Why Live By The Bible?

In our first week we spent some time understanding the benefits of living by the Bible.  In our last few weeks, we’ve spent time understanding how to live by the Bible.  But what does the Bible say about the alternatives to living by God’s word?  In other words, should we choose to ignore living by the Bible, what are our options?


The Word is truth
·         John 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
·         Psalm 119:160
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever
·         What is truth?
o   John 18:38, Pilate asked Jesus the same question
o   Truth is what corresponds to reality
·         There HAS to be a truth
o   All religions claim that their’s is true
o   Atheism & all roads lead to God are actually a truth claims
·         The opposite of truth is…
o   John 8:44 says Satan is the ‘Father of lies”
o   ** The extreme example is cults **
To whom shall we go?
·         John 6:66-69
·         After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.
·         What if we’re wrong?
o   1 Corinthians 15:13-14,19
o   But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone
o   We should be pitied more than anyone
·         Where else would you go?
o   Have you seen God work in your life?
o   If you have that evidence, would it even make sense to not follow God?
Follow your heart?
·         Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
·         Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death

·         Without the Word, we are left to our own devices
o   Our hearts will lead us in the wrong direction
o   **Didn’t you think you would be with your 1st girlfriend/boyfriend forever**
o   How destructive would this thinking be in a marriage?
·         ‘The human brain is a morally corrupt computer capable of infinite rationalization’
o   Right or wrong, people tend to try & justify their actions
o   We need to objective nature of the Word to ‘judge the thoughts and attitudes of the heart’ Hebrews 4:12
·         If you reject Him long enough, God will let you be
o   Romans 1:24-25
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen

o   Like the prodigal son who never came home