“Why Should I Read My Bible?”
Our first series of posts is on the topic of “Reading Your Bible.” And our first post will answer the question, “Why should I read my Bible?”
If you’ve been a Christian long enough, it’s a question that you probably don’t think about too often, not consciously at least. But the topic of Bible reading comes up so often in my conversations that I know how important it is to address it. And since it’s such a basic issue, we should start here.
And though the issue is basic enough, Bible reading has major consequences for the Christian life. So, here’s an attempt at answering the question in three parts.
We should read our Bibles because it produces faith (Rom 10:17)
Paul writes in Rom 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” The word of Christ is the gospel in this context. Paul explicitly tells us that faith is produced when we hear/read the gospel.
This makes sense because “the word of Christ” is the external means of salvation (Jas 1:18). But we easily forget that faith is produced and nurtured by hearing the word of Christ. That’s why we have to let it dwell richly within us (Col 3:16), because what is the Christian life but a life of faith in Christ (Gal 2:20)?
We should read our Bibles because it grows us in Christlikeness (1 Pet 2:2).
Peter exhorts us to long for pure milk of God’s word because by the word we grow up or become mature in Christ (1 Pet 2:2). Acts 20:24 says the same thing – that the word of God’s grace is what builds us up in our salvation and is able to give us our inheritance in Christ. In other words, the word of God gets us to the finish line.
We should read our Bible because it shows us the glory of Christ (2 Cor 3:18).
Paul states that we are transformed from one level of glory to the next, which is a picture of spiritual growth, by the Spirit as we behold the glory of the Lord (Christ). He says in 4:4 and 4:6 that the glory of Christ is found in the gospel. So, as we see by faith the glory of Jesus in the gospel, the Spirit uses that spiritual sight to change us on the inside so that we look more like the One we’re looking at. That’s a tremendous promise!
And guess what? In Rom 10:17, 1 Pet 2:2, and 2 Cor 3:18, the word of God particularly in focus is the gospel of Christ. All God’s words are spiritually beneficial (2 Tim 3:16). But God was pleased to appoint the gospel of to be the centerpiece of our salvation and sanctification.
So, take up and read your Bible! And remember to rehearse the gospel regularly to fuel your faith and inflame your love for Christ and others.