5 More Reasons You Should Read the Entire Bible

I recently shared seven reasons for why you should read the entire Bible instead of only parts of it. 

Here are five more reasons for why you should read the entire Bible. 

(As you read these reasons, please keep in mind that I am not saying that reading the entire Bible is the only way to read the Bible--there is definitely a time and place for slower and deeper study of the Word.)

8. It is an act of faith. 

If we believe 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is true, we believe that all of Scripture is profitable. According to these verses, Scripture is profitable for "teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" to the end that "the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 

So when we're in the middle of the Old Testament and it seems like there is absolutely nothing in it that is beneficial for our lives, we cling to this declaration of the power of Scripture and keep reading it. God has promised to use His Word in our lives. 

9. It keeps us Biblically balanced in what we believe. 

Reading from Genesis to Revelation helps us maintain a balanced view of Scripture.

 For example, if we only ever read the Psalms, we miss out on the fact that God has designed the Church as a divine organism in this age.  If we only read the short New Testament Epistles, we miss out on God's divine plan for the future as revealed in the Prophets and Revelation. Or if we only read about the Law system of the Old Testament, we would fail to see the beauty of God's grace in the New Testament that is extended to all who believe. 

If we only read specific portions of Scripture, we are subjecting ourselves the danger of over-emphasizing certain truths while neglecting other truths. 

10. It sets forth what it means to live by faith. 

In thirty-nine verses, Hebrews 11 gives us a list of people who walked by faith. In comparison, the Old Testament gives us entire chapters and books filled with narrative of how these very people walked by faith. If we never read the Old Testament, we miss out on the examples of these individuals who walked by faith. 

11. It is part of God's sanctifying tool in our lives. 

Psalm 119:9,11 reveals Scripture's power to keep us from sin: "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." 

Then in Hebrews 4:12 we see more specifically how Scripture works in our lives. We read that "the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." 

God's Word cuts, exposes, pierces, divides, and discerns those things that we hide from others. But we can't hide from the convicting power of God and His Word. Indeed, Scripture itself has divine power to reveal sin in our lives and convict us of it. 

12. It increases our trust in God.  

If you want to grow in your trust in God, read the Bible. Over and over again, we see examples of how God promises and how He fulfills those promises. Scattered throughout the Old Testament are promises of a coming Savior, promises about Israel, promises about Christ's coming kingdom. Some of these promises have already been fulfilled and we read about them in the New Testament. However, some of God's promises still await fulfillment. 

And so, even as we wait for the fulfillment of these promises, we can await them in faith, for He has always kept His word and He always will! 

So what's keeping you from trying something new in 2020 and reading through the Bible this year?  

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