Our scripture reading for today, to which I invite you to turn with me at this time, is found in the Apostle Paul's second epistle to Timothy, his young son in the faith. Second Timothy, chapter three in the New Testament, after the epistles of the Thessalonians, you'll come to Timothy, Titus, right before Philemon, Hebrews, James and so on. Second Timothy, chapter three. Most commentators believe the evidence seems to be incontrovertible. that these were the last words penned by the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, meaning his second epistle to Timothy. He speaks in this epistle of already being poured out as a drink offering, of having fought the good fight and having kept the faith and finished the race. Paul knows that his own death is rapidly approaching. And I would suppose that were you and I to know the same, the words we would speak to those we know and love would be very weighty. We would want them to give them special import, knowing that these were some of the last words that we would be speaking to them. And such is the case with this epistle, 2 Timothy. We begin our Scripture reading in the first verse of the third chapter. We read to the end of the chapter. But please know, brothers and sisters, that we will be focusing in especially on verses 14 through 17. Verses 14 through 17 will constitute our text for today. 2 Timothy 3. beginning in verse 1, hear then the word of the Lord. But mark this, there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Having a form of godliness, but denying its power, have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning, but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Janus and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men opposed the truth. Men of depraved minds, who as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far, because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone. You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, My purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings. What kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra? The persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. While evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it. And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Thus far, the reading of God's Holy Word. And as always, dear friends, I ask and urge you to keep your Bibles open and handy as we look to God's Word together this morning. Dear congregation of Jesus Christ, the date was Thursday, April 18, 1521. The great Reformer, 37-year-old Martin Luther, had been given 24 hours by the august body known as the Diet of Worms, Germany, to either recant or to reassert his writings. Writings which were considered heretical by the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. For you see, Martin Luther had been writing and teaching and preaching such glorious gospel doctrines as salvation, as justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The great hall of the bishop's palace was packed with both secular and ecclesiastical dignitaries, the chief among them being the emperor himself, Emperor Charles V. One church historian has described that scene this way, and I quote, The flaming torches gave out their heat. The ventilation was poor. The air was getting to be almost unbearably close. Perspiration was running down Luther's face. He looked pale and exhausted. Friends feared that further effort would be too much for him. But Luther went on. and repeated his address in German, having first spoken in Latin. It was a great oration. When Luther had finished, the official told him that he had not spoken to the point. The question was whether he would recant or not. The emperor demanded a plain answer. Then Luther said, if the emperor desires a plain answer, I will give it to him. It is impossible for me to recant unless I am proved to be wrong by the testimony of Scripture. My conscience is bound to the Word of God. It is neither safe nor honest to act against one's conscience. Here I stand. God help me. I cannot do otherwise." Now, brothers and sisters, ever since that historic event, All of the churches which find their roots in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century have also proclaimed another Reformation rallying cry, namely, sola scriptura. Scripture alone. In fact, again, to quote Luther, although there are many books which are very useful and can make fine, well-prepared, learned people, everything they teach is, after all, directed to this transient life only. and His worldly wisdom or righteousness, which cannot make a man of God. This, the Scripture alone, inspired and taught by God Himself, must do." End of quote. And that's true. And that's true. And that is why, my dear friends in the Lord, as our counsel has recently adopted and presented to you, the very first element, the primary ingredient, if you will, in the vision statement of the Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church is that by the grace and mercy of God, we would be and forever remain a congregation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that is biblically based. A congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ that is biblically based. Now, why is that so essential? In this day and age, why would a council of a given congregation say, first and foremost, primary emphasis is on the fact that the faith and practice, the belief and doctrine of this congregation will be based on the Scriptures? And why would the Apostle Paul, with his own death approaching, most probably to be beheaded by the Roman Emperor Nero, why would he impress on his young son in the faith, Timothy, the very same thing? As we work our way through our text together, we're going to discover that there are at least three key reasons why the Holy Spirit-inspired Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy personally, and exhorts every Christian individually, and exhorts every congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ corporately to be biblically based. Reason number one our text teaches us is because of the principle of inspiration. The principle of inspiration. For notice. After having set forth in the context of our text in verses 1 and following, Paul says, but mark this, there will be terrible times in the last days. We're living in the last days. The last days referred to that period of time in history between Christ's first and second coming. And he says, these are terrible times. And friends, if you look over those next few verses, you would agree with me, I suppose, it's like reading the headlines of today's newspapers or listening to the evening news. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, literally blasphemers, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, literally without natural affection. Think of this. Without love. Without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure, they're hedonists. Not lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, but denying its power. We're living in these terrible times of the last days. Now, Paul goes on there, if you'll skim over the next several verses, to talk about his own sufferings, his own persecutions. The persecutions which the Scriptures promise will be the possession of every professing Christian, especially as time goes on in these latter days. He talks about deceived deceivers who will be seeking to lead many astray. We're surrounded by a myriad of such men today. But I look at verse 14 with me, if you would, of Second Timothy three. Paul says, but now he's going to draw a stark and direct contrast. And he says, but as for you, Timothy, but as for you, professing Christian, but as for you, congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, but as for you, continue in. The Greek word is meno, m-e-n-o, meno. It means to abide or remain in. In fact, it's the same word used by our Lord Jesus in John 15, verse 5, where Jesus says, if a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from Me, you can do nothing. Paul says we must continue in, we must remain in, we must abide in what you have learned, head knowledge. We need to know what we believe and why we believe it. Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of." That refers to a heart knowledge. In fact, this is the only place in the entire New Testament, in the original language, where that particular verb is used, to become convinced of. And it's in the passive voice, which means Paul is referring here to something which happened, as it were, to a passive Timothy. He's referring to that supernatural work of the Holy Spirit of the living God, which regenerates our hearts, causes us to be born again, brings us from spiritual death to spiritual life. assures us of the truth of the sacred Scriptures. I only know it in my head now. I know it in my heart. I now not only know Jesus is a Savior, He is my Savior. I know not only that He died for people's sins, He died for my sins, you see. Not only to learn, but to become convinced. A head knowledge and a heart knowledge. Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of. Because you know those from whom you learned it. Obviously, Timothy learned a great deal from the Apostle Paul. Paul discipled him as a young son in the faith. But if you'll turn to 2 Timothy 1, verse 5, you will find that Timothy also was instructed by a very godly grandmother named Lois, and a very godly mother named Eunice. He came from a godly family line. And that's true for many of us gathered here in worship today. And praise be to God, boys and girls. Praise be to God, young people. If you were born into a Christian home, a Christian family, you have godly parents, you have godly grandparents. Praise be to God. That is not a heritage and an inheritance to be taken lightly. Praise be to God for the godly family lines represented here today. That was true for Timothy. He knew those from whom he had learned it. And just as was true for Timothy, is also true for many of us. And how from infancy? You have known the Holy Scriptures which are able, they have the dunamis, they have the dynamite, they have the power, the ability, the wherewithal to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Through faith in Christ Jesus. Paul says in Ephesians 2, verses 8 and 9, For it is by grace you have been saved, unmerited favor through faith. And this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, lest any man should boast. Continue. And what you have learned to become convinced of and how you have known the sacred scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, through faith in Christ Jesus. Now, notice is our text continues. Critical point. Verse 16. Paul says all scripture. Not some scripture, not parts of scripture. He says all Scripture is God-breathed. The Greek word is theonoustos. Theos means God. Pneo means to breathe. It is God-breathed. King James Version translates the term, is given by inspiration of God. New American Standard says, is inspired by God. Let's turn over to 2 Timothy 1. Turn to the right, please, for a commentary on this text. A commentary on this text. 2 Peter 1, verses 20 and 21. 2 Peter 1, verses 20 and 21. Peter writes, above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. I think the King James says, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Now, the Greek word there, if you've got your own Bible underscore, that moved by or carried along by is pheromones, pheromones. Now, why do I bring up the word pheromones? What does that mean? Well, I'm going to show you someplace else where it's used in the scriptures. I'll give you an insight into the term. Turn to Acts chapter 27, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts chapter 27. Here we read the apostle Paul is on a ship heading for Rome. The ship, as many of us may recall from biblical history, runs into a violent storm, a tremendous tempest. It's thrown off course. And in Acts 27, first of all, look at verse 15 with me, if you will. Verse 15, we read, The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind. So we gave way to it and were driven along. That verb, driven along, is pheromonos. It's the same word Peter uses in reference to the way men were born along or carried along by the Holy Spirit when they wrote the sacred scriptures. The word used again in verse 17. When the men had hoisted it, that is the lifeboat aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Sirtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. Being driven along by the wind as a ship would be, is the way holy men of old were driven along or born along or moved by the Holy Spirit of God to write the Word of God. Now, many years ago, a former seminary professor and editor of Christianity Today named Harold Linzel wrote a very excellent book entitled The battle for the Bible. The battle for the Bible. And in this book, brothers and sisters, Dr. Lenzel writes the following, and I quote, listen very carefully, excellent commentary or definition of inspiration. He writes, inspiration may be defined as the inward work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of chosen men who then wrote the scripture so that God got written what he wanted. The Bible, in all of its parts, constitutes the written Word of God to man. This Word is free from all error in its original autographs. It is wholly trustworthy in matters of history and doctrine. However limited may have been their knowledge, and however much they may have erred when they were not writing sacred Scripture, the authors of Scripture under the guidance of the Holy Spirit were preserved from making factual, historical, scientific, or other errors. The Bible does not purport to be a textbook of history, science or mathematics. Yet when the writers of Scripture spoke of matters embraced in these disciplines, they did not indict error. They wrote what was true. The very nature of inspiration renders the Bible infallible, which means that it cannot deceive us. It is inerrant in that it is not false, mistaken or defective. Inspiration extends to all parts of the written word of God, and it includes the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit, even in the selection of the words of Scripture. Moreover, the Bible was written by human and divine agencies. That is, it was the product of God and chosen men. The authors of Scripture retained their own styles of writing, and the Holy Spirit, operating within this human context, so superintended the writing of the Word of God that the end product was God's." And then in a brief article in the Reformation Study Bible, which is a commentary on our text in 2 Timothy 3, In this article entitled, The Authority of Scripture, I read the following, again quoting, Historic Protestantism accepts the Scripture as the only written revelation of God. It is inspired, or God breathed, 2 Timothy 3.16, distinguishing it from all other works. As a result, the Scriptures are infallible and true in all that they affirm. They are sufficient, containing everything that is necessary to know for salvation and eternal life. They are clear so that a person without special preparation can understand what God requires without the intervention of an official interpreter. The canonical scripture is the voice of God in the world. It has an authority or right to command corresponding to its divine author. For this reason, we submit our thoughts and moral standards to the Bible. It was through the recognition that the Bible cannot be subject to any person or group, however exalted, that the reformers freed their consciences from human traditions And authorities, end of quote. And then finally, on this score, take your Psalter and turn with me to the back once again, please, to page 72, page 72. In fact, let's start on 71 and then we'll go into 72. In articles, article seven on pages 71 and 72, there's a confessional statement entitled the sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures to be the only rule of faith. Now, you don't have to read this with me, but please follow along as I read Article 7, the bottom of page 71. It says, We believe that those holy scriptures fully contain the will of God, and that whatsoever man ought to believe unto salvation is sufficiently taught therein. For since the whole manner of worship which God requires of us is written in them at large, it is unlawful for anyone, though an apostle, to teach otherwise than we are now taught in the holy scriptures. Nay, though it were an angel from heaven, as the Apostle Paul says. For since it is forbidden to add unto or take away anything from the word of God, it does thereby evidently appear that the doctrine thereof is most perfect and complete in all respects. Neither may we consider any writings of men, and I might add the confessions themselves would be included in this statement. Neither may we consider any writings of men, however holy these men may have been, of equal value with those divine scriptures. Nor ought we to consider custom, or the great multitude, or antiquity, or succession of times and persons, or councils, decrees, or statutes, as of equal value with the truth of God, since the truth is above all, for all men are of themselves liars in more vain than vanity itself. Therefore, we reject with all our hearts whatsoever does not agree with this infallible rule, as the apostles have taught us, saying, prove the spirits, whether they are of God. Likewise, if anyone cometh unto you and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house." The principle of the inspiration of the sacred Scriptures. Now, is it not true that within the Scriptures themselves, we see any number of evidences of their inspiration? Now I'm going to touch on three such evidences all too briefly this morning, and forgive me for the brevity of this, but three brief evidences of the inspiration of Scripture. First of all, the first evidence of the inspiration of Scripture concerns the wisdom of the Word. The wisdom of the Word. For example, turn with me please in the Old Testament to the book of Leviticus, the 17th chapter. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus chapter 17. Here in Leviticus chapter 17, Verse 11, the Word of God declares, for the life of a creature is in the blood. And I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar. It is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. Now, the most important principle there is that this is a reference to the blood of sacrificial animals, which are a type or figure of the shed blood of Christ on Calvary, which alone cleanses us of all our sin. But friends, there's a very interesting bit of wisdom here, practical human scientific wisdom, In that first part of the text, it says, for the life of a creature is in the blood. For a life of a creature is in the blood. You see, according to what I have read, that text was used by an English physician by the name of William Harvey in the year 1615 to discover the circulation system of the human body. He was a man of God. He read the Scriptures. Up to that point, medical science would, what they called, bleed people. If they were sick or ill, they had a disease, they would cut them and bleed them, thinking if we could only get the blood out of the people, they'll be cured. And they lost everybody. Everybody died. It was 100% mortality rate. And he reads the Scriptures and he says, for the life of the creatures in the blood. And God used that text to enlighten William Harvey in 1615 to discover the circulatory system of the human body. And it was a major scientific, medical breakthrough. The wisdom of the Word. Many more examples could be given. But I move to a second evidence of inspiration. And that would be the historical accuracy of the sacred Scriptures. The historical accuracy of the sacred Scriptures. And again, many examples could be given. I give you one. During the excavations of the city of Jericho in the years 1930 to 1936, archaeologist John Garstang found something so startling that he signed a document along with another team member affirming the veracity, the truth of what they had written based on what they had found at the dig for the city of Jericho. Garstang writes, and I quote, as to the main fact then, there remains no doubt. The walls fell outwards so completely that the attackers would be able to clamber up and over their ruins into the city." End of quote. Now, why is that so significant? Well, it's so significant because archaeologists tell us that the walls of cities do not fall outwards. They fall inwards. And yet the walls of the city of Jericho fell outwards and the invaders, he just called them the invaders, came up and ran easily into the city to conquer it. Turn to Joshua chapter 6 with me if you would please. Go to the right several pages. After the Pentateuch, we come to the book of Joshua. After the first five books, we come to the book of Joshua. If you'll skim over Joshua chapter 5, for example, you find that God commands His people, Israel boys and girls, to march around the city of Jericho. It was a walled city, a fortified city. And He says to His army, just march around the city once every day, silently, for six days. I mean, imagine an army. That's the battle plan. Just march around the city quietly. And God says on the seventh day, you march around the city seven times. And when the priests blow a long blast on the trumpet and the people shout, the walls are going to collapse and you go in and take the city. That's what the people did. And I put myself back in the shoes of the people of Israel at that time and I'm saying, you march around the city once every six days. You do it seven times on the seventh day. The priests are going to blow the trumpet. We're all supposed to shout. What if the walls don't fall down? Really? I mean, imagine the faith that God gave them to implement that battle plan. But what do we read in Joshua 6, verse 20? We read, when the trumpet sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed. So every man charged straight in and they took the city. Glory be to God! Glory be to God! The renowned Jewish archaeologist Nelson Gluck has written, and I quote, "...it may be stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference." End of quote. End of quote. Historical accuracy of the sacred Scriptures. A third evidence of inspiration is fulfillment of prophecy. Fulfillment of prophecy. Brothers and sisters, hundreds and probably thousands of examples could be given I draw your attention just briefly to one today. Turn to the so-called minor prophecy of Micah near the end of the Old Testament. Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah. Mayhem abacus, Zephaniah, Haggai, and it goes on. But Micah 5, verses 1 and 2. Micah 5, verses 1 and 2. We read, "...martial your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against it. They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod, But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." This was pen 700 B.C. 700 years before Jesus was even born. The prophet Micah, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says there's going to be a Messiah born. There's going to be a ruler born who's from eternity to eternity. His origins are from of old, from ancient times. And he's going to be born in Bethlehem. 700 years later, Jesus Christ is born. We celebrate His birth at Christmas. Boys and girls, in what town was Jesus born in? Somebody tell me, one of the boys and girls, where was Jesus born? A little town of? Bethlehem. A little town of Bethlehem. He was born in Bethlehem. The inspiration of Scripture seen in the fulfillment of prophecy. The Apostle Paul said it 2,000 years ago. All Scripture is God-breathed. It is inspired of God. It is theonoustos. And that is the first key reason as to why the first primary part of the vision of PPRBC is to be a biblically based congregation. Because of the principle of inspiration. Now friends, a second key reason as to why the primary part of the vision of PPRBC is to be biblically based is because the Scriptures are useful for practical application. They are useful for practical application. Look at verse 16 with me, if you would, once again. Paul writes, all Scripture is God-breed and is useful. That is, it is profitable. It is beneficial. It is useful for teaching. I think that King James translates the word doctrine. It's useful for doctrine. Teaching doctrine might be a good way to translate the term. We have to know what we believe and why we believe it. It's useful for teaching, for rebuking. Rebuking means you're arresting or you're stopping error in doctrine or life. Someone is believing the wrong thing or they're going down the wrong lifestyle. And you use the scripture to arrest that and you rebuke them to stop them from going down that pathway. But it's also useful for correcting. In other words, not simply stopping the wrong doctrine or behavior, faith or practice, but it's for pointing out the right way. You know, it's one thing to be driving along and see signs which go, stop, wrong way, do not enter, go back. That's fine. But it would be nice to know how to get on the freeway. It would be nice to know where the right road is. And that's what the Bible is good for. It doesn't only say, stop, wrong way, go back. It says, go this way. You see, it does not only rebuke, but it corrects. It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, or training in right livingness, boys and girls, young people, to know how God would have us live. Not what your friends want you to do. Not what the world is telling you to do. Not how the crowd wants you to go. How can I live rightly before God, especially in a world where people are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, etc. You need the Word of God, you see. In fact, that is why In Psalm 119, in verses 9, 10, 11 thereabouts, Psalm 119, the sacred psalmist says, beginning in verse 9, How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart. Do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, memorizing Scripture, that I might not sin against you. Verse 97, same psalm, Psalm 119, 97, Oh, how I love Your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever near me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on Your statutes. And finally, verse 105, same psalm, Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Another great text. to memorize. You know, just a few weeks ago, I received in the mail unsolicited. It's very excellent booklet entitled America Return to God, America Return to God. And the text up here is Psalm 33, verse 12. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. And as I was flipping through this, I came across an article written by a man named Vernon McClellan. And the article is entitled, The Presidents and the Bible. The Presidents and the Bible. And I read a few excerpts to you, if I may. He writes, it has been said that a nation rises and falls on its leadership. If so, the Bible has been one of the greatest influences in America's best known, most courageous leaders. George Washington, our first president, added the prayer, So help me God, to his inauguration oath. Then he reverently stooped and kissed the Bible, which had been used in the oath. John Adams, second president of the United States, revealed that he personally studied the scriptures every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Andrew Jackson, America's seventh president, referred to the Bible as the rock on which our republic rests. He read from the word daily at least three to five chapters. Abraham Lincoln, 16th president, called the word the best gift God has ever given to man. But for it, we could not know right from wrong. Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th chief executive, read a portion of the Bible to his family each morning at breakfast. Benjamin Harrison, 23rd president, not only read the Bible himself, but taught the scriptures in Sunday school. Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States, in his remarks about the Bible, quote, In this book will be found the solution of all the problems of the world. Herbert Hoover, 31st president. said, the whole of the inspirations of our civilization springs from the teaching of Christ and the lessons of the prophets. To read the Bible for these fundamentals is a necessity of American life. In the home of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th Chief Executive, the Bible was read each day during family devotions with each family member reading that passage in turn. And finally, the 40th President Ronald Reagan wrote, and I quote, Inside the Bible's pages lie all the answers to all the problems man has ever known. I hope Americans will read and study the Bible. It is my firm belief that the enduring values presented in its pages have a great meaning for each of us and for our nation. The Bible can touch our hearts, order our minds and refresh our souls." End of quote. Question, question. In a long historic line of Bible reading and Bible believing U.S. presidents, Do you also, my friend, not simply profess the principle of inspiration, but are you, am I, reading and studying and memorizing and meditating upon and availing ourselves each and every day in every way the wisdom, the inspiration, the guidance, the counsel of this holy book? Or not? Or not? Are we using the Bible every day to serve as a light along our pathway? These are critical questions, critical questions. And it is not simply because of the principle of inspiration. It is not simply because of the blessed benefits of the Bible's practical application. But a third and final reason why in our personal lives, in our family lives, in our congregational life, we must be biblically based is because the Scriptures are also given for personal edification. Reason number three. Look at verses 16 and 17 of 2 Timothy 3 one last time with me if you would please. Paul writes, All Scripture is God-breed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that there's a purpose, an end in view, in order that the man of God, the anthropos of God, it's used generically, the man or woman of God, may be thoroughly equipped, a verb translated from the original to mean perfect or complete, fully qualified or capable, ready for the task at hand, so that the man or woman, the anthropos of God, may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." For every good work. Now, what does Jesus say about the work of God in John 6, verses 28 and 29? Jesus is asked by the crowd, what must we do to do the works God requires? John 6, 28 and 29, Jesus answered, The work of God is this, to believe in the one He has sent, the first work of God, to believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. My friend, if you have an unsaved friend or family member or neighbor or coworker or classmate, as I do, and we're burdened for their salvation, the very best thing we can do is to give them a Bible, invite them to worship. Urge and exhort them to read the Word of God. Read it with them. Read it to them. Why? Because in Romans chapter 10, verse 17, the Apostle Paul declares, consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the Word of Christ. People come to faith by the sacred scriptures, by reading the scriptures, by hearing the Word proclaimed. The first work, Jesus said, is to believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And my friend, having heard the Word of God today, if you have not yet repented of your sins and believed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I urge you, I exhort you, in Christ's name, on God's behalf, be reconciled to God. Believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first work of God is to believe in His holy name. But there are other works that the Scripture mentions, of course. For example, in Ephesians chapter 2, verse 10, after declaring that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone. In Ephesians 2, verse 10, the apostle Paul writes, For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. And if you'll turn back a page or two to Galatians 6, verses 9 and 10, Paul says, Let us not become weary in doing good. For at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. And finally, on this score, James 2, verses 14-17, the Apostle James, the brother of our Lord Jesus, declares, What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, I wish you well. Keep warm and well-fed, but does nothing about his physical needs. What good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. It's worthless. It's useless, you see. So, my friend, I ask you today, what good work, what good work would the Word of God have you do today? Or this week? Or this month? Or this year? Would the Word of God have me do? According to God's Word, how could you or I manifest a greater love for the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? How could we better love Him? Could we be more faithful in worship, for example? Or in Sunday school? Or participating in a ministry of the congregation? Could we be more faithful and fervent in prayer or in praise? Could we be more faithful stewards of the time and the talents and the treasures which God has so graciously entrusted to us, etc.? ? What good work would the Word of God have you do or me do in relation to our love for our neighbor? Our love toward one another? To love each other as we love ourselves. Do you know someone who's hurting? Struggling in life? Lost their job perhaps? Maybe separated from their spouse? Marital problems? Heading for divorce? Loved one died. Aged parent is ill. Just had surgery. They're facing surgery. They're burdened for a son or daughter that's gone the way of the world and lost in the wilderness of sin. Can we call them? Can we visit them? Send them a card? Bring them a meal? Have a cup of coffee? Pray with them. Listen to them. Read the Scriptures to them. How can we better love one another? How can we better love our neighbor? Friends, again, these are critical questions. Critical questions. In fact, the reason is because in Matthew 7.21, our Lord Jesus declares, not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. But only He who does the will of My Father who is in heaven." Only He who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. You know, friends, history records the fact that many years ago, the 18th century French philosopher Voltaire made a very vain boast. He said this, It took 12 men and several more centuries to build up Christianity. But I will show how just one Frenchman can tear it down in less than 50 years." End of quote. And dipping his pen into the ink of unbelief, he began writing volumes against God, denying the deity of Jesus Christ, ridiculing the resurrection of Jesus Christ, scorning the inspiration of the sacred scriptures. Ah, but history also records the fact that just 20 years after Voltaire's death in the year 1778, his home was purchased by the Geneva Bible Society and was used for guess what? Printing Bibles. Printing Bibles. Is it any wonder that the poet John Clifford penned these words? Last evening, I paused beside a blacksmith's door and heard the anvil ring the Vesper chime. How many anvils have you had, said I, to wear and batter all these hammers so? Just one, said he, then said with twinkling eye, the anvil wears the hammers out, you know. And so I thought the anvil of God's Word for ages Skeptic blows have beat upon. Yet though the noise of falling blows was heard, the anvil is unharmed. The hammer's gone. The principle of inspiration. Practical application. Personal edification. Oh, individually and corporately as a congregation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, May God grant to each and every one of us the grace to live lives that are biblically based. Amen. Let's bow our heads and our hearts together in prayer. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from whom you learned it. And how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Oh, Almighty God, and merciful Heavenly Father. Just as was true for the prophets and apostles and reformers of old, enable and empower each and every one of us, we pray, each and every day and in every way, to live lives which are biblically based. Unto the building up and blessing of this Thy body. Unto the glory of Thy great and holy name. And unto the coming of Thy eternal kingdom. In the precious and powerful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ alone do we pray. Amen.