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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. . . ”

Bible Versions Issue

How I Discovered the Corruption of the New Bible Versions: Personal Testimony [podcast]

The Translators of the King James Bible Brief Summary

New American Standard Version “Bible” NASV Catastrophe Exposed

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Abiding

What Church is Jesus Coming Back for? [podcast]

Are you personally, intimately familiar with the words of Holy Scripture found in Ephesians 5:25-27?

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:21-27

Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but one that is “holy and without blemish.” So this speaks of those who were His and yet presently have spotted garments, sin they haven’t repented of (Ephesians 5:25-27).

“Be ye holy”

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

“NO MAN shall see the Lord” without “holiness”

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14

Regrettably, most preachers today are so busy making excuse for sin that they refuse to disclose this preeminent, self-evident New Testament truth.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” 2 Peter 3:10-12

As this fallen world system and its inhabitants spiral unalterably downward in darkness and disarray, it becomes even more essential for the wise virgin saint to be anchored in the LORD in private prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and Bible reading. No man shall withstand the darkness of this late hour who is not seeking the LORD diligently, daily, relentlessly – demonstrating perpetually that they love the LORD supremely more than self or any other (Matthew 24:10-13, 22). Memorize 1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 57:7; 63:8.

IF he’s not hastening you to the holiness of God, he’s playing you for your allegiance to him, and perhaps your money! are you a gullible pawn? Read 2 Peter 2 and 3.

SO, the sinful seminarian wolf you call your “pastor” isn’t preaching the return of Christ, the cross, the necessity of personal holiness, hell, the essential of repentance, or Christ, the Messiah….. and you still sit under that darkness? Repent.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

SO MANY have more faith, more confidence in SIN than they do in the SAVIOR who came and died to make us free from ALL SIN! That’s a cross-less false gospel! Just as Jude foretold, these deceivers – “ungodly men” – cover their sins with a false grace message (Jude 3-4). With no exception, the saving grace of God – IFFFF you really have it – delivers you from sin and never justifies you in sin! Time to repent and be changed today! …. These grace abusing tares want to relish a false grace message that erroneously says that God is going to save them IN their sin but the Bible says Jesus came to save us “FROM” our sin – not in our sins (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; Titus 2:11-4, etc.). SO, God’s grace isn’t sufficient to deliver you from sin? If you believe that you don’t know Him.

Some among us are so enthralled in listening to modern end times teachers as they seek to figure everything out, that they are not abiding in Christ. These are among the foolish virgins.

ARE YOU spending more time engrossed in some supposed end times scenario than you are obeying God by doing the Great Commission mandate? If so, you are not ready to meet Jesus and in big trouble. Isn’t it time to let God be God and to get about the Father’s business?

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Abiding

How we walk in “Strong Confidence” [podcast]


“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.” Proverbs 14:26

“Strong confidence” is only found in fearing God, in walking in the fear of the LORD.

“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:27 

We are instructed to “forget not all his benefits” (Psalms 103:2) …… In this passage, we are promised benefits from our LORD:

  • “strong confidence”
  • “a place of refuge”
  • “depart from the snares of death”

Our part is to walk in the fear of the LORD.

“Strong Confidence” that glorifies God and not man, comes from walking in the fear of the LORD, which means we are obeying Him.

Like the psalmist, we should pray to God to “unite my heart to fear they name.”

The psalmist prayed:

“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” Psalms 86:11

To “unite” in this verse means to combine, to become one…. permeate our innermost being.

When we truly walk in the fear of God, we fear nothing else.

Fearing God means we fear no man.

“The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?” Psalms 118:6 

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32 

David and Paul walked in the fear of the LORD, and thereby were possessed with “strong confidence” and consequently feared no man or devil.

We can fear God without walking “In the fear of the LORD.” We should pray and endeavor to live in the fear of the LORD.

“Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” Proverbs 23:17

So there seems to be the desire of God for His children to be permeated with His fear, to live in the fear of the LORD.

“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Acts 9:31

The members of the early church were “edified” ….

  • “walking in the fear of the Lord,
  • and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost,
  • were multiplied.”

Let us always be grounded in the foundational essential biblical truth of knowing God—that He created us to know Him (John 17:3).

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

The life of the disciple of Jesus is learning to let God have His way in us, to lay our own will…. to let God be in control.

How many of us are realizing just how much sinful chaos and calamity transpires when we are in control instead of God?

Is this not part of the reason John the Baptist could so readily cry out “He must increase but I must decrease”? (John 3:30)

Are you reading Romans 6 each morning beloved of God?

Are you learning the cross life?

“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

“And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Luke 12:4-5

“In the fear of the LORD” the born-again believer is “hid with Christ in God” and fully assured, full of divine confidence!

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3

In being crucified with Christ, we are hid not only from the evil of others, but primarily and most importantly, we are hid from the evil of self, the self-life.

Beware of the often-peddled cheap counterfeit, where people are instructed to learn to love themselves. The Bible commands us to love and fear God and love others, not self. In fact, loving self is the root sin that brought the original fall of mankind and remains as that sin which keeps men from God—pride in self instead of fearing God!

Those who walk in the fear of the LORD, live a crucified life. They walk in the “strong confidence” of the LORD (Proverbs 14:26).

You are no longer your own, you’ve been bought with the price of the very and precious blood of Jesus.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Prayer: Father, in Jesus’ name, please forgive me for the sin of self-idolatry and not fearing You. I now repent. Please forgive and cleanse me of this sin. I here and now declare and choose to trust You with my life. I love You Jesus!

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Abiding

Knowing the Word of God and also the God of the Word [podcast]


The highest priority of the true disciple is knowing God.

So many strive to know God’s will.

It’s only when you know God that you will know His will.

We all know people who are now away from God. They backslid. They no longer serve Him as they once did. Well, were they truly serving Him, or the church? They had some kind of a departure from the local church they were so fond of and consequently have no semblance of a life with Christ presently. Could this be due to them putting their energy and affections into the local church friends they met and the festivities? Yes. They were in love with the externals and not Christ.

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11

“God’s greatest desire is for us to have a relationship with Him. We were created for His great pleasure. Revelation 4:11” Karen Cochran

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” Philippians 3:10

Kingdom Priority

KNOWING and LOVING, WORSHIPPING God. Read Matthew 4:10; 22:37-39; John 17:3.

Pinnacle Revelation

Knowing God is the paramount divine purpose for which He sent His only begotten ….. and for which He created, made us.

“And this is life eternal (the whole reason, purpose), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3

Knowing God is the reason He sent His only begotten Son—to bring us to Himself in a present and eternal relationship (Exodus 25:8;Psalms 27:4, 8; Philippians 3:10, etc). One of Satan’s tricks is to get the elders to intercept that heart affection worship.

It has always been about Jesus. Before Christ came to save us from our sins, the Bible was pointing to Jesus. Now after Christ came, we still look to Jesus. It has always been about knowing and trusting in Jesus. Before He came people just did not know His name, but now we do!” Serena Wagner

It’s not about elders, bishops. or pastors—Christ’s eternal kingdom is all about Jesus and no other. Read John 1; Colossians 1-2; Hebrews 1; Revelation 1.

WHAT will you say to the nail scarred risen LORD on Judgment Day when you made it about something else other than Him?

Christianity can quickly become ‘Do this and Don’t do that.’ Jesus is quickly forgotten. Instead, repent and fall in love with JESUS, and through the power of the Holy Spirit you will live a life that pleases Him. When You are filled with the Holy Spirit You will hate the sin you once loved.” Alan Brayshaw

WHO is “known of” God as opposed to those He will tell “I never knew you”? (Matthew 7:21)

“But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” 1 Corinthians 8:3

“Those are the most frightening and terrifying words anyone could ever hear! That is why I always ask Jesus, ‘Do you know me?’ I want to be with my Lord and Savior for eternity! But I do not want to be so arrogant and prideful as to believe that God doesn’t have every right to spue me out. Or I that I am safe! I deserve hell. The only reason I have been spared is because of Jesus’ saving work for me on the cross! He redeemed me! But there are many conditions to be eternally with Jesus. We are to have a healthy fear of God knowing He has the power to determine the fate of our very soul! Matthew 10:28 It means nothing to Jesus if all we have is head knowledge of the Bible without any heart. He told the Pharisees they knew scriptures but they didn’t know Him in their heart (John 5: 38-47). It’s not based on what we know it’s based on knowing Him in an abiding relationship (John 15). The cross is the way to a real intimate relationship with Jesus. Through the dying of self He becomes your first love. And you begin to love Him with your whole soul, heart and mind (Matthew 22:37). I ask God daily ‘increase my hunger for Your Word.’ I want the hunger and love for God’s Word that David had! Just read and study Psalm 119. He cried out for more understanding even in the midst of persecution! That was his whole priority in life! David loved God, therefore he loved God’s Word as evidenced in Psalm 119. Every word is filled with love, devotion, respect, rejoicing and delighting in God’s words, pleading with the Lord that He might learn His statues and he might not err from God’s judgements. Psalm 119 is a treasure chest of David’s love for God’s word! If you want to truly fall in love with all of God’s word read, study and memorize Psalm 119!” Karen Cochran

Knowing the Facts and the Father

Recently, in order “to provoke unto love and to good works” I posted the meme above this paragraph and as has happened before, was confronted about how the Pharisees knew God’s Word but rebelled against Jesus (Hebrews 10:24). Let’s cross examine this position against the counsel of Scripture.

While it’s clear that we must know not only the Word of God but the God of the Word, the God revealed in His Word, how does that negate the need for Bible knowledge? It simply doesn’t.

Just because the Pharisees of Christ’s day knew His Word but didn’t choose to turn their hearts to Him, how does that mean that believers today should neglect knowing His Word? Such logic is not only bad, it’s un-scriptural and evil.

“When you fall in love don’t you want to shout it from the rooftops? He, the man you are in love with, is all you talk about! Should be the same with Jesus! You want to tell everyone about this man, the Savior who saved your life! Just as the woman at the well did. She told the whole city ‘Come, and see a man, which told me all the things that ever I did: is this not the Christ’ John 4: 28-29.” Karen Cochran

Beware of anyone who discourages learning God’s Word in any form, including memorizing Scripture. This is a novice error and it could only be coming from the evil one. Because the Jews knew the Bible and rejected Jesus, novices reason that this means that New Testament saints, saved by grace, are not to intimately know or memorize God’s Word. Nonsense!

Is the primary responsibility of the disciple of Jesus to:

A. Follow the instructions of God’s Word? or

B. Don’t be like the Pharisees (false leaders)?

A. is the correct answer.

The fact that the LORD cited the false religionists of His day for not coming to Him, for not opening their hearts to Him, in no way communicates that those who are His should not learn His Word too well. That would be like saying that just because the false leaders of Jesus’ day knew His Word and yet didn’t turn their hearts to Jesus, anyone who learns His Word too well (as if that’s even possible) will automatically not turn their hearts to Jesus.

Let’s look at the passage that is being taken out of context:

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40

“And isn’t that just what Jesus told the Pharisees? You know scriptures but you don’t know me in your heart! John 5: 38-47. It means nothing to Jesus if we only know of Him. We must know Him in Spirit and in truth! John 4:24.” Karen Cochran

Did Jesus rebuke them for knowing His Word? No.

Notice, Jesus says that His people are to “Search the scriptures”   and the Scriptures “are they which testify of” (reveal) Him.

“Even the Pharisees knew the scriptures and knew of Jesus, but they did not know Him. Jesus told them they did not have Him in their hearts and therefore did not have eternal life . John 5: 38-47. Head knowledge means nothing to Jesus. We need to know Him in our hearts in a relationship with Him. Digesting His words! Getting to know Him. We should be emulating the sweet savour of Christ. 2 Corinthians 2: 15. How can you be like someone that you don’t know?” Karen Cochran

The Gospel message is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

In fact, it’s the seed of God’s “incorruptible” Word that is the instrument of His regeneration in our lives.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:23-25 

The very way God ordained and orchestrated that we learn about and know Him, repent and believe upon Christ, is through the knowledge we get from “the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Listen to the apostle Paul instruct Timothy:

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

The man of God cannot be perfected, matured, “throughly furnished unto all good works” without a deep knowledge of the Scriptures which the apostle reveals here is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

So the first of the 4 stated reasons God gave us His Word, the Bible, are for…

“doctrine”

Must know the facts and the Father!

Must know the Word and the God of the Word.

How are God’s people going to learn His Word if they don’t study and memorize and meditate upon it? How are God’s people going to be sanctified by the truth and washed by the water of the Word if they’re not in that Word daily and engaged in learning and obeying God’s Word?

So if the Pharisees did not know God’s Word would they not have also rejected him? How can knowing God’s Word be negative in any way? It’s simply can’t.

Is trying not to be like a Pharisee more important than actually following Christ?

In John 5:39-40 Jesus said nothing negative about the Pharisees knowing His Word but rather about them refusing to come to Him. Let us rightly divide saints and correct those who bear false witness (2 Timothy 2:15). In fact, in another place Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for not knowing His Word: “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God (Matthew 22:29). God’s people need to know “the scriptures” and walk in “the power of God.” Only Satan could be behind the attempt to hinder either!

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:39-40

There will be those who come and go who know the words of God but not the God of the Word. Beware saints. Many times they know all the right things to say and yet have not truly repented and are living in sin, darkness, pride, and deep-seated rebellion.

On this note, sister Karen Cochran writes:

“Modern Pharisees know the Scriptures but like the Pharisees of old they don’t know Jesus. Just like Jesus told them in John 5:38- 42. They knew the Scriptures but they didn’t know Him. What good is it if we don’t know Jesus? We can know of Him but not know Him. We must love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Matthew 22:37- 38”

These counterfeits are saying that God’s people shouldn’t know God’s Word too well, we shouldn’t memorize it, because then we may become like the Pharisees and not come to Jesus. Foolishness at best.

To the contrary, the Bible teaches us to read, to “study,” to “retain,” and “meditate upon God’s Word ….

Did the apostle Paul correct the biblically astute Bereans for diligently, meticulously searching the scriptures to see if he was telling the truth? No! (Acts 17:10-11)

They are saying that knowing God’s Word in your God-given mind will keep you from knowing Him in your heart. Nonsense. By divine design, information is contacted, first enters our minds before it can be processed and received in our heart.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

“Most people in the churches of today prefer to follow and believe the men/pastors and their words over the Word of God at their peril. This is because they are too lazy to study and read the Bible for themselves, sadly. Biblical illiteracy is the norm and not the exception today.” B.

Concerning ruling over the masses that have been kept ignorant of God’s Word, one disciple writes:

“Lacking of knowing God’s Word, memorizing it, is the direct reason the catholic church grew to so much power in the middle ages, and others down the ages. It was only the ‘priest’ that could read the Bible. So it meant what they said it meant and not what God meant. RUN!”

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Hosea 4:6

Checking your ignorance at the door!

Those who are ignorant of truth are so willingly (Hosea 4:6). They “willingly are ignorant” (2 Peter 3:5).

He gave us His truth, and those who reject His knowledge, His Word, will be “destroyed.”

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because THOU HAS REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law (Word) of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6

“There was a time when churches were teaching the whole counsel of God and most Bible believers in Bible teaching churches could carry on intelligent biblical conversations if they had been saved for five years or so. In the last ten years, I have found that most Christians today have become biblical illiterates. Due to the constant tendency toward all kinds of new experiences ( 2 Timothy 4:3-4), many are influenced to the extreme, and they settle for simply repeating various phrases that they hear without true, biblical understanding. That, then, becomes the focal point of their Christian life rather than conforming to the teachings of Scripture which they are not taught. It is getting harder and harder to find people in a local church who have even a very basic knowledge of Scripture, let alone any in-depth knowledge. The false teachers are going to have a lot to answer for in this area, but so will pastors who have encouraged this in their people rather than taking on the discipline of learning how to do a proper exegesis and expository teaching.” 1980 Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum

To a man who recently sought to discourage God’s people from memorizing His Word due to the fact that the Pharisees knew His Word and yet crucified Him.

I asked him if what the Pharisees did cancelled and negated the need for God’s people to know His Word in their minds and trust and love Him in their hearts? To this man I also wrote:

“Perhaps you should cease discouraging God’s people from learning and submitting to His Word…. there’s NO sense in which learning God’s Word is anything but a good thing…. and of course coming to Him in our hearts via His Word and Holy Spirit ….”

Our GOD-given brain is the passage way to the heart…. is it not? “Come now, and let us reason together…” (Isaiah 1:18).

God gave us a brain to “reason” with and a heart to believe upon Christ with (Romans 10:9-10). “COME now, and let us reason together” He said to His people (Isaiah 1:18).

Did Jesus memorize Scripture? Yes, beginning as a young boy. And this is how He grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52). In fact, He knew where things were in the Bible—“He FOUND the place” in the Word He wanted to read—“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written” (Luke 4:17).

Jesus  quoted God’s Word verbatim to the enemy during the temptation in the wilderness (Luke 4).

No way to know the Word Himself outside of His own Word. “They are they (His words) which testify of me” (John 5:39-40).

The written Word is like the tangible standard whereas at times, each of us as humans, can think we are being led by the Spirit but actually not being led by the LORD…. and so the standard is always the written Word, right?… To rightly divide His Word of truth. Right and amen Jesus (2 Timothy 2:15).

The only way we can “rightly” divide the truth from error is by personally, diligently studying God’s Word. Memorize 2 Timothy 2:15.

ALL ministries not getting you into God’s Word are fostering your faith in them!

Stacy Strother writes:

“The true Spirit of God will NEVER discard truth or lead people outside the parameter of the written word of God. The Spirit of God will search out ALL things and even the deep things, and if we are born again, have patience, we can be taught and be led to stay within harmony of His word. Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.”

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