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BACK
READING THE BIBLE
Why should one read the Bible on
their own? Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is also
the word and the light. The bible says the word is truth and the word is a
light. With Jesus being all these things, then one could
also say that the word is the way. Considering how much depends on the
word, it would behoove one to know the word and not depend on any one else to
give us the word.
Eph 5:26 That
he might sanctify and cleanse the church with the washing of water by the word
TO KNOW TRUTH
Many bibles today err in their words
and too many pastors and teachers follow the same course of wrong thought.
Other pastors are speaking what they think the congregation wants to hear so he
doesn't offend anyone. The only way to know if you are hearing truth is to
read it yourself and read the right one. (See
Is the Bible God's Word?)
2Pe 2:1
But there were false prophets also among the people,
even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in
damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon
themselves swift destruction.
And
many shall follow their pernicious ways;
by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of
Mt 24:4-5 Take heed that no man deceive you.
For
many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Notice that
these come in the name of Jesus, not in their own name, acknowledging Him as the
Christ.
Rom 16:17-18
Now
I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary
to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
For
they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by
good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
How can one
know if the doctrine is contrary without reading the word?
2Tim 4:3-4
For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own
lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And
they shall turn away their
ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
TO FIND LIFE THAT IS IN THE WORD
Life is in the word of God
and that word is spoken by the one God sent, Jesus. Jesus is the bread of
life but one also needs the rest of the word of God to live.
Mt 4:4 It is written, Man shall
not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of
God
Jn 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God
Jn 12:49
For
I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a
commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
And
I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore,
even as the Father said unto me, so I speak
Jn 6:63
the words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit, and
they are life.
Jn 6:68 Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of
eternal life.
TO FIND THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE
Jesus is also the way but
the way leads to life, it isn't life itself. To find life one must follow
the way because the way leads to life. The way is revealed through the
word so that is where one must seek to find.
Mt 7:14 narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few there be that
find it.
Mt 7:7 seek, and ye shall find
Mt 7:8 he that seeketh findeth
Heb 11:6 he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him
Mt 6:33 But seek ye
first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness
Jn 6:26 Ye
seek me, not because ye saw the miracles,
but because ye did eat of the loaves,
and were filled.
A child doesn't seek the things the
parent gives them, they seek the parent knowing that the parent will supply.
TO GAIN THE FAITH NECESSARY FOR SALVATION
One is saved by grace, but
it is through faith. Grace can't save without faith and faith won't save
without grace. The very word believe is the same word for faith or trust.
It isn't, therefore, just the acknowledging of the work of Christ; it is putting
one's very life in the hands of the Lord. If God says to do something and
we say no, is it utter disobedience, or is it a lack of faith? That is the
question one must ask themselves. Next one must admit to themselves
whether it is an occasional NO, or is it their lifestyle. Here we are only
concerned with the occasional. (For a lifestyle see
Are All Christians Going to Heaven.)
Eph 2:8
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the
gift of God
Grace is not a gift, it is a
characteristic of God. Faith and being saved are the gifts. The gift
of salvation, however, is dependant upon faith. Without faith, there is
nothing for grace to work through to bring salvation.
Rom 5:2
By
whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand
Rom 5:15 much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace
Rom 10:17
So
then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Being under the sound of the word does
not mean one hears. Hearing is a spiritual thing which depends upon ones
desire to know truth, or just hear what he wants to hear.
2Tim 4:3-4
For
the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own
lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And
they shall turn away their
ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Jn 8:43-45
Why
do ye not understand my speech? even
because ye cannot hear my word.
Ye
are of your father
the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he
speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:
for he is a liar, and the father of it.
And
because I tell you
the truth, ye believe me not.
Mt 11:15
He
that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Jesus said this eight times during his
life.
Heb 6:12
That
ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit
the promises
1Pe 1:4-5 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and
that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Who
are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
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