I am a man of the Bible. I read through the Bible annually. In addition, I teach and preach from the Bible weekly. I believe it is God’s inspired word. It is the source of truth and the rule for our lives. It reveals God’s plans for humanity and the redemption of our souls through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

That said, you must understand that the Bible does not come to us as precepts alone. Sure, many laws and proverbs are straightforward concepts, but that is about it. God’s word is revealed in stories, songs, prophecies, parables, and analogies.   

Many times in the New Testament, we have these words that we consider “religious” that are analogies and illustrations to help us understand the Gospel story. A word like “justification” is the picture of a law court and the penalty being paid. A “ransom” is the image of a person being held captive and someone paying the price for their freedom. Even the word “atonement” draws upon an Old Testament story for its understanding. All these big religious words use existing analogies to help us understand the cross of Christ.

When I say I teach the Bible only, that does not mean that I shout out precept after precept from the Bible. It means I explain the original word pictures within their context and use modern illustrations to drive the point home. A Biblical preacher uses all the tools at their disposal to help people understand what Jesus did on the cross. It is not someone who reads a passage and uses big words but the one who helps us know what it means and how to apply it today.