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Why Do You Need to Study the Bible On Your Own?

By Dr. Paul M. Elliott
The Bible itself gives the answer...

From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part one of a series

Editor's note: It has been our great privilege to send thousands of our Bible Reading Kits to individuals and churches around the world. One of the items in the kit is called More Precious Than Gold: How to Read and Study the Bible Profitably. As an encouragement to our readers around the globe to read and study God's Word to their spiritual profit, we are reproducing this resource in the five articles of this series. If you have never received a copy of our Bible Reading Kit, or would like a supply for your church or for personal ministry, please click here.

More Precious Than Gold

The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yes, than much fine gold... (Psalm 19:7-10)

Christians are busy people. You have a lot to do - at work, in your home, for your family, and in your church. And so, you may say, "I'm already a believer. I go to church. So why do I need to read and study the Bible on my own?" The Bible itself gives the answer:

Jesus said..."If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)

If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words. (John 14:23-24)

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I [Jesus] speak to you are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)

I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

As David wrote in the Psalm quoted above, God's Word is indeed more precious than gold. The Bible is the Christian's great treasure, and the Christian's spiritual food. As Jesus said, "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life" (John 6:27).

Supreme Benefit - And Supreme Danger

It is not only a supremely good thing to read and study God's Word. It is also a supremely dangerous thing to neglect it.

The Christian who neglects the Bible will not grow spiritually, and will be more easily deceived. "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 5:6).

Reading the Scriptures is your defense against being misled, and a safeguard for the church: "Holding fast the faithful Word... that [you] may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict" (Titus 1:9).

Peter warns us that "untaught and unstable people twist" the Scriptures "to their own destruction." And so he says,

You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:16-18)

Next: How To Approach the Bible

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