07 1. The Importance of Studying The Bible

1. The Importance of Studying The Bible The Importance of Studying The Bible

INTRODUCTION To know any subject of importance is an advantage. But man, the little time he dwells on earth, cannot find time to master all subjects, to study out the details of all lines of thought. But man should certainly take time to become familiar with the only Book that tells him of his origin and destiny.

Man is a dual being, consisting of the "inward man" and the "outward man." Paul, in 2 Cor. 4:16, says: "But though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day." In verse 18 he speaks of this "outward man" as the things that are seen, and the "inward man" as the things not seen, and declares that this unseen man is eternal. Whatever, therefore, pertains to the welfare of this inward or unseen man is of more importance than those things that pertain to the welfare of the fleshly or outward man. Jesus suggests the difference in the following words: "And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." (Matt. 10:28.) The Bible was written for the sole purpose of teaching us concerning the welfare of the soul, the "inward man." There is no other book to which we may go for that food the soul needs. Well did Benjamin Beddome say: "May this blest volume ever Be Close to my heart and near my eye, Till life’s last hour my thoughts engage, And be my chosen heritage."

WE ARE COMMANDED TO STUDY AND UNDERSTAND IT Study the following passages:

Isaiah 34:16 : "Seek ye out of the book of Jehovah, and read."

1 Timothy 4:13 : "Give heed to reading."

2 Timothy 2:15 : "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth."

Ephesians 5:17 : "Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Colossians 3:16 : "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." And David, known as "the sweet Psalmist of Israel," says:"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers: but his delight is in the law of Jehovah; and on his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also Doth not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." (Psalms 1:1-3.) WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT IGNORANCE In Ephesians 4:18 Paul speaks of those "alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them." We may be ignorant of some things and not be harmed, but certainly ignorance of what the Bible teaches on how to be saved is to be deplored.

God says in Hosea 4:6 : "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children."

Many, due to their ignorance, did exactly the opposite of what God wanted them to do, believing, at the time, they were doing God’s service. Can you think of a sadder condition? In John 16:2 Christ says: "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God." In Acts 3:17 we are told the cause of this terrible mistake: "And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers." The people who had Jesus put to death, who put the apostles to death, and persecuted the early Christians, were religious people and thought they were doing God’s service. It was ignorance of God’s teaching that led them to do it. So may people be joined to a false religion today and, because of ignorance, hate and persecute those who are in the good and right way. How important to obey the command: "Understand what the will of the Lord is"!

MAN’S INABILITY TO GUIDE HIMSELF

Jeremiah 10:23 says: "O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." In Proverbs 14:12 Solomon says: "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death." Human judgment will not do in religion. Just because a man looks right to us does not make it so. In Deuteronomy 12:8 we are warned: "Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes."

JEHOVAH COMES TO MAN’S RESCUE

Psalms 48:14 says: "For this God is our God forever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death." He is a guide that always leads us right.

Psalms 73:24 says: "Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel." God’s word, therefore, is spoken of as being a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathway. (See Psalms 119:105.) And verse 130 declares that the entrance of God’s word "giveth light"—gives understanding.

What has been written, therefore, is for our learning. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4.) The Bible was not written as a memorandum lest God should forget, but it was written because man needed to know about the welfare of his soul. The very fact that God gave us the Bible is proof positive that he wants us to read it, study it, live it. This is the only way we can take Jehovah as our guide and keep ourselves from being led astray by blind guides.

OTHER REASONS FOR STUDYING IT In John 8:32 we are taught: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." The truth known makes us free, not the truth we do not know. This not only means freedom from sin, but freedom from error, from blind guides, and from every evil way. In John 17:17 Jesus says God’s word is truth.

False teachers are abroad in the land, and we are commanded to try them. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world." ( 1 John 4:1. )

How can one try a teacher who does not know what sound doctrine is? If one is ignorant of the true teaching, some false teacher may make him believe he is saved when he is not.

Christ says: "For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [or lose his own soul]?" How can one know the soul that is worth more to us than the wealth of all the earth is saved if he knows not the teaching of Jesus’ In 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 Paul says Christ will take vengeance on all who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus, and will punish them with "eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might." Have you obeyed the gospel? Do you know you did what Jesus says do? If you know not the gospel, how do you know but that you obeyed the commandments of men? Jesus says: "But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men." (Matthew 15:9.) Paul says in Galatians 1:8 : "But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema."

God’s word is our only soul food. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." So declares Jesus in Matthew 4:4. The only way we can appropriate this word is by study and meditation. In the judgment to come we will face this word which we are now commanded to study and live, and by it we will be judged. (See John 12:48 and Revelation 20:12.) Have we given reasons enough for studying the Bible? Do you not think it is important? May God help you as you go with us through the lessons that follow.