Bible
How did we get the Bible? It’s in the Bible, 2 Peter 1:20, 21, NIV. “You must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” The Bible is not the ideas of men; it is the word of God. God told those whom He chose what to say and write.
>> Discover: Who wrote the Bible?
God is the source of all the information in the Bible. It’s in the Bible, 2 Timothy 3:16, NIV. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
The Bible introduces us to Jesus Christ. It’s in the Bible, Hebrews 1:1, 2, NIV. “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.”
For what purpose were the Scriptures written? It’s in the Bible, Romans 15:4, NIV. “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
What are the Scriptures able to do for the person who believes them? It’s in the Bible, 2 Timothy 3:15, TLB. “You know how, when you were a small child, you were taught the holy Scriptures; and it is these that make you wise to accept God’s salvation by trusting in Christ Jesus.”
What are the conditions to God’s promise that we will be able to understand divine things? It’s in the Bible, Proverbs 2:1-6, NIV. “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
We are to accept the entire Bible—not just the parts that appeal to us. It’s in the Bible, Jeremiah 26:2, TLB. “Give them the entire message; don’t leave out one word of all I have for them to hear.”
The Holy Spirit will help you understand the Bible. It’s in the Bible, John 16:13, 14, NIV. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me [Jesus] by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”
The Bible is like a light, showing us the way to live. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 119:105, NIV. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” It's in the Bible, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word” (Psalm 119:9, NIV).
The Bible gives us wisdom. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 119:99, NIV. “I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.”
The Bible gives us God’s commands, which are unchanging. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 5:18, NIV. “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
How should we study God’s Word? It’s in the Bible, Isaiah 28:9, 10, NKJV. “Whom will he [God] teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” It's in the Bible, “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11, NIV).
On whom did Jesus pronounce a blessing? It’s in the Bible, Luke 11:28, NIV. “Blessed . . . are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”