One of the most beloved scriptures in the Bible is John 3:16 and it does, in fact, drill the entire message of the Bible into one concise statement by Christ himself as he is responding to questions about what it means to be born again. Christ tells Nicodemus, as he is telling the world, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (NASB).
There is another 3:16 in the Bible that we often forget. It is found in 2 Timothy 3:16. Paul is writing to young Timothy and one of his main points; if not the main point, is concerning the nature of scripture. A key word in verse 16 is “God-breathed.” [i] Renowned New Testament scholar, Dr. Gordon Fee, tells us “Paul probably intended to emphasize that the Scripture that is “able to make you wise for salvation” is in its totality “God-breathed” (reflecting the creative activity of God; cf. RSV, GNB, “inspired by God”), that is, of divine origin.”[ii]
When we read Scripture, we read God’s book.
And what of this statement? What are we to do with it? Well, Paul is originally saying this to young Timothy in mentoring him into his primary responsibility in teaching the Word to the people of God. We cannot forget this is our main task, to proclaim the gospel and teach it to God’s people as well as the world as we have opportunity.
Part of teaching is the “rebuking” which is the “correction’ of false teaching and pointing to the true truth of scripture. These are both the positive and negative sides of teaching, as Fee says, and we cannot avoid them, if we are to follow Christ.[iii]
If you aren’t reading the Bible, let me encourage you to begin today. If you don’t have a daily plan in place, I highly recommend a process developed by my pastor, Rev. Mario Perez, The 48 Minute Principle. In a nutshell, he tells us to tithe our time. After eight hours of work and eight hours of sleep, he recommends taking a tithe of the remaining eight hours (48 minutes) and divide that into four segments—9 minutes of Christian literature reading, 15 minutes of prayer, 15 minutes of Bible reading and 9 minutes of journaling/memorizing. I would note that you can read the entire Bible in a year by following this method, as well as reading about ten books a year or more, develop a detailed journal for personal reflection and recall, commit to memory God’s Word through memorization, and enter into a vibrant, transformative prayer life![iv]
I hope you engage God’s Word. He shows us how in the other 3:16.
It is his idea. It is his book. I hope you will pick it up and dust it off if you need to. I hope you will open it and read it.
You have no idea what it is about to do in you.
It will transform your life.
Forever.
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[i] Greek theoneustos.
[ii] Fee, Gordon D., New International Biblical Commentary on 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1984, p. 279.
[iii] Ibid., 280.
[iv] Perez, Mario Rev., Pastor’s Musings. Xlibris Publishing, 2021, p.17. You can also learn more about Pastor Mario, his church and ministry, and the 48 Minute Principle @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmCag69ua3Q . The discussion of The 48 Minute Principle begins at the 16:10 mark.
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We can come to know Christ through confession of our sins and repentance (turning away from sin). Let me encourage you to do this by talking to God through prayer. Here is an idea of how you might do that:
"Dear God, I believe your son Jesus Christ died in my place on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day following his death. I confess my sins, all of them, to you now with a humble heart. I repent of those sins and ask you to empower me with your Holy Spirit in overcoming further sin. Amen”
If you prayed this or a similar prayer committing your life to Christ and becoming one of his followers, let me encourage you to find a good, Bible-believing church. If you live in the Weslaco/Rio Grand Valley area of Texas, let me invite you to the church I attend, Mid-Valley Assembly (www.midvalleyassembly.com).
Begin talking to God in prayer and reading the Bible daily. A good way to begin to read the Bible is to start with the Book of John in the New Testament. Feel very free in connecting with me if you need any further help in your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. You can do this via the above email or facebook page or this web page.
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Mercy Road Ministries was founded and now led by Ben Bounds. Ben has pastored churches across Texas for over thirty years and is an ordained minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA). He holds a BA in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies from Southwestern Assemblies of God College and did graduate theological studies at the BMA Theological Seminary.
Ben's first book, The Divine Chase: Responding to a Pursuing God, was released on 12.08.2017 through Westbow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. It is available in paperback and hardback through your preferred bookseller (Mardels, Barnes and Noble, etc.) and paperback, hardback as well as ebook through online book retailers (www.christianbook.com, www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.booksamillion.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, etc.).
Ben is the host of Staying in Bounds, an on-air Bible devotional broadcast multiple times daily on KWJV 103.7 FM Weslaco, TX which can also be heard worldwide online at www.kwjvthestar.com.
Ben and his wife, Linda, together have four adult children and nine grandchildren. They live in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Ben can be contacted for preaching engagements at benbounds695@gmail.com or 903.441.3279.
Ben can also be contacted via his website @ www.benbounds.com, which is also his blog and contains more information about his ministry.
Follow Ben @ https://www.facebook.com/mercyroadministries/ and this website www.benbounds.com.
©2021 by Ben Bounds. All rights reserved.
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