“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

I rebuke you!

Doesn’t sound pleasant, does it?

Rebuke.

It’s not a very common word in our politically correct world. In fact, rebuke is very much not “pc”.

But, there it is. Right there in God’s word. Remember from yesterday? The bible is our guide to truth – not our “pc” world, but the bible.

Our problem with this world is our arrogance. We don’t think we need rebuke.

“Who gave _____ the right to tell me what is right or wrong for me? Who do you think you are?”

But the reality is that every one of us is a repeat sinner. We’re messed up. And because we are messed up, one of the things that the truth of God’s word does is that God’s truth rebukes us. God’s truth rebukes us because we’re messed up. And that’s a good thing. We need to know what the truth is.

One of the sayings I say to our staff and session is, “Facts/truth is our friend. You cannot build a desirable future based on wishful thinking. You can only build on the foundation of truth.”

John Stott says, “We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency, and to overthrow our pattern of thought and behavior.”

That’s rebuke.

And that’s a good thing for repeat sinners who long to grow and mature in their faith.

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

This week, we will be looking at the relationship that a growing and maturing disciples is to have with God’s word.

“All scripture is God-breathed.” What does that mean?

All of the Bible is inspired by God. Simply put, if you want to know God, you study the Bible. God cannot be anything other than what the Bible tells us about God. This means if someone has a “new revelation” of God that is different from what the Bible already tells us about God, that’s a false teacher. That’s heresy. A person can have a “revelation” about God’s character, but if that revelation is from God, it can only verify what has already been revealed in the Bible.

“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching.”

The Bible is useful and profitable for knowing truth, knowing what is real. The standard for what is true is the Bible. You see, we think we’re so smart. But, remember what all smart people believed about the universe? All smart people were convinced that the earth was at the center of the universe. What we know to be true changes.

What is the only thing in the created universe that will never change? God’s truth revealed in God’s word.

That’s why wise people have trusted the Bible to guide them to truth.

Three million years from now, much will have changed. The only thing that will still remain?

God’s truth revealed in God’s word.

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Chist not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him” (Philippians 1:29).

I’ve never been in a situation where faith comes at the price of suffering, persecution, beatings, my life.

So, when I read passages like the one above I read it as if it’s a metaphor.

But for many Christians for most of Christian history, these words were literal. I can’t help but wonder, if I would be as bold and sure as the Christian saints who have gone before us.

And, before you think I am talking about the days of gladiators and such, I share with you the testimony of a saint from our lifetime:

It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their (the communists’) terms.

It was a deal; we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching. They were happy beating us, so everyone was happy.

• Richard Wurmbrand (1909-2001)

Father, we lift up to you those who are being persecuted for their faith. Comfort and be their strength.

Lord, we lift up to you those of us who believe in comfort. We confess that our faith is too lukewarm. We confess that we have not considered the cost. We are too easily distracted and discouraged by minor comfort. Lord, forgive and strengthen our faith.