The Power of the Bible
The Bible is God’s inerrant word. As sinless perfection was born of a regular sinful human through the Holy Spirit, so also did the bible come from sinful men through the Holy Spirit.
The Purposes of The Holy Bible
To show that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God.
If Jesus was not Divine, we are of all men most miserable (I Corinthians 15:19). But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name (John 20:31)
To give hope to men
Hope is something all persons need and crave for. The Word of God gives hope in the midst of your storm. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4).
To exhort and warn mankind
Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come (I Corinthians 10:11).
To provide eternal life for all who believe
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24).
The Bible Is Mighty In Its Influence
A devouring flame
The Bible burns a deep impression in the hearts and minds of those who hear its truths. Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them” (Jeremiah 5:14).
A crushing hammer
The Bible can easily crush the skeptics’ noisy unbelief and the liberals’ attacks. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29).
A life-giving force
The Bible can give new life, even to someone who is . . . dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone (Ezekiel 37:7).
A saving power
No one can be saved without the presentation and explanation of the truths contained in the Word of God. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16).
A defensive weapon
Jesus, in the temptation, repeatedly used Scripture to combat the attacks of the Devil. Following His example, so should we. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).
An offensive weapon
The Bible can penetrate to the heart of a lost soul. For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword… (Hebrews 4:12a) .
A probing instrument
The Bible can mightily destroy the world’s unbelieving arguments, yet gently illuminate the earnest, searching attitude of the seeker . . . . piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12b).
The Bible Is Great In Its Power
Power to convict of sin
Eloquent preaching or persuasion does not produce conviction. The Word of God must do it. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts 2:37).
Power to regenerate
The human heart is the soil; you and I are the sowers; the Word of God is the seed. God quickens it by His Holy Spirit and gives the increase. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (II Peter 1:4).
Power to produce faith
R. A. Torrey said that you cannot get faith by merely praying: you cannot get it by any effort of the will; you cannot get it by trying to pump it up in any way. Faith is the product of a certain cause, and that cause is the Word of God. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
Power to cleanse
A daily reading of the Word is needed to keep your life clean. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:25,26).
Power to build up
If we are to grow and remain healthy, we need to eat a balanced diet. The only spiritual food that contains everything we need to maintain a balanced diet is the Word of God. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified (Acts 20:32).
Power to make wise
The person who faithfully reads the Bible will know more of real wisdom than the person who reads every other book and neglects the Bible. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple (Psalm 119:130).
Power to give assurance of eternal life
Feelings cannot dictate to us whether we know we have eternal life. Feelings come and feelings go. It is the Bible upon which we must rest. 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 (I John 5:13).
Power to bring peace to the heart
God’s promises are true and . . . They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever (Psalm 125:1). I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for He will speak peace unto His people, and to His saints . . . (Psalm 85:8).
Power to protect from error and sin
Daily Bible reading and study will provide the surest defense against Satan’s attacks. Christ met and overcame the temptations of the enemy by the Scriptures. In each of Satan’s temptations Christ replied, It is written . . . (Matthew 4:4,7,10). Satan left the battlefield as a vanquished foe. Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalm 119:11).
How To Read And Study The Bible
- Do it daily – The first few moments of the day are usually best for reading and studying. Also it is good to pillow our heads at night with the truths we get from reading the Word of God.
- Do it systematically – Look for key ideas, such as, what truth is most clearly taught and most emphasized in the chapter? What is the best lesson? What is the best verse? and, what does the chapter teach about Jesus Christ?
- Do it comprehensively – Do not limit yourself to your favorite portion of Scripture. Glean truths from all of God’s Word, for it is all equally inspired.
- Do it attentively – Do not hurry. It is better to read a few verses thoughtfully, than several chapters with your mind digressing to a million and one other things.
