One of the most precious gifts that God has given to us is the Bible, the word of God. There are almost 4,000 different churches in the world and they all believe that the Bible is the word of God, but they all interpret it in a different way; therefore, they cannot join together. God has only one church, and this church follows the Bible in all its teachings. This was the defensive argument of Martin Luther, “sola scriptura,” only the Bible, the Bible only.
I know members in our church who love Bible reading. I was traveling with one of our ministers, and as soon as we sat down in the boat he took a Bible from his pocket and started reading. One of our ministers in Bulgaria has read the Bible 64 times. A sister in Venezuela told me that she had read the Bible 56 times in her life so far. I have read the Bible in three different languages, and also in different English translations. Every time you read the Bible you get a better understanding of it. Many questions come clear to us, for example, how to use our talents, how to overcome all sin, and many other questions. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39
Bible study purifies our minds, our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Always carry a Bible with you; then, whenever you have an opportunity you can read it. The more you read it, the more you will learn to love this precious book. Whatever you have learned, put it into practice. Every time you start reading the Bible, pray first, then the Holy Spirit will help you to understand it. Then you can start teaching others what you have learned.
Because people do not read the Bible, they make great mistakes in their religious lives. They join churches that do not teach the saving truth. One couple came to our church and said, “In reading the Bible we learned that the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath, and not the first day of the week, Sunday.” Then they looked for a Sabbath-keeping church, and they eventually joined our church.
“Just as soon as there is the diligent study of the Bible that there should be, we shall not fail of noting a marked difference in the characters of the people of God. We shall say from the heart, ‘The things I once loved, I now hate; and the things I once hated, I now love.’” –The Review and Herald, April 9, 1889
There is an island near Australia that belonged to England. Someone from England came to see the island. They were drinking alcohol, smoking, committing much evil, and England was very much concerned for them. Then one time the Bible was brought to this island. The citizens were reading and listening to the word of God, and everything changed. No more alcohol was available, the stores had been closed. No one was smoking, churches had been built, and no criminals were among them. The next time when England sent a man to see the island, he was surprised—what had happened? The whole island was one Christian family. It was the Bible, the word of God that did it.
The Bible is a love letter from God to us. It begins with a gift that God gave us, which was this world for us to live in, and it ends with an offer of eternal life to us. Throughout the whole Bible, there are instructions on how to live a happy, successful life. The mighty power of God is offered to us so that we can move mountains and nothing is impossible to us. We need to read the Bible every day; it will tell us what we may be lacking, and what our duty is.
If someone tells you something new and different, then always ask, “Where is it written in the Bible?” And if it is not written in the Bible, do not believe it. Many people love the Bible; it has changed their lives to fullness of joy and happiness. But there are others who hate the Bible, therefore they never read it. In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church condemned people to death if they had a Bible in their homes.
By the word of God we are recreated, we are born again. The word of God is our spiritual food, it makes us living Christians; also, it opens our eyes to see everything in a different light. It transforms the sinner into a saint. The word of God is powerful; the whole universe was created by His word. The Bible is the greatest power in our world; it is the only thing that can change bad to good, and evil to righteousness.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
The word of God is sharp, it divides in us soul and spirit, and separates in us good and evil. It also is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, or mind.
The Bible is not a dead letter, but a living word, filled with power to do all what is humanly impossible. It will judge us, what is in our soul, how our characters are, what is in our hearts. The word of God is a mirror that shows us how clean our souls are. It is more important to look into the word of God every day, than to the mirror to see our own faces. The Bible will declare if we are worthy of life or worthy of death.
Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11
The words in the Bible will give us comfort. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18
Young people often have difficulty overcoming temptation, and living a pure life. But, the Bible gives the answer as to how they can overcome. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word.” Psalm 119:9
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105
This light shines and guides us throughout our lives; it takes away all confusion, doubts, and uncertainty. Tradition and the sayings of men disappear in the light of the word of God. Traditions such as, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shall love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.” Matthew 5: 43. The word of God clears our minds of these traditions.
The word of God is also a sword to fight our enemies. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:17. “It is written” is a powerful weapon in our hands; it makes us good soldiers in the army of Christ. If we would understand this, and realize how high our goal is—Christlikeness in character—we would read the Bible every day.
Many do not like Bible study because it condemns them. Paul was studying the Bible, and it condemned him, and he writes, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:24. The book of Revelation has a prophecy of the mighty things that the two testimonies in the Bible will do.
“And I will give power unto My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand and two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and to have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.” Revelation 11:3–6
“The daily study of the Scriptures will have a sanctifying influence upon the mind. You will breathe a heavenly atmosphere.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 242
“Our people should not be made to think that they need to listen to a sermon every Sabbath. Many who listen frequently to sermons, even though the truths be presented in clear lines, learn but little. Often it would be more profitable if the Sabbath meetings were of the nature of a Bible class study. Bible truth should be presented in such a simple, interesting manner that all can easily understand and grasp the principles of salvation.” –Evangelism, p. 348
“Angels stand beside the searcher of the Scriptures, to impress and illuminate the mind.” –Messages to Young People, p. 257
Make the Bible your friend, read it through and through. Memorize the wonderful promises. Study the word of prophesy. Compare your life to the life of Christ, and you will become a living Christian; you will be presentable to the angels, and before the judgment seat of God. Your lovely character will be as a precious jewel which God will soon gather together. AMEN.
Timo Martin