We are to study our Bibles. Isaiah says, “Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 1:18). In another passage Isaiah says, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). We find also in Acts 17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Still in another place, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15. The idea is that we are to know God through the study of His Word.
There are several other reasons why we are to study our Bibles.
- The Devil wants us. He is the enemy! He wants us on his side and willing to do anything to get us there. If you remember his confrontation with Eve you will see this very fact. Notice that he changed God’s word! He did not change it much and he only added one little word to God’s command. The serpent was as wise as could be and cast doubt into Eve’s mind. This snake in the grass said, “Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and he shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5). If you read what was said, that old dragon added the word “not” and changed what God said. He also made it seem as though God was holding back something from Eve. He said that they would be “wise;” like God was holding out some kind of blessing from them. We need to be aware of all that he will try to do to us (2 Corinthians 2:11). Thus we need this Gospel meeting to know about these things. Remember James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
- Another reason we are to study the Bible is so that we will not be lured away from God. Do you remember the parable of the soils recorded in Matthew 13 and Luke 8? There are four kinds of soil, we need to be, and ought to be the good ground, but I want us to look at the other three. In the wayside soil the devil just took the seed. This is a frontal attack; most here will not be this way, but watch the other two kinds of soil. The rocky soil did not have any depth to the soil and when temptation came they fell. The devil causes us to be tempted, he wants us on his side, and will try to do what he can by hitting us at our weakest spot. The last soil is the thorny soil and they become so concerned with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life that they fall away from God. Taking care of the family, automobiles, house, and other stuff we lose sight of what is really important. These things are important but they are not the most important things in life. What should be important is our relationship with God and then our family’s relationship with God. If our relationship with God is correct then the other things will take care of themselves and fall into line.
- Another reason to study the Bible is so that we will know the correct way to worship God. Some think that we can do what we want in our worship to God and as long as we are sincere, God will accept it. First the problem with this kind of thinking is that we are fitting God into our plans or mold instead of us fitting into His plan or mold. God has told us what to do in our worship to Him. We have no right to change that worship. That would be changing God’s word and that is a work of the devil (see the first point). There are several who tried to change God’s worship, Cain, Nadab and Abihu, King Saul, and Ananias and Sapphira and were unsuccessful at that change. Jeroboam was one who tried also but his changes caused the people to worship a god not the God. We have no right to change God’s worship no matter how sincere we are. I wonder if Uzziah was sincere when he touched the Ark while it was being moved in the wrong way? Why did God strike him dead? He was sincere. But his sincerity did not keep him from meeting death for doing something he ought never have done! God said exactly how he wanted the ark to be moved and Uzziah was not part of that way. Friends, sincerity is not enough! We must worship God the way He wants. He is the one who created us and thus can dictate to us how to worship Him. Let us do it His way and not our way.
If you do have any questions as to why we worship the way we worship, ask so that we can help you find the answers. If you have questions as to why we do not use any instruments of music in our worship we would be glad to sit down with you and show you out of the Bible why we do not. If you have any questions as to why we partake of the Lord’s Supper every first day of every week we will be willing to discuss that too. We hope that you will give us the opportunity to answer your Bible questions.
Our aim is to Bible things in Bible ways. We desire to please God by doing what He has told us to do. The only way to do that is to do what the Bible says. If you find that we are not doing what the Bible says, then let us know. You will be our friend. The only way to heaven is by doing what God wants and if we are not doing that then we need to start, so tell us.
Love, Keith
