The Bible is important because it is infallible. That word means never failing, always effective, incapable of being wrong. The Bible is God’s word, written by men inspired by God and guided by the Holy Spirit. In Proverbs 30:5-6, the writer states that “Every word of God is true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection. Do not add to His words, or He might rebuke you and expose you as a liar.” When Paul wrote those words about inspiration in 2 Timothy 3, he was writing about the Old Testament scriptures. That is all they had at the time.
The question then comes, “What about the New Testament?” Well, the Lord Jesus addresses that in John 14:25-26, “I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” If the OT formed the foundational documents for the OT saints and first century Christians, what would be the foundational documents for the Church? Jesus tells His disciples that He is going away. They will not have Him with them to answer their questions or continue to teach them. They would not have hundreds of Christian scholars and preachers authoring books on theology or discipleship or church history --- Oh! Wait! May be not hundreds, but they did have the Apostles, Luke, Paul, James, and whoever might have written Hebrews. Jesus said to them, “When the Father sends the Advocate as My Representative – that is the Holy Spirit – HE will teach you everything and will remind you of everything that I have told you.” In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul is telling us that EVERY word of the scriptures is breathed out by God into the hearts and minds of the authors. It is God-breathed and without error.
The Bible is important because it is Story of GOD and His LOVE for humanity. I John 4:8-10 From the introduction of His love and relationship with Adam and Eve to the judgment of the world in Revelation 21, the Bible is the story of God’s great love for humanity. That love was most beautifully expressed in the person of the Lord Jesus, God the Son. John 3:16; I John 4:8-10
The Bible is important because it contains the GOSPEL!
2 Corinthians 15:3-4 – “…Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.” This passage is the Gospel concisely. The expanded story can be found in Matt-John. It is the simple story of the holy and exalted Yahweh God giving His only Son to show us how to live and then allowing Him to die, though He had lived a life of perfect obedience. His death was the ultimate sacrifice, the offering to appease God the Father and make forgiveness of our sins possible. His resurrection affirmed that His sacrifice was acceptable and those who follow Him in obedience would have eternal life.
The Bible is important because it is His primary means of revealing His WILL. Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
The Bible is important because it contains all we need to make us COMPLETE. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every excellent work.”
The Bible is important because it is ETERNAL! Isaiah. 40:8 – “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Jesus said in Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”
But trust me when I tell you this last one. The Bible is only effective when it is APPLIED. Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-25 - “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it will not collapse because it is built on bedrock.” See also James 1:22 and Luke 11:28.
