Scripture – Usefulness

Psalm 19:7-14 offers a great overview on the usefulness of Scripture. In v.7, we learn that Scripture is “perfect” (i.e complete) and it “restores the soul”. Scripture contains everything we need to maintain right belief, right action, and right character. It has the ability to revive (transform) one’s inner person and correctly conform him/her to Christ (i.e. the person God wants them to be). As Romans, 6:15-18 states, Scripture offers a “pattern of teaching” that sets us free from bondage to sin so that we can live righteously.

In Psalm 19:7, David informs us that God’s Word can dispel ignorance and enable one to be wise. With this in view, Scripture should be used by believers as a means for discerning the truth (Acts 17:11). As the sure foundation for the believer’s faith, the Bible provides a reliable source of truth from which to build one’s life and maintain one’s hope in the life to come. With such a foundation, the believer can not only know sound doctrine but also master the correct application of that doctrine to every aspect of life.

In this world, one confronts many paths that lead to destruction (Matt 7:13). In Psalm 19:8, David tells us that the Word of God offers us a correct path bringing us joy as we strive to make our way. Not only does God’s Word establish the route by which we must pursue Him, it also serves as a light to show us the way (Ps 119:130). In other words, it helps determine God’s direction for us even while we face a host of other options. In the process of being delivered from the horrors awaiting the wrong paths and the accompanying frustrations of facing the lies and deception along one’s way, believers find joy in God’s Word presenting them with the right way.

Also in Psalm 19:8, David makes clear that God’s word does not offer useful suggestions but actual commandments that must be obeyed. These commandments are “pure”, i.e. clear and easy to understand. This does not mean that all parts of the Bible are equally easily understandable (2 Pet 3:16); rather, the Bible in general is readily understandable though some parts take considerable more effort to study and properly discern.

Curiously, David uses the “fear of the Lord’ as synonym for Scripture in Psalm 19:8. Proper fear of the Lord keeps one from error (Jer 32:39-40) and keeps one in sync with God’s perfect Word. Also in Psalm 19:8, David informs us that God’s Word is firm and offer “righteous” standard for us. Scripture, therefore, is the sufficient source of God’s complete revelation and nothing must be added to it.

According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” From the NT era (and before) up to the present day, “strange teachings” have constantly been promoted by false teachers (Rom 16:17; 1 Tim 1:3; Heb 13:9; Rev 2:14-15). To avoid being fooled by such teachings, careful and diligent study of Scripture will lead us to sound doctrine.

In the church, we must encourage one another with the Word of God (1 Thes 4:18; Titus 1:9; 2:15). We must admonish one another based on the truth of God’s Word when necessary so that everyone may move onto maturity in Christ (Col 1:28). We must offer sound instruction from God’s Word (1 Tim 6:3-5). In our present times, Scriptures can speak to wrongly held views on such things as homosexuality and abortion. In addition, God’s Word also can address the pervasive egocentrism whereby people seek after self-fulfillment above all else. By holding to a proper commitment to God’s Word, Christians can offer true worship to God that always begins with repentance and never begins with one’s seeking after an emotional high. Churches, likewise, will resist the temptation to appeal to the fleshly desires of fallen humanity and instead offer the living and active Word of God. They will continue to present the full counsel of God’s Word including unpopular matters such as hell, sin, God’s wrath, sexual sin, etc. Churches that hold resolutely to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word in its fullness will direct people to a proper understanding of God’s love which can never be divorced from His holiness, justice, wrath, and sovereignty. Christians and churches that hold firmly to God’s Word will never fail to address the central problem of humanity—sinfulness—and never forsake God’s commission to proclaim His solution—forgiveness through repentance and faith in Christ.