Why do we study the Word?

zoidar said:

How do we "allow" the Word to change us?

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I knew using a word I didn't necessarily believe was going to come back and bite me... lol

So:

Does knowing what God desires from His people change things you do?

Has knowing more about God's nature changed how you see Him?

Has knowing more about humankind, and thus yourself, help you to do better as standing before God?

Has reading the word convicted you of sin, so you changed behavior as a result?

You know... etc etc.

The Word of God will not return void.. (Isaiah 55:11)

It changes God's people...

When the word becomes flesh in us as it did with Jesus, then it will change us - spiritualisms aside, you must apply it to change you - and how you apply is how you will change.

There is the engrafted word of James, the transformation of the renewing of our minds of Romans, but without a repentant heart, a self examining mind, a person willing to believe that God is right and they are wrong - there will be no transformation - we must be as clay and God the potter. We must be as purified gold that is easy to mold into different shapes. If we are brittle, then we break and need to be formed again. Some are melted down and formed endlessly, but should this be?

zoidar said:

Is it just to be learned in the Bible? Is it to remind us about the warnings and also encourage us towards a more devout Christian life? What do you think? Are we being changed by studying the Bible?

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This scripture comes to my mind with such a question.

Psalm 119
....
How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
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.
Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.

zoidar said:

Is it just to be learned in the Bible? Is it to remind us about the warnings and also encourage us towards a more devout Christian life? What do you think? Are we being changed by studying the Bible?

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I look for strength, wisdom, encouragement from the scriptures. They remind me of sins and weaknesses to resist.


Besides telling us doctrinal matters, I believe there is wisdom beyond what is typically preached. Growing up some pastors only preached two messages 1)You can't earn your salvation, and 2)Things are bad now, but hang on they will be awesome in Heaven.

I believe there is much, much more to the spiritual life than this kind of minimalism. There are answers to all the problems in life, if we are willing to delve into the scriptures. (Not just proof text reading, but I like to hear whole books of the Bible in context using an audio function from Bible Gateway. I take mental notes of things I never noticed before or heard preached before.

Besides this I also sometimes examine the Lexical meaning of Biblical terms, read up on Biblical history, anthropology etc. around various book of the Bible and certain topics, chapters and passages).

zoidar said:

Is it just to be learned in the Bible? Is it to remind us about the warnings and also encourage us towards a more devout Christian life? What do you think? Are we being changed by studying the Bible?

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We Lutherans believe the Gospel has a sacramental effect. IOW, hearing the Gospel helps produce faith.

Lutherans also teach about Law & Gospel. So, in addition to faith, there is the threefold purpose of the Law: 1) a mirror to reflect God's character and ours, 2) a restraint on evil, 3) a guide for living life.

Randy777 said:

This scripture comes to my mind with such a question.

Psalm 119

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Psalm 119 was important to me as a youth.

zoidar said:

Is it just to be learned in the Bible? Is it to remind us about the warnings and also encourage us towards a more devout Christian life? What do you think? Are we being changed by studying the Bible?

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For me it's been like detective work when confronted with a good story. The events and actions taken by men of faith as well as those who lacked it are described in the Bible. Such stories do circle back to a statement found in James ESV "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." From that stand point I try and figure out, what did they do and why did they do it?

Also I'm not sure if this is a Captain Obvious thing, but studying alone and by itself wasn't helping those people Jesus was talking to in John 5:39-40.

zoidar said:

Is it just to be learned in the Bible? Is it to remind us about the warnings and also encourage us towards a more devout Christian life? What do you think? Are we being changed by studying the Bible?

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Everything that is made normally comes with a set of instructions. Whether it is home appliances, toys, automobiles, pet accessories, clothing, food, etc. Man is no different. Man was created by God and given an instruction manual, that if read and followed carefully, he would be able to make the best of his life given him on earth. Man's instruction manual is called the Bible.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

From Genesis to Revelation we see man have turn on God and all the beauty God put forth. Even angels who follow after Satan have turn on God. Now we see man has turn on each other and God (Jesus). We have all these different God's on earth now, but not in the beginning.
Nevertheless, the bible speaks of only one way to get eternal salvation. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). So now since man turn on God, we have sin, and sin bring forth death. We were deprived of this opportunity once, but the death of Jesus has given us another chance. All have sinned (broken the law...Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law (I John 3:4) and the wages of sin is death.

When Jesus (the true Lamb of God) was sacrificed, he removed our past sins. If we accept Jesus as our sin offering, we are required to repent and get baptized IN THE NAME OF JESUS ("there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved..."(Acts 4: 12). This is our last chance brothers and sisters. "Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read". (Isaiah 34:16)

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

At this point in life, the main reason to learn the Bible is salvation. "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling". (Philippians 2:12)

zoidar said:

Is it just to be learned in the Bible? Is it to remind us about the warnings and also encourage us towards a more devout Christian life? What do you think? Are we being changed by studying the Bible?

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Without the spirit leading us our ambition to study the Bible will be motivated by selfish desires.

I study the Word to get to know HIM, and His thoughts and His instructions. And it's a continuous study/reading because I forget so much, yet it also helps me remember by repetition.

I can't tell you how many times scripture will pop up in my head and guide and convict me as I go about my day.

zoidar said:

Is it just to be learned in the Bible? Is it to remind us about the warnings and also encourage us towards a more devout Christian life? What do you think? Are we being changed by studying the Bible?

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For me, it is to be prepared for God to reveal wonderful secrets within scripture or to have them provide comfort.

Many reasons, but I think mainly because it's one of the chief ways God speaks to us.

zoidar said:

Is it just to be learned in the Bible? Is it to remind us about the warnings and also encourage us towards a more devout Christian life? What do you think? Are we being changed by studying the Bible?

Click to expand...

Great question!

Please don't get me wrong in the following, I lean towards protestantism myself.

I think for many Protestants, it's their main "contact point" with God. And something they can hold in their hands, as opposed to something in their mind.

For Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, the main thing is the church and its liturgy. So less Bible reading among Catholics and OE (big generality there, of course).

Leaf473 said:

For Catholics and Eastern Orthodox, the main thing is the church and its liturgy. So less Bible reading among Catholics and OE (big generality there, of course).

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In the EO lectionary cycle, you'll hear the entire NT every year by attending every Sunday. The main reason is that our liturgical cycle developed prior to high literacy rates and printing presses. So the faithful heard everything rather than having their own books. As a Psalti (reader / chanter), I'm one of the minor clergy. It is expected that I read the Scriptures daily. So I'll read (or at least try to read) all the Psalms every week in an order called the Kathimsa. That's on top of the daily NT readings and prayers and practicing the music for each service. Once we hit Lent, we have up to four services a week.

zoidar said:

Is it just to be learned in the Bible? Is it to remind us about the warnings and also encourage us towards a more devout Christian life? What do you think? Are we being changed by studying the Bible?

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We study the world every day. It helps to study the word now and again to offset the messaging of the world.

I've read the bible cover to cover each year for many years now. And It gives me peace of mind. Something positive to think about. It also bears the fruit of the Spirit which makes me generally happy. I have God's providence working for me in every situation. I marvel when I look back at all the times he came through for me. And it's all related to his word and my obedience to it.

We continue to study the words of the bible so that we can be "ever learning," yet while never being able to come to the knowledge of truth. And such is in the will of God....that the wise and prudent are confounded....while truth is revealed and demonstrated through those deemed ignorant and unlearned.

zoidar said:

How do we "allow" the Word to change us? I have noticed that people pray to God before reading the Bible, that the Holy Spirit will guide us through scripture. Nothing wrong with that, but I rarely do it. I don't really see God guiding me through scripture that way. I rather approach it from understanding what the text I'm reading actually says, using different translations, looking at the chapter before and after the text, trying to understand context. So my approach is more of an investigation than looking for guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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"How do we allow the word to change us"? Personally it feel that just by submerging yourself in all things spiritual, reading the Bible, praying, doing the right thing.. it changes you anyway, I have noticed an increased intolerance / sensitivity to bad language and agression , I always hated it, but now I can't tolerate it in films, instead I'm watching YouTube documentaries about Carmelite nuns, even my dreams are changing, I think that's the whole point.

Very good posts here.

The reading the word of God and we listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ has to say, God starts to change us from the inside because of the power that is coming from the Word of God.

If you listen to understand and prayerfully by the holy spirit. We are made into a new creation, by the renewing of our minds, and hearts. This is what matters.

Galatians 6:15 It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.

The changing of becoming a new creation, because of our hearts being turned toward God, to love him with all our heart, all our mind, all of our soul, and our neighbour as ourselves. - and we can find love found in - 1 Corinthians 13.

Does this mean we live to please people all willy nilly? No.

We live to please Christ Jesus, and we are to stand firm in our belief, and even be bold to talk about Jesus Christ regardless of what people may say.

We are to live as Paul puts it ' For me to live is to live for Christ (Phil 1:21) - Christians are not rude, boastful, unkind, gossiping against others, judgemental towards others, and are willing to help people understand Christ if they desire to know. Or to help if they need water, or food if possible, or to help them if they are half beaten and dead in the street.

1 Timothy 6:
All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching. 2 If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers who are well loved.

False Teaching and True Riches
Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. 3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life.

4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.

5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.

8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Paul’s Final Instructions
11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

12 Fight the good fight for the true faith (Fight to hold on and stay true to God and Jesus Christ // Not talking about fighting others). Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.

zoidar said:

Is it just to be learned in the Bible? Is it to remind us about the warnings and also encourage us towards a more devout Christian life? What do you think? Are we being changed by studying the Bible?

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Psalms 1
Psalms 19:7-11
Psalms 119:11
Psalms 119:105
Proverbs 3:1-4
Jeremiah 15:16
Matthew 4:4
2 Timothy 3:16-17
1 Peter 2:2

These sum up the reasons I have for studying God's word.

In the Bible, I have the divine revelation of God, of His Person and nature, His will, and my relationship to Him. I cannot do without the Bible; it gives me the shape, the structure, of my faith, directs me into God's will and provides to me an eternal hope.