Tag Archives: god

The Nature of Sin – Part 1

As we delve into this rather unpleasant subject, we are immediately confronted with two robust facts:

Mankind makes so-o-o little of sin. As some commenters to this blog have demonstrated, there is a commonly held belief that sin is an illusion – a religious mirage – the work of fanatical megalomaniacs. It is denied, ridiculed, snickered at, and embraced! There are also many believers who continue in sin – while fully believing sin exists – with little thought to its penalty.
God makes so-o-o much of sin. But what did God actually say about sin? “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” [Ezek. 18:20] And – “The wages of sin is death.” [Rom. 6:23] ALL sins are an abomination unto God and He hates those who work iniquity. “All that do he unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord.” [Deut. 25:16]

The origin of sin

It is one of the mysteries of the Bible. Where did sin originate? The following verse should be memorized. It is up to the Lord what He will reveal, and to whom He will reveal it! Deut. 29:29 – The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

The origin of sin is one of the “secret things” that will remain wrapped in obscurity. In the Bible, sin is first noted in the heart of Satan. He was created a perfect being until. . . Ezek. 28:11-19 –

¹¹Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

¹²Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

¹³Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

¹⁴Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

¹⁵Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

¹⁶By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

¹⁷Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

¹⁸Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

¹⁹All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

Satan fell from his perfect created status when he exerted his will above God’s will. Is. 14:12-17 –

¹²How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

¹³For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

¹⁵Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

¹⁶They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

¹⁷That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

Five times he said “i will,” exerting his will over God’s will – that is sin.

Many cultures have some sort of accounting for the origin of sin. If not for the Bible and God’s record of the fall of man – the entire concept of sin would have been left up to conjecture.

Jude 1:6

King James Version (KJV)

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

The Prophetic Emphasis of the Bible

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Just a quick thought that I felt had to be stated in view of the recent discussion we had with a commenter regarding the rapture of the church.

The Old Testament emphasizes the millennial reign of Christ
The Gospels emphasize the second coming which ushers in the millennial reign of Christ
The Epistles emphasize the rapture
The Revelation emphasizes the Great Tribulation

If you keep this little chart in mind it will be easier to keep the prophetic time line organized in your study. For example, it is extremely helpful when dealing with a passage like Luke 17:20-37. Since that passage is in the Gospels, it probably deals with the second coming of Christ to earth. The ones “taken” and the ones “left” are expressions dealing with the separation that will take place when Christ returns to earth.

The Epistles make references to the “Day of Christ,” which usually indicates the rapture.

1 Corinthians 1:7-8

⁷So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

⁸Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 5:5

To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:14

As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our’s in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Philippians 1:10

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

Philippians 2:16

Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

I keep a copy of that little chart, written on an index card, in my Bible as a book mark. Very helpful!

Jesus Christ the Son of God – Part 6

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After forty days of teaching His disciples, the risen Christ ascended upon high, to be seated at the right hand of the Father in glory.

HEBREWS 10:12

But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. . .

THE MESSAGE OF THE SECOND COMING IS SO IMPORTANT, THAT IT IS DOCUMENTED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT OVER THREE HUNDRED TIMES.

A. He is coming again to take His Bride, the church, to be with Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

John 14:1-6

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

²In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

B. He is coming again to judge the nations.

Matthew 25:31-46

³¹When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

³²And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

³³And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

³⁴Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

³⁵For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

³⁶Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

³⁷Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

³⁸When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

³⁹Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

⁴⁰And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

⁴¹Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

⁴²For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

⁴³I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

⁴⁴Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

⁴⁵Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

⁴⁶And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

C. He is coming again to save the Nation of Israel – apart from the rapture of the church.

Romans 11:25-25

²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

²⁶And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

D. He is coming again to sit upon the throne of David.

Luke 1: 31-33

³¹And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

³²He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

³³And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Isaiah 9: 6-7

⁶For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

⁷Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

E. He is coming again to bring righteous judgment to the earth.

Hebrews 1:8

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

JESUS CHRIST IS COMING BACK TO EARTH AGAIN!

Acts 1:11. . .

. . .this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.

This concludes our study of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. For the other studies in this series, please see the Apologetics page. Our next course of study will delve into the subject of sin – its origin, consequences, and its remedy.

Jesus Christ the Son of God – Part 4

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The first three segments of this series, attempted to cover the deity, humanity, and virgin birth of our Savior. We move next to the death of Jesus Christ – and not an ordinary death by many means.

THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST IS MENTIONED MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED TWENTY TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT – AND SPOKEN OF FREQUENTLY BY OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS.

The death of Jesus Christ was vicarious. Matt. 20:28 – Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. He was God’s chosen substitute for sinners. 2 Cor. 5:21 – For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. While Christ was suffering on the cross, He was made sin for the sinner. Only by faith in Him – are we made righteous – not with our own righteousness – but with His.

Christ died a natural death – meaning that His soul and His Spirit were separated from His body.

John 19:31-37 –

³¹The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

³²Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him.

³³But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs:

³⁴But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

³⁵And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

³⁶For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken.

³⁷And again another Scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced.

As much as Christ’s death was natural, it was also unnatural. Rom. 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. His death was unnatural in that He was sinless – undeserving of death. He had not “earned” death. 1 Pet.2:22 – Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Before He could die – He had to be made sin for us. Therefore – His death was unnatural.

His death was natural, unnatural, and also – preternatural. Meaning that God foreknew His death – it was not an afterthought – it was forethought! Rev. 13:8 – And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

And, the best for last, His death was supernatural.

John 10:17-18 –¹⁷Therefore doth my Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. ¹⁸No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. (supernaturally) I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. (supernaturally) This commandment have I received of My Father.

ONLY GOD IN HUMAN FORM COULD DIE A VICARIOUS, NATURAL, UNNATURAL, PRETERNATURAL, AND SUPERNATURAL DEATH

PHILIPPIANS 2:8-11

King James Version (KJV)

⁸And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Please see our apologetics page for the first three articles in this study series.

Jesus Christ the Son of God – Part 3

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The first two articles in this study, covered the deity and the humanity of our Savior. This third installment will examine His virgin birth – quite simply – without parallel in all of human history. Through this virgin birth, God became man.

The virgin birth of Jesus Christ – the godman

There is actually a hint of the virgin birth first found in Genesis. Gen. 3:15 – And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. The One to defeat Satan was to be born of “the seed of the woman,” which is biologically impossible; there is no “seed of a woman.” Genesis 3:15, indicates that One was to be born without a human father.
Isaiah prophesied that a “virgin would conceive.” Isa. 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Immanuel = God with us
Isaiah prophesied again. Isa. 9:6-7 – ⁶For unto us a Child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. ⁷Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Prophecy stated that He was to be born in Bethlehem. Mic. 5:2 – But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to be taxed, and to fulfill prophecy. Luke 2:1-7 – And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) ⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. ⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Jesus Christ is One perfect Person, with two natures. One nature being that of Almighty God, and His other nature being that of man – man without sin. The unions of the two natures became the God-man Christ Jesus. No other person is without sin. Not Joseph Smith – and not Oprah Winfrey and not me. The perfect sinlessness of the Savior is possible because He did not inherit the sin nature through a human father.

Hebrews 4:15

King James Version (KJV)

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus Christ the Son of God – Part 2

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The dividing line between all religions and true, Biblical Christianity always comes down to Jesus Christ. Everywhere one looks – the religious leaders of the world are gathered together, united for their common cause –

–but what is never mentioned – is what is so-so different – THE NATURE AND PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST! He is the God-man, Christ Jesus, glorified above all others, and exalted on high.

MATTHEW 2:11

King James Version (KJV)

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

THE HUMANITY OF JESUS CHRIST IS REVEALED THROUGH HIS HUMAN PARENTAGE

He matured as a normal human being. Luke 2:25 – And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

He was subject to all the sinless infirmities of natural man.

He hungered. Matt. 4:2 – And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred.
He was weary. John 4:6 – Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
He wept. John 11:35 – Jesus wept.
He was tempted. Heb. 4:15 – For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus is man in every way – yet He is more than a man. He is not God, and a man. He is the God-man. God – clothed in human flesh. His two natures are inextricable – not dual – but one – with a single consciousness and will.

Interfaith conferences are becoming more prevalent now. If you belong to an affiliated church – you can assume that a representative of your religion has attended at least one of these conferences. The theme of these meetings is to create commonality amongst the various factions, in the pursuit of “world peace.” Without Jesus Christ – there can be no peace. The religions of the world continue to merge, with true Biblical Christianity becoming more obscure and marginalized. One wonders – will anyone miss the Bride of Christ when she is caught up and away?

ROMANS 1:3-6

King James Version (KJV)

³Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

⁴And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

⁵By Whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name:

⁶Among Whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. . .

Jesus Christ the Son of God – Part 1

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Christianity is vastly different from any and all other religions. It is more than a religion – it is the life of the Son of God made flesh and living in man. Christianity IS Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ IS Christianity. During His earthly ministry He claimed to be God incarnate. This claim can be accounted for:

HIS VIRGIN BIRTH

HIS HOLY, SINLESS LIFE

HIS MANY MIRACLES

HIS VICARIOUS DEATH AND HIS BODILY RESURRECTION

THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST IS WELL ESTABLISHED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:

He is called God by the Apostle John. John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He is called God by the Apostle Thomas. John 20:28 – And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
He is called God by God the Father. Heb. 1:8 – But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.
He claimed to be God, in that He was with the Father before the creation. John 17:5 – And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.
He claimed to be God in that He was before Abraham. John 8: 51-59 –
⁵¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death.
⁵²Then said the Jews unto Him, Now we know that Thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and Thou sayest, If a man keep My saying, he shall never taste of death.
⁵³Art Thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest Thou thyself?
⁵⁴Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, my honour is nothing: it is My Father that honoureth Me; of whom ye say, that He is your God:
⁵⁵Yet ye have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and keep His saying.
⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.
⁵⁷Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?
⁵⁸Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
⁵⁹Then took they up stones to cast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
He received worship – ONLY God is to be worshiped. Matt.14:14 – Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God. Angels refused worship. Rev. 22:8.9 –
⁸And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
⁹Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. Man refused worship. Acts 10:25-26 –
²⁵And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
²⁶But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
He forgives sin. Only God can forgive sin. Mark 2:5-11 –⁵When Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.⁶But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,⁷Why doth this Man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?⁸And immediately when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, He said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?⁹Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?¹⁰But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (He saith to the sick of the palsy,)¹¹I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
He is creator and maker of all things. Col. 1:16 – For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him. . .
He is sustainer of all things. Only God can control the universe. Heb. 1:3 – Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. . .
He claimed to have all power in heaven AND earth. Matt. 28:18 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.

HE WALKED ON WATER – THE WINDS AND WATERS OBEYED HIS COMMANDS – HE HEALED THE SICK – HE RAISED THE DEAD – HE GAVE SIGHT TO THE BLIND – HE GAVE HEARING TO THE DEAF – HE MADE THE LAME TO WALK – HE CAST OUT DEMONS – HE TURNED WATER INTO WINE – HE FED FIVE THOUSAND WITH THE LUNCH OF ONE BOY

He is the God-man Christ Jesus in glory, exalted above all creatures in heaven and earth, and having “all power in heaven and earth.”

God the Father – #5 – The Trinity of God

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The number of cults and sects that are hung up on the Triune nature of God is ever growing in size. It is one of the most, if not the most important doctrine of the corporal Christian church. When we speak of the Trinity of God – we are identifying His tri-personal existence as Father, Son, and Holy-Spirit. Three distinct Persons in one Holy God.

GOD IS A PERSON AND CAN ONLY BE KNOWN THROUGH REVELATION. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT HE REVEALED HIMSELF THROUGH HIS PROPHETS. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT HE REVEALS HIMSELF THROUGH HIS SON – JESUS CHRIST.

The Father is always recognized as God, and is all the fulness of the Godhead invisible. John 1:18 – And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
The Son is recognized as God, and is all the fulness of the Godhead manifested in the flesh. John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Holy Spirit is recognized as God, and is all the fulness of the Godhead acting upon man, convicting him of sin. John 16:7,11 – ⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. ⁸And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹Of sin, because they believe not on Me; ¹⁰Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; ¹¹Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. and guiding the believer into all truth. John 16:12,15 – I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.
The doctrine of the Trinity is not explicit in the Old Testament, but it is implied. Gen. 1:26 – And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
The doctrine of the Trinity is revealed in the New Testament. Matt.3:16,17 – ¹⁶And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: ¹⁷And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. In the preceding Scripture, we have Christ being baptized in water, the Father speaking from heaven, and the Holy Spirit descending as a dove.
The natural world speaks of the Trinity. In creation, we have space, time and matter in one creation. In space, we have energy, motion and phenomena in one substance. In time, we have past, present, and future in one time. In man, we have body, soul, and spirit in one man. 1 Thess. 5:23 – And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Holy Trinity, we have Father, Son and Holy Spirit in One God.

This concludes our study of the nature of God. I pray it has enriched your understanding of Him – though we have but scratched the surface. The next study series will attempt to plumb the depths of Scripture for a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ – the Son of God, and God the Son.

COLOSSIANS 1:10-13

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

¹¹Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

¹²Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

¹³Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. . .

God the Father – #4 – The Grace of God

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How can we describe the Grace of God? It encompasses two qualities – love and mercy – merged into one. Mercy is negative, and love is positive – combined, they equal Grace. To express love in mercy – is grace. When God sent His Son to bear our sins in His own body on the cross – He showed love in mercy. That is Grace.

GRACE IS THE LOVE AND MERCY OF GOD IN ACTION

The grace of God saves eternally. You can not be “unborn.” Rom. 8:38,39 – ³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come. ³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The grace of God is unconditional. We do not need to “hold on till the end, “fail not,” or “do our best.” We are saved by the grace of God – not works.
The grace of God is completely sufficient. 2 Cor. 12:9 – And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The grace of God does not discriminate. Rev. 22:17 – And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
The grace of God justifies us. Rom. 3:23,24 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. . .
The grace of God makes every believer an heir. Titus 3:7 – That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
The grace of God teaches us how to live. Titus 3:11,12 – For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, ¹²Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. . .

God’s grace is nothing less than His unlimited love towards undeserving sinners, expressed in the gift of His Son, our blessed Savior.

EPHESIANS 2:8

King James Version (KJV)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. . .

God the Father – #3 – The Nature of God

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1 John 4:7

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

There are four definitions of God in the Bible, which reveal His nature. Since God can not be defined – the definitions are insufficient. But, in His infinite mercy, God has given us these definitions, to help us, in our human frailty, to see Him better – though we are limited by our flesh. The Words of the Bible throw “light” on His nature.

THE FOUR DEFINITIONS OF GOD FROM THE BIBLE:

God is love. This is the nature of God in His divine compassion. 1 John 4:8 – He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
God is light. This is the nature of God in His divine character – in Him there is no darkness. 1 John 1:5 – This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
God is a consuming fire. This is the nature of God in His divine holiness. Heb. 12:29 – For our God is a consuming fire.
God is a spirit. This is the nature of God in His divine essence. John 4:24 – God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

These attributes of God reveal His nature. His attributes should not be thought of as abstract, such as the New Age does. They are vital mediums through which His holy nature is unveiled – ascribed only to Him – such as:

Life itself is ascribed to God. John 5:26 – For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself
His omniscience – all knowledge is ascribed to God. Ps. 147:5 – Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.
His omnipotence – all power is ascribed to God. Rev. 19:6 – And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
His omnipresence – filling the universe with His presence is ascribed to God – He is everywhere present at once. Ps. 139:7 – Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?

God is everywhere present – but He is not “in everything.” If God were in everything, then it would be perfectly acceptable to worship your kitchen table! God is a spirit being. He is not your co-pilot, buddy, the “big guy,” or “the man upstairs.”

John 4:24

God is a Spirit: and they

that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in

Truth.

God the Father – #2 – The Personality of God

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The Bible reveals God as a “personality” to us. As the “living and true God,” He demonstrates self -consciousness and self-determination. Mankind, made in God’s image, also possesses these qualities. Animals do not. Science fiction fantasies such as “Blade Runner,” and “The Terminator,” suggest that at some point – computers will become self-aware. This is not likely to happen – despite the best efforts of science and the “singularity” agenda. The soul of man was “breathed” into Adam directly from God – and cannot be simulated.

God’s personality is revealed through what he does

God loves. John 3:16 – 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.
God hates. Prov. 6:16,19 –¹⁶These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:¹⁷A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,¹⁸An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,¹⁹A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
God cares. 1 Pet.5:7 – Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
God grieves. Gen.6:6 – And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.

With all the different things in this world that people worship – money, fame, technology, houses, jobs, status, jewelry, etc…how it must hurt the LORD when objects are placed before Him in our hearts. Appliances and even automobiles that respond and interact with people are contained only in the imaginations of science fiction and New Age authors. Programmed responses from “smart” technology is not a relationship. When the advances are made in science to the point of merging man, machine, animal – and quite possibly fallen angels, in laboratories – these entities will not be human beings made in the image of God. Only a personality can love, hate, care, grieve and have relationships. God must be a living, eternal, and personal being.

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

King James Version (KJV)

⁹For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

¹⁰And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

He is life, and therefore, the only source of life

John 5:26

King James Version (KJV)

For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself

God the Father – #1- The Existence of God

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God is the only Infinite and Eternal Being – having no beginning and no end – the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

The Bible nowhere attempts to prove or argue the existence of God. God’s existence is a fact taken for granted by the writers of both the old and new testaments.

The Bible opens by announcing the sublime fact of God and His eternal existence – “In the beginning God,” Gen. 1:1

Universal belief in God comes from within mankind. It is an innate belief, sourced from rational intuition.
The cause and effect argument – Everything that began owes its existence to a cause – we have a watch – we must have a watchmaker. The Creation could not have come into being without a creator, no more than a book can be produced from the alphabet without an author.
Via anthropology – man’s moral and intellectual nature argues for a moral and intellectual creator.
The Bible and the Christ it reveals – His Virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious death and bodily resurrection, and documented miracles – all argue for the existence of God.

Man is natural and cannot know God by wisdom. The Bible argues for our faith in God – not His existence. It says in multiple places that those who do not believe in the existence of God are fools, because He is so obvious.

Job 11:7

King James Version (KJV)

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

Hebrews 11:6

King James Version (KJV)

**But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.**

The phrase highlighted in red above is pivotal. “he that cometh to God must believe that He is,” is imperative. This is the free will that He gave to us – we must decide, and then choose Him.

The Bible is the Inspired Word of God – #5 – Commanded to Study

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This fifth and final study of The Bible relates to how we relate to the Word. Often believers will put The LORD on the “back-burner,” while tending to their lives in the flesh. This is directly opposite of what we are commanded to do – and the very lack of Bible study – is what causes this lackadaisical attitude towards the things of God. It has been said of God’s Holy Book – “Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be right.”

As you study the Bible, you will discover that it does not just contain the Words of God – it IS the Word of God. But just as importantly, the Word of God contains the WORDS of God, and also the words of demons, angels, Satan, and man – good and bad.

THE BIBLE COMMANDS THE BELIEVER TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES

As you study your Bible – ask yourself these questions –

Who is speaking: God, demon, angel, or man?
Once you identify the speaker – identify who he is speaking to – the nation of Israel, the Gentiles, the church, men in general, or some individual or supernatural being?
How can this Scripture apply to my life to grow me in spiritual maturity and closer to The LORD?

God is Truth personified, and cannot lie, while Satan “is a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44 Man is natural and fleshly – which makes him limited, therefore, man does not always speak the truth.

Case in point – let us do an observation of this passage –

MATTHEW 22:15-46

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁵Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle Him in his talk.

¹⁶And they sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man: for Thou regardest not the person of men.

¹⁷Tell us therefore, What thinkest Thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

¹⁸But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites?

¹⁹Shew Me the tribute money. And they brought unto Him a penny.

²⁰And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

²¹They say unto Him, Caesar’s. Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

²²When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left Him, and went their way.

²³The same day came to Him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked Him,

²⁴Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

²⁵Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

²⁶Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

²⁷And last of all the woman died also.

²⁸Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

²⁹Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

³⁰For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

³¹But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

³²I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

³³And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at His doctrine.

³⁴But when the Pharisees had heard that He had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

³⁵Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, and saying,

³⁶Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

³⁷Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

³⁸This is the first and great commandment.

³⁹And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

⁴¹While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

⁴²Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is He? They say unto Him, The son of David.

⁴³He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call Him Lord, saying,

⁴⁴The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on my right hand, till I make Thine enemies thy footstool?

⁴⁵If David then call him Lord, how is He his Son?

⁴⁶And no man was able to answer Him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions.

In this particular passage, we have the words of Jesus, the words of the Pharisees, the Herodians, and the Sadducees. The Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees were all trying to trick The LORD into trapping Himself in His own teachings – for one reason. They were looking for some way to accuse Him of breaking God’s law. Everything that came out of their mouths, was with 100% evil intent. The whole episode reveals the thinking of the natural man, at the same time, revealing the thinking of God, through the Words of Jesus Christ.

The failure of Bible students to divide the identities of the speakers and their audience correctly, has even given rise to entire sects and cults. This is how Replacement Theologists operate, by inserting the church into dialog taking place between The LORD and Israel.

2 TIMOTHY 2:15

King James Version (KJV)

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.

The Bible is the Inspired Word of God – #4 – Special Power

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Only those who do not know Jesus Christ, those who are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit, doubt the power of the Bible. It is more powerful than any government, kingdom, empire, or standing army – and more powerful than all the principalities of evil in the supernatural world combined.

THE BIBLE CLAIMS SPECIAL POWER

The Bible claims the dividing power of a sword – separating man from sin – Ps. 199:11 – Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee. or sin will separate man from the Bible. Isa. 59:2 – But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.
The Bible claims the reflective powers of a mirror, Jas.1:22,25 –But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. so that we may see ourselves as God sees us – sinners – Rom. 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
The Bible claims the cleansing power as water. Eph. 5:26 – That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word. (not baptism!) David prayed – Ps. 51:2 – Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
The Bible claims reproductive power as seed. 1 Pet. 1:23 – Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. We become children of God when we are born again of incorruptible seed.

John 3:1,7

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The Bible claims the sustaining power of food. 1 Pet. 2:2 -As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. If you do not study the Word, you will be a weak, ineffectual, and sickly Christian. Your spiritual growth will be stunted from lack of food.

HEBREWS 4:11-13

¹¹Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

¹²For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

¹³Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.

If you are born again – do not starve your New Born Man – starve the Old Dead Man – by filling up on the Word!

The Bible is the Inspired Word of God – #3 – A Book of Oneness

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THE BIBLE IS A BOOK OF ONENESS

2 PETER 1:21

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The miraculous nature of the Bible should never be diminished.

The Bible is actually a library containing 66 books
The Bible was written by 40 different men – in a remarkable cross section of humanity, including kings, fisherman, priest, public officials, farmers, teachers, physicians, educated and uneducated.
The Bible was written over a period of approximately 1,600 years
The diversity of subject matter challenges the best minds to quantify it; encompassing – history, law, science, poetry, drama, biography, religion, and prophecy.
The phrase – Thus saith The LORD – occurs over 2,500 times in Scripture. All of these attributes in combination are a mathematical impossibility.

The various parts of the Bible are as harmoniously combined as the myriad parts of the human body.

A.W. Tozer: “We can hold a correct view of the truth only by daring to believe everything God has said about Himself. It is a grave responsibility that a man takes upon himself when he seeks to edit out of God’s self-revelation such features as he in his ignorance deems objectionable.

Differences between the Bible and the Qur’an

by Matt Slick

Bible	Qur’an
Monotheistic, Trinitarian, (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6-8; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14).	Monotheistic (5:73; 112:1-4), denies the Trinity (5:73).
Jesus is God in flesh (Col. 2:9).	Jesus is not God (5:17, 75).
Jesus was crucified (1 Pet. 2:24).	Jesus was not Crucified, (4:157).
Jesus rose from the dead (John 2:19-20).	Jesus did not rise from the dead.
Jesus was the Son of God (Mark 1:1).	Jesus was not the Son of God (9:30).
Holy Spirit, 3rd person in the Godhead. He will bear witness of Jesus (John 14:26; 15:26).	The Holy Spirit is the angel Gabriel (2:97; 16:102).
Salvation by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9).	Salvation by sincerity and works (3:135; 7:8-9; 21:47; 49:14; 66:8-9).
The Devil is a fallen angel (Isaiah 14:12-15).	The Devil, Satan, is not a fallen angel, but a fallen Jinn (2:34; 7:12; 15:27; 55:15).
Man is fallen, a sinner (Rom. 3:23).	Man is basically good.
Disciples were Christians (Acts 11:26).	Disciples declare themselves Muslims (5:111).
Worship on Sabbath (Exodus 20) then later on Sunday (Rom. 14:5-6; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2).	Worship on Friday (62:9).
Miracles, numerous are recorded (1 Cor. 15:3-5, etc.).	No Miracles recorded, except they claim the Qur’an is a miracle.
Makes numerous prophecies (Isaiah 53; Micah 5:2, etc.).	Makes no prophecies.

H.L. Hastings: “So the hammers of infidels have been pecking away at this Book for ages, but the hammers are worn out, and the anvil still endures. If this Book had not been the book of God, men would have destroyed it long ago. Emperors and popes, kings and priests, princes and rulers, have all tried their hand at it; they die, and the Book still lives!”

ISAIAH 46:9-10

⁹Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me,

¹⁰Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure:

The Bible is the Inspired Word of God – #2 – A Difficult Book

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THE BIBLE IS A DIFFICULT BOOK

1 CORINTHIANS 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The Bible came from the infinite (God) to the finite (man.) From limitlessness to the limited. Therefore – you can not understand the Bible in the same way that you would understand the writings of Plato. With diligence, the profundities of the great philosophers can be grasped by the natural mind. But the Bible will resist any effort made by the natural mind to comprehend it.
If the Bible was a natural book, it could be understood by natural man. If it were a natural book, it could not be the Word of God. The two are mutually exclusive. This is why many intellectuals can understand quantum physics, but the Bible eludes them.
Since the Bible is from God, it is therefore – spiritual. Before you can receive the teachings of the Bible – you must be born of the Spirit. Famous scoffers will mock the Word of God – much like petulant children do. John 3:6 – That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
To fully receive the Word of God – you must be fully filled with the Holy Spirit. The Bible is written in a language that only the Spirit understands. Eph. 5:18 – And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.

There are two things to think about when approaching your Bible:

Before you even open your Bible, praise the Lord, and confess any lurking sins that are a barrier to true fellowship with Him.
Approach humbly, in awe, praying the Holy Spirit to be your Teacher, and guide you to a better understanding of the depth of His Word, and beseeching Him to reveal Himself to you. He knows if you are sincere or not.

There is nothing – nothing – in this whole wide world to compare to the sweet fellowship found alone with the Lord and His Word.

1 CORINTHIANS 2:9-10

⁹But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

¹⁰But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

The Bible is the Inspired Word of God – #1 – It Claims It!

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The depth and richness of our blessed Bible is difficult to describe. It is not a book of philosophy, yet it is philosophical. It is not a scientific treatise, yet certain scientific facts are confirmed by the Bible. Never claiming the title of History book, yet it is found to be more accurate regarding history than critics like to admit.

The Bible is a gift to man, from God. In it, He does something so wonderful, it could only be described as miraculous; wherein He reveals to us – Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and God the Son – the only Saviour.

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

He is the center and the circumference – Christ – from Genesis to Revelation. . .

John 5:39

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.

The Word of God – is higher than any and all other books – higher than the heavens are above the earth. The Bible claims to be inspired.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

¹⁶All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

¹⁷That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The bible – the word of god

The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible.

2 Pet. 1:21 – For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Christ told His disciples that many things would be left “unrevealed,” until the Holy Spirit came and chose certain persons to reveal His perfect will. The Holy Spirit would become the believer’s teacher.

Man is the instrument used by the Holy Spirit to write the Bible.
Since it is authored by the Holy Spirit – it is the infallible Word of God.

The Bible is free from error – and is absolutely trustworthy.

Psalm 119:89

For ever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven.

Matthew 24:35

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away.

The Holy Spirit exerted supernatural influence upon the writers of the Bible – the writings were inspired – not the writers themselves. Nowhere in the Bible does it claim to have been written by inspired men.

Attributes of the Holy Spirit – #5 – The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

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This fifth and final study of the Attributes of the Holy Spirit is my favorite aspect of His nature – the fruit. Wherein Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit empowered the faithful such as David for service, but when they were disobedient, He departed from them. Since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit indwells born again believers, never to leave them! Without the fruit of the Holy Spirit – we are just a religious noise –

1 CORINTHIANS 13:1

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

**THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SELFLESS LOVE**

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in joy – which is love’s strength.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in peace – which is love’s security.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in longsuffering – which is love’s patience.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in gentleness – which is love’s conduct.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in faith – which is love’s confidence.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in meekness – which is love’s humility.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in goodness – which is love’s character.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit is manifested in temperance – which is love’s victory.

GALATIANS 5:22-25

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

²⁴And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

If the Holy Spirit is controlling us – no law is needed to cause us to live a righteous life. How do we live a Spirit controlled life?

ROMANS 12:1-2

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Put your all on the altar, so that the Holy Spirit may fill your heart with the love of God.

ROMANS 5:5

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Attributes of the Holy Spirit – #3 – Sins Against the Holy Spirit

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This is very solemn study, and should be taken most seriously. In the first two parts of this series, the deity and demonstration of the Holy Spirit were looked at. This third part examines the fact that since the Holy Spirit is God – He may be sinned against by both the believer and the unbeliever. The Holy Spirit is not the unique property of the “elect,” nor any other special group or individual that claims to be “anointed,” by the Holy Spirit, or self appointed to be endowed with special powers of the Holy Spirit.

SINS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT –

The sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

This sin is committed by unbelievers, and is often called the “unpardonable” sin. It has no forgiveness. The enemies of Jesus were guilty of this sin, when they accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan, when He claimed to do it by the power of God.

Matt. 12:24 – But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. Matt. 12:28 – But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

The sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

As anyone who witnesses to the lost knows, this one is heartbreaking to watch as the unbeliever rejects Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Acts 7:51 – Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

The sin of quenching the Holy Spirit.

This sin is committed by believers, when they allow sin to go unconfessed.

1 Thess. 5:19 – Quench not the Spirit. 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Is.59:1-2 – Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.

The sin of lying to the Holy Spirit.

Ananias and Sapphira were deceivers, rooted in jealousy. Paul said they tried to mock God.

Acts 5: 1-11 – But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

GALATIANS 6:7

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

MATTHEW 12:31-32

³¹Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

³²And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Please do not take this lightly. If you have not repented, humbled yourself, and asked Jesus Christ to save you, then you have committed the unpardonable sin.

Please, right now, admit that you are a sinner, that you know you can not save yourself, and ask Him to enter the door of your heart. It’s as simple as that – believe that He is God, that He and He alone paid the price for the your sins and the sins of the entire world, and ask Him to give you new life, by being born again of His Holy Spirit. If you think you’re a good person, or you’ve kept the rules of your particular religion – then you are lying to the Holy Spirit. Repentance means turning from your sinful self to the Lord. In God’s eyes there are only two kinds of people in the world. Saved – and unsaved. Please choose today – choose an eternity with Jesus.

Attributes of the Holy Spirit – #2 – His Emblems

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Emblems are used to express the fulness of a concept where words are insufficient. Words will sometimes only reveal a half truth, and the bible uses emblems to fully illustrate the Holy spirit, far more than volumes could contain. . .

FIRE IS AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Acts 2:3 – And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
WIND IS AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – John 3:8 – The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
WATER IS AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – John 7: 37-39 -In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
SEAL IS AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Ephesians 1:13 – In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
OIL IS AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Acts 10:38 – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.
DOVE IS AN EMBLEM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – Mark 1:10 – And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him.

Fire speaks of the consuming, purifying power of the Holy Spirit in the believers life.

Wind speaks of the hidden depths of the Holy Spirit’s regenerating power for all who will believe.

Water speaks of the overflowing life from the Holy Spirit, into the core of the believer’s existence.

Seal speaks of His ownership of the believer, through a finished and eternal transaction.

Oil speaks of the power of the Holy Spirit through anointing the believer for service worthy of God.

Dove speaks of the Holy Spirit’s peaceful and gentle nature.

We may all know the “peace of God which passeth all understanding,” only when we fully surrender to God.

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Attributes of the Holy Spirit – #1 – His Deity

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THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A FULL PART OF

THE TRINITY OF THE GODHEAD

When the apostle Peter confronted Ananias for his deception in Acts 5, he revealed the deity of the Holy Spirit when he said:

ACTS 5:3-4

³But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

⁴While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

From this Scripture, it is abundantly clear that the Holy Spirit is God, and He is co-equal, co-eternal and co-existent with the Father and the Son. The deity of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated in that He possesses divine attributes:

He is everywhere present in the universe. Psalm 139:7-8 – Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or wither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.
He has all power. Luke 1:35 – And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
He has all knowledge. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 –But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
He is eternal. Hebrews 9:14 – How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

His deity is seen in the fact that His name is coupled in equality with the Father and the Son:

He has equality in the baptism of the believer. Matthew 28:19 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
He has equality in the apostolic benediction. 2 Corinthians 13:14 – The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

His relationship to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ show His deity:

Our Savior was conceived of the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:35 – And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
He was anointed by the Holy Spirit for service. Acts 10:38 – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.
He was led by the Holy Spirit. Matthew 4:1 – Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
He was crucified in the power of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 9:14 – How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:11 – 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.
He gave commandments to the apostles through the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:2 – Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen:

If Jesus Christ depended solely upon the power of the Holy Spirit during His earthly life and ministry – how can we do less? The Holy Spirit has always been there. He is not a disembodied entity, as taught by the Mormons. Nor is He the invisible “active force of God,” as the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach. He is very God, of very God, and has been so forever.

ZECHARIAH 4:6

⁶Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

Why Believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture?

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Thanks to modern, critical, Bible “scholars,” such as Hank Hanegraff, more and more sheeple’s heads are in a spin over the dismantling of doctrines. The confusion arises when we fail to rightly divide the Word of Truth.

For example, when reading Matthew 24, it is of utmost importance to recognize to whom the Lord is speaking. Is He addressing the church? No! There is a distinct difference between the earthly kingdom, which was promised to the Jews, and the heavenly kingdom, promised to the church.

This is why I am astounded, and not a little dismayed to see the obsession that Christians have with the identity of anti-Christ. Numerous books, websites, and movies are generated with fantastic, extra-biblical themes relating to the man of sin. And the worst thing about it is – it steals attention away from our proper focus – our Savior, the living Word of God. If you want to go through The Great Tribulation (not to be confused with the persecutions and tribulations that Christians are experiencing now) then – more power to you. But you should know, that the Great Tribulation is designed to bring the Nation of Israel to a state of repentance, and to punish the ungodly – not to torture and abuse the Bride of Christ before the wedding!

28 distinctions between the Rapture and the Second Coming

The Rapture	The Second Coming
At the Rapture, Jesus comes FOR His Church. (John 14:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)	At the Glorious Appearing (Second Coming), Jesus comes WITH His Church. (Zechariah 14:5, Colossians 3:4, Jude 14, Revelation 19:14)
At the Rapture, Christians are caught up to meet Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)	At the Glorious Appearing, Jesus’ feet touch the earth (Zechariah 14:4, Revelation 19:11-21)
At the Rapture, Christians are taken first and unbelievers are left behind. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)	At the Glorious Appearing, the wicked are taken first, but the righteous (the tribulation saints) are left behind. (Matthew 13:28-30)
At the Rapture, Jesus will gather His Bride, the Church, unto Himself in preparation of the Marriage of the Lamb. (Revelation 19:6-9)	At the Glorious Appearing, Jesus will execute judgment on the earth and establish His Kingdom. (Zechariah 14:3-4, Jude 14-15, Revelation 19:11-21)
The Marriage of the Lamb takes place in Heaven AFTER the Rapture of the Church. (Revelation 19:6-9	War on earth comes AFTER the Marriage of the Lamb at the Glorious Appearing when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords lays the smackdown on evil! (Revelation 19:11-21)
The Rapture will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (Blink. It’s over!). (1 Corinthians 15:52)	The Glorious Appearing will be a slow coming. Everyone will see Jesus coming with great power and great glory! (Zechariah 12:10, Matthew 24:30, Revelation 1:7)
At the Rapture, only those who are looking for Him (Christians) will see Him. (1 John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 15:52)	At the Glorious Appearing, every eye will see Him and those who have rejected Him will wail. (Revelation 1:7)
At the Rapture, Jesus will descend from Heaven with a shout (calling for the saints at the resurrection). (1 Thessalonians 4:16)	At the Glorious Appearing, no shout is mentioned, although the Lord does slay the wicked with the sword of His mouth. (Revelation 19:11-21)
At the Rapture, a resurrection will take place. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54)	At the Glorious Appearing, there is no resurrection spoken of. (Zechariah 12:10, Zechariah14:4-5, Revelation 1:7, 19:11-21)
The Rapture can happen at any time…maybe even now which is why we are to be WATCHING for the return of Jesus Christ! (Revelation 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6)	The Glorious Appearing will occur at the end of the seven-year tribulation period. (Daniel 9:24-27, Matthew 24:29-30, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8)
At the Rapture, no angels are sent to gather the Church.	At the Glorious Appearing, angels will be sent to gather people together for judgment. (Matthew 13:39, 41 & 49, Matthew 24:31, Matthew 25:31, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)
At the Rapture, those who died in Christ will return with Jesus to recover their resurrected bodies. (1 Thessalonians 4:14-16)	At the Glorious Appearing, Christians will return with Jesus already in their resurrected bodies riding on white horses. (Revelation 19:11-21) White horse for Jesus or no white horse for Jesus?
At the Rapture, Jesus doesn’t return riding a white horse.	At the Glorious Appearing, Jesus will return riding a white horse. (Revelation 19:11)
The Rapture will bring with it a message of hope and comfort. (1 Thessalonians 4:18, Titus 2:13, 1 John 3:3)	The Glorious Appearing will bring with it a message of judgment. (Joel 3:12-16, Malachi 4:5, Revelation 19:11-21)
World is deceived. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12)	Satan is bound. (Revelation 20:1-2)
Focus: Lord and Church. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)	Focus: Israel and Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14)
No signs precede Rapture. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)	Signs precede Second Coming. (Luke 21:11,15)
Tribulation begins.	Millennial kingdom begins.
Removal of believers. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)	Manifestation of Christ. (Malachi 4:2)
Jesus claims His bride.	Jesus comes with His bride. (Revelation 19:6-14)
Marriage Supper Of The Lamb follows the Rapture. (Revelation 19:9)	The Great Supper of the wicked follows the Tribulation. (Revelation 19:17)
The world will not see Jesus at the Rapture; but rather, believers ascend go to meet Him in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)	Jesus will descend bodily and visibly for all to see, just as He ascended bodily and visibly. (Acts 1:9-11)
The Judgment Seat Of Christ follows the Rapture. (2nd Corinthians 5:9-11)	The Judgment of the Nations follows the Tribulation (Matthew 24:32-46)
Believers receive a new, immortal, glorified body fashioned like unto the Lord’s. (Philippians 3:21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54)	Saints saved during the Tribulation enter into the Millennial kingdom with their earthly bodies. (Isaiah 65:20)
The Antichrist is revealed after the Rapture. (2 Thessalonians 2:8)	The Antichrist is defeated and cast into the Lake of Fire at the Second Coming. (Revelation 19:20)
Israel is persecuted during the Tribulation. Two-in-three Jews in Israel are killed. (Zechariah 13:8-9)	Israel is regathered. (Jeremiah 23:5-8)
World government (New World Order) follows the Rapture. (Revelation 13:15)	Christ’s reign and government follows the Second Coming. (Daniel 2:34-35)
World famine, pestilence, war and sorrow follow the Rapture. (Matthew 24:6-10; Luke 17:31)	World peace follows Christ’s Second Coming when He reigns from Jerusalem (Isaiah 11:6)

Ephesians 2:6

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

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2 Timothy 4:18

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Amen.

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Hebrews 11:16

But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

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Hebrews 12:22

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

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If you are truly born again – this world is NOT your home! You are working in the fields until the harvest.

The Great Tribulation is a time of intense judgements, “A time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that time,” Dan. 12:1 and the earth will be under severe judgement, with a cataclysmic worldwide earthquake, and will be purified with fire – instead of water as in the former worldwide judgement.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior, or if you are unsure about your salvation, please ask Him now. Tell Him that you know you are a sinner, and ask Him to save you. Say – “Lord, I am dirty and lost. I feel alone, and desperate. I believe that You are my only hope, and my only salvation. I believe that You died for me, and I ask You, now, to be my Savior, and live inside me. I open the door of my heart to You. Thank you, Jesus.”

If you prayed that prayer, and meant it in your heart of hearts, you are now a part of the family of God and all the angels in heaven are rejoicing! You have the wonderful assurance of a home in heaven with our blessed Redeemer.

Please comment below, or contact The Vine Vigil if we can help you in any way. vinevigil@gmail.com

Isaiah 26:20-21

²⁰Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

²¹For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Why is the Bible Difficult to Understand?

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There are so many different religions that it is hard to count them all. Denominations in the USA alone are difficult to keep up with. Someone says, hey, I’m a Baptist. And I say, so what? Beliefs vary widely from one Baptist Church to another. How is it, that there is only one Bible, yet so many different beliefs concerning the same book?

There really is a very simple answer to it. We add or take a way from the Book. How do we do this? We use our own logic to insert into the Bible. We use words like this:

THEREFORE, BECAUSE, NOW, etc. I’ll give you an example. This is a particular area of contention.

Matthew 16. In verse 13, Jesus asks His disciples “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” They responded by saying that some people thought Christ was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 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.” (verses 15-18)

At first glance, it may appear that Jesus was referring to Peter as “the rock”, but we have to keep in mind that the New Testament was written in Greek, not English. This is one instance where the original wording reveals the true meaning of what is being said. The Greek word for Peter is petros, which means “a pebble” or a small stone. On the other hand, the Greek word that Jesus used for rock is petra, meaning “a massive rock” or bedrock. Now we can see that there is an obvious difference! Peter was correct when he stated that Jesus was “the Christ” and it was this profession of truth that the church would be founded upon: Jesus Christ “the chief cornerstone” (Matthew 21:42). Jesus was talking about building His church upon the solid bedrock, not a small pebble.http://www.wordoftruthradio.com/questions/47.html

**Peter wrote that we are all living stones –**

1 Peter 2:4-6

⁴To Whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

⁵Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

⁶Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.

Perhaps, those that are not Catholics have no trouble with this. But many have changed the Word, to the point that it gives rise to every kind of false belief.

Countless sheeple think that God deliberately made the Bible difficult, even too mysterious for ordinary people to understand; and that we must help God out by adding our own logic and reasoning. That is the work of the devil, for it was he who first cast doubt on God’s Word in the Garden of Eden. The sheeple become very good at it. Human logic sounds so good, it must surely be right. And if we are wrong, God will understand because we had good intentions and we meant well. BUT:

God says, do not add to what I say!

Proverbs 30:5-6

⁵Every Word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.

⁶Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

If you are having trouble understanding the Bible, there are a few questions to answer that might help:

Are you truly born again? The Bible can only be understood with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and it is a letter from God in a language only true believers can know. John 10:27
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:
Do you have unconfessed sin? The Lord requires that before we approach Him, that we confess, otherwise fellowship is hindered.
Have you humbly asked the Lord to reveal Himself to you before you even open your Bible?
Do you honestly believe that your Bible is the Word of God, written down for you?
Are you reading your Bible at the best time of the day, that is, the morning, as when Manna, the bread from heaven, fell and had to be gathered each day?
Are you reading a Bible that has an evil spirit attached to it? ie: such as the NKJV, which has a “triptych” on its cover

The pure Word of God does not require any special, magical treatment to open up for us. It only requires our faith. Those that hate the Word, hate it because of how it makes them feel – and that’s why they desire to change it, because they do not want to change themselves. . .

Hebrews 4:12

For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Are There Two Gospels?

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The real question here is – did Old Testament saints achieve salvation, and go to heaven by keeping the Law? The answer to that is a resounding NO!

There has always been, and always will be, only one Gospel, only one means of Salvation. The same from the Garden of Eden till today.

Jesus Christ.

Only two people are named in the entire O.T. as being taken to heaven – Enoch and Elijah. Even David, a “man after God’s own heart,” did not go to heaven when he died. Where did the Old Testament saints go?

1 Kings 2:10So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

1 Kings 11:43 And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father:

1 Kings 14:20 And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers,

1 Kings 14:31 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David.

It goes on and on. No where, at any point, does it say that these people went to a heavenly reward. The Law never saved anyone. No one. The Law is a picture of Christ, Something so perfect that only He could keep it.

Romans 3:20

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

By the law is the “knowledge” of sin – not “deliverance” from sin!

So, where did Shem, and Moses, and Samuel, etc. go? Abraham’s Bosom, or Paradise. . .

¹⁹There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

²⁰And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

²¹And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

²²And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

²³And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

²⁴And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

²⁵But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

²⁶And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Luke 16: 19-26

Only the Blood of the Lamb of God can save anyone – even Abraham – God’s friend. The two divisions of hell described in this passage are Torments and Paradise. One for the righteous dead, and one for the unrighteous dead.

How did the righteous dead get saved then – if there was no one to witness to them in Paradise? Jesus Christ Himself descended into hell to witness and proclaim victory to His own! (those that died in hope of the Savior.)

Ephesians 4:9-10

⁹(Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

¹⁰He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.)

1 Peter 3:19-20

¹⁹By which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

²⁰Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

This was followed by His bodily resurrection. Some sleeping saints rise with Christ.

Matthew 28:6

⁶He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

³For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;

⁴And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:

⁵And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

⁶After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

⁷After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

⁸And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Matthew 27:51-53

⁵¹And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

⁵²And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

⁵³And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Christ ascends into heaven. The remaining righteous dead are swept up.

Luke 24:51

⁵¹And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Acts 1:9-11

⁹And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

¹⁰And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

¹¹Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.

Ephesians 4:8-10

⁸Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Matthew 8:11

¹¹And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

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John 14:6-7

⁶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

⁷If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.

11 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

12 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!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

Jude 1:6

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, He hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

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1 Corinthians 1:7-8

7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 5:5

To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

2 Corinthians 1:14

As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our’s in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Philippians 1:10

That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

Philippians 2:16

Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

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HEBREWS 10:12

But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. . .

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

John 14:1-6

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Matthew 25:31-46

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Romans 11:25-25

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

Luke 1: 31-33

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Isaiah 9: 6-7

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Hebrews 1:8

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Acts 1:11. . .

. . .this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.

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John 19:31-37 –

31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him.

33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs:

34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

36 For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken.

37 And again another Scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced.

PHILIPPIANS 2:8-11

8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

¹¹Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

¹²Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

¹⁴Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

¹⁵Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

¹⁶By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

¹⁷Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

¹⁸Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

¹⁹All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

¹²How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

¹³For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

¹⁵Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

¹⁶They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

¹⁷That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

⁷So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

⁸Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

²In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

³¹When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

³²And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

³³And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

³⁴Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

³⁵For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

³⁶Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

³⁷Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

³⁸When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

³⁹Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

⁴⁰And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

⁴¹Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

⁴²For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

⁴³I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

⁴⁴Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

⁴⁵Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

⁴⁶And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

²⁶And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

³¹And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

³²He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

³³And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

⁶For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

⁷Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

³¹The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

³²Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him.

³³But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs:

³⁴But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

³⁵And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

³⁶For these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken.

³⁷And again another Scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced.

⁸And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

³Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

⁴And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

⁵By Whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name:

⁶Among Whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. . .

¹⁰That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

¹¹Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

¹²Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

¹³Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. . .

⁹For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

¹⁰And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

**But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.**

¹⁵Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle Him in his talk.

¹⁶And they sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man: for Thou regardest not the person of men.

¹⁷Tell us therefore, What thinkest Thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

¹⁸But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites?

¹⁹Shew Me the tribute money. And they brought unto Him a penny.

²⁰And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

²¹They say unto Him, Caesar’s. Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

²²When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left Him, and went their way.

²³The same day came to Him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked Him,

²⁴Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

²⁵Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

²⁶Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.