Perfection

II Timothy 3:16-17

In 2006, I waited after my shift for an hour and a half because I wanted to ask this really pretty officer out. She had to work late, so I waited and waited in my truck until she came out. Finally, I saw her. I got out of my truck and approached her. I asked her if she would like to get a coffee and she agreed. We went to the only place open at 11:30 at night in Glennville; the Huddle House. After a while of talking, I asked her if she would like to come sit next to me. Without missing a beat she replied "There is not enough room for you, me, and your ego over there". Two months later I asked her to marry me and the rest is history.

I did not understand it at the time, but she was right. Unfortunately, I would get much worse before God finally humbled me. Many people walk around like they are God's gift to humanity. No one is perfect, but as we will see in our text today, Christians should be working towards perfection.

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"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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

II Timothy 3:16-17

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As Christians, we must ask ourselves, is the Bible the Word of God? If it is, then we must ask another question, Is God who He says He is? If the answer to both of those are "yes", then we have no right question anything the Bible says. If the answer to either of those is "no", then there is no reason to be a Christian. II Timothy 3:16 tells us that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God". That phrase literally means that it is "God breathed". In other words, God breathed His message into the human authors.

God's Word benefits us by instruction, reproof, and correction. We have a tendency to look at this from a negative perspective. We think, "Great! I have screwed up again. Let me read the Bible to find out how bad I am and what I have to do to fix it". While this can be true, listen to how these words are used in the Bible:

Instruction - learning and teaching

Reproof - conviction, a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested

Correction - restoration to an upright or right state, improvement of life or character

Yes, there is a need for us to fix bad behavior, but perspective matters. Do we have a negative view or a positive view. Are we thinking of God as angry and always fussing at us, or do we see Him as a loving Father who wants the best for us? Verse 17 should answer the perspective question.

In verse 17, the word "man" is used in relation to mankind or humanity. Therefore, what follows is for all saved individuals. God gave us His Word to equip us to be complete, or as the King James words it "perfect". Jesus said "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). God is perfect and complete by nature, but as Christians, it is a goal we work towards until we see the work completed when we arrive in Heaven. Not only is it helping us to become more like God (Jesus), but it also gives us everything we need to do the good works here in this life. Remember Ephesians 2:8-10:

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"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

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Father, thank You for not simply giving us instructions and then telling us to "go". You have given us Your Word to teach, convict, and correct because You want what is best for us. Help us to keep a positive perspective of this and to always know that You love us.