Bible Study #7: The Importance of The Bible
Is the Bible Always Reliable?
Read the following Scriptures and identify how the Bible was written:
2 Peter 1:20-21 Bible was not written by an act of human will but men moved by Holy Spirit spoke from God - God inspired men through the Holy Spirit to write the Bible
1 Peter 1:10-11 Spirit of Christ (Holy Spirit) in the prophets predicated (told to these men before it happened) the sufferings of Christ and glories to follow - ie prophecies about Christ in the OT
2 Timothy 3:16 Scripture is God inspired - God breathed - it all came from God
Who is the author of the Bible? God through the Holy Spirit
(NOTE: point out to student that there are many different ideas as to how this actually happened, but what is truly important is that we understand God spoke, the Holy Spirit inspired, and it was written down)
How do the following texts give us assurance that God’s Bible is always
reliable:
Hebrews 6:17-18 God’s purposes are unchangeable; it is impossible for God to lie
Titus 1:2 God cannot tell a lie
Matthew 24:35 Jesus promised that His words will never pass away
James 1:17 there is no variation or shifting shadow in God, He doesn’t change so neither will His word ever change
1 Thessalonians 1:5 the Gospel came not only in word, but in power (the ability to change lives), in the Holy Spirit (ability to understand Word), and with full conviction (ability to convince and persuade of its truth)
Psalms 119:160; John 17:17 Word is truth and is everlasting
According to these texts is the truth of God’s Word absolute or relative?
Why? Word is absolute - its truth is true no matter what the situation or the people, or the time; reason: Word never changes, varies or passes away. Truth is always truth
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word
of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in
truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians
2:13
According to 1 Thessalonians 2:13 above, what must you do for the Bible
to have value in your life.
You must welcome the truth as the Truth of God - Word of God - You must have faith in Word and believe it truly is God’s word
What does the Word of God do in you when you believe?
Word effectively works in my live
The Holy Bible . . . The Word of God . . . The Bread of Life
Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these
stones become bread." 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:3-4
Jesus teaches that you do not live on _____bread alone, but by
the _____Word of God.
How do the following texts affirm Jesus’ statement?
John 6:63 Jesus words were Spirit and Life
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 God given us choice of life/prosperity or death/adversity - we choose life by keeping God’s commandments, statutes, and judgments (ie, Bible - Word); disobedience means death and shorten our length of days; we choose life by loving God, obeying His voice, and holding fast to Him. Life comes through obeying Word!
Deuteronomy 32:46-47 word is our life and will prolong your days
What kind of life does the Word give? Word can give us both spiritual life and physical life - well being
How does the Bible being necessary to have spiritual life relate to the
requirement to be a disciple of Jesus found in John 8:31-32
when we abide in the word - make it part of our daily life - read it, study it, do it; then we know truth - God - we grow in our spiritual relationship with God; and we are set free from bondage of sin - makes us able to be closer to God; knowing God and being close to Him is life ( John 17:3)
The Value of the Bible to Your Daily Life
Read the following texts and identify the value the Bible for your daily life:
Psalm 19:7-10 Bible restores the soul, makes wise, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, is of great value (NOTE: help student to understand what each of these means to their personal lives)
Psalm 119:11 when the Word abides in us (read it, study it, do it) then Word helps us not to sin
Romans 6:17-18 when obey the teaching of the Word, frees you from sin and enslaves you to righteousness - Word enables us to live godly lives
2 Timothy 3:14-17 Word gives wisdom that leads to salvation - Bible shows us how to be saved; Bible is profitable: teaches right doctrine, and corrects wrong doctrine; teaches us correct morals and ethics, and corrects immorality and bad ethics; Word equips us - teaches us how to know our spiritual gifts and calling of God, how to use these gifts and obey God’s calling, and serve God being fruit producers in His church
Hebrews 4:12 Bible is able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart - through Word God can reveal to us when we are right and when we are wrong in our hearts, thoughts and motives
1 Peter 1:25 Word abides forever - its eternal and will always be available - I can always rely upon Word and know its truth will always be true.
1 Peter 2:2 Word is means by which I grow to spiritual maturity
(NOTE: help student understand illustration of newborn baby desiring milk - this message is not for spiritual babes in Christ - all Christians must have a passion for the Word - just like a newborn baby desires milk)
The Importance of Proper Interpretation
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
What does the phrase, “rightly dividing the word of truth”, mean to you?
This phrase means to properly interpret the word - to discover God’s true meaning for a text
What are the two results of “rightly dividing the word of truth”?
You are approved of God as workman (ie, a producer in the kingdom); you will not be ashamed as workman - you will have fruits for your labors
According to the text, what kind of effort do you think it will take to rightly divide
the word of truth? Diligent - it will take hard work to properly interpret the Word - much study and learning - I have to work at this everyday
(Note: emphasize to student need to regular, daily study time in the Word)
Read 2 Peter 3:16 and identify the dangers of failing to rightly divide the word
of truth: improper interpretation will lead to destruction - it will hurt our lives and well being
How do the warnings of Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32, and Revelation 22:18-19 help
you understand how to rightly divide the word? Never add to or take away from the word - let the Word speak for itself - don’t take your own meaning to text and find a way to make it say what suits your desire
How do You Rightly Divide the Word of Truth?
Four basic steps of Bible study enable you to effectively discern the proper
interpretation and application of the texts of the Bible:
Step 1: Receive the Word - 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NOTE: help student to understand that the first step in proper interpretation of the Bible is to received the message - help them understand to receive the message is to hear the word, read the word, etc, - take the word into one’s heart - into one’s thought processes)
Step 2: Understand the Word - 2 Timothy 2:15 (NOTE: Emphasize to student importance of not reading one’s ideas into text. Let the text speak for itself. Also help them understand understanding the Word meanings understand word meanings, grammar - i.e., subject-verb, etc., context (emphasize context - what comes before and after the text); historical and cultural settings, etc. MOST IMPORTANT: REMIND THEM THAT THE TRUTH IS ABSOLUTE. A TEXT CANNOT HAVE ONE TRUTH FOR ONE PERSON AND A DIFFERENT TRUTH FOR ANOTHER PERSON. YOU MAY HAVE DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS TO LIFE SITUATIONS BUT THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS TRUTH.
Step 3: Believe the Word - 2 Corinthians 4:13 (NOTE: help student understand the need to settle the issues of faith. They have heard word, understood the meaning of the word, now they must decide if they truly believe word. Help student see they must decide what God is saying to them personally in the text. What obedience is required; what action is required. To settle the issues of faith, the student must come to the point where they believe God has spoken to them through the Word, and they know what God wants them to do)
Step 4: Do the Word - James 1:22 (NOTE: Show the student that those who only hear the word and never do it, delude or deceive themselves. Help student understand knowing the word ultimately has no value to your life. Only when you do the word will it have value to your life. Example: you can know all Bible teaches about salvation, but until you do what the word teaches you will never experience the value of salvation in your life.)
Be Doers of the Word!
Why did God reveal His Word, the Bible, according to Deuteronomy 29:29?
God has revealed all the truth of His word so we can do (observe) His word
Hearing the Word of God is not enough. Reading, studying, knowing God’s
Word will be of no value to you unless you also do the Word. Read the
following texts and identify reasons you must be doer of the Word:
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 I must obey the word to have life and blessings
Matthew 7:21, 24-25 I must do the word to enter the kingdom of God, hearing and acting on word (doing the word) enable us to withstand storms (spiritual and life) because we are founded on rock
James I:22-25 I must do the word so I won’t forget who I am (i.e., a Christian); and to be blessed in all I do
Luke 6:46 I must do the word to keep on making Jesus Lord of my life
Luke 11:27-28 I must hear and do the word to be blessed
John 14:22-24 when I do the word, I am loved by Jesus and the Father, Jesus discloses (reveals) Himself to me; and Father and Son come and make their abode with me (NOTE: help the student see that doing the word deepens our love relationship with God - i.e., God loved world {John 3:16} whether world does word or not; but when we obey word & do it God loves us with deeper and greater love - Jesus reveals more of Himself to us - and the abiding presence of the Father and Son deepen our relationship with them.)
Romans 2:13 I must do the word to be justified (be declared innocent by God)
1 John 3:22 when we obey the word and do it, we receive the answers to our prayers
1 John 5:3 when we do the word - the Word we keep is never burden - i.e., it’s a joy to be doers of the word
What Must You Do to Get the Full Value of the Word?
Read Joshua 1:7-8 and answer the question above: I must meditate (read, study, believe, & do) regularly to have success and prosperity (spiritual not temporal) in my life as Christian - its only way I can be all God wants me to be