The Bible, if false, is of very little importance, but if true, is of greatest importance.  Those who really recognize the veracity of the Scriptures stake their lives and eternal souls on the claims therein.  Obviously, not everyone believes the Bible, but what about those who claim to believe it is God’s word, yet do not give priority or effort to learning its contents?

The Bible claims to be the Word of God.  Over two thousand times in the Old Testament the Bible asserts that the Lord God is speaking (Ex. 24:4; Deut. 4:2; 2 Sam. 23:2; Jer. 26:2; et. al.).  The New Testament uses the phrase “the word of God” over forty times to speak of its contents.  The Bible claims that it was written by men who were inspired: under guidance of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21).  These men who were guided by the Spirit acknowledged when the Holy Spirit guided the other writers and called their writings scripture (1 Tim. 5:18; 2 Pet. 3:15-16).  Further, the Bible claims that its message is true because its Author, God, cannot lie (Jn. 17:17; Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18).

God’s word welcomes those who are spiritually thirsty to come and drink of these deep reservoirs of inspiration and be satisfied (Deut. 8:3; Mt. 5:6; Jn. 4:10-14; 6:35; 7:37).  If one will come to God’s word with a sincere heart, humbly desiring God’s will, they will not leave empty-handed (Isa. 55:6-11).

The word of God is able to save our souls if we will make it a part of us (Jas. 1:21).  When we teach it to others, it will save their souls as well (1 Tim. 4:16).  When we are born again by the Word of God, we must continue to return to it for spiritual nourishment (1 Pet. 1:23; 2:2-3). Those who imbibe of the teachings of the Bible find it sweet as honey, accomplishing what God intended (Psa. 19:7-11).

The Bible gives us the proper worldview.  It explains the order we see in the universe around us (Psa. 19:1-4; Rom. 1:20).  Our universe is not a “multiverse” created by several competing gods.  It displays unity and harmony of the one true, good God who has provided for us (Acts 14:15; Mt. 5:45).  Man is the crown of God’s creation, above the animals (Gen. 1:26).  God desires a personal relationship with each human, and places Himself at the right distance away that we can turn from Him or choose to seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:27).  God gives us a choice to serve Him or to be self-serving in this temporal physical world (Deut. 30:18; Josh. 24:15; Heb. 11:24-25).

One day the physical world will come to an end (2 Pet. 3:10-11).  The Bible will judge us on that final day (Jn. 12:48; Rev. 20:12).  Those who have not obeyed the Gospel will be punished with eternal fire, while those who have obeyed will be at rest and glorify the Lord (2 Thess. 1:6-11).  If we acknowledge these things as true, why in the world would we let studying the Bible take a back seat to so many other efforts?

– Mark Day

In a conversation with the chief priests and the elders, Jesus said:

But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him (Mt. 21:28-32).

Repentance is not easy.  It begins with remorse over our sins.  We consider how good God is even though we sin against Him (Rom. 2:4).  This remorse is not just feeling sorry for ourselves or sorry we got caught, rather it is a “godly sorrow” that produces a change of our will (2 Cor. 7:8-11).   This change in the will is repentance.  It is turning to God and it results in a change of conduct.  John required the Pharisees and Sadducees to bear the fruit of repentance (Mt. 3:8).  The apostle Paul told those to whom he preached, “that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:20).  He wrote to the Ephesians, “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Eph. 4:28). Thus, a “repentance” that does not result in a forsaking of sin, a change in behavior, is not a genuine repentance.  The one who stole cannot keep on stealing, nor can he keep that which he has stolen if he is to genuinely repent.  As much as possible, he should attempt to make restitution.  Zacchaeus understood this principle of restitution in his repentance (Lk.19:8).

Because of the difficulty of repentance, many choose not to earnestly attempt it.  Some retreat to a cheapening of God’s grace wherein they assure themselves that they can willfully persist in sin and God will forgive them merely because they acknowledge Him, but God’s grace only goes with those who are willing to be taught and led out of ungodliness (Heb. 10:26-27; Titus 2:11-12).

In God’s eyes, repentance is a gift to us.  Peter and the apostles said to those Jewish leaders that were responsible for Christ’s death, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:30-31).  When the church at Jerusalem heard of the Gentiles’ obedience to the Gospel they said, “Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life” (Acts 11:17).  The proclaimer of God’s message must be one who is “in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:25). In repentance God is giving us the opportunity to change our relationship with Him, and when we do so there is great rejoicing in heaven (Lk. 15:7).  Will you repent?

– Mark Day