Let’s read 2nd Timothy 3:15-17, “And that from a child thou has known THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, which are able to MAKE THEE WISE UNTO SALVATION through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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 PERFECT, thoroughly furnished unto all GOOD WORKS” (KJV). This passage gives us, in a nutshell, “the main goal of the Bible.” We will give a brief exposition of these blessed verses by breaking it down.

The Holy Scriptures “are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” First, and foremost, the Bible’s goal is to show mankind that they need SALVATION. The moment sin entered into the world (see Genesis 2:16-17; 3:6; Romans 5:12) man became a lost sinner in need of salvation. Yet in wondrous love and grace God promised a Savior for mankind, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; IT SHALL BRUISE THY HEAD, and THOU SHALT BRUISE HIS HEEL” (Genesis 3:15). This verse speaks of how a woman would give birth to the Savior (see Isaiah 7:14 and Luke 1:27-35) and He would defeat Satan at the cross by dying for man’s sin (see John 12:31-32 and Hebrews 2:14-15). The whole Old Testament continued to foretell the Savior’s death for man’s salvation, either by types (see Genesis 3:21; 4:4; Exodus 12:1-13 along with John 1:29) and by direct prophecies (see Psalm 22:1-22 and Isaiah 53:1-10). The New Testament gives us the record of the Savior’s birth, death, resurrection, and ascension to glory, and that it is through FAITH IN HIM ALONE that one is saved (see John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; 10:9; 14:6; 20:31; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:20-21; and Ephesians 2:8-9).

Once a person is SAVED, the Holy Scriptures are profitable for:

*DOCTRINE…the Bible teaches believers all the truth that God has been pleased to reveal, including the truth of the Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Trinity, The Origin of the Universe, Man’s Fall into Sin, the Deity of Christ and His Incarnation, His Atoning Death and glorious Resurrection and Ascension to Heaven, Salvation and the New Birth along with the Eternal Security of the Believers, and Christ’s Second Coming (first to Rapture believers to heaven and then His return to earth to establish His kingdom). These are some of the “vital doctrines” of Scripture, but there are countless other teachings which teach us more about God and man.

*REPROOF, CORRECTION, INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS…the Bible faithfully EXPOSES the sins in a believer’s life and then RESTORES them to fellowship with God, which in turn allows God to “lead them in the PATHS OF RIGHTEOUNESS for His Name sake” (Psalm 23:3).

The Bible can also make the believer PERFECT (spiritually MATURE) and “thoroughly equipped” to do GOOD WORKS. God’s main desire for the believer is to be a testimony to the world of His saving grace. They can do this by proclaiming the gospel to sinners with their lips (see Mark 16:15) and by doing good works in their lives (see Ephesians 2:10; 2nd Timothy 2:21 and Matthew 5:16). (341.1) (DO)