What should be the “Top Ten” Bible texts that must
always be kept in mind when studying the Bible?
Here are the most
important verses in the Bible to bear in mind when studying the Bible:
1. Neither the
Divine source nor the ultimate purpose of the Scriptures are open to question!
2 Timothy 3:14–17 —14 But continue thou in the
things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou
hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which
is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works.
2. The ultimate
standard of truth has been maintained from beginning to end in God’s Word, the
certainty of which is beyond any doubt, and the remembrance of which is our
solemn task!
2 Peter 1:12–21 — 12 Wherefore I will not be
negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know
them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it
meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in
remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my
tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15
Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these
things always in remembrance. 16 For we have not followed cunningly
devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he
received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to
him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we
were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of
prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth
in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will
of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
3. The Scriptural
chain of blessing is learning, then patience and comfort, and finally, hope.
Romans 15:4 — For whatsoever things were written
aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort
of the scriptures might have hope.
4. The Lessons of
Biblical History must not be missed!
1 Corinthians 10:6–12 — 6 Now these things
were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they
also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it
is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one
day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as
some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the
destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples:
and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he
fall.
5. There is an
inescapable reality of what is to be expected when exposing yourself to God’s
Word!
Hebrews 4:12 — For the word of God is quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart.
6. The progressive
nature of God’s communications with mankind has a past, a present and a future!
Hebrews 1:1–4 — 1 God, who at sundry times and
in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir
of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the
brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all
things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat
down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
4 Being made so much better than the angels,
as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
7. The Lord Jesus
Christ as the Logos of God is the subject and central focus of the Scriptures!
Luke 24:27 — And beginning at Moses and all the prophets,
he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
8. The seriousness
of absolute submission to God and His Word in Bible study!
Rev. 22:18–19 — 18 For I testify unto every
man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add
unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this
book: 19 And if any man shall
take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his
part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things
which are written in this book.
9. The spiritual
nature of the Scriptures in both their origin and content are beyond the
natural abilities of unregenerate humans to comprehend. The divine author, the
Holy Spirit of God, is the only interpreter of the Word of God! Our dependency
on the Spirit of God for any right understanding of the Bible is absolute.
1 Corinthians 2:11–16 — 11 For what man
knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so
the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we
have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God;
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but
which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he
himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the
Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
10. Finally, here
is a question that we must be able to give either a negative or a positive
answer to! This question has been whispered down through the ages, and haunts
the human race to this day, sometimes from the most trusted sources. We must
have an accurate answer to it for our own sake, and those we communicate God’s
Word to. Those who would cast doubt and confusion on God’s Word surround us,
and will not cease to attack with increasing subtlety until the Lord returns to
this earth to conquer and judge them. This question will not go away until
then. Its devastating effects must not be forgotten.
Genesis 3:1 — Now the serpent was more subtil than any
beast of the field which the LORD God had made.
And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of
every tree of the garden?
If we ever lose sight of any of the truths revealed in
these passages of Scripture while we submit to the study of God’s Word we will
be in danger of misunderstanding the Scriptures, or worse, of dishonoring the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Sola Scriptura,
Solo Christo, Soli Deo Gloria,
John T. “Jack” Jeffery
Pastor, Wayside Gospel Chapel
Greentown, PA
20 MAY 2019
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