THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD

Part 1: It is profitable for doctrine

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

The word of God is given by inspiration of God. “Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20. It is not a product of human wisdom or intelligence. Like any other book it may be written, packaged and printed by man, but it is different. It is God-breathed. The word of God speaks the mind of God. It reveals the will of God to man. It started with Adam in the Garden of Eden and will continue until the last man is caught up when Jesus comes for the second time.

The first documented instance of God’s Word being written down, was when the Lord Himself wrote it down in the form of Ten Commandments on the stone tablets delivered to Moses at the summit of Mount Sinai. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.’” Exodus 24:12.

Later God instructed Holy men to write. Moses was the first of them. “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua” Exodus 17:14. Prophets and apostles also wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. They used scrolls made out of animal leather and papyrus. Although these materials were not durable enough to last for a long time, God protected them for thousands of years. From time to time the scrolls would need to be rewritten on newer material to preserve the message. This is how we finally got our bible as it is today.

We read in our text today that the word of God is profitable. In other words the word of God is gain. It is not loss; it is increase. You don’t loose with the word of God - you gain. It does not reduce value; it adds value. It gives hope and future where there is no hope. It gives joy for tears; deliverance for bondage; peace for distress; love for hatred and so forth. The word of God is not deficit; it is surplus.

The word of God is profitable for doctrine. It teaches us what to believe. We all come from idol worshipping; in one form or another. The bible says; “…at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12. “…We all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” Ephesians 2:3.

We believed anything and followed everything from idols made out of wood and stone to celestial bodies like the sun, the moon and stars. Culture and tradition also demanded allegiance and loyalty. Philosophy and modern wisdom seek to capture attention while the dictates of flesh cries with a loud voice to claim the first place. We did not know what to believe. We replaced God the Creator with the things He created.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. We know this by the word of God. There is no other source for this kind of knowledge in the world or elsewhere other than in the word of God. God uses His word to teach us what to believe.   

We did not have anything true to worship until the word of God came. Oh that you may hear me well! I am not saying people did not have anything to worship. I am saying they did not have anything true to worship. The word of God teaches us that there is only One True God to worship. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6. “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle” 1 Timothy 2:5-7

The word of God teaches us that there is no salvation through any one but Jesus Christ. When we put our trust in Him for salvation; when we believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead; when we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord; we get born again. When we receive Him, we are given the right to be called children of God. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

This is the true doctrine we must believe. We find it nowhere but in the word of God. The word of God is profitable for true doctrine.