Thursday, January 31, 2013

Choosing the more excellent...


How do I decide which bible translation to use?


When trying to decide which bible to use, one must understand that they are not all the same. In fact, when trying to decide which translation out there is the right translation (and they cannot all be right because they don't all say the exact same things!), a lot of thought has to go into that important decision! Because, since they don't all say the exact same thing, then they cannot all be rightly called GOD'S word of truth! Why? Because God cannot lie, and therefore his entire word...as the Lord says, every word must then be true! And when you get down to the issue of "which bible," it is important to desire to have the right bible—one that contains all the word's of God in truth!

The main tactic Satan's ensnares believers with is by corrupting their minds!

2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent [Satan, himself]  beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

This tactic is implemented by planting seeds of doubt regarding the very words of God.  He uses is the Yea-hath-God-said method from Genesis 3! He tries to get us to doubt God's word.  Besides sending ministers of righteousness—who do not rightly divide God's word and would put us under the law/performance based acceptance system—he has instigated the plethora of corrupted bible versions out there that cause confusion and doubt for the believer...not to mention the ridicule from unbelievers!

2 Corinthians 2:17
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.

The main issue when it comes to why all the versions are out there is that Satan seeks to corrupt believers’ minds; the way that he does it is by simply corrupting God's word! And when it comes to corrupting God's word, he seeks to do it by taking away the focus of who the word of God is about today, that is, our Lord Jesus Christ!

Simply put, the issue with every other so-called version of the bible is that somehow, in some way, in some verses, the GLORY of our Lord Jesus Christ is taken away!

Psalm 62:4
They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

For example, here is my answer to a man who asked me a question about the difference between what most people believe are two of the "closest" translation of the bible: the KJV and the NKJV.


So, as you can see, the issue of "which bible" translation to use is huge as it deals with issues of life and death, sanctification and reward, and most importantly, one's view of our Lord Himself!

The choice, though, is yours...

Why not choose the translation that gives him all the glory due his name!?

Hopefully this helps!

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Romans



Romans
































Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Weightier Matters


I haven’t done much study on the New Jerusalem nor paid much attention to it in scripture because I have always thought that it pertained to Israel.  Should it be more of a priority for me?

Revelation 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Revelation 21:2
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

That it has not been a priority for you, is fine.  There are weightier matters in God’s word for you in this dispensation of grace.  As the Lord said:

Matthew 23:23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Paul mentions New Jerusalem in Galatians, but in context it is to the Jews in the body of Christ who had their minds set on the Jerusalem here on earth and he was trying to get them to focus their attention on things above.

Colossians 3:2
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

A study about the New Jerusalem would help in your knowledge and understanding of that heavenly city; but not having a complete understanding of it will not take away from your knowledge of the grace of God and the Pauline grace message of the mystery of Christ.

Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Romans 16:25
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Ephesians 3:9
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

I plan to do a study on New Jerusalem and post it to our YouTube site (http://www.youtube.com/user/norcalgrace/videos), but learning how to rightly divide the word of truth is the number one priority for a believer.

2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

You won’t understand any of God’s word if you don’t rightly divide the word of truth and understand that it is the 13 letters of Paul that speak to you and me today.  That is your sound doctrine, teaching and wholesome words.

Titus 2:1
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

1 Timothy 6:3
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

It’s good to know Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but those books will not do a thing to edify you in the grace message for today which is the mystery of Christ.

Ephesians 3:4
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John speak to the nation of Israel.  They are written to, for and about Israel.  In fact, the books of Genesis through Acts and Hebrews through Revelation are written to and about the nation of Israel.  They are for our learning. 

Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
We should know them.  We should study that information, but the way we study Prophecy (Genesis through Acts, Hebrews through Revelation) is in light of Paul’s epistles (Romans through Philemon).

2 Timothy 2:7
Consider what I (Paul) say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

You can learn the prophetic program by studying the letters of Paul first.  He will give you the understanding you should have about the Old Testament (time past) and the future (ages to come).

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

Ephesians 2:7
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

God, through the apostle Paul, will interpret Old Testament passages for you so that you will know how to understand them.  As long as you rightly divide Paul’s epistles from the other 53 books of the Bible you will be able to understand.  It takes years and years of study. 

Regarding New Jerusalem – although the major focus is Israel because it is mentioned in the book of Revelation which is written to Israel by the Jewish apostle John – Paul also mentions it in regard to the mystery of God.

Galatians 4:26
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

God never mentioned the body of Christ outside of Paul’s epistles. 

Ephesians 3:9
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

In contrast, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and his burial and resurrection were prophesied.  But there was no mention of his death being for gentiles outside of Paul’s epistles.  We now know through the mystery of Christ that was revealed to Paul, that the same blood shed on Calvary (not by covenant, an agreement or contract made with us, but by the pure grace of God) gives us the spiritual benefits that Israel will receive under their new covenant (Jeremiah 31; Ezekiel 36).

Colossians 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

We now know that the body of Christ will live in the heavens with God the Father.  He lives in the New Jerusalem.

Ephesians 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Hebrews 12:22
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,


Hopefully this helps...Maranatha!
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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Survey of the Book of Acts