Know the Word, Part I

"Some people thought he was a nut. He was just a shoemaker after all, and an average one at that. But in the evenings, after work, he studied Greek, Hebrew, and a variety of modern languages. He devoured Captain Cook's Voyages to expand his horizons, which, because of his poverty, kept him bound to a small, forgotten English village. Some people said his time would have been better spent getting a second job to support his growing family.

"But the young man's passion wasn't a curious, self-satisfying hobby. Early in life he had become concerned about the millions of unbelievers outside of Europe, and he was trying to figure out what could be done to bring them the gospel.

"With God's help, he slowly figured it out. He ended up going to India to serve as the first Protestant missionary in the modern era. His passion inspired a generation of men and women—the likes of Adoniram Judson, Hudson Taylor, and David Livingstone (among others)—to take up the cause of missions as well.

"Because one impoverished shoemaker named William Carey followed his God-given passion, large parts of the world that had little or no access to the gospel have large populations of people today who confess Christ as Lord." ("William Carey's Dream", More Perfect Illustrations, compiled by the editors of Preachingtoday.com, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois, 27)

William Carey’s passion to reach the lost for Christ became reality because he first took time to learn and know the Word. He even went so far as to learn the original languages of the Scriptures, Greek and Hebrew. Once he knew the Word thoroughly and was fully prepared, the door was opened and his life’s goal was fulfilled.

Paul lays out his goal in life in Philippians 3:8-11—"More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." His goal was to be like Jesus. He wanted God to change him from the inside-out and make him more like Jesus.

What is your goal in life? Is it to be like Jesus? Is your goal in life to live the faith? Is it your desire that God change you and make you like Jesus from the inside-out? Did you know that that is God’s goal for you? He sent Jesus to redeem you from your sin and rebellion, and remake you to be like Jesus.

"Athanasius of Alexandria, Church Father and theologian, a staunch defender of the doctrine of the Trinity, served 45 years as bishop from A.D. 328 to 373. He spent 17 of those 45 years in exile as ordered by four different Roman Emperors. Concerning the purpose for which Christ came, Athanasius said, 'He became what we are that He might make us what He is.'" ("Purpose of Incarnation", Ibid, 141)

Check it out: Philippians 2:7-8 says Jesus, "emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." "He became what we are!" And Romans 8:29 adds, "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren." "That He might make us what He is!"

To live the faith and become like Jesus, you must know the Word and to continue to live by it. You must know the Word and continue to live by it, because the Word gives wisdom that leads to salvation. That is the bottom line.

Effective defenders of the faith are characterized by strong biblical convictions built into a solid spiritual foundation. Though not always, in many cases such leaders have been raised in a family where God's Word was loved and exalted in practice and principle.

That was Timothy's heritage, and Paul was quick to remind him of it. "For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well" (2 Tim. 1:5). And Paul admonished him, "For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (v. 6).

Now Paul tells Timothy to "continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings" (2 Tim. 3:14-15a). When you know the Word, you can "continue" to live by it. When you need it, you will recall it and use it effectively.

"Continue," in the original Greek, is a present active imperative. It has the force of a command. "Have learned," in the Greek, comes from a word closely related to the Greek word for "disciple." It has to do with the intent to learn. It refers to learning by inquiry and observation.

Timothy learned the Word by intent. He worked at it. He read the Word daily. He studied the Word in order to know it well. He meditated on the Word often, to keep it in his thoughts. And he memorized the Word, making it a part of him. He had pursued and "become convinced of" the truths of Scripture—fixed, nonnegotiable truths that are not subject to compromise and cannot be watered down. He understood how important those truths were to his daily existence.

The most foundational truth is this: "The sacred writings…are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 3:15b). Scripture is the source of saving faith. The Word gives wisdom that leads to salvation. Timothy understood this truth, and it is the main reason we too must know the Word. Like Timothy we must read the Word, study the Word, meditate on the Word, and memorize the Word. Know the Word thoroughly. Make it a part of you. Then continue to live by it, as Timothy was commanded to do. Amen.