The Value of Bible Study

Not all of us can have the golden opportunity or luxury of time to enroll in a reputable Bible School where the Word of Truth (without any adulteration of the traditions of men) is taught. By this, I mean every truth is backed up by scriptural verse or verses not by what other respected religious leaders have said or done or just because said act has been traditionally done by men of old.

When I enrolled in Bible School in the early 70’s, I found the study of the Word of God fascinating and extremely interesting. It is a study of the origin of man and other creations; the interesting and instructive teachings and parables of the Lord Jesus Christ; the unadulterated stories of great Bible characters like Moses, Abraham, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, and many others, which serve as our examples for living; the writings of the prophets for our present and future instruction and guidance (prophesy is history written in advance); the Psalms for music lovers and for inspiration of the soul (music is the language of the soul); study of wisdom literature for those lovers of philosophy (the science of correct reasoning); and most important of all, the study of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not of good works, not of ourselves: it is the gift of God. (Eph. 2:8-9). It is more interesting than the study of the law profession. I enjoyed very much my study of the Word more than I enjoyed my study of the law profession, especially because there was no difficult bar examination to pass.

The Psalmist King David, said: “Behold, I long for Your precepts; quicken me in Your righteousness” (Ps. 119:40 KJV). “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver” (vs. 72). “O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (vs. 97). “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” “Through thy precepts, I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (vs. 104). “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (vs. 105). “I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love” (vs. 113). “Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea above fine gold” (vs. 127). “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them (or nothing shall cause them to stumble” (vs. 165 NLT).

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, - - “able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 3:15) making “the man of God . . . perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (vs. 17). Thus, one of the indications of a saved man is the good works he has done or is doing heartily for the kingdom of God, without expecting any return, financial or otherwise.

The Book of books (or the Bible) has the highest claims to our reverent attention because it “is profitable for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). It is significant to note, “first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Pet 1:20-21 KJV).

Superficial study of the Word of God cannot meet the claims it has upon us nor give us the benefit that is promised in the Word. To study one passage until its significance is clear to the mind and its relation to the plan of salvation is of more value than the reading of many chapters with no definite purpose in view and no positive spiritual instruction gained. We cannot obtain wisdom from the Word of God, which every man needs, without giving earnest and prayerful attention to its study. It is true that some portions of Scripture are, indeed, too plain to be misunderstood, but there are many portions whose meaning cannot be seen at a glance, for the truth, most of the time, does not lie upon the surface. For this reason, we need to be taught by expert and experienced Bible teachers.

Fortunate is the man who knows the law of man and the law of God and who obeys both! A leader who does not know the Word of God and therefore does not do its precepts will never succeed! Contrariwise, if a leader knows Jesus Christ and follows his example, he is no tyrant nor vindictive but full of love and, like King Solomon, with a large and understanding heart.

No study is better to give energy to the mind, to strengthen the intellect, than the study of the Word of God. No other book is so potent in elevating the thoughts, in giving vigor to the faculties, as is the Bible, which contains the most ennobling truths. If God’s Word were studied as it should be, we would see breadth of mind, stability of purpose, nobility of character, such as is rarely seen in this valley of tears and joy.

The disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ were first taught “live-in” - - full time day and night by our Lord Jesus for at least three and-a-half years before they were sent out to minister and teach and preach the gospel (Good News). They were ordinary people but having been mentored by Jesus Christ by his example and anointed by the Holy Ghost during the Pentecost made them extraordinary “men of God”. This makes the difference between them and those, even today, who only learned the scriptures in theological seminaries, in Bible schools, or by self-study. That is why in our Saturday fellowship, it has been a tradition that only those known to be good and experienced teachers or preachers of the Word are invited to share and preach the gospel, so that our knowledge of the Word of God will not be adulterated with traditions of men or elders or by pagan practices, but rather we are taught the ordinances taught by Jesus Christ, his disciples and by his Apostle through the various canonized epistles [letters] included in our Bible (1 Cor. 11:2). Experience is the best teacher.

Why did God drive away the inhabitants of Canaan to be inhabited by his chosen race - - the Hebrew people led by Abraham and give them “the land of the Canaanites”? (Exodus 13:11). In fact, he instructed the Hebrew (later called Israelites) to “destroy these seven idol worshipping nations utterly”, “nor show mercy unto them” (Deut. 7:1-2) so that these treasured and favored Israelites will not be influenced by their paganistic practices, to name some of which were: they have many or different gods, like Baal, Astoreth, Dagon, etc. They worship the idols of these gods. The Apostle John made this very clear and reiterated it in 1 John 5:21 (KJV) by saying: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” They offer children/human sacrifices to these pagan gods. On the contrary, the teaching of Jesus Christ is: “Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:14). He loves children. In fact, he loves all men for “he created man after his own image, in the image of God he created he him; male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27 KJV). Man was God’s last and special creation - - his “obra maestra”. That is why he loves man (including children and women) very dearly that he sent/gave his only begotten Son to redeem mankind. And especially women because woman is a special “revised” creation for men. Thus, God said: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him” (or companion) (Gen. 2:18 KJV).

If there is anything that angers God most as vividly demonstrated by his killing about three thousand men in a day, it is the paganistic practice of idol worship (Exodus 32:7-10, 28). I wonder if the scramble to touch the black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, so their “wish” for anything - - to long life, or healing could be granted by God is also a form of idol worship. Hopefully we will not be driven away from our dear Fatherland like the Canaanite nations.

One of the mortal sins of Corinthian people was the sin of idolatry. So the Apostle Paul told them: “Wherefore my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Cor. 10:14).

Of all the books that flood the world, however valuable, the Bible is the Book of books, the bestseller of all, read by monarchs, kings, presidents, rich and poor alike, and most deserving of our study and admiration.

The Bible gives not only instruction concerning the wonders of the universe; it reveals to our understanding the character of the creator of the heavens and the earth and all that are in them, and will make us “wise unto salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ”. It describes heaven where it is written that only those whose names “are written in the Lamb’s book of life are allowed to enter” (Rev. 21:1-27). There, if our name is written in the book of life, we “shall see him as he is” and “we shall be like him” (1 John 3:2).

The one who studies the Bible holds converse with patriarchs and prophets. Contact is made with truth clothed in elevated language, which exerts a fascinating power over the mind and lifts the thoughts from the things of earth to the divine, to the glory of the future immortal life with our only one and true God who, in person, is the Lord Jesus Christ. (FGBMFI Davao City Chapter Bulletin Jan 14, 2012)