Why the Child of God Should Study the Word of GodBy Dr. H. L. Willmington
At first glance it would seem totally unnecessary to discuss reasons for studyingGod’s Word. One might assume that, upon conversion, the most natural thing for anew believer to do would be to begin a lifelong study of that Book which originally brought him to Christ. But personal observation, as well as church history, proves the facts to be quite the opposite. The truth is, most Christians know very little about the Bible! Here then are some sound reasons for studying the Scriptures.
I. Because of its Author.
Often God is thought of as a Creator, a Redeemer, a Shepherd, a Judge, etc. This is correct thinking, of course, for he does indeed function in all these roles. But there is one great accomplishment of God which is almost always left off the divine attribute lists compiled by men. This wonderful but forgotten role is that of Author! God has written a book, and that profound and priceless book is the Bible. As testified to by any human author, then icest thing one can say to an author is, “Oh, yes, I’ve read your book.”
It is a tragic but true fact that many of the Christians who will someday(along with all believers) stand before the judgment seat of Christ will be sadly forced to admit that, while they were saved by heeding the salvation message in God’s Book, they nevertheless failed to take the time to read it. Thus, if for no other reason, the Bible should be carefully read to allow the believer to proclaim to Christ on that day: “Dear Jesus, there were many things I did not do on earth that I should have done, as well as other things Idid do that I should not have, but one thing I did—I read your book!”
II. Because of the often-repeated command to read it.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Josh 1:8 ).
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not tobe ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15 ).
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4 ).
Especially to be noted is this last verse. Jesus said every word.
III. Because the Bible is God’s chosen way to accomplish his divine will.
A. Sinners are saved through the message of the Bible.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they besent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:13-17 ).
“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words” (Acts 2:14 ).
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall wedo?” (Acts 2:37 ).
“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preachedChrist unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that we repossessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:4-8 ).
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Pet. 1:23 ).
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth—that we should bea kind of first fruits of his creatures” (Jas. 1:18 ).
B. Saints are sanctified through the message of the Bible.
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17 ).
“As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2:2 ).
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication” (1 Thess. 4:3 ).
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Ps. 119:9-11 ).
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Prov. 30:5 , 6 ).
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (Jn. 15:7 ).
“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32 ).
IV. Because our enemy the devil has read it.
During the account in Matthew 4 , Christ is tempted three times by the devil. On each occasion the Savior answered Satan with the phrase, “It is written,” and then proceeded to quote from the Word of God as found in the book of Deuteronomy. But what is almost always overlooked is the fact that the phrase “it is written” is repeated four times in Matthew 4 , and that the fourth time it is the devil using it to quote Scripture to Christ! Note the background at this point.
“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and set teth him on apinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Mt. 4:5 , 6 ).
Here Satan quotes from Psalm 91:11 , 12 . It is taken completely out of context, to be sure, but how did Satan know about it in the first place? The answer is painfully obvious. One day when the devil had nothing better to do, he must have sat down and studied Psalm 91 . Many Christians today have probably never even read this Psalm, but the devil apparently has itmemorized! Thus, we need to read God’s Word lest Satan get an advantage upon us.
V. Because of the example of Paul.
Paul was probably the greatest Christian that ever lived. His spiritual accomplishments are nothing short of staggering. Here was a man who made the first three missionary journeys, who founded and pastored the first fifty ormore Bible-believing churches, who wrote over half of the New Testament, and who on five occasions saw the resurrected Christ, and at least once was actually caught up into the third heaven itself! But then he was arrested, condemned to death, and placed in prison. Note carefully his final words to Timothy just prior to his execution.
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments” (2 Tim 4:6-8, 13 ).
What were these parchments? They were his copies of the Old Testament scrolls. The point to be made here is that in spite of all his marvelous achievements, the old apostle still felt he could profit from studying the Word of God on the eve of his death.
VI. Because the Bible alone provides answers to life’s three sixty-four-trillion-dollar questions. These questions, pondered by every generation, are:
A. Where did I come from?
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Gen. 1:26 , 27 ).
“Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Ps. 100:3 ).
B. Why am I here?
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13 ).
“Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev. 4:11 ).
C. Where am I going?
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because hehath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (Jn. 3:16-18 ).
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of theLord for ever” (Ps. 23:1 , 6 ).
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15 ).
