The Bible is God’s word given to man, so that man can have salvation. It is a gift given by God, but it is a gift that must be accepted.
In accepting it one must follow the instructions God has given. In the book of Acts one finds where the apostles and other preachers directed people to follow God’s instructions.
Peter on the day of Pentecost told about Jesus. He told about the good Jesus had done and of the miracles he had preformed. He then told them that they had crucified the very Son of God.
This cut them in their hearts; they realized there must be some way to be forgiven. They asked Peter and the apostles what to do, Peter told them to, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).
They had to bow to the commands of God.
Paul wrote, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:1-2).
In order to remain saved, one must continue to follow the commands found in God’s word.
The problem is that so many treat the Bible just like an instruction book written by man. They think they know how everything should go, so they do not bother to properly follow the instructions. Isaiah wrote, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9).
The God of heaven is the Great Designer. He designed the heavens and the earth, giving man all he needed to live. He also designed the plan for man’s salvation, including the giving of his Son for the sins of mankind. He has given the commands to be followed in the Bible so that all can know how to please him.
"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 Timothy 3:16-17).
God’s commands have not changed. Man must still follow the divine instructions in order to have eternal life. The desire to have eternal life must be with all one’s heart.
On one occasion, Jesus was approached by a young man who only thought he wanted eternal life. He had kept the law all his life (he lived under the time of the law of Moses). However when Jesus told him to sell all he had and give to the poor, he went away sorrowful. He loved his possessions more than he wanted to be saved (Mark 10:17-22).
God wants all to be saved, but His commands must be obeyed.