INTRODUCTION
Last week, we explored some reasons “Why The Child of God Should Study the Word of God,“
concluding with point 4, which emphasized that studying the word as a child of God is crucial
because our adversary, the devil, is acquainted with it. We said that Satan’s familiarity with the
scripture implies that he had studied it, highlighting the importance for believers to read and
study God’s Word to avoid being at a disadvantage against the devil, who appears to have
certain scriptures memorized.
Today, we continue our exploration of the remaining points. Please enjoy the concluding part of
the article and feel free to share it with others.
V. Because of the example of Paul.
Paul was probably the greatest Christian that ever lived. His spiritual accomplishments are
nothing short of staggering. Here was a man who made the first three missionary journeys,
who founded and pastored the first fifty or more Bible-believing churches, who wrote over
half of the New Testament, and who on five occasions saw the resurrected Christ, and at
least once was actually caught up into the third heaven itself! But then he was arrested,
condemned to death, and placed in prison. Note carefully his final words to Timothy just
prior to his execution.
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a
good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for
me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:
and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. The cloak that I left at
Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the
parchments” (2 Tim. 4:6-8,13).
What were these parchments? They were his copies of the Old Testament scrolls. The point
to be made here is that in spite of all his marvelous achievements, the old apostle still felt
he could profit from studying the Word of God on the eve of his death.
VI. Because the Bible alone provides answers to life’s three sixty-four-trillion-dollar
questions.
These questions, pondered by every generation, are:
A. Where did I come from?
“And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over
all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created
man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he
them” (Gen. 1:26,27)
“Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are
His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” (Ps. 100:3)
B. Why am I here?
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13)
“Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all
things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev. 4:11)
C. Where am I going?
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believeth
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world
to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth
on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he
hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23:1,6)
“And whosever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
(Rev.20:15)
VII. Because we’ll never have the opportunity to apply many of its verses after we leave this
earth.
A. There will be no opportunity to apply 1 Corinthians 10:13 in heaven.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the
temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10:13).
Reason: In heaven there will be no temptation.
B. There will be no opportunity to apply 1 John 1:9 in heaven.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness”.(1 John 1:9)
Reason: In heaven there will be no sin.
C. There will be no opportunity to apply Philippians 4:19 in heaven.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
(Phil.4:19). Reason: In heaven there will be no need.
D. There will be no opportunity to apply John 14:1-3 in heaven.
“Let not your heart be troubled:ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s
house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3)
Reason: In heaven there will be no sorrow.
E. There will be no opportunity to apply Psalm 23:4 in heaven.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for
thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Ps. 23:4)
Reason: In heaven there will be no death.
VIII. Because the only ultimate proof for our faith is the Bible.
To introduce the eighth and final reason for studying God’s Word, the following
imaginary situation is proposed. Often the unbeliever hurls the following accusation at
the believer:
“Oh, you Christians-you’re all alike! You’re so dogmatic. You think you alone are right
and everybody else is dead wrong. How can you possibly be so sure what you believe
is true?” This question, though often asked in a scoffing manner, is nevertheless a fair
one. How does the child of God know his faith is the only correct one?
Let us suppose that you are invited to an important social function in your hometown.
Attending this gathering are people from all over the world. As the introductions are
being made, it slowly dawns upon you that the only professing Christian there is
yourself. You are subsequently introduced to a Buddhist, a Confucianist, a Shintoist, a
Moslem, and other individuals, all belonging to various non-Christian religions.
After a pleasant dinner, the conversation gradually turns out to matters of religion.
Your hostess, realizing this subject to be general interest, suddenly announces:
“I have a wonderful idea! Since everyone here seems to have a great interest in religion,
may I suggest that we share with one another by doing the following: Each person will be allowed to speak uninterrupted for ten minutes on the subject, ‘Why I feel my faith is
the right one.’”
The group quickly agrees with this unique and provocative idea. Then with no warning
she suddenly turns you and exclaims, “You go first!” All talk immediately ceases. Every
eye is fixed on you. Every ear is turned to pick up your first words. What would you say?
How would you start? Let us quickly list a few arguments which you could not use.
- You couldn’t say, “I know I’m right because I feel I’m right! Christ lives in my heart!”
This, of course, is a wonderful truth experienced by all believers, but it would not
convince the Buddhist, who would doubtless feel that he was right too. - You couldn’t say, “I know I’m right because Christianity has more followers in this
world than any other religion.”
This is simply not true today. Actually, the sad truth is that evangelical Bible
believing Christianity is a distinct minority in the world today. The Moslem would
doubtless quickly point this out to you. - You couldn’t say. “I know I’m right because Christianity is the oldest of all religions.
Ultimately, of course, this is true. But the Confucianist might contend that
Confucius presented his teachings centuries before the Bethlehem scene. Of
course, he would not understand the eternal existence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These then are arguments you could not use. What could you say?
In reality you would have at your disposal only one single argument. But that argument,
that weapon, used in the right way, would be more than enough to overwhelmingly
convince any honest and sincere listener at the social gathering. That wonderful
weapon, that unanswerable argument, is one’s own personal copy of the Bible! What
could you say? Well, you could hold up your Bible and confidently proclaim the
following:
“Look at this! I know I’m right because the Author of my faith has given me a Book
which completely unlike any of the books of your faiths.”
You could then continue (until your time ran out) by pointing out the unity, the
indestructibility, and the universal influence of the Bible. You could discuss its historical,
scientific, and prophetical accuracy. Finally, you might relate exciting, examples of
perhaps the greatest single proof of the supernatural nature of the Bible, that is, its
marvelous life-transforming power!
Of course, it must be pointed out that neither the Word of God nor the God of the Word
can be scientifically analyzed in a laboratory test tube. The divine Creator still desires
and demands faith on the part of his Creation (See Heb. 11:1-6) But he has presented us
with a heavenly textbook to aid us in this needed faith. In fact, the Gospel of John was
specially written” …. that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and
that believing ye might have life through his name”. (John 20:31)
Culled from: Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible.
Remain Blessed!
Please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays 5.30 am., Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays
5:30 am; and YFM 107.9 – Sundays 6.30am; for our Radio Bible Study as well as Sunny FM
88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm. for Hymns and their Stories.