The Bible is God’s word. Not everyone wants to follow what it says, but it still is God’s word.
In the history of man, several times man has disagreed with what God had to say and has tried to change it to suit man. God’s word must be presented as he has delivered it to man without change. Notice the following passages: “Ye shall not add unto the word, which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2);
“Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar (Proverbs 30:6); “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).
The Bible is God’s word. His word is not to be changed. “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ saith the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
In the word of God, man is told that there are things that displease him and that those things are sinful, and if man does those things he will be lost for eternity. This seems harsh to some, but again, God knows what is best for man.
Mankind must have the proper disposition toward the word of God. When it is read, it should be read even as Nehemiah had it read. “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading” (Nehemiah 8:8).
The Bible should be respected as the word of God. Mankind should be eager to read and study God’s book and realize that one cannot “cut out” what is not liked. Everything God has done for man is for man’s good.
God gave man a place to live and the ability to live, work and enjoy life. God also has provided for man’s spiritual well-being so that man can know he is in a right relationship with God. However, this relationship is according to God’s plan and not man’s.
Jesus taught that his word must be obeyed. “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him, the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48); “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” (Matthew 7:21).
Man should study the word (2 Timothy 2:15), which will develop faith (Romans 10:17), turn from sin that is in our lives (Luke 13:3-5), confess Christ as the son of God (Matthew 10:32-33), be baptized for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38), and then live faithfully for God all the days of our life (Revelation 2:10).
God loves all, but he hates sin, so man must read study and obey the word God has given to him in order to be saved.