Someone who believes in God must believe that his word is true and must be obeyed as it is given.

Men down through time have tried to change the word to suit their ideas and feelings, but it is impossible to do and still be pleasing to him. Notice the following passages:

• “Ye shall not add unto the word, which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2)

• “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:6)

• “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19)

In the beginning, middle and end of his book, God warns man not to try and change his word.

Mankind must have the proper disposition toward the word of God. When it is read, it should be read even as Nehemiah had it read. “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading” (Nehemiah 8:8). The Bible is not to be worshiped like an idol, but it should be respected as the word of God.

Men should be eager to read and study God’s book and realize that they cannot cut out what they do not like. Everything God has done for man is for man’s good. God has given man a place to live and the ability to work and enjoy life. God also has provided for man’s spiritual well-being so that man can know he is in a right relationship with God. However, this relationship is according to God’s plan and not man’s.

God has warned man about the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), and he has told of those who stopped worshiping the creator and started worshiping the creature (Romans 1:21-25). His word tells of how his wrath is revealed against all who hold the truth in unrighteousness. It tells of punishment to come to all who would indulge in sin and those who would find pleasure in those that sin (Romans 1:26-32). Despite man’s thoughts or desires, God knows what is best for his creation. God does not need man’s help. “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ saith the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Some want to take the previous passages out of their Bibles, but God’s word still remains. It will never be destroyed.

Jesus told that his word must be obeyed. “He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48); “Not everyone that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). When Paul was writing to the church at Corinth, he told them, “I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Man cannot change the Bible to fit his wants and desires. Man must follow the teachings as they are found in God’s word.