There are many religious books in our world. People the world over use these book to seek, search, and secure their salvation. But what is it that makes the Bible the Ultimate Book? Simply because it is the Word of the Living God, it is divinely inspired.

Many other books claim the same. However, upon closer scrutiny of these books you will notice they are not divinely inspired. They are merely a concoction of human imagination, mixed with a little reason and no shortage of self-righteous ideas.

Consider the Qur’an. When, someone reads it, they encounter confusion, contradiction, and disorientation upon evaluating the Muslim holy book. The Islamist author Patricia Crone states in her words that "The Qur’an is a text without a context." (From Jihad to Jesus p. 98).

The Book of Mormon is another book that confuses you more than guides you. Here is what is recorded: "The Book of Mormon is a sacred record of peoples in the ancient American, and was engraved upon sheets of metal, Four kinds of metal record plates are spoken of in the book itself: 1). The Plates of Nephi, 2). The Plates of Mormon, 3). The plates of Ether, and 4). The Plates of Brass." (The Book of Mormon p. 6 of Introduction).

Mark Twain said that the Book of Mormon was "chloroform in print." Tis a yawner. Tis another navel-gazing salvation by works manifesto. ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU DO TO GOD. I have attempted on several occasions to read it, but can’t make heads or tails out of it. I am more in the dark than I am in the light. I am more confused than enlightened.

As evident from the above information, there are many religious books out there, but all of them can be summarized into one category–salvation by works, rather than salvation by grace ALONE. These religious books want you the sinner to earn points to win God’s favor, or to reach heaven on your own, by your good deeds, but none of them give you certainty of salvation.

The Bible is different. Dr. Martin Luther wrote this regarding the Bible: "Note, then, the strategy of the devil in attacking only faith. He does not assail the heathen, unbelievers, and non-Christians. These stick to him like scales. But he sees that he cannot get at those who have God's Word, faith, and the Spirit. He knows well enough that he cannot win even if they stumble. He sees well enough that even if a person falls into gross sin, he is not lost on this account; for he can always rise again. This is why he argues that he must attack the matter in a different way and take the chief possession. If he has brought a man do doubt whether it really is the Word of God, then he has won the game. Therefore it is necessary to look at this matter very carefully. Paul and Christ have warned us sufficiently. All Scripture has also done so, for it contains no warning more earnest than this: to be on guard against false doctrine. For God can condone all our stumbling if only we remain loyal to the pure, unadulterated Word of God, which says: This is right; this is wrong." What Luther Says: A Practical In-Home Anthology for the Active Christian, edited by Ewald M. Plass, CPH, 1959, 1491:4819.

It is good to own a Bible. It is even more important to know what the Bible says. Why is it important, in this Year of the Word, that we read mark and inwardly digest this Holy Book? It is important because of what it says and does. It reveals our Awesome God. It reveals the heart of God. It tells us of the love of God. It shows us the compassion of God. It tells us the plan of God’s salvation. It shows us the face of God. It demonstrates that God’s Word is real. It tells us that Christ paid the ultimate price for man’s redemption.

The Bible tells the TRUTH of who He is and what He does. Our first Synodical president C. F. W. Walther wrote these good thoughts about the Bible: "Jesus told the lepers to be clean, the spirits of hell to depart, the blind eye to see, the deaf ear to hear, and even the dead to rise from the grave. And in each case, it happened just as our Lord commanded. This same Word of God is written in the Scriptures of the prophets and apostles, and it continues to be preached today by God’s true servants. It has the power to make the dead soul alive, soften hearts that are as hard as stone, change unbelievers into joyful believers. and transform the children of sin and wrath into the holy children of God. Let nothing make us doubt the Word of God [The Bible], so it is snatched away from us. If we surrender God’s Word, we lose heaven, salvation, and our very soul. Rejection of the Word is also a rejection of God, for it is by the Word alone that He comes to us and we to Him.

The books of the other religions have no such power. Instead, they emphasize what people may try to do to get close to God; the Bible, on the other hand, talks about God coming to us to bless us, to transform us, to save us.

This is what we have in this precious Book. How are you doing in your reading of the Word? It is not too late to get into the swing of things. There are websites like www.biblegateway.com that have reading plans. There is a lectionary in the front of our hymnal, Lutheran Service Book. Or if all of these things are too intimidating, try this reading plan. Read the Gospel of John through 10 times. Then read Romans through 10 times. After that read through Matthew, Mark and Luke in the same way. If you do that on a regular basis, you will see clearly again the plan of God’s salvation for you. This will then lead you to hunger for the rest of the Book. Test me in this and let me know what you find!!!