“HOW CAN I BETTER UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE?”

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

God could have chosen many different ways to communicate with us. He could have chosen skywriting, bellowing His message with a thunderous voice, or programming electronic impulses in our heads. Thankfully, he chose a book, The Holy Bible, through which to communicate with us!

THE BIBLE IS GOD’S LOVE LETTER TO EVERYONE: Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

1. God’s word speaks for itself. Matthew 4: 4
“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.””

2. God’s word is His record to His people. 2 Peter 1:21
“For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

3. God’s word is indestructible . I Peter 1:23-25
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For, ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25but the word of the Lord stands forever.’ And this is the word that was preached to you.”

THE BIBLE IS A GUIDEBOOK FOR EVERYDAY LIFE: Ps. 19:14
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
1. Read it with a receptive heart.
2. Read it with an inquiring mind.
3. Read it systematically .
4. Read it regularly .
5. Read a version you can understand.

THE BIBLE CAN BE FULLY TRUSTED: Colossians 1:17 “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

1. The Bible establishes us: it is the basis of our assurance .
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” I John 5:13

2. The Bible develops us: it is the source of all strength .

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3

3. The Bible instructs us: it is the basis of all doctrine .
“and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:16

4. The Bible guides us: it is the standard for holy living.
“to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,” Ephesians 5:26

5. The Bible comforts us: it is the message of hope for all generations. John 14:1-3
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

6. The Bible equips us: it is the final authority on all leadership issues. 2 Timothy 2:15
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).