We believe that there is power in an open Bible. Join us for a 30-Day Bible Challenge as we encourage you to engage with Scripture daily through the Open Bible.
This is week two (days 9-15) in the 30-day challenge. If you missed week one, you can click here to catch up. Make sure to check back next week to continue the journey and keep your Bible open!
This week: What God’s Word Does
Day One: Watch the Sunday Sermon
“Engage the Word” with Philip Nation.
Philip Nation is the Vice-President/Publisher of Thomas Nelson Bibles. He preaches frequently around the country and has authored numerous books and Bible studies.
Day Two: God’s Word Convicts
“And Nehemiah, who was the governor, a Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law.” Nehemiah 8:9
One of the great proofs that the Bible is really God’s inspired Word is its unique ability to convict men and women of their sins. Let us consider but a few Old Testament and New Testament examples that demonstrate the life-saving power of the Scriptures.
Josiah, a young and godly Judean king who ruled the Lord’s people more than six centuries before Christ, succeeded a wicked ruler who hated righteousness. At the beginning of Josiah’s rule, a copy of God’s Word was found in the temple. When it was read to the king, both he and his people were convicted of their sins in not keeping God’s law. A great revival then took place (2 Chr. 34:18–21). Nehemiah provides a second Old Testament example. After Jerusalem’s gates and walls had been repaired, he assembled the people and had the Scriptures read to them for three hours per day. This soon caused them to confess their sins (Neh. 9:3).
Before Jesus left this earth, He promised that the Holy Spirit would come upon the apostles: “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). We see this come true at Pentecost when Peter used the Scriptures to rebuke Israel for crucifying its Messiah. This sermon resulted in 3,000 people being convicted of their sins and trusting in Christ (Acts 2:37, 41). A second instance of the Word convicting its reader of sin is found in Paul. In Romans 7:7–12, Paul describes how he would not even know of sin if it were not for the law convicting him of it.
Day Three: God’s Word Corrects
“Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips,I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.” Psalm 17:4
There are many symbols for God’s Word found in the Bible. It can be thought of as a mirror (James 1:23–25), a seed (1 Pet. 1:23), a lamp (Ps. 119:105), a sword (Eph. 6:17), and even as food (Heb. 5:12–14). But the Bible also serves as a measuring rod. It is to be used as the standard against which we measure our beliefs and conduct. Whenever we hear God’s Word taught, we are to place that teaching next to what the Scriptures say to confirm that it “measures up.” If it does, it can and should be embraced. If it does not, it should be rejected. The same is true of our actions.
At times, God will do this for us. He will use His Word to correct us when we are in the wrong. Israel’s great king David experienced this: “You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word . . . Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word” (Ps. 119:65, 67). There are other times when God’s Word can correct believers when we are in honest and unintentional error. Aquila and Priscilla, a godly Christian couple, used the Scriptures to help shape the doctrines of a young teacher named Apollos (Acts 18:24–26). Paul did the same thing for some former disciples of John the Baptist he met in Ephesus (Acts 19:1–7).
Day Four: God’s Word Cleanses
“How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.” Psalm 119:9
One of the pieces of furniture in the Old Testament tabernacle was called the bronze laver (Ex.38:8). It consisted of a large, upright bronze bowl filled with water, resting upon a pedestal. The priests would stop at this laver and wash. The Word of God may be thought of in terms of that laver, for it also has the power to cleanse. The Old Testament laver could only remove the physical dirt from human hands, but the Scriptures possess the ability to take away our moral filth (1 Pet. 1:22). “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
What areas of our lives can the Bible cleanse? Here are three:
a. It can cleanse us from wrong thoughts. Sometimes we are tempted to think critically of others. God’s Word can prevent this (Ps. 1:2). On other occasions fearful thoughts may race through our minds. The Scriptures can prevent this also (Josh. 1:8). In fact, the Bible will establish our total thought life if we allow it to do so (Phil. 4:8–9; 2 Pet. 1:5–10).
b. It can cleanse us from wrong words. James seemed to be an expert on the sins of the human tongue. In James 1, he dealt with this very thing and showed the absolute necessity of dependence upon the Scriptures to keep our words true (James 1:22–26; cf. Ps. 119:172).
c. It can cleanse us from wrong actions. Jesus promised this would be the case: “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3).
Certainly, the old adage is true: God’s Word will keep us from wrong thoughts, words, and actions, or else wrong thoughts, words, and actions will keep us from God’s Word.
Day Five: God’s Word Confirms
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” John 8:31
To confirm means “to fully establish a truth or fact.” The Bible should be used to confirm God’s truth in our own hearts in at least three ways:
a. It confirms our salvation. Often, Christians can become troubled with doubts about their conversion experience. Did God really save them when they asked Him to do so? Are they still saved today, even after sinning greatly? Several passages confirm our salvation. One of the strongest is Jesus’ own words in the Gospel of John: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24; cf. John 3:16; 6:27, 35, 37, 40; 10:27–29; Rom. 8:1).
b. It confirms the hand of God in all of life’s bitter disappointments. Undoubtedly, a most important verse of reassurance and comfort in the hour of great need is Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
c. It confirms our forgiveness when we sin. Sometimes, believers carry an unnecessary burden of guilt over past sins and failures. Even though these have been confessed, they have difficulty believing God has truly forgiven and cleansed them. But time and again, the Bible assures us all sin is instantly and eternally forgiven at the moment of salvation (Pss. 32:5; 103:12; Is. 38:17).
Day Six: God’s Word Equips
“That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
That you may answer words of truth
To those who send to you?” Proverbs 22:21
In a general sense, it can be said that the Bible was written to convict sinners of sin and to equip believers for service. Here are four ways that it accomplishes the latter:
a. It equips us for evangelism. In Acts 8:26–35, Philip the evangelist used Isaiah 53 to point the Ethiopian eunuch to Christ.
b. It equips us for counseling others. In his two letters to Timothy, Paul constantly urged this young man to preach the Word of God (1 Tim. 1:3, 18; 4:13–15; 2 Tim. 2:1–2, 15). “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed” (1 Tim. 4:6).
c. It equips us for using one’s spiritual gifts from God. A spiritual gift is an ability given to the believer by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of edifying the church and glorifying God. In Ephesians 1:17–19 and 4:7, 11–14, Paul said knowing God’s Word will provide us with the maturity we need to use our gifts in the most effective way.
d. It equips us for doing battle with Satan. In Ephesians 6:10–17, Paul likened the believers’ armor to that used by Roman foot soldiers. In this comparison the Word of God is likened to the soldier’s sword (Eph. 6:17).
Day Seven: God’s Word Gives a Free Gift
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesusour Lord.” Romans 6:23
You can work for sin, but it is a cruel master. When it comes to payday, the wage it pays is death—separation from God forever. In stark contrast, God does not pay wages. Instead, He offers a gift—eternal life. There is nothing that we can do to earn this gift. After all, if we could earn it, it would not be a gift; it would be wages. Eternal life is just that—eternal—it never ceases. The basic concept underlying life is union. There are three kinds of life mentioned in the Bible: (1) physical life—union of the soul with the body; (2) spiritual life—union of the soul with God; and (3) eternal life—eternal union of the soul and body with God. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice . . . And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish” (John 10:27–28). The gift of God is eternal life. We receive this gift when we believe in Jesus as our Savior. Having eternal life, we will never perish.
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