The Trustworthy Story

At Carmel, we believe the the Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. 1 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Breathed out by God: John Calvin said, “We cannot rely on the doctrine of Scripture until we are absolutely convinced that God is its Author.” and profitable: 1 Timothy 4:8 “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” for teaching: “explaining doctrine”, which refers to the entire body of essential theological truths. It is more than historical facts, but explaining those facts in the context of faith. for reproof: “for those in sin”-the goal is to convict or bring a person to the point of recognizing wrongdoing, to convince and convict them of their sins. Reproof will tell you where you are out-of-bounds. John 16:8 for correction: to correct false doctrine for training in righteousness: to provide instruction, with the intent of forming proper habits of behavior, of providing guidance for responsible living, and of guiding a child toward maturity. The result of this is “that the man of God”

1. may be complete – capable
2. equipped for every good work.

Another way to say it is “that the man of God may be competent because he has been equipped.” Along with this, there is a reason that we can have a reasonable, trustworthy faith. We have validity of ancient texts, archeology, and the canonization of Scripture. Ultimately though, it is faith that the Word of God is completely True, without error. The Bible is a love letter from God. It is not a duty to read it…it is a delight!