Why Should We Read the Bible

: Category: Bible Studies

(Why Should We Read the Bible - Part 1 | Part 2)

"Why should I read the Bible? I'm already a Christian and I've got a pretty good idea of what it says - at least the important parts. Besides, much of it is ancient history and old laws that probably don't apply to us today, and a lot of it is too preposterous to be believed."

If these are your feelings, you're in for a big surprise. Not only is the Bible applicable for today, but it still speaks its life-giving message to believers' hearts and minds. It is essential reading for every Christian.

The Bible goes by many names: “the word of God”, “God's word,” “the Scriptures,” and “Scripture,” to name a few. Psalm 119 calls it the “law of the Lord,” “God's statues,” “decrees,” “commands,” “precepts,” and the psalmist says he "rejoices," "delights," "keeps," meditates on," "obeys," it and "is consumed with longing" for it.

He goes on to say it is "more precious than riches" and “sweeter than honey." "God breathed" and "God inspired," are two of the beautiful translations of the Apostle Paul's descriptions of the Bible. If the fact that the Bible was written by the inspiration of God is not sufficient reason to make you want to read it, then its many promises for those who do should change your mind.

First, let's look at some of the ways the Bible describes itself.

It Is Truth

The Scripture: John 17:17

"Sanctify them by the truth, Your word is truth."

1. How does Jesus describe His word?

The Scripture: John 8:32

"You will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

2. What will the truth do?

We are held captive by the lies we believe, but God's truth frees us. Scripture will reveal truth. You will know the truth as well as set free by it.

The Bible Is Righteous

The Scripture: Ps. 119:106

"I have taken an oath and confirmed it that I will follow your righteous laws."

3. What is the oath the psalmist has taken?

God's Laws Are Trustworthy

The Scripture: Ps. 119:138

"The statutes You have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy."

4. How are the statutes described in this verse?

They Are Eternal

The Scripture: Ps. 119:89

"Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens."

5. How does the psalmist describe the word?

The Scripture: Ps. 119:91

"Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve You."

6. How long do God's laws endure?

They are timeless; never out-dated by man's new ideas or discoveries.

The Scripture: Isa. 40:8

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

7. How long does the word of God last?

We live in a world of change. Today's prime interests and discoveries are forgotten tomorrow. This is not true of God's word. God established His word to last forever.

God's Word Is Alive and Working Today

The Scripture: Heb. 4:12

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

8. How is the word of God described?

9. What does it do?

10. How does it help us know good from evil?

God has given us this powerful weapon to help us know the differences between what our soul and our spirit tells us in this world of confused morality.

Scripture Is Given To Us That We May Believe Jesus Is The Son Of God

The Scripture: John 20:31

"These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you might have life in His name.”

11. Why does the Apostle John say we should read the Bible?

The Scriptures Testify Of Jesus

The Scripture: John 5:39

"These are the Scriptures that testify of Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life."

12. Who do the Scriptures testify of?

To testify means to serve as evidence of truth.

13. What do people refuse to do?

It Regenerates Us

The Scripture: 1 Peter 1:23

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable through the living and enduring word of God."

14. Of what are we born again?

15. What is this imperishable seed?

Scripture Shows Us How to Be Jesus' Disciples

The Scripture: John 8:31

"If you hold to My teachings, you are really My disciples."

16. What makes us disciples of Jesus?

Scripture Teaches, Rebukes, Corrects and Trains Us in Righteousness

The Scripture: 2 Tim. 3:16

"All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching.”

17. How is Scripture useful?

The Scripture: 2 Tim. 3:16

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for...rebuking."

18. How can Scripture be used?

The Scripture: 2 Tim. 3:16

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for...correcting."

19. How else can knowledge of it be used?

The Scripture 2 Tim. 3:16

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for...training in righteousness."

20. What else does knowing Scripture train us in?

This one verse of Scripture, probably more than any other, teaches us the necessity of knowing Scripture.

It Thoroughly Equips Us for Every Good Work

The Scripture: 2 Tim. 3:17

"So that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

21. What else can it do?

It Nourishes Our Soul

The Scripture: Deut. 8:3

"He (God) humbled you (the Israelites), causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

22. Why did God humble them?

23. What do we live on?

In the second part of this study, we will continue to consider the importance of reading the Bible.

(Why Should We Read the Bible - Part 1 | Part 2)

Answers

As truth
Set us free
That he will follow God's righteous laws
As fully trustworthy
As eternal
To this day
Forever
As living, active, sharper than any double-edged sword
It divides our soul and spirit
Judges our thoughts and attitudes
That we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
Jesus
Come to Jesus to receive life
Imperishable seed
The living and enduring word of God
Holding to His teaching
For teaching
For rebuking
For correcting
Righteousness
It thoroughly equips us for every good work.
To teach them that there is much more to life than eating and drinking and that the word of God is life-giving; we cannot exist in a relationship with Him without it.
Every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Bible Studies