Why Read the Bible?

Dialogue taken from episode 21 of Above the Line podcast with Cruz Hitt.

Why read the word of God? Not, why do “we” read the word of God, because that insinuates that you do read the word of God. But why would anyone read the word of God? First we have to distinguish what the answer is for our two audiences ( believers and non-believers) and where the answer lies in applying to both.

The piece of scripture we will be drawing from is 2 Timothy 3: verses 14 through 17, keep in mind, this piece of scripture is titled, “All scripture is breathed out by God” which is very telling.

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus-" (2 Timothy 3:14-16)

Now let's stop right here before we go any further. At the end of verse 15 we see the potential that is brought through scripture (which are able to make you wise for salvation…Romans 10:13, “for Everyone, who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”) and we also see how this hope of salvation is obtained (through faith Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”) and finally, we see who accomplished, who sealed this hope for us, (that being “Christ Jesus.” 1 Peter 2:24, “and he Himself bore our sins, in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sin, and live to righteousness: for by his wounds, you were healed.”

What a great message that is. And what a great message it is that we receive from verse 14, addressing unbelievers firstly, the meaning that lies within venturing into the word of God is life.

Taking that all scripture is breathed by God, then the word of God itself is capable of being used to convict hearts, and be used as a vessel for God to melt a heart of stone, fill it with his love and love for him. Salvation is obtainable through the scripture.

Now, it's important that we provide sufficient evidence for this. Notice in verse 15, Paul refers to scripture as the “sacred” readings. The scripture holds a divine power and holds authority. The scripture in 2 Peter 3:15 tells us that “- our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks of them in these matters.” This shows us that Paul was not writing on personal ideology, but wisdom that was being gifted to him from God himself.

The ink of the pen that bled into Paul’s writings was the wisdom of God, not of Paul. Now this next sentence is crucial to us understanding the authority of God’s word. Continuing in verse 16 ,”-There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.”

This is blatantly telling us that all of our hope lies in Jesus Christ our lord, that our foundation for understanding and answer lies within the word of God, and that our hope lies nowhere else. It is essential that we hold to the authority of the word of God.

Now to address why believers should read the word of God and let's tweak this question a bit to read, “Why believers should be avid and diligent in their reading of the word of God.”

Lets continue in our study of 2 Timothy 3, and start this time at verse 16, it reads “All scripture…” notice not some or particular passages but ALL, “- 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 competent, equipped for every good work.” This verse is clearly indicating, starting at profitable for teaching and ending at correction, that the bible is very capable of convicting, and providing that reproving sin, and revealing the truth to our heart. For unbelievers as well as believers that need correction. We see in “training for righteousness” that scripture serves to keep our path aligned with God’s, and that finally, and it is important that we realize Paul writes here “the man of God” may be competent, equipped for every good work. Paul is stating that it is essential for every follower of God, every servant of the Lord to be prepared, knowledge, for every good work that lies ahead of him.

Scripture leads to righteousness, and I believe it is very evident that we need scripture in our life to guide, to convict, and to instruct.

Thank God for the blessing of the word.