The Bible is the very word of God. It is not a culmination of various people’s ideas about God throughout history. It was indeed pinned by men but every word was given by God. The Bible is different than any other book as it is living and active. Scripture is powerful and it has the power to even save souls but only when it is put into action.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
James 1:21 (ESV)
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Many people seem to equate knowledge with salvation. They believe the knowledge they possess of God will be enough to save them. When they see a verse like the one above from James they believe that receiving God’s word simply means to know it. What they do not realize is that is only half of it. Yes, you must know the word but then you must put it into action. That is why the very next verse in James calls Christians to be doers of the word and not hears only.
James 1:22 (ESV)
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
In order to be saved by the word we must not only know it but must live it. You may question such a statement but I would like to draw your attention to the temptation of Jesus. As the devil tempts Jesus he reveals the fact that he knows scripture and is able to quote it. Yet we know that this knowledge will not save him. Because he chooses to live in opposition to God’s word.
Matthew 4:5–6 (ESV)
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and
“ ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
Study the Bible day and night. Store up as much of it in your mind as you can. But don’t stop with simply knowing the word alone. Realize that it cannot save you unless it is put into action in your life. You can know the Acts 2:38 plan of salvation inside and out. Able to clearly show every passage it connects to. But if you have never lived it out and repented, been baptized, and received the Holy Spirit all that knowledge is for nothing. It won’t benefit you or save you.
Acts 2:38 (ESV)
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
But if you don’t stop at just knowing how to be saved and live it out, then you will truly be saved. Living out God’s word doesn’t stop there though. As Christians, we cannot simply know what we should and shouldn’t do. Because the Bible says not to make a practice of sinning then we will do all we can to keep from sinning. Since the Bible says to love others we will not pretend but do all we can to always extend love to everyone. In every area, Christians must strive to live in accordance with the Bible.
1 John 3:4–10 (ESV)
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Romans 12:9 (ESV)
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
The Bible has the power to save your soul but only if you live out its teaching. It all starts with knowledge but eventually must be put into action. I pray you will step past only knowing and will start living God’s word today. The effect it will have on your life is unexplainable.
James 1:25 (ESV)
25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
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