The Importance of Bible Study

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.—Matthew 11:29

In all probability, very few individuals of rational mind would fail to appreciate the wise man’s counsel, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding" (Prov. 4:7).

The dictionary defines wisdom as the power of true and just discernment of a high degree of knowledge. Understanding is described as the sum of the mental powers by which knowledge is acquired, retained and extended; the power of apprehending relations and making inferences from them.

Although there are shades of difference between the terms wisdom and understanding, inherent in the acquisition of either is the process of diligent study. The attainment of success in virtually every secular field of endeavor depends largely upon the degree to which one commits himself to study. For the Christian, study is an all-important ingredient in following the Master’s admonition, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33).

The word of God, as contained in the Bible, is the source from which true believers derive their strength. It commends itself by providing direction, hope, peace, and understanding to all who are spiritually enlightened and apply its precepts in their lives. The Apostle Paul, describing the power of the Bible, asserts: "All Scripture, divinely inspired, is profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for that discipline which is in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly fitted for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16, 17 Diaglott).

Although the Bible has a generally elevating influence upon all who carefully read its pages, it is primarily designed to benefit the "man of God," who has received its teachings and import to the intent that he has yielded his own will to that of seeking the heavenly Father’s will in all of his affairs. It is for this reason that we also read,"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14).

Those who fully appreciate the importance of studying God’s word are engaged in the process of being changed from earthly-mindedness to spiritual-mindedness so that their lives can more nearly reflect the Christ-like character. Such individuals, who have accepted the present invitation to become disciples of Christ through self-denial and sacrifice, find their acceptance to God manifested by an increasing ability to "be not conformed to the world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:2).

The importance of study is so all-encompassing, it is the Christian’s work of a lifetime. Of the many aspects related to our subject, we shall consider the importance of Bible study as it relates to doctrine, prophecy, service, and imbibing divine principles

Doctrine refers to teaching, and if the believer is to be guided aright he must refer to God’s counsel as revealed in the Scriptures. During his ministry, men marveled at Jesus’ words. He properly credited the heavenly Father as the fountain from which his words flowed. After expounding to the people at the feast of tabernacles, the Master declared, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John 7:16-18).

So it should be with each faithful follower of Christ. To appreciate the attributes and character of God and to comprehend the harmonious grandeur of his magnificent plan of salvation which includes such themes as the ransom, sin offering, justification, sanctification, the call of the church, the nature of Christ, etc., one must first be emptied of self and demonstrate a meek and humble attitude. Under the holy spirit’s influence, Christians will be directed to examine carefully what the Bible teaches on these and other subjects. While it is true that God has raised up human agencies throughout the Gospel age (Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) for the edifying of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11, 12), individual diligence and personal study are necessary in order to make the truth one’s own.

Among the many exhortations given by the Apostle Paul regarding doctrine, we read, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thess. 5:21). The assimilation of scriptural instruction was deemed necessary to be kept from the errors promulgated by false teachers after the Apostles fell asleep. The many conflicting doctrines which presently exist among Christians demonstrate that in these "last days" believers must be circumspect and rely upon a "thus saith the Lord" as a basis for their faith. The commendation given regarding the Jews of Berea, when compared to their counterparts from Thessalonica, gives evidence of a practice which should be internalized by all believers regarding the doctrine they accept: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).

The study of prophecy would surely be of interest to the child of God who yearns for the kingdom for which Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Prior to his crucifixion the Master gave many signs concerning his second presence and the preparatory work which would be accomplished before this present social order would give way to a reign of righteousness. Under divine guidance, Old and New Testament writers recorded future events. Since many of them were fulfilled in the past, believers have confidence that if they "watch and pray" they will recognize prophetic unfoldings at the time when they are due to be understood.

One prophecy which seems to be descriptive of our day relates to the time of the end when many would run to and fro and knowledge would be increased (Dan. 12:4). Although Daniel desired to understand the meaning of his prophetic utterances, they were not due to be comprehended at that time but were reserved until our day for the benefit of faithful Christians who would be involved in searching the Scriptures. "And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed to the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried, but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand" (Dan. 12:9, 10).

The restoration of the Edenic paradise on a worldwide scale is a hope which Bible students have proclaimed as the answer to the misery and suffering which mankind has endured since Adam’s fall into sin. Recognizing that only a comparatively small number from among humanity (a little flock) will strive seriously to emulate the life which Jesus lived while he was on earth, Christian believers rejoice that the Scriptures reveal the promised future opportunity of life of earth for every obedient individual, and not merely the saintly few which will live in heaven.
"He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21). Since all God’s holy prophets have declared there would be a time of restitution which would offer future blessings to mankind, the sincere Christian would certainly desire to proclaim these truths so that others might be comforted. A conviction based upon other prophecies, that the time for the fulfillment of these promises is close at hand, makes the study of these matters even more urgent.

Service in the cause of Christ is an indispensable duty of all believers who desire to manifest an appreciation of the heavenly Father’s love in giving his Son to be their Savior and Redeemer. The Lord’s followers, in studying the Scriptures, find many passages which indicate the responsibility and privilege of preaching the gospel as a form of Christian service (Isa. 52:7; Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20). Although the majority of the Lord’s people are not engaged in a public ministry, each believer will look for service opportunities on every suitable occasion in accordance with the Apostle Paul’s admonition, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:11).

The Scriptures give many examples of service which might be performed to assist others. A partial list includes meeting regularly with other believers to encourage their faithfulness to God, sympathizing with brethren who are undergoing heavy burdens (being a good listener, pointing to scriptural references which might afford comfort, or inquiring as to whether you can be of special assistance and following through on the offer), remembering to pray for others both in their trials and when the heavenly Father would bless their endeavors along some line of service according to his will, testifying of your own experiences to encourage others to learn lessons which they can apply in their lives, and sacrificing in using resources to help further the cause of Christ. Remember that the Lord commended the spirit which prompted the giving of a widow’s mite. If any true believer feels he has no opportunity for Christian service, a prayerful consideration of what the Bible declares on this subject should prove most profitable.’

The study of divine principles is a critical undertaking for all believers who wish to be conformed to the Master’s image. Since the heavenly Father is a God of principles, it is incumbent upon the believer to probe the Scriptures in order to discover a lifestyle which would be pleasing to the Creator in accordance with his will as revealed by the holy spirit.

Frequently the same principle is indicated in different parts of the Bible. One such example is that confession of sin is a prerequisite to forgiveness (Psa. 32:5; Isa. 55:7; Prov. 28:13; 1 John 1:9).

A few of the many other principles which the scriptures reveal and commend themselves to the Christian’s study include:

Obedience is more acceptable than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22).
We reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7).
Justice is the foundation of God’s throne (Psa. 89:14).
Humility precedes exaltation (James 4:10).
Cross bearing is required for discipleship (Luke 14:27).
Everyone is accountable to God (Rom. 14:12).
The merciful shall receive mercy (Matt. 5:7).
God is love (John 3:16).

The importance of study should be deemed as self evident to Christians. It is not to be considered merely an academic venture for the purpose of acquiring factual information but rather an integral feature of one’s spiritual development and acceptability to the heavenly Father. One scripture in particular seems to encapsulate the motive which should spur each believer to engage in a comprehensive study of every facet of the divine revelation as contained in the Bible: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman than needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). What purpose for study could be more lofty than that?

The Two Salvations

The Two Salvations

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

"Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water by the Word; that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:25-27.

SOME APPLY the first text only and think of the Divine Plan as being merely an endeavor to rescue mankind from sin and death to righteousness and eternal life in the present time. Such as hold this view are much confused, because it must be acknowledged that comparatively little has been done, or is now being done, for man's uplift. After six thousand years it is still true that "The whole world lieth in the Wicked One;" "Darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the heathen." In order to have any confidence at all in this theory, those who hold it are obliged to greatly lower their standards. They are forced to hope that God will admit millions of unfit people, crude, rude, ignorant and wicked to eternal life and happiness, or perchance provide for them Purgatorial experiences, to make them fit, righteous and acceptable for life eternal. As a whole, Christian people are greatly bewildered. The tendency of their bewilderment is toward doubt, skepticism, atheism.

The other view, briefly stated, is that God never intended the salvation of the world, but merely the salvation of the Church, "elect according to the fore-knowledge of God through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the Truth." Those who hold this theory have great confusion also, because it seems incomprehensible that God would make no provision for "thousands of millions" of Adam's race, but arrange for them to be born in sin, shapen in iniquity, and to go down to the tomb (or worse) without a clear knowledge of God and His Purposes and Will respecting them.

As we have already frequently set forth, both of the described theories are erroneous. The Scriptures set forth two salvations, entirely separate and distinct. They are different as respects time, in that the one "salvation began to be spoken by our Lord" at His First Advent, and began to be applicable to His Church at Pentecost, and will wholly cease at His Second Coming in the end of this Age. The other salvation neither applied before our Lord's First Advent nor during this Gospel Age, but will apply to all mankind, except the Church, during the Millennium--the thousand years of the reign of Christ and the Church, specially designed for the blessing of the world and its uplifting out of sin and death conditions.

These two salvations are distinctly different as to kind, as well as respects their plan of operation. The salvation of the Church during this Gospel age --since Pentecost-- means not only a deliverance from sin and death conditions to eternal life, but provides that the eternal life will be on the heavenly or spiritual plane and not on the earthly or human plane of existence. Thus the Apostle declares that our "inheritance is incorruptible and undefiled and fadeth not away and is reserved in heaven for us, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." (1 Peter 1:4,5.) Our Lord also told that in the resurrection we shall be like unto the angels. The Apostle also declares that at that time we shall be partakers of the divine nature and like our Lord and Redeemer.

The world's salvation which will follow will be wholly different from this. It will not include a change from earthly to spirit nature. It will mean a rescue from sin and death to the earthly perfection of the original man, in the image and likeness of his Creator, and surrounded by every necessary blessing for his comfort. Human perfection and the Eden home were lost through disobedience to God. The Divine arrangement is that the merit of our Lord's obedience unto death, when ultimately applied for mankind, shall fully cancel the death sentence upon him. More and better than this, God has promised that the same Sin-Offering shall seal a New Covenant between himself and mankind.

The blessings of that New Covenant arrangement will then immediately begin. The great Redeemer will thenceforth be the great Mediator of that New Covenant. The whole world of mankind will be fully under His supervision and government for their blessing, their correction in righteousness, their uplifting out of sin and death conditions--back, back, back to all that was lost in Eden. All of this was the original design of the Great Creator. All of this will be outworked through the Great Redeemer. All of this was secured or suretied by His death, finished at Calvary.-- Heb. 7:22.

Peter, pointing down to that glorious time of the world's blessing, calls it "times of refreshing and times of restitution." He tells us that all the holy prophets described the blessings of those restitution times--the thousand years, the Millennium. (Acts 3:19-21.) When once we get the eyes of our understanding opened, we find the Apostle's words thoroughly corroborated by the Divine records, which describe the wonderful blessings that are to come when the earth shall yield her increase. Then Paradise Lost shall be Paradise Regained. Then God will make his earthly footstool glorious. Then the blessing of the Lord shall make rich and He will add no sorrow therewith. Then streams shall break forth in the desert and the wilderness and solitary places shall be glad. But most glorious will be the change in humanity. The Lord promises to turn to the people a "pure message"--instead of the contradiction of creeds of heathenism and Churchianity. He promises that Satan shall be bound for that thousand years, that he may deceive the nations no more. He promises that then all the "blinded eyes shall be opened and all the deaf ears shall be unstopped."--Isaiah 35:5; 2 Cor. 4:4.

Two Salvations--One Savior.

Both of these salvations, according to the Bible, result from the death of Jesus our
Redeemer, who died in obedience to the Divine will, "Died, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." (1 Peter 3:18.) The Scriptures clearly show not only the two salvations, but also two parts of the Redeemer's work, distinctly separating His work for the Church from His work for the world. In His death there was a Divine general provision for the sins of the whole world and a special provision for the sins of the Church. The two thoughts are frequently brought out in the Scriptures. One text distinctly declares, "He is the propitiation (satisfaction) for our sins (the Church's sins), and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." His death constituted the satisfaction price. The Redeemer applied that merit for the Church's sins, "for us," long ago, eighteen centuries before we were born. Only when we became believers and entered into a Covenant of sacrifice did we obtain our share in the merit of that great sacrifice. The world has not yet received its share of that promised blessing, but the operation of the Divine Plan is sure and will bring it to them "in due time," as St. Paul declares. --1 Tim. 2:6.

The drawing and calling of the Church has not been along the lines of human perfection, for all are sinners and none righteous or perfect. And many of those drawn of the Lord were by nature much more fallen and depraved than some who give no evidence of the work of grace in their hearts. The Lord's calling and drawing seem to be along the lines of justice, love of righteousness, faith, humility and obedience.

These qualities will all belong to the perfect man. But all have lost them in varying degrees. Such as respond to the Lord's call now are accepted as being in the right heartattitude which, if they had perfect bodies, would constitute them perfect men. In other words, they have qualities of heart which, if brought to a knowledge of the Truth, would prove some of them to be pure in heart and such as the Lord would desire should have eternal life and all of His favors.

Terms of Salvation Differ

Of course, these different salvations imply different terms or conditions. God's requirement of Adam, that he might continue to live forever and everlastingly enjoy Divine favor, his Eden Home, etc., was obedience to reasonable, just requirements. It was his violation of the Divine Law that brought upon him the sentence of death-- "Dying thou shalt die"--with all that this has implied to him and his posterity of mental, moral and physical decline, weakness, death. The requirement of God for the world of mankind during the Millennial Age will simply be--obedience to God's just, reasonable regulations, laws. Whoever then will render obedience may with proportionate rapidity go up on the highway of holiness toward perfection at its end. Whoever refuses obedience to the extent of his ability will fail to make progress and ultimately die the Second Death, from which there will be no redemption and no resurrection.

Such obedience as will be required of mankind in the great Mediator's Kingdom will include their co-operation in the resistance of their own fallen weaknesses. It will include the exercise of patience and kindness towards their fellow-creatures, fellowsufferers. The Divine Law of love to God with all the heart, mind, soul, strength, and for the neighbor as for one's self, they must learn fully. As they will realize their own blemishes and strive to overcome them and ask, not the Father, but the Mediator, for forgiveness, they will be obliged to follow the Divine rule of exercising towards others similar mercy and forgiveness to that which they desire for themselves.

The conditions governing the salvation of the Church are wholly different from those which will appertain to the world. The Church is called out of the world under a Divine invitation to suffer with Christ in the present life and during this Gospel Age and then to reign with Christ during the Millennial Age, participating in His Mediatorial Kingdom for the blessing, uplifting, salvation of the world. It is not in vain, therefore, that our Lord and the Apostles, in setting forth the call of the Church, during this Age, specified particularly and frequently the necessity for all who would share in this salvation to participate with the Redeemer in His sacrificing, in "His death," and consequently participate in "His resurrection" and in His reign of glory. Hark to the words, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life;"
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My Throne."

Greetings ...

"Making sure of all things" is what the Apostle Paul admonishes us today. The Scriptures tell us about "every wind of doctrine" (Eph 4:14) and how many are having their ears tickled, due to their not enduring sound doctrines. (2 Ti 4:3) So many false doctrines, put out by false prophets, false teachers, false brethren and false Christ are rampant these days, (Matt 7:15, 24:24; Gal. 2:4; 2 Cor. 11:13; 2 Pe. 2:1) that our Lord asked if there would be faith in the world when he returned. (Luke 18:8)

While Christian are admonished to "put on Christ" (Rom. 13:14; Gal. 3:27).
Romans 12:2 informs us "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." One way of doing that is of course to study God's Word, where his will is revealed.

This site will be divided into two parts, doctrinal studies and character development studies.

We pray it is a blessing.