“Why?” My hope is, that this was not your first reaction to the title and for most Christians it won’t be. But lacking an answer to the question, “Why?” is often what keeps us away from our Bibles. Here are three answers to that question that should get us into God’s Word.
1. God’s Word is essential for conversion.
The apostle Paul makes a link between saving faith and hearing God’s Word. He writes,
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:14–17
God’s Word is the reason we trusted Christ. It’s the reason anyone will ever trust Christ. So not only is there a link between saving faith and hearing God’s Word, there is a link between evangelism and God’s Word. Now, Paul is not saying that the only possible way to share the gospel is to read or quote Scripture. Though, that is a good way to share the gospel. But what Paul is underlining is the basic fact that the message of salvation we have been given, is inscripturated in a book called the Bible.
So, Christian read the Bible so you can share the gospel faithfully.
2. God’s Word is essential for spiritual growth.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16–17
Christians, as disciples, as students, and followers are called to look more and more like Christ, the one we follow. To grow up to look like Jesus (Ephesians 4:15). What does that take? It takes instruction about him, it takes reproof and correction when we fail, and it takes training. Training our minds, attitudes, affections, emotions, desires, habits, to look more like Jesus. We need to be equipped to look and act like Jesus.
How do we get all this? The apostle Paul says that the Bible is profitable for all these things. We need the Bible for these things.
Christian, God breathed out the Bible to teach you, to reprove and correct you, to train and equip you. God gave you his Word for your spiritual growth.
3. God’s Word is essential for relationship.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4–5
How do we abide? How does Jesus abide in us? How do we stay in a close relationship with Jesus? The parallels of John 15 vv. 4, 5 and 7 give us an important hint.
John 15:4: Abide in me, and I in you.
John 15:5: Whoever abides in me and I in him
John 15:7: If you abide in me, and my words abide in you…
John 15:7 tells us how Christ abides in us. Christ abides in us through his Word. Christ feeds, strengthens, and encourages us through his Word. God’s Word abiding in us produces assurance, joy, dependence, and a God consciousness in daily life. Think about what that means for having communion with our Savior. How do I get to know him? How do I feel the joy of my salvation? How do I gain assurance? How does my faith grow? How do I get His power to overcome sin? How do I stay connected? How do we abide? How does he abide? Through his Word.
The natural desire of a Christian is to abide in Christ. This passage teaches us that, that longing and desire is satisfied by God’s Word when it is read, studied, and meditated on.
Christian, this may sound overly simplistic. But it is true. You cannot have a relationship with someone you are not hearing from. And how do you hear from Christ? Through his Word.
Christian, for the sake of the conversion of unbelievers, for the sake of your spiritual growth, and for the sake of enjoying and abiding in Jesus Christ, read the Bible.
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