Part 3 - Outline One: The Bible

Part 3 - Outline One: The Bible
By: Porter Barrington

4 The Bible claims special power (Hebrews 4:-12) "For the word of God is living
and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints marrow, and is discerner of the thoughts of the heart."

Notes:
"For the word of God is living and powerful..." The Bible claims:
1)Dividing power as a sword (above verse) The Bible will separate man from sin
II Psalm 119:11 or sin will separate man from the Bible Isaiah 59:2
2)Reflecting power as a mirror James 1:22-25. In the Bible, we see ourselves as
God sees us - as sinners Romans 3:23
3)Cleansing power as water Ephesians 5:26. David prayed that God would "wash
him from iniquity " and "cleanse him from sin." Psalm 51:2
4)Reproductive power as seed 1 Peter 1:23. We are children of God because we
have been born into the family of God by the incorruptible seed of God. This is the new birth John 3:1-7
5)Nourishing power as food 1 Peter 2:2. The Bible is spiritual food for the soul. No Christian can remain strong in the Lord and not study the Word of God

5) The Bible commands the believer to study the scriptures 2 Timothy 2:15)
15)"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Notes:
"Study to show thyself approved unto God " is a command. As you study the Bible, you will discover that it does not just contain the Word of God - it Is the Word of God. You must also keep in mind that the Word of God contains the words of God, as well as the words of Satan, demons, angels and man - both good and bad. God is truth and cannot lie. Satan "is a liar and the father of it " John 8:44. Man is natural and is therefore limited,and does not always speak the truth. To illustrate: Matthew 22:15-46. In this portion of scripture, we have the words of Jesus, of the Pharisees, Herodians and of the Sadducees. The Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees were trying to entangle Jesus in His teachings, that they might accuse Him of breaking Gods law. Their words were spoken with evil intent, revealing the thinking of the natural man, along with the words of God that came from the lips of Jesus.

As you study the Bible, ask yourself these questions:
1)who is speaking: God, demon, angel or man?
2)To whom is he speaking: to the nation Israel, to the Gentiles, to the Church, to men in general or to some individual man or being?
3)How can this Scripture be applied to my own life to make me a better Christian?