Having established that God’s written revelation to mankind is precious and profitable,

we move into the realm of application. As we mentioned in Lesson 1, the master plan behind the

Bible is rescue. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s book is all about God’s plan to rescue men and

women from the ultimate problem of sin. Our responsibility begins with discernment.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the

Lord is.

- Ephesians 5.15-17

Few passages serve as a better gateway from the words on the printed pages of our Bibles into the realm of practical application than Paul’s encouragement in 2 Timothy 3.14-17. “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

The Creator-God had a plan before he ever laid the foundation of the world. His plan involved us—human beings whom he created in his image (Gen 1.27). His will for us is that we would be holy and blameless, as he is holy and blameless (1 Pet 1.14-16). In love he determined to make a way available, despite our rebellion against him, whereby we could be adopted as sons and daughters into his family through the sacrifice of his own Son, Jesus the Christ.

You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand,