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Statement of Beliefs

What Does the Bible Really Do? There are a number of answers to this question. As a matter of fact, there are a number of correct answers to this. In considering this question, it would be possible to write thousands of pages while considering the innumerable facets of the answers. The purpose of this article is to look at one facet and explore the benefits and protection that the Bible affords to those who follow its sage wisdom.

Before we start, the most important purpose that the Bible serves in this world is in 2 Tim 3:15: And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. The central message of the Bible is encapsulated in John 3:14 – 21: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Having acknowledged the above key points, there is still good news to enjoy here. God was good enough to put more in His Word to not only to point us to salvation to prepare us for heaven but to make life on Earth easier to survive. This is the point to which this article is dedicated. What are the practical up sides to the Bible?

If you ask most people today what the practical side of the Bible is, you would more than likely hear that the Bible is a rulebook that spoils your fun. This is a prevalent but ill-informed view. Many years ago, I had the privilege of listening to a 93 year old gentleman teach a Sunday School class. He had been a Christian since he was 12 and was teaching this class on his 81^st spiritual birthday. He was teaching a lesson on the 119^th Psalm which he had committed to memory. (For those of you have not looked at Psalm 119, please do so now, and you will see why this is so impressive.) He spoke about what the Bible had meant to him over the years and he used this illustration that I found to be excellent in defining how the Bible is seen.

He started off by asking you to imagine a large pole in the middle of a circle. The distance from the pole to the edge of the circle is 100 ft. Imagine that all along the edge of the circle are things that are very pleasurable, satisfying and fun. Imagine now, if you will, that you are chained to this pole with a chain that is 10 feet long. You can see all of these things but cannot get to them. You look at the pole and the following large letters are written from top to bottom, B I B L E. No matter where you can go while chained to the Bible, you cannot get to the “good stuff”. Got the picture in you’re minds?  Good, NOW ERASE IT!!! This is not reality. This is the picture that the Enemy wants to plant in everyone’s mind. God is not a Big Cosmic Killjoy.

The second part of the illustration is as follows: Imagine yourself in a quite peaceful safe place. You are sitting under a tree and encircling the tree a hundred yards away is a large stone wall surrounding you. On the other side of the wall there are many unsafe and harmful things that the wall is keeping out. Looking at the wall you notice the name on the will is B I B L E. This is reality!

God’s had given us many words of wisdom to live by. The book of Proverbs is a book full of practical advice and words of wisdom. Long before the book of Proverbs was written, God gave the Children of Israel some guidance for living in the form of the 10 Commandments. These are among the best known and most recited verses in the Bible, and sometimes taken for granted by the general populace and Christians as well. 

We will take a brief look at each of the Ten Commandments and the wisdom, advice and/or protection that it affords to us. The following verses are taken from Exodus chapter 20. 

The First Commandment: Exodus 20:1-3

And God spoke all these words, saying, I am the LORD your God, which has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me.

Protection and benefit that obedience provides:

1.       It helps you build a friendship, love and relationship with God.

2.       It helps you to keep a proper balance in your life.

3.       It gives you peace.

4.       It keeps your heart and mind open to the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit.

5.       It allows you to be the person God meant for you to be.

The Second Commandment: Exodus 20:4-6

You shall not make any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: You shall not bow down to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Protection and benefit that obedience provides:

1.       It protects you from evil.

2.       It protects you from false gods, cults, or other influences in your life that can take God’s place in your life.

The Third Commandment: Exodus 20:7

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.

Protection and benefit that obedience provides:

1.       It protects you from God’s anger.

2.       It helps you to learn reverence for God.

3.       Swearing of this nature tends to make a person appear to be weak minded.

The Forth Commandment: Exodus 20:8-11

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you will labor, and do all your work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you will not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male or female servants, nor livestock, nor the stranger that is within your gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Protection and benefit that obedience provides:

1.       It gives you a chance to set aside the workweek and to give time to fellowship with God.

2.       It gives you a chance to seek strength and guidance for the week to come.

3.       It gives you opportunity to be refreshed spiritually and emotionally and prevent burnout.

The Fifth Commandment: Exodus 20:12

Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God has given you.

Protection and benefit that obedience provides:

1.       This teaches you to develop respect.

2.       This teaches you to learn from others.

3.       This teaches you to follow.

4.       This teaches you humility.

5.       This teaches you obedience.

6.       This teaches you to be a true leader when your time to lead is given to you.

7.       This will make sure that you are a leader that those following you will follow.  

The Sixth Commandment: Exodus 20:13

You shall not murder.

Protection and benefit that obedience provides:

1.       This will keep you out of prison and possibly losing everything you own.

2.       This will keep your family and friends from going through the pain of watching you go through a murder trial, being found guilty and sentenced to prison or death.

3.       This protects us from being killed.

4.       Teaches us respect for human life.

5.       Calls on us to learn to control our anger.

The Seventh Commandment: Exodus 20:14

You shall not commit adultery.

Protection and benefit that obedience provides:

1.       Protects and strengthens marriage.

2.       Prevents divorce and broken homes.

3.       Helps prevent the spread of HIV and other STD’s.

4.       Helps give good role models for children.

5.       Helps build strong families that raise strong moral children that are build strong moral societies.

The Eighth Commandment: Exodus 20:15

You shall not steal.

Protection and benefit that obedience provides:

1.       Keeps you out of prison.

2.       Teaches respect for other people’s property.

3.       Keeps consumer prices down.

4.       Instills a positive work ethic.

The Ninth Commandment: Exodus 20:16

You shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Protection and benefit that obedience provides:

1.       Keeps you from ruining you reputation.

2.       Teaches you a sense of moral and ethical ownership for your actions.

3.       Prevents you from complicating matters in your life and in the lives of others.  

The Tenth Commandment: Exodus 20:17

You shall not covet thy neighbor's house; you shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkeys, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.

Protection and benefit that obedience provides:

1.       This allows you to be thankful for what you have.

2.       It makes for a good night’s sleep and better mental health.

3.       It allows you to be joyful for others when God has blessed them.

4.       It allows you to realize the blessings that God has placed in your life.

5.       It keeps you from constantly being unhappy because of possessions or positions.

6.       It may help keep you out of debt, prison, or divorce court.