II Timothy 3:13-17

II Timothy 3:13-17

The Real Antidote to Chaos

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 

2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

1. There is Evil. – vs. 13*
1. Evil never rests, but continues to advance on lies and deception. Unfortunately evil men and women drive forward the lies with horrible consequences.

                                                               i.      Psalm 7:14-17 

2. There is a Way to Stop Evil. – vs. 14-17*
1. There is an answer to the spread and consequence of evil. The answer is simple: It is the Bible.

                                                               i.      Stand strong in the culture that you have been raised. – vs. 14*

1.      Abide in the things that you have been discipled in, because the people who faithfully discipled you had a godly heart.

a.       Proverbs 30:11-12 

b.      Proverbs 1:8-9 

c.       Ephesians 6:1-3 

                                                             ii.      Teach the next generation from a young age the scriptures and the salvation they can find in them through faith in Jesus Christ. – vs. 15*

1.      2 Timothy 1:5 

2.      John 5:39-40 

                                                            iii.      Make the Bible the foundation of our lives and the bedrock of every institution we build. – vs. 16*

1.      All Scripture is spoken directly from God to you.

a.       2 Peter 1:19-21 

2.      Scripture is profitable for you and society in the following ways. It is the foundation of our:

a.       Theology

1.      1 Timothy 4:6 

b.      Reason (or logic and thinking)

1.      Hebrews 11:1-3 

c.       Moral Reform

1.      Psalm 119:9-11 

d.      Character Education

1.      Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (the Shema) 

                                                           iv.      Enjoy the product - the Bible builds good people who do good things. – vs. 17*

1.      Titus 2:13-15 

 For near half a century, have I anxiously and critically studied that invaluable treasure [the Bible]; and I still scarcely ever take it up, that I do not find something new--that I do not receive some valuable addition to my stock of knowledge; or perceive some instructive fact, never observed before. In short, were you to ask me to recommend the most valuable book in the world, I should fix on the Bible as the most instructive, both to the wise and ignorant. Were you to ask me for one, affording the most rational and pleasing entertainment to the inquiring mind, I should repeat, it is the Bible: and should you renew the inquiry, for the best philosophy, or the most interesting history, I should still urge you to look into your Bible. I would make it, in short, the Alpha and Omega of knowledge; and be assured, that it is for want of understanding the scriptures, both of the Old and New Testament, that so little value is set upon them by the world at large. The time, however, is not far off, when they will command a very different reception, among the sons of men.

                                                                                   - Elias Boudinot (Founding Father)