Song Numbers 1

The Importance of Bible Study 2

Every person needs to have knowledge of that which pertains to the soul and eternity The reason the Bible is so important is because it deals primarily with that part of man which is the most important 3

I. It is commanded 4

Is. 34:16 [16] Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read 5

1 Tim. 4:13 [13] Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 6

Eph. 5:17 [17] Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 7

Ps. 1:2 [2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 8

II. The consequences of Bible ignorance 9

Eph. 4:17-18 [17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, [18] Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 10

Hosea 4:6 [6] My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… 11

Acts 26:9 [9] I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 12

Acts 3:17 [17] And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 13

III. The benefits of knowledge of the Bible 14

Sinners need to be saved from their past sins 15

Ps. 19:7 [7] The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple 16

Mt. 18:3 [3] And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 17

Rom. 1:16 [16] 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 18

1 Pet. 1:22 [22] Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently 19

Rev. 21:27 [27] And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. 20

Man in sin is defiled and impure. Where is the power that will make him clean? The power is in the blood of Christ --- and where do we read about that blood? In the Bible Where do you learn how to apply that soul-cleansing blood? - Only in the Bible 21

Christians need continual spiritual nourishment 22

Mt. 4:4 [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. 23

1 Pet. 2:2 [2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 24

2 Pet. 3:18 [18] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. “Spiritual growth is in direct proportion to one’s knowledge, and then the application of that knowledge in life.” 25

IV. The Bible – Our lamp of life 26

Prov. 14:12 [12] There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. People are easily deceived – that includes both you and me WE NEED A GUIDE IN LIFE! 27

Ps. 119:105 [105] Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. We have a roadmap to heaven if we would only study and follow it – that map is the Bible 28

Rom. 15:4 [4] For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 29

Rom. 8:24 [24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 30

How does our hope relate to knowledge of the Bible? The Bible tells us of our hope and how we can have that hope 31

V. No knowledge – No Salvation! 32

Jn. 8:32 [32] And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33

2 Tim. 2:15 [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 34

We can only rightly divide the word if we know what it says --- we must rightly divide the word in order to show ourselves approved 35

Jn. 12:48 [48] He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 36

Rev. 20:12 [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 37

References --- James Boyd