The Gospel for LifeSample

What We Believe Matters

Getting Our Toes Wet:

There’s a country song that includes the line, “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.”*  The song is talking about standing for your morals and values, but we could easily translate this to our belief about Scripture. Do we believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, authoritative Word of God? Are we sure of what the Bible teaches on various subjects? And why does it even matter?

Diving in Deep:

Once we are saved, the major step in our faith journey becomes understanding what we believe, why we believe it, and why it matters. First, as we more and more study the Word of God and grow in our faith, we will develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Truths revealed in it. These Truths will not only become the authority and guide for our life, but as we live them out, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, they will transform us to more and more resemble our Savior, Jesus Christ. Second, as Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3:13, knowing God’s Truth is the only way we will be able to identify the, “evil people and imposters who deceive and are being deceived.” Knowing God’s Truth will keep us from falling prey to those who are preaching and teaching something contrary to that Truth. Third, we are not just to gain knowledge of Scripture for the sake of knowledge itself. Our gracious Lord has given us the privilege and responsibility to proclaim the Bible’s beautiful, life-transforming Truths to others as we come alongside them in their own faith walk. 

Back on Dry Land:

While our salvation is a one-time event, our study and application of Scripture is a life-long pursuit! As our Biblical literacy deepens, we will find that our love, gratitude, and reverence for God will increase, also. We will be able to articulate our beliefs more clearly and more simply to others, and we will be more likely to stand firm in our beliefs even when persecution comes!

 *Tippin, Aaron, and Buddy Brock. "You've Got to Stand for Something." Aaron Tippin. Emory Gordy, Jr., 1990, CD.