The Bible Series of Teachings, "The Bible"

Studying the Bible
The most vital relationship in life is with God. Through reading and studying the Bible we come to understand what God is like – His thoughts, His Will, His Ways, His Plans and His promises. The index in front of the Bible will show us how to find the part of the Bible quoted. For example, Genesis. 3:15 would mean the book of Genesis, chapter three and verse fifteen.

In Acts 2, Peter preached to the thousands of people gathered in Jerusalem and there were 3,000 men who responded to his message that day. One of the descriptions about their conversions was that they devoted themselves to the Apostle’s teaching … (verse 42).

What is the Apostles’ Teaching?

The apostles put their teaching into writing – the NT. The NT interprets the OT, so the apostles’ teaching is the WHOLE WORD OF GOD – the Bible.


Characteristics of the Word of God
1. The Word of God Produces Life

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to
you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63).

It is also creative.
“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the
breath of his mouth.7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the
deep into storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of
the world revere him. 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it
stood firm” (Psalm 33:6-9).

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so
that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Hebrews 11:3)

2. The Word of God is Like Water
It cleanses.
We start life in the Kingdom of God totally washed clean by the Word of God.
“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you” (John 15:3)
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself
up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water
through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without
stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians
5:25-27).

It keeps clean.
The Word of God, planted in our hearts, keeps us free from sin.
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm
119:9-11).

3. The Word of God is Light for Our Lives
“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19)

It gives understanding in a dark world.
“The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of
the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes” (Psalm 19:8).

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path … the unfolding of
your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:105,130).
4. The Word of God is Spiritual Food

“Jesus answered, ‘‘It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

It causes spiritual growth.
“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready” (1 Corinthians 3:1-2).

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation …” (1 Peter 2:2).

God’s aim for each of us is expressed in Ephesians 4:12-15. “… to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

5. The Word of God is Seed
In Luke 8:14-15, Jesus told his disciples the parable of the Soils. In verse 11 he said: “The seed is the Word of God.” God’s will for our lives is fruitfulness. (See Psalm 1:3).

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10).

6. The Word of God is Like a Sword“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17)

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Note how Jesus used the “Sword of the Spirit” against Satan during His temptation in the wilderness.

Luke 4:1-14, ”Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, ‘‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, ‘‘It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’” 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, ‘‘I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, ‘‘It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘‘If you are the Son of God,” he said, ‘‘throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
”‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will
lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus answered, ‘‘It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”

7. The Word of God Helps Us to Pray
‘‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:24-27).

Jesus said that the wise man who built his house on the rock was a picture of those who hear His Word and obey it. The Word of God builds inner concrete within our lives so that no matter what may come against us we will stand strong.


Final Thought:
In 2 Timothy 3:15-16, Apostle Paul reminded young Timothy about the purpose of the Word of God. He said, “and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

Apostle Peter also explained, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”