Paul gave areas in which the Bible is to be used in guiding Christians.
i) it is profitable for teaching. People cannot intelligently worship and serve God if they do not know about God. Jesus called His early followers disciples or learners. We learn from God and his dealings with man through the Bible.
ii) it is a book for reproof and correcting wrong practice among Christians. We often refer to this as disciplined in the church. This is never to be used in the sense of punishment, but as a helpful warning so that Christian can be brought to repentance and forgiveness. Only by such discipline will Christians grow.
iii) The Bible is to be used for training Christians in righteousness. In Ephesians, Paul likens Christian to a soldier in full battle dress ready to do war against satan and sin. After listing several pieces Christian armour, he adds. And take.... the sword of the spirit, which is the Word Of God.
This teaching, discipline and training is for the purpose of making the man of God complete, well equipped to do good works to God's glory.
THE BIBLE SPEAKS IN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
The Bible is of value only as we use it in our own personal lives and experience. It is of no value if unread and unpracticed. It must be put into practice. Be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, (James 1:22).
a) The speaks to us of the saving power of Christ. Paul wrote to Rome, #i am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone that believes.
b) The Bible is the weapon of the spirit. When Jesus was tempted by satan in the wilderness, He answered every temptation with a verse of Scripture.
c) The Bible penetrates the mind and spirit of man so that he can understand the thought of God. It is like a sharp two edged sword, ..."discerning the thoughts and intentions of the hearts".
The Bible is a purifying fire, cleansing the heart from sin
The Psalmist raises the question, how can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to the word. It is also protection against sin, for the heart cannot follow the ways of God and the ways of sin. "I have hid thy word in my heart, that I may not sin against thee" (Psalms 119:11)
The Bible is a lamp, a light to show us the way through life. Countless are the people who been brought to salvation and to righteous living by reading and meditating on the word of God.
PRACTICAL LESSONS
a) The Bible must be read With a spiritual purpose in mind
It is not to be read for argument's sake or for sake of mere knowledge. If so, it will remain just another book to us and we shall read it without understanding. If we approach it for the purpose of finding and following God, the Holy Spirit will give us understanding and enlightenment.
b) The Bible should be Read Regularly and Systematically.
Just as we need to feel the body every day, so the spirit needs spiritual food. It is good to begin the days with Bible reading, meditation and prayer. But, we should not just read the Bible by opening it at random. We should plan to study it Systematically, by book or by subject, so that it will have full meaning to us.
c) We Should Discuss The Bible with Fellow Christians.
Peter reminds us that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by impulse of men, but men moved by the holy spirit spoke from God". (2pet.1;21). He warns that heresy and false teaching may arise when a man just reads for himself and fails to check what other Christians understand the Bible to say.
Lastly, we should hide the word in our hearts. All of the Bible that we have really claimed for ourselves is that which we have committed to memory and can use Without searching for it in a Bible. If all of the Bible were banned, how much of God's word would you have left in your heart and mind?
Remember, Jesus drove Satan away, not with a Bible but with the word hidden in His heart.
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