"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.." II Timothy 3:16,17 "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." Matthew 7:21 Seeing that God has communicated to us His inspired word for the purpose of making us complete and that entrance into heaven will be based upon our compliance to His word, we should and must see the importance and the necessity of studying His word. How does one go about studying God’s word? Before one enters into a study of God’s word he must understand two things. One must understand that God’s word can be understood. We read in the Bible that the scriptures can be understood by the people.

So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. Neh. 8:8

By which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), Ephesians 3:4

And to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; Col. 1:9

What sense would it make for God to give us His inspired word that will one day judge us (Jn. 12:48) and we would be unable to understand it?

A person also needs to understand that God’s word can be understood correctly. One might ask, "What has studying God’s word correctly have to do with where I will spend eternity?--Plenty. In II Peter 3:16, Peter would write of those who twisted scripture "to their own destruction." Paul would say to those who would pervert the Gospel, "let them be accursed" Galatian 1:7-9. He instructed Timothy to "Give diligence to show thyself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed of rightly dividing the word of truth" II Timothy 2:15. Often times we hear when it comes to studying God’s word, "Well, that is just your interpretation, this is my interpretation." We all need to realize that when it comes to studying God’s word there is no such thing as "my interpretation" or "your interpretation", but there is only God’s interpretation. Therefore we are either studying God’s correctly or incorrectly.

The Bible can be understood and the Bible must be understood correctly if a person wants to reap the benefits found therein.. God expects us to use His book to become acquainted with His character and gain a knowledge of His will; but it will require study on our part. May we seek to be like the Bereans "…in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" Acts 17:11.

Mike Gurganus
PO Box. 916
Henderson, NC 27536