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Having read the stance being taken by the Presbyterian Church, I was again looking at my mother’s notes and came across this message on the Bible. It seemed appropriate to share this.

Mankind and the Bible

1) Tried to wipe it out.

Of course, why not. The people who tried this were the devil’s instruments, and the Bible not only condemns their way of living, but declares unmistakably their eternal separation from God. Shut up with their own remorse and misery for eternity. The devil is the enemy of all righteousness, and we could hardly believe it to be the word of God at all if Satan had not made desperate efforts to get rid of it.

2) Pervert It

When it could not be wiped out, Satan, through men, has tried to pervert or alter its meaning. Hence all the weird constructions and interpretations we find today. What damage he is doing in this way, with false beliefs and half-truths. He will say ‘God is love’, and what a glorious fact and truth. But he will go on to say there is no Hell because God, being Love, could not shut people up in misery for eternity. No God doesn’t, mankind send themselves to this state, simply because they have ignored the promptings of God.

3) Criticise It

A fool can pull a flower to pieces, but it took God to make it. People lose out on eternal Salvation because they look critically at one or two minor points, and miss the whole wonderful plan of God and the way of Salvation.

4) Read it in a hit-and-miss fashion.

Some people only read the parts that they like or that tell them what they want to hear, or just read it only when in trouble or distress.

 

The Bible and Mankind.

1) Reveals the truth about ourselves.

Doesn’t the Bible say: All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And Sin is the transgression of the law. The law of God is love, for love is the fulfilling of the law.

2) Reveals our need.

Not only does it reveal our need of a saviour, but THE Saviour. Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29) He had God exalted to be a prince and a saviour, for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sin. (Acts 5:31)

But He was manifested to take away our sin. (1 John 3:5) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:1)

3) Reveals the way

The way back to God in the person and sacrifice of Jesus Christ can be found in the Bible, which corrects, instructs, rebukes and guides. It teaches all we need to know about our life here on this earth, and the fact that there is a hereafter either with God or separated from Him.

Have you followed God’s way as revealed in His words to you? Are you even caring that He has spoken? If you have not found the full life and experience you have heard God’s people talk about and testify to, will you promise God that you will seek until you find?

If you know something of the pages of the Bible and little or nothing of the Spirit of its pages and the Christ to whom it points you, will you ask God to speak His message to you just now, and be willing to respond whatever the cost? Once you know the Christ of the Bible, it will be the most wonderful book in the world. Don’t let the Bible take the place of Christ, but let it reveal Him to you.

[Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash]