Category Archives: SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS

ROMAN CATHOLICISM, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS, What is a “daysman?”, What is a “daysman?”

What is a “daysman?”

WHAT IS A “DAYSMAN?” WHO IS OUR DAYSMAN?

by Shawn Brasseaux

“For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both” (Job 9:32-33). What is a “daysman?” Who is it?

Seldom, if ever, is this term used today. Therefore, it is a strange word, one over which people stumble when they read Job 9:32-33 in the King James Bible. Friends, we need not get bent out of shape or feel intimidated. Neither should we fret that we have to learn a new word. Context clues are always there if we look for them, to help us along the way. The expression “…any daysman betwixt us” forces “daysman” to mean “something between two parties.” “That might lay his hand upon us both” again reinforces the idea that “daysman” is “something mediating between two individuals.” Moreover, you can consult a dictionary to find that “daysman” is an archaic word meaning “referee, arbitrator, adjudicator, umpire, or mediator.”

Religion stresses an idea called “the intercession of saints.” These “saints” are people in heaven who supposedly engaged in exemplary, “holy,” earthly lives. Having departed this world, they now allegedly have special influence with God. It is said that if we petition these “saints” to pray for us, God will honor their request based on their merits. By appealing to those “saints,” we supposedly get results with God we would not have received had we prayed directly to Him. This corporate “treasury of merit” not only involves Jesus’ crosswork, but also the sum of all “saints’” religious lives. It is a giant pool of divine favor from which every parishioner can draw if he or she comes by way of “the intercession of the saints!” Roman Catholicism has dozens upon dozens of “patron saints,” each specific to a profession, object, concept, injury/illness, and so on. The ostentatiously titled “Blessed Virgin Mary,” being Jesus’ mother, is said to have the greatest clout with the Lord. Religionists are urged to ask Mary for help, for, it is proclaimed, “Jesus cannot refuse His ‘Mother!’”

Let us see how Sacred Writ, in Job 9:32-33, thoroughly contradicts and outright disproves the above religious rigmarole.

At the time of Job, God the Son was not known by the name “Jesus Christ.” Moreover, the Calvary’s cross was over 1,500 years away. Therefore, no one living in the days of Job knew anything about Christ’s intercession. Sinful Job said he had no “daysman” (mediator) between him and God. In Job 9:32-33, he actually said God was not a man like he was. He and God really had nothing in common. God was mighty God; he was puny man. Earlier in the chapter, Job asked, “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just [justified/declared righteous] with God? If he [man] will contend with him [God], he cannot answer him one of a thousand” (verses 1,2). Job had no daysman between he and God…. at least not that he knew of. God had only revealed so much information, and Job could do nothing more than believe what God had said to his people Israel.

Now, with a completed Bible in hand, we see the complete picture of God’s plan. Job did not know of the day when God really would become a man. He did not know that God-Man would literally function as his daysman and our daysman. We turn to 1 Timothy 2:5-6 to read: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” According to verse 7, that “due time” was Paul’s ministry. Notice how the crosswork of Christ is mentioned here—“[He] gave himself a ransom for all.” The Lord Jesus Christ functions as our mediator with respect to His sacrifice of Himself on Calvary. Job did not understand this because God had not shown it yet. Sadly, most church members, who have a completed Bible, still do not understand it either.

Those desperately defending religious tradition say the “intercession of saints” in “no way” diminishes Jesus’ role as the only mediator between God and man. (Heretically, though, they call the virgin Mary “co-mediatrix,” a female mediator who, according to her very title [prefix “co-,” “with”], shares a mediatorship. Whose mediatorship would she be sharing?!) They say we pray and influence the “saints” in our favor, the “saints” influence Jesus in our favor, and Jesus influences Father God in our favor. In other words, God is manipulated to do what we by ourselves could not persuade Him to do!

Friends, all the mental gymnastics and speculations of men aside, we look at Sacred Scripture to see no one exists between Jesus Christ and us. Holy Writ, in Job 9:32-33, defines a mediator (or “daysman”) as someone who lays one hand on one party and the other hand on another party. If there is one mediator—one who can identify with both parties—a third-party is completely unnecessary. We do not need a mediator between Jesus Christ and us: He is the mediator. Again, “For there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus Christ is God, so He can take God by the hand. He is also Man, so He can take man by the hand. He thus joins man and God together. According to the very concept of “mediator” in Scripture, there is no room for some interceding “saint!”

The fact is, every single person on earth today has the same opportunity to access Father God through Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, most do not take advantage of it. They ignore Jesus Christ’s crosswork; they want nothing to do with Him. Rather, they want to substitute their own works, and/or substitute the works of other religious people (namely, “patron saints”). Friends, God is not impressed; in fact, by pushing aside the sole mediatorship of Christ, they are treasuring up wrath! Oh, dear friends, how foolish are they.

Hebrews chapter 10 talks about how Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of Himself on Calvary fulfilled the type depicted in Judaism’s animal sacrifices. God became a Man that He might have blood to shed and pay for man’s sins: “[4] For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. [5] Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he [Jesus] saith [to the Father], Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: [6] In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. [7] Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

If Jesus Christ, by virtue of His crosswork, is the one mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5), then there is no more need for other good works to please God. What have “patron saints” done to merit God’s favor that Jesus Christ has not already done? If they were human like we are—and they were—they failed God just as much as we do. What advantage do they have that we do not? The answer is no advantage. The fellowship that God the Son has with God the Father is the same relationship all we Christians have with Him: “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9). We cannot get any closer to God, gain any more access to God, than what we already have by virtue of our position in Christ!

We “give thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20) because we are approaching God according to Christ’s merits not our own or someone else’s merits. Whenever we must seek help from some other person to access God, we are saying that the cross is not enough.

Sacred Scripture could not be clearer when it says, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:5,6). Apart from Jesus Christ’s crosswork on Calvary, we have no access to God. Therefore, for us to appeal to some other “mediator” is to have no mediator whatsoever! Such an outcome will be worse than had we not approached God at all.

Dear friends, there will come a day when Christ-rejecters will stand before the God-Man they ignored. He will be their Judge, ready to punish them for their evil. It would have been far better for them not to know about Him, than for to know about Him and instead appeal to “patron saints” and “Mother Mary.” He will not take it lightly that they counted His perfect sacrifice at Calvary as insufficient, lacking in some way, needing supplemental enhancements. That they had the audacity to substitute the favor He offered them freely, with “good” works they and others did to merit that favor! We shudder to think of that dreadful day when He pronounces upon them those terrible words found in Matthew 25:41: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!”

The Bible says God wants His Son, Jesus Christ, to have the “preeminence in all things” (Colossians 1:18). He is the central figure in creation, and He will not share His mediatorship with anyone. For which reason, no room is left for distracting characters such as “Mother Mary,” “Father Joseph,” “Saint” Jude, “Saint” Francis of Assisi, “Saint” Teresa, et cetera. All the religious speculation aside, friends, the Scriptures say we Christians are “accepted in the beloved [Christ]” (Ephesians 1:6). God has bestowed upon us divine favor because of the Lord Jesus. He is enough for us, and we are enough in Him. After all, He is “the Daysman!”

Also see:
» What is the real “Immaculate Conception?”
» Must I confess my sins—to God, to a priest, or neither?
» Does God give us “points” for trying to be good?

DENOMINATIONS, CULTS, & FALSE TEACHING, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, How was Jesus Christ crucified among the Galatians?, How was Jesus Christ crucified among the Galatians?, How was Jesus Christ crucified among the Galatians?, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS

How was Jesus Christ crucified among the Galatians?

HOW WAS JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED AMONG THE GALATIANS?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Galatians 3:1 concludes with some very interesting words: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” Was not the Lord Jesus Christ crucified just outside Jerusalem, Israel, some decades prior? Then how could the Scriptures say here that He was crucified among Paul’s converts in Galatia (modern Turkey)?

Today’s “Gospel” preaching and teaching usually blurs and obscures the simple truths of God’s Good News to mankind. You hear “the Gospel” (?) preached today in the average church, and you hear nothing but discrepancy and contradiction. There are pleas for individuals to straighten up their lives first and then come to Jesus Christ. At “invitation time,” various and sundry enticements are heard. They are invited to do everything but rely on Christ and Christ alone—walk an aisle, say the “sinner’s prayer,” make deals with God, shake the preacher’s hand, kneel at the “altar” and weep hysterically, “ask Jesus into your heart,” give money, fill out a visitor’s card, pray for the “fire” to zap you, help the poor, support missions, join the church, get water baptized, “make Jesus the Lord of your life,” confess your sins, keep the Ten Commandments, obey the denomination’s precepts, repent of your sins, turn from your sins, feel “so sorry” for your sins, on and on and on.

All the above activities focus on us—what we can do to rehabilitate, reform, and manage sin. They are not pure Gospel messages because Jesus Christ’s work is not preeminent in them. Law is emphasized and grace is thus hidden! Contrariwise, the aforementioned conundrums and confusions were not the case with the Apostle Paul’s ministry. It was before the eyes of the Galatians that Jesus Christ was presented as the crucified Saviour. There were no gimmicks, no lies, and no traditions of men to clutter and cloud the minds and hearts of these idolatrous, Hell-bound souls! Laden with religious works already, they needed the grace of the Creator God they knew not! When the Apostle Paul arrived in Galatia and preached the Gospel of the Grace of God, there was such authority and clarity that his audience saw Calvary with awesome vividness.

First Corinthians 15:1-4 delineates Paul’s Gospel: “[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:….”

With Paul’s ministry, there was nothing difficult to grasp, nothing mysterious, and nothing unclear as to what God’s justice demanded as payment for our sin. Our works were not the issue; Jesus Christ’s sacrifice of Himself for our sins, THAT was the issue! The Galatians saw it with startling lucidity, and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. They immediately passed from death to life, from Satan’s family to God’s family. However, Satan would not be outdone and would not give them up without a fight!

Galatians 1:6-9 is a sad commentary: “[6] I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: [7] Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. [8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [9] As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

Immediately after Paul left Galatia, the Devil worked his “magic.” Some Jewish legalists came in and used the Law—Moses’ writings, Scripture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!—to confuse those saints. Paul’s advice was for the Galatians to separate from such false teachers. He called those Galatian Christians “foolish” in Galatians 3:1. They let people “bewitch” them: false teachers had cast a spell on them, causing them not to think clearly when it came to spiritual matters. They had abandoned the clear message of God’s grace and its accompanying blessings, and returned to religious bondage (Law) and its associated spiritual ignorance! Instead of “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), they were mixing the dispensations God had separated.

Acts 15:1-5 highlights this problem that existed between Jewish kingdom saints, Jewish false teachers, and Paul’s Gentile converts: “[1] And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. [2] When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. [3] And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. [4] And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. [5] But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” Verse 5 was the message preached in Galatia after Paul left.

To correct the mix-ups, the Holy Spirit through Paul said in Galatians 2:16-21: “[16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [17] But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. [18] For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. [19] For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. [20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

Now, Galatians 3:1-5: “[1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? [2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? [4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. [5] He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

Galatians 4:21: “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?” What was the problem at Galatia? Those saints wanted to follow the Law of Moses instead of the Grace of God!

Also, Galatians 5:1-9: “[1] Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. [2] Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. [3] For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. [4] Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. [5] For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. [6] For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. [7] Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? [8] This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. [9] A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” How awful—these dear saints had been polluted with non-dispensational Bible study! Sound familiar?!

Lastly, Galatians 5:18: “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” The Spirit of God will never, ever, EVER (!) lead anyone in the Dispensation of Grace to place himself or herself under a performance-based acceptance system! Grace operates today; it tells us how to be justified and accepted before God unto eternal life (Romans chapters 1-5) and it tells us how to live as Christians before God on a daily basis (Romans chapters 6-8, 12-16). It is all about Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins, and it is all about Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as means of conquering sin on a daily basis. Our performance is not the issue because we are weak and unreliable. Never once has Jesus Christ failed, though. Never once will Jesus Christ fail. That is why God put Christ in us—He wants us absolutely, totally, completely, eternally to have victory. Sin will only come about when we rely on ourselves.

CONCLUSION

My dear friends, we need to be extremely vigilant concerning false Gospels. They always have some element of works attached to them. They are widespread, and have—yes—led millions to eternal damnation rather than eternal bliss. Still, we need to be warned concerning clear Gospel messages also. We can hear all the clear Gospel of Grace messages we want, but, unless they are coupled with our faith, those divine words will do nothing for us. A pure Gospel message without personal faith will do as much good for you as a false Gospel message. We can be saved and on our way to Heaven, never to go to Hell, and still be so warped in the Scriptures that it is beyond comprehension (remember the Galatians!). We can be saved by grace through faith without works, and then be fooled into thinking we can maintain our salvation by our works. What deception! Satan’s evil world system is very subtle—it comes in so many forms.

By the way, in closing, let me stress this. Your greatest handbooks to combat false Gospels today are the Bible Books of Romans and Galatians (major tools Protestants used during the Protestant Reformation to discredit Roman Catholic works-religion). Read Romans chapters 1-5 and Galatians (all six chapters), and you will see the Gospel of Grace like never before. This instruction will enable you to spot any erroneous Gospels. Above all, they will help you in evangelizing others, that you too may evidently set forth before their eyes Jesus Christ crucified among them! 🙂

Also see:
» Can you explain Galatians 6:11?
» Is Galatians 1:6-7 contradictory?
» What about the “Jewish Roots” Movement?

DENOMINATIONS, CULTS, & FALSE TEACHING, JUST ASKING / CURIOUS QUESTIONS, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS, THE NATION ISRAEL, Why did God judge Nadab and Abihu so strictly?, Why did God judge Nadab and Abihu so strictly?, Why did God judge Nadab and Abihu so strictly?, Why did God judge Nadab and Abihu so strictly?

Why did God judge Nadab and Abihu so strictly?

WHY DID GOD JUDGE NADAB AND ABIHU SO STRICTLY?

by Shawn Brasseaux

It is easy to believe that whatever God is doing today, He was doing the exact same thing long ago. Whatever is true right now, it is easy to assume that it was true in the past. This is not always the case. People struggle with strange Old Testament passages and concepts because they are trying to reconcile them with what God is doing today. They do not use the Bible “rightly divided” (2 Timothy 2:15), recognizing the various dispensational boundaries that are so critical to keeping the Scriptures straight. Since they do not use God’s Word, God’s way, they are forced to change/re-translate controversial verses, omit or ignore “bothersome” passages, and even throw out whole Bible Books! Nay, dear friends, we study all the Bible, for all of its 66 Books are inspired of God. If there is something mysterious in the Scriptures, we look for parallel verses to shed light on the subject. Nadab and Abihu’s dreadful fate is no different.

Notice the very bizarre account Moses recorded in Leviticus 10:1-3: “[1] And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. [2] And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. [3] Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.” What in the world just occurred here? Fire came down and consumed two Jewish priests who “offered strange fire before the LORD?” Why?

This event was repeated twice more in Moses’ writings, so it was something God wanted Israel to remember. Firstly, Numbers 3:4: “And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.” Also, Numbers 26:60-61: “[60] And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. [61] And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.”

When the Bible says “strange fire,” the idea is foreign fire (like fire that was a “stranger”). It was so unpleasant to God that He literally and instantaneously killed the priests who offered it. The key to this is found in Leviticus chapter 9, the verses just previous to what we read in chapter 10. Leviticus chapter 9: “[23] And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. [24] And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.”

Once Moses set up the Tabernacle (Exodus chapter 40), here in Leviticus chapter 9, fire came out of heaven because JEHOVAH God accepted (and consumed) their burnt offering. Nadab and Abihu, in the following chapter, rebel against that act of God. Instead of the fire coming from God, them using the fire that God started, they had a fire that they had started. They replaced God’s fire with their own! Not only so, they were priests… poor examples of the congregation watching them. If God did not punish these willful religious leaders, the Jewish people would be encouraged to rebel against Him too. It would have caused a massive uprising against Him, and then He would have had to kill them all!

Read Leviticus 10:1-3 again: “[1] And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. [2] And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. [3] Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.”

They “…offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.” God did not tell Nadab and Abihu to offer that fire, so they were behaving presumptuously. It was a deliberate rebellion, men trying to substitute God’s work with their own efforts. JEHOVAH God was thus disrespected before all the Jewish people. He dealt with the guilty parties by implementing speedy death! Notice verse 3: “Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.” Aaron the High Priest had just lost two of his sons, but he was silent. He knew God was justified in taking their lives. They were following Satan… and almost corrupted Israel!

Friends, we can learn a simple lesson here. While God does not consume rebellious people by causing fire to fall from heaven today (He did in the past and He will in the future), it should be clearly noted that He never takes lightly someone trying to replace His work with their own. There are millions upon millions of precious souls today, laboring under religious tradition, trying to replace Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork with their own religious efforts. Instead of coming to God by simple faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for their sins, they want to offer their own works to merit God’s favor (it will not work!). They are trying to substitute their “goodness” for the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary! My, oh my, something far, far, far, far, far worse than fire from heaven will come upon them one day. The eternal flames of hell will surround them in a fraction of a second. May they come now to Father God by simple faith in Jesus Christ’s shed blood and resurrection… before it is eternally too late!

Also see:
» Was God “unfair” in striking Uzzah dead?
» Why did God reject Cain’s sacrifice?
» Can you explain 2 Kings 2:23-25?

CREATION AND EARLY MAN, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS, What was the significance of Joseph’s “coat of many colours?”, What was the significance of Joseph’s “coat of many colours?”

What was the significance of Joseph’s “coat of many colours?”

WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JOSEPH’S “COAT OF MANY COLOURS?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

Any and every Sunday School child has learned about Joseph and his “coat of many colours.” However, rarely is the coat itself studied in-depth. What exactly was it? And, what interesting lesson can it teach us? As we will see, unwinding this one mystery is actually the key to unlocking and understanding several nebulous Bible passages.

We read in God’s Word, the King James Bible, in Genesis chapter 37: “[1] And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. [2] These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. [3] Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. [4] And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.”

Notice the “coat of many colours” first appears in Scripture in verse 3. It shows up twice more in that passage: “[23] And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;…. [32] And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no. [33] And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.”

“THE COAT OF MANY COLOURS” AND TEXTUAL CRITICISM

Not surprisingly, scholars have professed great difficulty with the original language here. One study Bible footnote says to this point: “Genesis 37:3 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verses 23 and 32.” Those who consider “a coat of many colours” a “doubtful” translation invite us to question it with them. Using human speculation, the world’s “wisdom,” they try to make sense of the Bible. Some people are genuinely seeking answers from the Scriptures.

Oftentimes, though, they are interested in discussing the Bible strictly from a “theological” viewpoint. They pay more attention to the original languages themselves rather than the actual teaching of those languages. Hence, they extract very little to nothing from the Bible. They are not looking for pure and sound Bible doctrine. Unfortunately, they have been trained in most Bible institutions to remove or add words to the Scriptures. They do not appreciate the doctrines that are distorted or obscured by their tampering. They have adopted the idea that Bible thoughts, rather than words, matter. They feel like they have been granted the liberty to take from—yea, “correct”—the Bible whenever they do not understand it.

Dear friends, if we are Bible believers, we are going to believe the Bible and not concern ourselves with the vain speculations of apostate modern-day translators, denominational theologians, or any other fallible humans lacking the Holy Spirit’s illumination. We have every reason to believe that the King James Bible is correct in these instances. Our 1611 translators were learned, Holy-Spirit-filled men. “A coat is many colours” is a faithful, reliable rendition of the original Hebrew Bible. We would do well to trust their judgment over any modern translator or translation. In this day of itching ears, mass apostasy, we cannot afford to question our final authority. The King James Bible that Bible-believing Christians have used for over 400 years will certainly not fail us at this late date. It is the commonplace theological system that will deceive and disappoint us because it has always been apostate!

“THE COAT OF MANY COLOURS”—COMPARED TO OTHER VERSES

Firstly, let us think about the phrase “coat of many colours.” What the Bible is speaking of is a rainbow cloak or mantle, an article of clothing richly embroidered or decorated with various colored patches or strips of cloth. This rainbow appearance made it a very beautiful garment. Its wearer stood out in a crowd. No doubt it was very expensive (such rare dyes being used to make it). By looking at other Bible passages, comparing verse with verse, we can understand the importance of this rainbow of colors and this “coat of many colours.”

In Ezekiel chapter 1, the Prophet Ezekiel saw a glimpse of God’s throne in the third heaven: “[1] Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. [2] In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity, [3] The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

“[4] And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. [5] Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. [6] And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. [7] And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. [8] And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. [9] Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. [10] As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle….”

“[26] And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. [27] And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. [28] As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.”

When Ezekiel saw God’s throne, he noticed an “amber” color (verses 4 and 27). Verse 28 says this “amber” (or yellow) light was actually a “bow” (that is, a rainbow). He saw a yellow rainbow around God’s throne—that glow was the “appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.” Several hundred years later, the Apostle John saw glimpse of God’s throne. What color did he see? Well, let us just say that it was not amber!

Revelation chapter 4: “[1] After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. [2] And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. [3] And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. [4] And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.” John sees an “emerald” (green) rainbow around God’s throne! God’s glory has a greenish appearance here!

Based on these two passages, there is only one sound conclusion. The color of the light around God’s throne changes through time. In Ezekiel’s day, it was amber (yellow). Some 600 years later, John saw it as emerald (green). Various colored rainbows encircle God’s throne depending on the time in history. While we often think of a bright white light, a more accurate description would be a flashing rainbow light. Someone once likened it to a “kaleidoscope of colors.” The language of Ezekiel is flames flickering, fires of various colors, maybe like strobe lights flashing, pulsating lights, and the like.

This explains why Psalm 104 says what it does: “[1] Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. [2] Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:….” God covers Himself “with light as with a garment.” Assorted colors of light surround His throne. Now we understand what 1 Timothy 6:14-16 means: “[14] That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, 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.” The “light which no man can approach unto” is the “light” of Psalm 104—the light of Ezekiel chapter 1 and Revelation chapter 4.

Working backward, we read in Genesis 2:25: “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Adam and Eve were originally physically naked. Yet, they were “not ashamed.” Then, in chapter 3, we read of them eating the forbidden fruit. There is man’s Fall into sin. Now, Adam and Eve are ashamed of their nakedness. Why?

Genesis chapter 3: “[7] And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. [8] And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” Originally, Adam and Eve were physically naked but they were not ashamed because the light of God’s righteousness covered their bodies. Once they sinned, they lost that clothing of light, and their nakedness led to them being ashamed. They attempted to cover themselves with fig leaves—replacing God’s righteousness with their own human efforts/religion (Genesis 3:7).

When someone is justified, made righteous before God through Jesus Christ’s shed blood, they receive the spiritual clothing that Adam and Eve once had. Now, as Christians, our fallen physical bodies do not reflect an outward light as Adam and Eve did. While God shed animal blood to cover Adam and Eve’s sin, He had to cover them physically too. Genesis 3:21 says: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” There was a physical covering (animal skins) and there was a spiritual covering (animal blood). That blood typified, or represented, the blood of Christ that would be shed on Calvary many centuries later.

Speaking of national Israel’s future redemption, Isaiah 61:10 says: “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” When God’s righteousness is applied to one’s account, the event is likened unto putting on a “robe of righteousness.” God is clothing someone “with the garments of salvation.” All of those who are on God’s side have His righteousness. They reflect His glory. This reminds us of something else—another special set of clothing that mirrored God’s glory.

Lucifer, who became known as Satan after his fall, was a spirit being (cherub) in the third heaven. This beautiful, wise creature wore a garment of precious stones. Notice in Ezekiel chapter 28: “[11] Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [12] Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. [13] Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. [14] Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. [15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.”

We want to pay special attention to the various precious stones that decorated Lucifer’s body: “…every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold” (verse 13). Verse 14 says Lucifer was the “anointed cherub that covereth.” According to Ezekiel chapter 1 (what we read earlier), Ezekiel chapter 10, and Revelation chapter 4 (what we read earlier too), four cherubim (“living creatures”) surround God’s throne. Before Lucifer’s fall, there were five cherubim. Lucifer’s body formed some type of canopy over that throne. The multi-colored precious stones served as prisms or mirrors. Lucifer’s body reflected the glory (various colored lights) that radiated from God. Surely, all these colors formed a beautiful rainbow. Of course, Lucifer became prideful and lost that position, wanting to be worshipped instead of worshipping God. You can read Ezekiel 28:11-19, Isaiah 14:12-15, and 1 Timothy 3:6 for more information. Time and space do not permit us to quote and expound those verses here.

CONCLUSION

Joseph’s “coat of many colours” (Genesis 37:3) was a representation of God’s “light of many colours.” It was a depiction of God’s glory found in the third heaven. It is God’s righteousness emanating from Him! Furthermore, Joseph and Jesus Christ have many similarities—some 150 various analogous traits! As a type of Christ, Joseph reflected God’s glory. Christ, the antitype, also reflects God’s glory. After all, Jesus Christ is God in human flesh, fully God and fully Man. He shines forth God’s glory as well!

Colossians 1:15 says Jesus Christ is “the image of the invisible God.” Also, Colossians 2:9: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

Read Hebrews 1:1-3, paying special attention to what verse 3 says about Jesus Christ: “[1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; [3] Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:….”

SUPPLEMENTAL: ANOTHER “GARMENT OF DIVERS COLOURS”

As an interesting side-note, we see the Hebrew expression twice more in the Bible—2 Samuel 13:18-19. “And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her. And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.” Here, King David’s daughter Tamar, and her sisters, wore a “garment of divers colours” (same as “coat of many colours”) to signify their virginity or pureness. Once she was sexually assaulted (raped) by her brother, however, she tore that garment. Poor Tamar! Her glory had departed; she was now defiled and ashamed!

Also see:
» Why are the heavens not clean in God’s sight?
» Are we created in the image of God?
» Does God give us “points” for trying to be good?

BIBLE VERSIONS AND MANUSCRIPTS, DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Must I be a “King James Bible - Pauline dispensationalist” to have eternal life?, Must I be a “King James Bible - Pauline dispensationalist” to have eternal life?, Must I be a “King James Bible - Pauline dispensationalist” to have eternal life?, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS

Must I be a “King James Bible, Pauline dispensationalist” to have eternal life?

MUST I BE A “KING JAMES BIBLE, PAULINE DISPENSATIONALIST” TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE?

by Shawn Brasseaux

“Do I have to use the King James Bible dispensationally in order to be saved unto eternal life? If I use a modern Bible translation, will I go to Hell? If I do not rightly divide the word of truth, will I be barred from Heaven?”

Friend, thank you for that submission. I am more than glad to address it in this our special-edition 400th Bible Q&A study article!

I. INTRODUCTION: A PERSONAL STORY

Years ago, I met with a family member greatly confused about the Bible. She had claimed to be a Christian for several years, so I assumed she was already a justified lady. Thus, I proceeded to address her questions in that four-hour-long Bible study! She raised various denominational objections. I told her I was more than happy to show her how the rightly-divided Scriptures addressed and refuted those criticisms. Carefully, we walked through the Bible timeline, learning how to separate the nation Israel from the Church the Body of Christ, prophecy from mystery, Peter from Paul, and so on. Since she was using a modern version riddled with errors, we also touched on King James Bible authority. At the end, I thought it was a very beneficial discussion—even I had profited from it.

Finally, she asked me, “Do I have to know all of this to be saved into Heaven?” Dear friends, I was downright flabbergasted (an understatement)! Here, she had claimed to be a Christian, she had claimed to be going to Heaven, but now it had become clear to me (and her) that she was neither. Immediately, I told her not to worry about all the verses I shared with her just moments prior. I shared with her the plain and simple Gospel of Grace right there, telling her all about how she needed to trust in Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for her sins. From there onward, she knew exactly how to have eternal life; I left her home and let her think about it.

About one week later, I asked that family member if she had ever trusted Christ as her personal Saviour. “No,” she told me. I gave her the Gospel one more time, but she seemed unconcerned about it at that point. Thereafter, I no longer mentioned the subject and she never got back with me. In fact, she has not spoken to us in years and has no intention of speaking to us. What a travesty, dear friends, but how we value free will! With me, there will be no “arm twisting” or forcing people onto their knees! If they want to live without Jesus Christ, they can. If they want to die without Jesus Christ, we give them their wish!

Beloved, the aforementioned account accentuates the necessity of this special-edition Bible Q&A article. Must someone use a King James Bible rightly divided to go to Heaven? Will a Christian who uses a modern English Bible go to Hell? Will a non-dispensationalist Christian miss Heaven? We are delighted to take this opportunity to set the record straight. In doing so, we will (also) answer the charges of our detractors!

II. JUSTIFICATION: HOW DOES GOD SAVE US UNTO ETERNAL LIFE?

Friends, we must never confuse salvation from Hell unto eternal life in Heaven, with salvation from error unto spiritual understanding and growth. There are various types of “salvation” in the Bible. Contrary to popular belief, the word does not always refer to deliverance from sin and eternal hellfire. For example, consider the following:

  • We Christians can be “saved” from despair by having hope in God’s Word that He will resurrect us physically and give us glorified bodies (Romans 8:24).
  • By virtue of the “pre-Tribulation Rapture,” we Christians will be “saved” from all of the Antichrist’s reign and deception (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
  • We can be “saved” from shame (Philippians 1:19-20) and discouragement (2 Corinthians 1:6).
  • The mother of Samuel, Hannah, rejoiced because God had “saved” her from infertility and embarrassment (1 Samuel 2:1).
  • God told Gideon He would use him to “save” Israel from their oppressors the Midianites (Judges 6:14).
  • As we will see in this study, the Bible mentions us being “saved” from false teaching, doctrinal lies (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 3:15).

This is just a partial listing, but it proves the point sufficiently. Let us now return to the topic of “salvation” as it pertains to deliverance from Hell unto eternal life in Heaven. Salvation into Heaven is all about what Jesus Christ did for us at Calvary, not what we do for Him or what we do not do for Him. The following simple Scriptures emphasize faith in Jesus Christ and His finished crosswork, rather than our works, as all that is necessary for us to have an eternal home in Heaven.

Romans 3:23-28: “[23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; [26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. [27] Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. [28] Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Romans 4:1-5: “[1] What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? [2] For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. [3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. [4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

Ephesians 2:8-9: “[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Galatians 2:16-21: “[16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [17] But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. [18] For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. [19] For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. [20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

Titus 3:4-7: “[4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

How are we justified, or made right, or declared righteous, before Almighty God? What does the Bible say? What did Romans 3:26-28 say earlier? “[26] To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. [27] Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. [28] Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” 

What did we read in Romans 4:5? “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” What did Galatians 2:16 declare? “[16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” What did we learn from Titus 3:5? “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;….”

Romans 3:26 said we are to “believe in Jesus” to be justified before God. Romans 4:5 says we are to “believe on him that justifieth the ungodly” in order to be declared righteous. Galatians 2:16 declared we are “not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Titus 3:5 said we are saved “not by works of righteousness which we have done,” “but according to his mercy he saved us….”

While it is always important to know what is in a Bible verse, it is equally important to notice what is not in the verse. Notice how there is nothing in these verses about understanding the various dispensations in the Bible. There is nothing about Paul’s special ministry, or how to separate it from the ministry of Peter and 11. There is nothing about distinguishing between the prophetic program and the mystery program. There is nothing about God’s earthly kingdom versus God’s heavenly kingdom. There is nothing about the nation Israel versus the Church the Body of Christ. There is nothing about good and bad Bible versions. While they are indeed important issues in Christian living and Christian understanding, they are not necessary for justification (becoming a Christian). Such information cannot benefit lost people. Lost people need to be saved from, forgiven of, their sins. Common sense dictates that they cannot adopt a Christian view of the Bible until they become Christians!

The only dispensational aspect an unsaved, or lost, person needs to understand is what was already covered in the above verses. Grace is the issue today rather than Law. While God demanded faith and various works in other dispensations, today, we are justified without the deeds of the Law, without joining Israel’s special religion (Judaism, founded upon the Law of Moses). Refer back to those Bible passages cited earlier, paying special attention to the emphasis on faith alone (without works). God is not operating a performance-based acceptance system today; He is operating a Jesus-Christ-based acceptance system. Father God accepts us in Christ Jesus, on the basis of Jesus Christ and God’s love for Him, us in Him and partaking of that love (Ephesians 1:6). Oh, dear friends, if you never get anything else out of the Bible, please get that! If you never get anything else out of this study, please get that! If you never get anything else out of our ministry, please get that!

Justification (being declared righteous before God) is not about us passing theological tests, knowing about dispensations, understanding Paul’s special ministry and message, discerning between the King James Bible and modern versions, separating prophecy from mystery, dividing Israel from the Body of Christ, et cetera. Again, that would be part of Christian living and Christian understanding, but not part of the Gospel that lost people need to believe to pass from spiritual death to spiritual life, Hell to Heaven, and Satan’s family to God’s family.

Notice the classic Gospel passage, Acts 16:30-31: “[30] And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? [31] And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” The Philippian jailer asked the Apostle Paul and Silas what he had to do to be “saved.” Their answer was swift in coming and positive in content: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Once more, do you see anything about Bible versions or dispensational issues? No. The Philippian jailer is exhorted to trust, rely on, believe on Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. That is all. How simple! He did just that and was immediately saved into Heaven. That Philippian jailer is in Heaven’s glory today, along with Paul, Silas, and all the other saints of the ages. If we are saved in Christ today, we will see them in Heaven one day!

In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul briefly summarized the Gospel that he preached: “[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures….” (Notice the word “saved” in verse 2 is conditional. As pointed out in the introductory remarks, “salvation” here is not salvation into Heaven but rather deliverance from the misery found in verse 19. Some of the Corinthians were miserable because they denied Christ’s resurrection [verse 12].)

In Acts 20:24, Paul calls the above paragraph “the Gospel of the Grace of God.” Again, it is so easy that a small child can grasp it and believe unto eternal life: Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). We are saved by faith in that Gospel, apart from our works of any and every kind (water baptism, confession, repentance, walking aisles, giving money, praying a prayer, and so on). It is not necessary for salvation unto eternal life to know that Paul called that message “my Gospel” (Romans 2:16; Romans 16:25; 2 Timothy 2:8). Actually, I did not know that that was its correct title until many years after I trusted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. Furthermore, I know plenty of people who were justified by trusting that Gospel, but they did not learn until much later that it is called “Paul’s Gospel” or “the Gospel of Grace.” They, like me, did not learn about the various dispensations of the Bible and the various distinctions until several years later after they had passed from death to life.

Let us pause and have a quick review of what we have discussed thus far. As long as lost people know and believe the contents of the true Gospel for today, they do not have to know specific titles (“Paul’s Gospel,” or “the Gospel of Grace”) or the exact dispensation in which it sits (“the Dispensation of the Grace of God;” Ephesians 3:2). What is important is that they know our Gospel is “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). What is important is that they “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and … be saved” (Acts 16:31). What is important is that they know our Gospel is not Acts 2:38 (“repent and be baptized”), not Mark 16:16 (“he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”), and not any other legalistic Bible verse. Friend, if you have not already done so, please take a moment now to rely exclusively on Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, that He died for your sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day. Do not delay!

A thorough explanation of the Gospel of the Grace of God is Romans chapters 1-5. Paul does not deal with dispensational issues until chapters 9-11, after discussing Christian living/sanctification in chapters 6-8. This signifies to us that justification must be taken care of first, before we start focusing on the doctrines of sanctification and dispensations. If lost people get too laden down (overwhelmed) with Bible information that profits only Christians, it intimidates and discourages them, and we see exactly why they want to remain lost. Why? They believe they have to “know all this stuff” to be justified, and that simply is not true. (Go back to our opening story.)

We Pauline dispensationalists need to always be mindful to preach a clear Gospel message to a lost person before trying to share the deep truths of dispensational Bible study. We King James Bible users must always remember that a clear Gospel message should precede an in-depth discussion of Bible versions. We can mention “hints” of assorted spiritual topics to “break the ice,” but, when dealing with unsaved people, I have learned that we need to limit ourselves to the Gospel as much as possible. It is tempting to delve into major doctrinal issues, but there is no need to rush yourself or the person you are evangelizing. Please try to be as patient as possible with them, bringing them back to the Gospel when they sway the conversation onto other “religious” topics (this duration is to be defined within reason, of course, as some people just want to waste your time!). If they are sincere, you will have other opportunities to talk with them about other matters in-depth.

III. EDIFICATION & SANCTIFICATION: HOW DOES GOD SAVE US UNTO PROPER THINKING AND PROPER CONDUCT?

As (deliberately) thoroughly demonstrated above, Bible versions and dispensations are not necessary for salvation unto eternal life. Salvation into Heaven is a gift, and we do not work for a gift. We do not work to be Christians. However, we do work as Christians—this is practical sanctification (brought about by edification, a maturation of the inner man).

Read Ephesians 2:8-10: “[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” As you can see for yourself, friend, Christian good works are clearly mentioned in verse 10. Father God saved us from sins and Hell, not merely to keep us from burning in His fiery wrath forever (which we deserve as sinners). He saved us for a purpose, and that purpose is “good works.” However, unless we have the proper English Bible text (King James Bible), and unless we know what Father God is doing today (we learn this via dispensational Bible study), then we will not know what God would have us to know and what “good works” He would have us do.

Notice 1 Timothy 4:1,16: “[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;…. [16] Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” Now, 2 Timothy 3:13-15: “[13] But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. [14] But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; [15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Notice that, despite the widespread “deception” (2 Timothy 3:13) and “doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1), we can be “saved” from such lies (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 3:15). The “salvation” here is deliverance from bad teaching, evil thinking, and falsehoods. Father God wants to save us Christians from false teaching. This is not the issue of being saved from Hell; we have moved on from that, remember. The Gospel has already been settled. We are now talking about members of the Body of Christ being rescued from bad doctrine.

According to the Book of 1 Timothy, chapter 2, verse 4: “[God our Saviour] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” “Saved” here is belief in the Gospel for justification—a lost person being forgiven of all sins, passing from death to life, from unsaved to saved, from non-Christian to Christian (instantaneous). Once this happens, God desires for that person to move to following the second part of His will. He wants him or her to “come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Everything after initial belief of the Gospel, justification, falls under the category of “come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

The issue of “coming unto the knowledge of the truth” is divided into two general realms: (1) recognizing pure Bible texts/versions and (2) identifying the proper Bible study system. These matters are Christian understanding and Christian living (life-long process). As mentioned, another name for this is “sanctification,” God setting apart the believer on a daily basis, for the believer to fulfill His will on a daily basis. As we Christians are “edified” (built up, strengthened by sound Bible doctrine), that doctrine will result in a change in lifestyle. It will be repeated for emphasis. Getting “saved” (justification) and “coming unto the knowledge of the truth” (practical sanctification) are two separate matters, certainly not to be confused with each other. They are both God’s will; neither should be ignored. However, they should come in that order.

The Bible versions issue is very complex, and it certainly cannot be exhaustively addressed here for brevity’s sake. Still, some comments must be made. Suffice it to say that there are basically two lines of Bible manuscripts. One is the preserved Greek New Testament line—the “Traditional Text,” “Antiochan/Syrian Text,” “Byzantine Text,” “Textus Receptus”/”Received Text,” “Majority Text,” or “Protestant Text.” Its text can be traced all the way back to the Apostles’ autographs (original manuscripts). Early English Bibles (including the King James Bible) came from this line of manuscripts.

The other text type is the depraved/corrupt Greek New Testament line—the “Critical Text,” “Alexandrian Text,” “Minority Text,” “Egyptian Text,” or “Roman Catholic Text.” This text-type is doctrinally dangerous. Its witnesses omit words and verses, add to verses, water down verses, and omit entire passages and books. Some of them contain forged Bible books (called the “Apocrypha”). They contain major theological mistakes. The modern English versions depend partly or entirely upon this manuscript family. The NIV, NASB, Amplified, ESV, Living Bible, NLT, Good News Bible, Jehovah’s Witness NWT, Roman Catholic bibles, and even parts of the NKJV, et cetera, all find their textual basis in these heretical manuscripts. Hence, modern English Bibles and the King James Bible read substantially different. The fundamental issue is not contemporary English verses older English; the issue is faulty versus reliable textual bases!

Friend, whenever you hear someone “correcting” the King James Bible (“you can remove this word….,” “that verse is uninspired and does not belong in the text,” “a better translation is….”), they (perhaps unwittingly—others deliberately) are using these perverted Roman Catholic manuscripts to attack the Protestant Bible! They are encouraging you to doubt Bible text. You can trust the King James Bible. It has faithfully served English-speaking Christians for over 405 years. Thus, you are highly recommended to use it, and it alone, as your final authority. (Other languages have their own versions, we understand, but those versions, if authoritative, will come from the same Traditional Text-type as our King James Bible. As we are an Anglophone ministry, such language matters do not concern us.) While these brief comments have not done the Bible versions issue justice, they are enough to set you on the right track in that regard.

Now, we move on to dispensational issues. Just because it is in the Bible, that does not mean that it is God speaking to or about you. The Bible says in Romans 11:13: “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.” Paul is our apostle—God’s spokesman to us, the nations of the world. We notice that Paul’s ministry sits in the chapter that declares the nation Israel as temporarily “fallen” (verses 11-12) and “blinded” (verse 25). Rather than God forming an earthly people, God is currently forming a heavenly people (more on this later). If Israel is not the issue today, the implication is that she was the issue in time past. We would be careful to make the distinction so as to not claim Israel’s verses as our own. Using Bible verses that were once true, but not true today, is a sure way to destroy the Bible text and us in the process.

The resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ reached down and saved Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus (Acts chapter 9). He made Saul (Paul) His spokesman to the world. As we noted earlier, He commissioned Paul with a special Gospel message that was unknown to man prior to that time. That “Gospel of the Grace of God” involves God justifying believing Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews), placing them into one body, the Church the Body of Christ, an entity separate and distinct from Israel and her covenants. You can read all about that in great detail in Ephesians chapters 2 and 3. Here, for brevity’s sake, we cite one verse, 1 Corinthians 12:13: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

Paul’s revelation is the final installment of revelation from God, “the mystery” (divine secret) now disclosed for all to read and delight in (Romans 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8; Ephesians 3:1-9; Colossians 1:23-29). “The Dispensation of the Grace of God” given to Paul by Jesus Christ has been passed down to us Gentiles (Ephesians 3:2). We do not go into pre-Paul verses in the Bible and try to find ourselves. For example, we do not go to Genesis through Malachi and attempt to find ourselves. We do not go to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—Christ’s earthly ministry—and try to find God’s words to us.

After all, Jesus Christ said in Matthew 15:24: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” He was not sent to us Gentiles in His earthly ministry! (And, yet, most of today’s “Christian” preaching is to Gentiles… and that preaching is of verses yanked out of context from Matthew through John, words spoken to Jews!!!) Jesus Christ’s words to us Gentiles are found in Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon. First Corinthians 14:37 says: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”

While also beyond the scope of this study, it is critical to make some cursory remarks about the layout of Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon. God the Holy Spirit arranged them in a very unique way. As discussed earlier, Romans is the most basic Bible Book of doctrine for this the Dispensation of the Grace of God. It presents the Gospel of the Grace of God in chapters 1-5—how a lost person becomes a Christian, or how the Christian life begins. Chapters 6-8 provide details about the new nature and identity the believer has been given in Christ. Romans chapters 9-11 explain the dispensational aspects (Israel is temporarily fallen, we are not Israel, Israel still has a hope and a place in God’s future dealings with man, et cetera). Chapters 12-16 are specific principles for daily Christian in a variety of circumstances (living among other Christians, among enemies, under governmental rule, in the world, among weaker Christians, et cetera).

Paul’s two Epistles to the Corinthians reprove Christians who failed to apply to life the doctrine presented in Romans (they followed man’s natural ways). Galatians issues correction for those who did not think according to God’s grace (that is, they reverted to a legalistic, Mosaic-law-keeping, system). Ephesians is a higher plane of the doctrine found in Romans, ultimately divulging the complex formation and heavenly destiny of the Church the Body of Christ. Philippians reproves the saints who are not behaving as Ephesians instructed—the one united Body of Christ. Colossians corrects Christians who are not following the Head, Jesus Christ, but rather numerous false religious systems (a mentality contrary to Ephesians).

The two Epistles to the Thessalonians exemplify the model (matured, diligent) Christian assembly and involve the two comings of the Lord Jesus Christ—the First Epistle deals with the Rapture (coming for the Body of Christ to end the Dispensation of Grace) while the Second Epistle focuses on the Second Coming (coming for the nation Israel to end the Tribulation period). Paul’s remaining Books—the four “Pastoral Epistles”—are 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. These deal with the establishment and administration of the local grace assembly or church. They are of special significance to church leaders, and should be read frequently by all people in the ministry. One final note here: Philemon is the capstone of Christian (grace) maturity, a fully-grown saint, godliness on fully display in the life of a member of the Body of Christ.

These 13 epistles are grace living—what God is doing today and what He wants us Christians to do today. Brethren, if we do not use God’s Word (in English, the King James Bible) and we do not use it His way (dispensationally), then our Christian life will not function properly. We will be operating on limited information, misinformation, or no information. There will be no solid doctrine for the Holy Spirit to use in our lives. We MUST have a reliable Bible text and we MUST have an understandable Bible study. Again, the Holy Spirit cannot work in our lives if we do not have God’s Word (Authorized Version, King James Bible). He certainly cannot work in our lives if we do not have God’s Word to and about us (Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon). Let us now look at the eternal results of our Christian edification (the type of teaching we incorporated into our lives will impact eternity, either negatively or positively).

IV. GLORIFICATION: THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST AND ITS RESULTS

In 2 Timothy 2:15, we read: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” By “rightly dividing the word of truth,” using dispensational Bible study, we are looking for God’s approval. We are not interested in man’s approval—the preacher’s, the priest’s, the pope’s, or the professor’s. When will we ultimately learn of God’s approval of what we are doing in our Christian life? The Bible calls this day “the Judgment Seat of Christ.” It will take place in Heaven, after the Rapture, after Jesus Christ comes for us His Body, to take us away prior to the Antichrist’s arrival.

Notice 2 Corinthians chapter 5: “[9] Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. [10] For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Do you see the issue of Christian service here? See, there are no lost people here. This judgment is reserved for Christians. It is not designed to judge them for their sins (those were paid for in full at Calvary) but rather judge/evaluate their Christian service. Was their “work” “good” or “bad?” Now, please notice that little preposition “in”—verse 10 says the “the things done in his body.” This is not “by” the body but “in” it—the soul is singled out here. What is in the soul? Good doctrine and bad doctrine! (Never, ever forget that the quality of doctrine matters!)

Turning to 1 Corinthians chapter 3, we see the Holy Spirit again referring to the “work” we Christians are to do and have: “[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. [12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; [13] Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. [14] If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

As always, while much could be said, we must limit ourselves to brief remarks. Notice the special ministry and the special doctrine committed to Paul (verses 10-11). There are six building materials a Christian can use in his or her life—gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble (verse 12). The doctrine that we believe today as Christians, that doctrine will be evaluated at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The doctrine that motivated us to do what we did in life, Jesus Christ will expose it for what it really is. He will look beyond what we did and beyond how much we did, to see why we did what we did. Was it the principles of grace (Pauline revelation) that guided us by the power of the Holy Spirit? Or, was it the Mosaic Law or some other form of legalistic, performance-based acceptance, system (religion), us struggling in our flesh?

If it was not the doctrine committed to Paul, it is (worthless) wood, hay, and stubble. It will amount to nothing—it will be burned up. If it is the doctrine committed to Paul, then it is gold, silver, and precious stones—these will remain. There will be a reward (due to gold, silver, and precious stones) and a loss of reward (due to wood, hay, and stubble). All Christians will have some reward because of the right Gospel message as their foundation. However, all Christians will lose some reward because of various denominational hang-ups, confusions, and errors. There is no one going to Hell here, please remember. There is loss of reward but not loss of righteousness.

How do we minimize our loss of reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ? How do we maximize our reward? We heed now, consider now, and apply by faith now what the Holy Spirit says through the Apostle Paul’s pen! The way we get rid of the traditions of men in our lives is look at the Bible rightly divided. Again, we do not grab elements from Israel’s program and try to force them on us. Our doctrine, duty, walk, and destiny as members of the Church the Body of Christ are found only in the Pauline epistles, Romans through Philemon. That does not mean that we throw away the rest of the Bible. Nay! On the contrary, we study all of the Bible, but we study all of the Bible in light of the final divine revelation given to the Apostle Paul.

While also beyond this article’s scope, we will briefly mention glorification. With the Body of Christ being the means whereby Jesus Christ will be glorified forever in the heavenly places, there is of necessity a “job-qualifications” system to appoint people to various ranks in those heavenly governments (such ranks are delineated in Ephesians 1:21, Ephesians 6:12, and Colossians 1:16). Our qualifications are determined at the Judgment Seat of Christ (previously discussed), and the appropriate reward is granted. That reward is a specific job or office in heaven’s governments (and all members of the Body of Christ will have them). The sound doctrine we had, the greater our reward, and the larger the capacity we have to bring honor to Jesus Christ in the heavenly places throughout the ages to come. We are not competing against other Christians, no—please do not misunderstand! We are striving to get the best reward in order to exalt in heaven’s governments the Person who died for us to be in Heaven in the first place!

Romans 8:18-19 provides us with a glimpse of that coming “glorification:” “[18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. [19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” The “manifestation” of the sons of God is when God puts on display in outer space His children—specifically, us, the members of the Body of Christ. We will use the sound Bible doctrine we learned on Earth to carry out His plans for the heavenly places throughout eternity future. For brevity’s sake, we must stop here. We did not do this topic justice either, but we must move on and wrap up this study.

V. CONCLUSION

Friend, if you have followed our Bible Q&A studies from the very beginning, you know that we have never confused the issues of justification and practical sanctification. This article is another testament to that fact. Lost people becoming Christians, and Christians maturing (being edified) in the Word of God, are two separate matters. Unbelievers do not become Christians by adopting Christian Bible views—they become Christians by believing the Gospel of Grace! Christians must progress from the basics (the Gospel) to deeper Bible doctrines. Spiritual maturity is tantamount to victorious, enjoyable Christian living!

When a sinner trusts Jesus Christ as his or her personal Saviour, passing from death to life, moving from Satan’s family to God’s family, something radical happens. The sinner has not only escaped eternal hellfire (divine punishment for his sin), that sinner has been saved unto a new lifestyle and a new destiny. When Father God gave the believing sinner a new heart, that new nature gave him or her the capacity to experience God’s life. That new life cannot be brought into full experience, however, unless there is study of and progression in sound Bible doctrine.

All too often, believers use the excuse: “I have trusted that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. Knowing I am saved is good enough for me. I do not care to learn in-depth Bible doctrine. That is too much studying, too much work, too much time I could do other things. What God did and will do with Israel makes no difference to me. I have no interest in learning about prophecy versus mystery, law versus grace, Earth versus Heaven, Peter versus Paul, and so on. Bible versions do not concern me, either—all versions are “good” to some extent and I like them all. I do not get bogged down with doctrinal points. Let me keep my membership at my local denominational church. I am going to escape Hell, and that is all that matters to me.”

The above is a very unfortunate condition and very common attitude. While these Christians will indeed go to Heaven, in the meantime, they will have a miserable time on Earth! They will not experience the Christian life to its fullest potential. They, having God’s Word, are so unbelievably unable to understand, use, and enjoy it. They do not know how to handle Bible “contradictions.” They do not know what God is doing today, and they do not know what He would have them do today. The Bible is a burden to them, and all they have is their worthless traditions of men. They do not separate prophecy from mystery, Israel from the Body of Christ, Peter from Paul, law from grace, and so on. That is why their Christian life is such a struggle and disappointment. God does not approve of their Christian service, and there will be a tremendous loss of reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ. They are not honoring Jesus Christ here, so they will have limited service to Him in the heavenly places in the ages to come. They need to take heed and reform!

Since they do not have God’s Word (King James Bible), they have no clear spiritual understanding and no source of spiritual nourishment. Therefore, they will continue in their state of immaturity, bewilderment, misinformation, shallow thinking, and so on. Since they do not use God’s Word God’s way (rightly divided), they are unable to extract the profit that God put in His Word. Thus, they are vulnerable to doubt/unbelief, Satan’s attacks, carnality (flesh-walking), failure, misery, confusion, and so on. From personal experience (and many others can testify to this), I can tell you that you as a Christian must have the right Bible text (King James Bible in English) if you are to understand the Bible. From personal experience (and many others can testify to this as well), Christian friend, I can tell you that your Christian life will mean so much more to you once you approach the Bible dispensationally.

SUPPLEMENTAL: WHEN CHRISTIANS WERE DECEIVED IN SCRIPTURE

(In order to further drive home the aforesaid points, we present another layer of evidence that one does not need to be a “King James Bible, Pauline dispensationalist” in order to go to Heaven.)

Interestingly, Christians in Bible days did not always have perfect theology. In the Pauline epistles, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle issued stern warnings to Christians who had abandoned grace teaching (dispensational Bible study) and believed false Bible manuscripts (Bible versions issue). Never once did He consign these people to Hell, telling them that they had lost their salvation in Christ, and that they would now not enter Heaven. However, it is not to say that these were minor blunders that could be ignored. These Christians were cautioned that they were inflicting great damage on their spiritual bodies. They were corrupting themselves and opposing God’s will for them: they were “grieving the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 4:30), “quenching [stopping] the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19), “frustrating [opposing] the grace of God” (Galatians 2:21), and so on.

A. THE GALATIANS AND THE LAW OF MOSES

Notice how Galatians 4:21 indicates what was occurring in the churches of Galatia: “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?” These saints had placed themselves under a performance-based acceptance program—specifically, the Law of Moses. They had yanked out of context the Dispensation of Law that God had given to Moses for Israel’s obedience, and had forced it upon themselves. They should have been following “the Dispensation of the Grace of God” given to Paul and given to them through Paul (Ephesians 3:2). Like so many denominational “Christians” today, however, they were ignoring Paul’s special ministry and message. Hence, Paul firmly defended his apostleship in Galatians chapters 1 and 2. Furthermore, this is why he focused on defining and defending his “grace” message for the rest of the Book of Galatians.

Despite their immense spiritual confusion, never once does Paul accuse the Galatians of losing their justification, losing eternal life. He calls them “brethren” throughout the epistle that bears their name (1:11; 3:15; 4:12,28,31; 5:11,13; 6:1,18). He speaks of them as though they are still (presently) “the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). Galatians 3:2 implies that they still have the Holy Spirit—He still indwells them, having not left them. Galatians 3:28 says to them: “…for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” The only people “in Christ Jesus” are believers, indicating that the Galatians were still going to Heaven. Even though they had allowed non-dispensational doctrine (Law of Moses) to deceive them and disrupt their Christian living, they were still secure in Christ.

B. THE THESSALONIANS, PROPHECY, AND THE COUNTERFEIT BIBLE

The Thessalonian saints suffered great persecution for their faith in Christ. Notice 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3: “[1] Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, [2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. [3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition….” There are two issues here—Bible versions and dispensational Bible study.

Did you see the part about a “letter as from us” in verse 2? At least one false teacher penned an epistle, forged Paul’s name on that document, sent it to those believers, and that misinformation troubled them. It was an attempt to pass off spurious writings as inspired of God and apostolic in nature. (This occurs even today, when people claim corrupted manuscripts and their resultant English translations are “Holy Bibles.”) Let us remember the ancient warning well, friends: “For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17). These Thessalonians were led by that corrupted manuscript to believe they were living during the time of God’s wrath, commonly called the seven-year Tribulation. They thought they were suffering because they were in that awful time of human history. It was a lie straight from the pits of Hell!

As with the Galatians, Paul did not tell these believers in Thessalonica that they were now lost and going to Hell because they had let bad doctrine to deceive and trouble them. They believed a false Bible manuscript and ignored the concluding dispensational boundary between prophecy and mystery, but the Holy Spirit still led Paul to call the Thessalonians “brethren” numerous times (2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2:1,13,15; 3:1,6,13). Paul implied that the Thessalonians were going to be “gathered together unto Christ” with other believers at the Rapture (2 Thessalonians 2:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:5). He thought that they would be present when Jesus Christ would come to be “glorified in his saints” (2 Thessalonians 1:10)—they were some of those “saints!” Paul said they were suffering for “the kingdom of God”—that could only be true of believers (2 Thessalonians 1:5). He spoke of them as “obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ”—that would only be true of believers (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

C. FINAL THOUGHTS

While we could go on and on, it is enough. God does not expect lost people to pass theological tests to get into Heaven. Based on the verses and my experiences in the ministry all these years, I am afraid a lot of genuine Christians would miserably fail such exams and wind up in Hell quicker than a split-second! Unsaved people do not have to know about dispensational Bible study or Bible versions in order to be justified. Sad to say, there are millions of Christians today who have not got a clue about proper Bible study. Furthermore, they could not identify the pure Bible text (King James Bible and its underlying manuscripts) if their lives depended on it! Now we know why they are so confused about spiritual matters! (I did not understand the Bible versions issue and dispensational Bible study until over 10 years after I trusted the Lord as my personal Saviour! I was on my way to Heaven but how ignorant I was! Never do I want to return to such immaturity, ignorance, carnality, misery, confusion, and frustration!

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
(2 Timothy 2:24-26)

Also see:
» Has God’s Word failed?
» Is there a simple way to present the Grace Message to children and teens?
» Does it matter what Bible version I use?

DISPENSATIONAL BIBLE STUDY, Does Jesus Christ save us or does the Gospel save us?, Does Jesus Christ save us or does the Gospel save us?, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS

Does Jesus Christ save us or does the Gospel save us?

DOES JESUS CHRIST SAVE US, OR DOES THE GOSPEL SAVE US?

by Shawn Brasseaux

“Dear Brother Shawn, Your article is great! It really helped me in understanding difficult Biblical topics. Could you clarify this statement of yours? ‘God applies that forgiveness by faith when we trust the Gospel of Grace—that Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).’ Do we have Scriptural basis in saying we have forgiveness by faith when we ‘trust’ the Gospel of Grace? Salvation comes from, through and by the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation does not come from the gospel. Can we find anywhere in the King James to ‘trust the gospel?’ I understand that 1 Corinthians 15:2 says ‘by this Gospel we were saved…’ but is it Biblical to conclude trusting this Gospel is what saves us? or trusting Jesus Christ saves us? We don’t trust the Gospel to save us but we trust Jesus Christ to save us and this Gospel of Grace is what we believe. Thank you so much. Waiting for your reply.”

“Hi Brother ____. Glad to be of service to you, friend! Thank you for allowing me to clarify. While I understand what you are saying, and I agree with you, please allow me to point out some things I think you have overlooked. I will try to make this as clear and as plain as possible. Since you are replying to our “Are lost people forgiven?” article, I trust that you have read it in full and you can refer to it again if needed. (https://forwhatsaiththescriptures.org/2014/12/07/are-lost-people-forgiven/)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Faith is believing God’s Word to you. God’s Word to us, God’s Good News (“Gospel”), His message to us, is that His Son is the Saviour. While this is true, the Bible gives a more specific explanation. Faith needs to rest on a clear understanding of God’s Word. The clear understanding is established when we hear or read “Christ died for our sins…” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Without the Gospel message, we have no firm understanding of Jesus Christ (who He is and what He did).

While it is certainly true Jesus Christ is the Saviour, on what basis can He save? What did He do to be the Saviour? You cannot answer these questions without the Gospel. “Christ died for our sins…” (1 Corinthians 15:3).

While it is certainly true Jesus Christ is the Saviour, on what basis does He save? How does He save? You cannot answer these questions without the Gospel. “Christ died for our sins…” (1 Corinthians 15:3).

Why does a holy, righteous God want to have anything to do with us sinners? How can we go to heaven if our sin prohibits fellowship with God? Again, you cannot answer these questions without the Gospel. “Christ died for our sins…” (1 Corinthians 15:3).

Jesus Christ died, shed His blood, and paid for our sins in full. His blood is the atonement for sins. His blood covers our sins. We cannot cover or make up for our sins by performing religious works of any kind. Christ was buried to put away our sins (Hebrews 9:26). He was raised again (resurrected) to justify us (declare us righteous before God) (Romans 4:25). This is called “the Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Grace is what God can do for us freely through the propitiation (fully satisfying payment) of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24-25). “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

As I pointed out in that article you read earlier, the Gospel is the means whereby God can “impute” (apply, reckon, or “count” in Romans 4:5) the merits of Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork to the believer. The finished crosswork of Jesus Christ is very valuable, but we do not know its true worth unless we know the Gospel that clearly communicates its value. Christ’s shed blood can provide forgiveness, but that forgiveness is not actually true of us as individuals until we as individuals believe the Gospel. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5).

The Lord Jesus Christ indeed does the saving from sins and hell, but what about Jesus must we believe in order to be saved? What must we do to have Christ’s righteousness imputed to us? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). We are to rely on Jesus Christ as the propitiation, or sufficient payment, for our sins. Unless you know exactly what He did to save you, He cannot save you. The Gospel tells us how He saves us. He puts away our sins and gives us His righteousness in their place!

Romans 1:16 says: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The “Gospel of Christ” is a message all about Jesus Christ. What specifically about Him? According to the King James Bible, the Gospel of Christ is “the power of God” that can “save” those who “believe.” What exactly do they believe? The Gospel of Christ. What is the Gospel of Christ? Chapters 3-5 of Romans will talk about His finished crosswork as the way to righteousness (justification) unto eternal life and heaven.

Ephesians 1:12-14 also says: “[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.” We heard “the word of truth,” “the gospel of [our] salvation.”

According to this passage, you have to first hear the Gospel, then you can trust in Christ, and finally you get the Holy Spirit. What is the Gospel of our salvation? Again, please refer to the first five chapters of Romans. We trust in Christ, definitely, but why trust in Him? Because there is saving power, cleansing power, in His shed blood, and that is most clearly expressed in the Gospel of Grace. “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Because the Gospel is the Word of God, it is just as powerful as anything else God does or speaks (just as powerful as Calvary’s cross).

By the way, concerning the “salvation” in 1 Corinthians 15:2, that is deliverance from misery/defeat rather than deliverance from sin (a common misunderstanding about the verse). You can see our study about that linked at the end of this study.

SUPPLEMENTAL – WHAT GOSPEL?

There is a common assumption that there is only one Gospel message in the Bible. This is a misconception. We can avoid it by understanding there are at least two basic Gospel messages in the Bible. (While there is only one Gospel message today, God did not reveal it until the Apostle Paul. God has other Gospel messages valid at other times in human history.)

We read in Matthew chapter 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. [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. [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [20] Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

“[21] From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. [22] Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. [23] But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

The 12 Apostles are often assumed to be preaching in the Four Gospels, “Jesus Christ will die for our sins, He will be buried, and He will rise again.” However, the 12 Apostles had no idea about Calvary. In fact, the only piece of information these Apostles were expected to know about Jesus was, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). In verse 17, Jesus approved of these words of Peter: Jesus did not censure Peter for not talking about Calvary since Calvary had not yet been revealed yet. Notice how Peter did not say, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, who will die for our sins.” Peter was preaching “the Gospel,” but he was not preaching our Gospel. Peter’s Gospel message was that Jesus was Messiah/Christ/Son of God. There is nothing about Calvary in Peter’s confession. The Gospel of the Kingdom committed to Peter and the 11 involved who Jesus was (Christ/Messiah), not what He was going to do at Calvary (as in our Gospel of Grace). We must be careful to “study… rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Read in Matthew 16:21 how Jesus “began” to tell His disciples about how He was going to go to Jerusalem, and suffer, and be killed, and rise again the third day. This means that He had not mentioned Calvary to His disciples prior to Matthew 16:21!!!! Furthermore, when Peter learns of Jesus’ coming death, Peter denies it will happen! Matthew chapter 16 again: “[21] From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. [22] Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. [23] But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

Luke 18:31-34 is the parallel account: “[31] Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. [32] For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: [33] And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. [34] And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” Calvary was hidden from the Apostles!!! They could not have been preaching our Gospel in Matthew through John! They were preaching “the Gospel of the Kingdom” (Matthew 4:17; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 24:14)—Jesus is Messiah/King/Christ. Hence, we say that when we believe the Gospel of the Grace of God, we have God’s righteousness imputed to us. It is not merely enough for us today to believe Jesus is Christ/Son of God (as in the Gospel of the Kingdom). We have to believe “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3)—that distinguishes our Gospel message from the Gospel the 12 Apostles preached.

If we just say “Jesus saves us,” that is true in both the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of the Grace of God. That is too general a Gospel message, for why does Jesus save us? Not merely because He is Messiah/Christ (as in the Gospel of the Kingdom). But, when we say, “Christ died for our sins,” that is more specific and that is the Gospel message God through the Apostle Paul gave us (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day.” That is the Gospel message we should preach, the Gospel of the Grace of God. “Jesus saves” is too simplistic, and does not go into enough detail to serve as an adequate basis for faith today.

Also see:
» What does, “Saved, if you keep in memory,” in 1 Corinthians 15:2?
» What is a simple Grace Gospel to share with small children and teens?
» Is Acts 16:31 a sufficient Gospel message?

SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS, Why did God demand blood sacrifices?

Why did God demand blood sacrifices?

WHY DID GOD DEMAND BLOOD SACRIFICES?

by Shawn Brasseaux

Do you ever wonder why God demands blood sacrifices for man’s sin? In this Bible study, we want to use the Holy Scriptures to answer this question.

Blood must be shed if man is to be forgiven of his sins. This is transdispensational: it is true for every dispensation, no matter where you are in the Bible.

It was true of Adam and Eve: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). God killed animals and made coats of skins for Adam and Eve, and this shed blood covered their sins.

The shedding of blood is necessary if we are to receive forgiveness of our sins: “In whom we have redemption through his [Christ’s] blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1:7). Colossians 1:14 affirms: “In whom [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

Blood must also be shed for people who will live beyond our Dispensation of Grace to be forgiven of their sins: “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building: neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:11,12).

Hence, we read in Hebrews 9:22b: “…And without shedding of blood is no remission [forgiveness].” But, what is so special about blood? Why blood, of all things, is needed for the remission of sins? Let us search the Scriptures for the answer.

Once Noah got off the ark, notice what the Bible says in Genesis 9:1-4: “[1] And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. [2] And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. [3] Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. [4] But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.”

As verse 4 teaches, blood is the source of life. God later told Israel in the Mosaic Law: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul…  Blood… For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off” (Leviticus 17:11,14). And Deuteronomy 12:23: “…eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.”

Now, remember that sin causes death: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). James 1:15b concurs: “…[S]in, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Are you beginning to see why blood is necessary for forgiveness of sins?

The Bible explains why God demands blood for sins. What is the answer to death? Life! What is the answer to sin? Blood! Blood is the solution to sin because life is the answer to death. The sacrificial blood would give new life—it would atone, or “make man at one with God.” The Old Testament animals’ blood sacrifices could not take away sins: hence, they were only temporary (Hebrews 10:2-12). Although the cross was still future, God would credit believers with the finished crosswork of Christ, which did take away sins. When the Old Testament animal sacrifices were offered, God would apply the merits of Calvary’s cross to that particular saint. Once Christ died, the animal sacrifices were unnecessary.

Hebrews 10:10-14 reminds Israel: “[10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

King David wrote about those who offered animal sacrifices in the Old Testament economy: “Blessed is the whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity…” (Psalm 32:1,2a). Our Apostle Paul quoted this in Romans 4:1-8, which describes our salvation today in the Dispensation of Grace: “[1] What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? [2] For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. [3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. [4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

Thus again we see the connection between the Old Testament animal sacrifices and the offering of Christ on Calvary’s cross. The blood sacrifices represented the new life we have today in Jesus Christ. We are forgiven of our sins, and we made “at one” with God. “Our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:11).

CONCLUSION

The Bible explains why God demands blood for sins. The answer to death is life, so the answer to sin is blood. Blood is the solution to sin because life is the answer to death. The sacrificial blood would give new life—it would atone, or “make man at one with God.”

In hindsight, we see the Old Testament blood sacrifices were a “type”/“picture”/preview of the perfect blood of Jesus Christ that provides total and permanent forgiveness, and more importantly: “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). We are spiritually dead in and of ourselves: “we [are] dead in [our] trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). But, if we have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, God has given us new life in Christ.

Friend, please understand that we cannot gain God’s forgiveness by walking an aisle, saying a prayer, getting water baptized, confessing our sins, taking communion, giving money to a ministry, joining a church, or doing any other religious activities. We have sins that must be dealt with, and they can be paid for in two places: at Calvary’s cross, or in the everlasting flames of the lake of fire. The blood of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can take away our sins: our performance cannot, for we can never measure up to God in our own strength. Will you trust in the fact that Jesus Christ suffered God’s wrath against your sins for you, or will you reject Him and continue toward everlasting hellfire, where you will suffer God’s wrath against your sins forever?

The Gospel of the Grace of God declares that Christ died for our sins, He was buried to put away those sins, and He was raised for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Will you trust in Jesus Christ alone as your personal Saviour, that His blood sacrifice is enough to pay for your sins? I hope you will.

What wonderful truths, and praise the Lord that we can rejoice in them!

Also see:
» Why did God reject Cain’s offering?
» Why did Israel have to keep so many strange laws?
» Was God unfair in striking Uzzah dead?

Are we humans created in “the image of God?”, Are we humans created in “the image of God?”, Are we humans created in “the image of God?”, CREATION AND EARLY MAN, SIN, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS

Are we humans created in “the image of God?”

ARE WE HUMANS CREATED IN “THE IMAGE OF GOD?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

In the Christian world, it is common to hear that we are created in God’s image. If we have heard it all of our lives then it must be true, right? Probably 99 percent of Christendom is under the impression that we are made in God’s image. But, what does the Bible say? Of course, it says something else entirely. Let the Bible speak for itself.

The Bible says in Genesis 1:26-27: “[26] And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

While the Bible does indeed say that Adam and Eve were created in God’s image, and thus in no way were animals (animals were not created in God’s image), it never says that we were created in God’s image. Here is why it is important to make the distinction. Genesis 5:1-3 says: “[1] This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; [2] Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. [3] And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:”

Notice above how the language that describes Adam is starkly different from the language that describes his son Seth. Adam was “created… in the likeness of God” (verse 1). That is clearly what the Bible says. However, post-Fall, Adam and Eve had a son, and that son was born after Adam’s “own likeness, and after his image” (verse 3). The entrance of sin into the world changed human makeup. What was once the reflection of God’s glory was now the reflection of man’s wretchedness. Seth was not sinless as Adam originally was. Adam’s progeny, even today, has inherited a sin nature, or what the Bible calls the “old man” (Romans 6:6).

Rather than being after God’s image, we are after Adam’s image. We are naturally sinful, dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1-3). To be made in God’s image means that man reflects God and His righteousness. Sinful man is not an accurate representation of God. However, Jesus Christ is a perfect representation of God. Notice these few Scriptures:

  • John 14:9: “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”
  • Hebrews 1:3 says Jesus Christ is “the brightness of [His Father’s] glory, and the express image of his person.”
  • The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that Jesus is “the image of God.”
  • Colossians 1:15 says Christ is “the image of the invisible God.”
  • Colossians 2:9 says that “in [Christ] dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

Before the Fall in Genesis chapter 3, Adam was a perfect representation of God and His righteousness. One Adam sinned, however, death has passed upon all men (Romans 5:12). In order to gain God’s righteousness, we have to be in Jesus Christ, and the only way that will happen is if we rely on Calvary’s finished crosswork, the exhibition of Christ’s righteousness. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

The danger in believing that we are made in God’s image can be summed up in the following statement: “Human nature is not evil in itself. We are still made in God’s image. We are not completely corrupted by sin. Sin has merely impaired or weakened us.” I have read this claim before and I have heard others say it before. (Even religious people claim this nonsense.) It takes little discernment to see that this statement is very appealing and flattering to the flesh. (“I am not that bad! Although I am not perfect, I still have something to offer God. I want to do the best I can with what I have so God will be happy with me! God helps those who help themselves!”)

Friends, to suppose that we are made in God’s image means we completely miss the fact that we have no fellowship with God in our natural state. As David said, we are conceived in sin. We were shapen in iniquity. Psalm 51:5 says: “Behold, I was shapen in inquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” From birth, no human reflects God’s righteousness and holiness. That is what sin is! This is why God wants to give us a new nature in Christ, one that is not offensive to Him, one that will generate good works instead of sinful actions.

In the Bible, we read that a rainbow of colors surrounds God’s throne. The Prophet Ezekiel saw a yellow rainbow (Ezekiel 1:4,27) contrasted with a throne the color of sapphire (deep blue); centuries later, John the Apostle saw the rainbow as emerald green (Revelation 4:3). You can envision a kaleidoscope of colors, perhaps flashing lights, around God’s throne. This is the manifestation of God’s righteousness. Let us return to Adam being made “in the image of God.” There is additional detail to provide. The Bible says Adam and Eve “were both naked…and were not ashamed” (Genesis 1:25). How could they be naked, and yet unashamed?

In 1 Timothy 6:16 we read of Jesus Christ “dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto….” Again, God’s righteousness and holiness emanate from His body in the form of a bright light. “O LORD my God… who coverest thyself with light as with a garment” (Psalm 104:2). Originally, before the Fall, Adam and Eve did not wear physical clothes, but they were clothed with something… they were clothed with the righteousness of God Himself because sin had not entered into creation yet.

As we mentioned earlier, God created man in His image (Genesis 1:26-27); man was originally sinless, as perfect as God. When Adam and Eve disobeyed by eating the forbidden fruit, God’s righteousness left their bodies. They were sinners now, so God’s light no longer covered them (spiritually and physically). Adam and Eve were physically and spiritually naked, so they frantically gathered itchy fig leaves and covered themselves (Genesis 3:7). The LORD God, in His great love and grace, sought these lost souls. Adam and Eve hid, too afraid to approach our holy and righteous God. But, God in His brilliance devised a plan to restore them. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). The Bible says that God killed innocent animals. He used the blood to provide Adam and Eve’s spiritual clothes (forgiveness), and the skins served as their physical clothes.

By the way, if you are familiar with your Bible, you will recall that Joseph had a coat of many colors. God was using Joseph to preview Jesus Christ: “Now Israel [Jacob] loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of a many colours” (Genesis 37:3). God was going to use Israel, Joseph’s family, to reflect His glory in the Earth. This is what Adam and Eve failed to do.

Isaiah 61:10 summarizes (saved Israel speaking): “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” God did that for Adam, Eve, Israel, and in Christ He does that for us too! If we have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been clothed with God’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Christ, we are just as Adam and Eve were before the fall, in perfect standing before God.

Our physical bodies are still connected to Adam, but the day is coming when we in Christ Jesus will receive glorified bodies “fashioned like unto His glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21). This is what we call “the Rapture,” or what the Bible calls “the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23). We close by reading 1 Corinthians chapter 15, noting especially verse 49: “And as we have borne the image of the earthy [Adam], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly [Christ].”

First Corinthians chapter 15: “[38] But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. [39] All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. [40] There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. [41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. [42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: [43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. [45] And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. [46] Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. [47] The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. [48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

Also see:
» Why did God ask where Adam was?
» Does God give us “points” for trying to be good?
» Does “once saved, always saved” entitle us to abuse God’s grace?

Does God give us “points” for trying to be good?, Does God give us “points” for trying to be good?, ROMAN CATHOLICISM, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS

Does God give us “points” for trying to be good?

DOES GOD GIVE US “POINTS” FOR TRYING TO BE GOOD?

by Shawn Brasseaux

A Roman Catholic friend once told me that he believed God gave us “points” when we tried to do our best. We may not be perfect, but he reasoned we can certainly “try” to be like Jesus and God will give us “points” for effort. Like in high school or college, if we answer a question wrongly, but at least attempt to answer it, the teacher or professor will give us a few points. While this idea of “partial credit” sounds reasonable to the natural man, and is quite handy in school, it is completely unbiblical to apply it to justification before God. God never gives “partial credit” to anyone. Either we have perfect righteousness or we do not, friends. We trust we will demonstrate in this study that the Holy Bible does not teach God giving us “partial credit!”

In fact, the Bible teaches the opposite of “partial credit” before God. With the God of the Bible, Law-keeping is “all-or-nothing.” You either keep all of the Law, or you break all of the Law. James 2:10-11 in the King James (Protestant) Bible says: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.” For our Roman Catholic readers, we quote the New American (Roman Catholic) Bible: “For whoever keeps the whole law, but falls short in one particular, has become guilty in respect to all of it. For he who said, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘You shall not kill.’ Even if you do not commit adultery but kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.’”

Both the Roman Catholic and the Protestant Bibles agree that the Law is an “all-or-nothing” system. You fall short with one commandment, and you break all of the commandments. The Roman Catholic Bible actually contradicts the Roman Catholic doctrine that we can “do the best we can” and “make up for what we have done wrong.” According to Sacred Scripture, James 2:10 in particular, we can do no right to “make up” for our wrongs! Again, if you offend the Law in one point, you are guilty of breaking all of the Law. God does not give partial credit, He does not give partial righteousness, and He does not give partial eternal life. Once more, if you offend the Law in one point, you are guilty of breaking all of the Law! Never forget that, friend.

In order to get to heaven, you have to be perfect, my friend. Romans chapter 2 tells us in the King James (Protestant) Bible: “[5] But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; “[6] Who will render to every man according to his deeds: [7] To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: [8] But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, [9] Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; [10] But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: [11] For there is no respect of persons with God.”

And, the New American (Roman Catholic) Bible: “5 By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself for the day of wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God, 6 who will repay everyone according to his works: 7 eternal life to those who seek glory, honor, and immortality through perseverance in good works, 8 but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness. 9 Yes, affliction and distress will come upon every human being who does evil, Jew first and then Greek. 10 But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good, Jew first and then Greek. 11 There is no partiality with God.”

Notice how we read about people who are “evil” (verse 9). Who is evil? James 2:10 already told us that the “evil” people are Law-breakers. They have offended God’s Law in at least one point. When Romans 2:10 talks about “good” people, it refers to people who have never sinned at all. They have never broken even one of God’s laws! You say, “Oh, but Shawn, there is no sinless person anywhere! Every person has sinned!” I immediately reply, “Yes, yes, yes! I agree, my friend!” That is the purpose of Romans chapter 2. It is to condemn all people as sinners, unworthy of eternal life and unworthy of heaven. It declares us all to be ungodly and unrighteous. Saint Paul is outlining the sinfulness of man, that he may present the righteousness of Jesus Christ in chapter 3. God offers us His righteousness in Christ Jesus. He does not demand that we make ourselves holy and acceptable to Him because He knows we cannot do it. We cannot be “good” because our nature is evil, tainted by sin. The Law already demonstrated it. Go back to James 2:10.

Let us repeat. With God, Law-keeping is “all-or-nothing.” You either keep all of the Law, or you break all of the Law. James 2:10-11 in the King James (Protestant) Bible says: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.” For our Roman Catholic readers, we quote the New American (Roman Catholic) Bible: “For whoever keeps the whole law, but falls short in one particular, has become guilty in respect to all of it. For he who said, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘You shall not kill.’ Even if you do not commit adultery but kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.’”

And, no, Romans 2:6-11 is not a plan for getting into heaven. You cannot “continue” (“persevere”) in well doing. There comes a point when you fail, when you interrupt, so you cannot obtain eternal life by “continuing” or “persevering.” The moment you fail, Saint James says you have failed completely. But that is not all. Works-religion is again demonstrated to be a failure, unable to get us to heaven.

We can also see what Saint Paul says about the matter of justification before God. Galatians 3:10-11 in the King James (Protestant) Bible says: “[10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. [11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” For our Roman Catholic readers, we quote the New American (Roman Catholic) Bible: “10 For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law.’ 11 And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear, for “the one who is righteous by faith will live.”

The New American (Roman Catholic) Bible has the following footnote at Galatians 3:10: “Those who depend not on promise and faith but on works of the law are under a curse because they do not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law (⇒ Gal 3:10; ⇒ Deut 27:26) in order to gain life (⇒ Gal 3:12; ⇒ Lev 18:5; cf ⇒ Romans 10:5). But scripture teaches that no one is justified before God by the law (⇒ Gal 3:11; ⇒ Hebrews 2:4, adapted from the Greek version of Habakkuk; cf ⇒ Romans 1:17; ⇒ Hebrews 10:38). Salvation, then, depends on faith in Christ who died on the cross (⇒ Gal 3:13), taking upon himself a curse found in ⇒ Deut 21:23 (about executed criminals hanged in public view), to free us from the curse of the law (⇒ Gal 3:13). That the Gentile Galatians have received the promised Spirit (⇒ Gal 3:14) by faith and in no other way returns the argument to the experience cited in ⇒ Gal 3:1-5.” (Bold emphasis mine.)

Even the Roman Catholic scholars quoted above admit that salvation into heaven is dependent entirely on Jesus Christ. It has nothing to do with our works or our performance in religion, for we do not continue (“persevere”) in everything written in the Law. Jesus Christ died to free us from the curse of the Law. Do we believe it as true? Do we reckon it as true for ourselves? Have we placed our faith, our complete reliance, on Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for our sins? Not as a way to “help” us, but to do it all for us? That is the message Saint Paul is trying to tell us. Again, Romans 2:6-11 is condemnation—we cannot “persevere” in good works therefore we are bad and under the condemnation of the Law. We are unable to persevere to get eternal life. No one is justified by works. No one is justified by the Law! Justification (right standing before God) is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!

Romans 3:19-20 in the King James (Protestant) Bible: “[19] Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. [20] Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:19-20 in the New American (Roman Catholic) Bible: “19 Now we know that what the law 4 says is addressed to those under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world stand accountable to God, 20 since no human being will be justified in his sight 5 by observing the law; for through the law comes consciousness of sin.”

Galatians 3:10 in the King James (Protestant) Bible: “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Galatians 3:10 in the New American (Roman Catholic) Bible: “Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law.” If you do not do “all things” that are written in the Law, you are under a “curse.” This agrees perfectly with James 2:10. What is the curse? Eternal damnation in hell! Go back to Romans 2:8-9 in the King James (Protestant) Bible: “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, [9] Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile….” Romans 2:8-9 in the New American (Roman Catholic) Bible: “8 but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness. 9 Yes, affliction and distress will come upon every human being who does evil, Jew first and then Greek.”

Cursed is everyone who does not do everything the Law demands. That means, even if you keep 99% of the Law, the one percent of disobedience nullifies/cancels your obedience. Again, the Law, the performance-based acceptance system, is an “all-or-nothing” system. This is the fact set forth in both the Protestant and Roman Catholic Bibles. In reality, we understand the following: Our performance will never make it before God. Every little failure will add up. No Law-keeping is enough for heaven. Even one failure cancels out everything preceding it. Our score before God is “0.” We score no points with God by our good works because our disobedience completely cancels our good works. That is why trusting in Jesus and our good works is also a failure. If Jesus Christ is enough, why do we have to work? Are we going to supplement what Jesus did at Calvary? What heresy! What blasphemy! What folly! Friend, to add to Christ’s sacrifice is to taint it with sinful human fingers! Leave Christ’s sacrifice alone and just accept it by faith!

Also see:
» Does “once saved, always saved” entitle us to abuse God’s grace?
» Should I recite “The Lord’s Prayer?”
» What was the real Immaculate Conception?

Must I witness to be saved?, SOUL SALVATION FROM SINS

Must I witness to be saved?

MUST I WITNESS TO BE SAVED? WHAT IS “WITNESSING?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

Dear friend, certainly not! Witnessing is something that Christians do, not something people do to become Christians. What is “witnessing” though? If we can define that term properly, then we can understand why it is Christians alone who witness, and not lost people who witness to become Christians.

In religion, to “witness” means to attempt to convert a person from one group or denomination to another group or denomination. A dictionary definition is “an open profession of one’s religious faith through words or actions.” This “open profession” is meant to attract new members to churches, groups, organizations, denominations, et cetera. Proselytizing is also meant to “enhance” the “witnessing” person’s chance in getting into heaven (according to the denomination’s misinformation). However, in the Bible, “witnessing” is something different. Biblically speaking, witnessing is designed to exalt God’s Word and build up people’s faith in it. Witnessing in the Scriptures is not about building organizations or establishing denominational cliques, but about encouraging people to trust God’s words to them. Soul salvation unto eternal life does not depend on our performance (including witnessing); our soul salvation in Christ (guaranteed) should motivate us to witness. What does “witness” mean in Scripture?

To “witness” in Bible usage means to testify or to bear record of God’s Word. In other words, one affirms a particular Biblical teaching to be true. Notice, I did not say, affirming a particular denominational position to be true. A Christian can witness to the reliability of the Gospel, the veracity of the Holy Bible, the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, and so on. A Christian’s goal should not be to move people from one religious group to another. That is what denominationalism is all about, but that is not Bible! A Christian should share the Gospel with that person and then that person—that saved person—will then, via sound Bible doctrine, have the ability to discern which group is theologically sound and which group is not.

EXAMPLES OF “WITNESSING” IN THE BIBLE

The Greek word translated “witness” in our King James Bible is martureo (Strong’s G3140). As you can see, our English word “martyr” is derived from it. In the New Testament of our King James Bible, this word martureo is translated as follows: “bear witness” (25x), “testify” (19x), “bear record” (13x), “witness” (5x), “be a witness” (2x), “give testimony” (2x), “have a good report” (2x), miscellaneous (11x). To better understand the concept of witnessing as found in the Scriptures, it would help us to look at many specific examples.

FATHER GOD AND/OR HOLY SPIRIT WITNESSING/VERIFYING JESUS

  • John 3:11: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.” (This is Jesus speaking, talking about how both His Heavenly Father and He had declared that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, that He was Father God’s Son and Messenger. John the Baptist talked about Jesus Christ in verse 32, “And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.”)
  • John 5:36-37: “[36] But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. [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.”
  • John 8:18: “I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.”
  • John 10:25: “Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.”
  • John 15:26: “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
  • Hebrews 7:17: “For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
  • 1 John 5:6: “This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.”
  • 1 John 5:7: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
  • 1 John 5:8: “And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”
  • 1 John 5:9: “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.”
  • 1 John 5:10: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”

BELIEVERS VERIFYING/WITNESSING ABOUT AND FOR JESUS

  • John 1:7-8: “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.” (John the Baptist’s ministry was to validate and support Jesus as Messiah/Christ/Son of God.) In verse 15, John went on to “bare witness” that Jesus Christ was “preferred before [John]: for [Jesus Christ] was before [John].” In verse 32, John the Baptist “bare record” that the Holy Spirit came and rested on Jesus after His water baptism.
  • John 4:39: “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.” (What this Samaritan did was simply affirm that Jesus Christ was a Prophet, the Messiah of Israel, since He had known things about her that only a Man of God would know.)
  • John 5:33: “Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.”
  • John 12:17: “The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.”
  • John 15:27: “And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”
  • John 19:35: “And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.”
  • John 21:24: “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.”
  • Acts 14:3: “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.”
  • 1 John 1:2: “(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;)”
  • 1 John 4:14: “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”

SCRIPTURES/PROPHETS OF “OLD TESTAMENT” VERIFYING JESUS

  • John 5:39: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
  • Acts 10:43: “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

JESUS BEARING WITNESS OF THE WORLD’S EVIL WORKS

  • John 7:7: “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.”

JESUS BEARING WITNESS UNTO THE TRUTH

  • John 18:37: “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.”

GOOD TESTIMONY, GOOD REPORT

  • Acts 6:3: “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” (These seven helpers in the Jerusalem Church had a solid, good reputation. Saints would give testimony to affirm these men were worthy of being assigned to the job that needed to be accomplished.)
  • Acts 10:22: “And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.” (The nation Israel could verify that Cornelius was a good person, a blesser of Abraham and his seed. He had righteous works that the God of Israel had noticed.)
  • Acts 22:12: “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,”
  • Hebrews 11:2: “For by it the elders obtained a good report.”

GOD GIVING TESTIMONY, BEARING WITNESS OF CERTAIN PEOPLE

  • Acts 13:22: “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”
  • Acts 15:8: “And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;”
  • Hebrews 11:4: “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
  • Hebrews 11:5: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”
  • Hebrews 11:39: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:”

CHRISTIANS BEARING WITNESS OF OTHER CHRISTIANS

  • Acts 16:2: “Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.”
  • Galatians 4:15: “Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.”
  • Colossians 4:13: “For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.”
  • 1 Timothy 5:10: “Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.”
  • 3 John 3: “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.”

APOSTLE PAUL BEARING WITNESS OF JESUS CHRIST

  • Acts 23:11: “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”
  • Acts 26:22: “Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:”
  • 1 Corinthians 15:15: “Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.”

APOSTLE JOHN BEARING WITNESS OF THE WORD OF GOD AND OF JESUS CHRIST

  • Revelation 1:2: “Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.”

HOLY SPIRIT BEARING WITNESS TO GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

  • Hebrews 10:15: “Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

JESUS AND HIS ANGEL TESTIFYING THE TRUTH

  • Revelation 22:16: “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”
  • Revelation 22:20: “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Friends, God does not use lost people to preach His Word and share His Gospel. Never in the Bible does God tell lost people in any dispensation to preach His Word. Jesus never told lost people to share His Gospel during His earthly ministry. Paul never told lost people to preach the Gospel. Neither did Peter, James, John, et cetera.

The reason why is that lost people consider the Bible foolishness and they consider the Gospel of the Grace of God foolishness. Only Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit (the Author of the Bible), so only Christians can shed light on the Bible text. Everyone else in the world cannot receive the things of God. The things of God only make sense when the Holy Spirit is present to give understanding. You can read all of 1 Corinthians chapter 2 for more information.

As people who have trusted alone in the Gospel of the Grace of God—Jesus Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)—we can testify or witness that that message has impacted our lives and it will do the same for others if they only trust it, too. We can share with others how the Gospel has brought us joy, peace, assurance, forgiveness, acceptance before God, resources to handle life’s problems, and so on. Lost people cannot witness according to the Bible because they have never experienced God’s Word for themselves.

Truth be told, if witnessing saved Christians, very few Christians would be saved into heaven. Many Christians do not witness. They have not been taught enough to share anything worthwhile. There are many Christians today who do not know how to witness to lost people. They know only how to scream, shout, yell, and condemn. They do not know any verses to help people solve their sin dilemma.

It is sad when professing Christians would rather bring their lost friends and relatives to church, and let the preacher or priest “lead them to God” with a sermon or homily, than them sharing their own testimony with those friends outside of a local church setting. How often it is said, “Preaching the Gospel is the preacher’s job—not mine!” Oh, dear friends, may we never say such a thing! We should “witness” of God’s faithfulness and His salvation in Christ. Not because we want to be saved but because we already have His soul salvation… and we want others to have it too!

Also see:
» Is Acts 16:31 a sufficient Gospel message?
» Must I maintain fellowship with God?
» Must I say the “sinner’s prayer” to be saved?