WHY STUDY THE BIBLE? #1
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. Why should we study the Bible?
1. Isa. 1:18a
a. Through His holy word, God reasons with us, and He
does it to benefit and bless us.
2. Heb. 4:12
a. Thus, when we study and mediate on the Word of God,
God discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts and,
again, for our benefit and profit.
B. Let's look at some reasons for studying the Bible.
I. BECAUSE ITS UNITY NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE US.
A. The Bible was written by at least forty different writers from
various backgrounds, nations, and degrees of education.
1. There are at least 1600 years between the time when Moses
and John wrote.
B. Yet, all the writers agree. The more we study the Bible, the
more we see the amazing unity it has.
1. Any subject one might study, the writers always complement
each other and never contradict one another.
2. If forty writers today were chosen from various
backgrounds, locations, and degrees of education, they
would not agree on anything. Yet, the writers of the Bible
have perfect unity.
C. The conclusion is that one great mind guided all of them. 2
Pet. 1:20-21
II. BECAUSE IT IS TIMELESS.
A. The Bible has remained the number one best seller ever since
books have been printed.
1. Most books quickly go out of print.
B. The American Bible Society now reports that the Bible has been
translated into over 2,000 languages.
1. Voltair predicted that Christianity would be dead within 100
years after his death in 1778. Fifty years after he died the
Geneva Bible Society was using his house, and printing
press, to print stacks of Bibles!
C. Nothing has been added to, or taken from, the ancient Greek
manuscripts.
1. Books of men continually need to be revised and updated.
2. Men will always differ as to what the Bible means, but the
Word itself remains the same. It will abide forever. Matt.
24:35; 1 Pet. 1:23-25
3. I paused last eve beside the blacksmith's door,
And heard the anvil ring, the vespers chime,
And looking in I saw upon the floor
Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.
"How many anvils have you had?" said I
"To wear and batter all those hammers so?"
"Just one," he answered. Then with twinkling eye:
"The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."
And so, I thought, the anvil of God's Word
For ages skeptics' blows have beat upon,
But though the noise of falling blows was heard
The anvil is unchanged; the hammer's gone.
(John Clifford, 1836-1923)
III. THE BIBLE IS A BLESSING TO MAN.
A. It is the best light for the past, present, and future. Psalm
119:105
1. It reveals the origin, nature, and purpose of man.
2. It answers the simple questions that have always plagued
man: "Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where
are we going? Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7; Eccl. 12:13
3. The origin, mission, and destiny of man cannot be learned
from science textbooks.
4. "A ship was wrecked. As the sailors were making their
escape in small boats, suddenly two of them sprang
overboard, swam back and entered the ship. They soon
reappeared with something in their hands, and swam at great
risk to their boats. They had forgotten to take their
compass. As you set sail, Christian, into the great, unknown
sea of the New Year, forget not to take with you God's
compass, which contains sure and explicit directions, for it
is his compass alone that will guide you to the safest
harbors and the strongest fortified ports." (G.B.F. Hallock,
NY: Geo. H. Duran Co., 1923).
IV. THE BIBLE IS ALL-SUFFICIENT.
A. God is all-wise; hence, He knows all our needs. God is all-
powerful; He can supply all our needs. God is infinitely good;
He supplies all our needs.
1. Man has basic needs in the physical realm: air, water, food,
health.
2. Also, man has basic needs in the spiritual realm.
B. All our needs in the spiritual realm are provided in the
Scriptures. 2 Tim. 3:16-17
1. Profitable for doctrine (teaching). The Scriptures reveal
that which is to be learned, taught, and obeyed.
a. Man, in and of himself, cannot know God's mind. 1
Cor. 2:11-13
2. Profitable for reproof. The Scriptures convict and convince
those who open their hearts to it.
a. There is intentional wrongdoing which needs to be
reproved.
3. Profitable for correction. The Scriptures will set straight
or set aright; from them we learn that which is right and
that which is wrong.
a. There is unintentional wrongdoing that needs to be
corrected.
4. Profitable for instruction in righteousness. The Scriptures
direct and encourage all to follow in the righteous course
of life.
a. The scriptures reveal the proper conduct that pleases
God.
5. The Scriptures provide these things in order to make the
man of God complete.
a. Through the Scriptures the child of God is fully
equipped for all that God requires of him.
V. IT PROVIDES OUR SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT.
A. Just as the body needs physical nourishment, the soul needs
spiritual food. Matt. 4:4
1. We need to desire the Word as a baby desires milk. 1 Pet.
2:2
2. We need to grow so that we can receive "solid food." Heb.
5:12-14
3. We need to receive the "living water" from Jesus. John 4:10
B. The Bible is our source of spiritual nourishment.
VI. THE BIBLE SUPPLIES ALL OF OUR EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND RELIGIOUS
NEEDS.
A. The Scriptures produce patience and provide comfort. Rom. 15:4
1. If discouraged, it supplies courage.
2. If weak, it gives strength.
3. If joyful, it supplements our joy.
4. If sorrowful, it brings comfort.
5. If in despair, it gives hope.
B. The Bible is the best child psychology book. It teaches us how
to rear up godly children.
1. The Bible is the best marriage manual. It teaches us how to
have peaceful and happy marriages.
C. The Scriptures supply all our spiritual needs.
1. Man is a religious being; it teaches us how to worship. John
4:24
2. Man is a sinful being; it teaches us how to be forgiven. 1
John 2:1-2
3. Man is a suffering being; it teaches us how to find relief.
Heb. 4:16
4. Man is an intelligent being; it instructs us in the way of
righteousness. Rom. 1:16-17
VII. IT REVEALS HOW TO RECEIVE GOD'S GOODNESS AND AVOID HIS SEVERITY.
A. The Scriptures plainly reveal that there is a great day of
wrath coming. Matt. 3:7; 2 Pet. 3:7; Jude 1:6-7; Heb. 10:26-27;
Rom. 2:5
B. The Bible reveals how we can avoid His wrath. Rom. 2:6-9
VIII. THE BIBLE IS A SACRED BOOK.
A. We ought to approach it with reverence.
1. 2 Tim. 3:16 - "sacred" ASV
2. 2 Pet. 1:21 - Holy men delivered the Scriptures by the Holy
Spirit. It did not come by the will of ordinary men.
3. 1 Cor. 2:10-11 - The mind of God is revealed in the
Scriptures.
4. 1 Thess. 2:13 - It is the Word of God.
5. 2 Tim. 3:16 - It is the God-inspired writings.
B. Thus, we should approach the Bible as the holy, sacred,
inspired, Word of God. It needs to be treated with reverence
and respect. Isa. 66:2b
IX. THE BIBLE WILL BE THE STANDARD OF JUDGMENT.
A. The most important judgment ever to be made concerning you
and me is the one when we will stand before the judgment seat
of Christ. 2 Cor. 5:10
B. As a great blessing, we have been given the standard by which
we will be judged. John 12:48; Rev. 20:12
1. It is like having a copy of the final exam before we take
the final exam.
Concl.
A. Why should we study the Bible?
1. Because its unity never ceases to amaze us.
2. Because it is timeless.
3. It is a blessing to man.
4. It is all-sufficient.
5. It provides our spiritual nourishment.
6. It supplies all our emotional, social, and religious needs.
7. It reveals how to receive God's goodness and avoid His
severity.
8. It is a sacred book.
9. It will be the standard of judgment in the last day.
B. A childhood accident caused poet Elizabeth Barrett to lead a
life of semi-invalidism before she married Robert Browning in
1846. There's more to the story. In her youth, Elizabeth had
been watched over by her tyrannical father. When she and Robert
were married, their wedding was held in secret because of her
father's disapproval. After the wedding the Brownings sailed
for Italy, where they lived for the rest of their lives. But
even though her parents had disowned her, Elizabeth never gave
up on the relationship. Almost weekly she wrote them letters.
Not once did they reply. After 10 years, she received a large
box in the mail. Inside, Elizabeth found all of her letters;
not one had been opened! Today those letters are among the most
beautiful in classical English literature. Had her parents only
read a few of them, their relationship with Elizabeth might
have been restored.
1. In a very real sense, God's Word is his love letter to us.
Nothing has the power to free us from destructive behavior
and revitalize our relationship with him like His Word.