Today, I want to continue our series on “Why We Need” by focusing on why we need the Bible. Last week, we spoke about why we need God—because He is our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Provider. But today, I want us to look at the Bible, God’s Word, as our guide to salvation and as a source of comfort in our struggles and trials.
The Bible isn’t just a book; it’s God’s power to save us. When you study its contents, it creates faith in your heart. The author of Hebrews tells us in chapter 11, verse 6, “Without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We cannot please God without faith, and we cannot have faith without engaging deeply with His Word. The Bible creates faith. As Paul writes in Romans 10:17, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” When you hear the Word and read it, it builds faith within you, which can lead to salvation.
Jesus Himself, in John 8:24, said, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” Faith in Jesus is the key to salvation. But how do we gain that faith? By diligently studying the Scriptures. The Bible was written to be read, understood, and a source of life. John tells us in John 20:30-31 that these things were written so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing, we may have life in His name. The Bible is God’s power to save because it leads us to rebirth. It teaches us what it means to be “born again,” as Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3. One must be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God.
The Word of God is the incorruptible seed that gives us new life. As Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:23, we are “born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever.” That Word, that life-giving power, is what we find in the Bible. And through that Word, we are born again, sanctified, and made right with God.
But the Bible is not only God’s power to save but also His power to keep us saved. Paul writes to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 10:11-12, using the examples from the Old Testament to teach us and help us learn from the mistakes of others so that we don’t fall into the same traps. Scripture is there to instruct, correct, and equip us for every good work, as Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Through Scripture, we find wisdom for salvation and strength to stay on the right path.
And beyond salvation, the Bible is God’s power to comfort. It gives us hope. Paul tells the Romans in Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” The Scriptures assure us that God keeps His promises. They show us His faithfulness through time, giving us confidence in His grace, especially as we look forward to the return of Jesus Christ.
The Bible also provides us with peace. Paul writes in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” That peace comes from knowing and meditating on His Word. The peace strengthens, sustains, and gives us clarity amid life’s storms.
Finally, the Bible brings happiness and nourishment. Blessed is the person, as Psalm 1:1-3 tells us, who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. Such a person is like a tree planted by rivers of water, yielding fruit in season. There is joy, blessedness, and happiness in living according to God’s Word.
So, today, what is your attitude towards the Bible? Have you diligently sought, read, studied, and allowed God’s Word to transform your life? To be saved, one must obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ, be born again, and continue faithfully walking in His ways. The journey does not end at baptism; it continues through a lifetime of learning, growing, and serving.
If you’ve strayed or stumbled, remember that we all make mistakes. But God’s Word is here to guide us back, correct us, and help us start again. Let us turn to the Word, the living Word of God, and find salvation, comfort, hope, peace, and joy in the Bible.
