The utility of the Bible

 

Paul said to Timothy that the Holy Scriptures were able to make him wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15) and also: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16) and to the Romans he said: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

The Holy Scriptures are useful for teaching. What do they teach us? They teach us many things. Here are some of the things the Bible teaches us: God is one, eternal, unchanging, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, righteous, faithful, merciful, good, etc.; Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah, the Son of God who according to the words of the prophets of old was to come into the world to save the world, who in the fulness of the time was sent from the Father to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification, and after His resurrection He appeared to His disciples and ascended to heaven; the Holy Spirit is a divine person, who works powerfully in the Church transforming the saints into Christ’s image and distributing His gifts; men are sinners and need to be reconciled to God, and the only way to be reconciled to God is to repent and believe in His beloved Son; that every man possesses an immortal soul, which is conscious after death, and depending on his spiritual state at death, goes either to paradise or to hell; one day all the dead will rise again, the righteous will rise to live, while the wicked will rise to be condemned; Jesus Christ will come back from heaven and will establish the Millennial Reign on earth during which He will reign with His saints; we must say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age.

Furthermore, the Holy Scriptures rebuke us when we sin; they correct us when we make mistakes; and they instruct us in righteousness so that we may be holy, right and wise in all our conduct. The Holy Scriptures comfort us when we are downcast and perplexed, and urges us to be patient till the coming of the Lord from heaven and to have faith in God in the midst of our distresses and afflictions for God is almighty and faithful. And last but not least, the Holy Scriptures help us refute all the false doctrines which are taught both in the Church and outside it; the Holy Scriptures are called “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) and we use it to demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5).

The Holy Scriptures are indeed a fountain of wisdom and strength for all those who take delight in them. We can rely on them always, because they lead us in the paths of righteousness and peace.

Therefore, it is very important to know the Holy Scriptures, and we can know them only by reading and searching them. So I exhort all of you to read them, to search them, to meditate on them, and to let them dwell in you richly in all wisdom.

Trust in the Holy Scriptures and do what they say all the days of your life, you will be blessed and honoured by God; you will experience in your life the truthfulness and the faithfulness of the Word of God.

 

 

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