Why do fish swim in the lake ? Because they are fish !

I Peter 3: But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Seven of the many reasons why we study. 1. God wrote the scriptures. 2. Only the scriptures reveal God to man. 3. The bible contains the will of God. 4. God’s word leads us to salvation. 5. The scriptures are essential to growth. 6. Scriptures expose false teachers. 7. The word of God is the standard.

I. We urge people to study the bible because it was written by God.

The bible claims to be “inspired.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

All of the writing of the bible was a result of the will of God.

II Peter 1: So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God

The very words are inspired by God. Galatians 3: 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.

Peter affirms the New Testament writings of Paul to be inspired scripture.

II Peter 3: Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Therefore : Our attitude toward the book God wrote reflects our attitude toward God !!

II. We urge people to study the bible because it reveals God to man.

We can know that there is a God by looking at His creation. Romans 1: 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

God’s book is for the purpose of revealing Himself to man. I John 4: 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

God explains Himself to us in words, but also by His deeds. Exodus 3: 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; Isaiah 45: 5 I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; ( cf – vs 21 )

God is beyond our comprehension without revelation from Him. Isaiah 55: 8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

God has revealed all that He wants man to know about him. Deuteronomy 29: 29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.

III. We urge people to study the bible because it reveals God’s will to man.

The scriptures teach us right from wrong. Romans 7: 7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET."

The scriptures teach us everything we need to know to please God. II Peter 1: 2-3 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Skill with the scriptures gives ability to show one’s self approved by God II Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. II Corinthians 13: 5 – Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!

IV. We urge people to study the bible because it tells us how to be saved.

No one will ever be saved apart from the word of God. Ephesians 2: 8 – For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Romans 10: 14 – How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? …

The Corinthians were saved when they accepted Paul’s message. I Corinthians 15: 1-2 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

We are all brought to the new birth by the word of God. I Peter 1: you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

Thus, one’s ability to be saved is directly linked to his love of the scriptures. II Thessalonians 2: 10 with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

V. We urge people to study the bible because it tells Christians how to grow in Christ.

God requires that we grow and mature in the faith. II Peter 3: 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 5: Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and ….

We need spiritual growth. Ephesians 4: to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. … continued

We need spiritual growth. Ephesians 4: … continuation 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

The word of God is the engine of our spiritual growth. I Peter 2: 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

Even the Apostle did not consider himself to be fully mature. Philippians 3: Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: … continued

Even the Apostle did not consider himself to be fully mature. Philippians 3: … continuation forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;

VI. We urge people to study the bible because it exposes false teachers.

The Apostle warns us to maintain the standard of pure doctrine. II Timothy 1: Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

John warns us about false teachers II John 9-10 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

We must instruct people not to teach any other doctrine. I Timothy 1: 3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,

The only way we can recognize a false doctrine is to know the true doctrine.

VII. We urge people to study the bible because it is the standard by which we are judged.

Jesus instructs us that His words will be the standard by which we are judged. John 12: 48 He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.

Only those who conform to the sayings of the Father will enter Heaven. Matthew 7: 21 Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Seven of the many reasons why we study. 1. God wrote the scriptures. 2. Only the scriptures reveal God to man. 3. The bible contains the will of God. 4. God’s word leads us to salvation. 5. The scriptures are essential to growth. 6. Scriptures expose false teachers. 7. The word of God is the standard.

When asked why we spend our time studying the bible this is our answer. Do we live what we study ?

Have you obeyed the primary requirements … obeyed the gospel ?