2 Timothy 3 Lesson

INSPIRED WORDS

Today’s study verse is one of the most significant verses in the Bible!

• “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training inrighteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

This is the verse that lets us know that all the verses in the Bible:

1. Originated from God,
2. Are inspired by God,
3. And are approved by God.  

If it were not for these words, we would not be able to rely on the Bible as we do. 

It is these words that tell us that what we are reading are the thoughts of God and not man.

In the context of Paul’s second letter to Timothy, we need to remember that it is the  older and wiser Paul writing to the younger and less experienced Timothy. 

It is as if Paul is saying, “You do not have to waste a moment of your time wondering if these words are true, they are!  You can rely on these scriptures in everything that you do.” 

As Paul writes this letter, he believes that he may soon be executed.  

Given the timing of this letter, it takes on an added significance.  

So what does Paul write about as his time on Earth is running out?

He had already spoken to Timothy about:

1. Fighting the good fight,
2. Persevering,
3. And preaching boldly. 

Now he is taking the final steps to equip Timothy for the work ahead. 

For Timothy or anyone, to be successful in helping others find Christ, they must accept the basic premise that all scripture comes from God.   If that were not the case, the Bible would be nothing more than an interesting book, and it is so much more than that! It is the inspired Word of God!

ACTING ON OUR FAITH

If you are a young Christian, as Timothy was, the only way for you to see for yourself that the Bible is inspired by God is to read the Bible and then act on what you have read.  

This is a two-step process, as described below:

1. The first step in seeing for ourselves that the Bible is inspired is to read what it says.  Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17,
2. The second step is to act on our faith.   James wrote about this in the following scripture, “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” – James 2:14-17.

There you have it!   

If you want to strengthen your faith:

1. Read the Bible,
2. Take righteous actions based on what you have learned.  

THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE!

In the great commission, Jesus said:

• “All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” - Mathew 28:18-20.

In this scripture, Jesus rallies the troops around a common goal.  

All of us must do our part in sharing the Gospel, because, as Jesus said:

• “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” – Mathew 9:37.

CONCLUSION

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, and it is alive and active!  

The Hebrew writer wrote about this in the following scripture:

• “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12.

And if we read the Bible for ourselves and put into practice what we learn, we will come to the same conclusion! 

God’s Spirit will work in our lives and allow us to feel His amazing presence and power!!  

For us to reach our full potential as servants of Christ, we need to do two things:

1. Read the Bible,
2. Take righteous actions based on what we have learned.  

We will end today’s lesson with the following three passages from the Book of James:

1. “Faith, if It has not works, is dead.” – James 2:17,
2. “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” – James 1:22,
3. “Someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” – James 2:18.