Scripture Is The Standard

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. [2 Timothy 3.16-17]

This is a familiar passage from Paul's 2nd letter to Timothy. Usually the focus when quoting this passage is upon the inspiration of Scripture.

Today however, I would like to point out a couple other important teachings from this passage.

First, Scripture makes us realize what is wrong in our lives. Right and wrong are not determined per person or circumstance. Right and wrong are determined by God's Word. In other words, the popular saying, "what is right or wrong for me may not be right or wrong for you..." is ridiculously, not to mention dangerously, in error. Without a fixed standard, there is no right or wrong. Furthermore, man cannot be a standard unto himself! If I claim to be my own standard, I make myself out to be a god unto myself and only unto myself (everyone else therefore is their own god). Anyone who is god only unto themselves is really no god at all. God's Word is the standard for all men. It brings all humanity under the standard of rule established by God: good is what God says is good, and evil is what God says is evil. Circumstance has nothing to do with it.

Next, God's Word fits us to do every good work. Jesus said this:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

Good works are not what we determine are good works. Good works, for the sake of unmistakable identity, were demonstrated in specific actions by Jesus to confirm the will of God in general. God's Word, as revealed by Isaiah, identified Jesus long before His Advent:

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. [Isaiah 61.1]

If that's not enough, Jesus identified Himself as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy:

The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” [Luke 4.17-19]

Everything Isaiah and then Jesus declared above is "good." The works Jesus demonstrated were "good." The works Jesus demonstrated then commanded us to do are "good." God's Word establishes what is "good!" The standard for "good" is found in Scripture - not in what I (we) determine it is.

If we fail to use Scripture to determine what is right and wrong, we are effectively lost.

If we fail to use Scripture to determine what "good works" are required of us, we are effectively lost.

Paul's instruction to Timothy was just as important as it sounds. Scripture is the standard. Culture, science, knowledge, medicine, opinion, human reason, political correctness, and even religion... not so much - in fact, not at all.

Father, may there be a revival of awareness of the inspiration of Your Word and therefore a return to It as THE STANDARD for living.