Terry Watkins
1966 was a watershed year in the spiritual battle for good and evil.
The atheistic anti-God movement (Matt. 16:23) was formally unveiled as the April 08, 1966, Time magazine blasted on it’s cover “Is God Dead?” Also in April 1966, the satanic church was officially unleashed when Anton Lavey founded the Church of Satan.
And in 1966, the Bible PERversion army recruited a major soldier as The American Bible Society (ABS) released the New Testament of the deceitful and devious Good News for Modern Man Bible.
By 1969, the Good News for Modern Man sold over 17 million copies. Two years later, the number was a staggering — 30 million copies. According to Bible publication stats, more than 100 million copies (some estimates are over 200 million) of the GNB are in circulation. In some countries, the GNB is still the most popular version. A 1991 Gallup Poll awarded the GNB the most popular version in Britain.
In 1976 the Old Testament was completed. The American Bible Society later shortened the name from the Good News for Modern Man to the Good News Bible (GNB).
The GNB’s primary promotion is it’s ecumenical and interconfessional appeal. The GNB claims it is, “genuinely ecumenical, hailed by representatives of every church from Baptists to Jesuit Father Abbott of Rome’s Christian Unity Secretariat, who describes it as ‘a masterpiece of modern linguistic study’.” Because of the GNB’s watered-down, inclusive, tolerant, distortions it was welcomed with open arms by the new age, ecumenical movement, groups such as the liberal leaning Southern Baptist Convention, Billy Graham, the Roman Catholic Church and the National Council of Churches have recommended the GNB.
The American Bible Society has published several special editions of the GNB. They have published several Roman Catholic GNBs including the Catholic Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha books with the official Roman Catholic “imprimatur”. They also published an African-American Jubilee edition also including the Catholic Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha books. And of course, ABS published a Teen Extreme Faith GNB which so happens to include the Catholic Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha books complete with the official Roman Catholic “imprimatur”.
In 1992 the GNB was revised to fashion a feminist-neutered-inclusive edition, removing much of the masculine language, despite the clear masculine gender of the Greek text.
The GNB leads the list of the most perverted and mis-translated Bibles available. It attacks, distorts, intentionally mis-translates and just flat-out perverts virtually every major doctrine in the Bible.
ROBERT BRATCHER
GNB’s chief translator was Dr. Robert Bratcher. As you’ll see, Dr. Bratcher heads the class of the most heretical apostates to ever touch a mainstream Bible translation.
In the Brazilian Baptist paper called O Jornal Batista [The Baptist Journal], under the “Questions & Answers” (July 9, 1953) Bratcher openly denied the deity of Jesus Christ: “Jesus Christ would not enjoy omniscience. That is an attribute of God. … Jesus did not claim He and the Father to be one — which would be absurd.”
(cited in M.L. Moser, Jr., The Devil’s Masterpiece, p. 73)
Dr. Bratcher also ridicules the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible:
“Only willful ignorance or intellectual dishonesty can account for the claim that the Bible is inerrant and infallible … To invest the Bible with the qualities of inerrancy and infallibility is to idolatrize it, to transform it into a false god. . .”
“Often in the past and still too often in the present to affirm that the Bible is the Word of God implies that the words of the Bible are the words of God. Such simplistic and absolute terms divest the Bible altogether of its humanity and remove it from the relativism of the historical process. No one seriously claims all the words of the Bible are the very words of God. If someone does so it is only because that person is not willing thoroughly to explore its implications. . .”
“The Word of God is not words; it is a human being, a human life … Quoting what the Bible says in the context of its history and culture is not necessarily relevant or helpful–and may be a hindrance in trying to meet and solve the problems we face. . .”
“We are not bound by the letter of Scripture, but by the spirit. Even words spoken by Jesus in Aramaic in the thirties of the first century and preserved in writing in Greek, 35 to 50 years later, do not necessarily wield compelling authority over us today. The focus of scriptural authority is not the words themselves. It is Jesus Christ as the Word of God who is the authority for us to be and to do.”
“As a biblical scholar, I view with dismay the misuse of scriptures by fundamentalists; . . ”
(The Baptist Courier, Apr. 2, 1981)
According to Dr. Bratcher, the Bible is “shifting sand”.
After lecturing at Furman University, Dr. Bratcher was asked the following questions about the Bible:
“Are there historical sections of the Bible that are sub-Christian?’ asked a student.
“`Certainly. Wishing that God would destroy one’s enemies. You call that Christian?’
“`You admit that the Bible has fallacies; then how is it valuable?’ a student questioned.
“`If we build our faith wholly on the Bible, then we are building our faith on shifting sand.
We must follow the facts or there is nothing to believe. We cannot literally follow Jesus, only go in his direction’.” (The Greenville News, November 8, 1970)
Would a truly saved person refuse to confess Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour? The Bible is clear. Confession of the Lord Jesus Christ is essential for salvation:
Matthew 10:32-33
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Why did Dr. Bratcher refuse to “confess” Jesus Christ as his “personal Saviour”? In a Question and Answer at the First Baptist Curch in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the following took place:
Question: `Why did you leave out the blood of Jesus Christ in Romans 5:9 and 14 and other places?’
Answer: `It is a matter of translation.’
Question: `Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?’
Answer: Dr. Bratcher would not answer this question.
Question: `Is the human heart by nature Man- centered or God-centered?’
Answer: `Let us stick with questions about translation.’
Question: `Is Jesus Christ God, or the same as God?’
Answer: `Jesus is not the same personality as God.’
(Donald T. Clarke, Bible Version Manual, pp. 98-99)
In another Question and Answer encounter at the First Baptist Church in North Augusta, South Carolina, Dr. Bratcher again would not answer the question:
Question: `If you should die, do you know you would go to heaven?’
Answer: Dr. Bratcher would not answer this question.’
(Donald T. Clarke, Bible Version Manual, pp. 98-99)
As we open the covers of the Good News Bible (GNB), notice the “reflection” of Dr. Bracther’s apostate beliefs beaming off the pages.
Note: KJB is the King James Bible. GNB is the Good News Bible (a.k.a. Good News for Modern Man and Todays’ English Version).
THE GNB ATTACKS THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
Acts 20:28 is one of the greatest verses in the Bible. It clearly states the “blood” that flowed through the Lord Jesus was God’s “blood” and that Jesus Christ was God. The GNB changes the emphasis or object of blood from “his” [God] to “his Son”. “Son” is not found in any Greek text.
Acts 20:28, KJB
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Acts 20:28, GNB
So keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock which the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he made his own through the blood of his Son.
1 Timothy 3:16 is probably the clearest verse in all the Bible asserting that Jesus Christ was “God manifest in the flesh”. The GNB changes it to the trivial “He appeared in human form”. So what. . . We all appear in human form!
1 Timothy 3:16, KJB
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
1 Timothy 3:16, GNB
No one can deny how great is the secret of our religion: He appeared in human form, was shown to be right by the Spirit, and was seen by angels. He was preached among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, and was taken up to heaven.
The GNB changes the clear statement of Philippians 2:6 testifying that Jesus Christ was “equal with God” to the vague and goofy “. . . he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God.”
Philippians 2:6, KJB
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Philippians 2:6, GNB
He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God.
In 1 Timothy 6:14-16, the GNB completely changes the object of “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;” from the Lord Jesus Christ to “God” by inserting “by God” — without ANY Greek evidence whatsoever. They deliberately and deceitfully de-throne the Lord Jesus Christ as “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords”. Notice also, “commandment” is changed to the nonspecific “orders”.
1Timohy 6:14-15, KJB
That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
1Timohy 6:14-15, GNB
to obey your orders and keep them faithfully until the Day when our Lord Jesus Christ will appear.
His appearing will be brought about at the right time by God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
The late-great Evangelist Brother Roloff once preached a message on John 1:1. titled “The Greatest Verse in the Bible”. What a wonderful and enlightening verse, plainly emphasizing the deity of the Word – the Lord Jesus.
John 1:1, KJB
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And like a wild-Texas-tornado ripping through a trailer park, the damage left by the GNB is devastating.
John 1:1, GNB
Before the world was created, the Word already existed; he was with God, and he was the same as God.
The GNB changes the eternal, infinite, without-time, “in the BEGINNING” to the time-constrained “before the world was created” thus attacking the eternality of the Word. And the clear reference to the deity of the Word, “and the Word was God” is now destroyed by the distorted “he was the same as God”. By adding “the same as” clearly negates the deity of the Word – creating a unfounded difference between the Word and God. It’s worth mentioning, as in nearly every case, there is no Greek evidence for the distortions.
In Colossians 2:9, the GNB completely twists the declaration that in Jesus “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” into the new-age, divine-humanity — “the full content of divine nature lives in Christ, in his humanity”. The “divine nature” of humanity is the root teaching of the Lucifer-worshipping, New Age Movement. It is also the serpent’s message of Genesis 3:5, “ye shall be as gods”.
Colossians 2:9, KJB
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily
Colossians 2:9, GNB
For the full content of divine nature lives in Christ, in his humanity,
In Ephesians 3:9, the GNB rudely strips the Lord Jesus as the architect of ALL creation. The GNB completely distorts Ephesians 3:9 into gabble to rob Jesus Christ’s role of creator. Why? And there exists no Greek manuscripts to reinforce such a mess. It is simply a deliberate attempt to de-throne the Lord Jesus.
Ephesians 3:9, KJB
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:
Ephesians 3:9, GNB
and of making all people see how God’s secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages,
In Revelation 1:11, the titles of “Alpha and Omega, the first and the last” are removed from the wonderful Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:11, KJB
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
Revelation 1:11, GNB
It said, “Write down what you see, and send the book to the churches in these seven cities: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
THE MUTILATION OF JOHN 3:16
John 3:16 has been called the “gospel in a nutshell”. John 3:16 is known and loved more than any other verse in all the Bible. It’s poetic beauty and crystal-clear clarity leaves the reader in a majestic awe.
John 3:16, KJB
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16, GNB
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.
Notice in John 3:16, the GNB removes the critical word “begotten” thus denying the direct and only “begotten” relationship of God the Father and God the Son. While at the same time, introducing a glaring contradiction in the light of verses such as Philippians 2:15 and 1 John 3:2 where the Christian is called the “sons of God”. Or even in Luke 3:38 where Adam is called the “son of God”. Begotten is also removed in John 1;14, 1:18, 3;18, Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5, 5:5, and 1 John 4:9,
In John 3:16 the GNB also pours some nonsense in with the replacement of “should not perish” to “may not die”. John 3:16 is plainly a reference to a lost soul “perishing” in hell without Christ.
THE GNB REMOVES THE BLOOD
Salvation is only through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way. And there is no other doctrine more important and more essential to the Christian faith. The “blood” of the Lord Jesus Christ flows through the inspired veins of the living Word of God — from book to book, from chapter to chapter, from verse to verse and from word to word. . . The blood of Jesus Christ is the “life-blood” of the Christian faith.
After researching scores of Bible PERversions, no other Bible so maliciously removes the precious blood of the Lord Jesus as the Good News Bible. Many times the GNB destroys the price and passion of our salvation by callously changing “the blood” to the impersonal and cold “death”.
Here’s a sampling of some wonderful verses where the GNB removes “the blood”.
Acts 20:28, KJB
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Acts 20:28, GNB, (1966 edition)
Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock which the Holy Spirit has placed in your charge. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he made his own through the death of his own Son.
Romans 3:25, KJB
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;
Romans 3:25, GNB (1966 edition)
God offered him so that by his death he should become the means by which men’s sins are forgiven, through their faith in him. God offered Christ to show how he puts men right with himself. In the past, God was patient and overlooked men’s sins;
Romans 5:9, KJB
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 5:9, GNB (1966 edition)
By his death we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God’s wrath.
Ephesians 1:7, KJB
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Ephesians 1:7, GNB (1966 edition)
For by the death of Christ we are set free, and our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God,
Ephesians 2:13, KJB
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:13, GNB (1966 edition)
But now, in union with Christ Jesus, you who used to be far away have been brought near by the death of Christ.
In Colossians 1:14 the phrase “through his blood” is removed.
Colossians 1:14, KJB
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Colossians 1:14, GNB
by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.
Colossians 1:20, KJB
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Colossians 1:20, GNB (1966 edition)
Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son’s death on the cross, and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.
Hebrews 10:19, KJB
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 10:19, GNB
We have, then, my friends, complete freedom to go into the Most Holy Place by means of the death of Jesus.
Hebrews 13:20, KJB
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Hebrews 13:20, GNB (1966 ediiton)
God has raised from death our Lord Jesus, who is the Great Shepherd of the sheep because of his death, by which the eternal covenant is sealed.
1 Peter 1:19 is one of the most wonderful verses in the Bible. And the wicked GNB changes the “precious blood of Christ” to the impersonal, generic “costly sacrifice of Christ”.
1 Peter 1:19, GNB
it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw.
1 Peter 1:19, KJB
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Again, Revelation is a marvelous witness to the personal love and compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ. And again, the GNB dilutes and deadens the personal pain and passion.
Revelation 1:5, KJB
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Revelation 1:5, GNB
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first to be raised from death and who is also the ruler of the kings of the world. He loves us, and by his sacrificial death he has freed us from our sins
Revelation 5:9
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Revelation 5:9
They sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to break open its seals. For you were killed, and by your sacrificial death you bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race.
The message of the “the innocent blood” of Jesus Christ from the mouth of Judas, testifying of the sinless, blood-atonement of the Lord Jesus, is changed to the frivolous “innocent man”. Notice also the definite “THE innocent blood” is changed to the indefinite “AN innocent man”. There are many “an innocent man” but there is only ONE “THE innocent blood”.
Matthew 27:4, KJB
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Matthew 27:4, GNB
I have sinned by betraying an innocent man to death!” he said. “What do we care about that?” they answered. “That is your business!”
Why did Dr. Bratcher and the GNB remove the blood?
In a question and answer time at the First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Dr. Brtacher was asked “Why did you leave out the blood of Jesus Christ in Romans 5:9 and 14 and other places?’. His reply was “It is a matter of translation“. (Donald T. Clarke, Bible Version Manual, pp. 98-99)
The correct answer would have been “It is a matter of MIS-translation“.
The Greek word for “blood” and ONLY “blood” is “haima“. The following is Strong’s definition for haima:
129. haima, hah’-ee-mah; of uncert. der.; blood, lit. (of men or animals), fig. (the juice of grapes) or spec. (the atoning blood of Christ); by impl. bloodshed, also kindred:–blood
To translate “haima” anything but “blood” is to deliberately MIS-translate the Greek word. Every time the word “haima” occurs in the Greek text the King James Bible correctly translates it “blood”. In fact, the study of the blood is called hematology (from haima – hema – [blood] – tology [study]). Webster’s Dictionary defines the prefix hemo: “a combining form meaning ‘blood’” Hemophilia is a disease of the blood. A hemorrhage is a discharge of blood.
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (Fourth Edition 2000) traces the prefix hemo directly to the Greek word haima.
hemo–
VARIANT FORMS: or hema– or hem– also haemo– or haema– or haem–
PREFIX: Blood: hemacyte.
ETYMOLOGY: Greek haimo-, from haima.
(The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (Fourth Edition. 2000))
The Collins English Dictionary also traces haemo directly to the Greek word haima — as does every Dictionary and Etymology reference I could find!
haemo-, haema-, before a vowel haem-
combining form denoting blood
example: haemophobia
Also: haemato-[U.S.]hemo-[U.S.]hema-[U.S.]hem-
[ETYMOLOGY: from Greek haima blood]
(The Collins English Dictionary, 2000 edition)
Dr. Bratcher and the translation team of the GNB knew the ONLY accurate translation of haima is blood. Why did they deliberately remove the precious blood of Jesus Christ? How can a “blood-bought, born-again” Christian intentionally mis-translate the Greek in order to remove the blood of Christ?
WILL THE REAL “BRIGHT MORNING STAR” PLEASE STAND UP. . .
In Isaiah 14:12 “Lucifer” is changed to the “bright morning star”.
Isaiah 14:12, KJB
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isaiah 14:12, GNB
King of Babylon, bright morning star, you have fallen from heaven! In the past you conquered nations, but now you have been thrown to the ground.
Hmmm. . . Now where have I read about a “bright morning star”? Oh I know. . . In Revelation 22:16, where the Lord Jesus Christ is called the “bright and morning star”! Why did the GNB attribute one of the titles of the Lord Jesus Christ to Lucifer? Do they believe Lucifer and Jesus are the same?
Revelation 22:16, KJB
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.
THE GNB ABORTS THE VIRGIN BIRTH
Our blood line comes completely from our father. And without the virgin birth, the Lord Jesus Christ was born from the blood-line of sinful man. No virgin birth – no sinless blood atonement – and no salvation!
The GNB changes the pure, clear “virgin” to “young woman”. There are tons of “young women” who are not “virgins”. To change “virgin” to “young woman” is a denial of the virgin birth.
Isaiah 7:14, KJB
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14, GNB
Well then, the Lord himself will give you a sign: a young woman who is pregnant will have a son and will name him ‘Immanuel.’
Luke 1:27, KJB
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Luke 1:27, GNB
He had a message for a young woman promised in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. Her name was Mary.
In Matthew 1:18, The KJB plainly says Jesus Christ was born BEFORE Mary and Joseph “came together” [the act of human conception]. The GNB changes it to “before they were married”, again surgically removing the virgin birth.
Matthew 1:18, KJB
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 1:18, GNB
This was how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they were married, she found out that she was going to have a baby by the Holy Spirit.
In Luke 2:33, the virgin birth is attacked again as Joseph is changed to “the child’s father”. Note: This is not the same as John 6:42 when quoting the “Jews” saying Joseph is “Jesus’ Father”. In Luke 2:33, it is the Holy Spirit that is speaking, as the narrator.
Luke 2:33, KJB
And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
Luke 2:33, GNB
The child’s father and mother were amazed at the things Simeon said about him.
HELL IS EXTINGUISHED IN THE GNB
If there is a word that the ecumenical, inclusive, love-everybody, new version, hates – it is the word “hell”. They will travel “far and wide, through thick and thin” over their translation (or mis-translation) road to pull-out that mean ol’ word “hell”. All the new versions travel this crooked path. Got to get that word out! And the GNB certainly does not disappoint – removing the word “hell” 33 times.
In Luke 16, the GNB “transliterates” hell into the new-age, “happy field” land of purification and transformation called “hades”. In case you did not know, “hades” in the new-age and witchcraft is not a place of eternal punishment but is called Summerland, Happy Fields, etc. and is a place where you go for purification and transformation before you are reincarnated into whatever you are reincarnated into.
Luke 16:23, KJB
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:23, GNB
and in Hades, where he was in great pain, he looked up and saw Abraham, far away, with Lazarus at his side.
Some times the GNB changes “hell” to the creepy “world of the dead”.
Acts 2:27, KJB
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2:27, GNB
because you will not abandon me in the world of the dead; you will not allow your faithful servant to rot in the grave.
Acts 2:31, KJB
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Acts 2:31, GNB
David saw what God was going to do in the future, and so he spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah when he said, ‘He was not abandoned in the world of the dead; his body did not rot in the grave.’
In Revelation 1:18, the GNB crew gets in bit of a pickle. The word “hell” shows up with the word “death” – clearly showing the difference. Now what will they do? Simple. They just magically and mysteriously create two deaths – “death and the world of the dead”. But, after all, when did “making sense” ever be a requirement for the new PERversions. Just get that word “hell” out!
Oh by the way, the Lord Jesus Christ no longer has “the keys of death and hell” but simply “authority over death and the world of the dead”.
Revelation 1:18, KJB
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Revelation 1:18, GNB
I am the living one! I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I have authority over death and the world of the dead.
The GNB does the same gibberish in Revelation 20:13,14
After removing the word “hell” in so many obvious places referring to eternal punishment, the GNB goes into the land of crude and rude in Acts 8:20. The GNB has Peter telling Simon the sorcerer, “May you and your money go to hell. . .” Of course, the Greek word for “hell” is nowhere in the verse.
Act 8:20, KJB
But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money
Act 8:20, GNB
But Peter answered him, “May you and your money go to hell, for thinking that you can buy God’s gift with money!
SALVATION CONFUSION
1 Peter 2:2 in the GNB teaches salvation by works.
1 Peter 2:2, KJB
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
1 Peter 2:2, GNB
Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved.
In 1 Corinthians 1:18, we are only “being saved” not “are saved”. Salvation is turned into a process rather than a completed work at Calvary by the blood of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:18, KJB
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18, GNB
For the message about Christ’s death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God’s power.
The “being saved” heresy is also found in Acts 2:47, 2 Corinthians 2:15 and others.
Acts 2:47, KJB
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 2:47, GNB
praising God, and enjoying the good will of all the people. And every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.
2 Corinthians 2:15, KJB
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2 Corinthians 2:15, GNB
For we are like a sweet-smelling incense offered by Christ to God, which spreads among those who are being saved and those who are being lost.
In the GNB no longer is your salvation complete in Jesus Christ. But it’s up to you to “work” to “complete your salvation”.
Philippians 2:12, KJB
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:12, GNB
So then, dear friends, as you always obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me now while I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation,
In fact, the GNB even removes the clear reference in Colossians 2:10 that we are “complete” in Jesus Christ. Notice. Jesus Christ is no longer the head of ALL “principality and power” – just “supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority”.
Colossians 2:10, KJB
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Colossians 2:10, GNB
and you have been given full life in union with him. He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority.
In Romans 10:13, the GNB confuses the “salvation call” with “everyone who calls out to the Lord for help”. When in times of trouble, many, many people “call out to the Lord for help” who are not saved.
Romans 10:13, KJB
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13, GNB
As the scripture says, “Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.”
In the light of the confusion found in the GNB, it’s no great surprise, the “simplicity of Christ”, in 2 Corinthians 11:3, is replaced with . . .? You figure it out. I have no idea what the GNB is saying.
2 Corinthians 11:3, KJB
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3, GNB
I am afraid that your minds will be corrupted and that you will abandon your full and pure devotion to Christ–in the same way that Eve was deceived by the snake’s clever lies.
PETER THE ROCK …
The Roman Catholic Hierarchy gave their overwhelming support of the GNB. And why not? With such blatant pro-Catholicism heresy as found in the GNB’s distortion of Matthew 16:18, awarding Peter the Rock of the Church. Note: The Roman Catholic falsely teach that Peter was the Rock of the Roman Catholic Church and the first pope. The American Bible Society has even published special editions of the GNB including the Catholic Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha books with the official Roman Catholic “imprimatur”.
Matthew 16:18, KJB
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.
Matthew 16:18, GNB
And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it.
Note: The “this rock” in the KJB is NOT Peter. The word “this” is used as a indigenous reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. The same application is found in John 6:47-51
John 6:47-51, KJB
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
The Bible in 1 Corinthians 10:3-4 leaves no doubt who is the rock.
1 Corinthians 10:3-4
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
TRUTH NOT NEEDED. . .
The great verse John 4:24 gives the requirements for worshipping God – in spirit and in truth. The GNB has . . .? Beats me. . .. I guess “as he really is”. The GNB replaces “in truth” with a vague “as he really is”. Question: how do define “as he really is” when you remove “the truth”?
John 4:24, KJB
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24, GNB
God is Spirit, and only by the power of his Spirit can people worship him as he really is.”
THE PREACHER IS NOW THE PHILOSOPHER. . .
One of the more disgusting changes in the GNB is the change of “preacher” to “philosopher” in the book of Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 1:1, KJB
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 1:1, GNB
These are the words of the Philosopher, David’s son, who was king in Jerusalem.
See also Ecclesiastes 1:12, 7:27, 12:8, 12:9, 12:10
In fact, the word preacher, preach, etc. is removed many times in the GNB.
For instance, the “preacher” is not longer in Romans 10:14-15:
Romans 10:14-15, KJB
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Romans 10:14-15, GNB
14 But how can they call to him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed?
15 And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out? As the scripture says, “How wonderful is the coming of messengers who bring good news!”
There is no fear of God before their eyes. . .
If there’s one root cause of the decay and degradation of society, it is simple – there is no fear of God. It wasn’t too many years ago a Christian was described as “God-fearing”. Not today. The “fear of the Lord” is anathema with today’s Laodicean, inclusive, tolerant, Christians.
And of course, the GNB (as do most new PERversions) remove the “fear of the Lord”. Fitting for someone who does not hesitate to pervert the Words of God.
A couple of examples:
Ecclesiastes 12:13, KJB
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13, GNB
After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for.
Romans 3:18, KJB
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Romans 3:18, GNB
nor have they learned reverence for God.”
THE GNB TAKETH AWAY THE WORD. . .
The Lord CLEARLY and EMPHATICALLY warns against “adding and taking away” from the words of God. And yet, the GNB and other new PERversions, removes complete verses, adds and removes thousands of words with no hesitation or fear of God’s warning.
Deuteronomy 4:2
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Proverbs 30:6
Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Revelation 22:18-19
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Jesus Christ gives the attack of Satan in Luke 8:12″ “. . .then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word. . . ”
How I Discovered the Corruption of the New Bible Versions: Personal Testimony [podcast]
New American Standard Version “Bible” NASV Catastrophe Exposed
Articles
7 Sayings of Jesus on the Cross [podcast]
What Final Statements Did Jesus Make on the Cross and What Did They Mean?
Our LORD Jesus Christ said 7 things while as He was offering His body and precious, sinless blood to buy us back to God. He was suffering for the sins of mankind and for no sin of His own (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 3:18). He was shedding His blood to Re-deem (buy us back) and that’s what Jesus did for “the whole world” when He died on the cross, was buried, and raised again from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 1 John 2:2). Do you know Him?
1. “My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me” (Matt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34; Ps. 22:1).
This concerned those who hung Him on the cross and how He became the sin bearer, the sin sacrifice and how the Father could not look on sin, so temporarily turned His head. Jesus was forsaken so that we might be forgiven (Isaiah 53).
Application to us: Job 19:6-10; Psalms 139:8; 2 Corinthians 12:7-12; Hebrews 13:5-6
2. “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34).
He asked the Father to forgive them – a token of what His shed blood would pay for and facilitate – forgiveness of sin for all who come to Him on His terms to be saved. The sacrificial death of the Son of God satisfied the claims of the Father’s justice to justify mankind (Isaiah 53:11).
Application to us: As God forgave us due to Christ’s perfect sacrifice, He mandates, without exception, that we freely forgive all others, from our hearts. Matthew 5:44; 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26; Ezekiel 36:24-26; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-14
3. “Verily, I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43).
This promise of forgiveness and eternal comfort given to the thief who believed on Christ in his final moments is the same promise for all who come to Him and are saved (John 6:47).
Application to us: Immediate glory, comfort, and bliss with our LORD at the moment of death. Luke 16:19-31; 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:21-23; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Revelation 21:4; Luke 21:28
4. “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Lk. 23:46).
Jesus closes with the prophetic words of Psalm 31:5, speaking to the Father. We see His complete trust in the Father (John 5:30, etc.). Jesus entered death in the same way He lived each day of His life on earth, offering up His life as the perfect sacrifice and placing Himself into the Father’s hands (Luke 22:42).
Application to us: This is a great prayer! Stephen emulated his Savior when being stoned to death for Christ (Acts 7:51-60). “Commend” means to submit. Personally I find these words, while in prayer, rolling off my lips – submitting afresh, daily, and asking the LORD to take full control.
5. “Woman, behold thy son … Behold thy mother” (Jn. 19:26-27).
Jesus, looking down from the cross, was still filled with the concerns of a son for the earthly needs of his mother. None of his half brothers or sisters were there to care for her, so He gave this task to the apostle John (Mark 6:3). Here we see Christ’s humanity.
Application to us: We must take care of earthly responsibilities according to the counsel of the written Word of our God (Psalms 119; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
6. “I thirst” (Jn. 19:28)
Jesus refused the initial drink of vinegar, gall, and myrrh offered to alleviate his suffering (Matthew 27:34 and Mark 15:23). But here, several hours later, we see Jesus fulfilling the messianic prophecy found in Psalm 69:21. By saying He was thirsty, Jesus prompted the Roman guards to give Him vinegar, which was customary at a crucifixion, thereby fulfilling the prophecy which showed that everything was happening according to God’s plan.
Application to us: We must endure hardness, bitter sufferings and seasons (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 2:3; James 1:2-4, 12, etc.).
7. “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30).
This means “paid in full.” The sin debt for all was fully satisfied in the sacrifice of our LORD Jesus Christ, the ultimate price was paid to satisfy the claims of the Father’s justice to redeem fallen mankind (Isaiah 53:11). He is “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Application to us: Jesus accomplished our salvation single handedly, satisfying the claims of divine justice to redeem fallen mankind. He died to abolish law-keeping for righteousness and so we must “walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 10:4; Colossians 2:14-19; Hebrews, etc.) Read Romans 3-5; Galatians.
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Abiding
Counting the Cost – Following Jesus to the End of Your Life [podcast]
The Cost of Discipleship
“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.” Acts 20:24
Those who count the cost refuse to count their own life dear to themselves and this is the only way not to be derailed, to finish our course, enduring to the end.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11
Those who balk at and ignore that Jesus says you MUST “endure to the end” to be “saved” into eternal glory, simply do not love Him (Matthew 10:22; 24:13, etc.). Jesus is not worth their life. They were worth His life which He gave for them on the cross, yet the Son of God is not worth giving up their own life in this fleeting world. Counterfeits. These are the frauds who hide behind the eternal security sham.
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
EARTHLY FAMILY DOES NOT COME FIRST – THE LORD DOES
By divine design, there’s an order of priority in the Ten Commandments. Here’s the first of the ten:
And the fifth:
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12
Honoring God supersedes even the love we have for our husband/wife.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus knew that if we don’t love Him supremely, we will allow other relationships to interfere and circumvent our relationship with Him.
If we don’t hate those other relationships compared to our love for Him, our decisions will be affected, will be to please them and not Him. When we love the LORD supremely, His will takes precedence, priority over all others.
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26
We must love the LORD so much that our love for others is near to being hate in comparison. If we don’t love God supremely, others will without exception, drag us downward and away from Him.
Of this passage in Luke 14, FB Meyer wrote:
“Our love must be greater than the ties of family affection, Luk_14:26; must be greater than our love for our own way, which must be nailed to the Cross, Luk_14:27; must be greater than our love of possessions and property, Luk_14:33. Christ has done more than any other teacher to cement the relationships of human love, but He always asks that they should be subordinated to the claims of God. Oh, for the love that Paul had! See Php_3:8.”
“What a comfort it is to realize that God counted the cost before He set about the task of redemption, whether of a world or of us as individuals. He knew all that it would cost, and surely He did not begin what He cannot complete!”
In Matthew 10, after speaking of the essential of enduring to the end (v22), Jesus gives warning concerning those things most likely to derail and prohibit our enduring to the end in His will.
“And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:36-37
Of this Adam Clarke wrote:
“He that loveth father or mother more than me – He whom we love the most is he whom we study most to please, and whose will and interests we prefer in all cases. If, in order to please a father or mother who are opposed to vital godliness, we abandon God’s ordinances and followers, we are unworthy of any thing but hell.”
Of Matthew 10:34-42, FB Meyer writes profoundly:
“RECEIVING CHRIST’S REPRESENTATIVES
In Jesus Christ we acquire a new affinity, stronger than that of family ties. When we enter into the family of God we belong to all His children. They are our brethren and sisters in the most intimate sense. See Mat_12:48-50. The new love that floods our nature does not make us less but more tender and sympathetic toward our own kith and kin; but if we are compelled to choose, then we must stand with the children of God, though it should rend us from the old happy family life in which we were nurtured.
As to the closing paragraph, may we not illustrate it thus? When the widow who sustained Elijah at Zarephath entered Paradise, she found herself standing amid the great prophets of Israel. When she asked the attendant angel whether there was not some mistake, he replied, ‘Certainly not. In treating the prophet as you did, you proved yourself to be of the same spirit and temper as he; and it is but right that you should share in the prophet’s reward.’”
To those who are entangled with earthly family, namely unbelievers who are not repenting, it would be spiritually beneficial to get free, to cease your dependence on them and to sever the soul ties and cease basing your emotional well-being on them and how they view you and your decisions. Lay the axe to the root as you denounce false obligation to them. “Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60). Read Matthew 10.
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole FAMILY in heaven and earth is named,” Ephesians 3:14-15
Jesus Addressed the Excuses
Jesus addresses excuses, diversions concerning obeying Him, asserting our highest priority – the LORD, not family. The point becomes even clearer – that we are to be captive to the LORD, our “first love,” supremely, and not family (Revelation 2:4-5).
“And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father (wait till parents die). 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:59-62
Jesus further establishes that He is to be supreme in our lives and those who are His – not natural familial bonds. The body of Christ, its members, are our eternal family.
“And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” Luke 11:27-28
The harshest of biblical truth is the delicacy, the delight of the true disciple of Jesus. He runs to all of it and never from any of it. He embraces the cross, never evading it. He delights in the sword of the Spirit that cuts to the core and carves the image of Christ into his life – into the fabric, the innermost core of who he is in Christ! Christ and Christ alone is his sole identity and he counts not his own life in this world dear unto himself so that he is able to finish his course with great joy – hearing from His Savior the sweetest of all words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant … enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21; Acts 20:24; Romans 8:29; Galatians 2:20; 6:14; 2 Timothy 2:3).
Militancy is essential in our abiding relationship with Christ (Matthew 11:12). Heartfelt love also.
So many today who claim Christ view salvation as something they did in the past and not a present relationship with Christ on His stated terms (John 15; Titus 1:16).
Jesus commands His very own to “endure unto the end” to be “saved,” and unless one becomes deliberate, absolute, militant, he will not make it “unto the end” with Christ (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Mark 9:43-49; 2 Timothy 2:3, etc.). 
“And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage (a messenger to negotiate peace), and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:25-33
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:5-7
Striving Lawfully – That is, According to the Rules, the Terms
Denouncing the crippling, corrupting comforts of Laodicea. Grasping for the obedient love of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-22).
“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:3-5
May God bless each of His people to “endure hardness” as good soldiers of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). Take note that “there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:11). The LORD made His servant Jeremiah obey Him on His terms. God never bends or modifies, bends the rules (2 Timothy 2:5). We must not deceive ourselves and must “strive lawfully” which means according to HIS terms, not our own or any other.
“And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:5
“Be Not Weary in Well Doing”
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
SATAN tempting you to give up? Who wins if you do? Where shall you turn? Turning away from God means we are without Him in our life and trials, right? The LORD, who is your Potter, has a plan. He will absolutely bring you through the floods of water and fire! (Isaiah 43:1-2; Jeremiah 18:1-6) After saving us, God has to bring us to an end of ourselves and that happens through “much tribulation” (Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 4; 12:7-12, etc.). Read 2 Corinthians 4. When Jesus had fed the flesh of the multitudes, they turned and walked away from the Savior. But…
“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” John 6:67-68
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Articles
The Laid Down Life [podcast]
Chapter 5 from the book Raised Up (narration)
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5
You know the counterfeits far outnumber the authentic followers of Jesus when you put out a message on youtube or social media titled something like “How to know your gifts” and the response is overwhelming due to the many self-centered, self-absorbed cross-less professors (2 Timothy 3:1-7). In contrast, when you put out a message titled something like “Learning to live the crucified life Jesus calls all His followers to” and but a “few” listen – you are reminded of how Jesus says His remnant, is a “little flock” and how Jesus says “FEW there be which enter therein.” (Luke 12:32; Matthew 7:13-14).
Living in the Spirit
Those who descend into death and burial will be blessed to be raised up by the LORD.
“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” Romans 6:5
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:24-25
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:13-14
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12
IT BOILS DOWN TO LOVE!
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
WHEN Jesus died for our sins, He submitted to the cross without reserve to the Father in order to redeem us! When you obey Jesus by laying down your life, you are saying: “Whew I love You LORD Jesus! You alone are my supreme LORD, love, and the Head of my life. I love You more than sinful self, and I have made a complete mess of my life, spinning my wheels for far too long. Please forgive my rebellion against You! I want You to reign supreme in my life Jesus, from this moment forward. Have Your way in me my LORD, I love You Jesus. I’m all Yours Jesus!”
Living in the Spirit and not in the flesh is a settled issue with the remnant. They “have crucified the flesh” and the evil the sinful nature would do. It’s a done deal – They “HAVE crucified the flesh” that Christ the LORD might reign in their mortal body.
“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:18
We cannot be a servant of righteousness unless we are crucified with Christ and sin is out of our way.
“Likewise reckon (count) ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you (because you have accounted yourself dead): for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:11-18
The “form of doctrine” delivered by Christ and His holy apostles in the original Gospel, included the accounting of one’s life now dead and then being raised up by Christ, with His life-giving grace operating within to please Him fully (see also Rom. 12:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 12:9).
“What does this mean for us? Remember that there are two aspects of Christ’s death. He died for our sins. He died for us – substitution. But then Paul tells us that we are also to die with Him. “I have been crucified WITH CHRIST” (Gal. 2:20): “Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin” (Rom. 6:11). The Israelites in bondage were delivered by the blood shed and sprinkled. But they are pursued by certain of their foes. These foes are slain at the Red Sea, but they themselves escape and are free. Egypt stands for the world of sin. Christ found us in “Egypt,” and by His death in our stead delivered us from the penalty of sin. But even after our conversion some of these sins followed us and harassed us – temper, pride, jealousy, lust, worry, avarice – causing discomfiture and misery, and occasionally temporary defeat. Where is there any escape, any real victory? Only through the Red Sea – baptism, or what baptism implies; i.e., a death to sin and a rising again to righteousness. That is a crucifixion with Christ, so as to be able to “reckon ourselves dead indeed unto sin.” How to Live the Victorious Life, by an Unknown Christian
God’s desire, plan, and command is that His people reign victorious in this life over sin and the enemy and become abundantly fruitful as we await the soon return of our LORD Jesus Christ (John 15; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).
“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
The Cross of Christ and the One He Commands us to take up are Essential
Let’s peer again into the words of our LORD found in John 12:
“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 12:23-26
Laying down our lives is paramount to walking with Jesus. It is His command (Lk. 9:23-24; 14:33, etc.). He raises up in new life those that are bowed down before Him (Ps. 146:8). The seed (“corn”) is planted or buried alive, and is resurrected by God to a life of glory and blessing. Without a death, there can be no resurrection. This death to the self-life is volitional and ongoing in this life – “I die daily.” (1 Cor. 15:31)
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30
As we are blessed to be “planted together in the likeness of his death”, so “we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” Romans 6:3-5
This is rightfully the most popular Bible passage on water baptism and what the meaning and purpose of water baptism is. At water baptism, we are buried in water, figuratively dying to the old man, the man of sin, and being resurrected by the risen Savior and LORD to a new life where He reigns supreme.
“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:10-11
There are symptoms in the life of one who is not buried. The disciple who is buried with Christ is “dead to sin.” (Rom. 6:2) When we argue to justify the things we do in this life and call those who point them out “legalistic”, it is symptomatic of a life that is not laid down. When we argue against the truth (the Bible says “Lie not against the truth” (James 3:14) when we are shown it, we manifest the rebellion in our hearts because our lives are not authentically laid out before the LORD. The “corn of wheat” (dead seed) must be planted and remain planted in order to bud and bring forth new life. The laid down life does not make excuse when he realizes that he has sin. No, instead he rejoices to be yet more delivered and in the place of blessing and holiness with the One He delights to please and serve.
Aren’t we the temple of the Holy Ghost and commanded to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”? (2 Cor. 7:1)
If we still have habitual sin in our lives, we should know that we are not buried with Christ. If we were, His life would be teeming in us and causing us to put away sinfulness.
Overcoming sin happens when we bury the old man of sin by nailing it to the cross. God is with us to do such (Rom. 8:13; Phil. 2:12-13)
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:21-24
The LORD looks upon the hearts of men (1 Sam. 16:7). Getting our hearts right with God begins with laying down the right to ourselves and releasing ourselves into the unfailing hands of the One who made us and gives us the breath of life (Lk. 23:46). This is in following the ultimate example of our LORD Jesus who came and laid down His sinless life for us (1 Pet. 2:21; 4:1).
Let’s check our deadness. Let’s see how dead we are to this world system and all of it’s arrogant rebellion against the God of the universe and all that is: Do we defend our “right” to fill our minds and hearts with the evil things that are blatantly and subtly portrayed on some TV and radio programming (and other forms of modern media)? If so, the fleshly nature is not dead but is still alive and we are therefore not raised to new life.
Oswald Chambers wrote:
“The passion of Christianity is that I deliberately sign away my own rights and become a bondslave to Jesus Christ. Any fool can insist on personal rights, and any devil will see that he or she gets them, but the Sermon on the Mount means that the only right the saint will insist on is the right to give up personal rights.” Oswald Chambers, God’s Workmanship, p. 329
Perhaps it is true (as has been stated by some) that a person can be known by what he laughs at or finds humorous. What do we laugh at? What do we find entertaining? – “Charity…Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” (1 Cor. 13:4, 6)
Apparently, according to the Word of God, returning laughter when we witness foolishness (folly) confirms the person we are laughing at in his folly and causes us to partake of his foolishness and deeds.
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.” Proverbs 26:4
Laying down our lives requires a deliberate, willful decision to fear and obey the LORD and not men. Believers are called to be circumspect (fully set apart in holiness) and not glorify anything the LORD calls profane (Prov. 17:15; 24:24; Isa. 5:20-24; Ezek. 44:23; Eph. 5:15-17).
Yet we should ask: Why crucify the flesh when there is no reason to do such as the false church would have us believe? When a new believer is told that he is “eternally secure” or OSAS, why then should he get sanctified, live a repented life, be wholly set apart to the LORD, be matured and equipped to do ministry, and prepare for the soon return of Jesus Christ?
The following brief and yet convicting commentary is taken from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible concerning Romans 1:32. First let’s view the Biblical text, then the commentary.
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Romans 1:32
“‘HAVE PLEASURE IN THEM THAT DO THEM’. Paul’s last word on general human sinfulness is God’s condemnation of a condition even more damning than the practice, i.e., supporting, approving, and encouraging evil by taking pleasure in the immoral actions of others. This disposition is the ultimate in depravity – vicarious enjoyment of lust and evil. Sin becomes entertainment. (1) The word ‘have pleasure’ (Gk. suneudokeo) means ‘are pleased with,’ ‘delight in,’ or ‘give approval to,’ and points to the casual enjoyment of the sins of others that prevails in human society. (2) Today we know that great harm is produced by the portrayal of immorality that dominates the entertainment media; yet many consent to it and derive pleasure from it. Being entertained by watching other people sin and engage in ungodly actions, even while you yourself abstain, brings you under the same condemnation of God as those engaging in such evil practices. Iniquity is intensified in any society where sin meets with no inhibition from the disapproval of others and where people enjoy watching it. (3) Hence, those (and especially those who profess faith in Christ) who use the immoral actions of others for entertainment and enjoyment are directly contributing to public opinion favorable to immorality and, therefore, to the corruption and eternal damnation of an indefinite number of other people. This sin is worthy of death and will be exposed and judged at the final day of judgment (2 Thess. 2:12).” p. 1729
Concerning the many things in this sinful world that would draw our affections away from Jesus Christ and blur that pure-focused disposition, the Psalmist wrote:
“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” Psalms 101:3
Do we seek to protect our “right” to continue over-relishing or over-indulging in the things of this world which are despised of God? See 1 John 2:14-17. The Bible tells us that those who love this world system and the things in it, hate God and are His enemies – regardless of what they profess (Tit. 1:16; James 4:4).
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:24-26
When we live out the Word, He promised persecution and instructed us to rejoice (Matt. 5:10-12; Mk. 4:17; 1 Pet. 4:12). Have you ever been persecuted by other “believers” and called legalistic because you chose not to watch a movie that mocks at what God calls sin? I guess I have seen people do this to truth-speakers for so long, that it has little affect anymore, other than inducing a concern for where they really are in their hearts. Seeking to be upright in one’s ways in not legalistic – it is biblical. The Word instructs us to “walk circumspectly” which means fully obedient – exactly, diligently, perfectly.
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” Ephesians 5:15-20
“And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.” Exodus 23:13
What the LORD tells us in Proverbs 26:4-5, is that when we join a fool in his folly (foolishness), we become as guilty as he is and perpetuate this sinfulness in his life and more importantly – we offend the holiness of the LORD we claim to be serving.
What we partake of and/or laugh at reveals who we really are. If all these sinful things and justification of them are still alive in us, we do not have a laid down life.
“Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.” Proverbs 14:9
“Folly (foolishness)is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.” Proverbs 15:21
Yes, laughter is a blessing and there is a “time to laugh” and to rejoice, yet we are not made free from sin by the blood of Christ to laugh at evil things (Eccl. 3:4). LORD please bless us to be purified in our hearts and to rejoice and laugh more – for the right reasons! Please grant us Your joy Jesus! Amen.
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge and those who have it walk uprightly – they walk biblically in the Holy Spirit of grace and not legalistically. They have joy from Jesus and are the most blessed people in the world.
“The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” Psalms 145:14
Beloved, our LORD is calling us to lay down our lives like Christ did – that He might fully possess us. Bow down before His holiness that He may raise you up His way. Let it all go. Die to justifying your sins. Before this day expires, get alone with the Savior and release the life He gave to you back to Him. Completely relinquish control as you cry out like Jesus did on the cross when dying for us – “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Lk. 23:46) Give up the ghost. Cease living life on your terms. Lay your whole life at His feet and let Him raise you up in newness of life in the Holy Spirit and reign supreme in your body.
The Path of Our LORD Jesus
Jesus was to be glorified by the Father in laying down His life for all men (Jn. 15:13).
“…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done…” Luke 22:42
He laid down His own will because of the immeasurable love He has for each of us.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Do we love Jesus Christ in return? How much do I love Him? Will I lay down my whole existence before Him, knowing He will raise me up to new life and fruitfulness as He lives His life through me? Is this not the essence of Galatians 2:20?
“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.” Galatians 2:20
He must increase and we must decrease, that He might be glorified in us, and we might be the living epistles He has called us to be. When Jesus is reigning in a person’s life, it is obvious. His holy and impelling presence is the life that exudes from that person instead of the stench of the self-centered and selfish nature (Jn. 3:30). At this place of resurrection life, the LORD who made and redeemed us is greatly glorified and pleased and His fruit is being yielded.
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:1-2
Finding that place with God in prayer is where the laid down life begins. May I suggest that you begin with prayerfully, and from deep within, citing Galatians 2:20 aloud.
“Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.” Psalms 42:7
PRAYER: Please draw me deeper in You LORD Jesus. Father in Heaven, You sent Your only begotten Son to die for me in order that I might be raised up in new life in this brief life and eternally. I love You Jesus and ask You to lead me to that crucified life that you lived when here on earth. Quicken me by Your Holy Spirit and fill me afresh O LORD, that this life You gave might be fully fruitful and pleasing to Thee. Lord, I am watching and praying in light of Your soon return. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
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