The Bible is the Word of GOD
A. GOD’S SPECIAL BOOK
The word of God –the Holy Bible- is God’s special book. It is not like other books, but is a supernatural Book. Written by different people with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (see 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21)
The Bible is the world’s bestseller. Translated into more languages than any other book in the world. It was originally written in three languages – Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. The Bible is also one of the oldest books in the world. The most ancient of the Bible back almost 4,000 years. Yet it is still the most modern book in the world today; for in it we find the answers to life’s greatest questions:
· “Where did I come from?”
· “Why am I here?”
· “Where will I go?”
Even though the Bible is made up of 66 smaller books, it has only one central theme: God’s loving plan to rescue mankind.
The Bible is divided into two sections:
– The Old Testament
– The New testament
The Old Testament tells us about God’s work with His people before the birth of Jesus.
The New Testament tells us about Jesus’ birth, His life, His great ministry of healing and forgiveness for sick and sinful people, His death on the cross, His being raised from the dead and His ascension (going back to Heaven).
It also tells us about the continuation of His healing, forgiving ministry through those who saw Him after the resurrection. Those who follow Jesus teaching do many miraculous works just as He said they would (see John 14:12).
The teaching of those who saw Him after He was raised from the dead is contained in the Epistles (Letters). These were written within the first fifty years after Jesus resurrection. These make up about half the New Testament.
B. STUDY THE BIBLE
The most important relationship you can have in this life is with God. Through reading the Bible you come to understand what God is like- His thoughts, His plans and His promises for you.
To help you find specific parts of the Bible, the translators organised the text into:
*Books
*Chapters within the Books, and
*Verses within the Chapters.
C. Here is the World’s GREATEST PROMISE
“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” (John 3:16).
D. The Purpose of the Word of God
“… the holy Scriptures… are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2Tim 3:15,16)
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness… (2 Pet 1: 3,4)
E. The Word of God Produces Life
“…The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63)
1. It is creative
By the WORD OF THE LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth… For he spoke, and it came to be; He commanded and it stood firm (Psalm 33:6,9). See also Hebrews 11:3.
F. The Word of God Is Like Water
1. It Cleanses
We start life in the kingdom of God totally washed clean by the word of God.
“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you”(John 15:3).See also Ephesians 5: 25-27.
2. It keeps clean
The Word of God, planted in our hearts, keeps us free from sin.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word… I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you (Psalms 119:9,11)
G. The word of God is Light for our Lives
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in you hearts.(2 Peter 1:19)
1. It gives Understanding In a Dark World
…The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes (Psalm 19:8).
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path… The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple (Psalms 119: 105,130)
H. The Word of God is Spiritual Food
Jesus answered, it is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matt 4:4)
I. The word of God is Seed
(see Luke 8:14,15)
J. The word of God is like a Sword
(Ephesians. 6:17, Heb. 4:12)
K. The word of God helps us to Pray
(John 15:7)
L. The word of God is strong in us
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into pracice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house: yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.(Matt 7:24,25,see also verses 26,27).
Jesus said that the wise man who built his house on the rock was a picture of those who hear His word and obey it. The word of God builds inner concrete within our lives so that no matter what may come against us we will stand strong.