The apostle Paul in writing
to Timothy says, "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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all
good works." (II Timothy 3:16) Truly, "all scripture," the whole of the divinely
given document of holy writ, is given by "inspiration of God." "Inspiration of
God" is literally "God breathed." Both the prophets and the apostles wrote as
they were moved by the Spirit of God. But this also means that all "God
breathed" scripture and only scripture when it is "God breathed" to us and in us
is profitable to us! Actually, all scripture is a blank to us, to our natural
understanding, unless the Great Revealer of divine truth "opens our
understanding of the scriptures." The old hymn writer said it right, "All is
vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One come down." The problem is not with the
scriptures which are light; but with us and our blindness. No matter how much
brighter a light might be made to shine, it makes no difference to one who is
blind. Christ said that the Spirit of Truth which He would send would take the
things of Christ and show them to His people. Paul said of the Lord's
regenerated and believing people, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:" (I Cor.
2:9,10) We know nothing of ourselves. But when the Spirit of light and truth
"breathes" on us we are made to see the glories of the Lord Jesus Christ. "In
His light we see light.." Our dark depravity is revealed, our sin and our
corruption. We see God in His holiness, justice and righteousness. And we see
Him as "just and justifier" only in the crucified Christ. We see His grace and
mercy to sinners. "O holy Spirit, breathe on me…" to my "profit"!!