THE POWER OF THE WORD IN THE BELIEVER’S LIFE - Part 1

INTRODUCTION

it is vital for every Christian to know how to study the Bible. You should be able to dig into God’s Word yourself to glean and to gain all the riches that the Bible contains. I often think of the words of Jeremiah who said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart” (Jer. 15:16a). The Word of God is a tremendous resource. Christians should not be handicapped in their own ability to study God’s Word for themselves. So we are going to be examining how to study the Bible. But first, we should see why it is important to study it.

Why is it important to study the Bible?

How to Study the Bible Introduction

Walter Scott, a British novelist and poet and a great Christian, was dying when he said to his secretary, “Bring me the Book.” His secretary looked at the thousands of books in his library and said, “Dr. Scott, which book?” He said, “The Book, the Bible—the only Book for a dying man.” And I would have to add that the Bible is not just the only Book for a dying man, but it’s the only Book for a living man, because it is the Word of life, as well as the hope in death.

So we come to the Word of God with a tremendous sense of excitement and anticipation. But before I share with you how to study the Bible, I must tell you about the authority of the Word of God. Then you will see the importance of Bible study. Also, we must state from the very beginning that the Scripture is the Word of God. It is not man’s opinion, it is not human philosophy, it is not somebody’s ideas, it is not a pooling of the best thoughts of the best men—it is the Word of God. Consequently, there are several things we need to realize about it.

The Attributes of the Bible

1. The Bible is Infallible

The Bible, in its entirety, has no mistakes. Specifically, in its original autographs it is without errors. In Psalm 19:7 the Bible says of itself, “The law of the Lord is perfect.” It is flawless because it was authored by God—and He is flawless. Therefore, if God wrote the Bible, and if He is the ultimate authority, and if His character is flawless, then the Bible is flawless and is the ultimate authority. You see, the fact that God is perfect demands that the original autograph, the original giving of the Word of God, must also be perfect. So, the Bible is infallible, and that’s the first reason to study it; it is the only Book that never makes a mistake—everything it says is the truth.

See Psalm 19:7

Psalm 19:7 NASB95

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Not only is it infallible, but there’s a second word we use in describing the Bible, and that is:

2. The Bible is Inerrant

The Bible is not only infallible in total, but inerrant in its parts. In Proverbs 30:5–6 it says:

see Proverbs 30:5-6

Proverbs 30:5–6 NASB95

Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

So every Word of God is pure and true. The Bible is not only infallible and inerrant, but:

3. The Bible is Complete

Nothing needs to be added. Now that may be a surprise to some people, because there are those today who believe we need to add to the Bible. There exists a philosophy/theology combination known as neoorthodoxy. It tells us that the Bible was simply a comment in its day on man’s spiritual experiences, and today man is still having spiritual experiences, therefore he needs another comment. One writer said that we need a Bible to be written today, just as we did when the Bible we have in our hands was written, because we need somebody to comment on what God is doing now. He also said that when Tom or Mary stand up in your church and say, “Thus says the Lord,” they are as equally inspired as Isaiah, Jeremiah, or any of the other prophets (J. Rodman Williams, The Era of the Spirit, Logos International, 1971). In other words, they claim that the Bible is not complete. That’s the current philosophical/theological thought. Let’s look at the end of the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation: “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (18b–19). The Bible ends with a warning not to take away anything, and not to add anything. That’s a testimony of its completeness. It is infallible in its total, inerrant in its parts, and it is complete.

Revelation 22:18–19 NASB95

I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

A fourth way to describe the Bible’s attributes is to say that:

4. The Bible is Authoritative

If it is perfect and complete, then it is the last Word—the final authority. Isaiah 1:2 says, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord hath spoken.” When God speaks everybody listens, because His is the final authority; the Bible demands obedience. We can discuss its implications, its applications, and its meanings, but we shouldn’t discuss whether or not it is true.

In John 8 Jesus was confronted by some of the Jewish leaders, and there were other people present. Verses 30b–31 say, “Many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” In other words, He demanded response to His Word. It is authoritative. In Galatians 3:10 it says, “Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” Amazing! Cursed was anyone who didn’t continue in everything that was written in the law. That’s a tremendous claim to absolute authority. In James 2:9–10 we read, “But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, and are convicted of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” To violate the Bible at one point is to break God’s law. The Bible is authoritative in every part.

James 2:9–10 NASB95

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

Well, the Bible is infallible, inerrant, complete, authoritative, and:

5. The Bible is Sufficient

a) Salvation

see 2 Tim 3:15

2 Timothy 3:15 NASB95

and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Ask yourself this question: “What is more important than salvation?”

b) Perfection

Verse 16 of 2 Timothy 3 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine”—that means “teaching, principles of wisdom, divine standards, or divine truths”; “for reproof”—that means you’re able to go to someone and say, “Hey, you’re out of line. You can’t behave like that; there’s a standard and you’re not keeping it.” Scripture is also profitable “for correction”—that says to the person you’ve just reproved, “Now don’t do that, do this instead; this is the right path.” You teach, you reprove, you show the correct way—and further it is profitable “for instruction in righteousness.” Now you point to the new way and show them how to walk in it. The Bible is a fantastic Book. It can take somebody who doesn’t know God, who isn’t saved, and then save them. Then it will teach them, reprove them when they do wrong, point out the right thing to do, and then show them how to walk in that right path.

see 2 Tim 3:16

2 Timothy 3:16 NASB95

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

The result is stated in verse 17: “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” The incredible reality of the Bible is that it is sufficient to do the whole job

c) Hope

The Bible is the source of patience and comfort, ultimately giving us hope now and forever.

Romans 15:4 NASB95

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

d) Blessing

James 1:25 NASB95

But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

6) The Bible is Effective

Isaiah 55:11 NASB95

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

How to Study the Bible Is Your Product Always Effective?

Is your product always effective?

I often wonder about the door-to-door salesman who tries to demonstrate his product, and then it doesn’t work right. I always remember the lady who lived in the country, and a vacuum cleaner salesman came by with a high-pressure sales pitch. He said, “Hey, lady, I’ve got the greatest product you’ve ever seen. This vacuum cleaner will eat up anything. In fact, if I don’t control it, it will suck up your carpet.” Before she could say anything, he said, “Lady, I want to give you a demonstration.” He immediately went to the fireplace and threw some of the ashes in the middle of the carpet. He also had a bag of stuff which he dumped on the carpet. Then he said, “I want you to watch it suck every bit of that up.” Well, she was just standing there aghast. Finally, he said to her, “Lady, if it doesn’t suck up every bit of this, I’ll eat it all with a spoon.” She looked him right in the eyes and said, “Well sir, start eating, because we ain’t got no electricity.”

Now it’s pretty tough to be caught in a situation where your product doesn’t work. But that never happens with the Bible—it is always effective—it always does exactly what it says it will do. That’s a tremendous reality about the Scripture

7) The Bible is Determinative

John 8:47 NASB95

“He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”

1 Corinthians 2:9–12 NASB95

but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

1 Corinthians 2:14 NASB95

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

The Authenticity of the Bible

1. Experience

1 John 1:9 NASB95

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB95

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2. Science

Joshua 10:13 NASB95

So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.

a) Rainfall

Isaiah 55:10 NASB95

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

Job 36:27–29 NASB95

“For He draws up the drops of water, They distill rain from the mist, Which the clouds pour down, They drip upon man abundantly. “Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, The thundering of His pavilion?

Psalm 135:7 NASB95

He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; Who makes lightnings for the rain, Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.

b) Fixed orbits

Jeremiah 31:35–36 NASB95

Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The Lord of hosts is His name: “If this fixed order departs From before Me,” declares the Lord, “Then the offspring of Israel also will cease From being a nation before Me forever.”

c) Balance

Isaiah 40:12 NASB95

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales?

How to Study the Bible c) Balance

They said of Herbert Spencer, who died in 1903, that he had discovered the greatest thing about the categorizing of all things that exist in the environment of the universe. He said everything could fall into these categories: time, force, action, space, and matter. Five classic scientific categories, and he said everything fit into those categories. The world hailed him as a great scientist, a great man of discovery. But do you want to know something? All five of those categories are in the first verse of the Bible: “In the beginning (that’s time) God (that’s force) created (that’s action) the heaven (that’s space) and the earth (that’s matter). Genesis 1:1 shows us that when the Bible speaks, it speaks accurately. So, science is a good way to show the authority and the validity of Scripture.

3. Christ

Matthew 5:18 NASB95

“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

4. Miracles

5. Prophecy

Lesson

I. The Source of Truth

How to Study the Bible I. The Source of Truth

In John 17:17b Jesus prayed to the Father and said, “Thy word is truth.” That’s a great statement, but do you realize what it is to have the truth? Quite often when I confront people about Jesus Christ they say, “But I don’t know what the truth is.” Even Pilate came to the place in his life when he looked at Jesus and said, “What is truth?” (John 18:38a). Many people have that same thought; nevertheless, we’re in a world that searches for truth.

It is said that nearly three thousand new pages of material are printed every sixty seconds in our society today. That is really cranking the information out. But did you know that books don’t really work anymore? They’re too big. So now we have microfilm, microfiche, and other tiny things they put information on. In fact, I saw a tiny chip that had the entire 66 books of the Bible on it. People are working on those kinds of things because we’ve got to reduce storage factors so we can keep all this information. (I’m not sure we ought to bother with most of it.) Some people have even said that microfilm is too big. So now they’re developing laser storage. They store information, somehow, on a tiny crystal, and every facet of the crystal has information on it. Then they shoot a laser beam on the crystal at just the right point, and it flashes the words they want on a screen. But that’s also too bulky, so now they’ve developed what is known as molecular storage. They say that they will be able to store the entire Library of Congress on an object the size of a sugar cube. Now that’s a lot of information (and a lot of misinformation), because our society is chasing truth.

The Bible even says that men are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7). Do you know what that’s like? I remember that when I was in junior high school, I had a terrible time with algebra. I’d go home and work on one of those silly problems for hours. Then I’d go back to school the next day without the answer, and that was so frustrating to me. But you’ve had that problem too: you’ve worked on something and never solved it or found the answer. And that’s the way it is with people in the world. They read, they study, they think, they reason, they listen, they talk, they interact, and they never get the real truth. They never settle on anything, and the frustration is overwhelming. I remember talking to a man who just kind of left society altogether; he just bailed out and got on drugs. He had graduated from Boston University but he was living in the woods, sleeping in a pup tent. I asked him, “Whatever made you do this?” He said, “Well, I searched for the answer so long, I finally decided to blow my mind on drugs. At least now I don’t even have to ask the questions.” Now that’s the despair of never knowing the truth.

Where is real truth?

The writer Franz Kafka gave a great illustration about education. He pictured a bombed-out city where all that was left was rubble. Everywhere there were people bleeding and dying; there was smoke and smoldering fire—just total rubble. But in the middle of the city was an ivory tower piercing the sky, pristine white, untouched by any bombs. Then, there was this solitary figure winding his way through the rubble. When he got to the tall white building, he walked in and went up to the top story. He came to a dark hall, and at the end of it was a little light. He walked in the darkness until he came to the light, he turned, and walked into a bathroom. inside sat a man with a fishing pole, fishing in the bathtub. The solitary stranger said to him, “Hey, what are you doing?”

The man said, “I’m fishing.”

The stranger looked in the bathtub and said, “There’s no fish in the bathtub and there’s no water.”

The man said, “I know,” and kept on fishing.

Kafka said, “That is higher education.”

You see, man has lost the truth.

It’s fantastic to realize, and sometimes I think we forget it, that every time we pick up the Bible, we pick up the truth. What a tremendous legacy we have. But we can’t take it for granted, and we certainly can’t let it just sit around. So the first reason that I believe we need to study the Word of God is because it is the source of truth. Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word … ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31b). What did He mean by that? Well, just like the guy who works on a math problem, as soon as he finds the answer—he’s free. Just like the scientist in the lab pouring the different solutions into test tubes, he stays with it until he says, “Eureka, I found it!”—then he’s free. Man will search and struggle and grapple and grope for the truth until he finds it—then he’s free. Listen, one reason to study the Bible is that the truth is there. The truth about God; the truth about man; the truth about life; the truth about death; the truth about you and me; the truth about men, women, children, husbands, wives, dads, and mothers; the truth about friends and enemies; the truth about how you ought to be at work and how you ought to be at home; even the truth about how you ought to eat, drink, how you ought to live, how you ought to think—the truth is all there. What a resource we have. Cherish it.

II. The Source of Happiness

How to Study the Bible II. The Source of Happiness

Some would rather use “joy” or “blessing,” but “happiness” says it. The truth is there and it brings us joy, or happiness. In Psalm 19:8a it says, “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.” It’s just talking about the principles of the Scripture. When you begin to study the Bible and learn the great truths it contains, you will get excited. I study the Bible a lot because I’m constantly teaching and preaching the Word, but I also study it on my own because I love it so much, and the exhilaration that comes to me in the discovery of great truths in the Word of God has never diminished. The greatest thrill I’ve known in my life is the tremendous exhilaration that comes to my heart when I have cracked open the shell of an incredible truth in the Word of God. In fact, Proverbs 8:34 says, “Blessed [happy] is the man who heareth me.” In Luke 11:28 Jesus says, “Blessed [happy] are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Do you want to be a happy person? Then obey God’s Word.

It’s amazing to me how so many people know what the Bible teaches, but they don’t obey it—so they forfeit happiness. Some people say, “Well, the book of Revelation is so hard to understand. I study the other stuff, but I don’t want to get involved in Revelation.” But look at what Revelation 1:3 says: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy”. The word “blessed” means “happy.” Do you want to be happy? Read Revelation. Yes, to be happy, read the Word of God and respond to it. I love 1 John 1:4; it says, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” Isn’t that great? Then there’s a wonderful statement made by our Lord in that magnificent fifteenth chapter of John where He presents Himself as the Vine. In verse 11 He says, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” What a tremendous thought—joy from the Scripture

The Sensation scripture creates within us

In Luke 24 Jesus has risen from the dead and He is on His way to Emmaus with the two disciples who don’t recognize Him (vv. 13–32). Beginning in verse 24 they tell Jesus, “And certain of those who were with us went to the sepulcher, and found it even as the women had said; but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” Christ is talking to them, but they don’t know who it is. “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” After His resurrection, nobody knew who Christ was until He revealed Himself to them. “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them, in all the scriptures, the things concerning himself.” Jesus taught them through the Scriptures, and they were listening. Then as they had their meal, all of a sudden the light dawned: “And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight.” Then I love this, “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us along the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” When He opened to them the Scriptures, their hearts literally burned within them.

There is joy in the Word of God if you obey it. If you don’t keep His Word, then there’s no joy. However, I would hasten to add that God is gracious. He doesn’t expect us to keep every single principle all the time and never waver, but it is a matter of the attitude of our heart. If your heart is committed to obeying the Word, then He’ll fill your life with joy. I know that people want to know truth and they want to be happy, especially those of us who are Christians, so there is no excuse for us not knowing the truth and not living lives that are literally filled with exhilaration and joy—we have it available in the Word of God.

MacArthur, J., Jr. (1985). How to study the Bible. Chicago: Moody Press.