Why study the Bible?
A good study of God's Word is the most profitable study in a person's life. The more you study, the more you want to study. There are many good reasons for studying the Bible, God's Word. Here are just a few.
A sudy of the Bible will make a person wise about salvation. "And from a child thou hast known the Scriptures." (2 Timothy 3:15) "which are able to make thee wise unto salvation."
Spiritual life depends on the Bible. Matthew 4:4 says we live in spirituality by the Word of God. We don't have anyone else to go to for life when we turn from God. ( John 6:66-68). The soul that does not know the Bible is lost and headed for punishment.
A study of the Bible will reveal God's will for man. Christ became the author of salvation to everyone who believes and obeys Him. ( Hebrews 5:8-9 ) By studying the Bible we can learn what His will is for us. (Ephesians 3:3-4)
We need to study the Bible so that we will know how to pray. Jesus taught His disciples to pray. If our prayers are not according to the will of God, then our prayers are not right. John says"And this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, he heareth us." (1 John 5:4) We must study the Bible to know what to do to be saved. ( 2 Timothy 3:15-17)
Studying the Bible is the most important thing in a person's life and we are thrilled that you have accepted the invitation to study God's Word.
ADVANCED BIBLE STUDIES NOW AVAILABLE
Dear Bible Student,
After nearly a year of preparation the first in a series of advanced studies is now available for study. Please read this Introduction to the Advanced studies. If you wish to enroll it will be necessary to follow the instructions below. Two points of great importance, you must sign or type in your name in the appropriate spot stating you agree that the Bible alone is our authority in Biblical matters and if you are taking this study by E-Mail you must have your e-mail set to send and receive in Rich Text [HTML] If you live where this is not possible, you will have to enroll by postal mail.
***IF YOU ENROLL IN THE ADVANCED STUDY BY E-MAIL, YOU MUST HAVE YOUR E-MAIL SET TO SEND AND RECEIVE IN RICH TEXT NOT PLAIN TEXT FORMAT.
1. REQUIREMENT #1 A prerequisite for the advanced study will be that the student complete specified courses from World Bible School or Truth For The World or Bible Roadmap Studies.
2. REQUIREMENT #2. The student must provide their own Bible and a friend who will provide a copy of the book we will be taking our lessons from and using as a study guide. Also I will provide a copy of chapter questions so they won't have to tear pages out of the text book.
3. The student will study each chapter and be instructed to read all scriptures from their Bible and to test all teaching. I encourage every one I study with to read all scriptures from their bible, ask questions as you have them and to test all teaching. As you study and hear religious teaching I encourage you to test everything you are taught about spiritual and religious matters. Each of us must be certain that such things are truly from God. Please know I am available and willing to help you with your biblical questions and will give scriptural answers that will direct you to the Scriptures for an answer. Going back to the Bible is the only way we can know for certain that our answers are coming from God. This is what we can read in the book of Acts that the people from a city called Berea did (Acts 17:10-12). These people eagerly examined the Scriptures each day to make sure that the things that the Apostle Paul was teaching them was really from God and not merely a teaching created by men. God called the Bereans "noble-minded " because of their study.
I would like to encourage you to make the decision to read the Bible every day. This will help you to grow to be more like Jesus. Each day, as you renew your mind with the words of God, prayerfully open your heart to His teachings.
4. After studying a chapter, the student will answer the questions at the chapter's end and ask any questions they have concerning the study, and then return the chapter questions to me to be graded. ***This study is intended to be a deep systematic study. You MUST TEST ALL TEACHING as you read the scriptures in each lesson. REMEMBER DO NOT ACCEPT WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT IN THE PAST OR WHAT I TEACH WITHOUT COMPARING IT TO WHAT GOD SAYS IN HIS WORD. YOU MUST TEST ALL TEACHING. SHORT ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. YOU MUST ALLOW ENOUGH TIME WITH EACH LESSON TO SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES FOR THE CORRECT ANSWER. IF YOU FIND OTHER SCRIPTURES WHICH PERTAIN TO A QUESTION BEING ANSWERED, INCLUDE THESE WITH YOUR ANSWER.
IF YOUR ANSWERS ARE NOT FULLY RESEARCHED THE LESSON WILL BE RETURNED FOR FURTHER SEARCHING OF THE SCRIPTURES. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT IN THE STUDY GUIDE, EXPRESS YOUR DISAGREEMENT AND GIVE SCRIPTURES TO SUPPORT WHY YOU DISAGREE.
5. I will grade the chapter questions, answer the student's questions on the chapter and add extra reading for each of the chapter questions. The student will be required to follow step 3 above and add any further questions they may have. They will return the chapter questions again along with comments and or questions. We will continue this process until each chapter is thoroughly researched by the student.
6. Continue in this manner until the deeper study is completed and Certificate of Achievement has been earned.
7. You will be required to answer all questions as fully. Short answers will not be accepted. These studies are designed to stimulate your thought and to challenge you to test what is being taught as well as any religious teaching you have received in the past. In most cases it will take more then one day to complete a single lesson.
8. REMEMBER, IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT, EXPRESS YOUR DISAGREEMENT AND GIVE SCRIPTURES TO SUPPORT WHY YOU DISAGREE.
I look forward to our study. Remember ask questions and test all teaching. The Bible and he Bible only is our standard of authority for all we do. Please read the following article on this subject before you begin studying chapter one.
REQUIREMENT #3. FOR ENROLLMENT IN AN ADVANCED BIBLE STUDY IS YOU MUST AGREE THAT THE BIBLE AND THE BIBLE ALONE IS OUR STANDARD OF AUTHORITY. IF YOU CAN NOT SAY WITH ALL HONESTY THAT THE BIBLE IS OUR STANDARD OF AUTHORITY AND THAT YOU BELIEVE THE BIBLE ALONE FURNISHES US WITH ALL THAT PERTAINS TO LIFE AND GODLINESS, THEN YOU ARE NOT READY FOR ADVANCED STUDIES. THERE WOULD BE NOTHING TO GAIN FROM AN ADVANCED STUDY IF YOU CAN NOT MAKE THIS COMMITMENT.
I [sign your name in the blank to the right I ________________ believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and furnishes us with all we need pertaining to life and godliness. The Bible and the Bible alone is our standard of authority.
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to LIFE AND GODLINESS, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
GOD'S STANDARD OF AUTHORITY by Chuck Northrop
While Jesus was teaching in the temple, the elders of the people came to him
and asked, "By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this
authority?" In answering this question, Jesus asked them a most penetrating
question, "The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven, or of men?"
(Matthew 21:23-25). For various reasons, those who tried to entrap Jesus could
not answer this question. However, in Jesus' answer, we learn a most valuable
lesson. Concerning religion, there are only two sources of authority - God or
man. Of these two sources, only one is the rightful source - God. The right
standard of authority is important because when our authority is men, our
worship is vain. Jesus said, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9). Thus, whatsoever we do in
word or deed, we must do all in the name of (or by the authority of) the Lord
Jesus (Colossians 3:17).
THE BIBLE IS FROM GOD
Since God is the only rightful source of religious authority, then how does
God communicate with man? The answer is the Bible and only the Bible. Paul
wrote, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16).
"Inspiration of God" literally means "God breathed." Just as we breathe out
words, God breathed out the words of the Bible. How did God accomplish this?
Peter wrote that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit"
(2 Peter 1:21). God is the originator and source, and holy men of God wrote
His words as the Holy Spirit guided them. Thus, God is the author, and holy
men of God such as Moses, the prophets, and the apostles were the writers.
Therefore, when we study the Bible, we are studying the creator's will for
His creation. We are studying God's word. The Bible is not simply a book of
words in which it does not really matter whether we read them or not. The
Bible does not contain "words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy
Spirit teacheth" (1 Corinthians 2:13). Paul further explained, "Whereby, when
ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ" (Ephesians
3:4). The Bible is as David said, "a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my
path" (Psalm 119:105). The Bible is God's authority, and to be approved of
God, we must give diligence to the study of the Bible, handling it accurately
as the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
THE BIBLE IS THE COMPLETE WILL OF GOD
The Bible does not simply contain the will of God. It is the complete will of
God. It is God's standard of authority. The Bible, and it alone, is God's
communication with man. Peter wrote, "According as his divine power hath given
unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge
of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3). Since God has
provided "all things that pertain unto life and godliness," then there is
nothing beyond what is found within Scripture that we need for spiritual life
and godliness. The Bible is, therefore, God's complete revelation.
Furthermore, since Jesus promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit, the
Comforter, the Spirit of Truth would teach them all things, bring all things
to their remembrance, and guide them into all truth (John 14:26; 16:13), then
the apostles had all truth and revealed unto us all truth. The rejection of
the apostles' message is a rejection of Jesus and God, the Father. Jesus said,
"He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and
he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me" (Luke 10:16). Also, consider
Paul's instruction to the church at Corinth, "If any man think himself to be a
prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto
you are the commandments of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 14:37). Since, the
apostles received and recorded all truth, the Bible is, therefore, God's
complete revelation to man.
Additionally, since the Scriptures will thoroughly furnish the man of God
unto all good works and bring him unto perfection (2 Timothy 3:17), then what
more is needed? What more could something beyond scripture furnish us? Why
would we need any more than that which can bring us to perfection? The Bible
is, therefore, God's complete revelation to man.
Even further consider this: In Revelation 22:18-19, God commands that we not
add to nor take away from His word (see also Proverbs 30:5-6). If we do
either, God will punish us by adding to us plagues or by taking away our
inheritance. Why are we not to add to nor take away from the Bible? Because
the Bible is the complete word of God and to change it by adding to or taking
from it either adds more than what is necessary or takes away from what is
necessary. To change perfection is to defile it and make it imperfect. No
wonder Paul pronounced this curse upon those who would pervert the gospel,
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than
that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before,
so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye
have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8-9). The Bible is the
complete revelation of God. Let us, therefore, not change it by adding to it
nor taking from it, and let us have the courage to accept it and act upon it
as it has been written.
THE BIBLE IS AUTHORITATIVE
Since the Bible is from God and is complete, we must also understand that it
is authoritative. Authoritative means that the Bible should be the standard
for which all is done in matters pertaining to religion. To the church at
Colossae, Paul wrote, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him"
(Colossians 3:17). What does it mean to do something "in the name of the Lord
Jesus"? To do something "in the name of " another is to do it by his or her
authority. In Acts 4:7, the priests and elders of the Jews asked the apostles,
"By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" These Jews were asking
about the source of the apostles' strength and their authority to do miracles.
Peter answer, "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth . . . this man stand
here before you whole" (4:10). The apostles' authority was Jesus. So, it
should be with us. The Bible should be our source of authority.
In order to avoid chaos, a standard of authority is essential. This is true
in our homes, our schools, our government, and in the church. An organization
with too many chiefs is a "jumbled up mess." There needs to be a head. In the
church, Christ is the head (Ephesians 1:22-23) and His word, the Bible, is the
standard of authority. A failure to recognize this authority will result in
division. This was the very problem in Israel during the time of the judges.
"Every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6; 21:25).
Rather than recognizing the right standard of authority - God, their standard
of authority was themselves. Sadly, such is too often true today.
True unity can only be accomplished when all recognize the rightful standard
of authority. However, it is not enough to recognize it, one must be willing
to follow it. In other words, it is not enough to claim the Bible is our
authority, one must be willing to follow it and submit his or her own will to
it. This was the problem that Jesus addressed in Luke 6:46. Jesus asked this
soul-searching question, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the
things which I say?" They recognized His authority but were not following it.
Until every person recognizes the Bible as authoritative and submits to its
precepts, then, and only then, will true unity be accomplished among all men.
"THE BOOKS WERE OPENED"
In Revelation 20:12, concerning the judgment when all men will appear before
God, John records, "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and
the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life:
and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works." Of the books that will be opened on judgment day,
we know from this passage that at least three books will be opened. What books
are these?
From the text, we know that one book that will be opened on that great and
notable day is the "book of life." This book is the record of all the names of
the faithful of all ages. Those found within this book will be clothed in
white raiment (Revelation 3:5), worshipers of God (Revelation 13:8), and will
not be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
Another book that will be opened on judgment day is the record of man's
deeds. Since the text says that judgment will be "according to their works,"
then God must keep an account of each person's deeds (see also Matthew 16:27;
1 Peter 1:17; Revelation 22:12). Describing the same judgment scene, Paul
wrote, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every
one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). Not only will man's works in
general be judged, but also "the secrets of men" (Romans 2:16) and "every idle
word" (Matthew 12:36).
The final book that will be opened is God's word - the Bible. Jesus said, "He
that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the
word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John
12:48). Just as a judge will judge according to a nation's laws, on the day of
judgment, all men will stand before God and be judged according to God's
eternal word - the Bible. Since we will be judged according to God's word,
then God's word must be the final authority. And since God's word is the final
authority, we have a responsibility to study, to know, and to live according
to its precepts and promises.
Three books will be opened on that day, but only one of those books is needed
today. If we follow the one book - the Bible, then our names will be found in
the Lamb's book of life, and our good deeds will be recorded in the record of
man's deeds.
You can copy and paste this into an e-mail message after typing your name in the blank above and send it to me at danallen@winonachurchofchrist.org
or print this, sign in the blank above and mail it to me at
Dan Allen
661 W. Wabasha Apt 1
Winona, MN. 55987-2718
USA
SIGN YOUR NAME IN THE SPACE PROVIDED ABOVE, THAT YOU BELIEVE the Bible is the inspired Word of God and furnishes us with all we need pertaining to life and godliness. The Bible and the Bible alone is our standard of authority.
Return this letter to me and I will send you the study guide and a copy of the test questions for chapter one. I look forward to our study.
In His Service,
Daniel N. Allen
