"Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day ... Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:97,105) The great books of history, language, mathematics, arts, philosophy, and sciences are the sources of man's education. Through reading, we are able to improve our quality of life and also our quality of living. Not just schools and libraries, but also homes, need good books that will cause their readers to think, plan, and improve.
But there is another book, far more vital to our welfare than any of those. It is unique; it has stood the test of centuries; it deals with matters that are eternal. That book is the Bible. It testifies about itself in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is inspired of God." And of that inspired message, Paul wrote, in 1 Thessalonians 2:13, "When ye received the word of the message, even the word of God, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God." The Bible, composed of 66 books, is really only one book, of which God is the author. It is His word. And while doing what we read about in other books may be optional, this is not true of the Bible. It is a demanding book. Let us look at its demands.
The Bible Demands That It Be Read
We may get by without reading some books, but the Bible demands that we read it. "As I wrote afore in few words; whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ." (Ephesians 3:4) As the Jews listened to "the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day" (Acts 13:27), so we who are following God today must read His inspired word. The letters written by the apostle Paul were to be read to the churches (Colossians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:27). Reading God's word is the only way that people can benefit from it.
In John 6:44-45, Jesus pointed out the only access to the Father, "No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me." For this reason, we should "search the Scriptures daily" and "study to show thyself approved unto God" (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15).
The Bible demands that they, who wish to find purpose in life, and eternity, read it. Many who think they know what the Bible teaches have never read it for themselves-they know only what others have told them. Each individual must pick up the Bible and read it for himself to determine what it teaches. Why? Whose soul is on the line? "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10). Please understand the necessity of this first point--every living person needs to be concerned enough about his soul (and eternal destiny) to thoroughly examine the Bible. Then he can know what it teaches for himself!
The Bible Demands That It Be Believed
The Bible demands that we believe it! "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God ... Without faith it is impossible to please him ... If you don't believe that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24) Only through the word is faith possible, and the word is written to produce faith in us: "These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ." (John 20:31)
The apostle Paul showed the importance of the Scriptures: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth." (Romans 1:16) Through the gospel, God channels His power to us, and we can receive that power only if we believe the gospel.
That is why Paul wrote, "..you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13), and .."God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth," (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
Of Israel, the Hebrews writer said, "The word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard." (Hebrews 4:2) And the principle remains true today: the Bible cannot profit a person who does not believe it.
The Bible Demands That It Be Obeyed
If a student does not do what his textbook tells him to do, he may flunk the course. The Bible-our textbook--is the book by which we will all be judged (John 12:48), and it demands that we obey. Peter wrote, "Ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth." (1 Peter 1:22)
Christ is said to be "the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him," (Hebrews 5:9). And Jesus said, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew7:21) From Genesis 2:17 to Revelation 22:14, the Bible emphasizes the necessity of obeying the commandments it contains.
The Bible principle is very simple--hear and do. God said, "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves." (James 1:22) When people trust and love the Lord, obedience is very simple: "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments...He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me...If a man love me, he will keep my word." (John 14:15,21,23)
But what if a person refuses to do what the Bible demands? "And to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus." (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8)
The Bible Demands That It Be Lived
Many people have written books that advise people how to live; some promise peace and some happiness. But the Bible doesn't offer advice; it demands that its followers, if they wish to achieve peace, happiness, and eternal salvation, mold their lives according to its teaching. In Romans 1:16-17, Paul wrote, "I am not ashamed of the gospel ... therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith to faith: as it is written, but the righteous shall live by faith." That book not only tells us how to live, but why we should live that way.
Some books written by people advise, "Do what brings you pleasure." But the Bible makes strong demands: "Instructing us, to the intent that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world." (Titus 2:12) Jesus Christ lived a perfect life; He had no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15). When we apply ourselves to the study of the Bible, with the will to do what we learn, we are "transformed into the same image, from glory to glory." (2 Corinthians 3:18) Only by meeting the Bible's demands can we become like Jesus Christ.
The Bible Demands That It Be Defended
Some argue that the truth needs no defense. But that has never been true. Truth is truth, whether or not it is defended, but without defense, its effect can be nullified. Someone has said, "Tell a lie often enough and it will be believed." Of gospel truth, Paul wrote, "I am set for the defense of the gospel." (Philippians 1:16) If ever a book was worthy of defense, the Bible is.
The apostle Paul also wrote, "The gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you." (1 Corinthians 15:1-2) And when some questioned his credentials as an apostle, Paul said, "My defense to them that examine me is this ..." (1 Corinthians 9:3) He never hesitated to defend the gospel, or his right to deliver it to others.
The Lord knew there would be false teachers who would try to destroy the gospel's saving power. Thus, He warned: "Beware of false prophets ... Believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (Matthew 7:15; 1 John 4:1) The Bible is the only standard against which to test false prophets (Acts 17:11). As Paul wrote, "Though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8) Error believed brings condemnation, just as truth believed brings salvation. So Jude gave the admonition: "Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3)
The Bible Demands That It Be the Sole Authority
In answering scientific questions, people often quote authorities who differ widely. This results in such things as multiple evolution theories, all different; and differing theories in nearly every field of science. But in the religious realm, the Bible demands that it be the sole authority. Not me; not you; the Bible!
In 2 John 9, we read, "Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God." The warning is repeated in Galatians 1:8: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be accursed." When the Christians in Corinth followed after men, instead of seeking Christ first, Paul censured them severely. Then he said, "These things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written." (1 Corinthians 4:6)
The Bible's sufficiency is clearly shown in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: "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." If the Scriptures can make us complete, why would we need some other book to guide our spiritual lives?
If we are interested in life, and things that pertain to God, then we must go to the Bible: "His divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain to life and to godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1:3-4) Everything we need to know, everything God wants us to know, is in the Bible.
The Bible is truly a demanding book, and it will endure: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35) "The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48) "The word of the Lord abideth forever." (1 Peter 1:25) The Bible! Give yourself to its study; mold your life by it; and it will be to you "the power of God unto salvation." Complying with its demands will enable you live in faith and hope of spending eternity with the Savior.
Brother Thurman wrote this article many years ago in his paper, "Gospel Minutes." Yet, it remains a timely truth for which the need continues. Many people are attacking the Bible and seeking to destroy its credibility and authority in religious matters. They tell us that lost books and corrupted translations have been discovered, and that the Bible is out of date for today's culture. Such human reasoning will never be able to destroy God's word. People today are the same as they were when God created them--sinful, in need of a Divine remedy to guide their lives and tell them how to please their Creator. God's book supplies the answers to these and other questions whose answers we need to know in order to gain heaven one day. The book is demanding because it calls on people to change; that's the real problem! (KMG)