Studying the Bible is essential for believers because it helps us understand who God is, His redemptive plan for humanity, and how to live a Christ-centered life.
The Bible is a crucial book to study because in its pages are countless, priceless truths we can discover and apply to our lives. Through the Bible, we can learn about love (1 John 4:19), especially God’s amazing, agape love displayed through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:6–8). The Bible also reveals God’s redemptive plan and how we can enter eternity through belief in Him—-something that He desires for everyone (Romans 3:10–18; 5:8; 6:23; 10:9–13; 2 Peter 3:9). In our study of both the Old and New Testaments, we can see geological and historical evidence for God’s existence. Additionally, Scripture includes real accounts of scientific anomalies/miracles that can only be made possible through the Creator of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1), which helps us have a deeper respect for His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence throughout the ages of time. God’s Word also gives us direction on what studying it looks like (Joshua 1:8) and why it is completely reliable (2 Timothy 3:16). Through studying the Bible, we can learn more about the God who created us and how we can respond to His love (Romans 10:9–13; Ephesians 2:10).
The Bible should be studied because it gives us the answers to our most burning questions that man-made literature simply doesn’t have the authority to answer. Only the Bible is inspired from God, and studying it will so fill us with new truths that we will be able to better recognize the lies surrounding us. The Bible also gives us real-life examples that we can learn from. We can read about people whose lives reveal what happens when we live according to God's will. For instance, Joshua, Jeremiah, and Paul demonstrate that following God is often difficult, but it can be done joyfully and ultimately leads to rewards. Likewise, David and Peter are classic examples of how a humble heart allows God to work through an imperfect character. On the other hand, the Bible also reveals valuable lessons on what happens when we don’t listen to God—-take Adam and Eve, Ananias and Sapphira, or the children of Israel for example. Finally, the Bible teaches us how to reject sin in ourselves (Psalm 119:9, 11) and in the world (Romans 12:2; James 4:4), how to focus on what really matters (1 Timothy 6:17), and how to actively participate in God's plan (1 Corinthians 9:23). To study the Bible is to seek to understand a personal message to us, written by God Himself. To ignore it is to reject His primary method of communicating with us. God wants us to understand who He is, who we are, and how we can be reconciled with Him. The more we study the Bible, the more we will gain His wisdom and the more we will grow in our spiritual walk with Him.