|
Why study the Bible?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
There are a
number of good reasons why one should study the Bible.
First, one should study it because it is inspired of
God (see article,
“Is the Bible
God’s Inspired Word?”). Because it is inspired, the
message is truth and everything it says is true. For
instance, the Bible says that “all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23) and if we refuse to
seek salvation for those sins, the Bible tells us that we
will be judged by the Word of God, “He who rejects Me and
does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the
word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”
(Jn.12:48)
A study of
the Word of God can show us how to be saved (James
1:21) (see article “What
Must I do To Be Saved?”) and thus prepare us for the
judgment at which time saved people will hear God say,
“Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
(Matt.25:34)
A study of
the Bible will open up to us everything that has to do
with life and godliness (II Peter 1:3). The great treasure
house of information that is in the Bible deals with all
aspects of life and teaches us how to conduct ourselves in
all the relationships of life. Also, Paul told the Ephesian
church that they could understand or have insight into the
mystery of Christ, by reading what he wrote and so can we.
(Eph.3:1-5)
A study of
the Bible will tell us how to have the best kind of life
here on earth, “for bodily discipline is only of little
profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it
holds promise for the present life and also for the life to
come.” (I Timothy 4:8)
A study of
the Bible will show us all the commands of God that we
need to obey. Jesus told the apostles to “teach them all
things that I have commanded you” referring to those who had
been made disciples of Jesus. (Matthew 28:18-20)
A study of
the Bible will tell us of all the blessings that God has
for us. Paul tells us that “all spiritual blessings are in
Christ Jesus” (Eph.1:3) and Jesus said He came to give us
life more abundantly (John 10:10). Some of these blessings
include a happy and contented life here as the fruit of the
Spirit is produced in our lives (love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
self-control).
A study of
the Bible helps us to learn from the mistakes of others.
The Old Testament especially is full of examples of this. I
Corinthians 10:11 says, “Now these things happened to them
as an example, and they were written for our instruction,
upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” The study of
Ecclesiastes is a whole book that helps us learn from the
experiences of Solomon, King of Israel as he details his
frustration is seeking to learn the meaning of life and
fulfillment and purpose. His conclusion is “The whole
purpose of man is to fear God and keep His commandments.”
(Ecclesiastes 12:13,14)
These are
just a few of the reasons why one should study the Bible.
And all of the above reasons are summed up in this one
reason- in the Bible we learn about God’s love. (John
3:16)
And we learn
how we can express our love to God,
“but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has
truly been perfected.” ( I John 2:5)
It is truly
worth it to spend time in studying the Bible. “Study to show
thyself approved to God, a workmen that needs not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy
2:15
For a fuller
perspective on this topic, we would suggest that you read
the entire Psalms 119 which gives many other reasons
for studying the Bible.
|
Park Road church of
Christ
