God’s word provides what we need for spiritual growth and salvation
Why do we use the Bible?
The straightforward answer is - God spoke.
If we want to know him better, we should study what he said about himself, us, and this world. It is the Word of God, and we are the People of God.
We need to remember that what we believe is grounded in the Bible, not the traditions of men, the ever-changing ideas of men.
Some of the central, essential BIG ideas found throughout scripture are:
- God is the Sovereign Creator – Examples: Romans 8:28; Isaiah 45:7-9; Job 42:2; Ephesians 1:11. Link: www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-gods-sovereignty/
- Man is so very sinful – Examples: Genesis 3:6; Colossians 3:5-6; Romans 3:23, 5:12-15. Link: www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-sin/
- We need a Savior, and Jesus is that Savior – Examples: Romans 1:16, 6:23; John 1:12-13; Titus 2:11-14. Link: www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-salvation/
In his book, Bobby Jamieson says, "The Bible is a story that preaches a message. From beginning to end, the Bible tells a single story of salvation."
He says that reading and teaching Scripture aims to love God and our neighbors better. We don't do these things for mere knowledge but for growth in godliness.
What do we use the Bible for?
Explicit, True Evangelism. The truth of the Gospel was written down in the Bible. The truth of the Gospel in the Bible must be shared with those who need salvation by those who have been saved.
Personal, Spiritual Growth. The Bible helps us individually examine our lives with God as the one who is the most important. We do personal Bible reading and study because it will shape our head, heart, and hand.
Corporate, Spiritual Growth. As we grow individually, we should grow together as a church. As believers, we should want to do what the Bible commands, not what the Bible forbids. In everything else (discernible issues), we want to be marked by grace and governed by the truth of the Bible.
Scripture shows its importance (Ephesians 4:14; 1 Timothy 1:3; and Titus 2:1). Most of Paul’s epistles and others were written to clarify or correct doctrine and inform people about living the Christian life.
The importance of scripture is also seen in Church History. Real-life examples can be seen throughout church history, so we offer an Adult Christian Education class on Church History. Consider these two specific things about the Bible from Church History as shared in the “Men Who Rocked the World” podcast by Steven Lawson, specifically, the episode entitled The Puritan Commitment to Sola Scriptura.
- One of Martin Luther’s 3 marks of a Biblical church is Preaching the Bible
- A
significant aspect of the Reformation was the clarity of the Scriptures taught in German, not Latin. Quotes like this one from Martin Luther the importance of scripture in the Reformers' lives. "Evidenced in this quote, “A simple layman
armed with Scripture is greater than the mightiest pope without it.”
If the church is a community of believers encouraging and helping one another, how should that impact our Bible reading? We should prioritize the private reading of and meditation on the Bible. We should look for more ways to encourage one another with God's Word. We need to share the truth of the Gospel with those who desperately need to be saved.
Resources
- Verse of the Day Images - wiki.logos.com/Biblia_Verse_of_the_Day_images
- Scripture Type - scripturetype.com/
Schedule
11/12 Discipline & the Church
11/19 The Gathering of the Church
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