Believing In Vain

More volumes of the Bible are sold than any other publication in the world. The Bible is translated into more languages and dialects than any other book. Probably, more people read daily out of the Bible than any other book. Yet, despite how many people seek the Word of the Lord, few there be that actually obey it.

James declares, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was” (Jam 1:22-25). John, in the Revelation, wrote, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Rev 1:3). Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me,’Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).

Many read the Bible, but they fail to hear, understand, and obey the things that the scripture has said. Most read the Bible with preconceived notions. Evidently, they have been falsely instructed that one does not have to obey the things found in the New Testament.

Jesus and His apostles taught that one must be baptized in order to be saved (Mk 16:16). However, false teachers profess that baptism is not necessary to salvation.

God revealed that baptism is an immersion in water, using the word buried (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12), but man is ready to substitute sprinkling and/or pouring instead of what the Lord commanded.

Jesus promised to build his church (Matt. 16:18); told all the disciples to be one (Jn. 17:20-21); added all of the saved to his church (Acts 2:41); died in order to make of all men one body (Eph. 2:14-16); condemned division and man-made names (1 Cor. 1:10-13); and said there is but one body (Eph. 4:4) which is the church (Eph. 1:22-23). But, man teaches that one church is as good as another. Why read the scriptures is we have no intention of obeying it?

Jesus died to cleanse us from sin (Rom. 3:23-26). Without the shedding of his blood, there could be no remission (Heb. 9:22). As one is saved from sin, he is raised to walk in a newness of life (Rom. 6:4). Christians are not to serve sin, or allow it to reign in their bodies, nor can Christians yield their bodies to sin, or permit sin to have dominion over them (Rom. 6:6,12,13,14). When sin does arise, a Christian must repent of the same (Acts 8:22), confess this sin and ask God to forgive (1 Jn. 1:9). Even though this is what we read in the Bible, some denominational churches teach that it is impossible for a once saved individual to fall from grace (Gal 5:4). Why read the scriptures if we do not intend to hear it, understand it, and obey it? One is the servant of the one whom he chooses to obey, “whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness” (Rom. 6:16).

It’s not what we say that saves our soul, but rather what we say and do. Faith without works is dead and so are we if we obey not the gospel of Christ (Jam 2:20). If you’re going to take the time to read the Bible, study the Bible, and devote your life to living a good and moral life before God and man, please don’t forget to obey the Bible lest you have believed in vain (1 Cor 15:1,2)!