Do You Want to Live a Holy Life?
Jesus said in John 17:17, as He prayed for us, “Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is truth.”
Do you want to be sanctified? Do you want to be holy? Do you want to be powerful in the Lord? Do you want to stop riding a spiritual roller coaster? Do you want to stop walking around on eggshells and jello? Do you want some spiritual steel and concrete beneath your feet?
Then learn to be faithful in Bible study.
Profound Truth, Simply Stated
This is Love Worth Finding with Pastor, Teacher, and Author, Adrian Rogers.
We want you, as a believer in Jesus Christ—and especially if you are a new Christian—to learn some factors of faithfulness that will help you:
To stand strong
To be a good Christian at home
To be a good member of your church
To be a solid citizen in this world
The Factor of Faithfulness: Bible Study
Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15,
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
That is God’s command to you and to me. We are to study to show ourselves approved unto God.
Four Keys to Bible Study
I want to give you today four things that I pray God the Holy Spirit will write upon your consciousness indelibly, that will help you to know, understand, and live by the Word of God.
1. Receive the Saving Author of the Bible
God is the author of the Bible, and in order to understand it, you must receive the Author of the Bible into your heart.
Why is this important?
Without Jesus Christ, you are spiritually blind.
1 Corinthians 2:14 says,
“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.”
If you have only been born once, you are a natural man, born into the natural world and blind to the spiritual world.
Three Prayers to Pray Before Studying the Bible:
Psalm 119:12 – “Teach me thy statutes.”
Psalm 119:18 – “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”
Psalm 119:36 – “Incline my heart unto thy testimonies.”
When you pray this way, your eyes will be opened, your heart will be stirred, and your mind will be enlightened.
2. Recognize the Sovereign Authority of the Bible
Once you know the Author, you must believe the authority of the Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16 says,
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God.”
The word inspiration here means God-breathed. The Bible is not just another book; it is God’s breath speaking to us.
Verbal Plenary Inspiration:
Verbal – Every word is inspired
Plenary – Fully inspired, no part is uninspired
Jesus said in John 10:35,
“The scripture cannot be broken.”
3. Resolve a Serious Analysis of the Bible
It is not enough to believe the Bible’s authority; you must study and analyze it.
1 Timothy 4:13 says,
“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
Three Steps to Effective Bible Study:
Context – Read it in context; avoid taking verses out of context.
Common Sense – Read poetry as poetry, prophecy as prophecy, promise as promise.
Concentration – Read it through, think it clear, write it down, pray it in, live it out, and pass it on.
Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15,
“Rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Understanding the Bible requires effort, discipline, and a desire to know God’s truth.
4. Respond with a Steadfast Application of the Bible
Bible study without application will backfire on you. Inspiration apart from obedience will cause God’s Word to sour on you, just like undigested food that does not provide energy.
John 14:21 says,
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me… and I will manifest myself to him.”
Bible study gives you knowledge about God, but obedience gives you knowledge of God.
Conclusion: A Commitment to Bible Study
You must:
Receive the Saving Author of the Bible – Have Jesus in your heart.
Recognize the Sovereign Authority of the Bible – Accept its divine inspiration.
Resolve a Serious Analysis of the Bible – Study diligently and apply sound principles.
Respond with a Steadfast Application of the Bible – Live it out in your daily life.
If you do these things, the Bible will become a brand new book to you. It will guide you, strengthen you, and transform your life.
