The Bible is God’s love letter to humanity. It is a guidebook for life that reveals who God is and how we can have a personal relationship with Him. The Bible is divinely inspired and has the power to transform lives.
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The Bible Is “The Word of God”
“After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.” —Hebrews 1:1-2
The Bible Is Unique
It Is Divinely Inspired
“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16
It Is Flawless
“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” —Psalm18:30, NIV
It Is Authoritative
“But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a letter in the law to become void.” —Luke 16:17
“Your word, O Lord, is permanent; it stands firm in the heavens.” —Psalm 119:89
The Bible Is Trustworthy
“The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable. They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined.” —Psalm 12:6
“Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth.” —John 17:17
“Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.” —Proverbs 30:5
“The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the Lord’s promise is reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.” —Psalm 18:30
The Bible Is Life-changing
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16-17
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” —Hebrews 4:12
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” —Romans 12:2
“Your rules are marvelous. Therefore I observe them. Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. They give insight to the untrained.” —Psalm 119:129-130
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Your precepts give me discernment. Therefore I hate all deceitful actions. Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path.” —Psalm 119:103-105
The Bible Is God’s Book
A Book of History
“These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.” —1 Corinthians 10:11
“For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.” —Romans 15:4
A Book of Promises
“Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.” —2 Peter 1:4
“For every one of God’s promises are ‘Yes’ in him; therefore also through him the “Amen” is spoken, to the glory we give to God.” —2 Corinthians 1:20
A Book of Prophecies
“Certainly the sovereign Lord does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” —Amos 3:7
“For no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” —2 Peter 1:21
A Book of Worship
“Extol the Lord our God! Worship at his footstool! He is holy!” —Psalm 99:5
“Sing to the Lord, for he has done magnificent things, let this be known throughout the earth!” —Isaiah 12:5
“All the earth worships you and sings praises to you! They sing praises to your name!” (Selah) —Psalm 66:4
“But a time is coming – and now is here – when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers. God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” —John 4:23-24
The Bible Has Major Themes
God Wants Us to Know Him
“Seek the Lord while he makes himself available; call to him while he is nearby!” —Isaiah 55:6
“When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul,” —Jeremiah 29:13
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him,” —Ephesians 1:17
“‘If people want to boast, they should boast about this: They should boast that they understand and know me. They should boast that they know and understand that I, the Lord, act out of faithfulness, fairness, and justice in the earth and that I desire people to do these things,’ says the Lord.” —Jeremiah 9:24
God Shows the Consequences of Sin
“So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned” —Romans 5:12
“For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 6:23
“Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” —Galatians 6:7-8
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” —Romans 3:23
God Sent Jesus for Our Salvation
“Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.” —John 1:14
“You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me.” —John 5:39
“Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures.” —Luke 24:44-45
God Rewards Faith and Obedience
“Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” —Hebrews 11:6
“To obey the Lord is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. He will receive praise forever.” —Psalm 111:10
“If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” —John 14:15
“For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments do not weigh us down.” —1 John 5:3
“So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.” —James 2:17
God Chooses People for His Purposes
“For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.” —Ephesians 2:10
“For the scripture says to Pharaoh: “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.” —Romans 9:17-18
Names of the Bible
Gospel
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” —Romans 1:16
Holy Scriptures
“…that he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,…” —Romans 1:2
Law of the Lord
“The law of the Lord is perfect and preserves one’s life. The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.” —Psalm 19:7
Living Words
“He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.” —Acts 7:38, NIV
Word of Christ
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.” —Colossians 3:16
Scriptures
“Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,…” —2 Timothy 3:16
The Scroll
“Then I say, “Look! I come! What is written in the scroll pertains to me.” —Psalm 40:7
Sword of the Spirit
“And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” —Ephesians 6:17
Truth
“Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth.” —John 17:17
Word of God
“But he replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!’” —Luke 11:28
Word of Life
“…by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.” —Philippians 2:16
Words of the Lord
“The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable. They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined.” —Psalm 12:6