2 Timothy 3:14-17

Introduction:

1. By the 2nd century, men had begun to fashion creeds to combat heresies.

2. Sadly, this tool to defend against heresy proved to be heretical itself.

3. These man-made documents have blunted the church’s influence.

Discussion:

I. Problems With Human Creeds

A. They divide believers into sects or parties based on the different teachings in the different creeds (1 Corinthians 1:10; Romans 16:17-18).

B. They are ever-changing and never perfected (Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:22-25; Numbers 23:19; Ephesians 4:13-15; Hebrews 13:8-9).

C. They undermine the all-sufficiency of the Scriptures for Christian faith (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:3).

II. The Church’s Only Creed: The Word of the Lord

A. His word produces wisdom unto salvation (2 Timothy 3:15).

B. His word equips one for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16).

C. His word is the source of rebirth (1 Peter 1:22).

D. His word is the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11).

E. His word is the standard of judgment (John 12:48).

F. His word must not be supplemented, deleted, or perverted (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 3:15-18; Revelation 22:18-19).

G. His word endures forever (Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:22-25).

Conclusion:

1. However well intended, human creeds are not sanctioned by God.

2. As Benjamin Franklin (the restoration preacher, not the politician) put it, “First, any creed containing more than the Bible is objectionable, because it does contain more than the Bible. Second, any creed containing less than the Bible is objectionable because it does contain less than the Bible. Third, any creed differing from the Bible is objectionable, because it does differ from the Bible…Fourth, any creed precisely like the Bible is useless, because we have the Bible.”

3. May His word alone dwell and work within us (Colossians 3:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).