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And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. 11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14  Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15  For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

(Rev 22:10-15)

Skeptic'S CORNER

Q1

1: How can God give salvation through Jesus Christ to the world if so much of the world has never heard of Jesus Christ?

1A) Are these people doomed to hell without even a chance for salvation?
1B) What about the many countries that are being suppressed/restricted from ever knowing by their government/traditions/religion?
1C) Are we really supposed to believe that once the Gospel is given, that this civilization is just supposed to throw out all their thousands of years of traditions and religious practices to accept these new Christian teachings?

For more information and a deeper explanation; read ''Going Deeper''and "Why do I need Jesus?'"sections below:

 

  • 1 & 1A) All people came from Noah and Noah came from Adam: 

    • Thus all ancient nations knew of the Fall of Man (in the Garden of Eden). The first prophesy of Jesus Christ’s coming was Gen 3:15; directly after the Fall of Adam and Eve, and it spoke of Jesus’ future victory over the serpent (Satan).

  • 1 & 1B) The twelve Apostles went in every direction from Israel, not just to Europe:

  • 1B & 1C) The current state of any country is caused by the religion of the generations before:

    • Thus, these godless evil nations are like this for a reason. India is in its current state because of Hinduism, the Middle East is the way it is because of Islam; Japan is the way it is because of their religion, etc. Christianity was spread to some of these nations in the past, but it was quickly snuffed out, and was not allowed back in.

      • Ancient offshoots of Christianity, regardless of their accuracy or purity, are evidence that the Gospel reached that region sometime in the past. (Nestorians, India, Japan, Ethiopia, etc.)

  • 1B) The Lord God opens doors for missions and He shuts them. We go where the Lord God wants us to go, in His time:

    • Act 14:27  And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

    • Col 4:3  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 

    • Act 16:6  Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7  After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8  And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10  And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

  • 1) Christianity spreads by word of mouth (preaching), it is not spread like other religions:

    • Islam and Catholicism were more of an imperial spread, where the religion, government, and military shared close bonds with each other. Christianity does not care which rule it is under, as the structure of the religion is on the inner transformation of the individual, and the Biblical Church is believers, as a whole. A Church building is merely an external manifestation of the internal reality of the Church Body (the people) and has no real importance outside of it being a gathering place for believers.

  • 1A & 1B) The Lord God has angelic messengers, also. Who are we to say that this theoretical “lost, without hope, in the middle of an evil land, without access to any Christians or Bibles” person, that is "desperately seeking the truth", doesn’t have a chance of finding it?

 

1C
1B
1A
Q2

2: How can you know that the Bible is perfect? Part 1: The Manuscripts 

  • 2A) How do you know the manuscripts of the Bible are accurate?

  • 2B) How was the Old Testament written and kept?

  • 2C) How was the New Testament written and kept?

2A) How do we know the manuscripts of the Bible are accurate?

  • Before we look into this, the first thing you need know is the Bible is the Lord’s, and He is the One that keeps it. Man does not determine whether the Bible will survive, the Lord has promised that His Word (the Bible) will survive to the end of the age. The Lord also promises severe penalties for adding to or taking away from His Word.

    • Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh: 33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors. 34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

    • Psa 19:7  The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple. 8  The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes. 9  The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether. 10  More to be desired [are they] than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11  Moreover by them is thy servant warned: [and] in keeping of them [there is] great reward.

    • Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

    • 2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

    • Rev 22:18  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: 19  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.

    •  Deu 4:2  Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

    • Pro 30:4  Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? 5  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

 

2B) How was the Old Testament written and kept?

  • The book of Romans reveals to us one of the benefits of being a Jew in the Old Testament; they were charged with keeping the Word of God:

    • Because of this, the Old Testament we have today comes from them, but we don’t actually have the original ancient Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts (manuscripts are hand-written books), the one that is used is the Hebrew Masoretic Text; manuscript copies from the late ninth century to the late tenth century (A.D.). Also used is the first major translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Greek Septuagint; which was translated from 3 B.C to 2 B.C. and it was translated during a time where many of the common Jewish people could not speak their native Hebrew tongue. Rather, the earlier trade language of Aramaic (the language of Assyria and Babylon) and the language of Macedonia (now known as Greek) were the most widespread languages of the people. This was due to the recent conquering of the world by Alexander the Great and the past conquering and exile of Israel by Assyria and Babylon.

      • Psa 147:19  He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. 20  He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD. 

      • Rom 3:1  What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2  Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 

  • Jesus  quoted frequently from the Old Testament, this gives credence to the Lord's assurance of accuracy for the manuscript copies of the Hebrew Bible at this point in time.

    • These Hebrew manuscripts copies would be the same quality and very similar to those used for the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament, as this translation was completed only a few decades earlier.

      • Mat 4:1  Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2  And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4  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. 5  Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6  And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8  Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11  Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. 

      • Mat 21:42   Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

      • Mat 22:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 

      • Mat 26:24  The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. 25  Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. 

      • Mar 11:15  And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; 16  And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. 17  And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. 18  And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. 19  And when even was come, he went out of the city. 

      • Joh 5:37  And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38  And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 

      • Joh 10:34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 

      • Joh 10:36  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37  If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. 39  Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand

  • Jesus is the Word; he would not be one to misquote due to inaccurate manuscript copies:

    • Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2  The same was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15  John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16  And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

    • 1Jn 1:1  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

    • 1Jn 5:7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 

    • Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

  •  If the Bible is truly authored by the Lord God, there should be no reason why It could not be translated into other languages, as all languages come from the Lord God:

    • If the Lord God’s language is exclusively Hebrew, why has the Old Testament been preserved mainly in Greek, why was the New Testament originally written in Greek, and why did Jesus and the Apostles speak Aramaic as a daily language?

      • Jesus Christ most likely taught in the synagogue through the Hebrew tongue, as the scrolls were written in Hebrew, but He taught throughout Judea speaking Galilean- which was considered a lower class dialect of Aramaic- and He most likely also spoke Greek (the trade language, or “lingua franca” of the time).

​

2C) How was the New Testament written and kept?

 

  • The New Testament was written before the 1st century ended:

    • The books were written by the Apostles and their close associates. There is some controversy when dating the books of the New Testament, but I believe the writing of New Testament began during Jesus' ministry (around A.D 30) and was completed before the destruction of the Jewish Temple (this occurred on A.D 70). The estimates preferring a later date believe that the last books of the New Testament were completed around A.D. 90. Whichever view you prefer, it still shows the New Testament was completed soon after Jesus (within 60 years). When the New Testament was written is important because it shows that the doctrines of the New Testament came before the end of the first century. Who wrote the New Testament is important because it shows that it was written by first generation Christians. All of the writers of the New Testament either knew Jesus (Matthew, Mark, John, Jude, James), were in close contact with people that knew Jesus (Mark, Luke), or Jesus was physically revealed to them after his resurrection (Paul). This is important, because all Christian writings were written very soon after Jesus’s ascension by the very people that knew Jesus best, thus the chance of errors in this new doctrine is very unlikely. This is also important, because it shows the New Testament did not just one day exist, but was collected and put together over time.

  • How early Christians kept the writings were a little different than the Jews, as most of the writings were letters to local churches: 

    • An example of this would be similar to the following: The apostle Paul writes a letter to Corinth, the Church there reads the letter to the congregation, the leaders would copy the letter one or more times, the leaders would then send the copies to the neighboring churches, while the neighboring church might have a letter from James, which they would copy and send to Corinth and to the neighboring cities around them. This would happen with all of the important letters, and the best letters would slowly come together to be the New Testament canon. In fact, if you read Revelation, John is told to write letters to seven churches, and since all seven letters are included within Revelation, we can safely assume that all seven churches received a copy of the whole book, either from John or Ephesus (the first church in line). What we have today are copies upon copies of New Testament manuscripts. The sheer volume that has been discovered makes it easier to find the errors, as they check them against each other. Due to the nature of the way these New Testament writings were preserved (copying the copies) the most prevalent mistakes are typos, and these are easily resolved when reconstructing them as they are usually in different isolated and obvious spots when comparing them against each other. The oldest manuscript found has been dated at around the middle of the second century, but the majority of our New Testament is from the manuscripts that date around A.D. 300 as these were the most complete. The pre-A.D. 300 manuscripts are mainly used to verify the newer ones, as they are usually fragments.

Q3
2A
2B
2C

3: How can you know that the Bible is perfect? Part 2: Translators and Translations

  • 3A) What makes Constantine trustworthy?

  • 3B) What makes King James such a godly king and why trust that his translation is perfect?

  • 3C) How can imperfect sinners keep a holy and true book holy and true through so many copies and translations into different languages over the course of thousands of years?

  • 3D) Why are Bible publishers making a profit on the Bible, isn’t this against your teachings?

3A) Was Constantine trustworthy?

  • Was he Christian?

    • He believed he was.

  • Did he have a vision of the cross?

    • I don’t know.

  • What we do know:

    • The Lord God allowed him to reign, because the Bible tells us that it is the Lord that sets up kings and rulers. Remember, Jesus is the KING OF KINGS.

      • Pro 8:14  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. 15  By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16  By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 

      • Dan 2:37  Thou, O king (Nebuchadnezzar), art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

      • Rom 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

      • Joh 19:10  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

      • 1Ti 6:13  I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; 14  That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16  Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

      • Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 

​

  • What did Consantine do for the Church?

    • He made Christianity the Roman state religion. Before this it was polytheist and at a later date, emperor deifying was added.

    • The last of ten major Roman persecutions ended for Christians. These persecutions took place between A.D. 64 and A.D. 324. Emperor Nero was the first to promote the persecutions, and later, Emperor Trajan put in place the laws for outlawing Christianity, which all successors up to Constantine followed to some degree.

    • The bad part of what he did for Christianity was he (inadvertently or not) put a system in place where the government and the Christian church started to merge, and the Church began to go to the government for clarifying of doctrine through government appointed councils. This started the ball rolling for the formation of the Catholic Church. Notice Constantine did not invent the Roman Catholic Church, but he was a root cause to its birth.

    • Another side effect of having a Christian emperor was that all of the pagan Romans of the time became “Christian”, because Constantine was a "self" proclaimed “Christian”. These new converts didn’t like the structure of their new religion, so they started to merge their old religion into it, causing perversion to the doctrine. These converts would change the names of pagan holidays and adjust pagan idols to resemble Apostles. These two causes, together, would bring forth the coming of the Roman Catholic Church in the near future. The Catholic Church would go on to become a monstrosity, totally corrupted with vanity and greed, and one of the major causes of the Dark Ages.

      • Think of it this way, when Rome fell, Rome transformed itself into the Catholic Church, thus Rome lives on to this day, only now their leader’s title is not Caesar, but Pope.

  • The Council of Nicea and the Biblical canon:

    • The Council of Nicaea was one of the councils put together by Constantine of the Christian leaders of the time with the end goal being the settling of controversies between the churches of the time. It concluded with the writing of the Nicene Creed.

    • The canon was not made official at this point, but it was already becoming obvious which books belonged in the New Testament. The canon we have today became official around A.D. 380, but a canon missing only a few of the books (Hebrews, Jude and 3rd John) was used about 200 years earlier. Notice the last books of the New Testament were written at the latest around A.D.90. The canon took so long for a lot of reasons, but the Christians of the time were very cautious on making sure the right books were chosen. Evidence of this is the number of cross-references within the Bible, especially OT to NT and NT to OT (about 340,000). The Bible tells us how to discern what is right in the Bible by verses telling us not to accept a teaching unless another source proves it. The fact that the Bible as a whole agrees with itself, even though it was written through about 40 men over the span of 1500 years, is evidence they got it right.

​

3B) What makes King James such a godly king and why trust that his translation is perfect?

  • Whether King James was godly or not is not the point. King James had a divided kingdom when it came to the Bible.

    • The Puritans were leaning on the Geneva Bible, while the Church of England had the ordained Bishop’s Bible.

    • King James gathered the leaders of both sides together in order to settle their differences, with the final result being that they disagreed the other's Bible was the better.

  • Thus, what King James did was to put forth a plan to come up with a new Bible based on both the Bishop’s and the Geneva. 

    • This new Bible would also bring into consideration the original manuscripts (hand written copies) and the original languages of the Word from the past. The people doing this would be a panel of the best Bible scholars of the time from both sides of the argument, with no changes being made until they all came into agreement. This venture would have no deadline and it would be fully funded by the throne. After this, the king took a step back from the panel and let them get to work with no further involvement. This was agreed upon as the ideal solution, so the work began. One of the main rules King James put forth was no commentaries or opinions (which the Geneva had), only the Word.

    • Thus, the KJV Bible has two direct English predecessors in the Bishop and Geneva Bibles, while these have a lineage that leads to Tyndale, which leads back to the Greek Textus Receptus (Greek NT) and the LXX (Greek translation OT). With this being said, the KJV is the most perfected English Bible, and it further refined the English translation of God’s Word over its predecessors. The Greek Textus Receptus (received text) and the Greek LXX Old Testament (the number 70, it is the number of the original Jewish translators involved in the Hebre-to-Greek translation) are the most accurate manuscripts and are the best place to start for a translation

  • To sum it up:

    • The Lord God used a worldly king to bring forth the best English Bible money and education could put together with the end result being a better version of what they already had; two very good, but slightly different versions.

      • A quick side-note: The text of the King James Bible is public domain and free to print outside of the United Kingdom. Also, there are many great free Bible study software packages available that include the KJV Bible (check out our “Bible Software” page for more information and links).

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3C & 3D) What about the newer translations? Are they better since they came at a later date?

  • The short answer is no: they are not.

    • These new Wescott-Hort translations are different, they don’t look back to the same manuscripts, but use “better” (in their opinion) manuscripts which have not been proven, and don’t look back on prior English translations, but “start fresh”. The problem with this, is our translation was perfected with time and sacrifice, over the course of hundreds of years. This means that one day, maybe, they will finally get the perfect Wescott-Hort translation they are working toward, but until then, you get revision after revision. This is perfect if you are in it for a profit (a lot of the publishers are), as every new version means a new copyright, which means a Bible upgrade for a church organization.

      • Another style of modern Wescott-Hort Bibles are ”thought for thought “ Bibles, which attempt to take the Word and change it to sound like it was written today by making it read like a modern-day novel or docu-drama. The basic idea is “This is what they were thinking when it was originally written, so I will change it into a modern parallel, this way it makes sense to a modern reader.” These always lose something in the process, as the underlying meaning and beauty of the original languages (Hebrew and Greek) is stripped away due to the simplistic, modern writing style. As a result, what you see, popping up, are these “flavored” Bibles, which is caused by no longer having a baseline Bible. Say you want a "cool and easy to read" model, they have just the Bible for you. Looking to dive a little deeper? check out this version. Perhaps you need a Bible with a little more punch, this one just came off the presses. Don’t want to feel so condemned? look at this one. And so forth.

    • Also, the dream of a true 1:1 translation has a harsh reality: languages don’t cross over seamlessly. Hebrew is constructed differently to Greek, and both languages have huge differences to English. Thus, a translation where you go from word to word, putting the most literal English equivalent down for each Greek or Hebrew word soon becomes a very hard to interpret sentence with little "real" value. Realistically, the best you can hope for is transliteration, and this takes time to perfect. Perverting of the Word (which occurred with the Westcott-Hort versions) is not perfecting of the Word!

    • Proper transliteration has to take into account the nuances of the original language and figures of speech at the time, which has a way of creating almost a hybrid language. Thus when the OT was translated to Greek in 3 B.C., the translators used Greek words, but the words were injected with a Hebrew meaning, giving the Greek words added- or dual- meaning. This added meaning would not be understood completely by an average first century Greek, because the concepts being put forth are foreign Hebrew concepts, he would need a basic understanding of these foreign concepts in order to understand why the Greek is used in this abnormal way. The English Bibles had to take into account both the Hebrew language and this modified Greek language before the translating could be done accurately. This is why there a so many italicized words in the KJV Bible, they are there because the original Greek or Hebrew word didn’t have an immediate English parallel, so the meaning for the English word was expanded by means of an extra word or words. Other times, the Greek word would have an implied meaning, which would be lost in English without these italicized words.

      • In short, the Greek translation of the Old Testament and the Greek New Testament were written in common Greek, but the language and words were expanded to allow for the Jewish and Christian ideas, thus an average Greek reader would probably have a harder time understanding these writings without taking into account the foreign ideas which the original language put forth.

    • When translations of the Bible take place, Greek is the usual source being translated because the most proven Old Testament and New Testament manuscripts were written in Greek. For example, a Swahili New Testament can be translated from a KJV Bible, but it would be preferable if it were translated from the original Greek manuscripts. This isn’t to say a KJV Bible would not be useful to the translation and would probably expedite the work to some degree. And it isn’t to say the KJV is any less God’s word then the Greek. Making a Greek with Hebrew influenced work make sense for a speaker of English is not the same thing as making a Greek with Hebrew influenced work make sense a speaker of Swahili. This is due to the structure difference within the language. We should be thanking God that we have such an accurate translation, and we should be praying that the other languages of the world will one day, have one of equal quality. It is said that the KJV Bible contains the most perfect English of any English work of literature, and if the English language were lost, it could single-handily be reconstructed by the English contained within a KJV Bible. This was not normal 1611 English, it was written in a higher English in the hopes of fully bringing out the truth and perfection that is God’s Word for future generations to cherish.

3A
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3C
Q4

4: Going Deeper

  • 4A) Why did Jesus come into the world?

  • 4B) What does Jesus say about his Gospel?

  • 4C) How did Jesus' followers spread this gospel?

  • 4D) How could this gospel spread across the world?

  • 4E) How can this gospel be understood by a Gentile?

4A) The reason Jesus Christ came into the world:

  • Jesus came to save that which was lost (those that are now and will be Christians):

    • Mat 18:10  Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11  For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12  How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13  And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14  Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. 

    • Luk 19:9  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 

    • 1Ti 1:12  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 

  • Jesus came to fulfill the Law:

    • Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

    • Psa 40:6  Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7  Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8  I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 

  • Jesus came to preach the kingdom of God:

    • Mat 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

    • Mar 1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 

  • Jesus came to bear witness to the truth:

    • Joh 3:16  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. 17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. 

    • Joh 18:33  Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34  Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35  Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 

    • Isa 55:4  Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5  Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

      • Jesus Christ bearing witness to the truth is the final proof that this world is guilty, he was the truth and sinless, he lived a perfect life in the Lord God’s eyes; and the Jews, out of envy, killed him for it (this was the Lord God’s plan, though). The Jews are guilty for the murder of Jesus, but the Romans gave him up to the Jews, so they are not guiltless either. The world saw a perfect example in Jesus Christ, but instead of accepting him and turning to him, they turned from him and killed him; because they loved their evil ways more than truth.

  • 4B) What Jesus said about the spreading of his good news (the Gospel):

    • He said it was to be preached to every creature:

      • Mar 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. 

      • Psa 96:1  O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. 2  Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. 3  Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. 

      • Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 

      • He said that before the end comes, His gospel would be preached to all the nations (Note the scope of this; Jesus is talking about the end of the world coming).

      • Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 

      • Rom 10:16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18  But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19  But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20  But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21  But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. 

    • Jesus said that the way to Salvation was a narrow way, and the way to destruction was broad:

      • Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

      • Mat 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

      • Jesus said we are to pray for laborers, because the harvest was great and the laborers few (laborers are those spreading the gospel, the harvest are the people of the world):

      • Mat 9:35  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 

      • 1Co 3:5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

  • 4C) Next, let’s look at some ways the Gospel was spread:

    • If the message was not taken well, the disciples were to move on to the next town. If they were persecuted, they were to flee.

      • Mat 10:12  And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13  And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15  Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 

      • Mar 6:10  And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. 11  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 

      • Act 13:49  And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50  But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.  51  But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. 

      • Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 

      • Act 14:2  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 3  Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4  But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5  And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 6  They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 7  And there they preached the gospel

    • Being martyred multiplied the spread of the gospel.

      • Joh 15:18  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21  But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22  If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23  He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24  If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25  But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 

  • 4D) The Bible gives us examples of gentiles seeking the truth and God speaking to them and/or sending a preacher to them:

    • Act 8:26  And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27  And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28  Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32  The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40  But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. 

    • Act 10:1  There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3  He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4  And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5  And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6  He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 

  • 4E) How would this Gentile know what to do?

    • A gentile (non-Jew)  that knows absolutely nothing about the Bible can still call out to his Heavenly Father (the Lord God) and ask for Him to show him the truth, this prayer does not require Jesus as a Mediator for it to go to the Father since Jesus is the truth, thus-knowingly or unknowingly- he is asking the Lord God to reveal Jesus Christ to him.

4A
4B
4C
4D
4E
Q5

5: Why does man need Jesus

  • 5A) "Man" What a Mess!

  • 5B) You are in Satan's World!

  • 5C) Being in this World Proves You're Guilty
  • 5D) Reconcile With One You Never Knew?
  • 5E) The Lord is in Control of Satan's World
  • 5F) Where in this World Does Jesus Fit?
  • 5G) The Evidence that You are Saved
  • 5H) With Love, a Great Plan Comes Together
  • 5I) Can You Earn Salvation?
  • 5J) Religion? It will not Save You!
  • 5K) Is Your Foundation of Rock or Sand?

  • 5A) Man being created by God is evident by the world we live in, as the world is a testimony of God’s existence and His power.

    • Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them. 20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

  • 5B) This is NOT the Lord God’s world, this the world of Satan and his angels (demons). We are trapped here because we fell for Satan’s lie.

    • Mat 4:8  Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11  Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. 

    • 1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16  For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

    • 1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 

    • Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 

  • 5C) If you are in this world, you have fallen. This is your last chance for reconciliation to the Lord God.

    • Psa 82:5  They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 6  I have said, Ye [are] gods; and all of you [are] children of the most High. 7  But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. 8  Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. 

    • Joh 10:30  I and [my] Father are one. 31  Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32  Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33  The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 

  • 5D) How can you be reconciled to someone you never knew? You can’t!

    • Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. 29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 

    • Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh (brought near) by the blood of Christ. 14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us;] 15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; 16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 

    • Col 1:19  For it pleased [the Father] that in him should all fulness dwell; 20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven. 21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 

  • 5E) Even if this is Satan's world, the Lord God is still ultimately in control:

    •  Think of the Lord God as looking down on a contained system that is being run by a group of rebels, these rebels tricked their brethren into turning from the Lord God and trapped them in this contained system of their making. Although the system is created by these rebels, all the rebels are created by the Lord God and come from Him, and they used the Lord God’s power to construct the system. The Lord God allows this to happen, but He still loves those tricked brethren. Since the Lord God is perfect, if part of His creation turns and becomes imperfect, He has the power to remove this part without corrupting the whole. The problem with this is the Lord God has to remove the tricked group also, because they are no longer perfect, either. This world is a quarantined battlefield, with the Lord God trying to save those that fell, and the rebels trying to guarantee the demise of the tricked brethren.

  • 5F)  Where does Jesus Christ fit into this?

    • Jesus Christ was the plan to rescue and reconcile those brethren that were tricked and trapped by the rebels and lost to the Lord God, but the only way to do this was to come into the system and live by the standards of the system (God’s Law) perfectly, and be sacrificed as a once-for-all, perfect, blood sacrifice to pay our death penalty for rebellion. The only caveat is, we need to admit that we were wrong and that we deserve our punishment and we need to accept that Jesus paid the punishment for us in order to get us out from under the law and into this new covenant, the covenant of Grace.

      • Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

    • Since everyone born here is under the Law, when one breaks the law, he is an offender and he will be judged by the Lord God (and just by coming here to this world, you broke the law). If Jesus Christ paid for you with His perfect life, you are now dead to the system, because according to the law, the punishment is death, but Jesus died this death for you. So now you are covered by Jesus, and when the Lord God looks at you, He sees Jesus and his perfect life. Now you are spiritually born to the new system, the system of grace which is kept by faith (not the keeping of the Law). Thus, all of the ceremonial laws in the Old Testament no longer apply, because each of them were to show an aspect of Jesus Christ, the one that was coming to redeem us. But Jesus came, so now we look to Him directly (instead of the ceremonial laws) as our redeemer has come.

  • 5G) The Comforter is the evidence of us being reconciled with the Lord God:

    • To show how serious the Lord God is toward the promise of our coming redemption, He sent us The Comforter (The Holy Spirit) to abide within us as an earnest (down payment) on our lives. Satan owns our flesh until it is bought back, and the only thing that can buy you back is the blood of Jesus. The new Spirit is sent to abide in us the second we accept salvation, and it gives us power to resist the flesh and to fight back with prayer, but we will not have total victory over the flesh until we go home to the Lord God and get renewed bodies. This is why the Holy Spirit is the down payment. The evidence of this is the resurrection of Jesus and His Ascension. The Lord God brought Jesus back from the grave, and He ascended Him to Heaven. He will do this for us, too. Because of this new Spirit within us, it is possible for us to fulfil the Law, but only through the Spirit. The Law is here to condemn the flesh, it is perfect, but it is unable to save, its purpose lies in the fact that it reveals to all men that they are guilty of not living up to the standards of the Lord God, and if He did not intervene, we all would be worthy of judgement. Due to all of these reasons, we can now call on the Lord God as Abba, or Father, because we have been adopted back to Him by the blood of Christ, His Son.

      • Eph 1:9-14  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also [trusted,] after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

  • 5H) Salvation will bring redemption, but your current deployment is a labor of love:

    • We are saved by Jesus, but our redemption is not fully realized until we go to Heaven (Eph 1:14), or He comes in the clouds (read the book of Revelation). Jesus keeps us here to put us to work; pulling out our fallen brethren from the condemnation of the Law by preaching the Gospel! We aren’t saved by our works; but we are saved for the Lord God’s work. The Lord God wants us to follow Jesus’ commandments and examples, and our main duty is the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and establishing his law.  

      • Mat 22:35 Then one of them, [which] was a lawyer, asked [him a question], tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which [is] the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

      • Rom 3:31  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. 

      • 1Co 9:16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation [of the gospel] is committed unto me. 18  What is my reward then? [Verily] that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 19  For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 

  • 5I) Repentance is not works- Salvation can not be earned:

    • We are saved by grace (the Lord God’s part) through faith (our part), not us turning from evil to good, as this is not possible in our current fallen state. Jesus *CONVERTS you once you accept what He has already done for you (paid your death penalty). After- and only after- this happens, you are now going a different direction. You were once walking with the world, but now, Jesus has entered into you and flipped you around (think 180 degrees), so now you are walking with Jesus toward Heaven instead of with the world toward the Judgement (the lake of fire). Due to this reason, a change will happen to you and the way you conduct yourself, but this is not by the works you do, but Christ working in you. You grow holier every day through faith (our part) by the new Spirit within you. God the Father is perfecting you into the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit that is put into you. This Spirit supplants (overthrows) the old spirit of the world (the spirit of antichrist) that is within you.

      • *CONVERT, v.t. [L., to turn; coinciding in elements and signification with barter.]

        • To change or turn into another substance or form; as, to convert gases into water, or water into ice.

        • To change from one state to another; as, to convert a barren waste into a fruitful field; to convert a wilderness into a garden; to convert rude savages into civilized men.

  • 5J) Religion Is Not Repentance:

    • The Bible warns us of faking Christianity, and it gives us ways to spot a fake Christian. The Bible also warns that God the Father chastises those He loves, but a bastard (one without a Father) goes without chastisement. So, you must ask yourself, O, Religious Man, “Why is it so easy for me to get away with doing evil as a Christian?”

      • Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10  For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but he for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of his holiness. 11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

      • 1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 

  • 5K) Whom say ye that I am?

    • Jesus said to his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Truly following Christ requires YOU to realize and accept who he is. If someone or some religion is telling you of Jesus, and you only know Jesus through their lens, you are not a Christian. You can’t be saved on your Christian friend’s coat-tails or your church’s version of Jesus. YOU need to come to the realization, yourself. The same goes for me, I can show you Jesus and try to explain him to you and who he is, but you cannot truly know Him until you know Him, and you will know when you truly know Him.

      • Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  14  And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (all these answers are wrong) 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

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Q6

6: Some Final Notes on the Bible

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6A) The Gospel Accounts are the Center of the Bible

6B) Why Four Gospels?

6C) An Outline of the Bible

  • 6A) The Four Gospels should be seen as the center of the Bible: The Old Testament points to the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament reveals the Gospel’s meaning in detail, while also correlating both Old and New perfectly for the full picture.

  • 6B) The four Gospel accounts are not meant to be identical: They have different focuses in order to show Jesus fulfill  four different roles (King, Servant, Man and God). Trying to combine all aspects of Christ into one account would make the story very hard to read and follow.

    • The very fact there are four different correlating accounts with four different themes and all four of them are self-sufficient stories should show the importance and the accuracy of the story as a whole.

    • The Gospels are not meant to be “The Biography of Jesus Christ”.

    • The author of the Bible is the Lord God, His Spirit moved through godly men to inspire them to write His words. The personalities and writing styles of these men came through the text because of the way He did this (think of a secretary writing for a boss, not a court reporter writing verbatim).

 

  • 6C) A very quick outline of the Bible:

    • Genesis through Esther is history.

    • Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon are the wisdom and poetry books.

    • Isaiah through Malachi are the prophets and their writings.

    • Matthew through John are the four gospel accounts.

    • Acts 1-9 is the spread of the gospel through Israel; Acts 10-28 is the beginning of the spread of the gospel throughout the rest of the world.

    • Romans through Jude are the letters and doctrine to the New Testament Church.

    • Revelation is the final prophesy and the end of the world.

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  • I claim no glory for this work, All glory goes to the LORD GOD who through His Spirit and guidance allows us (true Christians) to open the eyes and ears of those seeking truth.

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