5 Reasons Why You Should Read The Bible
I Promise, Your Life Will Never Be The Same!
The Bible is God’s inspired word.
Forty authors wrote the original manuscripts over roughly 1,500 years. From around 1,444 B.C. through 94 A.D. God’s Holy Spirit supernaturally inspired a select group of people to record His words. From 2 Timothy 3:16, we learn the Scriptures were “breathed out by God” or “God-breathed.” In 2 Peter 1:21, we learn that throughout the years and from time-to-time special men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak God’s word. The Bible was assembled from 66 small books (manuscripts), 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Jesus quoted from 27 of the 39 Old Testament books as God’s written word and never once suggested that any of the other books were not God’s word. The New Testament writers were either disciples who knew Jesus or like Paul and Luke came to know Christ after his resurrection. Tens of thousands of Bible scholars and teachers have studied and written about the accuracy and inerrancy of the Bible. The Bible explains that God created the entire world, universe, and all living things in 6 days by speaking them into existence from nothing. Humans were created on day 6. Do you know what the first verse in the Bible (Genesis 1:1) says? There is much information online now that teaches how the Bible was translated from the ancient manuscripts and the reliability of our English translations.
It is God’s moral authority for all mankind.
Humans are not the source of moral authority. Absolute moral authority belongs to God alone. When we say this is right or that is wrong, it is only so if it is in agreement with what God’s word says. When we are in disagreement with God’s word guess who’s wrong? Many people have lost their moral conviction and judgment causing some to stray and others to reject God and His word. The psalmist David wrote, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Reading God’s word embeds an active moral conscience in our minds and hearts based on exactly what God says in His word. In Matthew 4, when Jesus was tempted by Satan, Jesus responded with “It is written…” Knowing God’s word will keep us from being totally deceived by the dark forces of corruption. In addition, the Bible speaks to every area of our lives providing wisdom and knowledge that will keep you on the right path.
The Bible explains why we love to sin and the unforeseen consequences.
Our struggle with sin and our sinful nature is completely addressed in the Bible. The fact that all have sinned and by nature are sinners alienated from God is an essential part of entering into a right relationship with God. By nature, we are captive to our sinful passions and must be set free, something we are powerless to do. It is necessary to understand how we are wired and why we do what we do. All sin has consequences but because it is often not immediate we assume there are no real consequences and we are free to sin and will never be held accountable. In Romans 6:23 we learn that “the penalty for sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The penalty awaiting all sinners is eternal separation from God, but the good news is that God wants us to live in eternity with Him. Yes, it’s all in the Bible and you need to read these precious promises and act upon them if you are not certain you are born again and truly saved from your sins.
The Scriptures reveal God’s love for us.
It is God’s amazing love for us that releases His undeserved grace, mercy, and forgiveness. We are sick with sin and in desperate need of God’s healing love. Experiencing God’s love is a result of turning to Him in what the Bible calls repentance. All of this is clearly explained in the Bible in such a way that a child can understand and experience God’s marvelous love and salvation. There is no other love that compares to the love of God. Knowing that God loves us is not the same as receiving and living in His amazing love. 1 John 4:16 states:
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
The Bible proclaims Jesus as God’s Son and Savior of all who trust in Him.
John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Therefore, Jesus, God in the flesh, suffered and died in our place on the cross to pay our debt for sin. He who never sinned became a sin offering and took upon himself the sin of all mankind. An innocent sinless Jesus received the punishment for all our sins, death—but it doesn’t end there. He came back to life and lives today to be our Savior and Lord. In Acts 4:12 we read:
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
God has ordained many Bible preachers and teachers to share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, but you must know for yourself what God’s word says. Reading the Bible will illuminate your heart and mind. It contains all the answers to life’s challenging questions. The Bible says in Romans 10:17 NKJV, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
How to Turn to God
Perhaps at this very moment, you have realized that you need the Lord in your life. Maybe you drifted away or need to be been born again? If so, you can stop right now and begin talking to God. Ask Him to forgive you for being a sinner and the life you have been living outside of His love. Surrender your life to Him, unconditionally. Call Him Lord and make Him Lord of every thought, attitude, and action. You can say, Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins and come into my heart and take full control of my life. I am your child from this day forward. Change my heart and mind to be Christ-like in every way. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Savior forever.
