Bible Studies

The Doctrine of God

In the Beginning… God  (Genesis 1:1)   

Someone once said that these four words were the most difficult words in the Bible.  Once you believe them then everything else is easy.

Nowhere does the Bible attempt to explain the existence of God.  Since the Bible doesn’t, then neither will I attempt it here.  The Bible simply states: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Gen 1:1) God expects us to accept His existence by faith.

But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb 11:6)   God considers anyone a fool who does not believe: “The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God.” (Ps 14:1)    

God calls them fools because there are many “infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3) that only a fool would ignore.

Four things to consider when contemplating the existence of God.

1.  The Bible itself. 

     Nowhere is there a book like this one. It professes to be God’s very words.  Everything we know about God comes from the scriptures.  Yet the skeptics will say, “I don’t believe the Bible, so it isn’t proof to me.”   Sorry, but you just can’t get rid of the Bible that easily.  While many have tried, no one has ever proven that the Bible isn’t God’s word. Unless you can prove that it isn’t God’s word, it is foolish to cast it away.  Over the years multiple millions of people have come to believe the truth found in the Bible and have had their lives transformed by that truth.  To ignore the testimony of so many is a foolish decision.

  Then there is the proof of fulfilled prophesy.  Jesus fulfilled 108 specific prophecies in his first coming.  Using the mathematical science of probability, Professor Peter Stoner gave his students a math probability problem that would determine the odds for one person fulfilling eight specific prophecies. (This is not the same as flipping a coin eight times in a row and getting heads each time; that is far too simple!) First the students calculated the odds of one person fulfilling all the conditions of one specific prophecy, such as being betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver. Then the students did their best to estimate the odds for all of the eight prophecies combined.

The students calculated that the odds against one person fulfilling all eight prophecies were astronomical-one in ten to the 21^st power (10²¹). To illustrate that number, Stoner gave the following example: “First, cover the entire state of Texas knee deep with silver dollars. Second, mark one of those dollars and randomly bury it. Thirdly, blindfold a person who will then walk across the state and on his first try select the marked dollar.”  

  Another way to look at it is our galaxy, the Milky way has 100 billion stars.  There are estimated to be 10 billion galaxies in the universe.  That brings the estimated number of stars to 10 to the 21^st power.  That is also the equivalent to the number of grains of sand on all the beaches of the entire earth!  So the next time you rub your big toe in the sand of a beach, or view a star studded night sky, just ask yourself…”What’s the chances?”   

That’s only eight out of 108 that Jesus specifically fulfilled, consider all the other prophesies that are just as detailed and perfectly fulfilled!  Wouldn’t it be foolish to ignore such proof?

    Here are the eight prophecies used by Professor Stoner.

710 B.C. Micah 5:2 tells us where Jesus was to be born, and that he is eternal in his existance.   

742 B.C. Isaiah 7:14 tells us he would be virgin born and he would be God in the flesh. 

600 B.C. Jeremiah 23:5 tells us he would be from the kingly line of David. 

487 B.C. Zechariah 11:13 tells us he would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. 

1000 B.C. Psalm 22, gives a detailed description of the scourging and crucifying of Jesus. Verse 16 tells us his hands and feet would be pierced. Verse 18 tells us they would cast lots for his clothing.  Read Psalms 22:1-18 carefully. 

500 B.C. Zechariah 9:9 tells us he would present himself as King to Israel riding on the foal of an ass.

500 B.C. Malachi 3:1 tells us that there would be a messenger sent before him.

These eight prophesies were written from 500 to 1000 years before Jesus, by different men living in different places.  Remarkable to say the least!  Only a fool would ignore such evidence!

2. The proof of creation. 

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them. 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: (Romans 1:19,20)    

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  [There is] no speech nor language, [where] their voice is not heard.   Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,   Which [is] as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, [and] rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.  His going forth [is] from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. (Psalms 19:1-6)

God say’s that you can know he exist by observing His creation! Creation clearly has design and order.  If there is a design then there must of necessity be a designer.  A watch with all its intricate movements didn’t just happen. Its assembly proves that it was designed and created.  The time by which we set that watch, or make our calendars or observe seasons comes from the design in creation.  It is convincing proof that there is a design to creation and therefore there must be a designer and a creator.  You would have to be foolish to ignore that. 

3. The proof of moral law. 

“ For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;” (Romans 2:14,15)

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you]in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:19-23)

  Universally man believes that there is an acceptable moral standard to live by.  The conscience of man is one of the most confounding problems that an atheist faces! Isn’t it interesting that there are no laws anywhere against such things as love, joy, or peace.  Yet, there isn’t a place on earth where man believes that murder, rape, or stealing is morally acceptable.  This moral law is written on man’s heart.  If there is no God, then who wrote on man’s heart that it is wrong to murder, rape, steal or commit adultery?  Where did man get this sense of morality. Wouldn’t it be foolish to ignore such proof? 

4. The Law of Logic

An atheist will say that he doesn’t believe in God, it is just as interesting to note that God doesn’t believe in atheist. 

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed [it] unto them. (Rom 1:19)

God’s word declares that they know him.  They must convince themselves that he doesn’t exist by ignoring certain fundamental truths.  An Atheist must deny with his lips what he knows in his heart is true! God goes on to declare that these fundamental truths leave them without excuse!

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: (Rom 1:20)

It would just seem a matter of logical thinking to reject an atheistic - evolutionary world view.  Evolution is simply a religious belief in itself!  The big bang theory simply teaches that everything that exists came from nothing.  There is no explanation from an evolutionary world view for the  origin of matter, or the energy that would have to have been existent for the big bang to occur.  That makes evolution a religion without logic. So as you view the world around you and see that time, space and matter all exist in an orderly manner it is only logical to reject the something from nothing (that's more faith than I can muster)  to the way more logical conclusion that creation has a creator!   You make logical decisions all the time.  If you get up in the morning and see snow outside your window, you will logically decide it is cold outside and put on a coat before going outdoors.  Even though you haven't been outside you logically decide that if there is snow then it is cold outside. That is making a logical decision.  It is just as logical to view creation and the evidence of a creator and  believe that he made everything, including you.  Jesus made this same analogy in the book of Matthew when asked about paying taxes...  "Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose [is] this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." (Matt 22:17-21) Jesus believed you could look at something and logically determine its source.  The coin created by man had man's image.  The man created by God has God's image.
Sounds logical to me! 

Yet, in spite of scientific, natural and moral evidence it still boils down to faith.  “he that cometh to God must believe that He is…” (Heb. 11:6)

The Doctrine of the Bible

The Doctrine of the Bible is a most important lesson because we believe that the Bible is the final authority for what we believe and how we conduct ourselves.  Where did the Bible come from?  Who wrote it? Do we have the word of God as first given?  These questions and more will be answered in this lesson. 

The word Bible means Book.   The Bible is a collection of 66 books:  39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament.  It was written by over 40 different authors from various backgrounds and social status, over a period of 1200 - 1500 years.  Despite the various authors, time and culture the Bible remains without error or contradiction. Its enemies have attempted to discredit it, degrade it and even burned it, yet it still stands as the lone sentinel of truth.  Someone once said, “Without consultation or collusion there is no collision of truth.”

The Bible is all about Christ.  He alone could say, "In the volume of the Book it is written of Me." (Psalm 40:7)

He told the Pharasies: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)

Someone summarized the Bible like this; The Subject of the Bible is Christ, the Object of the Bible is Christ, its symbols symbolize Christ, its types typify Christ, its predictions predict Christ, its gospels glorify Christ, and its epistles expound Christ. Touch the Bible anywhere and you touch Christ somewhere.

No book anywhere or any time has stirred as much debate as this sacred book.  Many are they that have tried to destroy it, but it still stands unscathed by human or satanic hand.

Voltaire thought he had demolished it and boasted that in one hundred years Christianity would be a museum piece. As a result, infidelity ran riot in France. Voltaire, however, slipped into the eternal flames of hell in May of 1778, but the Bible has not passed away. Moreover, Voltaire's printing press was used to print the very Scriptures which he boasted he had demolished and his house became a depot for the Geneva Bible Society.

This lesson has been written to demonstrate that the book about the King of Kings is indeed the King of all books!

I. The inspired word:

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, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2Tim 3:16,17)

    Paul declared that ALL scripture is “given by inspiration of God.”  The scriptures are not the work of man, but rather a work of God.  Inspiration means “God breathed.”  The Bible is a living book as surely as when God first breathed into man the breath of life!  “And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Gen 2:7) 

Jesus said, “the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.” (John 6:63)

II. The spoken word:

     Paul declared that scripture is “given by inspiration.” Notice he said “given”, not “written” by inspiration.  The words were given before they were written.

“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.” (2Pet 1:20-21)

Now we can see that the man of God would speak by the Spirit of God, making God the sole author of the Bible. What God “give by inspiration” was his very word. 

Notice what David said,  “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.” (2Sam 23:2) 

David believed that what he spoke was not from him, but was God’s word.   The prophet Jeremiah makes the same statement: “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” (Jer 1:9) 

It is not the prophets word, but God’s word. God put his word into the mouth of men like David and Jeremiah so others could hear.  “… he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:” (Luke 1:70) 

III. The Written Word   

That which was “given by inspiration” the scriptures, the word of God, was spoken by the prophets and then recorded by a scribe into a book.

“Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.” (Jer 36:4)

Notice the path of transmission: first God put his words into Jeremiah, then Jeremiah speaks those words and Baruch, a scribe, wrote those words in a book.  Baruch did not record his thoughts about what Jeremiah said, but the very words that Jeremiah spoke.  Therefore the Bible is the very word of God and every word of the Bible is from God!  Jesus believed that every word of the Bible was from God: “…It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4) If we are to live by every word  of God then there has to be a record of every word of God. The Holy Bible is those words recorded for you and me to read and study.  Through the reading and study of the scriptures we come to know the person and purpose of the author of those words. 

IV. The Preserved Word   

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matt 24:35)

This is a powerful statement on the Deity of Jesus and a witness to the trinity. From the very beginning the scriptures record: “And God said…” (Genesis 3:1)We also read where “Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21) Here in Matthew Jesus declares that the scriptures are His words!  Jesus also declared that the words were eternal and “shall not pass away.” Wouldn’t it be foolish to believe that God went to all the trouble to give man his word to speak and write and then would lose it?  Of course it would. 

“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:..” (John 14:23)

“Preach the word;”… (2Tim 4:2)

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1Pet 1:23)

How can you keep God’s Word, or preach it, or be sanctified by it, or be born again by it, IF it doesn’t exist?   God is adamant that His word will not fail or be lost!

“For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations.” (Ps 100:5)

“For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (1Pet 1:24-25)

Notice the following scripture out of the book of Ecclesiasties:

“I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth [it], that [men] should fear before him.” (Eccl 3:14)

God gave us the scriptures, it is his work, it is what he done and “whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever” He also included that he would not allow any additions or subtractions to his word, stating that nothing could be put to it or taken from it.

  That brings us to the next point in the preservation of God’s word and that is: God Himself promised to preserve his word!

“The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.” (Ps 12:6-7)

Notice that this passage declares the scriptures to be God’s word and that God Himself would keep them and preserve them from the time they were given until forever!  The preservation of scripture is GOD’S responsibility. 

How diligent is God in preserving his word?  Jesus said, “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.” (Matt 5:18)

We were taught cursive in school and the need to dot the i, and cross the t is to keep them from looking like an e or an l.  That would be similar to the Jot and the tittle of the bible. The "jot" is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet:

The word printed above is the Hebrew word for God ("Elohim"). It is the word that Moses wrote in Genesis 1:1--"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Find the smallest letter in this word and you have found a "jot".

The "tittle" is a very small mark that helps you to tell the difference between two Hebrew letters that look almost the same.

Written above are 6 Hebrew letters grouped into three groups of two letters each. In each group the two letters look very much alike. In each group, one of the letters has a small part added to it which distinguishes it and makes it different from the other letter. That is a "tittle."

  You see just how particular God is with his word?  Even the very smallest detail he declared would not be left out! 

The Bible was transmitted to us by God through the Jews.  Every book of the Bible was written by a Jew.  “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit [is there] of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. (Rom 3:1-2)

The Old Testament scriptures were meticulously copied by the priest and scribes of Levi. “And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of [that which is] before the priests the Levites:” (Deut 17:18)

The New Testament scriptures were copied by the Church from which the Spiritual Priesthood comes.  “To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious,  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1Pet 2:4-5)

Jesus said in John 17:17 that the word was “truth” The church has been given the responsibility to keep and protect truth.  “… the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1Tim 3:15)

Bible Translations:

  The first thing to be established concerning Bible translations is God’s ceasing of giving new  scripture.

   “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth [it], that [men] should fear before him.” (Eccl 3:14)  You can’t add to something or take away something that is complete without doing damage to it.  God said his word was TRUTH. (John 17:17)  God gives grave warnings to those who would change or alter His completed work.

“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.” (Rev 22:18-19)

God has promised to perfect His word.

“Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” (1Cor 13:8-10) 

  God calls His word the “Perfect Law of Liberty.” “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (Jas 1:22-25)

  That which is perfect has been completed and now we are to study the word, II Timothy 2:15, teach the word, II Timothy 2:2 , preach the word, II Timothy 4:2, we are not to alter the word! Rev. 22:18-19.         

“The Lord gave the word: great [was] the company of those that published [it].” (Ps 68:11)

  There is a biblical order of publishing a King’s word.  Notice this order as found in the book of Esther.   

“And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire,…” (Esther 1:20)

“For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language,… and that [it] should be published according to the language of every people.” (Esther 1:22)

  So the order of publishing is first; the word of the king is given, second it is sent to all people of his kingdom translated into their own language. Jesus is the KING of kings, and Lord of lords, so His word is to go into all the world and be translated into the language of every people! God wants all people to have and be able to read his word!   

  The Bible has been translated into many languages, yet there is only one translation that Jesus Himself calls “my word.”  Jesus says to the Church of Philadelphia; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word,and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8)  So what is the translation that was used by the Church of Philadelphia that Jesus declared was his word?  A brief study of church history will reveal the answer!

  The seven churches found in the second and third chapters of the book of Revelation, are indeed seven literal churches.  We must also remember that these churches were in the exact condition as described, and demonstrate that false doctrine was already at work in the first century church.  They also are prophetic and given in a specific order to represent the seven phases of the church age beginning with the apostolic church of Ephesus and ending with the apostate Laodicean church.  The conditions of the seven churches are found in every church period, with the named church representing the main characteristic of that church period. So in brief, here is how the messages to the seven churches relate to church history. 

Ephesus – (Revelation 2:1-7) around A.D.30 – 100. 

  This was the first century apostolic church that continued until the death of the apostle John, the last of the apostles. The name Ephesus means “desirable”.   In verse three it was a church commended for its fervent work and righteous discernment.  They also stood strong against the Nicolatines, a teaching that would divide the church into clergy and laity. Their problem was in placing the work ahead of their love for the Lord Jesus. Jesus and Jesus alone must be the object of a church’s fervent desire!

Smyrna – (Revelation 2:8-11) – around A.D. 60 - 300. 

  The root word of Smyrna is myrrh, which means bitterness.  Myrrh, an ointment, is associated with death. This church represents the persecuted church.  In verse “ten” Jesus said they would have tribulation for “ten” days.  It is interesting that there were “ten” great persecutions under “ten” persecutors:  Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Severus, Maximum, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, and Diocletian. The last and the worst under Diocletian lasted for… “ten” years.

Pergamos - (Revelation 2:12-17) – around A.D. 300-400.

  The name Pergamos means to fortify.  It became the strength of two false doctrines.  The doctrine of Balaam, and the doctrine of the Nicolaitians.  The doctrine of Balaam is the teaching of mingling the world with the church.  The doctrine of the Nicolaitians (whose name means to conquer the laity) was to set up a ruling class within the church. Instead of the priesthood of the believer it was now the priest over the believer.  This all came about when Emperor Constantine declared Christianity to be the state religion of Rome.  He appointed pagan Baal priest to oversee the church which ushered in all manner of worldliness and corruption.  He ordered the creation of 50 bibles that were created by Eusabius using the corrupt Alexanderian manuscripts of Adamantius Origen. What Diocletian could not accomplish in ten years of extreme persecution, Constantine did by blending church and state. Pergamos became the fortification of the church age to follow.

Thyatira – (Revelation 2:18-29) – around A.D. 400-1400. 

The name Thyatira means “continual sacrifice”.  They had left the once for all sacrifice of Jesus for the rituals of pagan religion. The Jezebel spirit of corruption thoroughly permeated this church age.  The Old Testament Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, had the priest of the Lord killed, and appointed her own Baal priest. Spiritual fornication and idol worship were the standard.  The Papal system comes to full power during this age, ushering in multitudes of false doctrines and idolatrous worship such as transubstantiation, the “continual sacrifice” of Jesus.  This age is known in secular arenas as the dark ages.  It has also been given the title as the millennial reign of Satan.

Sardis – (Revelation 3:1-6) - around A.D. 1400-1500

  The name Sardis means “those escaped”.  The Sardis church period was the church of the reformation.  During this period many left the Roman church and its false teachings, but unfortunately it was an insufficient separation.  They did not return to the pure apostolic model, and held too many of Rome’s false teachings, such as infant baptism, a special priesthood, the sacraments, and other doctrinal errors.  They also continued to link the church to the political realm with state churches.  They received the unsaved into church membership through infant baptism.  An unregenerate membership is why Jesus said in Revelation 3:1 “thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” This unfortunately describes the reformation.

Philadelphia – (Revelation 3:7-13) – around A.D. 1500-1900

  The name Philadelphia means “brotherly love.” This is the revival church, the church of the open door.  They had little physical strength, but great Spiritual strength.  This is the church that Jesus said in Revelation 3:8 had “kept his word.” We are about to find out what translation that is.  While Europe was embroiled in political and religious wars during the relative short reformation, God was busy preparing his word for the Philadelphia church period. The seed of the Philadelphia church was planted by three men during the early years of the reformation.  Their names are: John Wycliffe, Desiderius Erasmus, and William Tyndale. 

John Wycliffe:  (1302-1384 A.D.)  John Wycliffe is called the “morning star of the reformation.”  He influenced the reformation through his public criticism of the church of Rome, and his followers known as Lollards covered England preaching and teaching the Bible.  He realized that the best way to counter false teaching was to give to every man the Word of God.  He translated the Old and New Testament with the help of Nicolas Hereford.  Copies were made by hand and were very expensive.  It is said that to borrow a copy of Wycliffe’s bible for one hour cost a load of hay.  It took ten months to complete one Bible, but they were widely circulated.  In 1452 moveable type printing was invented and now the possibility of printing large numbers of Bibles existed. 

  Desiderius Erasmus: (1466-1536) - His Greek New Testament was used by Martin Luther to translate the German Bible and became the foundation known as the “Text received by all” that was used to produce the King James Bible.  While lecturing at Cambridge, one of Erasmus’ students was William Tyndale.

William Tyndale: (1494-1536) – Picked up the gauntlet of John Wycliffe and his desire for every man to have a copy of the Word of God.  He stated, “I defy the Pope and all his laws; if God spares my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the Scripture than thou doest.” Tyndale was skilled in seven languages: Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and English. He used Erasmus’ Greek text to translate the Bible into English in 1525.  He began work on the Old Testament and in 1535 he was betrayed by Henry Philips a Roman Catholic agent posing as a merchant.  On October 6^th, 1536, Tyndale was tied to a stake, strangled to death, and then burnt.  His last audible prayer was, “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.”  At the time of his death 50,000 copies of his New Testament had been distributed.

The seven purifications of God’s Word

1.  William Tyndale’s Bible - 1525

2.  The Coverdale Bible:  1535 - produced by Miles Coverdale a co-worker with Tyndale.  It is the first complete printed English Bible.

3.  The Matthew’s Bible:  1537 - produced by John Rogers a friend and assistant to Tyndale.  This was the first completed Tyndale Version. 

4.  The Great Bible:  1539 - produced by Miles Coverdale using the Matthew’s Bible, the Latin Vulgate and the Latin translation of Erasmus.  It was authorized by Henry VIII just three years after Tyndale’s dying prayer. It was called the Great Bible because of its large size, and was chained to the reading benches in the churches. It is sometimes called the second revision of Tyndale’s Bible. 

5.  The Geneva Bible: 1560 – 1644

Having fled to Geneva Switzerland from the rule of Bloody Queen Mary, a group of men including Miles Coverdale, Theodore Beza, John Knox, and William Whittingham who was the primary translator, produced the Geneva Bible.  It is the first English Bible translated entirely out of the original languages and is sometimes called the third revision of Tyndale’s Bible.  It was the most anti-Catholic Bible printed to date and became the Bible of the people.  While it is widely believed that it was the Bible on board the Mayflower when the Pilgrims came to America, the facts show that the only known Bible that was aboard the Mayflower was a King James Bible. 

6.  The Bishop’s Bible: 1568 -  It was a politically motivated translation by the English Episcopalian clergy to counteract the popularity of the Geneva Bible.  It did not receive popular support and failed to displace the Geneva Bible.  It is sometimes referred to as the fourth revision of Tyndale’s Bible. 

7.  The Authorized, King James Bible:  1611 – To the present. The introduction of the KJV sparked the greatest revivals and missionary movements ever in the history of Christianity. It displaced the very popular Geneva Bible by 1644, and is still the most popular Bible of all times.  This is the Bible of the Philadelphia Church period and the Bible that Jesus said was His word!  So in the argument of “which translation” Jesus has already made the choice…it is the Authorized King James Bible!     

Laodicea – around 1900 to present.

  The name Laodicea means, “the people speak.”  This church is marked by churches that are set up to please the people and not the Lord.  Jesus has no commendation for this church.  Their worship is to please the people, their music is to please the people, and their work is to please the people. The translations they use are to please the people…easier to read, language of the people…its good news for ‘modern” man. The result of corrupt translations is corrupt doctrine creating corrupt Churches that are self deceived and ignorant.  “because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (Rev 3:17)  This is the condition of the current Church period!   

The late 1800’s ushered in a flood of deception and ignorance.  Notice the correlation between the 1800's and the rise in false teaching. 

1811 - Church of Christ was established

1820 - The Morman Church was established,  Book of Morman published in 1830

Mid 1800 Charles Darwin wrote The Origin of the Species and the Descent of Man

1844 - The Seventh Day Adventists was established

1870 - Jehovah's Witnesses were established

1879 - Christian Science was established

1881 – Westcott and Hort using the corrupt Alexanderian manuscripts produced the revised version of the Bible, ushering in a flood of “new versions”

1889 - Unity School of Christianity

1900 - Bethel Bible College was established by Charles Parham who taught that speaking in tongues was the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  1901 - Agnes Ozman spoke in tongues, in 1906 W.J Seymour a student of Parham held meetings at Azusa Street mission in Los Angeles.  From here the Charismatic movement was established. 

1901 – The American Standard hit the shores of America and there hasn’t been a national revival since.   

1934 - Worldwide Church of God was established

1954 - Unification Church was established

And the list goes on…

The KJV doesn’t just contain the Word of God, it IS the Word of God!  Following is a list of five reasons we believe and use only the King James Bible.

1.  It was produced during the Philadelphia Church period.  This is the only Church period that Jesus said, “kept my word.” It was the Bible of the great revivals and great missionary movements. 

2.  It is the only version that perfectly fulfills Psalms 12:6,7 concerning God’s preservation of his word and the purifying of it on earth seven times.

3.  It is written in the language of the last days…English.  God prepared it for a time when English would be the universal language of earth.  Even in countries where English is not the native tongue, it is usually taught as a second language.

4.  It is a Church language Bible.  It relates God’s Word on a spiritual level that other Bibles can’t.

5.  It is doctrinally sound.  It upholds and honors the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the doctrine of the Blood atonement, His bodily resurrection and His soon return.

  

So if you want a Bible that is not corrupted by politics or people then use the one Jesus said was His Word…The KJV!

The Doctrine of Salvation

The Christian Doctrine of Salvation is an extremely narrow and limited doctrine.  Consider the following:

1.  The Bible teaches that there is no one who doesn’t need to be saved, but that all men are sinners and in need of a savior.  For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.  (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

2.  The Bible teaches that there is salvation in only one person.   Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

3. The Bible teaches that there is only one sacrifice acceptable to God for salvation. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1Cor 15:1-4)

4.  The bible teaches that there is only one way you must receive salvation  and that is by the grace of God through faith.  It cannot be earned!  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph 2:8-9)

5.  While the means of salvation is extremely limited the offer of salvation is not.  It is free to any who will receive it.  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Rom 10:9-10)

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Rom 10:13)

So with these 5 thoughts in mind let’s look at the Bible means of how to be saved.

How to be saved:

You must be born again!

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)

You were born into your physical family through a physical birth, that is, you were born of the flesh.  God is Spirit, and because of your sin you are spiritually dead and must be “quickened” that is to be made alive spiritually.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Col 2:13-14)

And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins; 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: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Eph 2:1-5)

In the verse below in the book of Acts, Paul is instructed in his work with the gentiles by Jesus.  Note the progression of instruction.

To open their eyes, [and] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18)

1.  To open their eyes.   Recognition

2.  To turn them.    Repentance

3.  That they may receive.  Receive

How to be born again.

1. Recognize that you have sinned against God and those sins will condemn your soul to hell.

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.  (Ecclesiastes 7:20)

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their lips: Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet [are] swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery [are]in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Rom 3:10-18)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Rom 3:23)

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  (Revelation 20:14-15

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Romans 6:23)

2.  Repent of your sins against God.  The opinion of repentance seems to swing on two differing pendulums of thought.  One group teaches that you must repent of all your sins or you can’t be saved.  The other cries repenting of sin is works and since salvation is by the Grace of God through faith it can’t be a part of salvation. Here are some verses on repentance...     

…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  (Luke 13:5) 

…God…commandeth all men every where to repent; Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he raised him from the dead.  (Acts 17:30-31)

[And] how I kept back nothing that was profitable [unto you], but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:20-21)

So just what is this repentance that without it we would perish, that is commanded by God and is for all men everywhere and yet is not a work of the flesh?  According to the law of first mention, that is where a word is first mentioned in the Bible, it carries the same definition through out scripture.  The first mention of the word repent is found in Genesis 6:5-8

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Gen 6:5-8)

Notice the progression,  1^st God changed his mind about man because of their wickedness.  2^nd He then acted on that change of mind by drowning everything on earth - except Noah who by Grace escaped the judgment of God along with those who believed his preaching about the coming judgment.  Unfortunately that was only his wife, three sons and their wives. 

So we see repentance as a change of mind that results in an action.  We also see the grace of God at work in extending the invitation to salvation before he judges!

Today, God has declared a coming judgment upon all man because of their sin.

Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2Pet 3:6-7)

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.  (Revelation 20:14-15)

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2Pet 3:9-10)

God warned Noah’s generation and he warns this generation.

The Bible teaches that the law of God is our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.  The law demonstrates the Holiness and Righteousness of God and shows that we have transgressed, (sinned) against HIS Holiness and Righteousness.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Gal 3:24)

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1John 3:4)

The third person of the trinity, God the Holy Spirit, uses the law and the sins man commits to bring conviction.

It is this understanding, recognition, that the Holy Spirit uses to bring conviction to the unsaved. He convicts men that they have sinned against the Holiness and Righteousness of God, rejected the risen Saviour and His righteousness and are in danger of eternal judgment.  Jesus said this about the work of the Holy Spirit:

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11)

  The unsaved have not believed on the Lord Jesus and His sacrificial death as payment for their sin against a Holy and Righteous God.  They have not received the righteousness of Jesus and are therefore in grave danger of eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire!  The unsaved must repent (that is to change his mind about his standing with God and act on that change of mind, and receive the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation,  (Titus 2:11)  by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Bible declares in the book of Ephesians: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: (Eph 2:8)
Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph 2:9)

You can only receive the gift of God's Grace through faith.

[And] how I kept back nothing that was profitable [unto you], but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:20-21)

3.  Receive through faith the forgiveness of God through Jesus as the only hope of salvation.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1Cor 15:1-4)

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

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: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)

4.  Rest in the assurance of God’s Word

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (I John 5:12)

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. (John 3:18)

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  (I Peter 1:23)

If the unsaved are to be born again they must change their mind about their standing in the eyes of a Holy God and admit that they are a sinner and deserve Hell.  They must act on that change of mind and call upon Jesus to save them from eternal damnation.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  (Romans 10:13)

To pray, or call upon the name of the Lord is simply something like this:  “Lord I know I’m a sinner and deserve Hell, have mercy upon me and save me now for Jesus sake.”  If the unsaved are willing to do that, then God is willing to save them and make them a member of His family! 

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of  faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Rom 10:8-10)

The saved persons duty, as a born again child of God, is to glorify Him with your life.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself  for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, [who is] our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond [nor] free: but Christ [is] all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye. And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Col 3:1-17)