Man is not capable of finding his way to heaven without the divine guidance found in God’s word.  

“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). Jeremiah knew man was weak and that God’s guidance was needed. The people of his day stumbled time and time again, failing to follow God’s prophet and seeking their own way.

It never was God’s plan for man to fumble around, looking for direction. He gave man his word to follow. Paul wrote, “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). Notice God said his word is profitable. It is able to lead one to eternal life, showing what man must do to please God (obeying the Gospel) and telling man how to live (Colossians 3). Paul told man that God’s word is from the mind of God; it is not man’s thoughts on what God said.

Jesus taught his apostles to wait for the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem. The Spirit would direct them into all truth, bringing to their memories the things they had been taught, and would not speak of himself but would testify of Christ, glorifying him (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:13-14).

The Spirit came upon the apostles on Pentecost (Acts 2). On that day, they were able to speak in foreign languages so that the nations gathered in Jerusalem were able to hear them. “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, ‘Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?’” (Acts 2:5-8).

God’s word is not for man to change. Man may try and even say things differently from what the Bible teaches, but man has not changed the true word of God. This was tried in the days of the apostles; it was wrong then and it is wrong now. “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another, but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again: If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:6-12). Those who would seek to change God’s word should study this passage carefully. To be accursed means to be cut off totally from God.

The Bible is for man. It must be studied and obeyed if man is to have eternal life. It is man’s divine guide.