PURPOSES FOR THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD

Proclamation:

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of The Scriptures we might have hope."  Romans 15:4 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written in a letter to the believers in The Church at Rome by the Apostle Paul under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Paul told them that The Holy Scriptures were written to teach them, to encourage them, and to give them hope.

Application:
The same is true for us today, The Word of God was written to educate, edify, and enlighten us in addition to being there to comfort, console, and encourage us, and to give us hope for the future.  As Paul told Timothy, The Word of God is good for learning basic fundamental Christian principals, for instruction, and for correction of wrong doing and thinking with respect to being Christ-like and righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)  Often The Word of God must be explained to us, as Jesus had to explain His words (Matthew 13:36 and 15:15) and The Scriptures (Luke 24:45) to His disciples.  An important function of preachers today is to proclaim and explain The Word of God to the people, saved and unsaved, to teach us, correct us, encourage us, and to provide us with hope that is needed for the future so that we can carry on and go forth.  We could also help ourselves with our situations if we would read and study The Word of God more for ourselves.