The Bible Is Our Only Guide
The Bible is our only guide. This is not by accident. We believe that the bible is as it claims to be the words of God. If God has created us, then it would seem apparent that He would wish to communicate to His creation. This in fact He has done through the scriptures.
The word scripture means, “That which is written.” God used the written word to speak to His people throughout time. God told the bible writers “…Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.” Jer. 30:2, (comp. Ex. 17:14, Num. 5:23, Deut. 17:18, Is 30:8, Jer. 36:2, Rev. 1:11).
The bible is a volume of 66 books, all coming from the mouth of God. Paul said “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Apostle Peter also stated that “Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Pet. 1:20-21
The scriptures come from the mouth of God and serve as a complete guide and authority to His people. Jesus in His ministry endorsed the authority of the scriptures to answer religious questions with statements like these, “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying…” Matt. 22:31 (comp. Matt. 12:3, 5; 19:4, Mk 12:10, 26, Lk 6:3). In these statements not only was the Lord endorsing the authority of the scriptures but was also confirming that the scriptures were revealing the sayings of God.
The words of God are the truth. Jesus said “Sanctify them by thy truth, thy word is truth” Jn 17:17, (Comp. Ps 119:140, 160). It is the truth of God that reconciles us to God and save us from our sins. Again Jesus said “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” Jn 8:32. Paul said “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” I Tim. 2:3-4. It is then imperative that we learn and obey the truth if we wish to be saved.
The bible is broken up into two great testaments or covenants. The first is called the Old Testament. This testament was between God and the children of Israel, Deut. 29:1. God through the prophet Jeremiah promised the people a new and everlasting covenant with better promises, Jer. 31:31-34. This was fulfilled with the coming of Jesus, and the establishment of what is called the New Testament. Our Lord fulfilled the old law, Mt 5:17-18, and then ushered in His own covenant with mankind (Rom. 7:3-6, Col. 2:14, Heb. 7:12-22; 8:6-13; 9:12-26; 10:9-13). It is this covenant that we look to today as our final authority and guide for how we can be reconciled to God and then how we should live our lives before Him.
Jesus told Nicodemus in Jn 3:3, that if we’re going to enter the kingdom of heaven, “we must be born again.” The only way for this to happen is by knowing and obeying the words of God. Jesus said “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” Jn 6:53 (comp. Acts 20:32, I Pet. 1:22-25, Js 1:18, 21).
Once we have been born again by obeying Jesus’ commands we must continue to follow His teachings in His guidebook the bible. Jesus said that “All authority has been given unto Me in Heaven as well as on earth” Mt. 28:18. Therefore all that we do must be done by his authority, Col. 3:17. Anything that is practiced outside the teachings of the bible cannot be by His authority, and although the world may deem them a good work, Jesus does not Mt. 7:21-23.
God has not given and preserved the bible through the ages in vain. It will be here, as written, through the end of time, I Pet. 1:25, and we cannot change it (Deut. 4:2, Prov. 30:6, Gal. 1:8-9, Rev. 22:18-19). For it is the guide book for our lives, and it will be the judgment book for our eternity, Jn 12:48.