I. Introduction
A. Breathing
1. When we think of breathing, we don’t just think of the physical conscious and subconscious function that exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide in our bodies.
a. We talk about things taking our breath away (breathtaking) when they are beautiful or captivating.
b. We use ‘a breath of fresh air’ to describe something new or invigorating.
c. We tell people, “Don’t hold your breath,” when we think something won’t happen that they have been longing for.
d. If someone has been exercising and they are having a hard time inhaling and exhaling, we tell them to catch their breath.
e. In a meeting, when we don’t agree, we might say something under our breath that we don’t want the boss to hear.
2. Breath is part of our everyday life in more ways than one.
B. Breathed Out
1. Our reading this morning reminds us that what we have in our hands is not just a book of history, poetry, or prophecy; it is, in fact, directly from God.
2. Some translations use the term “inspired.”
3. After providing a description of godlessness in the last days, Paul offers hope to the listener by saying that God has not been silent; He has spoken.
4. What He has given is sacred, provides salvation, and is profitable for us.
II. When God Breathes
A. God’s Breath is
1. Hot wind kindling a flame Isa 30:33 For a burning place has long been prepared; indeed, for the king it is made ready, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it (warning to the King of Judah not to side with Egypt).
2. wind 2 Sam 22:16 Then the channels of the sea were seen; the foundations of the world were laid bare, at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
3. Cold wind Job 37:10 By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.
4. Giving (Genesis 2:7)
B. God’s breath is –
1. In the creation scene of man, we find a very intimate, face-to-face exchange as God gives Adam life-giving breath directly from .
a. Genesis 2:7 …then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
b. While this passage is not about the formation of a living soul within man, it is much more intimate than the way any other creature is brought to life.
2. Later in Ezekiel 37, in the vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, the prophet Ezekiel is told to prophesy to the bones. When he does, God says He “will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.” (Ezekiel 37:5)
3. This concept continues into the NT.
a. The last recorded thing Jesus does on the cross is His last breath (Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46)
b. But Jesus did not stay dead. After His resurrection, He speaks to the apostles, and John records this, “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22)
c. Perhaps this was part of the proof to them that He was truly alive, but it also was a new breath given to make man more alive than ever before.
C. God’s Breath is (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
1. With all of this found in Scripture (and so much more), it is no wonder that God chooses to describe the giving of His Word in such a manner.
a. The Greek word for “breathed out” in this passage is θεόπνευστος (theopneustos). The word literally means, “God-breathed.”
b. This passage refers to the divine origin of God’s Word.
2. God’s Word is not a collection put together of men’s about history; it is directly from Him.
a. 2 Peter 1:20-21 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
b. Side note: While Paul and Peter are both most likely referring to what we call the Old Testament, there is evidence that Paul recognized Paul’s letters as being inspired and equally important. See 2 Peter 3:14-18 (especially vs 15-16).
c. It could be that Paul’s intention is to return to Genesis 2 and encourage the reader to think of Scripture as a living, breathing thing in a very intimate way, just like the creation of man.
d. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
3. The Word of God is not a collection of stories and fables; it is the narrative of God’s for mankind.
a. God’s Word comes from Him to us because He knows the Word contains life within it.
b. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
4. Because it is from God, it is always , not relative.
D. God’s breath is
1. Paul reminds us that God has not given us some academic book full of narratives we can’t understand or connect with; God has given us something useful for our good. God’s Word is useful for:
a. – instruction on how to follow Christ (translated doctrine sometimes)
b. Reproof (Rebuking (NIV), exposing our rebellion (MSG) conviction)
i. When held up to a standard, how does it compare?
ii. Proverbs 1:7 …fools despise wisdom and discipline.
c. – setting the right course (standing something up again)
d. Training in Righteousness-
i. Providing us instruction for right living
ii. This training takes time and effort on our part.
e. Equipping- God has provided for us what is necessary to accomplish our task
2. The point Paul is making is that the message God has given us is for our .
III. Conclusion
A. When it’s hard to breathe.
1. When I was a child, I had asthma. I can remember struggling to take a breath at times. The tightness in my chest, the wheezing—there were times I neared panic as I would try to catch my breath.
2. Today, you may have felt like it’s hard to breathe lately. There are times we simply need to stop and take in the Word of God; meditate on it, not master it. Let it master you by listening and learning from the breath of God.
3. It will be a breath of fresh air in your life.
B. Invitation
- What does it mean to you personally that Scripture is “God-breathed”? How does this idea affect the way you read, trust, and respond to the Bible?
- In what ways have you experienced God’s Word as “life-giving”? Think about the examples in Scripture of God breathing life (Genesis 2, Ezekiel 37) and how His Word brings life to us today.
- Which of the purposes of Scripture (teaching, reproof, correction, training) is most challenging—or most needed—in your life right now? Why?
- How can you allow Scripture to breathe fresh air into your spiritual walk each week?