Will The Bible Keep You From Sin?

Dwight Moody once said, "The Bible will keep you from sin, but sin will keep you from the Bible." I wonder how many disagree with that statement, and why? I also wonder who agrees with it, and why? When I initially read that statement, it made me stop and think. I began debating with myself, asking myself questions to make more sense of the statement. After awhile, I realized that statement is very true, but only for someone whose heart's open enough to believe the Bible and who has received the Spirit of God. Once we accept Christ, we become new. II Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." This means that our lives are transformed into good and that we see sin in a different light and no longer want to continue sinning in the ways we used to. We are NEW. This doesn't mean that overnight we become saints...it's a santification process that takes time. But our eyes, hearts, and desires are changed because of God's grace when we accept Him as Lord and Saviour. So, I agree with the statement that the Bible will keep you from sin because as a Christian, the word speaks to us and convicts us, helping us live our lives according to the word. On the other hand, a person who thinks the Bible isn't real or that it's some mythical concoction won't necessarily stop sinning if he/she reads the Bible...unless their hearts are ready to receive the truth. It's also true that sin will keep you from the Bible. Even Christians find excuses not to read the Bible when they know they should. They choose television, the internet, homework, sleep, or a myriad of activities to do instead of read their Bible. Why do we do that? Sin. Those who defy Jesus and refuse to heed the word also sin because they won't allow themselves to even read or hear the truth. So the next time the Spirit gently nudges you to sit down with Him and learn something, just do it. You'll overcome sin and be blessed by God's powerful word.