New Year, new vision

 2 Timothy 3:1"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/2TI.3.KJV

In verses 1-5 we are given a picture of the last days.  These are the days in which we are now living. If you don't believe me just turn on the news. Today I want to spend some time focusing on verses 16, and 17.  Let's take this word by word or phrase by phrase. First there is that little word ALL; I looked it up in the Greek.  Do you know what it means in Greek? Well it means, um, all! not just some. Therefore ALL scripture is by inspiration of God. yes even those boring and seemingly endless genealogies. What is "scripture"? Scripture is ALL of the 66 books of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, nothing else. I will add here that the apocryphal books are not recognized as being inspired. They have, contained in them, things that go contrary to the canonized 66 books. The closest version of the Bible to the original language is the King James version. Other more modern versions change the meaning of some passages or leave them out altogether. 

Inspiration of God, what does that mean? For the answer to that we go to our second verse which is 2 Peter 1:20 "knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/2PE.1.KJV The Holy Spirit was sent to teach mankind what to say and how to live. 

Profitable for doctrine, what is doctrine? That is a system of beliefs. The dictionary puts it like this: doctrine dŏk′trĭn noun

1. A principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group; dogma.
2. A rule or principle of law, especially when established by precedent. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=define+doctrine&t=newext&atb=v257-1&ia=definition 

We need to study scripture in order to form a system of beliefs and to know what and in whom we can believe. 

Reproof and correction, wow, these can be a bit challenging, because many people hold up the verse Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that ye be not judged." to mean that no matter what nobody has the right to tell me that I'm doing wrong.  Many who feel this way have failed to read the rest of the chapter as well as other verses in the Bible that contradict their feelings. The verses continue this way: "2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.7.KJV The meaning of these verses says, first take care of your own sin issue and then you will be able to see clearly to help your brother see his issue. People who use Matthew 7:1  to say "don't judge me" also need to realize that Matthew also says, in Matthew 18:15 "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.18.KJV

Instruction in righteousness, along with correction comes instruction. Not just telling people that they are bad, awful sinners, but showing them by words and example how they ought to live. Everything we do and say should be tempered with the love of God.  We should not just tell people that they are going to hell, but should in love, tell them about Jesus sacrifice for us so that we would not have to end up in hell, but will be able to enjoy all eternity with God in a beautiful heaven. 

That the man of God may be perfect,  um, perfect??? Yes, that is what the Bible says in more than one place. Matthew 5: 48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.5.KJV Some preachers try to say that we don't need to be perfect, that God's grace is all that we need.  While it is because of God's grace that we even exist, we must also by His sustaining power STRIVE to be more like Jesus every day of our lives. Philippians puts it this way in chapter 3:10 "that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/PHP.3.KJV Luke 13 says: 23 "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.13.KJV This perfecting is a work of a lifetime. 

Thoroughly furnished unto all good works.  God will provide the means to do whatever He calls us to do. We just have to be willing to do whatever He calls us to. We must learn and understand His voice and the only way to to that is through DAILY prayer and Bible study.  Not just a cursory reading of the Bible but a thorough study of it. Which brings us right back to 2 Timothy this time chapter 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." https://my.bible.com/bible/1/2TI.2.KJV