Going deeper
The Alpha Course logoWhy is the Bible Important?

(summarised from “Questions of Life” Alpha material by Nicky Gumbel. http://uk.alpha.org/)


The Bible is uniquely popular. It is estimated that 44 million Bibles are sold a year.  The Times recently read ‘Forget the modern British novelists and TV tie-ins; the Bible is the biggest-selling book every year.’

It is uniquely powerful. In recent times there has been a rising interest in the occult... God offers us in the Bible an opportunity to meet with the supernatural power of good.  To meet with the living God is so much more thrilling, more satisfying and a great deal wiser.

It is uniquely precious. Nicky Gumbel describes the reaction of a man living in part of the former USSR.  At that time Bibles were strictly illegal there.  On receiving a Russian Bible from Nicky, the man... “had an expression of almost disbelief.  Then he took from his pocket a New Testament which was probably 100 years old.  The pages were so threadbare they were virtually transparent.  When he realised that he had received a whole Bible, he was elated... We hugged each other and he started to run down the street jumping for joy, because he knew that the Bible was the most precious thing in the world.”

God reveals himself in a person, Jesus Christ. He is God’s ultimate revelation.  The main way we know about Jesus is through God’s revelation recorded in the Bible.  Jesus said, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life.  These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40)

The Bible is a manual for life. If we accept that the Bible is inspired by God, then its authority must follow from that.  If it is God’s word then it must be our authority for our what we believe and how we act.  For Jesus, it was his supreme authority. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)

The Bible is a love letter from God. God’s desire is that we should live in a relationship with him.  He wants to speak to us daily through his word.  So as well as being a manual for life, it is also a love letter. 

When God speaks he brings faith to those who are not yet Christians.  Paul says, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

Secondly he speaks to Christians.  As we read the Bible we experience a transforming relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  He often brings many blessings: joy and peace (Psalm 23:5), guidance (Psalm 119:105), healing to our bodies (Proverbs 4:22), defence against spiritual attack (Matthew 4:1-11) and great power to pierce all our defences and get through to our hearts (Hebrews 4:12).




"For now treat scripture as the face of God, melt in its presence."

Augustine

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