What is the Purpose of God’s Word, The Holy Bible?

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What is the purpose of God's Word? Should we study God's Word? How do we study God's Word? Is it important to study the Word? If so, why is it? Why did God have his inspired words written and preserved by men who risked and gave their lives so we can read it today? Could it be that we who haven't seen Jesus or walked physically with him can know him personally by his Spirit, unlike Thomas, who wouldn't believe without physically seeing and touching his wounds? (John 20:24-31)

In this article, I hope to address these questions in such a way as to encourage each one who reads this to find the answers themselves. All it takes is a willing heart and God's Holy Spirit guiding us. And the bible of course! I may have more questions than answers but, I am constantly searching for whatever God wants me to know and understand at this moment. With that being said I will attempt to at least spark an interest in you to find the answers for yourself. Today as always we can not put our Faith and trust in anyone except Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Period!

I don't pretend to have all the answers but hopefully my questions can benefit others who may not have had my thoughts and questions or walked in the same exact path as I have. We are told to encourage one another in that bible I am referring to. This is my attempt to do so!

Choosing the Right Bible Translation for Study

I encourage everyone to study the King James Version of the bible, using the Strong's Concordance, and Vine's Exhaustive Dictionary to aid your study as it helps to search by word or subject whatever you desire to know or learn. Is this the only way? Of course not , but I do know it's one of the truest ways I've found. Every single word is in there that is in the bible, where to find them, and their meaning in the Greek and Hebrew language that it is translated from.

I was told back in the 90's , when the new age movement was becoming popular, that I shouldn't buy a KJV, by a salesperson at a bible book store in Texas. He told me that it was difficult to understand and suggested the newer translations would be much better. Thankfully I knew better and bought the KJV as a study source. Granted, for pleasure reading you might find it easier to read a different version which is your choice of course, but if you are studying to fully understand God's word I've found the KJV to be the closest to the pure translation of the Greek and Hebrew texts available to get the truest understanding of its meaning. I am always searching for the truth.

Remember this is my walk and I can only hope it will help you in yours.

Understanding the Purpose of God's Word

First of all we have to both agree that the Holy Bible is God's instruction book for us. Yep it takes faith to believe and understand this. This is why we can't please God without faith! But if we are to prove all things and hold fast to the truth, this is the only way to do that. By study and God's Spirit guiding us.

I believe it is the inspired written word of God preserved and intended to help us know our Lord and Savior on a personal level as Christ mentions in the N.T. scriptures. (John 15:13-15) Ye are my friends if you do whatsoever command you.

You have to desire the truth above all else no matter what we have heard or been taught by others. No one! That includes teachers, preachers, theologians , etc…are above you. It may include changes in our lives and in our walk on this earth. Maybe even sacrifices by leaving our old ways and traditions behind and moving towards God's truth!

Learning to Study God's Word Independently

For many years I honestly believed that I could not understand the Bible unless I had a minister to teach me. i.e. pastors, ministers, theologians with a degree , etc!

Then God began to show me that things I had been taught by these so-called experts weren't right after all. What an awakening that began!!

I knew that all denominations couldn't be right since they all held different beliefs that didn't add up. Then of course we tend to think Ours is the Only right one. Then God showed me that this couldn't be true either. So, after many trials in life, and study and desire to understand truth I discerned that the only way to know was to study it myself with God's Spirit in me and his direction guiding me.

I learned that when Christ died for my sins, the very moment the veil of the Temple was torn into, leading to the Holy of Holies, I was given direct access to God by his Spirit instead of the Levitical priesthood. (Luke 23:45) Gentiles now had access to God through his spirit directly, by prayer and his Word, preserved for us until these latter days in which we live.

This gave me a whole new way of thinking and believing , with no one to blame but myself, not anyone else! I had to work out my own salvation. (Phil 2:12-16) I realized at this time God wanted to talk to me personally and directly instead of through a man with a degree/title having a monopoly on God's word.

I realized that I no longer had to depend on anyone but God and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to know them and follow them personally as moved by their Spirit in me. In this day and age of Satan's deception and influence on the whole world full of so many blatant lies being spread , this is a great thing to understand.

Biblical Foundation for Spirit-Led Learning

I offer scriptures to support my understanding and what the Lord has shown me over a lifetime. Look and see what God shows you!

Phillip and the Eunuch in (Acts.8:26-40) Please read it for yourself. In summary the Eunuch asked Phillip how he could understand the scriptures without a man to teach him? Phillip showed him. The Eunuch was baptized by Phillip and received God's Holy Spirit and from that time forth the Eunuch never saw Phillip again. My question was who taught the Eunuch from that day forward? My answer is the Lord , through the Holy Spirit in him!

In (I John 2:20) the word unction is used , (Greek #5545 in Strong's) Definition: endowment of the Holy Spirit- an anointing of the Holy Spirit.

(I John 2:27) But the anointing which you have received of him who abideth in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but the same anointing teaches you of all things and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in HIm.

(I John 2:28) And now little children, abide in him, that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Personal Application and Encouragement

I offer this as my guide to knowing the Lord, personally, one on one ! He alone teaches me what I need to know when I need to know it. It is up to each of us individually to work out our own salvation with trembling and with fear. (Romans 12:1-2) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2). And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye PROVE what is that good and acceptable , and perfect will of God. (IThess 5:21) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good! (Isaiah 28:10) Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little. It is up to us to find out who our teacher is and be willing to change when we see we have been wrong or misled.

I personally know that I need God now more than ever and plan to stay as close to him in prayer and study of his word as I possibly can. I can only hope that this reaches and touches at least one person to help them have a deeper understanding of God and a closer walk with our Lord and Savior , Jesus Christ.

Be blessed and know the Lord , personally!

In Love, Pam Fisk