ARE YOU USING THE BIBLE INCORRECTLY?

© 2023 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Yesterday, I was speaking with a lady that seemed concerned that she had not been good enough to earn salvation.  One area in which she admitted failure was that she hadn’t read the Bible enough.  She felt that by reading the Bible more, she could render herself more worthy of salvation.

First, let me emphatically state that reading the Bible is a good thing because it reveals to us God’s requirements.  God’s Word is always effective.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

If we read the Bible properly, it shows us we can’t earn God’s mercy.  Only the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross did this.  It was there that God demanded and exacted payment from His Son on our behalf.  Only by grace through faith does He apply Christ’s payment to our sin debt.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

This dear lady hoped that, by reading the Bible more, she could earn the right to salvation.  Ironically, it is this very Bible which tells us we can’t do that.  So then:  Should I have told this lady not to read the Bible because by doing so she was challenging God’s means of salvation?  NO!!!  Though we can’t earn God’s forgiveness by reading the Bible, it is the Bible which God uses to draw people to Himself.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:13-17)

Jesus, the Messiah, said:

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

 

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