The Bible and You in 2006

I essentially wrote this in an article/outline form before presenting it in the Bible study time on December 28, 2005. Since most of what I had to say is here, I decided to post it:

Looking over the past year and forward to the new, becoming closer to God is a goal we all want to aim for. And while there are several ways of accomplishing this goal, the most sure is to study the Bible. God’s will for all Christians is for us to grow in grace and knowledge, and when we’re progressing in this direction is when God can use us to fulfill the rest of His plans for our lives.

II Peter 3:18a – But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The greatest problem facing the church today is one of Bible illiteracy. In this day and age, few seem to be willing to put forth the effort to determine what “thus saith the LORD” for themselves. The Bible is the foundation upon which the Christian faith is built: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17). However, many today are content to either follow their own ideas on faith and God, or follow those of others. This has led many astray, and there is no shortage of false religions established by Satan as ritualistic or substitutionary alternatives to the only true way to God. Likewise, cults are in abundant supply, whose charismatic leaders, claiming to be Christian, are all too willing to impart their own unique interpretations of holy scripture to take advantage of the spiritual illiteracy of the masses.

However, just as big a problem with Bible illiteracy is the lack of adherence to the Word of God. There are “for real” Christians who go to church regularly and may be versed in the knowledge of scripture, but lack in the grace with which to live it in their own lives. There are many examples of this in scripture, from the Israelites of the Old Testament days (who turned their backs on God repeatedly despite having the law and promises of God that they’d seen firsthand in action) to the Galatians of Paul’s day, many of which were saved but chose to live like their pagan neighbors.

God’s word promises, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13). But how many are earnestly seeking Him? One of the saddest scriptures is found in Jeremiah 6:26 – ” Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” Too often, we as Christians become content to live the same way we always have, not wanting to go any further. But God’s Word describes such as being “babes in Christ” (I Corinthians 3:1), and as such are unable to either fully understand the deeper things of God or profit from them, because they haven’t been faithful in the little things (“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. – Matthew 25:21). Because of this as well as lack of knowledge, people are willing to tolerate unsound doctrines and compromises at the expense of godliness. Paul warns in II Timothy 4:2-4 to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” If we “seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33), we’ll find “rest for our souls” (Matthew 11:29) and “a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

The power of God’s Word is freely available if we’d just get in there and get after it! There are many ways it will help us in our daily walk: I’ll talk of two in particular.

Problems of temptation are universal to all Christians, but we can overcome through knowledge and application of the Word. The temptation of Eve and Christ is a vivid picture of the power that is ours. When the Serpent tempted Eve in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-6), he used age-old tactics. First, he planted doubt on the clear and unclouded Word of God (“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” – Genesis 2:17), and then he proceeded to use his formula that we find recorded in I John 2:16 – ” For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Eve, instead of trusting God’s Word to Adam, instead opted to fulfill the longing in her heart rather than remain true to her God, in Whose presence she was no stranger. However, we see in Matthew 4:1-11 the answer to these problems…reliance on the Word of God. Jesus quoted “it is written” to counter every temptation of the Devil…so why can’t we? “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15.

Many Christians find it difficult to witness to others, in fulfillment of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20. But more than this, we’re also commissioned to not only evangelize, but to educate these young converts in the faith. Insufficient knowledge and growth in grace through God’s Word presents a huge barrier to the performance of this service for many.

It could be uncertainty on what to say; but we have the Gospel recorded in God’s Word (Romans 10:9-11, 13 – “…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed…For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” I Corinthians 15:1-4 – “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures….”).

The problem could be hypocrisy on our parts, but the Word of God convicts and helps us overcome this (Matthew 7:5 – “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Psalm 119:9 – “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”).

Maybe we don’t really feel an urgency to witness to others? The Bible demolishes this, too: (II Corinthians 6:2 – “…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Romans 10:14 – ” How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Revelation 22:20 – ” He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.”).

Maybe it’s “not our calling” and is considered someone else’s responsibility; we’re all called to witness (Matthew 28:18-20 – “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”). Not only to witness, but to teach and learn ourselves “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:13). As a priesthood of believers (II Peter 2:9 – ” But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light…”), it is both our duty and the duty of all Christians to represent our Lord to the world.

So how is one to grow in grace and knowledge, “to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13)? READ THE BIBLE! It does seven things for us:

1. Uncovers and convicts of sin. Hebrews 4:12 – ” For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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.” “Sin will keep you out of the Book, but the Book will keep you out of sin.” – O.C. Poole.
2. Helps cleanse of sin. I John 1:9 – ” If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Psalm 119:9 – “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Not only does the Bible tell us what’s wrong, but shows us how to straighten it up and provides help.
3. Provides strength. Psalm 27:1b – “…the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Luke 4:32 – “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.” I Thessalonians 1:5 – “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance…” We don’t have the power in ourselves to live lives pleasing to God. Through reading His Word, we receive encouragement, guidance, direction, and supernatural strength by the Holy Spirit. We have power to overcome adversity, whether it is personal loss, bereavement, temptation, or in preaching the gospel. We can stand against the world and its followers by standing firm in the Word of God.
4. Gives instruction. Psalm 119:105 – “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” II Timothy 3:16-17 – “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” I Corinthians 10:11 – “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” The Bible tells us all about God’s plan for humanity, what He’d have us do, and what is off limits to us.
5. Is a sword of victory over our foes. After uncovering, convicting, and cleansing of sin; giving strength to carry on and instruction on where to go, the Bible serves as the means of defeating the temptations of the flesh, world, and the devil. Ephesians 6:17b – “And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…” Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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.” We cannot fight battles with the rotted sticks of culture and science, culture, theology, or tradition…our only offensive weapon as a soldier of the cross is God’s holy Word, and we must be quick to unsheathe it when needed. Again, see Jesus masterfully wield it against Satan’s best efforts in Matthew 4:1-11.
6. Makes lives fruitful. Not only does the Word convicted and purged men of sin, strengthen them, instruct them in their walk, and enable them to win in spiritual combat, it conditions that life to be capable of bearing the spiritual fruit described in Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” And like the parable of the sower in Luke 8:11, 15 (“The seed is the word of God…but that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”), once the ground has had the thistles and roots of sin hoed out of it, fertilized and plowed, it will receive the seed (Word) readily and produce fruit. See I Peter 1:23 – “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
7. Gives power to pray. When we come to know God and His will in an intimate way through the study of His Word, we have the power and privilege to pray and know by faith that it WILL be answered, because we ask in His will. The conviction and cleansing of sin and the resultingly fruitful life clears the lines of communication and opens the channel to the Lord. (Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”)

Let us thank God for His unerring Word, which cannot pass away and is settled and shall stand forever in heaven (Matthew 24:35, Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8), where fire can’t harm it, thieves can’t touch it, and theologians can’t water it down, and unbelievers can’t question it. He has graced us immeasurably in granting us the great gift of His Word, which “is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (I Peter 1:25).

And let us work going into 2006 to study to show ourselves approved unto God, workers that need not be ashamed, and rightly divide the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).