Many believers read Paul’s words in 2 Timothy: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16) and they conclude that all the words in the Bible are inspired by God and come from Him. They believe that any words in the Bible, no matter who spoke them, are God’s words. They even think the Bible represents the Lord, and that by simply holding to the Bible, they can enter the kingdom of heaven. But is this understanding correct?

The statement, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God,” was made by Paul. When he said this, the New Testament didn’t yet exist, as its writings were not compiled into a book until over 300 years after Christ. So, Paul was clearly referring to the Old Testament. Now, was Paul’s statement actually accurate? We don’t know for sure, but we’ve never seen the Lord Jesus say such a thing, nor have we seen the Holy Spirit say it, and we certainly haven’t seen any prophet convey that message. We all know the New Testament contains the words of many different people, including those of the apostles, the Pharisees, and Judas, and there are even Satan’s words in it. Surely, their words were not inspired by God. Regardless of whether this statement of Paul’s is correct, one thing is certain: If people who believe in God only hold to the Bible and treat it as if it were God, they are absolutely mistaken. The Lord Jesus once said: “Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And you will not come to Me, that you might have life” (John 5:39–40). The Lord’s words are very clear: The Bible is merely a record of God’s past work and a testimony to Him. The Bible itself does not possess eternal life. Only God possesses the way of eternal life; only God is the truth, the way, and the life. God is the Creator and the source of life for all things. He holds sovereignty over the heavens, the earth, and all things, and His supply of life for humanity is endless and inexhaustible. The Bible, however, is just a historical book recording God’s previous work. How can it possibly be equated with God? For this reason, the few words of God found in the Bible are, in relation to God Himself, just a drop in the ocean. To claim that someone can enter the kingdom of heaven simply by holding to the Bible is nothing but wishful thinking. God carries out three stages of work in His management of mankind, and He is speaking more and more words. This is especially true of the work of judgment in the last days, during which Almighty God has expressed an abundance of truths. The words recorded in The Word Appears in the Flesh already fill seven volumes—many times more than the words in the Bible. This completely fulfills the words of the Lord Jesus: “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come” (John 16:12–13). “He that rejects Me, and accepts not My words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). There are also the prophecies in the Book of Revelation: “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7). These prophecies are perfectly clear: When the Lord returns in the last days, He will speak again to the churches, expressing all truths to judge mankind. That is, He will use the truth to judge and purify people, saving them from Satan’s corruption and freeing them from the bondage of sin. This is an unprecedented stage of work, and it is the final stage in God’s work of salvation. From this, we can see that God has never spoken according to the Bible. God has so much that He wants to say to humanity; the words of God in the Bible are merely a drop in the ocean. In the last days, God expresses higher truths, and a greater number of truths. Specifically, the words that judge people, purify them, and make them perfect are all expressed by God during His work of judgment in the last days. If these words had been expressed during the Age of Grace, people would not have been able to bear them or been ready for them. Therefore, for people to think they can be saved and enter the kingdom of heaven by only holding to the Bible is pure wishful thinking. People imagine that entering the kingdom of heaven is far simpler than it actually is. They are filled with filth and corruption, living in sin and unable to break free. They have no knowledge of God’s work at all, let alone of God’s disposition. Even after believing in the Lord for many years, they still frequently sin and resist God. They have no fear of or submission to God, yet they expect to enter the kingdom of heaven simply by holding to the Bible and the name of the Lord Jesus. Isn’t that a joke? Today, the Lord Jesus has long since returned. He has appeared and is expressing the truth to carry out His work. All the wise virgins who heard God’s voice have been caught up before His throne. They all acknowledge that the words of Almighty God are the truth and the utterances of the Holy Spirit. They have attended the feast of the kingdom of heaven and have borne beautiful and resounding testimony for God. They eat and drink the words of God and praise Him every day, feeling immense enjoyment. This is a fact that everyone can see. Just as Almighty God says: “Christ of the last days brings life, and brings the enduring and everlasting way of truth. This truth is the path by which man gains life, and it is the only path by which man shall know God and be approved of by God. If you do not seek the way of life provided by Christ of the last days, then you shall never gain the approval of Jesus, and shall never be qualified to enter the gate of the kingdom of heaven, for you are both a puppet and prisoner of history. Those who are controlled by regulations, by words, and by the shackles of history will never be able to gain life nor gain the perpetual way of life. This is because all they have is turbid water which has been clung to for thousands of years instead of the water of life that flows from the throne. Those who are not supplied with the water of life will forever remain corpses, playthings of Satan, and sons of hell. How, then, can they behold God? You only seek to hold on to the past, to stand still and keep things as they are, and do not seek to change the status quo and discard history, so will you not always be antagonistic toward God? The steps of God’s work are overwhelming and mighty, like surging waves and rolling thunders—yet you sit passively awaiting destruction, clinging to that which is old and waiting for things to fall into your lap. In this way, how can you be considered someone who follows the footsteps of the Lamb? How can this demonstrate that the God you hold on to is the God who is always new and never old? And how can the words of your yellowed books carry you across into a new age? How can they lead you to seek the steps of God’s work? And how can they take you up to heaven? What you hold in your hands are mere words that can provide but temporary solace, not truths that are capable of giving you life. The words of scriptures you read can only enrich your tongue; they are not words of wisdom that can help you know human life, much less are they the path that can lead you to perfection. Does this discrepancy not give you cause for reflection? Does it not give you insight into the mysteries contained within? Are you capable of delivering yourself to heaven to meet God on your own? Without the coming of God, can you take yourself into heaven to enjoy family happiness with God? Are you still dreaming now? I exhort you, then, to stop dreaming and to look at who is working now—look to see who is now carrying out the work of saving man during the last days. If you do not, you shall never gain the truth, and shall never gain life” (The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Only Christ of the Last Days Can Give Man the Way of Eternal Life).