Believe it or not, the Bible is Man's Instruction Manual

When I say Man, that includes male and female species, because everything that is made normally comes with a set of instructions. Whether it is home appliances, toys, automobiles, pet accessories, clothing, food, etc. Man is no different. Man was created by God and given an instruction manual, that if read and followed carefully, he would be able to make the best of his life given him on earth. Man's instruction manual is called the Bible. The definition of Bible from World Scope Encyclopedia reads: "The book held by Christians and Jews to contain the word of God and to be of divine authority. The word Bible is derived from Medieval Latin,"biblia" in the singular number, and means a book. The Greek form of the word is a plural and means books. As commonly used it signifies the book, in comparison with which other books or writings are unworthy; or if they be called books, then the Bible becomes the book of books. The Latin word scriptura = writing, scripturae = writings, convey the idea that the scriptures are the only writings worthy of being called writings; therefore, they are of higher standing than all other books.”

With that established, let me say that any knowledge that man has of God he got it out of the Bible. All preachers preach, or teach their congregations from the Bible. If you really look close, you will see that all of man's laws have the Ten Commandments as their foundation. Now before we go any further, let's establish this very important point. "Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2Peter 1:20-21)

Also, let me show you that God's word is contained in a book. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success". (Joshua 1:8) "Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read". (Isaiah 34:16)

"The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book". (Jeremiah 30:1-2) "In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” (Daniel 9:1-2) "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)

Let's look and see what the writings in the Bible are good for. "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)

Not true. Instruction manuals should be clear and straightforward. The Bible is a spiritual book for spiritual people. If the Bible was an instruction manual, everyone would be in perfect agreement. That Christians do not agree is obvious.

Some Christians observe the sabbath religiously. Do the same Christians stone adulterers to death? Why not? It's the law after all. Ten Commandments? Where is adultery illegal these days? Muslim countries have laws against adultery. So-called Christian nations do not.

You've overlooked something. 2 Corinthians 2:5-7

"Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God. And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,…"

I'll stick with the ministry of Life, thanks all the same.

As an aside, what created being comes with a set of instructions? I'm finally working out my cat. She's 13 years old now. I would love to have had an instruction manual for her.

Yes. It is inspired by God for our admonition and guidance, not vice-versa.

The Bible is not an instruction manual. Reducing the entire Bible to "law" excludes the gospel. The Bible is the narrative of God interacting with and saving man, its the biography of Jesus.

It also misses the historical books, the poetic books, the prophetic books, and the apocalypse, also known as Revelation.

I've heard the analogy of the Bible to an instruction manual and it seems like a good one.

there's apocalyptic in other places, too, is that right?

2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

B.asic I.nstructions B.efore L.eaving E.arth

the thing is as we pursue the scripture more and more genuinely the understanding of it I mean through prayer , study and practice as we’re learning it becomes more clear as we grow and we grow as we let in the nest and potatoes stuff

theres the milk that gives us birth and the best that makes us grow and mature and be fruitful

Like an onion lol the doctrine has different tiers and levels for whatever level of we have currently

“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:13-14‬

theres pure milk that saves our souls it’s general , it’s inviting , it’s a promise only to a believer of Jesus Christ in the Bible as the scriptire presents him to us in the gospel

Like this

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;

but that the world through him might be saved.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

this is nOt a hard concept to grasp I believe in God but have never seen him , “he sent his only begotten son so that anyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have everlasting life he was sent to save us not condemn us “

it’s simple it’s just a question of don’t believe this ? Both what it states and the promise by Jesus of everlasting life and no condemnation ?

this is milk it’s establishing faith in me placing it solely in Jesus just in a general manner like when we’re young and don’t know much but whatever Jesus said and did we know it’s certainly true because we believe a simple truth that Jesus has come to save us from condemnation and if we truly put our faith and belief in him we will be saved from death and live forever with him

But then what happens is I start to get a little older and I can understand more now and handle more I actually need more food sources to make my bones and muscles develope properly so then there’s the teachings of repentance and righteousness that begin to sink o to our faith that’s in him eventually we start eating the meat and potatoes of the gospel after we come to faith that Jesus does for our sins was raised for our justification he came to shed his own blood to purchase us from death and he’ll amen

But then I have a life to live now walking in Christ following after God and so I need to learn to discern good and evil and to choose the good I need stronger meat that’s going to challenge and strengthen me like this

So I believe in Jesus now I have confessed him as lord now i need as I grow to hear this because of I hear it and don’t dismiss it as works of the law it’s actually God asking me an important question because I’ve confessed belief in Jesus

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:46-49‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is a personal teaching not a hardened commandment but it’s Jesus trying to reach us and call us to repentance and obedience through loving us and just asking us to consider “ if you say yes m your lord and you believe in me why don’t you care what I say ? Why don’t you do what I say ?

this should evoke a heart response from a believer hearing him say this it’s meat

my point is the Bible is really clear the more you pursue it through prayer and study and practice

Yes. The Bible is an instruction manual. But it is also much more.

Well the Bible is generally clear and straightforward.

amen it’s a record written of this so it can’t be changed and all
Men can hear it

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,( Old Testament )

hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, ( New Testament ) whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:1-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬


“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:63‬ ‭

When we read books written by people and their theories it is t the same as the Bible it was caused and brought to fruition by the Holy Ghost through the hands of willing holt chosen men and was purposes to be spread through the world like it is in every language and nation the Bible is much more you are correct

Thank you, Angela, your post brings up so many thoughts that opens scripture to us.
Still scripture IS also an instruction manual. God created a world for us, and told us just how to live in that world successfully, and the elements of failure. A clear example is those who read the impersonal stars to guide their life and those who read scripture for guidance, and listen to Christ who lives within them as they give their life to Him.

There are agnostics and atheist who follow these rules to success in the flesh, even as they fail to achieve salvation through Christ.

The Bible contains the truth, and the truth is the Word of God, which is the real life of man. "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (St. John 17:6, 8, &17) And Jesus answered him saying, "It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." (St. Luke4: 4) "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (St. John 6:63)

Now let’s get to the meat of the matter: God created man and gave him dominion over the works of his hand. "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) He instructed the man on what was lawful for him to do and he told him the consequences of disobeying. "And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:8-9 & 16-17)

Man disobeyed and brought death into the world; Jesus came and restored life unto man. "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1Corinthians 15:21-22) How did Jesus restore life to man? By coming into the world, living a perfect life before God the Father as an example to this disobedient and sinful man. "Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. "They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away." (Psalm 69:1-4)

Definitely! But I thought we were talking about whole books? Funny, I almost put "and in other places" but decided against it. Now you know why my posts gets so long and unwieldy, trying to cover everything!

This forum rather demonstrates the opposite. If it was that easy, we would not need the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation.