Lesson Description

God has not left humanity to discover His character and purpose through human imagination alone. He has given us the Scriptures, which reveal His truth, record His dealings with humanity, point us to Jesus Christ, and make known the gospel of salvation. In this lesson, we will learn why the Bible is essential for understanding what God has revealed and how we should approach His Word.

1. Scripture Is Given by Inspiration of God

The Bible teaches that Scripture comes from God and is profitable for teaching, correction, and instruction in righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (KJV)

Verse 16: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

Verse 17: “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

The phrase inspiration of God means that Scripture is God-breathed. God used human writers to communicate His message.

The Bible is not merely a collection of human opinions about God. It provides the revealed truth by which we learn His purposes, understand His dealings with humanity, and recognise the gospel.

These verses also show us that Scripture is useful. It teaches us what is true, exposes error, corrects wrong thinking, and trains us to live rightly.

Practical lesson: When studying the Bible, ask what the passage teaches, what it corrects, and how it equips you to live according to God’s truth.

2. God Spoke Through His Prophets and Through His Son

The Bible records God’s revelation across different times and circumstances, culminating in His revelation through Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1:1–2 (KJV)

Verse 1: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,”

Verse 2: “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”

God communicated with people in various ways in the past, including through the prophets. Hebrews then emphasises the central place of His Son, Jesus Christ.

This helps us understand why we must study the Bible with attention to its historical setting and the place of each passage in God’s unfolding revelation.

We should not take a statement spoken to a particular person or nation and automatically apply it to everyone in exactly the same way. We must first understand what the passage says and to whom it was addressed.

3. God’s Word Helps Us Understand His Character

Our ideas about God can be shaped by personal experiences, traditions, or things other people say. Scripture gives us a way to examine those ideas against what God has revealed.

Exodus 34:6 (KJV)

“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,”

In this passage, God proclaimed aspects of His character to Moses.

Throughout Scripture, we learn about God’s holiness, mercy, justice, patience, faithfulness, and goodness. We also learn that He does not approve of every human action or belief.

We should therefore avoid building our understanding of God around only one attribute while ignoring the rest of what Scripture reveals.

Practical lesson: Instead of asking only what you feel God is like, examine what the Bible actually says about His character.

4. God’s Word Reveals the Gospel of Salvation

One of the most important things Scripture makes known is the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (KJV)

Verse 1: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;”

Verse 2: “By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.”

Verse 3: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”

Verse 4: “And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Paul identifies the central facts of the gospel: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day.

We cannot discover this complete message simply by looking at the stars or studying the natural world. We need the gospel message that God has made known through His Word.

The Bible explains why humanity needs salvation and points us to what Jesus Christ accomplished.

5. Faith Comes by Hearing God’s Word

Scripture explains the relationship between hearing God’s message and coming to faith.

Romans 10:17 (KJV)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

In the context of Romans 10, Paul is explaining the importance of proclaiming the message about Christ so that people can hear and believe.

God’s Word can reach people in different circumstances. Someone may hear the gospel from a preacher, read it in a Bible, or encounter it through a written or recorded message.

The important point is that people need to hear the truth about Christ. A person does not have to attend a particular building before they can read Scripture and respond to the gospel.

Church fellowship can be valuable for learning, encouragement, and growth, but the gospel is not limited to the walls of a church building.

6. Scripture Helps Us Recognise Truth and Error

Not every teaching that uses God’s name is necessarily accurate. We must examine what we hear rather than accepting a message simply because a speaker appears confident or influential.

Acts 17:11 (KJV)

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

The Bereans listened carefully and examined the Scriptures to determine whether Paul’s message was true.

Their example teaches us that listening and examining belong together. We can respect a teacher without assuming that everything the teacher says is correct.

This also means that we should not use isolated verses to support ideas that contradict the meaning of the passages in which they appear.

Practical lesson: When you hear a teaching, read the relevant passage, examine its context, and compare the teaching with the wider message of Scripture.

7. We Must Read God’s Word in Context

The Bible contains different kinds of writing, including historical accounts, poetry, prophecy, letters, and teachings. Each passage should be understood according to its context and purpose.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Paul instructed Timothy to handle the word of truth correctly.

Reading a verse without considering its surrounding passage can lead to misunderstanding. We should consider who is speaking, who is being addressed, what is happening, and how the passage fits with the rest of Scripture.

Careful study helps us avoid confusing God’s instructions to different people in different circumstances.

For example, before applying a command given specifically to ancient Israel directly to the church today, we should examine its covenant setting and how the New Testament explains its relevance.

8. God’s Word Points Us to Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ holds the central place in God’s saving revelation.

John 5:39 (KJV)

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

Jesus spoke these words to people who searched the Scriptures but did not recognise Him as they should have.

His statement reminds us that reading biblical words is not merely an intellectual exercise. We must pay attention to what the Scriptures reveal about Christ.

The Old Testament contains promises, prophecies, and accounts that form part of the biblical story leading to Christ. The New Testament records His life, teaching, death, resurrection, and the message of salvation through Him.

Our Bible study should therefore help us understand God’s revelation rather than simply collect information or win arguments.

Practical Example

Imagine someone who has many questions about God. They have heard different opinions from friends, social media, and religious speakers, and they are unsure what to believe.

They begin reading the Bible, starting with the Gospel of John. As they continue, they learn about Jesus, His teaching, His death, and His resurrection. They also read Paul’s explanation of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15.

Instead of accepting every opinion they hear, they begin comparing teachings with Scripture and considering passages in context.

Through reading the Word, they gain a clearer understanding of the message God has revealed about Jesus Christ and salvation.

This does not mean every question is answered immediately. It means they now have a reliable starting point for examining what God has made known.

Remember

• Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is useful for teaching, correction, and instruction.

• God spoke through the prophets and has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

• The Bible reveals God’s character and His purposes.

• Scripture makes known the gospel of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

• Faith comes by hearing God’s Word.

• We should examine teachings carefully instead of accepting them blindly.

• Every passage should be read in context and understood according to its purpose.

• The Scriptures testify of Jesus Christ and help us understand God’s saving revelation.

Key takeaway: God has given us His Word so that we can learn what He has revealed, understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, and examine teachings according to the truth of Scripture.