The Necessity of the Bible

The Necessity of the Bible means that it is necessary to read the Bible or have someone tell us what is in the Bible if we are going to know God personally, have our sins forgiven, and know with certainty what God wants us to do.

1. The Bible is necessary for salvation

It is only through the Bible that we are able to be made wise for salvation.

2 Timothy 3:14–15 ESV

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2. The Bible is necessary for spiritual health and growth

The Bible is not only necessary for us to understand our need for salvation but it is also necessary for the daily life of the believer.

Matthew 4:4 ESV

4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV

3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

To say that we can live without a regular intake of God’s Word is like saying that we can survive without eating.

To neglect the daily reading and study of the Bible is detrimental to the health and well being of our souls. A person that does not study God’s Word regularly will starve himself spiritually.

3. The Bible is necessary to know God’s will

It is impossible for a christian to know the will of God apart from the Word of God. God’s Word is God’s revealed will.

The Bible is filled with places that refer directly to God’s will for our lives:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 ESV

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

1 Peter 2:15 ESV

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Hebrews 10:36 ESV

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

John 7:17 ESV

17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

Many times when we say, “I just wish I knew what God’s will is” what we are looking for is a specific answer to a specific situation about what God wants us to do. However, this is generally not how God operates. God is not as concerned with what we are doing as He is with who we are becoming.

God goes to the heart. What we do flows from who we are. Who we are flows from who God is. Who God is has been revealed to us through the Bible. Therefore, the Bible is necessary.