Exposed by Our Words

 

“For the word of God is...a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” -from Hebrews 4:12.

We really need to KNOW God's Word, both for our own welfare and that of others. The Bible really is our handbook, containing God's standards for behavior and attitudes; it is a key to spiritual growth, and overcoming pitfalls.

And so about 25 years ago I began to be disturbed by a trend I saw among those with terminal diseases; how most them would literally do anything to keep living for even just a few months more. Amongst the unsaved this was understandable; but most Christian believers also reacted the same way to such circumstances! They would PAY any price, suffer any treatment, no matter how painful, if only they could remain on earth in the flesh for the next turn of a calendar page. Brethren, this isn't right!

Of all the people on earth, followers of Christ should be ready for that appointed time (Hebrews 9:27) of their departure; clearly, few are showing such readiness today. SIN has made this world a miserable place, and we should rejoice at the thought of leaving it behind.

But today I'm seeing this type of inner attitude manifest in another way, a verbal way, though I'm certain the one I first mentioned still also exists; it seems to stem from prosperity gospel teaching, and employs the “positive confession” technique, and goes like this...

When you greet this kind of believer and say, “How are you doing today?”, the response will be something like, “Any day I'm alive is a very good day;” or “I'm alive and got up this morning, so it's a very good day.” In other words, being alive in this world is their basis of joy! Believers and the unsaved alike often use such reasoning.

To hear this type of response may not sound bad to the undiscerning, and may even seem to be thankful toward God, yet when we bring it into the light of scripture it loses its luster (John 3:21). It's by our words we'll be justified, or condemned (Matthew 12:37), so let's look at what underlying attitudes such words may be covering. First, it shows a love for this world, next is a lack of appreciation for Jesus' sacrifice; then comes the fear of death, and finally there's a lack of faith (Hebrews 11:6) in the Bible's promises concerning the glory and rewards of Heaven;

“But 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.” -I Corinthians 2:9.

God has given us much to thank Him for within our daily lives, but the earth itself is hopelessly corrupt, and we must separate from it in terms of what we truly value. As Christians, our “direction of affection” needs to point upward, not sideways and down. Please bear with me as I seek to let God's Word speak plainly for itself on what our affections ought to be;

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” -Mark 8:35

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” -Luke 14:33.

“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” -John 12:25.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” -James 4:4.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” -1 John 2:15.

“Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.” -Ecclesiastes 8:7,8.

“The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” -Isaiah 57:1,2.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” -Philippians 1:21.

“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” -2 Corinthians 5:6-8.

“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” -Hebrews 13:14.

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” -1 Corinthians 15:54,55.

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” -Revelation 14:13.

A Christian's attitude toward death and/or worldly affection are great places to start when examining our commitment to Christ; I had to do it for myself, and I haven't been excluded from this struggle. In our flesh is nothing good (Romans 7:18), and we will struggle with it as long as there's life in our bodies. The scripture says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” in 2 Corinthians 4:7.

When examining your heart before God, you're in good company, and may follow the lead of David in Psalms 139:23,24 as he prayed;

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

May the Lord bless you, and direct you today into perfection in Himself!

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:12-14.

Please also check out my YouTube video on this subject https://youtu.be/1wBmWvTS7R8 and a video Short at https://youtube.com/shorts/kzbElgoXVb0?feature=share.

Misleading Unity

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.” -1 Corinthians 7:23,24.

The idea of UNITY can be misleading; it is a neutral concept, and has no allegiance to the objectives or moral character of people. The Bible only encourages unity in Jesus Christ, but this is meant to be a perfect unity without compromise.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” -1 Corinthians 1:10.

It's almost impossible to find Biblical unity today, and churches seem to delight in the acceptance of all manner of diversity, even DOCTRINAL diversity, for which God has no favor. Each of us will answer to God in judgment for our own lives (Romans 14:12), and we won't earn “points” with the Almighty for walking in unity with a large group, even a church group, that's infected with errors. Only too many times professing Christians play “follow the leader” with a church group and its members, and not taking heed to serve the Lord directly in obedience to His Word. 1 Corinthians 5 is an entire chapter dealing with the rebuke of a church group which had accepted sinful error within it. Please take time to read this chapter soberly.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” -2 Corinthians 5:10.

Yes, there are some who promote unity far above where they should regard it; this also reflects an unholy respect of persons which leads many astray (James 2:9). Suffice it to say, the Bible only promotes CONDITIONAL unity as we walk in obedience to God. Here's a few supporting scriptures;

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?...Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” -2 Corinthians 6:14,17.

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” -2 Thessalonians 3:6.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” -Romans 16:17.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy...Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” -2 Timothy 3:1,2,5.

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” -2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

There is yet another powerful scripture I want to mention, but here we run into a Bible version issue. When I tell you that the King James Bible is the true Word of God, far above any other version, be assured that there's a lot of evidence supporting this claim; here we'll look at one such example related to our topic from Titus 3:10&11 from the King James Bible (KJB), the English Standard Bible (ESB), and Today's New International Bible (TNIB), printed in that order.

“10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” - KJB.

“10 As for a person who stirs up division,after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” -ESB.

“10 Warn divisive people once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.” -TNIB.

I left theses unitalicized and added extra space between them to enhance clarity.

Our main purpose here regards UNITY, and you can see the KJB instructs believers to separate from HERETICS, after you've given them warning. A heretic would be a person who supports and/or teaches false doctrines; those that are contrary to Christian faith.

But when comparing KJB to the ESB and TNIB, you'll note the focus of the latter versions is against division in general, or being generally divisive; the KJB is opposing the specific division of heresies. In other words, the ESB and the TNIB promote unity above correct doctrine! This isn't the theme of Biblical teaching, is it?

Yet the new Bible versions go even further with their apostacy; you'll note the INSULTING tone these take toward those in error, each of them referring to the one bringing division as, “warped and sinful,” but we already know that not all division is wrong!

Now imagine that in your love for Christ you study the Bible diligently, and you come across Titus 3:10&11 and Luke 12:51 in your ESB at nearly the same time; you'd be SHOCKED by the words of Jesus when comparing these 2 passages; you'd realize your Bible just put down JESUS THE SON OF GOD, OUR SAVIOR, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE!!! Jesus said He came to bring division in Luke, but Titus says those bringing division are warped and sinful! Here are the words of Jesus in these versions;

“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.” -KJB.

“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” -ESB.

“Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tellyou, but division.” -TNIB.

Again I left these verses unitalicized and added extra space to enhance clarity.

As Christians, we believe Jesus is the only way to God the Father (John 14:6), He is the only mediator between God & man (1 Timothy 2:5), and His is the ONLY name to be saved by;

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12.

When the Antichrist comes, he will claim to be the messiah for ALL religions, and how will you stand for Jesus alone if your own “Bible” puts Him down as a warped, sinful troublemaker for His divisiveness? Instances like this one are not rare, which is WHY you need the KJB for God's Word.

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” -Matthew 4:4. Underlining added for emphasis.

If the ESB and the TNIB look similar, it's because they're both based from the Bible Revision, 1871-1881. Remember that the ONLY reason stated for the revision was to update some of the Bible's more archaic words for better understanding; therefore when you compare the KJB side by side with any of the revised versions, the meaning should not change. That isn't what happened, brethren.

The KJB was based on some 5,322 manuscripts which were in overwhelming agreement; the Bible Revision had just 44 manuscripts that were in great disagreement. The KJB was translated by more than 4 dozen great linguistic scholars, each one fully capable of doing a full translation alone. But by their chosen translation process, every word of the Bible had to be agreed upon at least 14X; it was in no way the work of just one, or a few men. The Revision committee had 20 members, but only 2 did the translating, and the others VOTED for the one they liked! For these reasons and others we can trust the KJB as God's preserved Word.

It shouldn't surprise anyone for how hard the devil works to undermine the Word of God in order to leave us doubting. What I've shared through this message is but one example among dozens of not only unwarranted Bible changes, but even attacks against the Living Word, Jesus Christ, through them. How much do we love Him? Let us seek earnestly to live for Him that died for us.

“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” -John 12:48.

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:31,32.

Here is a link to a short YouTube video I also did on this subject https://youtube.com/shorts/0Zj11d2wmsQ?feature=share.