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When we first become believers in salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, studying the word of God is essential in order for us to grow, to be set free from sin, and to consolidate our faith. The malefactor on the cross (Luke 23:39-43) died within a few hours of becoming a believer in Jesus, and had no time to study the word of God or do anything more than confess his belief, and endure to the end. Although this was God’s will for him, it won’t be for most of us, so when God, by his grace, gives us more time than this, he will undoubtedly expect us to use it to find out his will for our lives, and to do it. Our sincerity will be proven by our willingness to study God’s word and conform our lives to be obedient to it. Six hundred thousand Israelite men came out of Egypt with the promise of the promised land (Exodus 12:37), and all except two failed to receive it because of disobedience (Numbers 14:26-30). In the same way, those of us who are saved out of the world and given the promise of the kingdom of God, will fail to receive it if we are disobedient. All of us who can see, read and hear, will be expected to use our abilities to enable us to grow spiritually by studying the word of God, so that God can fulfil his purpose in our lives. Our fate if we do not is revealed in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:11-27), so we need to consider carefully these reasons for studying the word of God.
JOHN 8:26-28, 38 (Jesus)
26 I have many things to say and
to judge of you: but he who sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They did not understand that he spoke to them of the Father.
28 Then Jesus said to them,
When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and
that I do nothing of myself; but as my
Father has taught me, I speak these things.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you have
seen with your Father.
JOHN 12:50 (Jesus)
50 I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatever I speak
therefore, even as the Father said to me, so I speak.
JOHN 14:10 (Jesus)
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
the words that I speak to you I speak not of myself: but the Father who dwells in me, he does the works.
ACTS 1:16 (Peter)
16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs be fulfilled, which
the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, who
was guide to those who took Jesus.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16 (Paul)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
HEBREWS 1:1-2 (Paul)
1 God, who in many parts and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers
by the prophets,
2 Has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir
of all things, by whom also he made the ages;
2 PETER 1:20-21
20 Knowing this first, that no prophesy of the scripture is of its own interpretation.
21 For prophesy did not come in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God
spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Note: If Jesus spoke only those things which the Father gave him (John 8:26-28, 38; 12:50; 14:10), so that God “Has in these last days spoken to us by his Son,” (Hebrews 1:2), David prophesied through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:16), and God “spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,” (Hebrews 1:1), who “spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21), then truly the writing of Paul, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,” (2 Timothy 3:16), is thoroughly verified by the other scriptures. Thus scripture must be just as if God had picked up a pen and written it himself. It is considered a great compliment to an author to say when we meet him, that we have read his book, but if we haven’t read it, we are just expressing our indifference to what the author has to say. The audio tapes of the whole bible have a playing time of just over 86 hours. How many of us professing to be Christians have never even read the bible once, let alone studied it? What excuse will the Lord accept on the day of judgement? Why do so many of us seem to spend endless hours reading the thoughts and opinions of people, who could not even create one grain of sand, and ignore the words of God who created the heavens (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 96:5), the earth (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 119:90), the sun and moon (Genesis 1:14-18), and every living creature on this earth (Genesis 1:21-27)? Why spend our lives learning the wisdom of men, which is “foolishness with God:” (1 Corinthians 3:19), and ignore the perfect wisdom that comes through God’s word (Psalm 19:7; Proverbs 1:1-5; Proverbs 19:20)? If God is so great that he can do all these things, then surely what he has to say must be worth taking note of.
MATTHEW 4:4 (Jesus)
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceeds out of the mouth of God.
2 TIMOTHY 1:10 (Paul)
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our saviour Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and brought
life and immortality to light through the gospel:
2 TIMOTHY 3:15 (Paul)
15 And that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, which
are able to make you wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
JAMES 1:21
21 Wherefore, lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and
receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Note: Nobody has salvation yet in a manifested sense, that is still future according to the word of God:
(Mark 16:16) “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved ;”
(Acts 15:11) “But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved , even as
they.”
(Romans 13:11) “now is our salvation nearer than when we believed .”
(Philippians 2:12) “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
(1 Peter 1:5) “Who are kept by the power of God through faith
to salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time .”
(1 Peter 1:9) “Receiving at the end of your faith, even the
salvation of your souls .”
We receive salvation now through faith (Ephesians 2:8; 1 Peter 1:5), but as “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1), we cannot see it in a manifested sense as yet, but we hope to receive it when our dead body is resurrected at the second coming of Jesus (1 Corinthians 5:5; 15:50-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Hebrews 9:28). The scriptures make it clear that studying the word of God is essential for salvation. Jesus said, “every word” (Matthew 4:4), and James said, “the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21); engrafted meaning that it should be in our hearts. The Israelites in the wilderness received the law of Moses engraved on “tables of stone” (Exodus 31:18) by the finger of God, but we today should receive the “law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2), engrafted onto the “fleshy tables of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:3), with the Holy Spirit. This is not received automatically when we first believe, but it is a gradual process performed by the Holy Spirit as we study God’s word the way he tells us to study it (See #1.28 Note), so how can we ensure our salvation without studying the word of God?
ROMANS 15:4 (Paul)
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Note: Clearly we cannot be saved without hope, for Paul said, “We are saved by hope” (Romans 8:24), and as one way that hope comes is through patient study of the scriptures (Romans 15:4), how can we ensure our salvation if we don’t study the word of God?
MARK 13:5
5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceives you:
EPHESIANS 5:6 (Paul)
6 Do not let any man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience.
COLOSSIANS 2:8 (Paul)
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
2 TIMOTHY 3:13 (Paul)
13 But evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse, deceiving, and being
deceived.
Note: There are many warnings in the word of God to guard ourselves against deception, and it is clear from scripture that if we fail to recognise error, and follow false teachers, we can certainly be lost:
(Isaiah 9:16) “For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and those who are led of them are destroyed.”
(Matthew 15:14) “Let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall
fall into the ditch.”
There are hundreds of denominations in the world, all teaching different things, and all believing that they are right. How can we know which one is the true church of God? Jesus only established one church, and as “God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33), it must be obvious that the others are under an evil influence in some areas. There are some genuine Christians currently in various denominations, but they will transfer to the true church before Jesus returns, as he said:
(John 10:16) “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also must I bring and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
If our reason for believing that we have the truth is just an inward knowing in our hearts that we are right, then we need to be warned!
(Jeremiah 17:9) “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
(Proverbs 28:26) “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool: but whoever walks wisely, he shall be delivered.”
(Proverbs 14:12; 16:25) “There is a way that seems right to a man; but the end of it are the ways of death.”
To walk wisely (Proverbs 28:26), and to discern error when it is taught, we need to
have God’s word in our hearts, but as we cannot do this if we don’t study
the word of God, how can we ensure our salvation without studying it?
ROMANS 10:17 (Paul)
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Note: Studying the word of God is not the only requirement to retain or increase our initial faith, but it is the first essential step. Just as natural babies will die if they are not fed, so as new-born “babes in Christ”, we will die spiritually if we do not “desire the sincere milk of the word” (1 Peter 2:2), which is our spiritual food. Faith is very important to God, we cannot please him without it (Hebrews 11:6), and “whatever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23). As God obviously wishes us to please him and avoid sin, he has called Christians everywhere to “live by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). Faith is very important to us too, because through faith we can obtain justification (Romans 3:28; 5:1), freedom from sickness for ourselves (Matthew 9:22; 9:29; Luke 17:19), and our loved ones (Matthew 8:13; 15:28). Faith is the most important part of our spiritual armour to resist the devil (Ephesians 6:16; 1 Peter 5:8-9), but above all else, it is through faith that we obtain our salvation (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:9). As “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17), how can any of us survive if we do not feed our spirits with the word of God?
PROVERBS 28:9 (Solomon)
9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be
abomination.
JOHN 15:7 (Jesus)
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide
in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you.
Note: Obtaining answers to prayers is very important in order to give us an assurance of the reality and presence of God in our lives. One of the conditions to obtaining answers is that the words of Jesus abide in us (John 15:7), and they won’t abide in us until we meditate them in through studying the scriptures. God is gracious to many new born babes in Christ, and answers their initial prayers (sometimes through the faith of others), but they may find that the answers don’t continue to come if they refuse to study God’s word; “his prayer shall be abomination.” (Proverbs 28:9).
HEBREWS 11:6 (Paul)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he who comes to
God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently
seek him.
Note: We know that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17), but if we fail to hear the word of God our initial faith will die, and as we cannot please God without faith, how can we please him without studying the word of God?
2 TIMOTHY 2:15 (Paul)
15 Study to show yourself approved1
to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Note: The adjective translated approved1 (Gr. dokinoj, Gtr. dokimos) means to be proved, or tried, like metals are by fire when they are purified. The same Greek word is used by James, “for when he is tried1, he shall receive the crown of life” (James 1:12), and shows that if we are approved or tried, we will be saved. It is also translated “approved” (Romans 14:18, 16:10, 1 Corinthians 11:19, 2 Corinthians 10:18, 13:7). The opposite “unapproved” (Gr. adokimoj, Gtr. adokimos) means also unworthy, worthless, rejected, or castaway, and is translated “castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27), “rejected” (Hebrews 6:8), “reprobates” (2 Corinthians 13:5-7, 2 Timothy 3:8, Titus 1:16). It seems clear that we will not be saved if we are unapproved, and as we need to study to show ourselves approved to God, how can we ensure our salvation if we fail to study the word of God?
PSALMS 119:9
9 By what shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed
according to your word.
JOHN 15:3 (Jesus to his disciples)
3 Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you.
JOHN 17:6 (Jesus to the Father)
6 I have manifested your name to the men which you gave to me out of the
world: yours they were, and you gave them to me; and they have kept your word.
ROMANS 6:16-18 (Paul)
16 Do you not know, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey;
whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have
obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.
1 PETER 1:22
22 Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through
the Spirit to sincere love of the brethren, see that you love one
another with a pure heart fervently.
Note: Once we become believers, we need sin to be cleansed out of our hearts in order to become justified (See #1.22 Note), sanctified, and allow the spirit of Christ to grow in us. This is done as we conform our lives to obey the word of God from the heart, as these scriptures show, and is not manifested in our hearts the day that we first believe. Every one of us, who is a true believer, will obtain the forgiveness of our sins because we will conform our lives to obey God’s word; we will overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5), receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39), and do the works of Jesus (John 14:12). These thing will come to pass in our lives, if God gives us the time, but not all on the day that we first believe.
PSALMS 19:7 (David)
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of
the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
PROVERBS 8:33 (Solomon)
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not refuse it.
PROVERBS 23:19 (Solomon)
19 Hear, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart in the way.
2 TIMOTHY 3:15 (Paul)
15 And that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, which
are able to make you wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus.
Note: Not only did Paul say that the scriptures could “make you wise to salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15), but Solomon also said, “keep sound wisdom and discretion: so shall they be life to your soul,” (Proverbs 3:21-22), “The wise shall inherit glory:” (Proverbs 3:35), and “wisdom gives life to those who have it.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12). In the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), the unwise virgins were unprepared when the Lord returned, and were shut out of the marriage feast (Matthew 25:10). They were not allowed entrance after (Matthew 25:11-12), which is equivalent to being unsaved, so obtaining God’s wisdom is very important. As God’s wisdom comes through studying the scriptures, how can we ensure our salvation if we don’t do it?
ISAIAH 26:9
9 With my soul have I desired you in the night; yes, with my spirit within me will I seek you early: for
when your judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16 (Paul)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness.
Note: Justification or righteousness (which are just different translations of the same Hebrew and Greek words) can be claimed by any Christian, but this does not mean that it is immediately manifested in our lives. Justification is a promise which we receive by faith (Romans 3:28; 5:1; 9:30; Hebrews 11:7), and faith is “the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1). The manifestation of it in our lives is brought about through chastisement (Hebrews 12:11), as we seek for it (Psalm 24:5-6; Zephaniah 2:3; Matthew 5:6; 6:33; Galatians 2:17), as we learn it through the scriptures (Psalm 119:7; Proverbs 2:1-9; Isaiah 26:9; Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:34; 2 Timothy 3:16), and as we obey God’s word from the heart (Deuteronomy 6:25; Isaiah 48:18; Ezekiel 18:5-9; Romans 2:8; 6:16-18). Clearly if we are righteous we will be saved (Psalm 15:1-2; 37:29; Proverbs 10:2; 11:4; 12:28; 21:21; Matthew 25:46; Romans 5:21), but as Paul said “the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9), how can we ensure our salvation if we do not study the word of God?
JOHN 17:17 (Jesus)
17 Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.
ACTS 20:32 (Paul)
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his
grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Note: Just as part of the consecration of the priests under the law of Moses, was to eat “the flesh of the ram, and the bread ... those things with which the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them:” (Exodus 29:32-33), so we must eat the flesh and the bread with which our atonement was made. Jesus said:
(John 6:48-58) “I am that bread of life.
Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it, and not die.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this
bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh,
which I will give for the life of the world.
... Except you eat the flesh of
the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
Whoever eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will
raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him.
As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father; so he who eats
me, even he shall live by me.
This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers ate
manna and are dead: he who eats of this bread shall live for ever.”
To become spiritually sanctified, we must eat the spiritual food, “the living bread, and the flesh of Jesus,” who is the word of God (John 1:1, 1:14, Revelation 19:13). As Jesus said, “Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.” (John 17:17), how can we become sanctified if we do not feed on this spiritual food, which is the word of God? The scripture indicates that sanctification (or holiness) is required for eternal life (Matthew 7:21 with 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Romans 6:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 12:14), so how can we be sanctified, and ensure our salvation if we do not study the word of God?
1 CORINTHIANS 3:11-15 (Paul)
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall test every mans work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abides which he has built on it, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved yet as by fire.
JEREMIAH 23:29
29 Is not my word like as a fire? says the LORD; like a hammer that breaks
the rock in pieces?
JOHN
12:48 (Jesus)
48 He who rejects me and does not receive my words, has one that judges him: the
word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Note: The judgement day will not be a pleasant experience for many people, because Jesus said, “That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgement. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37), and Paul also said, “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it is good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10). None of us will escape this, every word that we speak and every deed that we do is going to be compared with what we should have said or done according to the word of God. The only way to avoid the “loss” (1 Corinthians 3:15), is to conform our lives now to what God’s word says, and how can we do this without studying the word of God?
JOB 22:22-23 (Eliphaz)
22 Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 If you return to the almighty, you shall be built up, you
shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.
PSALMS 119:11
11 Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
PSALMS 119:133
133 Order my steps in your word: and let not iniquity have dominion over me.
1 JOHN 3:9
9 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in
him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Note: When Paul said, “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” (Romans 7:22), he was not talking about an unregenerate sinner, but someone who believed in God, and had a strong desire to do right, just as a new Christian might be today. The whole section (Romans 7:14-25) deals with a man, who desires to do good but lacks God’s word in his heart, and because all thoughts, words and deeds come from the heart (Matthew 12:24-35; 15:19; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 2:14-15), he finds it impossible not to sin. Jesus said, “the words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life.” (John 6:63), and when his words are in our heart, they enable what Paul called, “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:2) to be set in motion. This means obeying God’s word from the heart, which he also referred to as “being led by the Spirit of God,” (Romans 8:14), “walk .. after the spirit.” (Romans 8:1), “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16), and it is the only way to avoid sin. The reason why a fully mature born again Christian does not sin is because, "his seed remains in him:" (1 John 3:9), and the seed is the word of God (Mark 4:14; Luke 8:11. Thus it is impossible for us when we are a new Christian to avoid ignorant sin, until after diligent study, we have God’s word written in our hearts according to his promise under the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10, 10:16). God has indicated that writing his word in our hearts will be a gradual process:
(Deuteronomy 32:2) “My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon
the tender herb, and as showers upon the grass:”
(Isaiah 28:9-10) “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? those who are
weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line
upon line; here a little, and there a little.”
This is done as we study the word of God, so studying it is not only essential to avoid sin, but as God said, “The soul who sins, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:20), and Paul said, “the wages of sin is death;” (Romans 6:23), how can we escape spiritual death if we do not study the word of God?
1 TIMOTHY 4:15-16 (Paul)
15 Meditate upon these things; give yourself wholly to them; that your profiting may
appear to all.
16 Take heed to yourself, and to the
doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this you shall both save yourself,
and those who hear you.
Note: These verses make it clear that meditating on the scriptures is profitable, and necessary to save ourselves and others. John the Baptist said, “every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.” (Luke 3:9). Jesus also said, “Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matthew 7:19), and “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away:” (John 15:2). So we need to bear fruit, which can include saving others, at some time during our Christian lives, and as saving others requires that we study the word of God, how can we ensure our salvation without doing it?
HOSEA 6:6 (God)
6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
PROVERBS 2:1-6 (Solomon)
1 My son, if you will receive my words, and hide my commandments with you;
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to
understanding;
3 yes, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for
understanding;
4 If you seek for her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then shall you understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
MATTHEW 11:29 (Jesus)
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn
of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.
EPHESIANS 4:20 (Paul)
20 But you have not so learned Christ;
Note: All knowledge of God is revealed to us by the spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-12), and God clearly wishes us to receive this knowledge (Hosea 4:6; 6:6); but Solomon made it clear that we need to diligently seek for it, by studying God’s word, in order to obtain it (Proverbs 2:1-6). If we wish to obtain knowledge about Jesus, then we also need to study the scriptures and learn about him:
(John 5:39) “Search the scriptures; ... they are those which testify of me.”
(Matthew 11:29) “learn of me;”
(Ephesians 4:20) “you have not so learned Christ;”
The knowledge of God and Jesus ensures eternal life:
(John 17:3) “And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
The knowledge of God is part of the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:11), so it
is very important that we study the scriptures to obtain this knowledge.
How do we know when we know God? The apostle John gave a very good definition:
(1 John 2:3-4) “And by this do we
know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He who says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and
the truth is not in him.”
As we need to study God’s word in order to know him and keep his commandments, then how can we ensure our salvation if we do not study the word of God?
PROVERBS 13:13 (Solomon)
13 Whoever despises the word shall be destroyed: but he who fears the commandment
shall be rewarded.
ISAIAH 27:11
11 When its boughs are withered, they shall be broken off: for the women come and set them on fire;
for it is a people of no understanding:
therefore he who made them will not have mercy on them, and he who formed
them will show them no favour.
HOSEA 4:6
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because you have rejected
knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing
you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
Note: These verses make it clear, that when we become believers, if we then reject the word of God, or choose to do our own things instead of seeking for the knowledge that God so wants us to have (Hosea 4:6; 6:6), then we will end up destroyed along with the unbelievers. Our punishment will then be worse than that of the unbelievers, because wilful disobedience is worse than ignorant disobedience (Luke 12:47-48).
JOHN 14:15 (Jesus)
15 If you love me, keep my commandments.
JOHN 14:21-24 (Jesus)
21 He who has my commandments, and keeps them, is he who loves me: and he
who loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will
manifest myself to him.
22 And Judas said to him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself
to us, and not
to the world?
23 Jesus answered and said to him, If a man loves me, he will keep my
words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make
our abode with him.
24 He who does not love me does not keep my sayings: and the word which you hear is
not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
1 JOHN 2:5
5 But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected:
by this we know that we are in him.
1 JOHN 5:2-3
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his
commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments
are not grievous.
2 JOHN 6
6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the
commandment, That, as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
Note: These scriptures show that God’s definition of loving him and others is that we keep his commandments. This can only be done by having God’s word in our hearts, “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshy tables of the heart.” (2 Corinthians 3:3). Scripture has shown that total obedience other than from the heart is impossible. The Israelites could not attain to the law of righteousness, “Because they sought it not by faith” (Romans 9:32). They sought to obey the letter, but they should have sought to, “serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” (Romans 7:6). This was because, “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6). The words of Jesus in our heart are Spirit (John 6:63). Jesus said, “This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8), and this type of lip-service has never been God’s plan for his people. Loving God with all of our hearts is one of the conditions to inherit eternal life (Psalm 91:14-16; Luke 10:25-28; James 1:12; James 2:5). If we cannot love God and others without obeying God’s word from the heart, and we cannot get God’s word into our hearts without studying it, how can we ensure our salvation if we fail to study the word of God?
ROMANS 12:2 (Paul)
2 And do not be conformed to this world: but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect will of God.
EPHESIANS 5:17
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Note: God’s will is revealed through the scriptures, by “the renewing of your mind,” (Romans 12:2) with the word of God, and doing God’s will is a condition to obtain salvation:
(Matthew 7:21) “Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
(1 John 2:17) “he who does the will of God abides for ever.”
As we cannot even know God’s will for us without studying the word of God, let alone do it, how can we ensure our salvation if we do not renew our mind with the word of God?
JEREMIAH 4:22
22 For my people are foolish, they have not known me; they are stupid children, and they have no understanding: they
are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
JAMES 1:22
22 But you be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Note: The things that we do come from the wisdom and knowledge that we have (Jeremiah 4:22). If we are not doers of God’s word we are deceived (James 1:22), and obedience to God’s word is one of the ways to ensure salvation, because Jesus said, “if you will enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17), and he became “the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey him;” (Hebrews 5:9). John said, “Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life,” (Revelation 22:14), showing how essential obedience is. As we cannot obey the word of God without studying it, how can we ensure our salvation without studying it?
PSALMS 119:4-6
4 You have commanded us to keep your precepts diligently.
5 O that my ways were directed to keep your statutes!
6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect to all your commandments.
PSALMS 119:80
80 Let my heart be sound in your statutes; that I be not ashamed.
Note: Jesus said, “For whoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26; also Mark 8:38), showing that if we are ashamed of Jesus and his words we will be lost. Having respect to all of God’s commandments, that is obeying them, is the way for us to avoid being ashamed (Psalm 119:6), and this requires our hearts to be sound in God’s statutes (Psalm 119:80). As we cannot do this without studying the word of God, how can we ensure our salvation without studying it?
PROVERBS 3:21-22 (Solomon)
21 My Son, do not let them depart from your eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 So shall they be life to your soul, and grace
to your neck.
EPHESIANS 4:29 (Paul)
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that
it may minister grace to the hearers.
COLOSSIANS 4:6 (Paul)
6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned
with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.
2 PETER 1:2
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus
our Lord,
Note: Although grace is a gift from God (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 4:7; James 4:6), the amount of grace given to different individuals varies (Romans 12:6), and it grows (Ephesians 4:7; James 4:6; 2 Peter 1:2; 3:18). Jesus is full of grace (John 1:14), and it comes by Jesus (John 1:17). We are called into his grace (Galatians 1:6), and when his spirit dwells in us we have grace according to how much of his spirit we have (Ephesians 4:7). His grace gives us our belief (Acts 18:27), saves us (Acts 15:11), justifies us (Titus 3:7), and enables us to overcome sin (Romans 6:14-15). We can obtain grace by learning God’s word (Proverbs 3:21-22; 1 Peter 1:2), by being obedient to it (Proverbs 1:8-9), by faith (Romans 5:2), by obtaining God’s wisdom (Proverbs 3:21-22; 4:7-9), by being humble (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5), by being lowly (Proverbs 3:34), and it does not just come to us without any effort on our part. As all these things come through studying and knowing God’s word, and we are saved by grace (Acts 15:11; Ephesians 2:5; 2:8), how then can we retain our salvation without studying it?
MATTHEW 10:32-33 (Jesus)
32 Whoever therefore shall confess1 me before men, him will I confess1
also before my Father who is in heaven.
33 But whoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
LUKE 12:8-9 (Jesus)
8 Also I say to you, Whoever shall confess1 me
before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.
9 But he who denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
ROMANS 10:9-10 (Paul)
9 That if you shall confess1 with your mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead,
you shall be saved.
10 For with the heart man believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession1 is made
to salvation.
1 JOHN 2:22-23
22 Who is a liar but he who denies Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son, the same does not have the Father: [but he
who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.]
Note: What does it mean to confess Jesus? Is it just to say that “Jesus is my Lord and saviour”? No, although it is important for us to confess that Jesus is our Lord and saviour, there are also other ways of interpreting this scripture:
(1) The word tranlated confess1, confession1 (Gr. omologew, Gtr. homologeō) is made up from two words, “homos” meaning “same”, and “legō” meaning “I speak”. Literally it means “I speak the same thing”, or “I agree with”. Thus when we speak the same things that Jesus spoke, we are confessing him, and when we contradict the words of Jesus we are denying him:
(2 Peter 2:1) “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
As we cannot know what Jesus said, or know what the true teaching is without studying the word of God, how can we continue to confess Jesus and avoid heresy without studying it?
(2) Jesus is the word of God (John 1:1; 1:14; Revelation 19:13), and when we confess the word of God we are confessing Jesus. When we contradict the word of God, we are denying it, and thus denying Jesus. As we cannot know and confess the word of God without studying it, how can we retain our salvation if we do not study it (Matthew 10:33; Luke 12:9)?
(3) Another way of denying Jesus is with the deeds that we do:
(Titus 1:16) “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, to every good work reprobate.”
This scripture shows that we need to avoid disobedience and do God’s work in order to avoid denying him, but how can we do this without studying the word of God?
PSALMS 107:20
20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
PROVERBS 4:20-23 (Solomon)
20 My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
PROVERBS 14:30 (Solomon)
30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Note: We have already seen that faith comes by hearing the word of God (See #1.10), so when we know that everything we receive from God comes by faith (Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:23-24; James 1:6-7), then it is no surprise to find that many people obtained healings through their own faith (Matthew 9:2; 9:22; 9:29; 16:28; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:9-10). We could conclude from this, that we may have to study God’s word in order to get the faith to get healed, if we do not have it already. As faith is the presence of God’s word in our heart (Romans 10:8), then it is no contradiction to find that it is the presence of God’s word in our heart that is health to all our flesh (Proverbs 4:23). “A sound heart” is surely one that contains God’s word, and this also is “the life of the flesh:” (Proverbs 14:30). As we need to study the word of God to get it into our heart, how can we expect to get healed without studying it?
PSALMS 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
PROVERBS 6:20-23 (Solomon)
20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake the law of your mother;
21 Bind them continually upon your heart, and tie them about your neck.
22 When you go, it shall lead you; when you sleep, it
shall keep you; and when you awake, it shall talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the
law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Note: These scriptures show that when God’s word is in our heart, it will lead us (Proverbs 6:22), and light the way for us to go (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 6:23), but is there a contradiction here with the scripture which says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)? Should we be led by the word of God, or by the spirit of God? In fact there is no difference. We know that, “the Spirit is truth.” (1 John 5:6), and the Word of God is truth (John 17:17). Jesus said, “the words that I speak to you, they are spirit,” (John 6:63), and as he only spoke God’s words (John 3:34; 8:28; 8:38; 12:50; 14:10), that indicates that the Word of God is the Spirit of God doesn’t it? When Jesus returns, he will destroy the wicked with “the spirit of his mouth,” (2 Thessalonians 2:8), which is “a sharp sword,” (Revelation 19:15), which is the “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” (Ephesians 6:17). When Jesus cast out demons, he did it “with his word” (Matthew 8:16), and “by the Spirit of God” (Matthew 12:28), again confirming that the Word of God is the Spirit of God. Also the Spirit quickens (John 6:63,) and the Word quickens (Psalm 119:50), the Spirit leads us (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18), and the word of God leads us (Psalm 17:4; Proverbs 6:20-22), the truth leads us (Psalm 43:3), the Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6), and the word of God is truth (John 17:17), all effectively indicating that “the Word, and the Holy Spirit: ... are one.” (1 John 5:7). One what? “one spirit.” (Ephesians 4:4). As the word for “one” (Gr. e9n, Gtr. hen) is neuter gender in the Greek, so the word for spirit is neuter. So we can conclude that Word of God is the Spirit of God. Just as “the Word was God.” (John 1:1), which means that “the Word is God”, as he doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17), so “God is a spirit:” (John 4:24). As God creates everything by his Word (Psalm 148:5; John 1:3), so he creates everything by his spirit (Psalm 104:30), and just as he sends his word to do his will (Psalm 107:20; Isaiah 9:8; 55:11; Acts 10:36), so he also sends his spirit (Psalm 104:30; John 14:26; Galatians 4:6; 1 Peter 1:12). We can see how words are spirit from the writing of the apostle Paul:
(2 Corinthians 3:3) “written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God: not in tables of stone, but in the fleshy tables of the heart.”
When we write words with ink, the ink is the substance of the words, and the words are the form of the ink. If we rub out the words, the ink disappears, and if we rub out the ink, the words disappear. Why? because ink and words are two ways of looking at the same thing, one describing its form, and the other describing its substance. So it is when God writes his words in our heart, his word is the form, and his spirit is the substance, which is equivalent to the ink. Therefore, whether we are led by the spirit of God (Romans 8:14), or by his word (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 6:20-23), it amounts to the same thing. How then can we be led by God’s word (or spirit), and become sons of God (Romans 8:14), if we do not study the word of God, and allow him to write them in our hearts? Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would, “bring all things to your remembrance whatever I have said to you.” (John 14:26), but how can he do that if we have never read or heard his words?
ROMANS 12:1-2 (Paul)
1 I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world: but be transformed1
by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:3 (Paul)
3 Forasmuch as you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with
the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 (Paul)
18 But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to
glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:16 (Paul)
16 For which cause we do not faint; for though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
EPHESIANS 4:23-24 (Paul)
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
24 And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
COLOSSIANS 3:9-10 (Paul)
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him
that created him.
1 PETER 2:2
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby.
Note: From the day that we first believe, our Christian life ought to be one of continual transformation, from “the old man”, which is our sinful self, into “the new man”, which is Jesus Christ. This process sees Christ growing in us from “a babe” (1 Corinthians 3:1; 1 Peter 2:2), until we become like Jesus. The fact that this is God’s will for each of us is revealed through several scriptures:
(Matthew 10:25) “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his Lord.”
(Romans 8:29) “For whom he did foreknow, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,”
(1 Corinthians 15:48) “as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.”
(1 Peter 2:21) “For even for this were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that you should follow his steps:”
(1 John 2:6) “He who says he abides in him aught himself also to walk, even as he walked.”
(1 John 4:17) “as he is, so are we in this world.”
It is no quick transformation, but is a process that takes place over a long
period of time. The word translated be transformed1 (Gr. metamorfousqe,
Gtr. metamorphousthe) is the second person plural, present imperative passive,
of the verb “metamorphoō”, I transform. We have a similar word in
English, “metamorphosis”, which physically would mean “a change of shape”,
but spiritually “a change of character”. A physical example of a
matamorphosis would be a caterpillar when it is transformed into a butterfly,
while a spiritual example would be a sinner, with the character of the devil,
when he is transformed into a saint with the character of Jesus. This would
see us transformed from a life according to the flesh (Romans 8:1; 8:5; 8:8; 8:13), to a
spiritual life of total faith. The present imperative indicates a command to
continue to do something (DFH p92; JWW p74; WP p51), while the passive voice
indicates that something is being done to us, rather than us doing something
ourselves (DFH p69; JWW p69). So this word “metamorphousthe” would be more
accurately translated “keep on being transformed”, confirming that the
transformation is a long process, rather than an instantaneous one. So as we
study and read the word of God, “we all with open face beholding ... the
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even
as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18). We grow from “faith to faith:”
(Romans 1:17), as the word of God is “written ... with the spirit of the living
God; ... in the fleshy tables of the heart.” (2 Corinthians 3:3). How is all of this
possible if we do not study the word of God?
ISAIAH 59:20-21
20 And the redeemer shall come to
Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, says the LORD.
21 As for me, this is my covenant with them,
says the LORD; My spirit that is
upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of
your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of your seed’s
seed, says the LORD, from now on and forever.
JEREMIAH 31:33-34
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says
the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and
they shall be my people.
34 And they shall no more teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for
they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD: for I will forgive
their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
HEBREWS 8:10-12
10 For this is the covenant that I
will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will
put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be
to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every
man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all
shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to
their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Note: The redeemer who comes to Zion (Isaiah 59:20) refers to Jesus, and it was prophesied that the spirit of God would be upon him (Isaiah 61:1-2), in a prophesy which Jesus attributed to himself:
(Luke 4:18) “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;”
This anointing with the spirit occurred at his baptism (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:33), when “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power;” (Acts 10:38). After this he was tempted in the wilderness by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13), and returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14). Jesus went on to fulfil the other part of this covenant, “my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth,” (Isaiah 59:21), by speaking only those words which his Father gave him to speak (John 8:26-28; 26:38; 12:50; 14:10). There are three requirements here for us to become partakers of the new covenant:
(1) The seed of Jesus, referred to as “your seed,” (Isaiah 59:21), would be the apostles and others who believed in him when he was alive upon the earth. We today, come into the category of “your seed’s seed”, because we believe the written record that they have left for us. Not only do other scriptures show that we ought also to be like Jesus (Matthew 10:25; 8:29; 1 Peter 2:21-22; 1 John 2:6; 4:17), but to become a partaker of the new covenant, we need to speak only God’s words also (Isaiah 59:21), and how can we do that if we do not learn what God has said by studying his word?
(2) The words that we speak come from our heart (Job 8:10; 33:3; Isaiah 59:13; Matthew 12:34; 15:18-19; Mark 7:21-23), so as part of the new covenant God has promised to write them in our mind, and our heart (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16). This is not unconditional. We need to meditate in God’s word (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:15-16; Philippians 4:8), keep on hearing God’s word (Proverbs 8:15; 23:12; 23:19; Ezekiel 3:10; Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:12), and keep on seeing God’s word (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; 11:18-20; Proverbs 4:20-21; 23:26), and as we cannot do any of this without studying the word of God, how can we become partakers of the New Covenant without studying it?
(3) We can see another indication here of a partaker of the new covenant by what God has said:
(Jeremiah 31:34) “they shall all know me, from the least of them
to the greatest of them,”
(Hebrews 8:11) “all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”
How do we know when we know him? The apostle John gave us a very good definition:
(1 John 2:3-4) “And by this do we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He who says, I know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and
the truth is not in him.”
If all partakers of the new covenant know God, and that requires us to keep his commandments, then how can we become partakers of the new covenant without studying God’s word and finding out what his commandments are? How can we even claim to have eternal life?
(John 17:3) “And this is eternal life, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
The manifestation of our salvation (See #1.04 Note) depends upon the life we live between when we first believe and when we die. In order to ensure that we do receive that salvation, studying the word of God must be an essential part of our life. The more we do it, and put it into practice in our lives, the more certain we can be that we will be a part of that blessed first resurrection when Jesus returns.
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