Not The Best And Brightest

 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

According to this world’s standards you may not find that the majority of believers are the so-called “best and brightest”. It is your average Joe, the everyman and everywoman who most often find their way to God. Sure, occasionally a few of the so-called elite will become believers, but more often than not it is your “regular person” who stands up for the Faith and calls themselves Believers in Christ.

Just by observation and common sense I have seen the truth that average, or even below average, people become believers. Over the years I have learned that those I grew up with, old friends, co-workers from the past, are now believers when years ago they were anything but a believer in Jesus Christ.

Today I heard of another person I once worked with that now goes to church. I can say I never imagined him going to church back then, but it doesn’t even surprise me today.

Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:20-21

In the early years of the Internet I would often argue with so-called “smart people” online. They often had high sounding arguments and based their ideas on a certain system of philosophy, or merely hedonism, atheism, any “ism” that supported what they wanted to believe or whichever argument made them appear smart. Indeed, they were so smart that they were stupid when it came to important truths. I soon got tired of debating them as I realized it’s fruitless to argue with foolish people for they will not stand for common sense arguments or truth that does not fit into their sacred box of knowledge.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. Psalm 14:1

Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

    or you yourself will be just like him. Proverbs 26:4

Fools find no pleasure in understanding

    but delight in airing their own opinions. Proverbs 18:2

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

    but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

I take great joy in not being among the elite of this world. Like your everyman/everywoman sinner I’m pleased to put my faith in a Living God who changes hearts and minds and scoffs at the world’s wisdom. A God who takes sinners and changes them by degrees into those who will become citizens in heaven, not by anything we did or could do, but by His Grace and His Goodness and Mercy.

So if you are like me, one of the lowly sinners who recognized their need for a Savior–congratulations! You are a member of the only “truly elite club” headed for heaven. But if, sadly, you are one of those who think they are “too wise” to believe in God, above such “lowly thinking”, you have my sympathy and pity. I hope and pray that you will one day join the rest of us “lowly folk”.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for saving lowly sinners like me. Amen.

Who Has Bewitched You?

 

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. Galatians 3:1

Years ago I listened to Pastor Charles Swindoll's radio program. He did a teaching on Galatians and grace. Pastor Swindoll said every Christian should read the Bible book of Galatians at least once a year to remind them to avoid legalism. I agree. Legalism creeps up on you.

Too many churches and Christians are captives of legalism. The "do's and don't's of religion". Some churches have actual lists of rules and regulations for its members to obey. Many of the rules are completely outside of anything Biblical. One that comes to mind is a church I grew up in that insists all its members only read the King James Bible even though its language is quite dated and difficult for its members to understand.

Beware of Jesus plus. Jesus Plus Anything else is a warning sign that you are getting into legalism. At its core legalism suggests, or even promises, that to be a "real Christian" you must work for it. You should follow certain rules or traditions, and fall into line with everyone else.

Of course when you begin to speak of depending upon Christ, His sacrifice, and His righteousness accredited to our account, the super religious say: Aha, you think you can just live like the devil and go to heaven!

Yet the Apostle Paul had an answer to that statement:

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24

Paul explains we are given the Holy Spirit and through the Spirit we will bear fruit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Sometimes the problem is that we get into the mindset that we are already good enough without God. Many times people who are not Christians, or even those who are Christians, seek to justify themselves and explain how they are good enough on their own aside from God or anything He does.

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6

Without Jesus we are lost, both here and in eternity. When we begin to think of a list of rules or certain practices and behavior to qualify us, to earn us the right to go to heaven, we deceive ourselves. There is no way we will ever be that good on our own.

For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Romans 3:28

Our faith, trust, and dependence upon Jesus will help us to become better people. But make no mistake, nothing can qualify us for heaven apart from Christ. The criminal hanging on the cross beside Jesus at His crucifixion merely asked Jesus to remember him. Jesus promised the man that he would enter heaven with Jesus. What good works did the criminal do? How was he good enough? How was he righteous enough? Nothing could be done from that cross as he hung there beside Jesus except to believe, to offer a seed of faith. That was enough to save him and for him to enter the kingdom of heaven. All because of Jesus and the sacrifice Jesus made on that cross.

We are often tempted to get into the mindset that we are good enough. We do a few good works and become proud of ourselves. Somehow we even foolishly can begin to believe that God owes us something for our actions. Nothing we did or will do can save us. The only things that matter are trust in Jesus and faith in His goodness and grace.

Prayer: Dear Lord, whenever we become righteous in our own eyes, remind us of You hanging on that cross and the high price You paid to redeem us. Amen.

 

 

The New Temple Of God

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:34-35 NIV

The Bible book of Exodus has the fascinating story of the Jews deliverance from slavery to freedom. It has plagues, miracles, and interesting characters. Even Hollywood has been caught up in the story and made movies about it.

But toward the end of the book of Exodus the story is seemingly bogged down by lists of materials for the portable temple, or tent of meeting, being built. There are lots of details that can make it hard for the reader to stay engaged. This temple/tabernacle is a place for the jewish priests to sacrifice animals for the sins of the people, and a place where God dwelt with the jewish people. It was portable because the Jews had not yet entered and settled into the promised land. Later the Jews would build a permanent temple in Jerusalem, but this tabernacle preceded that later structure.

 

To appreciate Exodus fully, and the rest of the Old Testament, you need a “Christ centered viewpoint”. It is easy to get into the mindset that since we have a New Testament the Old Testament is no longer relevant. And when we see lots of lists and details like at the end of Exodus that viewpoint can be reinforced. 

The point of the building of the temple was because of human sins. God didn’t need a place to live, nor did He need a showy place to impress humans. God was helping us to find redemption, forgiveness, for our sins. 

After I finished reading the book of Exodus I felt God nudge me to open up the book of theology I had been sporadically reading. The book is: What Is Reformed Theology? By R.C. Sproul. I was at the section where it describes Christ as Priest. As the book says: The Old Testament work of the priest centered mainly on two functions: offering sacrifices and prayers in behalf of the people. Jesus undertakes both of these tasks….

The book of Hebrews in the New Testament goes into detail about how Jesus is now our High Priest and that He supersedes the Old Testament requirements of sacrifices and a tabernacle/temple for God to dwell among His people.

Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17 NASB

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 NASB

Not only is Jesus our High Priest, through Him we are made priests:

you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 NASB

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9 NASB

and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6 NASB

When Jesus came to earth He fulfilled the requirements of Old Testament law and set us free from our sins. When Jesus died on the cross the Old Testament temple veil was torn in two (Mark 15:32). So we have seen that not only was the old tabernacle/temple done away with, so was the old priesthood and its high priest. We have now a new High Priest in Christ, Someone better than the old temple:

Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. Matthew 12:6 NKJV

And we have seen that not only is Jesus our High Priest who intercedes for us, through Him we are also made priests of God.

In the book of Exodus we have the image of God resting upon and entering into the temple that the Jews built. But with the New Covenant made possible through Jesus we see that the born again believer becomes the New Temple where God enters in to dwell forever:

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:9 NASB

God is both good and amazing. Kind and generous for He not only saved us from our sins, sending Jesus, God in a human body, to clear the pathway for not only our redemption, but for a Kingdom where we will reign as priests and kings forever with Him:

and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6 NKJV

Yes, the Old Testament can at times seem tedious to read with its lists and rules and requirements of the law. When we feel that way reading through those Old Testament passages let’s remember that God had something better planned all along. Those scriptures were foreshadowing the arrival of Jesus who would fulfill all the righteous requirements of the law. Yet much more, Jesus made a way for us to be one with Him and the Father through the Holy Spirit because of all our Lord did for us. 

You are a new temple of God as well as a priest because of what our High Priest Jesus Christ did through His sacrifice of Himself for our sins. If you accept Jesus as your sacrifice for your sins you have so many great and precious gifts and promises from God. If you have not received Jesus as your Lord and Savior what are you waiting for? Call upon Him. Ask Jesus into your heart and He will make you a new temple where God dwells.

Philippians 4 Rejoice

 Philippians 4 Rejoice

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4

The Bible book of Philippians is amazing. It is one of the most positive books of the Bible and chapter four is the gemstone of the book. It offers joy, freedom from anxiety, soundness of mind, and the happiness that comes from both giving and receiving. Add to that the power of prayer and the strength of Christ through and for all things. It also has personal restoration and grace. It is a Bible chapter impossible not to love. As we delve into chapter four of the book of Philippians the wealth, wisdom, and goodness of God fills us.

Philippians 4:1 Stand Firm

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

When the storm arrives, the wind is howling, lightning flashing, and multiplied troubles come with it, we must stand fast in and through the power of the Lord Jesus. What follows tells us how to do so.

Philippians 4:2-3 Trouble And Dissention

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also, help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement as well as the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

The Church is not always a trouble-free refuge. People bring their issues from outside of the church within its walls. Euodia and Syntyche are two ladies who appear to have locked horns like a couple of stubborn rams. The Apostle Paul, who God used to write this wonderful book, understood that without peace in the ranks no peace in the collective heart of the Church was possible. Reconciliation was necessary to restore Christian unity.

Philippians 4:4 Keynote Of The Book

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

Rejoice! Again Rejoice! As if the Apostle could not contain the joy within himself he repeats the word, driving it home for emphasis. Our rejoicing comes from the Lord. He is the source of it, and Christian Joy is of course impossible without Him. Keep in mind the Apostle Paul is writing this letter from prison. His surroundings are not conducive to happiness, but joy depends neither upon our feelings nor our surroundings. The Christian takes joy in the Person and Presence of Christ in our life.

Philippians 4:5 Moderation

Let your gentle spirit be known to all people.The Lord is near.

Back at the beginning we have a battle between the wills of two Christian ladies. Gentleness, or as some translations have it, moderation, is not found in being stubborn and hardheaded. It comes from gentleness and frankly, a bit of humility. No human who ever lived except Christ Himself has always been right in every regard. Something we all should keep in mind as it makes that above mentioned joy possible. Our gentleness and humility is made possible through Christ’s Spirit.

Philippians 4:6 Don’t Be Anxious

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

I know, I had you up until this point. How can anyone be free of anxiety and fear? It is the albatross that hangs about our necks. Our lives are filled with fear and worry. Again, Paul is writing this from prison, do you think he was in the most worry-free circumstances? But Paul knew how to dispel anxiety and fear. Prayer. Prayer kills fear, worry, and anxiety. How? It gets our eyes off of our troubles as we hand them over to Jesus and we fill our thoughts with Him. Once we give our problems to Jesus it frees us to begin thanking Him. Our mind is reset. Instead of counting up the difficulties in our lives we start adding up the blessings. Faith takes the place of fear as the Object of our faith fills us with Himself.

Philippians 4:7 Peace

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

This verse should not surprise us. Once we have put our anxiety and worries into the arms of Jesus and let them go we have turned from fear to thanksgiving. Then peace is sure to follow. Christian Peace is a powerful force from God, a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). The peace of God protects our hearts and minds from the fear of the enemy and the general fears and anxieties that try to steal God’s peace from our lives. Peace was proclaimed at the birth of our Lord by God’s angels (Luke 2:14). True peace arrived on earth with the birth of our Lord, and continues in the hearts of His followers as we look to Him to meet our needs, and help us through all of life’s challenges.

Philippians 4:8 Think On Good Things

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:8 has been of such practical help to me over the years. Whenever I feel depressed, discouraged, and generally find my mind is traveling down dark paths that lead to nothing but trouble, I stop and remember this verse. I consider whether I am following its advice. Then I apply its principles. Of course there is nothing so true, noble, honorable, and lovely as Jesus. Reading and meditating upon God’s Word is the place to start. Applying Holy Scripture as a healing balm to our troubled souls is the first step to driving away gloom and discouragement. There are also wonderful works of art, literature, and music. Though not as common as in the past you can still find movies and TV shows that are decent, some even virtuous. And do not forget God’s own artwork–the beauty of the creation around us from the flowers beneath our feet to the blue sky overhead, and the vast and amazing creatures God filled this earth with. Good things abound if we only look for them and open our hearts to receive them.

Philippians 4:9 Practice What He Preached

As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

The verse speaks for itself. Do what is written in the Word of God, and live like the good saints of old. We might also look around us at the faithful people in our lives and emulate their good actions and behavior. But above all, be like Jesus. We have the entire New Testament filled with His teachings and telling about His Life, and within every believer the Holy Spirit guides and teaches us how to live godly lives. Doing these things allows peace of God to flow and remain within us.

Philippians 4:10-14 Giving And Receiving

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked an opportunity to act. Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my difficulty.

I have clumped these verses together for a purpose. There is a gem within, especially verse 13: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. That has long been one of my favorite Bible verses. I carried it written on a card in my pocket when I was a salesman. I remember reading Norman Vincent Peale’s book on positive thinking and that verse was used to cheer the Christian on toward reaching goals and accomplishing great things. And there is truth in that idea, but that is not the whole truth. Not only can God help us accomplish much in good times, He helps us through some very bad times. Look at the verses above, whether rich or poor, suffering need, going hungry, in every circumstance, including the very bad circumstances of life. This verse about doing all things through Him grows to include surviving terrible circumstances. Rather than being just a “cheerleading stanza” the verse becomes an answer to our difficulties. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Who? Jesus. How? His Strength in you and me.

    The scriptures here cover the generosity of fellow Christians supporting the Apostle Paul and his gratitude, but these verses encompass so much more if we pay attention. Be generous, give in whatever way you can to others, and especially toward the work of Christ on this earth. Then be content with what God gives you, including the strength He gives us in and for all circumstances. For in Him we all ultimately thrive and are rich in ways beyond counting.

Philippians 4:15-20 We Meet The Needs Of Others And God Meets Our Needs

You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

These verses amplify the previous ones and add a promise. When we are generous and give to others in need God will certainly meet all of our needs. This is not the prosperity gospel, this is The Gospel. God takes care of His kids. Sowing and reaping, planting and harvest applies to the spiritual world as well as the material world. You have heard the saying “you can’t outgive God” and it is true. But what you need in return for your generosity may not be money or material gain, but a spiritual need, or for some family member in need. Do not limit God in your imagination, and never look at your giving as God merely being a Banker who gives you back $100 for every $10 you give to the ministry. Rather consider your giving as investing in God’s kingdom, for even a cup of cold water given in the Name of Jesus will pay eternal dividends (Mat. 10:42).

Philippians 4:21-22 Final Greetings And Grace

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

What a great ending to this chapter and the book of Philippians itself. Grace. The grace of God permeates the Christian. From the moment He calls us to Himself and we accept, until the day we die and enter into that eternal place of His love and grace. 

Conclusion

Phillipians chapter 4 is a wealth of Biblical wisdom and practice. And the key to understanding the chapter is rejoicing–joy. If we follow the wisdom and teachings found here, joy is the result.

Praying with thanksgiving gives us an object to take us beyond our gripes and frustrations to consider what God has already done for us. Then we can let go of our anxiety as we consider that we serve a faithful God who has come through for us time and again. We maintain our joy and equilibrium as we think about good things, beginning with God and our relationship with Him and the blessings He has poured upon us all. Placing everything into perspective we realize that we can indeed do all things through Christ, survive and endure all things, and even place the end of our days into His capable Hands.

A chapter that began with reconciling and creating peace with two church members takes us on a ride that brings peace back to our own hearts as we realign our needs with giving to others. We learn to let go of our anxieties, and find strength to endure and accomplish God’s will for us. And we stand in the grace He has given us rejoicing in Jesus. This single Bible chapter is yet again a reminder that God’s word is not only rich in wisdom, but that we will never fully plumb its depths. It is His Word that brings us joy and so much more.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for the riches of Your Word! May we all grow wiser as we grow in Your grace. Amen.

Psalm 91

One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

For about as long as I have been reading the Bible, the Book of Psalms has been my favorite Old Testament book. It spans the entire breadth of human emotion and need. It is poetic, musical, and filled with wisdom. Simile and metaphor in the verses stirs not just the imagination but the heart with its beauty.

When I think about my favorite psalms, one that immediately comes to mind is Psalm 91. A wonderful psalm about God’s protection and provision for His children. Satan brought it up when he was tempting Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:6). This is the verse Satan quoted from Psalm 91:

For He will give His angels orders concerning you,

To protect you in all your ways.

On their hands they will lift you up,

So that you do not strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11-12

Satan was tempting Jesus to throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple to prove Jesus was who He said He was. Jesus wisely responded that we do not tempt God by doing something foolish. But the point I want to make is that even our enemy Satan knows Psalm 91 is about God protecting His people.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

My God, in whom I trust!”

For it is He who rescues you from the net of the trapper

And from the deadly plague. Psalm 91:2-3

How wonderful and what a blessing it is to be able to run to God for protection from our enemy no matter what form that enemy might take. God rescues us from the traps and snares the enemy lays in our path, and from wicked people who want to lead us into dangerous places. Yet if we take shelter in the Lord, holding fast to His teachings and guidance, we are kept safe.

He will cover you with His pinions,

And under His wings you may take refuge;

His faithfulness is a shield and wall. Psalm 91:4

Whether the attack comes at night or at midday we are safe when we trust in the Lord. When we refuse to run in terror before our enemies but rather hold tightly to our heavenly Father, we will withstand the storm. We will survive the plague and endure the afflictions and dangers that beset us all around.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night,

Or of the arrow that flies by day;

Of the plague that stalks in darkness,

Or of the destruction that devastates at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side

And ten thousand at your right hand,

But it shall not approach you.

You will only look on with your eyes

And see the retaliation against the wicked. Psalm 91:5-8

God’s children are covered in the sheltering wings of a loving Father. Danger may be all around us. Suffering and trouble may come knocking at our door. But you cannot defeat a child of God, not even in death, for our victory and outcome is assured no matter how dark and dreary things may appear.

For you have made the Lord, my refuge,

The Most High, your dwelling place.

No evil will happen to you,

Nor will any plague come near your tent.

For He will give His angels orders concerning you,

To protect you in all your ways.

On their hands they will lift you up,

So that you do not strike your foot against a stone.

You will walk upon the lion and cobra,

You will trample the young lion and the serpent. Psalm 91:5-14

Christians do not talk about angels much. Perhaps at Christmastime when the Christmas story is told and angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, then angels are mentioned. But beyond that angels are seldom spoken of. Yet who do you think is protecting God's children? That car that barely missed your child, that few moments of delay that saved your life, times without end that you didn't even realize your life had been spared. Angels are dispatched by God when we pray. It was an angel that shut the lion's mouth that kept Danel from being killed (Daniel 6:22). An angel struck down Israel's enemy the Assyrians killing 185,000 of them (2 Kings 19:35). Again an angel appeared to Gideon and set him on his course to become a hero for Israel. The times angels are mentioned in the Bible go on and on. An angel appeared to Mary and told her she would bring the Messiah, our Savior into the world (Luke 1:26-35). I could write long articles about angels and hardly do justice to the subject. My purpose in pointing them out here is so you will never think, not even for a moment, that you have no heavenly help. Consider the following verse from the Book of Hebrews:

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

Yet for those who reject God there can be no expectation of heavenly help and divine protection. Though perhaps a Christian relative is praying for them and God will have mercy and intervene on their behalf, nevertheless it is to the Children of God that so many Biblical promises are made. Promises are made to the Jews in the Old Testament, and to us as the blessings of the Jews came upon us through the New Covenant provided by Jesus Christ our Lord. So yes, the Old Testament promises are ours’ thanks to Jesus. Psalm 91 along with other Psalms and other Old Testament books apply to us when it comes to God’s protection and provision and will for our lives.

“Because he has loved Me, I will save him;

I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.

I will satisfy him with a long life,

And show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16

Psalm 91 is an amazing psalm of protection for God’s people. When you are feeling down, discouraged, and especially when you feel threatened or in danger, or perhaps a friend or family member is in peril, speak and pray Psalm 91 aloud. Strengthen your heart and mind as you consider its words and promises. Let it fill you with courage and faith. For God’s Word is our Sword and Shield, embrace It and be strengthened in His Word.

Jesus Is The Only Way

 For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 (NASB)

Over the years on TV shows, talk shows, and in various places, there has been the suggestion, if not the outright statement, that there are many roads and many ways to heaven.

Yet there is only one road and only one way to heaven. Through and by the Person Jesus Christ.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NASB)

You could be the best man or woman on earth. Your days and nights could be spent doing wonderful charity work, even risking your own life to accomplish that work, but in the end, without Jesus–all your efforts are meaningless.

All of us have become like one who is unclean,

    and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;

we all shrivel up like a leaf,

    and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)

Without a proper understanding of who Jesus is and how important, even pivotal, He is to making us right with God and clearing the path to heaven for us, we can make no progress toward heaven. Our feeble efforts and attempts at goodness leave us spiritually bankrupt when our time on earth is through. No leader, not even the best preacher in the world, can save us. And there are many “false saviors” promising heaven on earth if we just follow them, give them our money, and serve at their altar. We live in a foolish world where many claim to be the path to God either through gimmicks, false religion, cults, or atheism which itself leads to an empty life of serving the god of Self.

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. John 10:7-9

So how do we enter this gate, follow this one true path? It is so ridiculously simple that the very idea is scoffed at, even by some religious people. Here is a truth you should hold onto forever: Jesus Plus anything else is not Christianity. Any time someone tells you that Jesus is not enough, you are in false religion territory. Every Christian cult on this planet will present you with a Jesus+ formula to get to heaven, as if Jesus is not enough to save you.

“The Sinner's Prayer” is presented with variations in Christian churches. But it is essentially this: Jesus, I confess I am a sinner in need of Salvation. Please forgive my sins and come into my heart so I can be Yours forever. Amen.

The Bible puts it this way:

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (NASB)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NASB)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:28 (NASB)

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)

Once you have prayed the Sinner's Prayer and become Born Again, then what?

Ideally you find a church, start reading your Bible, begin praying (talking) to God. You grow as a Christian and your life will bear fruit, will show the changes within you by the actions on the outside. But you must keep in mind it is not right actions, or as the Bible says it “good works” that either save you or keep you saved, that was already accomplished by the finished works of Jesus on the Cross when He died for your and my sins. What right actions do is please God and can show to others that you are now different, your life has changed for the better. Good actions can be a witness to others about how God changed you.

Nevertheless, sin can still be a problem, though hopefully less so for you. Any Christian who says they have never sinned after being saved is a liar. We still live in a world of sin, and in a body prone to the effects of sin. We don’t need to continue to be saved over and over again, but we do need to confess our sins to God when they happen. And with the help of the Holy Spirit who entered us when we became born again we can change our bad behavior with God’s help. Thankfully we have a God who is merciful and patient with us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NASB)

When you are saved, born again, your position in heaven has been secured by Jesus. Sin will be a problem until we get to heaven, but by placing your faith, trust, in Jesus you have been giving a new life and a way to find forgiveness and help on the path Jesus paved for us as we walk toward heaven, to our eternal home.

So don’t be misled by fine sounding religious platitudes. Never accept the lie that there are lots of ways to heaven. While it is true that we each find Jesus in different ways, some at church, some at revivals or other religious meetings, and some even in bars or within prison walls, Jesus is still and will always be the only way anyone enters heaven’s gates.

Which Bible To Use?

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    I have been reading the Bible for fifty years. I used the King James Version for many of those years. Indeed, I didn’t even know there were any other English Bibles until much later when I came across the New King James and New International Version Bibles.

    Since my discovery long ago of the various Bible versions I have wrestled with which Bible version should be my primary Bible. Which one for my “go to” Bible that could fully replace the beloved King James Version Bible, which is now quite dated, but its advantage is that it’s a very literal English version translation.

    In what follows I am primarily focused upon the New Testament Scripture because that is where we draw our doctrines and teachings for the Christian Church today. This in no way means the Old Testament is unimportant, because it is, yet we live under the New Covenant (New Testament). And if your New Testament Bible is both clear and accurate you can be confident the translators did a good job on the Old Testament as well.

    One of the issues I came across in Bible translation was the underlying text, particularly the New Testament Greek text. For years I was a Greek Received Text guy. That is the text used by the King James and New King James Version Bibles. But after years of consideration and study, I now believe the Greek Critical Text is generally the better New Testament Greek text, and it is used in nearly every modern Bible version for the New Testament. 

    There is about 85% agreement between the two main Greek texts used for all New Testament Bibles, and there is No Major Doctrinal Difference between the Greek texts used. So why is this an issue? Because if you haven’t already, eventually you are going to run into “King James Only Churches” and “King James Only People”.

    Those churches who have made the Bible version choice into a “test of fellowship” are making a mistake in my opinion. The church needs no added divisions. There are many worthy Bible versions, and it may be that different versions resonate with different people. Sadly, the Baptist Church I grew up in, was Saved in, and that I dearly loved, is now a King James Only Church. These are not bad people. And there is nothing wrong with choosing the venerable King James Bible as a favorite, even for a church. But it usually doesn’t stop there. On my old church's website I was disappointed to see numerous sermons devoted to why the King James Version is the best and it was clear from the posted messages you had better leave your NIV and other Bible versions at home. Such division based upon a choice of English Bible translation is unhealthy.

   The church I attend today primarily uses the New International Version (NIV) and I agree with the choice. Yet a speaker one Sunday used a New King James Version (NKJV) and no one thought twice about it. I have carried my English Standard Version Bible to church and got no sideways looks. The point is not to make a point of which Bible a Christian or Church uses in order to be accepted.

    Are any Bible translations perfect? No, because humans had a hand in translating them, and humans aren’t perfect. Is God’s Word perfect? Absolutely Yes, in the original autographs the Word of God is perfect and without error. But unless you are fluent in Biblical Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic, you are going to need a translation. Which brings us to choosing a reliable Bible, the best Bible translation we can find.

   The largest factor in Bible translation depends not upon the differences between the Greek Received and Greek Critical text of the New Testament, but rather in the translation philosophy, which is either a Literal, or Thought-For-Thought translation philosophy. You will come across names like Formal Equivalent and Functional Equivalent, also Dynamic Equivalence and Essential Equivalence. Those are all just fancy names for either a Literal or Thought-For-Thought translation philosophy.

    To shorten this up a bit I will get right to the point. I believe the Literal Bible translations are the best. Historically all Bible translators used a Literal Translation approach to the Bible. I want my Bible to be as close to the original Scripture language's words as possible while still being clear and understandable. That brought me to the New American Standard Bible (NASB), with the  English Standard Version (ESV) being a close second. 

   What is the advantage of a Non-Literal Thought-For Thought Bible translation? To be fair they are usually much easier to read and understand. And for a large number of Christians and for preaching and teaching Bibles like the New International Version and Christian Standard Bible are a good choice. Pastors and teachers want very easy to understand Bibles to reach everyone in their churches. And the New International Version (NIV) and Christian Standard Bible (CSB) are not paraphrase Bibles, but tend to be more literal than many of their counterparts. Nevertheless, if you grew up reading the King James Version Bible like me, you may find these less literal Bible versions wanting as I have. 

      We all have favorite Bible versions, and this article is about Bibles in general and I point to my own choice and reason for it in this article. The purpose is to inform. But you need to find a Bible version that speaks most clearly to you and then Read It! For what good is a Bible sitting in a gilded trophy case or elevated to the rafters do if no one reads it?

   My personal choice after fifty years is that I want a strong version that is as close as possible to the original autographs, and that is why my primary Bible is the New American Standard Bible (NASB), with the English Standard Version (ESV) a close second choice. Both are literal Bible translations that speak to me. As mentioned, I grew up with the King James Version (KJV) Bible. It is a literal translation Bible, but my own humble opinion is that the King James Bible’s time has come and gone for many regarding general church use for a majority of Christians in general. The dated language and sentence structure is out of sync with today’s English language and grammar. I still refer to it from time to time and will read from it on occasion. I even prefer it for a specific verse or two. I would fault no one for still using it as their primary Bible. And that is the real point here, get the best information you can, read from several English Bible versions, pray about it, and then make your own choice. You need not even limit yourself to a single choice. I mostly use the NASB and ESV Bibles, but I compare them with other versions as well. Yet the advantage of having one primary Bible choice is to become familiar with it, along with scripture memorization from that one Bible.

    I end with this: No Bible will do you any good if you don’t read it. That is the most important choice of all–to read God's Word!