All Scripture Is Given
Introduction: The Holy Scriptures have been preserved, translated, and spread around the world to accomplish that which the LORD God has determined by his own authority. The Word of God to mankind will stand as reliable truth with ultimate completion of his plan and purpose as all things are made new when Christ appears in his kingdom. The truth begins with the creator God at the beginning of Genesis, and the Bible documents the most important periods of history that we could ever study. We can know for certain that those things recorded for the future will surely come to pass.
NOTE: Bible passages are from the American King James Version.
A — God Is the Creator, the Only God, and Our Redeemer
Genesis 1 “1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Job 19 “25 For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day on the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”
Isaiah 45 “22 Look to me, and be you saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”
Comments: At the very beginning of Genesis, and at the beginning of the gospel of John, it is affirmed for us that God is the creator of everything in heaven and earth. Though man may propose that there are many gods, or there is no god at all, throughout scripture it is affirmed that God exists and there is only one true God. The LORD is Redeemer and Savior and the only way to have life after the death of the body, as proclaimed by Job and others even before the time of Jesus. Since Christ has now appeared, we must receive the gift of eternal life by accepting salvation in Christ by grace through faith.
B — Seek the LORD and Call Upon His Name by Faith
Isaiah 55 “6 Seek you the LORD while he may be found, call you on him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 11 So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
Romans 10 “13 For whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Hebrews 11 “6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Comments: We must seek the abundant mercy of God as we call upon his name to give us the pardon of our sin. Scripture makes it clear that no person can be righteous before God, except by forsaking the ways of the world and believing on him that justifies the ungodly. That faith in God, not our own works, is counted for righteousness. Down through many centuries, scripture documents that those who come to the LORD must have the faith to believe that he is God, and that he rewards those who diligently seek him.
C — Search the Scriptures First
John 5 “39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
Acts 17 “11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed.”
Romans 15 “4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
Comments: The New Testament scriptures are firmly validated by the Old Testament scriptures. Jesus quoted from the Old Testament to point out to the Sadducees their error in doctrine as they did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. Christ and the apostles often pointed to the Old Testament to show that the Word of God is reliable to connect the unfolding stages of history. The Bereans were not just convinced by Paul's sound doctrine, but they made their own personal inquiry into scripture to validate what they heard. This approach can become an exciting adventure through the Word of God.
D — All Scripture Is Profitable
2 Timothy 3 “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.”
Psalm 119 “105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”
Matthew 4 “4 It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”
Comments: One of the most basic drives in life is the need to satisfy hunger for food. Scripture teaches us that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan after a very long fast, he quoted from Deuteronomy, showing that spiritual nourishment is not to be secondary to physical needs. Paul wrote two letters to Timothy to guide him in his leadership role in the local church. He stressed the importance of all scripture to Timothy for the many aspects it provides for Christian growth to produce good works for the Lord.
E — Look Up and Lift Up Your Head to the Everlasting Kingdom
John 14 “1 Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
1 Thessalonians 4 “16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Revelation 21 “4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.”
Comments: The conclusion of all things in the present world lies only in the hands of God. There is a time coming when every knee shall bow to the LORD and every tongue shall confess before him. When the end of the world is near, that should comfort the Christian, because that means full redemption is also near. Jesus Christ will return to take his own to the place he has prepared for them. Paul taught that we have received the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. While we wait for Christ to return, we need to show the work of the LORD within us, expectant of an entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Reflections in Prayer
Your Word, Lord, is so all encompassing that I struggled to find ways to adequately group the scriptures that I searched out under each heading to present a progressive consideration, while realizing that there is much interrelationship throughout scripture. I received a personal blessing as I reviewed so many verses, and I tried to take care to choose verses based on their context, not just individual content. I firmly believe that all scripture has been given to accomplish your intents and purposes in the hearts of those who seek to know you better. Help me, Lord, to separate the wisdom of men from my study if that wisdom will prevent me from receiving that which is only spiritually discerned. I am thankful for the grace that you have provided from the beginning of time, for all who will seek you with their whole heart. Give me a desire, Lord, to show the hope that is within me by abounding in love for others. I want to be faithful to you until I experience my time when I am absent from the body and present with the Lord. Hallelujah, amen.
Published 3 February 2014; format revisions 31 January 2017