What is The Bible to a Christian

Deu 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God.

Jesus used this verse in the hour of His great temptation to defeat Satan.

Jesus set a good example for us. He used the scriptures in times of temptation. The Word of God was important to Him, He read it, He knew it, He memorized it, He used it in His daily life. Jesus used the Word of God in His preaching and teaching. Jesus referred over and over again to the Old Testament. He spoke of creation, of Moses, and of Jonah just to name a few. He used the scriptures as He dealt with people and when He dealt with the forces of darkness.

The scriptures were very important to Jesus, and in a real working practical way.

And it should be that way with us also.

John Rice said, “No one can be a good Christian who does not with holy zeal set out to know, delight in, and live by the Word of God!”

What is the Bible to a Christian.

First it was the means of salvation.

Rom 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Without the Bible we could not be saved. We would not know how. Without the Bible we would not know how we got here, how man fell, why we all have a sin nature. We would not know about God’s rigteousness and how it separates us from Him. We would not know about God becoming man and going to a cross to pay for our sin. We would not know that the sin debt has been paid and that all we have to do is accept Jesus as our saviour with a repentant heart.

The Word of God has an integral part in our salvation. For that reason alone it should be precious to us. For that reason alone it should have our respect. But many Christians just want to play games with it. They join the Bible of the month club. They are ok with cutting parts of verses out or even whole verses. The NIV has 17 complete verses missing. Most today are ok with changing words like hell to grave or taking the word blood out or taking the word worship out when it is attached to Jesus. Christians should respect the Bible a whole lot more than they do.

Second the Bible is the basis of our assurance of salvation.

Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

1Jo 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1Jo 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

God gave us the Bible so that we may know that ye have eternal life. The Bible tells us how to be saved and then it tells us that we cannot loose our salvation. Isn’t it a wonderful thing to know that no matter what once you are saved that heaven will be your home.

Third after you are saved, then the Bible is to be our spiritual food on which we grow.

After you are saved you still are a spiritual baby. You have a lot of growing to do. And we get the spiritual nourishment that we need to grow from the Bible.

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: The Bible is more than a book. It is spiritual food. It will nourish you spiritually, it will make you stronger spiritually. Reading the Bible will change one's life. It will cause you to grow.

A preacher describes a country fellow that came to his church.

He walked like he was still plowing corn - all bent over. He didn't know English from Greek. He had the worst accent that I have ever heard, even worse than mine! The first time I saw him, he was riding a bicycle to church and wearing a broad-brimmed hat, with little tassels hanging down. I thought, Heavenly day! One day that country boy said, "Preacher, you know that I have been saved quite a long while and I don't know a thing about the Bible. I can't even quote John 3:16. I know I'm a Christian, but I have left the Bible out of my life. I want you to pray for me. It takes me longer to read than it does most people, but I am going to read the Bible trough. I have set it up so I can read it through in a year."

This fellow sat on the front seat of the church. I watched him for the next year. Most of the time he looked bewildered, wondering what the sermon was about. Then little by little his countenance changed. He sat with his mouth open, just radiating the love of God and looking up, drinking it in, as though he were saying, "Funnel it in, preacher!" In one year I saw a changed life. He took a Sunday school class, then a Sunday school department.

You could take all the education this man had and put it in a thimble, but after studying the Bible for a year, he became a great soul winner. There is only one reason: he made that Bible the Book of his life!

The Psalmist David said, "O how love I thy law! it [is] my meditation all the day." And "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

If you really want to grow more, then read the Bible more.

Forth The Bible is what gives daily victory over sin.

Psa 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word. Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

To fight temptation Jesus used the Bible. He had it hid in His heart. And to really help you fight temptation that is where it has to be.

Temptation can come out of nowhere and without any warning what so ever. You don’t get advanced notice that tomorrow afternoon you are going to be tempted in a certain area. And when the temptation hits you need to be able to call up the Word of God right then. When temptation hits you don’t have time to go look up what you need. Many times temptation will happen when you don’t have a Bible in your hand. It will often strike when your guard is down. That is why you need the word of God in your heart.

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. The Word of God helps give us victory over sin.

Fifth The Bible helps us to become more sanctified. Reading the Bible helps a Christian be more and more set apart for God.

Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

To be sanctified is to be set apart for God. The Bible plays an important part in separating us from the world and unto God. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Sixth the Bible helps grow our faith.

Rom 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

When we read of people like Gideon who had doubts but later was very bold in his faith, this can help grow our faith. When we read of men in the Bible who messed up but were still used by God, this helps our faith that we can still be used by God. When we read in the Bible of all the times that God was faithful and how God provided for His own, this helps our faith that God will take care of us.

Reading the Word of God helps to grow our faith.

Seventh the Bible helps us live a life that is more pleasing to God.

Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

If we abide in Him and let His words abide in us, then we will have prayers answered. God wants us to let His words abide in our hearts. That is different than just letting them pass in one ear and out the other.

Pro 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination. Here we see the opposite. God is not pleased with those that turn away from His Word and this results in not getting prayer answered.

Letting His Word abide in us is pleasing to God and gets prayers answered.

Psa 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

How are we to know how to live for God? His Word is to be our lamp. His Word is to light our path.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Jesus said that if we love Him that we will keep His words. That would be impossible unless we have His words. We have the commandments that Jesus was talking about in our hands. Jesus said if we love Him that we will keep His words. The result of this love that keeps God’s Words is a close fellowship with God. If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

the Bible helps us live a life that is more pleasing to God.

Eighth the Bible is a source of joy and peace.

Psa 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Psa 119:111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they [are] the rejoicing of my heart.

Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Psa 19:10 More to be desired [are they] than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

The Word of God is sweeter than honey. The Word of God is more valuable than fine gold. It can bring peace to your heart and bring joy to your life. The Bible is a source of joy and peace.

Ninth the Bible is where we get great promises from God.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Heb 13:5 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Contrary to what the health and wealthers preach, God did not promise us a rose garden after your get saved so to speak. We all have to live in a sin stained world. We will have trials and tribulations, but He promises to not let us go thru it alone. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

1Jo 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 1Jo 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

What wonderful promises we have from God. And we only know about them because of the Bible.

What is the Bible to a Christian.

First it was the means of salvation.

Second the Bible is the basis of our assurance of salvation.

Third after you are saved, then the Bible is to be our spiritual food on which we grow.

Forth The Bible is what gives daily victory over sin.

Fifth The Bible helps us to become more sanctified.

Sixth the Bible helps grow our faith.

Seventh the Bible helps us live a life that is more pleasing to God.

Eighth the Bible is a source of joy and peace.

Ninth the Bible is where we get great promises from God.

Tenth it is the Bible that is profitable for all that we need.

2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The Bible is what is profitable for Doctrine. The Bible is where we are to get our teaching, It is the Bible that is profitable for reproofing us. And sometimes we need to be told when we are wrong. It is the Bible that is profitable for correcting us when we are wrong. And it is the Bible that is profitable for instructions in righteousness. It is the Bible that teaches us how to get right when we are wrong and it is the Bible that teaches us how to stay right.

It is the Bible that can thoroughly furnish us unto all good works.

The Bible should mean a lot to a Christian. We should love it. Instead of changing the book, what we as Christians should do is stand up for The Book, read The Book, Love The Book, obey The Book, and share The Book with others.

We need to let the Word of God abide in our hearts. We need to let it change our lives.

We need to read it over and over again.