Wisdom for Salvation - Contemporary Service

Wisdom for Salvation

 Tag line: The Holy Scriptures grant us wisdom for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ

 Big Idea: Our 2 Timothy text focuses that wisdom which is the fear of the Lord directly upon the gift of Holy Scripture. It is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

o Law: Verse 16 of the Epistle lists ways that the Scripture is useful. Several of them are ways in which the Law works upon our consciences – teaching, rebuking, and correcting.

o Gospel: Yet the Scripture’s usefulness doesn’t end with the Law. Teaching includes the central point of Scripture: Christ crucified and raised on the third day! It is useful for training in righteousness, which doesn’t mean more law, but continually being called back to the waters of baptism where Jesus has applied his cleansing blood to us.

o Application: Two possibilities in these texts. First, the Word of the Lord endures forever. The Holy Scripture we’ve taught about from 2 Timothy is the answer to the question Jesus poses in the Gospel: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” The answer is, “Yes!” The second possibility pertains to our stewardship of the Word. We keep our had, endure hardship, and do the work of an evangelist, as St. Paul instructs. Yet as we do this, per Psalm 121, “The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life.”

 Scriptures:

o Psalm 121:1-8 – “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

o 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

o Luke 18:1-8 – “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

 Prayer of the Day: O Lord, almighty and everlasting God, You have commanded us to pray and have promised to hear us. Mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may direct and govern our hearts in all things that we may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.