Why Study the Bible?
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The bible is an important axis of the truth. The other is the experience of what the bible speaks of in real life. This is by the Spirit. So then the Spirit testifies of the bible and the bible testifies of the Spirit and both testify together of Christ.
It is like having a map and a compass...one without the other can get you very lost.
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James 1:16-25
King James Version(KJV)
16.)Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17.)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18.)Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19.)Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20.)For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21.)Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22.)But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23.)For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24.)For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25.)But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
King James Version(KJV)
16.)Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17.)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18.)Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19.)Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20.)For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21.)Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22.)But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23.)For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24.)For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25.)But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
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There are people who worship the Bible, the words of men who asked the first faith be to believe them when they say these are the words of God. As we saw fit to compile over centuries and command as a closed canon.
Then there is the Word that is God.
One is Biblioidolatry. Worship of the book. The other is worship of the one and only God for whom the book is named.
That is why scripture says, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits.
The Bible has a history in its compilation. From start to finish.
God has always been.
Use one to find your way to the other. But trust the other to find your way to the end of your life in the love and light that is the eternal guiding spirit that takes up residence inside of you. And leads you into all his truth and promise eternally. Until the end of days.
Then there is the Word that is God.
One is Biblioidolatry. Worship of the book. The other is worship of the one and only God for whom the book is named.
That is why scripture says, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits.
The Bible has a history in its compilation. From start to finish.
God has always been.
Use one to find your way to the other. But trust the other to find your way to the end of your life in the love and light that is the eternal guiding spirit that takes up residence inside of you. And leads you into all his truth and promise eternally. Until the end of days.
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P
After we have studied the bible we need to step out on faith., and live by faith. And most of all believe the bible. I have found out that most people who read the bible don't really believe it. It's just a study book for them. They can quote, quotes but don't believe them. You can tell them by their fruit.
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Amen, study, study, and then study some more!
(1) Study, read, look, and look at the text some more
(2) Then interpret the text - What does it mean? (Pray, pray - for only with the Holy Spirit can the Word be properly interpreted)
(3) Then apply it to your life - live vibrantly and powerfully for God's kingdom in today's decadent culture!
(1) Study, read, look, and look at the text some more
(2) Then interpret the text - What does it mean? (Pray, pray - for only with the Holy Spirit can the Word be properly interpreted)
(3) Then apply it to your life - live vibrantly and powerfully for God's kingdom in today's decadent culture!
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Hi PJ, when I finally became a Christian, almost 32 years ago now, I realized what a horribly sinful life I had been leading. So (knowing all that I'd just been saved from .. it was like the weight of the world had just been lifted off of my shoulders) one of my very first thoughts that night was how 'displeasing' my life must have been to God up until that point, and I ~never~ wanted to displease Him again. The thing is, I didn't know how, so I thought, "Bible", and I grabbed, dusted off and began to read the only one I had. Bingo, there they were, the very answers I was looking for right in front of me in black and white (and I still look to it today, for the same kind of answers, and many other kinds too, of course).
I think that's why I'll always be one of those weirdos who loves the Book of Leviticus, because it (along with a good portion of the rest of the Torah) tells us what God means when He speaks of holiness and righteousness, what we need to do to be pleasing to Him (not that we can be holy or righteous apart from Christ, but that's another, wonderful story, isn't it
)
As for most people who read the Bible not believing it, I know what you're saying, but I also find that pretty hard to believe (if those who are reading it have been made new creatures in Christ/made His workmanship, are Spirit filled, led and taught, and have been given the "mind of Christ" (though, sadly, anything is possible, I suppose).
What I do believe is true of 'most' people is that they 1. own a Bible but 2. NEVER read it
Here's some of what St. Paul has to say about "most" people. Considering what he has to say, is it any wonder why they don't read the Bible, and when/if they do, that they don't believe it?
.........1 Corinthians 1
.........18 ..The word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
.........1 Corinthians 2
.........14 ..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.
As such, I believe that part of the "fruit" that results from/accompanies salvation, is the ability to appraise, accept and understand things from God's POV, which certainly includes how we understand His word.
~Deut
.........1 Corinthians 2
.........12 ..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,
.........13 ..which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining
.........spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
.........14 ..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.
.........15 ..But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
.........16 ..For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
.
I think that's why I'll always be one of those weirdos who loves the Book of Leviticus, because it (along with a good portion of the rest of the Torah) tells us what God means when He speaks of holiness and righteousness, what we need to do to be pleasing to Him (not that we can be holy or righteous apart from Christ, but that's another, wonderful story, isn't it
)As for most people who read the Bible not believing it, I know what you're saying, but I also find that pretty hard to believe (if those who are reading it have been made new creatures in Christ/made His workmanship, are Spirit filled, led and taught, and have been given the "mind of Christ" (though, sadly, anything is possible, I suppose).
What I do believe is true of 'most' people is that they 1. own a Bible but 2. NEVER read it
Here's some of what St. Paul has to say about "most" people. Considering what he has to say, is it any wonder why they don't read the Bible, and when/if they do, that they don't believe it?
.........1 Corinthians 1
.........18 ..The word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
.........1 Corinthians 2
.........14 ..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.
As such, I believe that part of the "fruit" that results from/accompanies salvation, is the ability to appraise, accept and understand things from God's POV, which certainly includes how we understand His word.
~Deut
.........1 Corinthians 2
.........12 ..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,
.........13 ..which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining
.........spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
.........14 ..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.
.........15 ..But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
.........16 ..For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.
.
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.
.........Joshua 1
.........8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful
.........to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
.........Psalm 1
.........1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
.........Nor stand in the path of sinners,
.........Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
.........2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
.........And in His law he meditates day and night.
.........3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
.........Which yields its fruit in its season
.........And its leaf does not wither;
.........And in whatever he does, he prospers.
........
.........Joshua 1
.........8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful
.........to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
.........Psalm 1
.........1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
.........Nor stand in the path of sinners,
.........Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
.........2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
.........And in His law he meditates day and night.
.........3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
.........Which yields its fruit in its season
.........And its leaf does not wither;
.........And in whatever he does, he prospers.
........
For hope in the word of God unseen.
I thought Christians were commanded to study the Bible to be quite?
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Rom 8:24-25
I thought Christians were commanded to study the Bible to be quite?
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Rom 8:24-25
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Because the Bible will teach you fear of the Lord as already posted by some Christian brethren here.
What does the fear of the Lord brings anyway?
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
What is this evil mentioned here?
Jonah 3:10 King James Version (KJV)
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
The evil mentioned in Proverbs is God's punishment that He will give to any wicked man.
What does the fear of the Lord brings anyway?
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
What is this evil mentioned here?
Jonah 3:10 King James Version (KJV)
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
The evil mentioned in Proverbs is God's punishment that He will give to any wicked man.
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Hi Zmouth, the "Prosperity Gospel" teaches us that God will bless us with health and financial well-being, if we're willing to do certain things to tickle His fancy that is, which principally comes down to:
.....1. giving $$ to our prosperity preacher with the faith/hope that doing so will get us far more $$$$$$$$$ back from God and,
.....2. having faith that He does, indeed, intend to bless us in such a manner (with perfect health and financial excess). By doing this, these preachers .....attempt to get us to believe that God is actually something He ~is not/never will be~ a Cosmic Sugar-Daddy
Again, these prosperity preachers would have us believe that we are supposed to please God to gain His favor, as if the relationship He wants to have with us boils down to nothing more than a quid pro quo.
However, the Bible tells us this instead (please take special note of the 'universe' of difference between the prosperity preachers' sales pitch (on the one hand), and what the Bible actually teaches us (on the other):
.........Psalm 37
.........4 ..Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. (see also, Matthew 6:33)
So it is with verses like, Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; Jeremiah 29:11. God is NOT saying that, "if you do this for Me, then I'll do that for you .. AND MUCH, MUCH MORE as well". Rather, I think what He is really trying to say to us is this:
........."This is My universe, and it works best the way that I set it up. If you'd like your life to be a successful one rather than a failure,
.........then study My instruction manual and do what it says".
In fact, as far as the Bible is concerned, our many weaknesses do not permit us to leave school until we have spent our entire lives as scholars (which is why God tells us to write His words on our (and on our children's) hearts and souls, and to bind them as a sign on our hands, that they may be like frontals on our foreheads .. Deuteronomy 11:18-19, which is also why He tells us that we need to study, abide and grow in the understanding of Him and His word, both day and night...(now that was a true, run-on sentence, sorry about that).
Hope that helps a bit.
~Deut
.....1. giving $$ to our prosperity preacher with the faith/hope that doing so will get us far more $$$$$$$$$ back from God and,
.....2. having faith that He does, indeed, intend to bless us in such a manner (with perfect health and financial excess). By doing this, these preachers .....attempt to get us to believe that God is actually something He ~is not/never will be~ a Cosmic Sugar-Daddy
Again, these prosperity preachers would have us believe that we are supposed to please God to gain His favor, as if the relationship He wants to have with us boils down to nothing more than a quid pro quo.
However, the Bible tells us this instead (please take special note of the 'universe' of difference between the prosperity preachers' sales pitch (on the one hand), and what the Bible actually teaches us (on the other):
.........Psalm 37
.........4 ..Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. (see also, Matthew 6:33)
So it is with verses like, Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; Jeremiah 29:11. God is NOT saying that, "if you do this for Me, then I'll do that for you .. AND MUCH, MUCH MORE as well". Rather, I think what He is really trying to say to us is this:
........."This is My universe, and it works best the way that I set it up. If you'd like your life to be a successful one rather than a failure,
.........then study My instruction manual and do what it says".
In fact, as far as the Bible is concerned, our many weaknesses do not permit us to leave school until we have spent our entire lives as scholars (which is why God tells us to write His words on our (and on our children's) hearts and souls, and to bind them as a sign on our hands, that they may be like frontals on our foreheads .. Deuteronomy 11:18-19, which is also why He tells us that we need to study, abide and grow in the understanding of Him and His word, both day and night...(now that was a true, run-on sentence, sorry about that
).Hope that helps a bit.
~Deut
