Seven reasons for studying the Bible

A friend recently asked me why she should bother reading the Bible. After all, she said, she is "a lifelong member of the one true church" and has "followed its teachings" all of her days. What more does God expect? 

It's a great question, but as soon as she'd posed it, we were interrupted by a horde of helpers who would not be leaving soon. (Funny how often that sort of thing happens.) So I went home and typed up my thoughts on the subject.

You'll probably be able to refine this list in important ways. Be my guest, and please share your suggestions. At least it should provide a starting point for those of us who haven't yet been asked this critical question. 
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Why should we study the Bible?

1. Because it’s true.

• The scientific, historical, archeological and prophetic evidence for the Bible’s inerrancy is overwhelming.
• Even objective and honest unbelievers agree to this, when presented with this evidence.
• There is no other explanation for this accuracy than that it was inspired by God Himself.
• Anything that contradicts its teachings is therefore, by definition, not true.
• “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

 
2. Because our eternal destiny is at stake.

• Do we not want to know that we are trusting in the right thing to ensure a heavenly forever for ourselves?
• The Bible’s clear message, from Genesis through Revelation, is that we are saved solely by trusting in Jesus.
• If we trust in Him, we will obey Him; good works are the result of our salvation, not the cause of it.
• How can we know we are obeying Him apart from His commands, revealed fully in Scripture?

 
3. Because our eternal rewards are at stake.

• Do we not want to know how to earn rewards that will benefit us for all eternity?
• The Bible spells it out throughout the New Testament.
• Just one example: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (Galatians 5).
• But the Bible also tells us that we cannot have these qualities apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit – and He only indwells our hearts when we repent and trust in Christ.
• The Bible also tells us that our rewards will depend on whether or not our good works—i.e., works performed here in this life after salvation—have eternal implications.
• Those works will be judged by fire, and if they are destroyed by the flames, then we have nothing to offer Him of eternal value. We may still be saved, but we won’t hear “Well done, My good and faithful servant.” (1 Corinthians 3:9-15).

 
4. Because we cannot even be sure our prayers will be heard if we are trusting in "another Jesus" or "another gospel."

• Is there unconfessed sin in our lives? “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.” (Psalm 66:18)
• How can we be sure about that if we are not studying scripture; there are well over 1000 commands in the Bible!
• Do we have any doubts about God, His character, His attributes, His promises? “[T]he one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” (See James 1:5-7)
• Are we asking for the wrong reasons? “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3).
• Apart from the Bible, how can we know for sure what reasons are right and what ones are wrong? 

 
5. Because we cannot genuinely love and obey our Creator, or know His will for our lives, unless we know Him via His self-revelation—the Bible.

• To ostensibly worship Him without knowing Him is by definition idolatry – making up a God to suit ourselves.
• The second of the 10 Commandments forbids idolatry.
• “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)

 
6. Because in order to be comforted by the Comforter—the Holy Spirit—we must be able to trust in His omniscience, omnipotence, love, mercy and justice.

• These are all recurrent themes in the Bible, which provides complete comfort for every sort of sorrow and pain.
• For example: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
• For example: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
• For example: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) 

 
7. Because it’s the only way to make sense of what is happening in this crazy world.

• History repeats itself. And, as George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
• But just as important, the Bible explains why these things happen.
• For example, ever wonder why there is continuing unrest and violence in the Middle East?
• The Bible tells us repeatedly. Consider, for instance,this prediction of Jesus': "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:6-8)
• Do you feel like hatred is escalating while civility is vanishing? 
• The Bible said it would be so: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,  traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Timothy 3:1-7)
• Ever wonder why the institution of marriage seems to be collapsing?
• The Bible explains this, too. For instance: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.  Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every-thing. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, (Ephesians 5:22-25)

Have any additions? Deletions? Suggestions? Better ways to say these things? Please comment below, or contact me here.