“No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21
Though the Scriptures were written by holy men of God, it was the Spirit of God who moved them to write and guided them in their message and choice of words so that the Bible is God’s Word and not man’s. Therefore, the Bible is not subject to private interpretation but must be understood and interpreted in agreement with the rest of Scripture.
Grant that I hear and receive Your Word, O Lord, not as the word of men, but as Your inspired Word, given that I might repent of my sinful ways and trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and life. In His name, I pray. Amen.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God’s unerring Word because it was given to us by God Himself through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is to be used as the source and judge of all our teaching, to reprove and correct error and sin in our lives, and to instruct us in how God would have us live as His dear children through faith in Jesus Christ.
God, grant that we hear, read, and study Holy Scripture as Your inspired Word, repent of all sin and error, look to Christ and His cross for pardon and forgiveness, and let Your Word guide us in living according to Your holy will. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
“From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15
Why do we hear and read the Bible? The Holy Scriptures reveal our utter sinfulness and point us to God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and His holy life in our place and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. The Bible tells us how to be saved — through faith in Jesus Christ and His cross — and how God would have us live as His redeemed children.
Grant, O LORD, that I hear, read, and meditate in Your Word that I might trust in Jesus and His cross for my salvation and then walk in Your ways. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
“…in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21-22
As believers in Jesus, trusting in His atoning sacrifice and being baptized in His name, we are a part of Christ’s Church and are built together with all other true believers to be a holy temple in which the LORD God dwells through His Spirit.
Grant, O Lord, that I remember, as one who trusts in Jesus Christ and His cross, that I am Your temple and that You dwell in me by Your Spirit. Keep me in the true faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone …” Ephesians 2:19-20
Those who have faith in Jesus Christ are no longer separated from God’s people but are fellow citizens with all the saints and are a part of Christ’s Church, the household of God. Their faith rests upon the foundation of God’s Word, the teaching of the apostles and prophets; and the teaching of salvation through faith alone in Jesus Christ and His cross is the central truth upon which their faith is built.
Thank You, O gracious God, for bringing me to know and trust in Christ Jesus, my Savior, that I might be a part of Your people and Church. Preserve me in this true and saving faith unto life everlasting. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
