Bible

The Bible was not written like other books. It is not a merely human artifact. God inspired the people that He chose, allowing their vocabularies and temperaments to color the palette yet protecting the process from error.

• 2 Peter 1:20-21 HCSB First of all, you should know this: no prophecy of Scripture comes from one's own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God.

God is the source of all the information in the Bible.

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 HCSB All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the point of the Bible. He is it’s focus, its purpose or its “raison d’être”.

• Hebrews 1:1-2 HCSB Long ago God spoke to the fathers by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe.

The Scriptures were written for our instruction.

• Romans 15:4 HCSB For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we may have hope.

Study of, belief in, and obedience to the Scriptures will not only lead to our salvation, but to our full spiritual and emotional maturity.

• 2 Timothy 3:15-17 HCSB and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

However, there are prerequisites. The Scriptures’ teachings must be accepted, stored up, listened to closely and applied to one’s life. It must become the focal point of our lives. This will lead to the proper placement of Yahweh on the throne of our lives. Then we will truly be wise, and be filled with knowledge and understanding.

• Proverbs 2:1-6 HCSB My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; 3 furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Don't ignore the parts that make you uncomfortable.

• Jeremiah 26:2 HCSB "This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD's temple and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all Judah's cities that are coming to worship there. Do not hold back a word.
• 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness

When you don't understand what you read, the Holy Spirit will help.

• John 16:13-14 HCSB When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.

The Bible gives us wisdom.

• Psalms 119:98-100 HCSB Your command makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers because Your decrees are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the elders because I obey Your precepts.

The Bible offers help when the way seems unclear.

• Psalms 119:104-105 HCSB I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Since God is perfect and immutable, His commands do not change.

• Matthew 5:17-19 HCSB "Don't assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

We should study God's Word a little every day. We should use it as the ultimate standard by which any teaching we receive is judged.

• Isaiah 28:9-10 HCSB Who is he trying to teach? Who is he trying to instruct? Infants just weaned from milk? Babies removed from the breast? 10 For he says: "Law after law, law after law, line after line, line after line, a little here, a little there."
• Acts 17:11 HCSB The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Jesus pronounced those who hear and keep God’s Word to be blessed.

• Luke 11:27-28 HCSB As He was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "The womb that bore You and the one who nursed You are blessed!" 28 He said, "Even more, those who hear the word of God and keep it are blessed!"