WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?
A Sermon preached by Evangelist Michael Kearns
Text: II Timothy 2:15;3:13-17;II Timothy 4:1-4
Introduction:Paul warned Timothy by the Holy Ghost "that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" and "that in the last days perilous times shall come" when many shall have "a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" and that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."
In Matthew 24 it seems that Jesus warned His disciples against deception more that anything else. Paul warned Timothy about deception and they who go on deceiving people. In Acts 20 Paul warned the Ephesian elders about two kinds of people that would come in and try to tear the church after he left: 1) Wolves that wouldn't spare the flock and 2) men who would draw away believers by speaking perverse things. This means that certain folks were deceived and would try to deceive believers and Paul warns these elders in his farewell address just before he left to go to Jerusalem.
We live in an hour where there is much confusion going on in so-called modern Christianity. You have one extreme that is very liberal and doubtful about God's Word. You have another extreme that is very loose and tolerant with the Bible. Then there are many that just pick and choose whatever they want as long as it fits their denominational traditions and is popular with the people and certainly politically correct.
BUT WHAT WE NEED IS A CHURCH FULL OF CHRISTIANS WHO BELIEVE THE WHOLE BIBLE AND WHO BY GOD'S GRACE TRY TO STAY WITH GOD'S WORD NO MATTER WHICH WAY THE TIDE OF PUBLIC OPINIONS FLOWS!!! We need to return to the whole counsel of God and go with God even at the expense of being ridiculed, mocked, and put out by others who call themselves Christians.
This is partially why I am preaching on WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?
I. We need to study the Bible first of all to make sure of our calling and election-to know for sure of our salvation.
1. Scripture commands such :
II Peter 1:10, 5: II Corinthians 13:5
2. Scripture provides many passages to use in self examination :
1) Romans 10:9,10,Are you ashamed of Jesus and do you really believe that He's alive?(I John 4:15)
2) I Cor. 11:31,32,Do you ever experience the chastening hand of God?
3)Romans 8:14-16, Is there an inner witness of God as your Father and His Spirit as your faithful guide? (I John 5:10)
4) I John 2:29; 3:3-10, Is there a desire to be different than the world and is there a seeking and longing for purity and righteousness in your heart and life? Do you continually live in sin and enjoy it and never experience conviction or a drawing away from it?
5) I John 2:3; 3:23, 24 Are you keeping New Testament commands for believers?
6) I John 3:14, Do you love saved people?
II. We need to study the Bible secondly in order to grow and mature and so on to find God's perfect will for our lives that we might faithfully serve Him.
1. I Peter 2:2, we must start with milk- the basics.
2. II Peter 3:18; 1:5-8, knowledge means growth.
3. I Corinthians 3:1-3, we must start with milk but we must move forward with some meat!
III. We need to study the Bible that we might be settled, grounded and unmoved by the various winds of life.
1. Ephesians 4:14, 15
2. The word doctrine is found 16 times all together in Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus. "Doctrines" is found once. The phrase "sound doctrine" is used 4 times. The phrase "good doctrine" is found once. The point here is that doctrine is not a minor issue. It does matter what you believe and why you believe it!
3. Titus 2:7, what we are to have in doctrine; a threefold cord! Ecclesiastes 4:12, "a threefold cord is not quickly broken."
1) Uncorruptness: pure Bible doctrine; unmixed with errors
2) Gravity; grounded, settled in honest Bible doctrine; this is what the Bible really teaches-sticking with the Bible.
3) Sincerity; genuine and lasting or enduring. This is Bible doctrine that is good for us today and not just the early church or special situations.
4) Sound speech-uncondemned doctrine (An example of unsound speech would be setting dates for Christ's return.)
4. I Timothy 5:17, they who labour in the word and doctrine are to be held in high esteem.
IV. We need to study the Bible that we might be able to be a strong witness and a sound teacher to others.
1. II Timothy 2:2, 15
2. I Timothy 4:15, 16
3. Hebrews 5:11-14, many saved people should be teaching others but they have not grown because they have not studied the Word of God enough!
V. Finally, we need to study the Bible that we might learn more about God and our Lord Jesus Christ and fall in love with Him continually afresh and anew.
1. I Peter 3:18
2. John 14:13-15
3. John 15:7-10
4. John 8:31, 32
CONCLUSION :
1. Ask God to revive your reading and studying of His Word.
2. This is part of being a disciple and it will cost you something to be a student of the Holy Word of God.
3. Pray and ask God to make your Bible a fresh book once again.
4. Examine your personal beliefs and opinions and see if they line up with what God clearly says in His Word.
5. Ask God to protect you from false doctrine and to make you grounded and settled in what the Bible says and not what everybody else says!
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