The Scriptures Are Still Profitable In These Last Days

Today’s Reading: 2 Tim. 3

If knowing Christ is the foundation of our hope and joy, it’s kind of important for us to know who he is and what he’s like, so we can recognize him from phonies.
* It would be supremely dangerous to our hope and joy for us to make up stuff about God.
* Instead, he has revealed himself to us in the Scriptures; in a way, the words of the Bible represent God’s voice, speaking to us, telling us about himself.
* So, here, Paul writes to Timothy about the role of the Scriptures.

But first, Paul writes about the difficulties of the last days (3:1).
* Paul is not likely talking about some future “last days,” but about the last days that were inaugurated by the coming of the Spirit (see Acts 2:17).
* Yes, we will definitely come up against those who disagree with us, those who hate Christ and us too. That is a promise!
* Notice how Paul echoes Jesus’ own words in Matt 5:10–12 (“Blessed are those who are persecuted…”) when he writes, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (v. 12).

But here’s the bottom line.
* Nothing anyone says to us or throws at us or does to us will ever change the truth that God has revealed to us about himself and his will in the Bible.
* Therefore, knowing the Bible will equip you to stand for the truth because through the Bible you learn more about the One who is the truth.

I once heard someone paraphrase 2 Tim 3:16 like this, and I found it both memorable and instructive: “Scripture is useful for…
* …teaching, because it shows us what the path of righteousness is;
* …reproof, because it confronts us with where we have gone off the path;
* …correction, because it explains to us how to get back to the path;
* …and training, because it instructs us on how to stay on the path.”

May we be the kind of people who cherish the Scriptures, and may God reveal himself to us in his Word, equipping us for every good work (v. 17).

Jeremiah is Promised Persecution

Today’s Reading: JEREMIAH 1:13–19

I continue to be struck by the parallels between Jeremiah’s call and the New Testament mission.
* We already mentioned the Great Commission in yesterday’s remarks.
* But there is more.

For example, God gives Jeremiah a vision of the judgment to come, in order for him to proclaim it to Judah.
* We have been given, not a judgment to announce, but the judgment.
* That’s not all we have to announce, but the return of Christ, final judgment, and eternal suffering in hell make up one side of the context of the Gospel.

Also, Jeremiah’s message is a hard one, and it’s not going to be received well.
* God promises him persecution: “They will fight against you” (v. 19).
* We have a similar situation and promise. (See Mt 5:10–12; Jn 15:20; 2Tim 3:12).

Now, think about this: Jeremiah doesn’t have a lot of good news to share.
* The prophetic proclamation of judgment always leaves room for repentance, so good news is in there.
* But Jeremiah has a particularly rough message.

But we do have good news, the good news.
* Jeremiah’s message is that judgment is coming.
* Our message is that salvation has come.
* Which would you rather deliver?

Yes, the Gospel is a hard message, and people will fight against it, largely because it comes in the context of bad news (sin, slavery, separation from God, eternal judgment, etc.).
* Jeremiah had good reason to be reluctant, so God promised to be with him and to deliver him.
* We have the same promises, and we have a message of hope!

Therefore, in as much as Jeremiah was not to be “dismayed” (v. 17), but instead preach with courage and boldness, how much more should we?