The Gospel is the good news that Jesus came to die for our sins and to restore the image of God in mankind. It was Satan’s studied purpose to destroy the image of God in man. By the same token it must be your studied purpose to restore the image of God into your own person. How do we do that? Well of course you cannot do it yourself, but you must rely on Jesus to accomplish it for you. We can do nothing without Jesus.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Does this mean that we don’t have to do anything to be saved but just believe in Jesus. Certainly it does not. According to the Bible we have a part to play. We must have faith in God the Father and His Son Jesus our Savior.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
So what is faith? How do we put our faith in God? James explains it very well.
James 3:17-26
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
So what does James mean by works? Let’s take a look at the definition of the Greek word “ergon” which the English word “works” is translated from in every instance of the second chapter of James. It means what you do. It means your deeds. It can also mean your job or your profession. It can also mean any act, enterprise, undertaking, any product whatever, anything accomplished by hand, art industry, business or mind, and anything that is done. So in other words James is saying his faith in God will be shown in every thing he does under the sun or the moon or the stars for that matter. So how do we know what kind of works we must do in order to reveal our faith in God?
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
So why is it so important for me to study the Bible? Answer: Paul the Apostle pointed out that without faith it is impossible to please God, and faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. So naturally one must study the Bible in order to develop their faith. But I know the difference between right and wrong. I basically know how to be a good person and I know the Golden Rule. Isn’t that good enought? Lets look at the Bible to find the answer to that.
2nd Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Revelation 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
The Bible itself says that Satan appears as an Angel of light. How else would he be able to trick people into sinning in the name of Christianity? How many people were murdered in the name of Christ during the holy wars and the crusades? How many times have you heard of Christian leaders who fell from grace and were lambasted in the media for unspeakable acts?
Notice also that Revelations 12:4 says that Satan drew one third of the Angels with him. Virtually every denomination in Christendom agrees that when Revelations 12:3 and 4 says that the great red dragon drew a third of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: it means that Satan deceived a third of the Angels and they fell from grace along with him. Are you smarter and wiser than the Angels of heaven? Satan was able to deceive the Angels of heaven. Do you think that he cannot deceive you?
Over and over the Bible says that Satan is a deceiver and that he is very subtil and crafty. What does that mean? It means that he can disguise his deceptions so that they are very subtil and undetectable. How can we prevent this from happening to us? By studying to show thyself approved, and rightly dividing the word of God. What does it mean to rightly divide the word of God? The Bible says that Satan was very subtil when he caused Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Genesis 3:1-7 He will also be very subtil and crafty when he tempts you to sin, so you need to understand where the line has been drawn between right and wrong. How can you do that if you don’t study the Bible.
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
In conclusion my recommendation to everyone should be to study the Bible very carefully so as to prevent being one of the many who will be tricked or deceived into entering the wide gate which leads to destruction. I believe that this article reveals conclusively that the Bible shows the concept of studying the Bible diligently and very carefully as a requirement given by God to His followers.
I should note that the Bible shows clearly that those who do not have access or opportunity to study the Bible will not be held to the same requirements as those who do have access, freedom and time to study the Bible. For as Jesus states in Luke 12:48 “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”