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The Bible is The Book of Books Because:. It is the word of God, Hebrews 4:12 Reveals our origin, Genesis 1:26-27. Reveals our purpose, Eccl. 12:13-14. Tells us how to live, Titus 2:12. Reveals our Destiny, Matthew 25:46. A Complete Guide, 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
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The Bible is The Book of BooksBecause: • It is the word of God, Hebrews 4:12 • Reveals our origin, Genesis 1:26-27. • Reveals our purpose, Eccl. 12:13-14. • Tells us how to live, Titus 2:12. • Reveals our Destiny, Matthew 25:46. • A Complete Guide, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. • Stood the test of time, Matthew 24:35. • By it we shall be judged, John 12:48.
But: Do We Really Need the Bible? • For the Reasons Cited, and many more reasons, It is “the Book of Books!” • Religious People, the world over, praise the Bible – But they often ignore its precepts, and teach things which contradict the Bible, and sometimes they do this knowingly! • Hence, the Question: Do we Really Need the Bible?
We Do Not Need the Bible If: If It Makes No Difference What We Believe • The Bible teaches that it does make a difference, Heb. 11:6; John 8:24,32; 17:17. • However, we are often told “it makes no difference what you believe so long as you are honest and sincere.” • The Bible was revealed, in part, so that we could learn the truth, believe the truth, and obey the truth. • However, from the standpoint of eternity, if it makes no difference what we believe, then we don’t really need the Bible!
We Do Not Need the Bible If – If there is No Hell to Shun & no Heaven to gain • In this life it makes sense to believe and follow the Bible. Exodus 20:12-17; Matthew 7:12; Eph. 4:28; Gal. 6:10. • According to the Bible there is: • A Hell to shun! Matt. 10:28; 25:41; Luke 12:4-5. • A heaven to gain! I Peter 1:3-4; Phil. 3:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:1. • However, if there were no heaven to gain and no hell to shun, then insofar as eternity is concerned, we don’t really need the Bible!
We Do Not Need The Bible If – If Member- ship in Christ’s Church is Unnecessary! • People tell us “one church is as good as another,” and “one does not have to be a member of any church to be saved.” • According to the Bible the Lord’s church is necessary to salvation! Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47; 20:28; Eph. 2:16; 5:23-27; I Cor. 15:24. • Denominationalism is not necessary! • It is wrong! John 17:20-21; I Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:4-6. • It is counter productive! Matthew 15:13.
We Do Not Need the Bible If – If Baptism is not Necessary to Salvation • According to the Bible, baptism is essential. Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Galatians 3:27; I Peter 3:21. • But according to many people, “baptism does not save, and it has nothing to do with salvation.” • If this be true, then on this subject, we don’t really need the Bible!
We Do Not Need the Bible If – We Can Be Saved by following Anyone but Christ! • According to the Bible, we must follow Jesus! John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:10; Hebrews 5:8-9. • According to many people, we can: • Follow Buddha • Follow Gandhi. • Follow the Pope, Mohammed, etc. • If what “many people” say is true, then we don’t really need the Bible!
We Do Not Need the Bible If – if The Holy Spirit Guides us apart from Bible! • The Scriptures: • Given by the Holy Spirit, Eph. 3:3-5; 2 Peter 1:21. • A complete guide, John 16:12-13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17. • Will judge us, John 12:48. • A guide by which to live, Matthew 4:4. • However, many Say God speaks to them directly, often “revealing” things not mentioned in the Bible! If this be true, then: • God is a respecter of persons, Acts 10:34-35. • We don’t really need the Bible!
But We Do Need the Bible! • Through the Bible we obtain faith, Romans 10:17; John 20:30-31. • Must believe in God, Hebrews 11:6. • We must believe in Jesus, John 8:24. • It is God’s Power to save, Romans 1:16. • To be saved, must be born again, John 3:5. • One birth, two elements: • Spirit, I Peter 1:22-23, Ephesians 3:5. • Water, Acts 2:38; 8:36; Titus 3:5
We Do Need the Bible! • The Bible Helps the Saved to Remain Saved, Psalm 119:11; Acts 20:32; James 1:21-22. • The Bible is God’s Power to comfort: • Through the hope it gives, I Peter 1:13. • Through the peace it gives, Phil. 4:6-9. • Through the Happiness it gives, Psalm 1:1-3.
Conclusion: • Not only do we need the Bible, we Must have the Bible; we must study it, obtain a working knowledge of it, and obey it. • By so doing, we can be saved by the grace of God, and enjoy happiness in both time and eternity! • Have You obeyed the Gospel, God’s power to save??