You Have Known the Holy Scriptures

by Mitchell Tan
January 11, 2018

CONTINUE IN THE THINGS LEARNT

Young people, are you practising “continuity”? It is easy for us to start following the Lord and His teachings. But it is quite another thing to continue in it. Paul had seen how Timothy did indeed follow through in the same spirit of faith as him (2 Timothy 3:10). But he was not taking anything for granted. He commanded young Timothy to continue in the things that he had learnt.

“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them …”
2 Timothy 3:14

The challenge was to have the certainty in all the things that were taught to Timothy throughout the years. The people whom he had learnt from had made a big difference in his life. The pronoun “whom” is plural. There were more than one person that Timothy learnt from. The things that they taught brought much assurance to his heart. The challenge was for Timothy to continue in them.

HAVING A PROPER REGARD FOR THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

“… And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures …”
2 Timothy 3:15

One of the reasons why Timothy was able to continue in the things that he learnt was his regard for the Holy Scriptures. The Scriptures were sacred and holy to both Paul and Timothy.

1. PROCESS OF BEING TAUGHT FROM CHILDHOOD

Since childhood, he had been taught the Holy Scriptures. He was taught to regard the Scriptures as sacred. This was a work done by his grandma Lois and his mother Eunice. Their genuine faith was passed down from them to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5). They schooled him in the ways of the Lord from the Holy Scriptures.

2. PRACTICAL EFFECT FROM KNOWING THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

Timothy had a process of knowing the Holy Scriptures till he came to a point where it had a practical effect on him. This accumulation of knowledge concerning the Lord Jesus from the Scriptures made a deep impact on him. Young people, let’s seek to grow in our knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.

SEEING THE POWER OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

“… Which are able to make you wise for salvation …”
2 Timothy 3:15

There is tremendous power in the Holy Scriptures. It is powerful enough to make a person find wisdom and assurance in the Lord. It is able to help a person come to salvation. Through the knowledge of the Scriptures, Timothy was able to find genuine faith.

Paul also wrote of how he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because it is the power of God to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). The gospel is based on the promises from the Holy Scriptures (Romans 1:1-2). Simple words from the Scriptures can make a powerful impact on lives.

PLACING OUR FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS

“… Through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 3:15

The means to salvation is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The basis of our faith is the Holy Scriptures. The focus of our faith is centred on the Lord Jesus. The apostle Paul was able to see how Timothy had come to a definite faith in the Lord Jesus through knowing the Holy Scriptures. This was one of the things learnt and he should continue in. Young people, let’s seek to have a definite faith in the Lord Jesus, based on the Holy Scriptures. Let’s continue in faith in the word of God.

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