Why We Need God –part 2
The Bible
INTRODUCTION
1.
We began this series of lessons by illustrating why we need God...
a. He is our Creator, who knows us better than we ourselves
b. He is our Redeemer, who seeks to save us from ourselves
c. He is our Provider, who is willing to meet our every need
2.
Now I wish to focus our attention on why we need the Bible...
a. Both the Old and New Testaments
b. As the guide to salvation and comfort
I. IT IS GOD’S POWER TO SAVE
A. BY CREATING FAITH...
1. Without faith it is impossible to please God - He 11:6
2. Without faith in Jesus we cannot be saved - Jn 8:24
3. It is the Word of God that produces such faith - Ro 10:17
4. For example, the gospels were written to produce faith - Jn
20:30-31
B. BY CAUSING ONE TO BE BORN AGAIN...
1. Jesus taught the necessity of being born again - Jn 3:3-5
2. The rebirth involving water and the Spirit is produced by:
a.
Receiving the “incorruptible seed” of God’s Word - 1 Pe 1:23-25a
b. In
particular, that word proclaimed in the gospel of Christ - 1 Pe 1:25b
3. Which gospel calls for one to be baptized - Mk 16:15-16
a. As
proclaimed by Peter - Ac 2:38
b.
I.e., the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit - Ti 3:5
C. BY KEEPING ONE SAVED...
1. Paul emphasized this value of the Scriptures
a. To
the Corinthians - 1 Co 10:11-12
b. To
Timothy - 2 Ti 3:14-17
2. The saving value of the Word of God is for both young and old
a.
The young can keep their ways pure by it - Psa 119:9
b.
Elders were commended to the Word for their salvation - Ac 20:32
[Lack
of knowledge concerning God’s Word destroyed Israel (Hos 4:6). But when
received with
meekness
into our hearts, the Word of God has the power to save (Ja 1:21)! But
notice also...]
II. IT IS GOD’S POWER TO COMFORT
A. THROUGH THE HOPE IT GIVES...
1.
Paul wrote of the hope provided by the OT scriptures - Ro 15:4
2.
The OT provides assurance of our hope in Christ, because it illustrates how God
always
keeps His promises
3. How much more so the
NT, providing hope by revealing the grace to be shown when Christ comes again! - cf. 1 Pe 1:13
B. THROUGH THE PEACE IT GIVES...
1.
Especially as it reveals the means and source of true peace - cf. Ph 4:6-9
2.
With such inner peace, nothing causes one to stumble - Psa 119:165,92-93
3.
“In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me
light and
strength.”
- Robert E. Lee
C. THROUGH THE HAPPINESS IT GIVES...
1.
Blessedness (happiness) through the stability and nourishment it provides - Psa
1:1-3
2.
Note that this comes to the one engaged in daily Bible reading (“day and
night”)
CONCLUSION
1.
To fulfill our need for God, we need the Bible...
a. For God has spoken through prophets and His Son - cf. He
1:1-2
b. He has made His Word accessible to every nation and tongue - Ro
10:17-18
2.
With the aid of the Bible, we can experience God’s power in our lives...
a. As we learn the way of salvation, and accept it with an
obedient faith
b. As we walk in the way of salvation, and receive the hope,
peace, and happiness
God givesGreat men have
spoken of the value of the Bible:
“Within
the covers of this one single book, the Bible, are all the answers to all the
problems
we face today. If only we would read it and believe.” - Ronald Reagan
“I
believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from
the
Saviour
of the world is communicated to us through this book.” - Abraham Lincoln
“The
Bible is worth more than all other books which have ever been printed.” – Patrick
Henry
Is
that our attitude toward the Bible...?
I pray that you are blessed with this study as we prepare to take over year 2014 for Jesus.
God bless you as we continue in the next lesson and until then ........
See you at the top
your friend in ministry,
Pastor Mike
