Lesson 1 --- WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?

by Don French

Bible Lesson #1
Background Studies
The Importance of the Bible in Learning God’s Will for Mankind

WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?

Instructions for use: Please print the lesson and use the verses to give the answer to the questions as well as write down the verse number the answer is in.

II Timothy 2:15&16"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness”

1.Is studying the Bible a necessary part of being approved by God?
2.Should we learn how to be skillful workers for God?
3.If we study with the right attitude, can we correctly understand the Bible?
4.If we do things not found in the Bible, are they Godly?
5.Is it possible to do things pleasing to God, if we have not studied the Word of God?

Isaiah 28:9-14A “Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Therfore,hear the Word of the Lord, you scornful men ...”

1. How does God give knowledge to men?
2. How is the Word of God given to men?
3. Would we expect to find all that God reveals on a subject in one place?
4. Would it take disciplined study to discern God’s will?
5. Could this be God’s way to separate those people who are lazy and do not want to study carefully and spend the time and effort it takes to come to the proper understanding of the Word of God?

I Peter 3:15-16 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”

1. Should we be able to give an answer for our hope in Christ?
2. Should we be able to show from the Bible why we believe as we do?
3. Is this part of sanctifying God?
4. Should we know the Bible well enough to be able to show others that what we are doing is the will of God?

Romans 10:1-3 “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

1. Is zeal (enthusiasm) alone enough to save? (Israel was enthused for God, but Israel was not saved)
2. If we don't have knowledge of God's righteousness, are we rebelling against God?(Because Israel did things that they thought were right, they did not submit to God)
3. Is knowledge necessary for salvation?

Revelation 22:18-19 “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” [also see: Dueteronomy 4:2; 5:32; & 12:32; Joshua 1:7-8; Proverbs 30:5-6]

1. Are men or religions allowed to teach things that add to what God’s Word teaches?
2. Are men or religions allowed to teach things that take away from what God’s Word teaches?
3. If someone teaches something different than what the Bible teaches are they adding or subtracting from what God’s Word teaches?
4. What do these verses say will happen to someone who does that?

John 3:5-7 “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

1. Can physical man understand spiritual things without the aid of the Bible?
2. Are we to marvel over or question spiritual commands? (We have a right to try an understand what God wants us to do, but we do not have the right to question God’s right to give the command)

WHAT IS OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS

THE WORD OF GOD TO BE LIKE?Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

1. Who has all power?
2. Does he have the power to tell us what to do?
3. Does any man have the right to give spiritual commands?

II Timothy 3:16&17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

1. Who inspired the writing of the Bible?
2. What is to be our source of doctrine?
3. Do we need anything but the Bible?

JOHN 12:48 “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.”

1. What will judge us in the final day (Judgment)?
2. If we don't receive the Bible, are we rejecting Christ?

2 PETER 1:20-21 “Knowing this 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 spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

1. Is the scripture open to private interpretation?
2. Did man choose to write scripture or was it directed by the Holy Ghost?
3. What is more important, how I interpret a scripture or what God meant in the verse?

1 CORINTHIANS 2:11-15 “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.”

1. Who knows what a person is thinking?
2. Who knows what God is thinking?
3. Did the writers of the New Testament receive things from the world or from God?
4. Who chose the words used in the New Testament? 5. Who was the real author of the books of the New Testament?

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

1. Where does faith in God come from?
2. What causes our faith to become stronger?
3. Should we consider the Bible important in living a Christian life?

Galatians 1:6-12 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

1. Is it possible to be removed from the grace of God?
2. What makes it a different gospel?
3. Does a man, an Apostle, or even an Angel have the power to change the gospel of Christ?
4. If we do things to please men, are we servants of Christ?
5. Did the gospel Paul preached come from him or another man?
6. Who taught Paul the gospel that he delivered and preached?

II Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

1. Are any of our efforts any good, if we don't follow the Bible?
2. Should we look upon the Bible as our only inspired source of knowledge?

I Corinthians 4:6 “And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.”

1. Which is more important, What the Bible says or what men may think?
2. How are we to view the Bible?

WHAT ARE WE TO DO WITH THE THINGS WE LEARN FROM THE BIBLEPhilippians 4:9 “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

1. What are we to do with what we learn from the Bible?
2. Will God be with us if we do what the Bible says?
3. Will God be with us if we do not do what the Bible says?

James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

1. If we don't do what the Bible says, do we sin?
2. Is God pleased with those who are not doers?
3. Is God pleased with those who are doers?

James 1:25 “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

1. Who is a doer of the work?
2. Will the doers of the work be blessed by God?
3. What does a person need to do in order to be blessed by God?

Matthew 7:21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

1. Will just paying lip service to Christ save us?
2. What must we do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
3. What will happen to one who does not do the will of God?

John 8:31&32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

1. What makes us disciples of Christ?
2. Can we know the Truth without doing the will of God?
3. Can we be free of sin without following Jesus Christ?

John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

1. What causes us to keep the commandments of God?
2. Do we love God if we don't keep his commandments?

Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

1. Can we serve God without doing his will?
2. If we do what we please, do we love God?
3. If we do as we want, how do we feel about God?

Revelation 2:10 “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

1. How long must we obey the will of God?
2. Will we receive a good reward if we don't serve God until death?

Chapter SummaryINTRUCTIONS: Please write down the verse that applies after the statement.

1. We must study the Bible because it is part of having God approve of the things that we do.

2. We must study the Bible because we need to learn to be skillful workers for God.

3. We must study the Bible because if we study with the attitude of learning what God wants, we can correctly understand the Bible.

4. We must study the Bible because God does not reveal everything about a subject in one place, but throughout the Bible.

5. We must study the Bible because if we add or take away from the things found in the Bible, we will not have a home in heaven with God.

6. We must study the Bible because if we do things not found in the Bible, they are not Godly.

7. We must study the Bible because we need to be able to give an answer for our hope in Christ.

8. We must study the Bible because studying the Bible is part of sanctifying God.

9. We must study the Bible because enthusiasm without knowledge will not save us.

10. We must study the Bible because if we do not get what we do from the Bible, we are actually rebelling against God.

11. We must study the Bible because knowledge is necessary for salvation.

12. We must study the Bible because we cannot understand spiritual things without studying the Bible.

13. We must have the attitude while we study that what we read is actually God speaking to us.

14. We must have the attitude while we study that what we read are the commands of God.

15. We must have the attitude while we study that Jesus has the right to tell us what to do.

16. We must have the attitude while we study that what we read is to be the source of doctrine, reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness.

17. We must have the attitude while we study that what we read will judge us on the last day.

18. We must have the attitude while we study that if we reject what we read, we are rejecting Jesus Christ himself.

19. We must have the attitude while we study that what we read is inspired by the Holy Spirit even to the words used.

20. We must have the attitude while we study that how we interpret the scriptures is important only if it is what God intended.

21. We must have the attitude while we study, what we read will bring us to have faith in God.

22. We should have the attitude while we study that we must do the things that the Bible tells us, not just read them.

23. We need to know that just saying we love the Lord does not mean that we are saved.

24. We need to know that to receive blessings from God, we must continue obeying the things we learn.

25. We need to know that to love God, we must obey the commands of God in the Bible.

26. We need to know that the love of God is keeping his commands.

27. We need to know we have to remain faithful and obedient to God until we die, in order to receive a crown of life.