Why we need the Bible

I. IT IS GOD'S POWER TO SAVE

   A. BY CREATING FAITH...

      1. Without faith it is impossible to please God -

Hebrew 11:6

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

      2. Without faith in Jesus we cannot be saved -

 John 8:24

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that i am he, ye shall die in your sins."

      3. It is the Word of God that produces such faith -

Romans 10:17

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

      4. For example, the gospels were written to produce faith -

 John 20:30-31

"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

   B. BY CAUSING ONE TO BE BORN AGAIN...

      1. Jesus taught the necessity of being born again -

John 3:3-5

"Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, i say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, verily, verily, i say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

      2. The rebirth involving water and the Spirit is produced by:

         a. Receiving the "incorruptible seed" of God's Word -

 1Peter 1:23-25

"being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. for all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

         b. In particular, that word proclaimed in the gospel of Christ

                 3. Which gospel calls for one to be baptized -

         a. As proclaimed by Peter -

Acts 2:38

"Then peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

   C. BY KEEPING ONE SAVED...

      1. Paul emphasized this value of the Scriptures

         a. To the Corinthians -

    1Corinthians 10:11-12

"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. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."

         b. To Timothy -

        2Timothy 3:14-17

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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."

      2.    The saving value of the Word of God is for both young and

            old

         a. The young can keep their ways pure by it -

Psalms 119:9

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."        

[Lack of knowledge concerning God's Word destroyed Israel

(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 will also forget thy children."

But when received with meekness into our hearts, the Word of God has the

power to save

(James 1:21)

"wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."

  But notice also...]

II. IT IS GOD'S POWER TO COMFORT

   A. THROUGH THE HOPE IT GIVES...

      1. Paul wrote of the hope provided by the OT scriptures -

Romans 15:4

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

      2. The OT provides assurance of our hope in Christ, because it

         illustrates how God always keeps His promises

      3. How much more so the NT, providing hope by revealing the grace

         to be shown when Christ comes again! -

1Peter 1:13

"wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"

   B. THROUGH THE PEACE IT GIVES...

      1. Especially as it reveals the means and source of true peace

         Philippians 4:6-9  

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."  

      3. "In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never

         failed to give me light and strength." - Robert E. Lee

   C. THROUGH THE HAPPINESS IT GIVES...

      1. Blessedness (happiness) through the stability and nourishment

         it provides -

Psalms 1:1-3

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

      2. Note that this comes to the one engaged in daily Bible reading

         ("day and night")

CONCLUSION

1. To fulfill our need for God, we need the Bible...

   a. For God has spoken through prophets and His Son - cf.

Hebrews 1:1-2

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past into the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"

   b. He has made His Word accessible to every nation and tongue -

 Romans 10:17-18

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But i say, have they not heard? yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world."

2. With the aid of the Bible, we can experience God's power in our

   lives...

   a. As we learn the way of salvation, and accept it with an obedient

      faith

   b. As we walk in the way of salvation, and receive the hope, peace,

      and happiness God gives

Great men have spoken of the value of the Bible:

   "Within the covers of this one single book, the Bible, are all

   the answers to all the problems we face today. If only we would

   read it and believe." - Ronald Reagan

   "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.

   All the good from the Saviour of the world is communicated to us

   through this book." - Abraham Lincoln

   "The Bible is worth more than all other books which have ever

   been printed." - Patrick Henry

By Missionary Dinah Ramos

www.fghconline.com