John 5:31-40 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.… The Bible should be diligently studied because of — I. ITS ORIGIN. Divine (2 Timothy 3:10). II. IT IS FOLLOWED BY THE QUICKENING SPIRIT OF GOD. III. IT IS FITTED FOR ALL PEOPLE. 1. There is no nation wherever located or however educated for whom it has not just what they need. 2. It is adapted to all varieties of moral development. IV. THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN GIVE SO MUCH LIGHT TO THE WORLD. 1. It is like the sun; all other lights are like candles, oil, gas, or electricity. 2. Its effects, like those of the sun, are to kindle all other lights. 3. Like the sun it gives life, beauty, etc. V. ITS AMPLITUDE REQUIRES CLOSE AND PERSEVERING ATTENTION. Who can study a picture-gallery or inspect a building to profit with one visit? The miner requires years before he can exhaust the mine. So the Bible. VI. IT WILL ASSIST MORE THAN ANY OTHER BOOK IN FORMING A CLEAR, TERSE LITERARY STYLE. The greatest writers and speakers have been indebted to it. VII. THE BIBLE IS A LIBRARY IN ITSELF. The fewness of the books is no objection. An old doctor uses few medicines. VIII. THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO GOOD SOCIETY. Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, our blessed Lord, etc. IX. THE BIBLE IS IMMUTABLE. 1. In doctrine. 2. In language. 3. In influence.Persecutors have destroyed it, and infidels argued it out of existence; but it still lives and they are gone. X. IT IS INEXHAUSTIBLE. All physical growth has a law of limitation, but there is no limit to the growth of the soul. For the expanding needs of our spiritual nature the, Bible has an infinite supply. You can master every other book; the Bible never. XI. IT TESTIFIES OF GOD. XII. IT REVEALS ETERNAL LIFE. Sin is the germ of death; the Word plants the seed of never failing vitality. (H. M. Scudder, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. |
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