Thursday, August 04, 2005

Back to the Bible

"Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it" (Jer. 6:16).

This passage is a sad commentary on the spiritual condition of Israel. Although they thought they were pleasing to God, He tells them they need to repent and go back to the “Old Paths.” Since the institution of Christianity by our Lord, there has been a progressive movement leading many away from the simplicity of the Bible. Many in the religious world have wondered so far from the Bible that they no longer use it as a guidebook for worship and life. Jeremiah 6:16 calls us back to the Bible. In an age where modernism, humanism, and evolution run rampant in the world and the church, we must determine to find the old paths of God’s word and demand they are taught. Let us consider how we should go “Back to the Bible.”

Back to Bible Study. Our technologically advanced age, which has benefited us in many ways, has also made us lazy in other ways. We need to determine to study God’s word regularly, and independently. Paul encouraged Timothy to “Study to show yourself approved unto God…” (2 Tim. 2:15). The Bible tells us that a sincere study of the word of God will free us from sin (Jn. 8:32), give us spiritual understanding (Eph. 3:4), prepare us to answer the critic (1 Peter 3:15), and save our souls (James 1:21). We must stop depending on preachers, commentaries, media and other sources to do our Bible study for us. Let’s go back to the Bible in individual Bible study.

Back to Bible Salvation. Many people are trying to be saved through various avenues. Some try to save themselves. Others depend on men to tell them how to be saved. However, God’s word is the only source for salvation (Rom. 1:16). The biblical plan of salvation is very simple. One must believe in Jesus as the Son of God (Jn. 8:24). Then he must be willing to repent of all his past sins and turn to God (Lk. 13:3, Acts 3:19). Next, one must be willing to orally confess Jesus before men (Rom. 10:10, Matt. 10:32-33). Finally, one must be baptized in water for salvation (Mk. 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Jn. 3:3-5). Have we been saved the way the Bible tells us to? If not, let’s go back to the Bible for salvation. May God help us as we endeavor to return to the old paths of His Word!


Written By Ben Bailey

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