong emphasis on the experiential work of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Others emphasize the importance of practical expressions of faith through good works, social responsibility, and serving those in need. Some emphasize liturgical worship, spiritual disciplines, and contemplative practices. Others place a strong emphasis on church tradition, sacraments, or the mystical experience of God's presence.
Now, many of these emphases have important biblical foundations and these are all important aspects of the Christian life.
But here's the question: What governs all these expressions of our faith? What determines whether our experiences are genuinely from God? What defines good works, shapes our worship, and determines what we believe about God?
As a Presbyterian church in the Reformed tradition, our answer is: the Word of God. We believe that Scripture is the inspired Word of God and that it is the final authority for what we believe and how we live.
This is one of the defining convictions of the Reformation. It is often expressed through the Latin phrase Sola Scriptura, which means Scripture alone.
Now, this doesn't mean that we reject church traditions, Christian history, theological writings, or the wisdom of other believers. These things have value, and we can learn much from them. But none of them carries the same authority as Scripture. Everything must ultimately be examined and evaluated in light of God's Word.
But I want to take this a step further today by asking - Why do we place such a high value on the Bible? Why do we want to be a church that is deeply rooted in Scripture?
Is it simply because we want to be a theologically sound church? Is it because we want to be knowledgeable about biblical teachings? Is it because we want to distinguish ourselves from other Christian traditions?
No. There's something much deeper than that.
We value the written Word because it reveals to us the Living Word, Jesus Christ.
In the Gospel of John, John begins with these remarkable words: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
And then in verse 14, he tells us – “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John is speaking about Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the eternal Word of God. He is God's fullest and ultimate revelation of Himself. God did not simply give us a collection of teachings or religious principles. He gave us His Son.
And this is important because Christianity is not fundamentally about following a book of religious rules. It is about knowing, loving, and following a person: Jesus Christ.
But how do we know this Jesus? How do we know who He is, what He has done, and what it means to follow Him? Through the Scriptures.
The written Word reveals the Living Word. It tells us who Jesus is, why He came, what He accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection, and what it means to belong to Him.
So, when we talk about being a church that values the Word of God, we're not simply talking about being a church that reads the Bible, studies the Bible, or preaches the Bible. We're talking about being a church that wants to know Jesus, submit to Jesus, become like Jesus, and live for Jesus.
And that’s what I want us to see through our text today.
So in light of this, I want us to consider two things about who we are as a church:
We submit to the authority of God's Word.
We are shaped and equipped by God's Word.
Let's look at the first.
1. We submit to the authority of God's Word.
Look again at verse 14. Paul says to Timothy:
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed..."
The opening words, "But as for you," are particularly important. Because in the preceding verses, Paul describes the difficult times Timothy would face. He speaks about people who are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, proud and arrogant, and who have an appearance of godliness but deny its power. He also warns about false teachers who oppose the truth and lead people astray.
In other words, Timothy would be ministering in a world where truth was being distorted, where people were increasingly resistant to God's truth, and where false teachings were leading people astray.
And in the midst of all this, Paul's instruction to Timothy is simple: Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed.
Don't be carried away by every new teaching, every popular opinion, or every changing idea. Remain grounded in the truth you have received.
But why? Why should Timothy continue to hold firmly to the Scriptures? Why should the Scriptures have such authority over his life?
Paul gives us the answer in verse 16a: "All Scripture is breathed out by God..."
Now, this is an incredibly important statement. Paul is telling us that Scripture is not simply a collection of religious writings, human reflections, or wise teachings passed down through generations. Scripture is God-breathed. It comes from God Himself.
Although God used human authors, writing in their own historical contexts, with their own personalities and writing styles, the ultimate source of Scripture is God.
And because Scripture comes from God, it carries His authority.
Think about it this way. When you receive an email from a stranger, you might read it, but you probably wouldn't give it much weight. But when you receive an email from your boss, you recognize that it carries a different level of authority. The difference isn't necessarily in the message itself, but in who sent it.
In the same way, the Bible carries authority not because it is an ancient book, not because the church has recognized it, and not because it contains helpful moral principles. It carries authority because it comes from God Himself. Its authority rests on the One who speaks through it.
And if the Scripture is God's Word, then it deserves our attention, our trust, and ultimately our obedience.
This is why, as Christians, we don't place ourselves above Scripture as though we have the right to decide which parts we agree with and which parts we can disregard. Rather, we place ourselves under Scripture, recognizing that God has the authority to define what is true, what is right, and how we are to live.
And this is where it becomes very practical for us.
We live in a world where there are so many competing voices telling us what is true, what is right, and how we should live. Our culture has its own understanding of what is good and acceptable. Our personal experiences shape how we see the world. Our emotions and desires often influence the decisions we make.
Even within the church, we can be influenced by traditions, popular Christian opinions, or the preferences of particular leaders.
Now, these things may have value, but none of them carries the same authority as God's Word.
Submitting to God's Word means allowing Scripture to have the final say, even when it challenges what we think, what we feel, or what we want.
Sometimes, we come to the Bible looking for encouragement, comfort, or direction. And certainly, God's Word gives us all these things. But do we also come with a willingness to be challenged?
What happens when God's Word challenges our understanding of forgiveness? When everything within us wants to hold on to bitterness, Scripture calls us to forgive as Christ has forgiven us.
What happens when God's Word challenges our priorities? When our natural inclination is to pursue greater comfort, security, or success, Scripture reminds us to seek first the kingdom of God.
What happens when God's Word challenges our understanding of relationships, money, generosity, or the way we treat others? Do we adjust our lives according to God's Word, or do we find ways to justify what we already want to do?
You see, it's possible to read the Bible regularly, listen to sermons every Sunday, and even have a good understanding of Christian theology, but still not truly submit ourselves to God's Word.
Because the question is not simply whether we know what the Bible says. The question is whether we are willing to let what the Bible says determine how we live.
And this applies not only to us individually but also to us as a church.
As a church, we cannot simply build our ministries around what is popular, what is convenient, or what we personally prefer. We cannot determine our direction simply by asking what will attract more people or what seems to produce the best results.
Of course, we need wisdom, discernment, and thoughtful planning. But ultimately, our decisions, priorities, values, and ministries must be governed by the Word of God.
But ultimately, We submit to God's Word because we trust the God who speaks through it.
Our God is a good God who is wise and faithful. He knows what is best for us, even when we don't fully understand His ways. His commands are not meant to restrict us or take away our joy, but to lead us into the life He has created us to live.
And we can trust Him because He has already demonstrated His goodness and love toward us through Jesus Christ. At the cross, we see just how far God was willing to go to save us. He did not withhold His own Son but gave Him up for us. And If God has shown us such incredible love through Christ, we can certainly trust that His Word is also given to us out of that same love.
So we don't approach God's Word with suspicion or reluctance, as though God is trying to take something away from us. We approach it with humility and confidence, knowing that the One who speaks is the very One who loves us and gave Himself for us.
So we want to be a church that recognizes God's authority, trusts His wisdom, and willingly places every aspect of its life under His Word.
2. We are shaped and equipped by God's Word.
Now, having established why we submit to God's Word, Paul goes on to tell us what God's Word actually accomplishes in our lives.
Look again at verses 15–17. (show v.15-17)
Paul writes that the sacred writings are "able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
And then he tells us that Scripture “is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.”
Finally, verse 17 tells us the purpose - "That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
What I want us to see here is that God's Word doesn't simply inform us; it transforms us and prepares us to live out our faith.
Notice first that Scripture makes us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
This is important because it reminds us that the ultimate purpose of Scripture is not simply to make us more knowledgeable or morally upright. It is to lead us to salvation through Jesus Christ.
From beginning to end, the Scriptures reveal God's redemptive plan and point us to Jesus, the One who came to save us.
And this brings us back to something I mentioned earlier that - the written Word reveals the Living Word, Jesus Christ.
The Bible is not an end in itself. Its purpose is to lead us to the One whom it reveals. The Scriptures tell us who Jesus is, why He came, what He accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection, and what it means to belong to Him.
In fact, Jesus Himself said in John 5:39-40 in calling out the religious leaders - 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
What a powerful reminder that it is possible to know the Scriptures and yet miss the very person to whom they point.
And this is why we cannot separate being a Word-centered church from being a Christ-centered church. We don't read Scripture simply to learn religious principles or discover ways to become better people. We read Scripture to know Jesus, to see His glory, to understand His grace, and to grow in our relationship with Him.
And this connects directly to our mission as a disciple-making church. Discipleship is ultimately the ongoing process of becoming more like Jesus by continually coming to know Him, love Him, and obey Him.
How do we come to know Him? Through His Word, which reveals who He is and what He has done for us.
How do we grow in our love for Him? As we encounter His grace, His goodness, and His love through the Scriptures.
And how do we learn to obey Him? Through His Word, which teaches us His will and guides us in how to live.
So, if we want to be a disciple-making church, we must first be a Word-centered church. Because we cannot help others become more like Jesus if we ourselves are not continually coming to know, love, and obey Him through His Word.
And as we come to know Christ through His Word, His Word also begins to shape and transform our lives.
So Paul describes Scripture as useful for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. God's Word teaches us what is true, exposes what is wrong in our lives, corrects us when we go astray, and trains us to live in a way that pleases Him.
In other words, God's Word doesn't simply tell us what is right; God’s Word helps us recognize where our lives need to change and teaches us how to live differently.
Sometimes His Word comforts us when we're discouraged. Sometimes it challenges us when we're becoming complacent. Sometimes it exposes attitudes and desires that we didn't even realize were there. And sometimes it reminds us of truths that we have forgotten.
But through all of this, God is shaping us to become more like Jesus.
We can know all the right answers, understand biblical theology, and be familiar with many passages of Scripture, but that doesn't necessarily mean we are growing in Christlikeness.
Are we becoming more loving? Are we growing in humility? Are we learning to forgive? Are we becoming more patient, generous, and faithful? Are we learning to trust God more deeply and obey Him more readily?
These are the kinds of things God's Word produces in us as we receive it, believe it, and allow it to shape our lives.
And this brings us to verse 17 (show v.17). Paul tells us that the purpose of all this is that we may be "complete, equipped for every good work."
To be complete doesn't mean that we become perfect or have everything figured out. Rather, it means that we are becoming mature and well-grounded in our faith. God's Word is shaping not only what we know, but also our character, our attitudes, and the way we live.
And to be equipped means that God's Word prepares us for the responsibilities and challenges of everyday life. We may not always know what tomorrow will bring, but through His Word, God gives us the wisdom and guidance we need to respond with faith and obedience.
And what are these "good works" Paul speaks about? They are the ways we put our faith into practice. They include loving and caring for our families, treating others with kindness and integrity, forgiving those who have wronged us, serving those in need, encouraging one another, sharing the gospel, and using the gifts God has given us to bless others.
These good works are not limited to what we do within the church. They include every opportunity God gives us to live out our faith in our homes, workplaces, relationships, and communities.
God's Word doesn't simply teach us what to believe; it prepares us for how to live.
And so, we don't want to be Christians who simply know what the Bible says. We want to be people whose lives are continually shaped by Scripture, growing in Christlikeness and ready to serve God wherever He has placed us.
Conclusion
Now, as I bring this message to a conclusion, I want us to remember why being a Word-centered church is so important to who we are and who God is calling us to become.
As a church, we desire to become a multigenerational disciple-making church, where people of every generation are growing to know, love, and follow Jesus. For this to happen, God's Word must remain at the center of everything we do. We cannot build our church or make disciples according to our own wisdom, experiences, or preferences. We must continually be shaped by God's truth and faithfully pass it on to the next generation.
Ultimately, our goal is not simply to accumulate more biblical knowledge, but to become a church whose minds are grounded in God's Word, whose hearts are transformed by its truth, and whose lives reflect Jesus Christ.
So may we never be content with simply knowing more about God's Word, but may we continually allow it to take root in us. May we humbly submit to its authority, be transformed by its truth, and grow in maturity, becoming fully equipped for every good work God has called us to do. Amen.
Reflection and Response
Let’s take a moment to reflect and respond. As we think about the message today let us ask ourselves:
1. Is there an area of my life where I am allowing my own preferences, opinions, or the values of the world to have greater authority than God's Word?
2. Am I simply gaining more knowledge of Scripture, or am I allowing God's Word to challenge, correct, and transform the way I think and live?
3. How am I allowing God's Word to equip me to help others grow in Christ and contribute to the life and mission of our church?
