Why Know the Bible?

After 55 years of studying and preaching the word of God, the author gives the following reasons why we should all seek to know the Bible. Why must you know your Bible?

1. Know Your Bible in order to have everlasting life. In praying to the Father, Jesus said, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). The Bible is the only source of perfect, saving knowledge of God and Christ.
2. Know Your Bible to know the greatest book ever written. The Bible is the best book because God is its author. There were forty penmen, but only one author. All of the writers were "moved by the Holy Spirit" (II Peter 1:21). "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (II Timothy 3:16). No other book can compare with the Bible. It is truly God’s book!
3. Know Your Bible so that you will know who you are. Only from the Bible can you know your origin, mission, and destiny – where you came from, why you are here, and where you are going. You are not a product of evolution, but of divine creation. God made man in His image, and man became a morally responsible, living soul (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7). Our mission is to glorify God and become as Godlike as possible in preparation for the judgment and our personal accountability to God (Romans 14:11,12).
4. Know Your Bible to be saved from sin. The Bible is the only book that has as its main message the salvation of sinners. The Bible alone answers the world’s greatest question, "What must I do to be saved?" "The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world" (I John 4:14). He saves sinners by His gospel, which is "the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16). Therefore, Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15,16).
5. Know Your Bible in order to identify the church of the Lord and know its importance. When one obeys the gospel by being baptized into Christ, he is born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5), into the family of God. This is the spiritual body of Christ, the church of which He is the head (Ephesians 1:22, 23). Christ has only one body (Ephesians 4:4); church (Acts 2:47). In the New Testament, members of the Lord’s church were Christians only (Acts 11:26), and they were the only Christians.
6. Know Your Bible to find the Christian way of life, worship and service. The inspired Scriptures are the only doctrine of the New Testament church. The Scriptures alone furnish us completely unto all good works (II Timothy 3:16,17). The inspired word teaches us that "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world" (Titus 2:12).
7. Know Your Bible in order to reach the highest goal, "the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). Paul counted all things "but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). We should strive to be like Paul, who near the time of his departure from this life could say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (II Timothy 4:7,8).

Frank Dunn

GOSPEL

G — Good News (Matthew 28:5-6; I Corinthians 15:1-7).

O — Originating in love (John 3:16).

S — Simple, yet profound (Isaiah 35:8; I Corinthians 2:10).

P — Powerful to Save (Romans 1:16).

E — Eternal Salvation, bringing (Hebrews 5:8-9).

L — Leading to a beautiful life (Matthew 7:14).

​Author Unknown

Preaching The Truth In Love

Much is said about preaching the truth in love, and so it should be preached. But in love of what? The preacher should so love the truth that he will not sacrifice any of it nor pervert it, and he should so love people that he will not withhold from them even an unpleasant truth. He that does either of these things loves neither the church nor the people. We frequently fool ourselves, thinking we do thus and so to spare the feelings of others when it is our own feelings that prompt us. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (II Timothy 4:2-4).

​R. L. Whiteside

God’s Picture of the Church

The Bible vividly portrays the nature of the church in the various descriptive terms which are applied: 

1. As a pearl, the church is costly. It is to be bought even at the expense of selling all that one has. 
2. As a kingdom, it is obedient. We are to obey every wich of our King, the Lord. 
3. As a house, it is orderly. Every stone is fitly joined together and everything is decent and in order. 
4. As a rock, it is dependent. It must be fed the pure milk and meat of the Word. It must look to the great Shepherd. 
5. As a bride, it is vitally joined to Him. It wears His name and is subject to Him in all things. 
6. As a family, it bears His image. It resembles the Father and Elder Brother. 
7. As a body, it is united. All members are needed and work together in harmony. 
8. As a candlestick, it is exalted. It is the light of the world, reflecting Christ so that all can see Him.

Author Unknown

A Young Woman's Choice

Ruth 1:16-17  

Introduction 

Driven by a famine from their native land, Elimelech and Naomi and their two sons came to the land of Moab and there continued. Soon Elimelech died, leaving Naomi and the two sons. The sons became married to women of Moab, Orpah and Ruth. It came to pass that the young men also died, leaving Naomi and the daughters-in-law alone. 

When she learned that God had given rain to her native Judah, Naomi decided to return. Then it was that she entreated each of the young women to return to her mother’s house. Their hearts were touched. They lifted up their voice and wept. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and departed. But, Ruth clave unto her. In words of unusual beauty and pathos, she gave expression to a great choice. Let us describe it.  

I.  A Personal Choice. No person persuaded her to make it. No relative had set the example. Of her own accord she made it. Reminding us that the religion of Christ is a religion of the individual--

• In the choice to be made (Matthew 16:24; Revelation 22:17). 
• In the duties to be done (Acts 2:38; Romans 15:1, 2; Philippians 2:12).
• In the rich rewards to be enjoyed (Revelation 22:12). 

II.  A Determined Choice. She did not allow the example of Orpah or the entreaty of Naomi to change her (Ruth 1:14, 15). Her steadfastness silenced the entreaty of Naomi (Ruth 1:18). Like great Paul, “none of these things moved” her (Acts 20:24).

III. A Comprehensive Choice. It involved a number of relationships, namely: 

• A new country. Naomi had reminded her that she was going to the land of Judah—to Ruth a strange land. To this Ruth replied, “Whither thou goest, I will go” (cf. Luke 14:33). 
• A new home. Naomi had said, “Return each of you to her mother’s house.” To this Ruth replied, “Where thou lodgest, I will lodge.” 
• New associates. Naomi had said, “Thy sister has gone back to her people.” Ruth replied, “Thy people shall be my people.” 
• A new religion. Naomi had reminded her that she was going to worship the God of Israel. Ruth replied, “Thy God shall be my God” (cf. Matthew 1:5). The choice of Christ involves new relationships (II Corinthians 5:17; I Thessalonians 1:9-10). 

IV. A Choice of Youth. When Boaz met her, he asked, “Whose damsel (girl or maiden) is this?” he called her “daughter” (Ruth 2:5-8). While life was plastic and pliable, she remembered her Creator. Early devotion is likely to be eminent and permanent devotion. How very happy and useful becomes life when we begin to serve God in youth! (Ecclesiastes 12:1). 

V. A Choice for All Time (Ruth 1:17). Thought made in a moment, it was made for all time. She did not make the choice for experiment. Having put her “hand to the plow,” she determined never to turn back (Luke 9:61-62).

Conclusion 

In the moral and spiritual realm, we are confronted with two antagonistic forces—good and evil. We cannot choose both, serve both! (Matthew 6:24; 12:30). A choice is inevitable. By failing to choose the good, we choose the evil (Joshua 24:15; Deuteronomy 30:19b).

-via The Minister’s Monthly (September 1971)

Let a Man Examine Himself

1 Corinthians 11:28

When we examine others, we justify self—but when we examine self, we are more disposed to justify others. Let a man—Examine his company (Psalms 1; Proverbs 13:20). Fowl of a feather flock together. Examine his habits (I John 2:15). Examine his thoughts (Psalms 10:4). “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Examine his affections (Colossians 3:2). “To be carnally minded is death” (Romans 8:6). Examine his motives (I Corinthians 10:31). Are they acting for self or God? (Colossians. 3:17). 

Author Unknown

Withdrawing from the Withdrawn

Strange as it may seem, some actually deny the right of the church to withdraw their fellowship from those who refuse to walk in the light. Others agree that such must be done, but that it cannot be done if some have already “withdrawn from the church.” This is strange language indeed, or we read nothing in the Scriptures about the right of people to “withdraw from the church.” However, we do read about the responsibility of the church to withdraw from certain ones who become wayward. The Scripture says, “mark them which cause divisions…and avoid them” (Romans 16:17); “when ye are gathered together…To deliver such an one unto Satan…Purge out…the old leaven…not to keep company…not to eat…. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (I Corinthians 5:4-13); “from such withdraw thyself” (I Timothy 6:5); “Now we command you…withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly…note that man, and have no company with him” (II Thessalonians 3:6-14). 

These passages show that the church has an active responsibility in the matter of discipline, and must take a stand for truth and fellowship. Our responsibility is not merely passive. Apostates from the faith seldom become such for no reason at all, but are actively engaged in the ways of the world. “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world” (II Timothy 4:10). Those who forsake the Lord in worship have usually already forsaken Him in living. Does this mean the church can do nothing to discipline wayward members if they have already ceased to worship with the saints? Just where do people get the idea that fellowship is limited to the worship “service”? They must think so, if they think they are to withdraw only from those who attend worship. Actually, we do not forbid anyone to attend worship when they are disciplined, but we encourage them to attend so as to be exhorted to Christian living. A withdrawal of fellowship simply means that Christians are to do nothing with those withdrawn from that would indicate any approval of their wayward conduct, and this would primarily be outside of the worship service. Any effort to reject God’s Will in discipline is an effort to follow the way of least resistance. We need to forget our fears and human reasoning and start obeying God.  

Don Tarbet