Recent statistics tell us that about only 30% of professing Christians read their Bibles. That is a tragic percentage, but not a surprising one. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the results of this statistic. Our churches are filled with people who have no idea what the Bible even says, which not only results in a suspicious Christian walk, but weakens the resolve of all to be men and women of the Word. How can we hold fast to the Word when we don’t even read it? What are we holding fast to? Why is it that, even though Peter says that He has given us everything we need for life and godliness, that we are seeing less godliness and more “believers” falling morally and doctrinally (2 Peter 1:3)?

My friend, we need to understand that the sacred pages of God’s Holy Word, which are God-breathed, should be our very sustenance for all of life. Paul puts it well in 2 Timothy 3:16 where he states, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The word “all” means just that, all or the whole of Scripture is inspired, which means it was God-breathed. What was in the mind of God became breathed out by God and men wrote it down. This would mean every word was inspired.

The same word, “inspired” or “God-breathed” is used in Genesis 2:7 where it is written, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” God breathed into Adam life. God has breathed out His Words to men, who wrote them down.

This word is also used in John 20:22, where the Apostle writes, “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” Now this should give us great assurance, as we can trust the Word of God because God wrote it. God is truth and what He breathes out is truth.

Paul’s brother in Christ (and ours), Peter, confirms this same truth. In 2 Peter 1:19-21, he writes, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” What Peter and Paul are both emphasizing is that God’s Word, which was breathed out, was given as if God Himself were audibly speaking what He wanted us to know.

J.C. Ryle, one of my favorite authors wrote, “Let us receive nothing, believe nothing, follow nothing which is not in the Bible, nor can be proved by the Bible.” Oh my friend, the sacred 66 books are God speaking. Do you grasp the awesomeness of what Paul, Peter, and others are saying?

Paul also states that Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. The word “profitable” means that it is helpful, beneficial, advantageous, useful, and sufficient. Now, we must be careful that we don’t put in the text what is not there. The Scriptures are not profitable for teaching you how to change a tire, but they are profitable for teaching you how to be patient while changing the tire or waiting for roadside service to come. The Scriptures are not profitable for instructing you in how to plan a wedding, but they are profitable in teaching you how to choose a godly man to marry and preparing yourself to be a godly woman. The Scriptures are not profitable for helping you to know how a build a home from the ground up. But they are profitable for helping you once that home is built to know how to live in that home in a godly manner.

The Bible is an inspired gift of God that we should use for all of spiritual life. Since this is true, why do we often run to other sources or people first, especially when we have the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God at our fingertips?

Paul is clear that it is profitable for doctrine, which is simply instruction of truth—truth that is about God, creation, eternal life, the fall of man and many other things. It is also profitable for reproof, which leads to conviction of sin. This would also include warnings from the Word about any error we might fall prey to, such as false teaching. We would be wise to receive, with meekness, the reproofs of Scripture, along with those who love us enough to reprove us.

The Word of God has the power to convict as Hebrews 4:12-13 states, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword…”

Paul also says that the Bible corrects us. This word (“corrects”) means to straighten up again, to restore things to their proper place.

The Holy Bible also instructs us in righteousness. This is basically teaching us what is right.

Do you believe that God’s Word is inspired? If you do, then it should manifest itself by a longing to know what He has said.

Do you believe God’s Word is profitable? What profit have the Scriptures been in your life this week?

Once we are convinced of the authoritative, all-sufficient Scripture and that we are indeed endeavoring to live our lives by it, then we must hold fast to it.

Paul tells his protégé in 2 Timothy 1:13, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me…”

We cling tightly to the sufficient Word by keeping it, as Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:14.

Are you holding securely to truth? In what ways do you feed yourself spiritually?

My dear friends, we need more Pauls and Timothys today.

In our age of apostasy, we can no longer afford to hold loosely to the Word of God.

My friend, let us hold fast to the all-sufficient and powerful Word of God. As Charles Spurgeon said, “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”