The Word of God is Profitable 2 Tim.3:16 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

The word of God is profitable.  When we receive it and believe it, it works effectually in us – 1 Thes 2:13 – the word of God, given by the inspiration of God, is profitable for:

Doctrine – 2 Tim 3:16; Titus 1:9 – to exhort means to urge earnestly, to encourage; gainsayers are contradicters – when you read and study the Bible and listen to preaching and teaching you ought to be learning some doctrine – people who read mainly read for devotional purposes, when they go to church they are looking for some self help, which is okay but the “profitability” of the scripture is in the doctrine.

Reproof – 2 Tim 3:16; Prov 6:23 – to reprove someone is to point out what they’re doing wrong – to show them what’s wrong with them and to bring them under conviction about it – reproof is negative – when you read and study the Bible and listen to preaching you ought to be reproved.

Correction – 2 Tim 3:16 – whereas reproof is negative, correction is positive – correction shows you how to straighten out what’s wrong with you – reproof and correction balance each other – you won’t change what you do if you don’t recognize that it is wrong – but neither can you correct it by only hearing that it is wrong – you must learn how to fix the problem.

Instruction – 2 Tim 3:16 – instruction teaches you how to live – Bob Jones, Sr. said that you don’t need to teach a man how to make a living; you need to teach him how to live – if he knows how to live, he can make a living.

When you have these four, you are throughly furnished – 2 Tim 3:17 – the four things above: doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction are the full complement that a saint needs – Elisha’s room was fully furnished with a table, a stool, a candlestick and a bed – that’s all he needed – likewise we have the full complement in 2 Tim 3:16 – you need to get these from the words of God because that’s what the word is for – if you are not getting these, something is wrong with you, with your Bible or with your preacher.

The word of God also:

Guides – Ps 119:105 – by the words of God we know what to do each step of the way in our lives.

Admonishes – Ecc 12:11-12 – by the words of God we are warned what happens when we don’t follow the instructions.

Purifies – Ps 119:9, 11; Eph 5:26 – by the words of God we are cleansed in our minds, hearts and spirits.

Assures – 1 Jn 5:13 – by the words of God we are assured of our salvation.

Conclusion: So, be attentive to these things when you read and study your Bible and when you hear it preached and taught.