Sacred Scripture
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Opening Verse
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 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.
Introduction
Introduction
Our text speaks of salvation as comprehensive and exhaustive, rather than being limited to the initial experience that occurs when a person receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Ours is truly a great salvation.
It includes salvation from the penalty of sin, which, for believers, is a past work of God in their lives.
It includes salvation from the presence of sin, which is a future experience for all Christians.
Salvation from the presence of sin comes at the consummation of the ages when Jesus Christ returns to fully redeem believers from their human sinful state.
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Our text speaks of our great salvation as a present experience and the Bible’s role in helping each believer experience this great salvation.
We first come to know Jesus through the good news of God’s Word. Through this same Word, we learn about our heavenly home beyond this life. But God has given us the Bible so we can experience deliverance from the tyranny and destructiveness of sin in the present.
There is absolutely no way by which believers can experience the fullness of God’s salvation in the present if they ignore God’s Word.
The writer of Hebrews addressed himself to believers.
He warned them against the peril of ignoring the messages that teach us how to experience redemption in every area of life.
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Paul was speaking in this direction and with this emphasis when he said to the believers in Rome.
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Giving careful attention to the teachings in the Bible makes it possible for us to live a life that will glorify God.
5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is both interesting and profitable for Christians to discover how Jesus used the Scriptures during the great crises of his life (Matt. 4:1–11).
Jesus was guided by the great truths in the Bible and used them to gain strength when pressured to swerve from God’s will. He also used the Scriptures when defining his purpose for being.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
If our Lord found it necessary to rely on the great truths of God’s Word, we should do likewise. The rest of this message deals with some practical suggestions regarding our use of the Bible.
I. The function of the Bible.
I. The function of the Bible.
A. The Bible reveals God’s nature and the way of salvation.
A. The Bible reveals God’s nature and the way of salvation.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 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.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
B. The good news about God recorded in the Bible is used by the Holy Spirit to effect the new birth when one receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
B. The good news about God recorded in the Bible is used by the Holy Spirit to effect the new birth when one receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
C. The Bible serves as milk that nourishes God’s infants following their conversion experience.
C. The Bible serves as milk that nourishes God’s infants following their conversion experience.
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
D. The Bible provides authoritative guidance for conduct that both pleases God and brings satisfaction to the believer.
D. The Bible provides authoritative guidance for conduct that both pleases God and brings satisfaction to the believer.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Scripture is:
1. Profitable for teaching.
2. Profitable for reproof.
3. Profitable for correction.
4. Profitable for instruction in righteousness.
E. The Bible is intended to equip receptive and responsive believers for fruitful service to God and others .
E. The Bible is intended to equip receptive and responsive believers for fruitful service to God and others .
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
II. How to read the Bible.
II. How to read the Bible.
Everyone needs practical suggestions regarding how to read and study the Bible effectively.
A. Read the Bible regularly.
A. Read the Bible regularly.
1 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.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
As we feed our body daily, so we should feed our spirit daily.
B. Read the Bible personally and subjectively.
B. Read the Bible personally and subjectively.
Put yourself into every situation. Put yourself right in the middle of each verse and let God speak to you.
C. Read the Bible intelligently.
C. Read the Bible intelligently.
1. Try to discover the historical situation behind the passage of Scripture you are reading.
You need to know what the writer meant at the time the Scriptures were written to understand it to the fullest.
2. Discover the meaning of the words used in the passage.
A good Bible dictionary can be very helpful at this point.
3. Be logical in your study of the Bible
—that is, read it according to the correct interpretation of the language and the writer’s purpose. Do not treat the Bible in a magical or superstitious way. Is the writer speaking literally or poetically? Is he speaking in terms of a legalistic precept, or is he dealing with a great principle? You cannot interpret figurative language in a literal way and come to the right conclusion and vice versa.
4. Always remember that the Bible is a spiritual book.
It is an inspired book produced by the Holy Spirit as he worked in and through holy men. Only with the Holy Spirit’s help can you fully grasp God’s Word for your life.
D. Read the Bible systematically.
D. Read the Bible systematically.
Read a book of the Bible straight through. Don’t just skip around.
E. Read the Bible prayerfully.
E. Read the Bible prayerfully.
Consider Bible study as the listening side of the prayer experience. F. Read the Bible obediently. As God reveals his good and loving will for you, be obedient to him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Here are several practical suggestions as you decide to study the Bible with more diligence and spiritual hunger.
1. Look for promises to claim.
2. Look for commands to obey.
3. Look for sins to avoid.
4. Look for failures to avoid.
5. Look for examples to follow.
6. Always look to the Savior for guidance and help.
The Bible speaks of the great Savior who wants to save you from the penalty of sin. He is willing to redeem you today if you will come to him in faith, committing your life to him. By using the Scriptures to teach and instruct you, this precious Savior wants to save you from the faults and flaws to which human nature is so inclined. He will speak to your heart through the Scriptures if you will let him. Don’t neglect your great salvation by ignoring God’s Word.