| Christian Life Study Series Lesson 01 This study series focuses on some of the great elemental teachings found in the Bible. Each teaching is simplified and organized into an interesting and easy to understand Bible study. These studies are presented to help fill a need in your life and to provide an incentive to know more of God's Word. THE BIBLE - THE WORD OF GOD It's always important to start right; therefore, this first lesson is designed to help establish your faith in the Bible, for it is the Word of God. Keep in mind that the Bible is not a book of philosophy, although it is philosophical. We don't use the Bible as a treatise on science even though there is no discrepancy between the discovered facts of science and the Bible. Although it gives an accurate account of history, the Bible is not merely a recording of history. The Bible was given to man from God, revealing Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and God the Son, the only Savior. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 Jesus Christ is the both the center and the circumference of the Word of God. The whole of Sacred Scripture, the Bible, reveals Christ from Genesis to Revelation. The Bible is as high above all other books as the heavens are above the earth. Read the Bible to be wise. Believe the Bible to be safe. Practice the Bible to be right. I. The Bible Claims To Be The Inspired Word Of God Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Answer these questions for yourself. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Who is the source of inspiration for the Bible? What are the four areas where Scripture is useful? What do these four areas produce in us? "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." By "inspiration" we mean that the Holy Spirit exerted His supernatural and holy influence upon the writers of the Bible. Therefore the Scriptures are God inspired word for word. By this we meant that every word, in the original scripture texts, is fully and equally inspired in all of its teachings. The Bible does not just contain the Word of God. It is the Word of God. The writers of the Bible did not write by natural inspiration or by an act of their own human will. The Scriptures tell us that these were "holy men of God" who "spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." We will explore this more later in this study. Three Things To Keep In Mind When Reading The Bible 1. The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible. 2. Man is the instrument used by the Holy Spirit to pen the Bible. 3. The result is the infallible (truthful) Word of God. Read Psalm 119:89 and Matthew 24:35 In your own words, what do these two verses say about the Bible? II. The Bible Can Be A Difficult Book Read 1 Corinthians 2:14 The Bible can be a difficult book because it came from the infinite and unlimited mind of God to finite and limited man. Since the Bible is not a "natural" book but, rather, a spiritual book, we need the help of the Holy Spirit to understand it. Always approach the Bible praying that the Holy Spirit will be your teacher and will guide you to a better understanding of God's Word. Without His help, the Bible will remain a difficult and closed book. Read 1 Corinthians 2:14 Why does the natural man not understand the things of the Spirit of God? Read John 3:6 and Ephesians 5:17-18 Those who are born again, who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior, have been born twice - first in a natural birth, like all other people, and secondly in a spiritual birth. The Holy Spirit is actively involved in helping us to understand God's will and in living God's will. Think about your attitude about God's Word and His will before and after you experienced a spiritual birth. It's important to remember that all of us need help in understanding the Bible. The Bible is so full and complete that a person can study it for years and never grasp everything that's in it. That's why we must continually study it. III. The Bible Is A Book Of Oneness And Unity The oneness, or unity, of the Bible is a miracle in itself. The Bible is a library of 66 books with over 35 writers contributing to it over a period of 1500 years. The writers represent a cross section of humanity including people who were educated and uneducated, kings, fishermen, public officials, farmers, teachers, and physicians. The Bible covers a number of subjects including religion, history, law, science, poetry, drama, biography, and prophecy. Yet its various parts are as harmoniously united as the parts that make up the human body. Read 2 Peter 1:21 For so many writers with such varied backgrounds to write in absolute harmony on so many subjects over a period spanning 1500 years is a human impossibility. It just couldn't have happened! So how do we account for the Bible? The only adequate explanation is found in 2 Peter 1:21. Answer these questions for yourself. Why do you believe the Bible to be the Word of God? In your mind, what is it about the Bible that makes it different from other books? What evidence do you sense within yourself that insists that the Bible is the Word of God? IV. The Bible Claims To Be A Powerful Book Read Hebrews 4:12 The Bible claims to have the dividing power of a sword. It will separate man from sin. (Read Psalm 119:11) or Sin will separate man from God. (Read Isaiah 59:2) The Bible claims to have the reflecting power of a mirror. (Read James 1:22-25) In the Bible we see ourselves as God sees us - as sinners in need of God's grace and forgiveness. (Read Romans 3:23) The Bible claims to have cleansing power. (Read Ephesians 5:26 and Psalm 51:2) The Bible claims the power to reproduce just like seed. (Read 1 Peter 1:23) We become the children of God when we have been born into the family of God by the incorruptible Word of God. This is the new birth. (Read John 3:1-7) The Bible claims to have nourishing power just like food. (Read 1 Peter 2:2) The Bible is spiritual food for our souls. None of us can remain strong in the Lord as Christians unless we study and feed our souls with God's Word. V. The Bible Tells Believers To Study It Read 2 Timothy 2:15 The King James Version of the Bible translates this "Study to show thyself approved unto God". This is a commandment that we receive from the Bible. As we study the Bible, we discover that it does not just contain the Word of God - it is the Word of God. When reading the Bible, ask yourself these questions: 1. Who is speaking: God, Satan, demons or angels, or man? 2. To whom is he speaking: to the nation of Israel, to the Gentiles, to the Church, men in general, or to some individual man or being? 3. How can this Scripture be applied to my own life to make me a better Christian? Asking and answering these questions helps us to "rightly divide" or rightly interpret the Word of Truth. Jesus said, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32). Freedom, the state of being free, can be a deceiving concept. The one who is the most free is not the one who boasts of the greatest liberty from restraints and restrictions while living with his soul in captivity. The one who is most free is the one who has discovered the liberation of his soul. A liberated soul is not threatened by physical impediments or natural hardships but finds, through the inner strength borne of truth, the ability to rise above all the things that would otherwise impair their journey through life. Prayer ... Lord Jesus, Your Word is truth. In Your truth we discover the promise of abundant life now and everlasting life in eternity. Open my heart. Send Your Holy Spirit to help me understand Your Word and to give me inner strength to live the truth of Your Word. Amen. ©David Kralik Ministries, Inc. 2002 Email: matthewfivesix@hotmail.com |
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