INTRODUCTION: God's people are to be a people of the word (Ephesians 6:18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
See All...; Philippians 2:16Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD's right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
See All...). The scriptures are the writings of God (Romans 15:4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
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1. Scripture is Provided by God (2 Timothy 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
   See All...; James 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
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1. Its Scope -- All
2. Its Sense -- Is Given
3. Its Spirit -- By Inspiration
2. Scripture is Purified by God (2 Timothy 3:15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
   See All... "the holy scriptures")
1. Purified Seven Times (Psalms 12:6-7 [6] The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. [7] Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
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2. Pure in Preservation (Psalms 12:6-7 [6] The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. [7] Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
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3. Pure in Every Word (Proverbs 30:5-6 [5] Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. [6] Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
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3. Scripture is to be Pursued by Man (2 Timothy 3:15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
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1. God Has Given Them (2 Timothy 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
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2. We May Know Them (2 Timothy 3:15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
   See All...; 2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
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4. Scripture Points the Way to Salvation (2 Timothy 3:15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
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1. Pointing to Jesus Christ (John 5:39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
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2. Pointing to Faith in Him (Romans 10:17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
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5. Scripture Profits the Student of its Pages (2 Timothy 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
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1. Doctrine (1 Timothy 4:15-16 [15] Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. [16] Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
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2. Reproof
3. Correction
4. Instruction in Righteousness
6. Scripture Perfects the Servant of the Lord (2 Timothy 3:17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
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1. This Perfection is a Process (Philippians 3:10-14 [10] The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. [11] The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. [12] Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. [13] Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah. [14] Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
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2. This Perfection is a Possibility (Philippians 3:15Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.
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7. Scripture Produces Fruit in the Saint (2 Timothy 3:17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
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1. It Fills "thoroughly" (Colossians 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
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2. It Furnishes "furnished" (Titus 1:9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
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3. It Finishes "all good works" (1 Thessalonians 2:13For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
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CONCLUSION: To know God, His way, and His will, we must know His Book.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SCRIPTURES: The Inspiration of the Scriptures  The Preservation of the Scriptures  Manuscript Evidence  A Study on the History of the Bible