“I look to the Bible for guidance…” or “I think the Bible is a good book…”

I’m not thinking of anyone specifically here…well, more precisely, I’m not thinking of anyone I know reads this blog specifically.

Recently, I’ve done some thinking about people who claim that they use the Bible for guidance on general issues, or that the Bible is a very good book, and they agree with it. Yet in their day-to-day actions, they live completely contrary to the Word of God. I’ve been getting somewhat annoyed lately about it all, so this post is sort of an amalgamation of my thoughts on this matter.

First off, don’t say this unless you’ve spent any amount of time reading the Bible. Some of these same people think that “Judge not lest ye be judged” is one of the 10 commandments. Some people think “Judge not lest ye be judged” means that no one can tell them that their actions are wrong. THAT is not what that verse is referring to, people. We are to call sin what it is…straight up. And that is not one of the 10 commandments…read the Bible.

People who say they like the Bible for guidance and then live contrary to it show that they may look to what they THINK the bible teaches, but prove they know nothing of what the Bible actually teaches.

Read the Word of God…The Bible is silent on very few issues, and simply taking the ones you like and following those isn’t going to get you to heaven. In fact, even following MOST of what the Bible teaches isn’t going to get you to heaven. And there’s no way you’re going to follow it ALL, so apart from the atoning work of Christ, you’re screwed.

Salvation is not based on what you can do for God, so if you tell me you’re basically a good person, I still hear, “I’ve sinned, and therefore can’t make it into heaven on my own steam.” because that’s what the Bible teaches. Your righteousness is as filthy rags…you can do nothing for the Lord that can effect your own salvation. You must trust in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and at that point, you will continue to become more like Christ. However, you are justified by His perfection…not your own.

However, if you say that you can then just go on sinning, and God will continue to forgive you, you show that you do not have the mind of Christ. You are using the Christian liberty taught in the Word of God as an occasion to sin. You are demonstrating that you are not, in fact, saved at all. In that case, the Lord WON’T forgive you. Think about this, the Lord Christ said that on the last day, there will be people who think they’re saved, but really aren’t. People who taught in the name of Christ….people who performed miracles in His name, but when they get to the last day, they are shown to be unsaved when Christ says “I never knew you.”

This is why we are told in Philippians to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

However, remember that I am not advocating a salvation based upon works. Your works do not earn your salvation…they prove your salvation…they demonstrate your salvation. What works are these? Obeying the Lord. He who heard the words of Christ and put them into practice is like the wise man who built his house upon the rock. The foundation of our Christianity is obedience to the Word of God.

So if you think you look to the Bible for guidance, you’d better know what that Bible says.