According to II Tim.2:15 we are to do our "best to present (ourselves) ... to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth." (parenthesis added) The King James Version says "Study to show thyself approved..." The question which we will examine now is "Approved for what?" We know from Eph.5:26 that Jesus makes His church (us) "holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word" and that it is His intention to "present her to Himself as a radiant church without stain or wrinkle." As you will recall from Rev.19:7, the Bride of Christ will make herself ready for the Bridegroom. It would therefore appear that we are being shown that this cleaning and making ready is done through the Word. Note, while there can be no doubt that in the realm of the spirit, we have already been purified by the blood of Jesus, there is a cleaning process which is still taking place.
As we read, or hear the Word, it acts upon our senses, enters our mind (soul) and settles in our spirit. We know from Eph.4:22 that we are to put off our old self, and be made new in the attitude of our minds. We, who have turned to the Lord and are being led by the Spirit, are in the process of being transformed into the very likeness of Jesus (II Cor.3:18). While this final transformation (glorification) does not take place until Christ's return (Phil.3:21 & I Cor.15:51), we are to begin the process now. That's why the Holy Spirit says through Paul in Ro.12:2 "do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Our minds - our souls- are to be acted upon and cleansed by the Word (Ja.1:21 KJV, Ps.119:9 & I Pe.1:22).
The Greek word translated as 'transformed' in II Cor.3:18 is metamorpoumetha, with a sister word metamorphoo used in Ro.12:2. This is the root from which we derive the word 'metamorphosis.' The caterpillar goes through a metamorphosis before it becomes a butterfly. The bulky, slow moving caterpillar must change, or be 'transformed,' before it becomes a beautiful winged monarch. For the caterpillar the transformation is natural. For man it can come about only through being born again (literal Greek born from above and the renewing of our mind with the Word.
If we are indeed in the final generation, it may not be necessary for all of us to taste death before this final transformation takes place (I Cor.15:51). However, the process is to begin now. Return for a moment to Ro.12:2 and notice that that verse clearly states that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. While the final transformation may very well not occur until His return, the process MUST begin prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ. Remember, the young wheat plant (immature believer) may not be able to physically live through the end time weeding process which proceeds the end of the age (Matt.13:29-30).
"Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves ..." (Heb.5:14 emphasis added) It seems clear at this point that we are, through constant use of the Word, to begin this transformation process so that we may be presented spotless and without wrinkle. If we are tempted to ask, "I'm not a seminary graduate, how can I possibly understand all that God wants me to do?", the Word gives us the answer before the question even clears our lips. If you lack wisdom "ask God ... it will be given" (Ja.1:5) but do not doubt that you have received when you ask. God will fill you with the "knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Col.1:9 emphasis added). To put it bluntly, the "Word gives light, it gives understanding to the simple." (Ps.119:130) Satan and only Satan can keep us from reading and understanding after we have asked for wisdom (Ja.1:5)
For too long we have been willing to accept the notion that only men who have spent years in seminaries are capable of searching and understanding the Scriptures. Acts 17:11 clearly dispels that by stating that the Bereans (not just the church leaders, but the Bereans) were of high noble character because "... they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (emphasis added).
These people checked the Scriptures to verify what Paul told them. Ro.10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing, but it is wrong for us to depend totally upon hearing someone else's interpretation of what Scripture says. Tapes are great. However, it is a perversion of their usefulness to depend upon them totally for our knowledge. To fail to use our eyes and read is to voluntarily eliminate one of our major senses in our commitment to God.
Acts 17:11 didn't say that the Bereans were of high noble character because they listened to Peter to see if what Paul told them was true. Think about that for a moment. We are not to accept at face value some teaching simply because some man says it is true, even if that man has had such a divine revelation from God as did Paul. We are to search the Scriptures daily to see if the messages we have heard are true. Remember, when you ask for wisdom, you will receive it. If you will only search for the answers, God will tell you personally through His Word if what you hear is true.
At this point I think it is worthwhile to review the fact that the Scriptures are in fact the infallible Word of God. Acts 4:25 tells us that God spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of his servant David and then quotes from Ps.26:1&2. Those words were spoken by the Holy Spirit, using David as the vessel through which they were uttered. Exodus chapter 20 points out that the commandments which Moses received were spoken by God. In Jer.1:12 God says that He is watching to see that His Words are fulfilled, not Jeremiah's, but His Words. The prophecy referred to in Matt.1:22 were the Lord's words spoken to the prophet and not the prophet's words. II Pe.1:21 tells us that prophecy never has it's origins in the will of man, but that men spoke from God. When the disciples went out and preached in Mk.16:20 the Lord confirmed His Words by signs and wonders. He wasn't confirming the disciples words, He was confirming His words.
Ps.18:3 and Ps.12:6 both tell us that the Words of the Lord are flawless. Ro.15:4 points out the fact that everything written in the past was written to teach us so that through endurance and the encouragement of Scripture, we might have hope. One final verse concerning the infallibility of God's word and its usefulness to us is found in II Tim.3:16 wherein God said that "All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching..." Therefore, the Bereans were comparing the things which they heard from Paul with the things which were written in Scripture, and they found no conflict.
We must never forget that God's number one command to us is to love him. While it is good to memorize His Word, it is better to love Him. We study to show ourselves approved because we love Him. Keeping His love in mind as we study will cause our love for Him to grow even more because we see his love in greater detail the more we study (I John 4:19) If we are in fact rooted in His love, we have been given the power to grasp how wide, long, high, and deep is the love of Christ (Eph.3:18). If we love God, we will obey His commands (I John 5:3). This includes the command to watch for His return (Mk. 13:34), and we cannot watch for something we know nothing about.
Equally important though is the fact that we are in error if we do not know either the Scriptures or the power of God (Matt.22:29). The power of God comes only with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to accept the reality of this power. To deny Him is to deny the power. We know from II Tim. 3: 5 that we are to have nothing to do with men who are lovers of self, having a form of godliness, but denying its power.
The Holy Spirit is here that we may understand what God has freely given us (I Cor.2:12), that we may be taught all things (John 14:26), and guided into all truth (I Cor.2:12). The very anointing of God enables us to be taught about all things (I John 2:27). Without the anointing, we cannot understand!! Surely now we can understand why we are to "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (Col.3:16), for that very Word is what builds us up (Acts 20:32).
Without the Word I cannot begin to renew my mind and start the transformation process of my body. Only with the Word can we "with unveiled faces reflect the Lord's glory ... with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is spirit." (II Cor,3:18). The Greek word for 'glory' used in that verse is doxa. According to II Cor.3:7, the Israelites could not look at the face of Moses because of its glory, or doxa.
Ex.34:28 tells us that his face was glorious (radiant) because he had spoken with the Lord. This was a physical radiance or countenance, which was visible to the Israelites. II Cor.3:13 tells us that Moses put a veil over his face so that the people would not see this physical radiance while it was fading away. But such radiance will be seen on earth again, for Eph.5:27 tells us that Christ is coming for a Church which is glorious. II Tim.2:15 says that we are to present ourselves to Christ as one approved.
II Cor.3:18 told us that we are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. This is a physical glory, completed when Jesus returns (I Cor.15:51), but begun now through the Word. Remember, Jesus received physical glory, or doxa, from the Father on the Mount of Transfiguration (II Pe.1:17). On a much smaller scale this same physical glory radiated from Moses. However, we are being directed to go all the way with this transformation process. We are being told to be transformed into something visible. Ro.8:18 says, "I consider that our present suffering are not worth comparing with the glory (doxa) that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the Sons of God to be revealed."
This is where that 'hope' comes in which Scripture offers us in Ro.15:4. In Ro.8:24 we are shown that it is the hope, the eager expectation of the Sons of God being revealed, that brought such joy to Paul. At this time, he was hoping for the redemption of his body, his physical adoption as a Son of God, ie. that final transformation into a glorious state without first experiencing death. Those who go through this process are the revealed Sons-the Glorious Church - which will be presented unto Christ upon His return.
In the mean time we are told that God's people are destroyed (killed) from a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). However, if that isn't bad enough (to be killed by Satan prior to experiencing all that the Lord has for us on this earth, and serving Him to our fullest extent), that verse goes on to say that because the Israelites had rejected knowledge, God also rejected them as priests. Remember however, that the natural branch - Israel - will be grafted back into the vine (Ro.11:24). Simply take heed, the old priesthood was rejected and cut off for rejecting knowledge. Do not let that happen to us. According to I Pe.2:9 we are a royal chosen priesthood, and we should therefore pay attention to what the Lord is telling us lest we also be rejected for rejecting His knowledge.
I wish to be approved as a priest who is offering a sacrifice of praise unto my Lord. I wish to be approved as a pure vessel being made available to the Father for every good work (II Tim.2: 20). I wish to be approved, not conforming any longer to the patterns of this world, but being transformed into the very likeness of Jesus (II Cor.3:18 & Ro.12:2). I wish to be approved and to know that His love, flowing through me, is more important then having the ability to fathom all mysteries (I Cor.13:2). At the same time, we can be confident that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are being revealed to us so that we may use them in love for His glory (Col.2:2-3, ICor.2:9 & Matt.11:25).
One final thought; when we, in love do as God wants, He blesses us beyond our ability to comprehend. We know that He is able to do more for us then we could even ask (Eph.3:20). What are the blessings He bestows upon us if we ask for wisdom, receive it, and then search the Scriptures out of love, reverence (fear), and love for Him? Here is only a partial list:
1) He who walks in wisdom is kept safe (Prov.28:26).
2) The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear Him Ps.34:7).
3) The Lord confides in those who fear Him (Ps.25:14).
4) Wisdom gives patience (Prov.19:11).
5) Those who fear the Lord lack nothing (Ps.34:9).
6) The fear of the Lord adds years to our life (Prov.10:27).
7) With wisdom comes humility (Prov.11:2).
8) With humility we receive wealth, honor, and life (Prov.22:4).
9) The fear of the Lord serves as a fortress for our children (Prov.14:26)
10) The Lord has compassion on those who fear Him (Ps.103:3).
11) The Lord delights in those who fear Him (Ps.147:11).
12) To top it off, the Lord's love is from everlasting to everlasting to those who fear Him (Ps.103:17).
Most assuredly, I want to study to show myself approved. I desire to learn how better to worship and serve my God who does all this for me. If we call out for insight, cry aloud for understanding, look for it as silver, and search for it as for hidden treasure, we will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. (Prov.2:3-5)
Return for a moment to the concept of Glory and Hope. Prov.24:14 tells us that wisdom will be sweet to our soul, and that if we find it there is a future hope for us which will not be cut off. Wisdom acts upon our soul / mind which Ro.12:2 told us must be renewed before our physical body can be glorified without first tasting death. While the timing of this event is totally up to the Father, those in the final end-time generation who go through this transformation will definitely have studied to show themselves approved.