2 Timothy 3:16-17
“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 competent, equipped for every good work.”
This past week as I read this passage, the question that came to my head is : “ How does the Word of God make the “man of God” competent and equippped for every good work?” So as I thought about this I came up with 5 ways that the Bible equips the believer for every good work. These are not the only ways the Bible equips us, I’m sure there are many more that can be pointed out, but just some that I’ve found.
- The Bible equips us for every good work by showing us where the strength to do these good works comes from. Paul has shown us that God will strengthen us to do the work he has set before us.(2 Timothy 4:17-18;1 Peter 4:10-11;1 Peter 5:10)
- The Bible equips us for every good work by showing us the revealed will of God. John Piper explains God’s revealed will comes in two forms: “One we can call God’s will of decree (or his sovereign will) and the other we can call God’s will of command. His will of decree always comes to pass whether we believe in it or not. His will of command can be broken, and is every day.” For more on this point click here
- The Bible equips us for the work of the ministry. This is the ultimate good work than anyone can possibly do. The Bible equips us for sharing the Gospel. It has been the source to which we heard the good news of grace and therefore gives us the strength and ability to share it with others.
- The Bible guides and in a sense enables us to obey God w/ our good works. The Bible gives many instructions on how to act and walk the Christian life. We should walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), Have the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and how we should live in the new life we have (Ephesians 4:25-32).
- The Bible makes known that every good work that we do is for His glory. We should not take the praise for these good works that Christ has enabled us to do but we should give the praise and glory to His name and His name alone.(1 Corinthians 10:31) Soli Deo Gloria
So with this in mind, we should not only read the Word of God but we should do every good work which God has prepared, enabled and equipped us to do. As Cam pointed out, it dosent stop in v.16, Paul continues and makes known that the Word of God has equipped us for every good work and we should live out the life which we are equipped for.
“O that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them than ever! and then shall we find the benefit and advantage designed thereby, and shall at last attain the happiness therein promised and assured to us.”
–Matthew Henry-
-SDG-
