The Necessity of Studying the Word of God

What is Necessity? It is the condition and quality of something being essential, indispensable, or requisite. It is something that is necessary to know or do for the sake success or progress. It is the quintessential element that is required for ultimate survival. The word of God is this very thing. It is a necessity for humanity to study and read because it God's only divine revelation to mankind. It is by hearing/reading the word of God that people come to faith (Romans 10:17). This Revealed Word is what shows us everything we need to know in life. The Bible is the manual to life. It gives basic instructions before leaving earth.

"People who want to know Christ better, need to know Scripture better."

This is the necessity of studying the word of God - the Holy Scriptures - from Genesis to Malachi, and from Matthew to Revelation. 66 books, from 40 different authors, over a 1500 year period of history, all magnifying and praising harmoniously the redeeming and sovereign Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. The Old Testament points to Christ coming into the world as the Messiah, and the New Testament points back to Christ dying for the sin of the world as the Savior.

So why do we have to study the word of God? Here are 4 quick things that I thought of:

1.Studying the word of God produces knowledge in Jesus Christ.
Jesus declared in John 5:39, "You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me."

Also in Luke 24:27, "Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things written about himself in all the scriptures."

And a few verses later in Luke 24:44, ""These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

Jesus is essentially saying that "all scripture is about Me." It is all about knowing and growing in Jesus Christ and a relationship with Him. It is all about knowing Jesus Christ and Him crucified as the Apostle Paul proclaimed in 1 Corinthians 2:2, "I am determined to nothing among you, except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." Paul also states in Colossian 2:3, "Everything is revealed through Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." We are to know nothing greater or more than the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to study the word of God because it is the words of eternal life and everything that pertains to godliness in Christ. We study to know more about Christ's greatness and goodness and how we are to be more like Him. If we do not study, then we will be less like Christ. To know Christ better, we need to know Scripture better. If we do this, then there are three results below:

2. Studying the word of God produces obedience.
"And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and the statutes."
Deuteronomy 17:19

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

3. Studying the word of God produces provision.
""This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Joshua 1:8

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper." Psalm 1:2-3

4. Studying the word of God produces hope.
"Search the book of the LORD, and see what he will do. He will not miss a single detail. Not one of these birds and animals will be missing, and none will lack a mate, for the LORD has promised this. His Spirit will make it all come true." Isaiah 8:20 (NLT)

Final Thought - Be a disciple.
So friends, make it your goal to study the word of God as the Bereans did in Acts 17:11 where they searched the scriptures daily. Meditate and study the word day and night as the psalmist does in Psalm 119. Be like Timothy who was instructed to study the word of God to know and teach the truth in 2 Timothy 2;15. Be a disciple of Jesus Christ and know His word!

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed." John 8:31