In today's world, disbelief in the bible is demonstrated by either accepting only portions of it, or by completely rejecting it as the true word of God. To add to, deduct from, or completely reject the bible as God's word, is to reject God as our Creator and the Author of eternal salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Considering the 19th Psalm, it is not possible to deny the existence of God. Just look around you; the evidence of God is everywhere. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork (Ps. 19:1). The voice of God cannot be denied. Regardless of your race or ethnic background, God, as our Creator, is proclaimed throughout the world and has no language barrier. There is no speech nor language, where their voice (that of God's creation - the firmament and His handiwork) is not heard (Vs. 3).

God's word, and the importance of accepting it, is demonstrated in verses 7, 8, and 9 of this same Psalm. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. God's words, found in the Bible, should be most precious to each of us. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb (Vs. 10). His word, and only His word, should serve as our guide to life on earth and the pathway that leads to heaven. Our prayer should always be, Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer (Vs. 14).

If the bible is not true, then the creation of men and women and the promise of eternal salvation are also untrue. Mankind, the earth in which they find habitation, and the universe in which the earth exists, confirms God as its Creator. It is God's word that makes this confirmation, and it is His word that promises obedient children ofthe hope of salvation, whichHe established before the beginning of time. Although it has been attempted ever since A.D. 33, the minds of men and women of the world have not been able to conceive no other logical explanation. What is the purpose of life on earth if the bible is not the inspired word of God? It is the bible that explains God's creation, gives meaning to the physical existence of mankind on earth, and hope to the spiritual existence of mankind in the world to come. The New Testament church believes the bible to be the word of God!

The New Testament church is the one using the bible as its only creed

A creed is described as a statement of religious belief, a confession of faith, a specific statement of the guidelines under which a church is to function, or the authority that governs the conduct of a religious body. For the first century (and possibly longer), after it was founded on the Day of Pentecost, the only creed for the New Testament church of Christ was God's word. The Holy Bible was the sole authority used in guiding the purpose, establishment, and conduct of Christ's church. It describes in detail how one becomes a member of His church and how, thereafter, one is to live obediently to the will of God for the remainder of his or her life. It tells us, when we err from His will, how we can be forgiven, restored, and reconciled to God. The bible is our complete and only guide to the hope of eternal salvation through God's Son, Jesus Christ.

The completeness of the bible was described to young Timothy when Paul wrote, all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Here we can ask a rhetorical question. Why would anyone, desiring to know and inherit God's plan of eternal salvation, prefer a creed, devised by a human mind, originated in a human conference, or had its creation by men and women within a convention which was convened to establish religious doctrine alien to God's word. Why would anyone desire to have the destiny of their eternal souls determined by anything other than the bible which is given by inspiration of God? No human creed can be designed that can bring mankind to a more complete perfection than the will of God. Nor can any other creed furnish a person with a more complete description of all good works God requires of His children. God's word is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, (and) for instruction in righteousness. There can be no higher degree of spiritual profitability for all people of the world than the "creed" given to us in God's inspired word - the Holy Bible.

Yet, new "creeds" are continually being devised daily in order to alter and "humanly improve" the word of God. Benjamin Franklin said, "a creed must contain more than the Bible, less than the Bible, differ from the Bible, or be precisely like the Bible. No man is able to defend his creed on the ground that it contains more, or less, or is different from the Bible. To defend a creed that it is precisely like the Bible defeats the purpose of creating a human creed, because with the Bible already in hand, there is no need for another creed." Mr. Franklin is entirely correct. Indeed, it is impossible to explain and uphold the bible by depending on human creeds written by uninspired men to support and defend their ideologies.

The imperfections of human creeds are demonstrated by the fact that they are continually revised at human conventions, conferences, or ecumenical counsels that meets to vote on the extension of their present creed or to "legislate" one that amends that which currently exists. In the body of Christ, there is no need for man's intervention - there is no need to vote for changes in a creed to govern His church. Why? It is because God's word, the doctrine governing His church, was established in, or prior to, the first century after the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of His Son, Jesus Christ. It has never been changed because there never has, nor ever will be a need to do so. It was given by God's Holy Spirit inspiration in its current, infallible state. By His command, the inspired word of God, as found in the Holy Bible, is never to be changed by additions, corrupted bydeletions, or compromised in any manner by mortal beings (See Rev. 22:18-19). What is perfect can never be improved, which defeats any reasoning to do so. The instructions given on the Day of Pentecost for one to become a member of the body of Christ, and in every example of conversion to Christ thereafter, are as valid today as they were when first given. The sins which lead to the destruction of mankind, as described in Romans 1:28-32, and Galatians 5:19-21, cover all sins today just as they did when penned by the apostle Paul in these letters.

How can one recognize the true body of Christ? The New Testament church is the one using the bible as its only creed!

Go to page five

By Keith Holder from his Rays Of Light Bible Lessons website

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