Saturday, October 13, 2012

The Bible, God's Holy Word (cont.)


   The Bible commands the believer to study the Scriptures (II Timothy 2:15)

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The Bible states clearly that believers need to study the Word of God and in the verse above, God commands his children to study His Word.  His Word needs to be studied so that we will know whether we are being taught the truth or not.  It is not wise to completely agree with your pastor, simply because he is your pastor and has been studying God’s Word.  God commands US to study his Word, not to let other people study it for us and tell us what’s in it.  God’s Word can never be exhausted and simply studying His Word will prepare us for the days battle.  There are numerous places in the Bible that remind us of the Glorious reasons we need to read God’s Word.  Through reading God’s Word, believers come to a know God in a deeper and richer way.  In Colossian 3:16, Paul writes that we are to “let the Word of Christ dwell” and this is also a command.  In the previous book, Paul shares his life’s goal with his readers.  In Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  Paul did not write this just to share something from his life, but this is divinely inspired scripture and it needs to be the goal of all of God’s children.  The scriptures, themselves testify of who Christ is.  It was just mentioned that believers are commanded to “Let the Word of Christ dwell…” and there is no way to do that, but to read the scriptures that are all about Christ.  Jesus said in Luke 24:44 “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
The scriptures will also prevent us from being deceived by false teachings.  In 1 Timothy 4:15-16, it says “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.  If we are studying God’s word and know what it says, there is no way that we will be influenced by the false teachers that are out there.  We will also have more wisdom and discernment from reading the Bible.  Psalm 19:7 states “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Also, Hebrews 4:12,  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Word of God is the tool that God uses to grow us up Spiritually and transforms us into the image of His dear Son. 1 Peter 2:2 states “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Finally, The Word of God is all we need for life and Godliness.  2 Peter 1:3 tells believers that “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
The last phrase of 2 Timothy 2:15, “…rightly dividing the word of truth” tells us that there is a right way to interpreting scripture.  The next posts will be addressing the right way needed to interpret God’s infallible Word.

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