THE BIBLE

Faith in Jesus Christ rests upon a single foundation: the Bible. When we reflect carefully upon this truth, we come to realize the immense significance of the Scriptures. All Christians acknowledge that God’s love for humanity is boundless and vast. Yet we must ask ourselves this important question: Why is it that, despite such magnificent love, God has bestowed upon mankind only this one singular gift?
While other religions of the world possess numerous scriptures, sacred relics, and objects of contemplation, veneration, and pilgrimage, Christianity has only the Bible. By pondering this question, Christians can begin to understand that the Bible is the vessel that fully encapsulates the magnitude of God’s love. Jesus Christ dwelt on earth for a brief time before returning to heaven (John 7:33; 14:12; 16:28; 17:11). However, the Bible remains with humanity forever — until the very end of this world (2 Peter 3:7, 10, 12). Indeed, the Bible — being the revelation of the Holy Spirit — endures for all eternity (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33; John 14:16-17; 1 Peter 1:25).
Thus, we can grasp just how profound the Bible’s importance is to every Christian. For a Christian to neglect the Bible is a grave error. It is our earnest hope that believers will rectify this error, so that we may receive even greater blessings by cherishing the words of the Lord as recorded in the Bible (Matthew 7:24; 2 Timothy 3:16–17).
Therefore, in this chapter, we will examine together several key characteristics of the Bible that are essential for gaining a deeper understanding of God. In a future volume dedicated entirely to the Scriptures, we will explore many additional aspects of the Bible, enabling us to cultivate a steadfast faith in the Lord’s Word and use it as both a standard of measure and a powerful weapon throughout our journey of following Christ in this world.

THE BIBLE REVEALS GOD

We all recognize that human beings lack the capacity to fully comprehend God. However, out of His immense love for humanity, God has chosen to reveal Himself to us. It is for this very reason that God bestowed upon mankind the Bible — so that Christians might, through its pages, come to know God and understand the eternal plan He established from the very beginning (Proverbs 2:1-5).
The entirety of the Bible is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17); that is to say, it was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit — the Spirit of Knowledge and Truth (Isaiah 11:2).
Christians may draw upon the tangible example of a parent’s love for their child to gain a partial understanding of God’s love for humanity, though, in terms of magnitude, God’s love is infinitely vaster — a billion times greater. For instance, when a child is young, parents must express their love through both words and actions so that the child can grasp it, reciprocate it, and learn to be obedient. Being small and not yet fully developed intellectually, children would fail to comprehend the depth of their parents’ love if that love were not explicitly demonstrated and enacted. As the child grows and matures, however, they come to understand their parents more deeply — even when those parents no longer express or demonstrate their love in the same manner as before.
In the very same way, while mankind still dwells on this earth, God utilizes the Bible to reveal Himself and His love to all people, thereby enabling many to come unto Him and place their faith in Him. The birth and sacrifice of Jesus Christ were recorded in the Bible so that Christians of future generations might come to know of them. Once Christians enter Heaven, we will know God just as He knows us (1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 4:16).
In other words, the Bible is a love letter that God has sent to humanity. The Bible has been preserved throughout the ages and widely printed in the modern era so that people may read the most magnificent love letter in the universe. For this very reason, when Christians show indifference toward the Bible, it is akin to spurning the love that God has bestowed upon us personally. Many Christians enjoy listening to others speak about the Bible and preach about its teachings; however, God desires that each individual Christian read and meditate upon His Word personally. He seeks an intimate relationship with each person — one not mediated by any intermediary. A Christian’s heart toward God must also be expressed directly, rather than indirectly through others — much like merely reciting a pre-written prayer. Some Christians often assume that simply listening to others read the Bible and preach about God is sufficient — viewing this as the fulfillment of their duty to the Lord — and that they themselves need not read God’s Word directly or meditate on its truths. Such thinking stands in complete contrast to God’s original intention when He gave the Bible to humanity — namely, that every individual should read God’s Word (Joshua 1:8; Deuteronomy 17:19; Acts 8:26–28; 1 Timothy 4:13; Revelation 1:3) and carefully obey it (Romans 2:13).
If we reflect upon the following illustration, we will come to understand what the attitude and actions of a Christian toward the Bible ought to be. Suppose there is a child who, throughout the entire day, desires only to have others recount the loving words his parents have spoken about him, yet has no desire to hear those words directly from his parents. One might well ask: What, then, is the true state of that child’s heart toward his parents?
Imagine that child asking a neighbor, “What did my parents say about me today?” The neighbor replies, “Your parents said that they love you.” The child responds, “Good,” and then walks away. That child considers this brief exchange sufficient to demonstrate his love and reverence for his parents. One must ask: Is such an attitude and such actions truly fitting? Why does that child refuse to go directly to his parents to converse and to fellowship with them?
Many Christians behave in precisely this manner toward the Bible — the very Word of love that God has bestowed upon humanity, and most especially upon His children as they journey through this world. To treat God’s love with disdain — manifested through an attitude of indifference toward the Bible — is one of the primary reasons why Christians forfeit God’s blessings, why the Church becomes weakened, and why the Christian community gradually loses its influence in contemporary society. Christians must resolutely correct this misguided habit, responding in a manner worthy of God’s love and ensuring we ourselves receive His commendation.
There are many Christians who greatly enjoy listening to others expound upon the Scriptures — particularly when those expositions come from well-known or prominent figures. However, God desires that every individual Christian come to Him personally through the Scriptures, for the Holy Spirit will reveal to believers wondrous and mysterious truths — things that no human being, no matter how brilliant or renowned, could ever accomplish (John 16:13).
To gain an understanding of God, a Christian must possess faith in the Bible. This faith must not be merely partial — whether fifty percent or ninety-nine percent — but must be absolutely one hundred percent complete. Many Christians believe they already possess faith in the Bible, yet their faith remains incomplete. Many offer the excuse that the Bible contains errors and contradictions; some even go so far as to claim that it runs counter to fundamental human moral standards. For these reasons, many people in the world do not believe in the Bible; indeed, even some Christians accept only certain parts of it.
Let us consider the following simple analogy to better grasp the necessity of believing in the Bible one hundred percent — that is, believing in it completely, without the slightest trace of doubt: Contemporary authors typically review their manuscripts with meticulous care before publication. They enlist experts in their respective fields to scrutinize their work, ensuring that it is entirely free of errors. Such is the standard of human endeavor.
Now, let us simply consider this: God is the Almighty, the Perfect One, the All-Wise; and His book is the Bible. Since God has bestowed upon humanity but a single book — and nothing else besides it — is it conceivable that He would be so negligent as to allow His own Word to be marred by error or internal contradiction? If a Christian believes that the Bible contains errors — even if only by a mere one percent — then that person’s faith is not true faith. For if God were to allow His sole book to harbor errors, while human writings manage to avoid them, would He still be the Almighty? Therefore, when a Christian believes that the Bible is in error, he is indirectly denying that God is the Almighty.
However, some argue that any errors found in the Bible are attributable to translators or printing mistakes. Such reasoning is untenable, for it sows seeds of doubt regarding the Bible’s veracity in the minds of Christians. If modern authors rely on experts to edit their manuscripts — thereby avoiding errors and ensuring careful publication — is it conceivable that God lacks the means to preserve His singular Book from error?
If one claims that biblical errors stem from the original authors or the translators, could God not have selected and overseen those individuals to prevent such errors from occurring? If one attributes biblical errors to the translation process, is the Almighty God truly so dependent on human beings that He would allow His unique Book to be compromised by human limitations?
Christians must understand that the Bible is a book bestowed upon humanity by God. As the Almighty One, He ordained that His Book be precisely as it is to serve His purposes and fulfill His will. This implies that God has permitted certain discrepancies to exist within His Word — specifically to test the reader, particularly the Christian — yet the core concepts therein, namely the fundamental Truths, remain immutable and absolutely accurate.
We offer another illustration to clarify this point: When Jesus declared that even the very hairs on a person’s head are all numbered (Matthew 10:30), He signified that God cares for and exercises sovereignty over even the minutest details — matters that might otherwise appear utterly insignificant. None of us humans would ever waste time counting every single hair on our heads; yet God does exactly that. Jesus never lies, nor does He ever speak in jest. When the Lord declared that every hair on a person’s head has been counted, He was stating an absolute truth — one intended to emphasize that God exercises sovereignty over all things, even the most minute and seemingly insignificant details.
Therefore, we can readily understand that if God cares about every individual hair on a human head, He surely cares infinitely more about the contents recorded in the Bible — for it embodies His love, His very heart, and stands as the sole book He has bestowed upon humanity to enable us to come to know Christ and, through Him, attain salvation for our souls (John 5:39).
Given God’s profound concern for the Bible, we can also recognize that He has, in His wisdom, permitted certain errors to occur within His Word. Many may find it difficult to believe what we are presenting here, yet it remains undeniable. God is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe; consequently, nothing occurs in this world without His express permission.
Many refuse to accept this Truth, but we will provide further explanation in the sections that follow. At this juncture, we simply affirm the following: God permitted errors to exist within the Bible because He knew that many people would not be saved. This unfolds in precisely the same manner as Jesus’ teachings to the crowds in ancient times (Matthew 13:10–15). Jesus Himself revealed that He employed parables in His teaching so that, although many might look, they would not truly see; and although they might listen, they would not truly understand — thereby ensuring that they would not be saved. This is also the reason why God allowed the tares to grow until the harvest, so that they might be punished in eternal fire (Matthew 13:30). God never intended to transform the tares into wheat.
Consequently, Christians must place our complete trust in the Bible, regardless of the arguments or perspectives regarding it held by the world.
If Christians believe that the Bible reveals God, then we must also believe that the Bible is supremely accurate and trustworthy. None of us would ever present a portrait of ourselves to others if it bore little resemblance to our actual appearance. In the very same way, God would never reveal Himself through the Bible if it were not written precisely according to His will.
For this reason, Christians must be vigilant against criticisms and disparagements directed at the Bible. Satan employs such tactics to undermine the faith of believers, causing us to lose confidence in the Scriptures and to treat the book with indifference or neglect. We must recognize this stratagem of his (2 Corinthians 2:11) so that we may remain steadfast in using the Bible to seek God, to deepen our understanding of Him, to strengthen our fellowship with Him into a closer, more intimate bond, and to partake more fully in His blessings through the Scriptures.
From the very beginning, the Bible has revealed God as the Almighty One and the Creator of all things (Nehemiah 9:6) — bringing them into existence out of nothingness (Hebrews 11:3) — including both the visible and the invisible (Colossians 1:16). Furthermore, the Bible reveals other attributes of God, enabling humanity to gain a deeper understanding of Him.
When Christians come to know these virtues of the Lord, we also come to understand why He requires His children to live exemplary lives, set apart from this sinful world (Leviticus 18:30; Romans 12:1-2). In everyday life, we observe that children naturally resemble their biological parents. This is the result of heredity, passed down from one generation to the next. By observing facial features, habits, gait, manner of speech, complexion, and other traits, one can discern which family, lineage, or ethnic group a person belongs to.
In the same way, since Christians have been called to become children of God, it is only natural that we should reflect His likeness in our words, actions, and habits — and even in our perspectives and thoughts (Ephesians 5:1; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 3 John 1:11). If Christians do not read and meditate upon the Bible, how can we possibly come to know the true nature of God — the very knowledge required to strive to live in a manner worthy of the title: children of God?
Because God loves us, He desires for us to become like Him, so that we may be worthy to dwell in His presence in Heaven for all eternity. This is one of the reasons God has used the Bible to reveal Himself to Christians. Consequently, God desires for Christians to cultivate virtues that mirror His own. Although we currently live on earth and cannot yet live perfectly aligned with God’s will, we must at least demonstrate our earnest effort before Him. Christians cannot claim that God’s requests and requirements are too difficult to fulfill, thereby excusing ourselves from obeying them. With God’s help, Christians can easily fulfill these requirements. Paul himself affirmed this decisively in his epistle (Philippians 4:13); the only question is whether Christians are willing to do so and rely on God’s strength.
We can draw upon the realities of everyday life to better understand this point: In families, young children often imitate their parents. Whenever they observe their parents doing something, they mimic those actions. This is a natural instinct in children; no one compels them to do so, yet they do it nonetheless. Even when they are forbidden from doing so, children often refuse to give up this act of imitation. Many toy manufacturers have recognized this phenomenon; consequently, they produce toys that resemble adult tools and appliances, enabling children to mimic their parents. When visiting a toy store, one can observe shelves stocked with miniature vacuum cleaners, lawnmowers, hammers and pliers, pots and pans, microwave ovens, computers, and even rubber guns and ammunition.
In the same way — specifically in the spiritual realm — when Christians draw near to the Lord, we naturally feel a desire to resemble God in His virtues, much as children imitate their parents. This is a natural characteristic of those who possess true faith.
It is precisely for this reason that Jesus declared that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those whose hearts follow Him with the spirit of a child — that is, those who naturally possess a desire to imitate God (Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14). In doing so, the Lord intended to emphasize that Christians must strive and make a concerted effort to cultivate virtues that mirror those of God. For this very reason, one of the great blessings the Holy Spirit bestows upon Christians is a life that resembles Christ (Galatians 5:22-23).
The crucial issue here is the Christian heart’s attitude toward this specific aspect. When a Christian possesses a genuine desire to acquire virtues like those of the Lord, the Holy Spirit will grant them. We can grasp this concept more clearly by recognizing that the Scriptures liken those who have recently come to faith in Christ to newborn infants in the faith (1 Peter 2:1-3). If individuals approach the Lord with true faith — being, as it were, a spiritual infant — they will naturally possess an inclination to imitate God in the virtues He has revealed throughout the Scriptures.
Conversely, if a person approaches the Lord merely out of outward formality — paying lip service rather than offering his heart — or joins a local church for reasons other than a sincere belief in Christ, that individual will lack the natural inclination to imitate the virtues of God.
Furthermore, throughout history, Satan has consistently sought to hinder and entice many Christians into neglecting the Scriptures, thereby preventing them from gaining a deep understanding of God. Meanwhile, many pulpits focus their preaching solely on mundane matters — trivial anecdotes and humorous stories intended merely to pass the time — rather than emphasizing the virtues of the Lord. With the exception of His love and those aspects that serve their own ministries or align with worldly perspectives (2 Peter 2:17–21), these pulpits fail to highlight God’s true character. Consequently, many Christians who have followed the Lord for years in that way still lack a heart that truly desires to emulate Him in His virtues.
The Lord has revealed Himself to all of humanity; however, the critical question remains: Are we willing to diligently and carefully study the Scriptures to truly come to know our Heavenly Father?

THE BIBLE IS TRUTH

When Christians study the Bible thoroughly, we discover that it is the most truthful book on earth — or, more accurately, in the entire universe — because the Author of the Bible is God Himself, the God of Truth (Psalm 31:5; 2 Samuel 7:28; Nehemiah 9:13, 33; Psalm 19:9; 25:10). He never lies (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Titus 1:2).
Because God is the very embodiment of truth, He never tolerates falsehood in the lives of Christians. Indeed, anyone who lies will not enter His Kingdom of Heaven (Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9; Revelation 14:5). Satan, on the other hand, stands in complete opposition to this. Consequently, we Christians are able to distinguish between those who belong to the Lord and those who belong to the devil (John 8:44; Revelation 3:9; 21:8, 27) — or who are currently under his control.
As observed in real life, people often exalt themselves or those in their own faction — a phenomenon we frequently witness in the political arena. They even conceal the errors and sins of their own factions to burnish their party’s image in the eyes of the public, thereby deceiving the masses with populist slogans such as “independence,” “freedom,” “democracy,” “equality,” and “inclusiveness” — yet, ultimately, they themselves prove to be the most power-hungry, dictatorial, tyrannical, and deceitful individuals within the human race. The same applies to human religions — particularly those established by Satan — which assert that their adherents are entitled to lie to any extent they deem necessary, provided that doing so benefits their religion or facilitates its propagation and influence throughout the world. They regard lying — whether to deceive, to manipulate the masses, or to gratify an innate propensity for murder and violence against women, children, and anyone outside their religion — as a praiseworthy act. Furthermore, they promise such vicious individuals entry into their “paradise,” where they are assured of being served eternally by a multitude of female attendants.
When Christians utilize the Bible to discern the true nature of such individuals and religions, we can readily unmask their true identities, thereby avoiding their deceptions and discovering effective means to engage with them in a manner that brings glory to the name of the Lord.
The contrast between the absolute truthfulness of the Bible and the nature of the human world is starkly evident. We recognize that one of the primary reasons people resort to lying is fear (Isaiah 57:11). Since God is the Almighty, He has no cause to fear anyone and thus no need to lie. It is precisely for this reason that the Bible remains unfailingly truthful in its accounts of all matters, most notably in its portrayals of prominent figures within God’s own people. As previously mentioned, because human beings lack sincerity in their hearts, they engage in all manner of deceit — disregarding conscience, reputation, and honor alike. Subsequently, they attempt to cover up the truth about their personal lives, hoping no one will investigate, ensuring no one discovers their true nature, identities, or the extent of their appalling dishonesty.
It is precisely for this reason that they conceal even their places of birth, their birth certificates, and their academic credentials. The natural human impulse is to “flaunt the beautiful and hide the ugly” — meaning that whenever something is perceived as good or admirable, people tend to boast about it and put it on display for others to see, even if those things are entirely fake. Conversely, anything deemed shameful is carefully hidden and covered up; they may even resort to corrupt courts to issue rulings prohibiting such matters from ever being brought to light. This demonstrates that the truth regarding such individuals is inherently wicked, filthy, and dark. Yet these individuals feel absolutely no shame; instead, they strut arrogantly before the public, lecturing others on life and how one ought to live. Their deceit and cunning are the very tactics of the devil; consequently, Christians can easily discern their true faces.
However, when the Bible recounts the lives of historical figures among God’s people, those narratives are invariably truthful. We can see this clearly in the fact that the Bible makes no attempt to conceal matters concerning their sins and errors — such as King David’s adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11:2–5), or King Solomon’s spiritual decline and idolatry (1 Kings 11:1–10). The Bible describes King David as a “man of God” — that is, one beloved by the Lord. Yet when he sinned, the Scriptures neither covered it up nor blamed it on external circumstances; rather, they recounted the events with absolute clarity (2 Samuel 12:7–9).
Such candor is rarely found in human perspectives or literature. Authors in this world typically write from their own viewpoints, from the perspective of the victors, or from the standpoint of those who have bought their allegiance with money or carnal pleasures. Reality demonstrates that those who harm their nation and people — individuals who are deceitful and treacherous — often exploit their power, factions, and political parties to publish books that glorify themselves as national heroes or as patriots deeply devoted to the public good. They conspire and collude with foreign powers and terrorist organizations to inflict damage upon their own country — even funneling tons of cash to enable the manufacture of weapons used to harm their homeland — yet they brazenly continue to posture as individuals of righteousness and integrity.
When Christians observe the world of journalism, this reality becomes even more starkly apparent. Such individuals possess neither conscience nor honor; provided they are paid handsomely, they will say whatever is demanded of them, calling right wrong and wrong right, turning white into black and black into white; making female into male and male into female. They portray murderers as victims, while casting the actual victims as those deserving of death; they view terrorists as patriots, while labeling true patriots as “domestic terrorists.” They deny parents the right to speak up or intervene regarding the safety of their own children, yet grant abnormal strangers — whose lifestyles run contrary to the natural order — the freedom to inflict harm upon the children of others.
When we observe human society in this state, we truly begin to grasp just how absolute and complete the Bible’s truthfulness really is. God never attempts to gloss over the flaws of any of His children — not even those described as being especially beloved by Him. He records them in His Scriptures exactly as they are. If we review the lives of all the heroes of faith chronicled in the Bible, we find that they are portrayed with absolute candor, without any concealment or deception.
The Bible’s unwavering honesty demonstrates that God desires that we Christians glean invaluable lessons from the shortcomings, errors, and transgressions of these figures. Noah is described as a righteous man (Genesis 6:9; 2 Peter 2:5); yet, when he became intoxicated and lay naked within his tent, the Bible recounts this event without any attempt at concealment (Genesis 9:21). Similarly, although Abraham is revered as the patriarch of faith for God’s people, the Scriptures clearly record those instances when he spoke only a half-truth or failed to wait patiently for the fulfillment of God’s promises (Genesis 20:2; 16:1–3). Although Isaac was a patriarch of the faith, the Bible reveals that he had a fondness for a beautiful wife (Genesis 24:67). As for Jacob — the very patriarch of the nation of Israel — the Bible clearly recounts the instance when he acted deceitfully to swindle his maternal uncle, Laban, in order to seize the finest flocks (Genesis 30:25–43).
The sacred texts of other religions, however, do not follow this pattern. Their leaders are extolled with unreserved praise, even if they were individuals who sexually abused children, committed murder without compunction, or employed deceit to maintain power. This constitutes the fundamental difference between the Bible and the literature of the secular world. It is precisely because of this distinction that we Christians possess such steadfast confidence when we rely on the Bible to seek an understanding of God.
Human beings, often driven by personal gain or partisan interests, resort to deceit, cover-ups, or silence regarding the transgressions of those within their own faction — all in order to manipulate and beguile the public. The Bible, however, proclaims the truth with absolute clarity, requiring no concealment whatsoever. While humans hide the truth out of fear, God — being the Almighty One Who fears no one — has no need to resort to falsehoods in His Word.
Regrettably, many Christians fail to grasp this fundamental distinction. Instead, they lend credence to the criticisms and skepticism of the secular world, thereby casting doubt upon the Bible and treating the Word of the Lord with disdain. A prime example of this misguided perspective among Christians today is the tendency of pulpits to frequently cite human sayings and the examples of famous figures during church sermons — going so far as to reference the lives of non-believers — as if the lives of those walking in darkness were worthy models for the “children of light” to emulate. They preach in this manner without ever pausing to consider the inherent dangers and detrimental effects such practices inflict upon the Christian community.
They preach in this way, seemingly without shame, having forsaken the absolute truth of the Bible to extol the falsehoods of mankind. This lamentable state of affairs has profoundly impacted the spiritual vitality and daily lives of Christians in these modern times. Those who preach in this manner appear to have completely forgotten the words of Jesus Christ, Who declared that Christians are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14–16). It is the secular world that ought to look to the shining examples of God’s children for guidance — not the other way around, with Christians adopting the customs and ways of the world in their daily lives.
Yet, the churches of today fail to grasp this truth. Consequently, they have abandoned the righteous path of the Lord to revert to the dark ways of the world (Proverbs 14: 12, 16:25), importing abnormal and abominable lifestyles into the very assembly of those called to be set apart as holy unto Jehovah (Leviticus 11:45; 1 Peter 1:16). Those who act in this manner are concerned solely with the material gains of this present life — whether to avoid human condemnation or to gratify the sinful nature inherent within themselves. They act out of fear of man, failing to realize that falling into the hands of the living God is infinitely more terrifying (Hebrews 10:31).
However, when Christians truly comprehend the veracity of the Scriptures — cherishing the Lord’s Word so as to obey it and to seek a deeper understanding of Him — the light within us will shine ever more brightly for all those around us. Through this, we are enabled to be a blessing to many, helping them discern the righteous path they must follow so that, in the hereafter, they may meet the Lord with joy and dwell with Him eternally in the most glorious realm of this vast universe.

THE BIBLE IS GOD’S BOUNDLESS LOVE

Christians must recognize that faith in God and in Jesus Christ rests solely on the Bible alone. In other words, God has bestowed upon humanity but a single means through which we may come to know Him and His plan of salvation in Jesus Christ: the Bible.
We might consider this matter quite simply: God is the One Who loves humanity so profoundly that He sent Jesus Christ into the world to suffer death and atone for the sins of mankind (John 3:16). Yet, why did He not grant humanity a multitude of things to aid in understanding Him and the eternal life to come, but instead provided only the Bible?
According to common human nature, when people love someone, they typically bestow many precious gifts on their beloved to express the depth of their heart. No one would claim to love another deeply while offering them only a single gift throughout their entire life — unless that gift happens to be their very life itself. Thus, we can understand that — apart from the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ on the cross — God’s immense love for humanity has been encapsulated in the Bible.
The fact that God’s love — which is vaster than the entire universe — is contained within the Bible demonstrates that the Bible is, in essence, the very heart of God; it is the love letter that God has sent to humanity. With this understanding, Christians should cherish the Bible above all else. We should read it daily and meditate upon its words to learn more about the One Who loves us and died for us, and to discover how best to reciprocate that love.
Let us reflect on the realities of everyday life to understand the attitude Christians ought to adopt toward the Bible. When a person receives a letter from a loved one, he or she immediately opens and reads it. Even if they do not yet reciprocate the sender’s affection, they still open and read it — if only to discover the nature of the other person’s feelings toward them personally. This is a natural reaction common to everyone in this life.
Regrettably, however, many Christians claim to love God deeply yet remain remarkably indifferent toward the Bible — indifferent to the very message of love that God has sent to humanity. Such an attitude is unbecoming of anyone who professes to love the Lord.
Without reading the Bible, no one can truly understand God. Our reading of Scripture and our prayers cannot be deemed worthy of God’s hearing and drawing Him nearer to us if we do not use the Bible as the foundational guide for all our spiritual endeavors. Without reading the Bible, Christians risk being led astray by the devil into committing wrongful acts — all while under the delusion that they are actually demonstrating their love and reverence for God. Such conduct serves only to squander a Christian’s efforts throughout their journey of following the Lord, yielding neither any reward from God nor any commendation from Him.
The error committed by the ancient Israelites (Isaiah 1:11–13) should serve as a cautionary example for us Christians today. It warns us against following the Lord in a merely ritualistic manner that lacks a solid biblical foundation. Many Christians rationalize their reluctance to read the Bible independently by claiming it is too difficult to understand. Consequently, they prefer merely to listen to others read and interpret it for them — a mindset akin to the common belief that simply attending a Sunday sermon fulfills one’s entire duty toward God.
In reality, listening to sermons contributes only a small fraction to a Christian’s spiritual growth. Indeed, it can often lull believers into spiritual slumber or lead them astray. Listening to sermons places one entirely at the mercy of the preacher — a dependency that carries its own inherent risks. If the preacher is faithful and sincere, the Christian stands to benefit. However, reading the Bible personally and communing directly with God yield far greater rewards. Conversely, if the preacher is deceitful, carnal, or hypocritical, the resulting harm inflicted upon a Christian’s spiritual life can be immense and fraught with incalculable danger.
Christians should approach listening to sermons by following the example set by the early Church. Although Paul and his associates were men filled with the Holy Spirit, the Christians of that time still diligently cross-referenced their preaching against the Word of God in the Scriptures to verify whether their message aligned with biblical Truth (Acts 17:11). Their conduct serves as a vital model for Christians today. By applying this standard when listening to Sunday sermons, we can discern and evaluate pulpits that focus solely on worldly matters rather than on the will of God.
Since the Bible is a love letter God has sent to humanity, when Christians cherish it wholeheartedly — and genuinely desire a clear understanding of the concepts and mysteries it contains — the Holy Spirit will assist us and reveal these truths (2 Corinthians 2:10-11). This is a promise that the Lord Jesus also previously affirmed (John 16:13-16). The crux of the matter lies in whether Christians truly believe this promise of the Lord.
Therefore, the act of reading the Bible is, in itself, an act of faith. If a person claims to believe in the Lord yet fails to read the Bible, that person does not yet possess true faith. If a person professes to love and revere the Lord but neglects to read His love letter, then that declaration is nothing more than a lie. How can one claim to love another person if he or she refuses to read the letters sent by that person, showing no desire to know what is said or written therein, and displaying no interest in that person’s preferences? How, then, can such a sentiment be called love?
It is precisely for this reason that we can gauge the depth of a Christian’s love for the Lord by observing their attitude toward the Bible. Recognizing this truth is one of the key indicators of the extent to which we are truly walking in the Light and in the Truth of the Lord.
In the same way, when we hear someone preaching about God yet failing to use the Scriptures correctly — failing to preach according to the Lord’s will, failing to reveal the standards of Heaven to God’s children, and failing to emphasize repentance, rebirth, and sanctification — we can know that such a preacher neither reveres God nor truly loves their brothers and sisters in the faith. This is because true preaching is fundamentally intended to draw people to God and to ensure their salvation on the day of Jesus’s return. It is not meant to elicit laughter, provide entertainment, solicit financial contributions, or lull others into spiritual slumber.