MADE FREE

John 8:32 KJV - ‘And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’

The Bible is God's infallible, inerrant and inspired Word. For the Christian, the bible is our spiritual GPS in all matters of faith and practice. Did you know, ‘The most read book in the world is the Bible. … The Bible far outsold any other book, with a whopping 3.9 billion copies sold over the last 50 years.’

Wow, that's a lot of Bibles! But that begs the question, why don't we see more lives changed? Maybe people buy them and never read them! I have given that some thought and I know I have purchased things and put them away for 'Keepsake.’ For instance, I like pocket knives and have purchased a few and put them in a safe place just for the sake of collecting. Kind of an investment for the future. Maybe for my children, hoping they will value them or pass them along to my grandchildren as something to remember me by.

Well the Bible is not a book to be collected and admired as a relic, but God's book is to be explored, expounded, explained, enjoyed, employed, exalted, exercised, experienced and extended to others.

The words of the Bible are words of truth. Before we can put any of these words to action, we must answer the question that Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, ‘What is truth?’

Our text today speaks of Truth making us free, but we must know what truth is, if we are to be made free. II Timothy 3:16

‘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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good

Why should we explore Bible?

I. The Bible is God’s Revelation of Himself. Note: This is seen twofold:

A. God Reveals Himself As The Word. (John 1:1) The Son of God is the word of God. This is why Jesus told Thomas in John 14:8,9 “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” God’s word then is His revelation of Himself to the world.

B. God Reveals Himself By The Word. (II Timothy 3:16) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable.”

Every attribute and deed of God is known by His word. The word “scripture” means “writings” and therefore the O.T. and N. T. are the writings of God’s revelation of Himself to us. (II Pet 1:21) Speaks to the subject of God’s revelation.

II. The Bible is God’s Means of Bringing Redemption To Humanity (II Tim. 4:2) “Preach the Word”  Note: God uses the Word to birth the sinner into the family of God. (I Cor 1:21) “ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

A. The Word Is Authoritative (I Peter 1:23) Read

Note: No one is nor can be saved apart from the Word of God. Therefore Biblical (gospel) preaching is the power (Authority) of God unto salvation.”

B. The Word Is Awakening (Rom 10:17)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Every account of conversion found in the scripture is a result of the Word of God.”

Note: Sunday after Sunday the Word is the means God uses to awaken the sinner and the saint of God. Not just at conversion but over and over again to the majesty of our God. (John 17:17) “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth.”  So we can emphatically say, that God places a high premium on the Bible.

III. The Bible is God’s Remedial For Holiness (II Tim 3:16,17)

A. It Is A Personal Remedial Course (II Tim 3: 16-17)

Timothy, a young preacher/pastor wasn't left to himself to figure out that which would be his rule of faith and practice to guard him, guide him and grow him. In order for the preacher/ pastor to lead and feed he must also take heed to himself. The Bible is our spiritual compass for all matters of life. The Bible will teach you how to live holy and rebuke you when you don’t!

Our struggle is remaining faithful in the word. The first church at Jerusalem suffered from this and was led to a biblical solution. (Acts 6:4) “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” That will take an aggressive work of discipleship in our personal lives. .

The following is a copied list of primary activities of the Pastorate includes;

Praying I Thess 1:2;3 Evangelizing I Thess 1:4,5

Equipping I Thess 1:6-8 Defending I Thess 2:1-6

Loving I Thess 2:7,8 Laboring I Thess 2:9

Modeling I Thess 2:10 Leading I Thess 2:10-12

Feeding I Thess 2:13 Watching I Thess 3:1-8

Warning I Thess 4:1-8 Teaching I Thess 4:9-5:11

Exhorting I Thess 5:12-24

Encouraging II Thess 1:3-12

Correcting II Thess 2:1-12

Confronting II Thess 3: 6,14

Rescuing II Thess 3:15

These subjects are all addressed in the Bible.

It Is A Public Remedial Course (II Tim 4:1-4)

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2.Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Ultimately the Bible is designed to bring our worship to Him who deserves it, our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And as we come into his presence that the Bible is God’s high and holy book. As the songwriter said , ‘Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life / Teach me faith and duty, wonderful words of life/ Jesus only Savior, sanctify forever, beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life/ beautiful words, wonderful words/ wonderful words of life.’