DRAWING NEAR
October 4
Why Study the Bible?
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman
who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of
truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).
The Holy Spirit protects you from false doctrine, but that doesn't
eliminate the need for diligent Bible study.
For the next few days we'll consider several benefits of Bible study.
Today we'll address the broader question of why Bible study is
necessary at all.
Perhaps you know believers who think Bible study is unnecessary.
Bible reading, they say, is sufficient because we have the Holy
Spirit, who teaches us all things. Often they cite 1 John 2:27 in
support of their view: "As for you, the anointing [the Holy Spirit]
which you received from [God] abides in you, and you have no need for
anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all
things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you,
you abide in Him."
That passage, however, isn't implying that Bible study or Bible
teachers aren't necessary. On the contrary, John was exhorting his
readers to abide in what they'd already learned (v. 24) and shun only
those teachers who deny Christ and try to deceive believers.
The Holy Spirit is the believer's resident lie detector, granting
discernment to shield him or her from false doctrine. Although a
Christian may be temporarily confused by false teachers, ultimately
he can never drift into apostasy or deny Christ. If anyone does
depart from the faith, his departure is proof that he was never a
true believer in the first place (v. 19).
The Spirit protects you from error, but you must fulfill your
responsibility as a student of the Word. Even a man of Timothy's
spiritual stature needed to study the Word diligently and handle it
accurately (2 Tim. 2:15).
I pray that the psalmist's attitude toward Scripture will be yours as
well: "O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day" (Ps.
119:97).
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for His precious Word. Ask Him to give you a deeper
love for its truths.
For Further Study:
Read Titus 1:7-16 and 2 Timothy 2:2.
What skills must an overseer have regarding God's Word? Why are
those skills necessary? Do those skills apply to church leaders
only? Explain. Are you skilled in handling God's Word?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
1 John 2:19-27
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had
been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that
they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all
things.
21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but
because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is
antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who
acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the
beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you
also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that He has promised us; eternal life.
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to
deceive you.
27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you,
and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing
teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and
just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who
does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Titus 1:7-16
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not
self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not
greedy for money,
8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy,
self-controlled,
9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may
be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who
contradict.
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and
deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households,
teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always
liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons."
13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they
may be sound in the faith,
14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn
from the truth.
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and
unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are
defiled.
16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being
abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
2 Timothy 2:2
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses,
commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
http://www.gty.org/Gospel
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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