Top 10 Reasons to Study the Bible

There are many reasons why a believer in Jesus Christ should study the Bible.  Here are 10 reasons from the book How to Study the Bible by Robert M. West.

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Read the Bible in Six Months

1. To settle the issue of our own salvation.
   Paul reminded Timothy about Timothy’s own experiences: “From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). This is the primary issue that needs to be settled in everyone’s life.
   
   God uses His Word as a means to save sinners. As we think about our conversion, we may be able to identify Bible verses that God used in our lives to save us- or at least a believer’s life giving words that were based on scripture. God also wants us to have what the hymn writer Fanny Crosby called “blessed assurance.” Many Christians experience doubts about their own conversion, and through learning those portions of scripture that address this subject, we can have a deepening confidence about our own salvation.
   
   When people want to start reading the Bible, a good place to begin is the Gospel of John in the New Testament, because this book was specifically written so people might read about Christ, believe in Him, and receive the gift of eternal life from Him. (See John 20:30-31). This book of the Bible was written with the purpose of helping those who read it find salvation in Christ.
   
   
2. To grow spiritually.
   New Christians are sometimes describes as babes in Christ, and of course, all babies need to grow. Peter gave this instruction to Christians in the early church: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
   
   He also gave a direct exhortation that they should have the same kind of desire for the basic truths of God’s Word that a newborn baby has for milk. “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). This is a picture representing intense hunger for God’s Word so that we can grow in our understanding and spiritual strength. The Bible repeatedly refers to itself as food for the soul. Just as our bodies need food to survive, our souls need the spiritual food of the Bible.
   
   In Ephesians 4, Paul expressed the same concern as Peter for the growth of believers. He didn’t want them to be tossed about and carried away with every wind of doctrine; he wanted them to be steady and strong. When we neglect to develop our understanding of truth, we can be more easily influenced by the error of false teachers. Spiritual growth through studying the Bible protects us from bad spiritual influence.
   
   
3. To receive personal blessing and encouragement
   Paul wrote, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). As believers, we often experience discouragement in our Christian walk. A common cause of this discouragement is conflict between believers, which Paul addresses in Romans 15. Difficulties between Christians, which create a lack of unity, can be discouraging. As we all eventually learn, there’s no lack of tension and trouble in local churches. But as we study the Bible, we see Christ’s example. How He interacted with people is the pattern we’re to follow for living and treating others.
   
   When we study the Bible, we’ll also read numerous promises God made to give believers hope, and stories about how God providentially worked in the lives of people. Meditating on all these passages of scripture encourages us to persevere in our own Christian life with comfort and hope.
   
   Discouragement can also come from conviction about our sins as we’re brought face to face with God’s holy standards in the Bible. When we’re honest about our lives, we have to admit we fall short of His glory. It’s frustrating to struggle with the same sins over and over, not being able to break bad habits in our lives. But as we continue to read God’s Word, we’ll also discover the comfort and hope available to us through God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness in Christ.
   
   We can learn about His power to transform our lives by the power of His Word. Reading about how He pardoned and delivered others- and then us- gives us hope. The God of patience and comfort wants us to be encouraged. Since the Bible was written for our education, the more we learn, the more we can be encouraged.
   
   
4. To receive personal guidance
   When faced with many of life’s decisions, we often wonder, What should I do now?  Learning the Bible can be helpful in answering this question. “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). The psalmist pictured the effect of learning God’s Word as having a lamp for life that lights the way before us so we can see where we are going.
   
   As the nation of Israel journeyed in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, they were led by a pillar of fire at night. That was how God worked for that group of people at that time. What God has provided for us in our journey is His written Word, which gives us the light of knowledge and wisdom.
   
   Many times the Bible addresses our specific situation, but when it doesn’t, there are principles we can apply to our lives so we have confidence that we’re being led by God’s Word.
   
   In Psalm 119, the psalmist refers to his daily experience of living in a world filled with spiritual and moral darkness, a world that calls good evil and evil good. As believers concerned with pleasing God and wanting to do His will, we try to make decisions that honor Him, but the influence of a dark world often makes this difficult. Through studying the Bible we learn what the will of God is and experience His direction.
   
   As we seek God’s guidance, he’ll lead us by is spirit (Romans 8:14), which always agrees with what God has revealed to us in His Word. His Spirit’s leading never contradicts what He’s written. If our personal decisions contradict what has been written in the Bible, then we can be sure we aren’t being led by God.
   
   
5. To defend ourselves against the devil
   Soon after we become Christians, we find out that the Christian life involves spiritual warfare. In Ephesians 6, Paul instructs believers with these words, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (verse 11). The wiles of the devil are the methods he uses against people, trying to keep them from doing the will of God.
   
   The Christian’s defense against this assault is putting on the spiritual armor of God: Christian character and lifestyle empowered by God’s spirit. A vital part of this armor is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (verse 17).
   
   When the devil confronted Jesus in Matthew 4:1-10, tempting Him to act independently of God’s will and questioning God’s provision, protection, and plan, Jesus used God’s word to defend Himself. Three times in this story when the devil tempted him, Jesus responded, “It is written,” and then quoted specific verses from Deuteronomy to rebuff the temptations. Jesus was able to draw from His knowledge of the Old Testament to overcome temptation by His knowledge of, trust in, and obedience to the Word.
   
   In the apostle John’s first letter, he refers to a group of young men, saying, “You are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:14). These believers withstood the devil’s assault through their knowledge and application of scripture.
   
   Through Bible study, we’ll also be able to remember specific Bible verses, and by applying them, we’ll be able to overcome the devil’s temptations.
   
   
6. To effectively teach God’s truth to the next generation
   Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is known to the Jews as the Shema (Hebrew for hear, the first word of the passage), and devout Jews recite it twice daily. It gives instruction about loving God, His word, and loving children by teaching them God’s Word. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Parents teaching their children is God’s pattern for the Christian home.
   
   Parents aren’t simply to teach their children, but to teach them diligently. The text also reveals that the teaching is informal, given throughout the day, inside and outside the home. Parents are the primary teachers of their children, and they can only do this effectively if they first learn God’s Word themselves.
   
   Parents are to have answers for their children when questions about God’s Word. Moses confirmed this when he wrote, “When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son …” (Deuteronomy 6:2-021). Parents have only a limited amount of time to teach their children before the children are grown and begin their own lives. I can testify that the time, although it’s years long, goes by quickly. So studying the Bible ourselves helps us in the important task.
   
   
7. To be able to counsel others
   God wants to use us to provide knowledge about what He has said in His Word to others. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another” (Colossians 3:16). In time, God wants to use you to help others who may be newer to the faith. We might be able to remember with gratitude and fondness older Christians who helped us when we wondered what the Bible said about a particular subject.
   
   We should notice what Colossians 3:16 says about learning the Bible: The word of Crist is “to dwell in you.” This literally means to be at home with you. The word of Christ is to take up residence in us, influencing every part of our lives. The text goes on to say that the word should “dwell in you richly in all wisdom,” indicating that we’re to have a full understanding of the Bible. Then we can be a good friend providing wise counsel.
   
   
8. To be ready to speak with unbelievers about Christ
   “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3: 15 KJV). The concern of Christians shouldn’t be winning arguments but winning people. We should be able to answer questions when we’re asked and to give an explanation about our faith. Some people who won’t listen to a sermon may want to find out about Christ in a private conversation, and we’re told to be ready. The more we learn though studying, the more effective we’ll become in sharing God’s truth with others.
   
   
9. To verify that the teaching of others is the truth of God
   One group of early Christians, the Bereans, stood out from the rest. “They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). They checked in scripture to confirm what Paul taught them was true. They were so committed to this that they did it daily. It’s a mistake for us to accept the message of Christian teachers just because their humorous, dynamic, on television or radio, or have written books. The content of their message must be true, and it’s good for us to validate it from our own study. Bible teachers should never be offended that people do this; they should encourage it.
   
   
10. To present ourselves approved to God
    “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 NASB). Learning God’s truth involves the work of studying.
    
    Like divers who work to locate pearls in the ocean or miners who labor to find gold in earth, Christians are workers who study the Bible to discover God’s truth. We live our lives before God, and as servants we’re regularly present our lives to Him to be examined. We hope to have a sense of His approval and eventually hear from Him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Divine approval comes from diligently studying God’s word so we can accurately share it with others.
    
    When we approach God’s Word in dependence on Him and more mature believers, we’re progressing toward successful Bible study. When we approach His Word with the purpose of knowing God and His ways better, we’re also making strides toward successful study. God’s word is truly “living and active,” ready to change us from the inside out.
    

Read the Bible in Six Months