Why Do Christians Need The Bible?

Why Do Christians Need The Bible?

All believers have heard that they should read, study, memorize, and meditate on the Bible. Very few, however, are given a good reason as to why they should spend their time in such disciplines. Are the reasons in favor of Bible intake so obvious that they escape the consciousness of those who advocate the discipline? Well, that won’t do.

So why do Christians need the Bible? Why is it important for Christians to make Scripture intake part of their regular devotional lives? Consider the reasons given byPaul in Romans 15:4, 13.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may about in hope.

Here are three biblical reasons why I believe Bible intake is necessary for Christians:

Instruction: we need to be taught by God the Father himself his truth that we are to believe and his commands that we are to obey. The Holy Spirit works through the revealed word of God to teach God’s people his truth. God has not chosen to leave us in the dark about his will but has revealed it to us in his word (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).

Endurance: we need need daily intake of the word of God because through the word we hear God’s voice. This is the means by which we are able to endure in faith. God keeps us in faith by his sovereign power (1 Pet. 1:5). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17). The faith that enables us to endure is created and preserved by the word of God.

Encouragment: we need God’s word to daily remind us of the hope we have in Christ, that by his death and resurrection we will be raised to new life with him in glory. Our trials will not be worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us in the last day (Rom. 8:18-25). This hope comes to us and nourishes our souls daily through the word of God.

As we saturate our lives with God’s word, we will receive instruction from God, endurance the power of the Spirit of God, and encouragement through the death and resurrection of the Son of God that this life is passing and we will be with Christ forever. God will fill his people with joy, hope, and peace through his Spirit as we hear his voice and believe his truth.