Why Study the Bible

The main message of the Bible is the Gospel. I trust that you have considered the truth of that message. The Bible, however, does contain more information than just the Gospel. It also tells us what God wants us to do after we have accepted His gift of eternal life.

God desires that we enjoy life. He has given us guide lines that will help us to avoid unnecessary trouble and live the best possible life. Living life according to God's will is a testimony to others of the power of the Gospel. Our lives should be used to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul told Timothy, "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, throughly furnished unto all good works.'' (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

These verses tell us that the Bible can help us in at least four areas. First, the Bible is useful for doctrine. This refers to what we believe. The Bible tells us what is true. Everything we hold to in terms of religious doctrine should be found in the Bible. If what we believe is not taught in the Bible, then we should reject it. I challenge you to read and study the Bible for yourself. Accept only what it teaches not what men might tell you.

The Bible is also useful for reproof: telling people what is wrong in their lives. The Bible gives us God's perfect standard of what is right and wrong. This standard does not change with time or circumstance. It is universal and eternal. A lot of laws are based on personal and public opinion. Driving 80 miles per hour may be illegal in one country and legal in another. However, the moral standard that God sets does not change. Telling a lie is always wrong. We can use the Bible to examine our own lives and discover what needs to be changed.

The Bible is useful for correction. Not only does the Bible tell us what is wrong, it tells us how to change what is wrong. It does not just condemn us; it also gives us a solution. The ultimate solution for all sin is allowing Jesus to live in us.

The Bible gives us help in dealing with individual sins. For example, if you often find yourself in arguments, the Bible tells you, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (Proverbs 15:1) The Bible tells us not to be angry and argue. It also tells us that by speaking softly and gently, we can avoid arguments.

The Bible is also useful for instruction in righteousness: teaching how to live right. It tells us what is wrong. It also tells us what is right. If we stop our sinful habits then we have gone only half way. God wants us not just to stop doing what is wrong but to replace it with what is right.

Paul wrote, "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.'' (Ephesians 4:28) The thief is not to just stop stealing. He is to also start working and giving to the poor.

In order for the Bible to teach us these things, we must read and study it. A Car Repair Manual can only help us repair our car if we study it and do what it says. God's guidebook for our life: the Bible, can only help us live a satisfying, joyful and peaceful life when we study it and obey it.

The Message of the Bible

Every great book has one main message or theme. This message connects the various chapters together into a unified whole. The Bible has one main message. The Gospel or Good News is that message.

From early in the book of Genesis, the first book in the Bible, to the end of Revelation, the last book in the Bible, the Gospel message is found. In a nutshell the Good News is that man can only have peace and fellowship with Almighty God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for man's sin and rose from the dead.

The first time the Gospel is presented in the Bible is in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15. After man had fallen into sin. God comes to the first man and woman and confronts them. He curses the snake that Satan used to deceive the woman. God says to the snake, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.''

The Seed of the Woman is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He was the Seed of the Woman because He was virgin born. Satan, the one behind the snake's actions, bit the heel of Jesus by encouraging Judas to betray Him that He might be killed. Yet this was not a fatal wound because Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus in His death crushed the power of Satan by providing man with a way to escape slavery to Satan. This verse teaches us that Jesus died so that we can have freedom from Satan. In Jesus we can have victory.

The last time the Gospel is presented in the Bible is in Revelation chapter 22 verse 17. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is a thirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.''

To help us understand this verse we need to remember the words of Jesus to the woman at the well. Jesus said to her, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.'' (John 4:14)

The water of life refers to salvation. It satisfies not a physical but a spiritual thirst. Water is essential to physical life. The water of life is essential to spiritual life. Yet the water of life is a free gift. It does not cost us anything. It is free for the asking.

Putting together these two verses, Genesis 3:15 and Revelation 22:17, the first and last presentation of the Gospel in the Bible. We have all the essential ingredients of the Gospel. Eternal life is a free gift. It was paid for when Jesus died on the cross. To receive it, we must come to Jesus.

The Inspiration of the Bible

The Apostle Peter wrote, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.'' (2 Peter 1:20,21) The entire Bible was written under the supervision of the Holy Spirit. He made sure that no mistakes were made.

The Bible claims to be inspired of God. We are not going to argue that issue in this lesson. This lesson will simply present the Biblical view of inspiration.

How did God work to bring about the Bible? As we examine the statements of Scripture, we discover that a variety of methods were used. The Apostle John tells us, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life.'' (1 John 1:1) When John wrote about Jesus, he wrote as an eye witness.

Large sections of the Bible contain history written by eye witnesses. As they wrote about things that they had seen, God prevented them from making any errors. Two of the Gospels, John and Matthew, were written by eye witnesses. The Gospel of Mark was probably written from what Mark learned from the Apostle Peter. So it too was based on the account of one eye witness.

The Gospel of Luke is slightly different than the others in respect to how God brought in about. Luke says, "It seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.'' (Luke 1:3,4: NAS)

Luke was not an eyewitness of the ministry of Jesus. He also did not base his account on what he learned from any one individual. Rather, it seems that he spoke to many who were eyewitnesses and put together his Gospel from all that he learned. It is believed that he even interviewed Mary, the mother of Jesus. After his careful research, he began to write out what he had learned and God supervised his writing to ensure that it was without error.

Other parts of Scripture were given to individuals by direct revelation. A good example of this is Daniel. He wrote, "And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.'' (Daniel 8:15,16)

The prophets wrote much that God told them directly, some of which they did not even understand! God by different means and through different people brought about the writing of His perfect Word: the Bible. This leads to an important question: Why did God go to all the trouble of providing a perfect inspired book of Scriptures? What is God trying to tell us? What is the message of the Bible? My next post will deal with this subject.

Obedience

The final requirement for spiritual growth is obedience to God's will. This is where Faith becomes real, Bible study becomes relevant, prayer gains fervency and witnessing grows in power.

To disobey our heavenly Father brings sorrow. To obey brings joy and eternal rewards.
God's will for your life is good and satisfying. Paul wrote, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.'' (Romans 8:28)

God's will for your life is good but that does not mean it is easy. Difficult times will make you stronger. Hard decisions will make your commitment firm.

Obedience happens one day at a time. Obey the truth God has already revealed to you and He will reveal more. God gives us His will for our lives one step at a time. Trust Him and obey Him.

Witnessing

Every Christian is called to be a witness for Jesus. Immediately before Jesus returned to His Father, He told His followers, "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me.'' (Acts 1:8)

The idea of the professional witness is foreign to Scripture. The Bible does not teach that it is the duty of the clergy alone to witness. The minister is not paid to do all the Church's outreach.

Luke tells us, that after the death of Stephen, great persecution came upon the first Church. He goes on to say, "They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. . . . They that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the Word.'' (Acts 8:1,4)

The professionals, the Apostles, stayed in Jerusalem. The lay people, the regular Church members, went out from Jerusalem. Where ever they went they witnessed.

The preaching in this passage means proclaiming, telling. It was both by action and by speech. It was both to individuals and to groups.

A Christian who is not a witness will soon lose his enthusiasm for spiritual things. God intends for us to tell others what He has done. An active witness encourages us in our Bible study, prayer and fellowship.