Merrill F. Unger writes, "Divine inspiration makes the Bible uniquely the Word of God and not merely a book containing the Word of God, and as such is different from any other book sacred or secular." Paul writes, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16a). Let me point out from our text three reasons God has given His Word.

First, God has given His Word to evangelize the sinner. 2 Timothy 3:14-15 reads, "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Paul writes in Romans 10:17, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Peter writes about "having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:23). He concludes in 1 Peter 1:25b, "Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."

Second, God has given His Word to exalt the Savior. 2 Timothy 3:16-17a reads, "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..." There are those who are genuinely born again living incomplete lives because they lack these elements of discipline from the Word of God. Disciples with undisciplined lives are a travesty and a tragedy. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." To live a Christ-exalting life is to seek His glory and not our own. It is aligning our lives in accordance with His Lordship.

Third, God has given His Word to equip the saint. 2 Timothy 3:17b reads, "thoroughly equipped for every good work." Without the Word of God, you will be ill-equipped as a believer. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:11-13, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." We need the Word of God to be properly prepared to fulfill our God given purpose as believers. Thankfully, God does not leave us to ourselves to figure out His will and way.

Whether you are in Christ or without Christ remember God has given His Word.

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, of Robertsdale, is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah.