Institutes of the Christian Religion,
by John Calvin
Book 1
Chapter 7
The authority of the Bible is totally depends on the witness of the Holy Spirit, if the church becomes the judge of the authority of the Bible, Calvin said it is baseless and it is ungodly!
This is the summary of the chapter:
The Bible is accepted by the public as the Word of God. Unless one was ignorant, one will not doubt and destroy the faithfulness of the Speaker.
And because we cannot receive the revelation from God every day, and furthermore the Lord have preserved His truth only in the Bible, so if the believer believe the Bible is from God, and the believers obeyed and submitted to the Bible truth and authority, they are actually hearing God speaking to them.
But, Calvin wrote that at the moment he wrote the Institute, there was a grave error, and it was a trend, the Church become the judge of the authority of the Bible, the authority of the Bible was limited by the church, this is look like what? Calvin said this is wrong, it means that the eternal truth, the unbreakable truth was under the will of man, based on the human wrong perception!
Calvin continues to explain, there were people who despise the Bible, to ask a kind of question like this, “who can guarantee God is the author of the Bible? Who dare to confirm the authentication of the Bible, that the Bible was preserved until today? Who can make us to believe that which book has to be received, and which book has to be removed? Unless the book of the Bible was decided by the Church and his council.” So those who despised the Bible said that, the canon and the honor of the bible was decided by the church.
Calvin, said to refute those argument, and those who argued, he rather used Paul’s saying, and one sentence is enough to refute, he had proven that the church is build on “the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” (Eph 2:20)
Those who criticize that the Bible was under the church, and the content of the Bible was base on the church, this is totally wrong. Calvin stressed here, he said, that church had accepted the Bible, not base on the effort in clarifying arguments, not base on the effort in settling the doubts, nor because the solution for the problems from those arguments, Calvin said clearly, one thing he is very sure of, that the Bible is the truth of God, in the duty of a saint, and in the duty of a devoted Christian, he must respect the Bible.
And to make his point clearer, the Bible has proven it’s truth, it is very clear cut, like black and white, bitter and sweet.
So Calvin said that we must not satisfy about our personal opinions, we must build our foundation in the strongest truth. Like he said before, we have to believe strongly a teaching, first of all, we must believe God is the creator of that teaching.
Even the prophets and apostles did not boast about their wisdom or the ability in preaching, they were even not to argue about philosophy, they did not base their thesis on logic, one thing Calvin stresses that they were only preaching the Holy Name of God, and let the world follow Him.
Calvin said that we must not use the name of God in vain, we must not careless, we must base on truth, and not on personal view.
Calvin said God is speaking in the Bible, so the teachings in the Bible are from the will of God.
Calvin wrote that the Bible is higher than other writings, the dignity of God is involved, we must obey. But there are arguments, trying to argue about the purity of the truth of the Bible, this is wrong, it is unreasonable. They were those who boast about themselves, they were trying to reduce the authority of the Bible, despising God, Calvin said they were producing subtle arguments, and Calvin himself find no difficulty in stopping their mouth…..
Calvin wrote here, that only God can witness for His Word, he explained, that the Bible was trusted because of the working of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the reader.
The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet, this same Spirit, must goes into our hearts, the Holy Spirit making us to believe what the prophet said is actually from God.
Isaiah 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
So he wrote, we must admit, all those who received the teaching from the Holy Spirit, he will agree totally with the Bible, and believe the Bible has it own proof, this is wise, it should not become our argument or problems, because we have the witness of the Holy Spirit, we must believe the Bible.
Calvin lastly wanted us to understand, that is, only with the Holy Spirit witness in our heart, our belief become the true belief, ….Isaiah 54:13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
We must remember, God spoke through Moses’ mouth, Romans 10:7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Conclusion:
No doubt that Calvin was very sure God had preserved the truth in the beginning of this chapter. So as a Calvinist, we must believe the Preservation of the truth of the Bible like John Calvin did!
I felt that, to the VPP reader, The Bible authority is higher than the church, we should not limit the authority of the Bible to few Bible version. John Calvin did not limit the study of the Word of God to any Bible versions!
There are people who despised the Bible in Calvin’s time. Are we?
Calvin said clearly, one thing he is very sure of, that the Bible is the truth of God! The Bibles of Calvin’s time, in this he meant all bible versions, the Latin, LXX and Greek NT is the Word of God….he did not argue which version is perfect, which version is not, he is silent about the VPP.
So it is clear that, Calvin believes God preserved the Truth in the Bible. But he did not go to the extent that God preserved the truth only in a single TR, he never did.
4.11.08
Institutes of the Christian Religion, book 1, chapter 6
Institutes of the Christian Religion
by John Calvin
Book 1
Chapter 6,
To know God as Creator, we need Bible teaching and guidance. This is the summary of chapter 6, in this chapter, Calvin wrote that we may found a lot of evidences in the New Testament, even not to forget the Old Testament, the Law and the Prophets, when we are referring to the New testament, they all have the same witness, that the purpose of the Bible for us is to prove God is our Creator, so that we may not need to try to find Him like finding a God hiding in puzzle.
Calvin was very clear about the message of the Old and New Testament, the Bible is a tool for us to find God, and Calvin never doubt about the Bible is the very Word of God, without this faith, there is no 16th Reformation!
And Calvin continue to stress that if we had strayed from the standard, strayed from the truth, no matter how fast we go, still we cannot reach the destination, Calvin stressed that God’s face is glorious, and as Paul said, “dwelling in an unapproachable light.” (1 Tim 6:16)
And as a theologian, he taught us the truth, in the Bible, and he advised us not to stray from the truth in the Bible. So we can notice that he took the truth seriously and look highly to the Bible he read.
Along this chapter, Calvin continues to write that man is unwise, without the help of the Bible, he cannot know God. He continues to stress that all mankind must depend on the help of the Bible to find God, if we depend on Bible, then, we may not fall into lies and falsehood.
He was saying there is a way falling into lies and falsehood, beware of this! He advised us to read the Bible, and understand the truth in the Bible. Depend to the help of the Bible.
Who is John Calvin?
John Calvin was born in 10 July 1509 and died on 27 May 1564, he was a great theologian, when he wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion, he was nearly 26 years old, Institutes of the Christian Religion was published in Latin in 1536 and in his native French in 1541. If you ask me, the reformation is started from what? It is from a perfect Bible, no, they have no perfect Bible, but from a simple faith in Christ, by the working of the Holy Spirit.
John Calvin was reading what version of Bibles? What kind of Bible he referred to when he wrote the Institutes of the Christian Religion?
Latin Vulgate, Septuagint LXX, Greek OT and the Greek NT? It is?
Furthermore, do no forget, that there are 5000 mss in Greek, and 8000 mss in Latin!
Did John Calvin write anything about the perfect Bible? Or write any thing about The Perfect Greek TR? Did he claim he has the perfect Bible, no!
Even, long before Calvin was born, about 50 year earlier, the printing machine was already invented, in the year 1450 AD, the German printed the Latin Bible, first Bible printed in the world. It never claimed to be perfect! John Calvin never intent to print his perfect Bible, as a theologian, he expounded the truth. From all the resources he had at his time, all kinds of Bible and mss was being referred.
John Calvin did not argue about the words in Latin Vulgate, he did not argue about words in Septuagint, nor did he argue any words in Greek Bible. He never wasted any time on that crucial moment in the Church History, the 16th Century Reformation to pursue a “perfect underlying text.”
I think I am out of this world in writing these! Who will read this?
But he continues to spend his time to expound the truth about God, and he continued to write the 500 pages plus, Institutes of the Christian Religion, without arguing for the perfect Bible. By faith, Calvin believes like most of us, by faith we believing the Bible is the very Word of God! I hope all those who are reading Calvin’s books, will continue to uphold the Bible by faith like John Calvin did!
by John Calvin
Book 1
Chapter 6,
To know God as Creator, we need Bible teaching and guidance. This is the summary of chapter 6, in this chapter, Calvin wrote that we may found a lot of evidences in the New Testament, even not to forget the Old Testament, the Law and the Prophets, when we are referring to the New testament, they all have the same witness, that the purpose of the Bible for us is to prove God is our Creator, so that we may not need to try to find Him like finding a God hiding in puzzle.
Calvin was very clear about the message of the Old and New Testament, the Bible is a tool for us to find God, and Calvin never doubt about the Bible is the very Word of God, without this faith, there is no 16th Reformation!
And Calvin continue to stress that if we had strayed from the standard, strayed from the truth, no matter how fast we go, still we cannot reach the destination, Calvin stressed that God’s face is glorious, and as Paul said, “dwelling in an unapproachable light.” (1 Tim 6:16)
And as a theologian, he taught us the truth, in the Bible, and he advised us not to stray from the truth in the Bible. So we can notice that he took the truth seriously and look highly to the Bible he read.
Along this chapter, Calvin continues to write that man is unwise, without the help of the Bible, he cannot know God. He continues to stress that all mankind must depend on the help of the Bible to find God, if we depend on Bible, then, we may not fall into lies and falsehood.
He was saying there is a way falling into lies and falsehood, beware of this! He advised us to read the Bible, and understand the truth in the Bible. Depend to the help of the Bible.
Who is John Calvin?
John Calvin was born in 10 July 1509 and died on 27 May 1564, he was a great theologian, when he wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion, he was nearly 26 years old, Institutes of the Christian Religion was published in Latin in 1536 and in his native French in 1541. If you ask me, the reformation is started from what? It is from a perfect Bible, no, they have no perfect Bible, but from a simple faith in Christ, by the working of the Holy Spirit.
John Calvin was reading what version of Bibles? What kind of Bible he referred to when he wrote the Institutes of the Christian Religion?
Latin Vulgate, Septuagint LXX, Greek OT and the Greek NT? It is?
Furthermore, do no forget, that there are 5000 mss in Greek, and 8000 mss in Latin!
Did John Calvin write anything about the perfect Bible? Or write any thing about The Perfect Greek TR? Did he claim he has the perfect Bible, no!
Even, long before Calvin was born, about 50 year earlier, the printing machine was already invented, in the year 1450 AD, the German printed the Latin Bible, first Bible printed in the world. It never claimed to be perfect! John Calvin never intent to print his perfect Bible, as a theologian, he expounded the truth. From all the resources he had at his time, all kinds of Bible and mss was being referred.
John Calvin did not argue about the words in Latin Vulgate, he did not argue about words in Septuagint, nor did he argue any words in Greek Bible. He never wasted any time on that crucial moment in the Church History, the 16th Century Reformation to pursue a “perfect underlying text.”
I think I am out of this world in writing these! Who will read this?
But he continues to spend his time to expound the truth about God, and he continued to write the 500 pages plus, Institutes of the Christian Religion, without arguing for the perfect Bible. By faith, Calvin believes like most of us, by faith we believing the Bible is the very Word of God! I hope all those who are reading Calvin’s books, will continue to uphold the Bible by faith like John Calvin did!
3.11.08
A Somber Warning !
Such a realistic facing of the issue of how far Satan and demons can go in the life and experience of a truly born again believer is bound to stir up opposition in some quarters. But let us, as God’s people, be careful that we do not listen to the evil one. He would blind us to the extent of his power and deceive us as to exactly how far he can go in the case of God’s people when they sin blatantly and scandalously.
Satan knows how far he can go. Let us be sure that we know as much as he knows on this score if we hope to get the better of him in the gigantic battle that is looming as the occult age advances and he demonic era, foretold in the end of time, close upon us like a thick fog.
Certainly Satan would like us to underestimate what he can do and how far he can go. How delighted he is to have us theorize in a theological dream world that does not face the relevant Scriptures fully and fairly nor come to grips with the facts of experience realistically. How gleeful he must feel if he can cast the halo of supposed orthodoxy over the paradise so that we will be unable to sound a full warning to the perils of occult contamination and other willful sins, as well as the demonic bondage that follows.
Surely we who reject the bugbear of the insecurity of the believer must honestly face the full issues of security and set forth fully exactly what the power of darkness can do to serious sinning saints. The result, far from doing harm, will do nothing but good. All sinners, including sinning saints, must be warned of the consequences of sin. Satan would not have it so. But let us, as God’s people, not side with him on this momentous issue.
Quoted from: Merrill F. Unger, “What Demons Can Do to Saints,” The Moody Bible Institute of Chichago, 1991, 141-167.
Throughout this book the emphasis has been placed upon the fact that demonic power exerted upon a believer can be various degrees of intensity. Stress has been laid upon the necessity of this fact because of the varying power, degree of wickedness, number, and actual control exercised by the spirits.
"Be sober, watch, pray and search our hearts!"
Satan knows how far he can go. Let us be sure that we know as much as he knows on this score if we hope to get the better of him in the gigantic battle that is looming as the occult age advances and he demonic era, foretold in the end of time, close upon us like a thick fog.
Certainly Satan would like us to underestimate what he can do and how far he can go. How delighted he is to have us theorize in a theological dream world that does not face the relevant Scriptures fully and fairly nor come to grips with the facts of experience realistically. How gleeful he must feel if he can cast the halo of supposed orthodoxy over the paradise so that we will be unable to sound a full warning to the perils of occult contamination and other willful sins, as well as the demonic bondage that follows.
Surely we who reject the bugbear of the insecurity of the believer must honestly face the full issues of security and set forth fully exactly what the power of darkness can do to serious sinning saints. The result, far from doing harm, will do nothing but good. All sinners, including sinning saints, must be warned of the consequences of sin. Satan would not have it so. But let us, as God’s people, not side with him on this momentous issue.
Quoted from: Merrill F. Unger, “What Demons Can Do to Saints,” The Moody Bible Institute of Chichago, 1991, 141-167.
Throughout this book the emphasis has been placed upon the fact that demonic power exerted upon a believer can be various degrees of intensity. Stress has been laid upon the necessity of this fact because of the varying power, degree of wickedness, number, and actual control exercised by the spirits.
"Be sober, watch, pray and search our hearts!"
“White magic” in the Christian world.
A young missionary was working in a third world country, there he met a man, people called him “a pastor” or “a priest” of a Christian church, he is a tongue speaker, a miracle seeker, a health and wealth believer, and he called himself as a faith healer and prayer worrier. He is recognized by those big churches, he said he was praying for big bosses, politicians, and CEO and they were all blessed by his prayers. The young missionary and the priest knew each other few years in that town.
One day the priest came to see the young missionary, he told the young missionary, he has a trouble with a developer of a housing project. The Christian developer, refused to return the down payment to the priest, because the priest could not finance his house, he could not buy the house, the priest asked the developer to return the down payment, he had stayed in the house nearly one year. The developer refused, they had a big quarrel. And he left the developer’s office with anger. The priest came to tell the missionary about the quarrel.
After few days, he came to tell the missionary, that the developer had agreed to return the down payment, and the missionary was curios about the event, and he asked the priest, “What happened?” It was told by the priest to the missionary, since the developer refused to return the down payment, the he was very angry, in anger he brought a bottle of olive oil, and he went to Christian developer, and there he prayed, and mumbling, and then he pour the olive oil in front the developer’s office, the young missionary asked him, what is the meaning of pouring the oil there, the priest told the young missionary, that he was anointing the office, since the developer refused to return the money. He wanted to pray for the developer’s business, asking God to scare the developer.
The developer was scared that something bad will happen to his business, after seeing the Christian priest pour oil and praying in anger, there in front his office, so he dicided to return the money to the priest. The priest was happy about his doing.
The young missionary felt the Christian priest had done an abomination to the developer, praying like that, acting like a “medium of occult,” his prayers seem like a curse to the developer’s business. Faith healer and wealth preacher sometimes practicing “white magic!” The minister of God’s Word is to encourage and helping the believers to grow in truth and love, until to be like Christ.
1 Tim 4:1-2,
Matthew 24:24
2 Thessalonians 2:6-7
Revelation 9:20-21
One day the priest came to see the young missionary, he told the young missionary, he has a trouble with a developer of a housing project. The Christian developer, refused to return the down payment to the priest, because the priest could not finance his house, he could not buy the house, the priest asked the developer to return the down payment, he had stayed in the house nearly one year. The developer refused, they had a big quarrel. And he left the developer’s office with anger. The priest came to tell the missionary about the quarrel.
After few days, he came to tell the missionary, that the developer had agreed to return the down payment, and the missionary was curios about the event, and he asked the priest, “What happened?” It was told by the priest to the missionary, since the developer refused to return the down payment, the he was very angry, in anger he brought a bottle of olive oil, and he went to Christian developer, and there he prayed, and mumbling, and then he pour the olive oil in front the developer’s office, the young missionary asked him, what is the meaning of pouring the oil there, the priest told the young missionary, that he was anointing the office, since the developer refused to return the money. He wanted to pray for the developer’s business, asking God to scare the developer.
The developer was scared that something bad will happen to his business, after seeing the Christian priest pour oil and praying in anger, there in front his office, so he dicided to return the money to the priest. The priest was happy about his doing.
The young missionary felt the Christian priest had done an abomination to the developer, praying like that, acting like a “medium of occult,” his prayers seem like a curse to the developer’s business. Faith healer and wealth preacher sometimes practicing “white magic!” The minister of God’s Word is to encourage and helping the believers to grow in truth and love, until to be like Christ.
1 Tim 4:1-2,
Matthew 24:24
2 Thessalonians 2:6-7
Revelation 9:20-21
基督教要义 加尔文著 Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
目录
一五五九年最后修正版作者自序 题献
全书纲要
卷 一
论对创造者上帝的认识
第 一 章 认识上帝与认识我们自己之间的关系
第 二 章 对上帝的认识之性质与趋势
第 三 章 认识上帝是人心的禀赋
第 四 章 这认识的败坏消灭，半由于无知，半由于邪恶
第 五 章 对上帝的认识表现在宇宙的构造与继续管理中
第 六 章 认识上帝为造化主需凭圣经的指导和教训
第 七 章 圣经的权威必须完全建立于圣灵的见证，以教会的判断作为圣经权威的根据是不敬虔的虚构
第 八 章 圣经之真确性的理性证据
第 九 章 狂妄者以启示代替圣经，是破坏一切敬虔原则——从略
第 十 章 圣经纠正迷信，以真神对抗异邦的众假神
第十一章 以形像加诸上帝是非法的；拜偶像就是背叛真神
第十二章 论上帝与偶像有别，使人知道唯独敬拜他
第十三章 圣经从最初即指示，神的一个本体包含三位
第十四章 由于世界的创造，圣经辨明真神与假神
第十五章 人受造时的情形，灵魂的功能，神的形像，自由意志，原来天性的纯洁
第十六章 上帝以他的权能保守并支持宇宙，又按他的旨意统治宇宙的一切
第十七章 这教义须怎样应用才对我们有益？
第十八章 上帝利用恶人的行为和心思执行他的审判，自己却仍然纯洁无损
卷 二
论对在基督里的救赎主上帝的认识，这认识是首先藉律法显明给族长们，然后藉福音显明给我们的
第 一 章 亚当的堕落是人类受咒诅并从原始状态退化的原因——原罪论
第 二 章 人现在被剥夺了意志自由，并处于悲惨的奴役下
第 三 章 凡出于败坏的人性的，都得定罪
第 四 章 上帝在人心中的运行
第 五 章 斥支持自由意志的论点
第 六 章 基督为沉沦者的救赎
第 七 章 律法的赐与，不是要局限古人于律法之内，乃是要激励他们在基督里得救的盼望，直到他来临
第 八 章 释道德律
第 九 章 基督虽在律法之下为犹太人所认识，却只在福音里才清楚地显现出来
第 十 章 新旧约的类似
第十一章 新旧约的差异
第十二章 基督为完成中保的任务，不得不降世为人
第十三章 论基督之取得真实的人性
第十四章 神性人性的联合何以能组成中保的位格？
第十五章 要明白基督从父所受的使命，和他所给我们的益惠，必须思考基督作为“先知”、“君王”和“祭司”的三种任务
第十六章 基督执行救主的职责赎回我们；他的受死、复活和升天
第十七章 基督的功劳确会为我们博取了恩典和拯救
卷 三
论领受基督恩典的方式及其益处，和随恩典而来的效果
第 一 章 圣灵暗中的运行使有关基督的一切都成为我们的益惠
第 二 章 信仰的意义及其特性
第 三 章 论因信重生，兼论悔改
第 四 章 经院派对悔改的曲解距离福音真理甚远；论忏悔与补罪
第 五 章 补充补罪说的赎罪票和炼狱
第 六 章 论基督徒的生活，兼论圣经所提示的劝勉
第 七 章 基督徒的生活——克己
第 八 章 背负十架乃是克己的一部分
第 九 章 默念来生
第 十 章 论如何善用今生
第十一章 因信称义之名与实的界说
第十二章 上帝的审判与因信白白称义的关系
第十三章 白白称义所必须遵行的两件事
第十四章 称义的开始与继续进步
第十五章 夸耀行为乃是窃夺上帝称人为义所应得的光荣，并破坏拯救的确据
第十六章 驳斥罗马教徒反对因信称义说之谬论
第十七章 律法的应许与福音的应许之间的一致性
第十八章 论赏赐的应许不能当作因行为称义的证据
第十九章 论基督徒的自由
第二十章 论祈祷——信心的主要操练，每日接受神恩的媒介
第廿一章 论永恒的拣选，即神预定某些人得救，某些人灭亡
第廿二章 预定论在圣经上的证据
第廿三章 斥诽谤预定论之谬说
第廿四章 拣选由神的呼召而证实。被弃绝者的灭亡是自己所招致的
第廿五章 论最后的复活
卷 四
论上帝召我们与基督相交，并将我们保守在其中所用的外在工具
第 一 章 论真教会为众信徒之母，因而我们必须与之联合
第 二 章 真教会和假教会的比较
第 三 章 教会的教师和牧师及其选举和职务
第 四 章 古代教会的情况，和教皇制出现以前教会所用的体制
第 五 章 论古代的教政被教皇的专制所败坏——从略
第 六 章 论罗马教皇首位
第 七 章 论教皇权如何演进到现在的崇高地位并如何败坏了教会的自由和治理——从略
第 八 章 论教会对信条的权力有限并论教皇滥用权力败坏了纯正的教义——从略
第 九 章 论教会会议及其权威
第 十 章 论教皇及其党徒用以虐待人身心的立法权——从略
第十一章 论教会的司法权及其在教皇制度下的滥用——从略
第十二章 论教会的训戒及其对制裁和革除的主要用处
第十三章 论誓愿：仓促发愿之弊
第十四章 论圣礼
第十五章 论洗礼
第十六章 论婴孩洗礼符合基督所设立的洗礼及其记号的性质
第十七章 论圣餐及其所赐恩惠
第十八章 论教皇的弥撒不仅亵渎而且毁灭圣餐
第十九章 论误称为圣礼的五种仪式及其性质
第二十章 论政府
加尔文约翰重要短论三篇
一 答沙杜里多书
二 圣餐短论
三 论教会改革之必要
一五五九年最后修正版作者自序 题献
全书纲要
卷 一
论对创造者上帝的认识
第 一 章 认识上帝与认识我们自己之间的关系
第 二 章 对上帝的认识之性质与趋势
第 三 章 认识上帝是人心的禀赋
第 四 章 这认识的败坏消灭，半由于无知，半由于邪恶
第 五 章 对上帝的认识表现在宇宙的构造与继续管理中
第 六 章 认识上帝为造化主需凭圣经的指导和教训
第 七 章 圣经的权威必须完全建立于圣灵的见证，以教会的判断作为圣经权威的根据是不敬虔的虚构
第 八 章 圣经之真确性的理性证据
第 九 章 狂妄者以启示代替圣经，是破坏一切敬虔原则——从略
第 十 章 圣经纠正迷信，以真神对抗异邦的众假神
第十一章 以形像加诸上帝是非法的；拜偶像就是背叛真神
第十二章 论上帝与偶像有别，使人知道唯独敬拜他
第十三章 圣经从最初即指示，神的一个本体包含三位
第十四章 由于世界的创造，圣经辨明真神与假神
第十五章 人受造时的情形，灵魂的功能，神的形像，自由意志，原来天性的纯洁
第十六章 上帝以他的权能保守并支持宇宙，又按他的旨意统治宇宙的一切
第十七章 这教义须怎样应用才对我们有益？
第十八章 上帝利用恶人的行为和心思执行他的审判，自己却仍然纯洁无损
卷 二
论对在基督里的救赎主上帝的认识，这认识是首先藉律法显明给族长们，然后藉福音显明给我们的
第 一 章 亚当的堕落是人类受咒诅并从原始状态退化的原因——原罪论
第 二 章 人现在被剥夺了意志自由，并处于悲惨的奴役下
第 三 章 凡出于败坏的人性的，都得定罪
第 四 章 上帝在人心中的运行
第 五 章 斥支持自由意志的论点
第 六 章 基督为沉沦者的救赎
第 七 章 律法的赐与，不是要局限古人于律法之内，乃是要激励他们在基督里得救的盼望，直到他来临
第 八 章 释道德律
第 九 章 基督虽在律法之下为犹太人所认识，却只在福音里才清楚地显现出来
第 十 章 新旧约的类似
第十一章 新旧约的差异
第十二章 基督为完成中保的任务，不得不降世为人
第十三章 论基督之取得真实的人性
第十四章 神性人性的联合何以能组成中保的位格？
第十五章 要明白基督从父所受的使命，和他所给我们的益惠，必须思考基督作为“先知”、“君王”和“祭司”的三种任务
第十六章 基督执行救主的职责赎回我们；他的受死、复活和升天
第十七章 基督的功劳确会为我们博取了恩典和拯救
卷 三
论领受基督恩典的方式及其益处，和随恩典而来的效果
第 一 章 圣灵暗中的运行使有关基督的一切都成为我们的益惠
第 二 章 信仰的意义及其特性
第 三 章 论因信重生，兼论悔改
第 四 章 经院派对悔改的曲解距离福音真理甚远；论忏悔与补罪
第 五 章 补充补罪说的赎罪票和炼狱
第 六 章 论基督徒的生活，兼论圣经所提示的劝勉
第 七 章 基督徒的生活——克己
第 八 章 背负十架乃是克己的一部分
第 九 章 默念来生
第 十 章 论如何善用今生
第十一章 因信称义之名与实的界说
第十二章 上帝的审判与因信白白称义的关系
第十三章 白白称义所必须遵行的两件事
第十四章 称义的开始与继续进步
第十五章 夸耀行为乃是窃夺上帝称人为义所应得的光荣，并破坏拯救的确据
第十六章 驳斥罗马教徒反对因信称义说之谬论
第十七章 律法的应许与福音的应许之间的一致性
第十八章 论赏赐的应许不能当作因行为称义的证据
第十九章 论基督徒的自由
第二十章 论祈祷——信心的主要操练，每日接受神恩的媒介
第廿一章 论永恒的拣选，即神预定某些人得救，某些人灭亡
第廿二章 预定论在圣经上的证据
第廿三章 斥诽谤预定论之谬说
第廿四章 拣选由神的呼召而证实。被弃绝者的灭亡是自己所招致的
第廿五章 论最后的复活
卷 四
论上帝召我们与基督相交，并将我们保守在其中所用的外在工具
第 一 章 论真教会为众信徒之母，因而我们必须与之联合
第 二 章 真教会和假教会的比较
第 三 章 教会的教师和牧师及其选举和职务
第 四 章 古代教会的情况，和教皇制出现以前教会所用的体制
第 五 章 论古代的教政被教皇的专制所败坏——从略
第 六 章 论罗马教皇首位
第 七 章 论教皇权如何演进到现在的崇高地位并如何败坏了教会的自由和治理——从略
第 八 章 论教会对信条的权力有限并论教皇滥用权力败坏了纯正的教义——从略
第 九 章 论教会会议及其权威
第 十 章 论教皇及其党徒用以虐待人身心的立法权——从略
第十一章 论教会的司法权及其在教皇制度下的滥用——从略
第十二章 论教会的训戒及其对制裁和革除的主要用处
第十三章 论誓愿：仓促发愿之弊
第十四章 论圣礼
第十五章 论洗礼
第十六章 论婴孩洗礼符合基督所设立的洗礼及其记号的性质
第十七章 论圣餐及其所赐恩惠
第十八章 论教皇的弥撒不仅亵渎而且毁灭圣餐
第十九章 论误称为圣礼的五种仪式及其性质
第二十章 论政府
加尔文约翰重要短论三篇
一 答沙杜里多书
二 圣餐短论
三 论教会改革之必要
30.10.08
The Book of Hebrew with VPP
This book of Hebrew is written to the brethren who are going to face trials and troubles.
The writer did not put down his name, so there are many views who are the real writer even in the early church. My dear brother, even the early church also cannot certify who is the actual writer, how about us. Do not quarrel about this; accept the Word of God by faith. Some said the writer is Paul, some said Apollos. No matter who is the writer, his intend of writing is to say, Christianity is higher than Judaism.
1:2, Jesus Christ was giving the revelation.
1:6, “And again, when He bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, He saith, and let all the angels of God worship Him.” These words are not in Hebrew Text.
This is a quotation from Psalm 97:7 and Deut 32:43, found in copies of LXX, Septuagint.
The Hebrew Old Testament has been translated into Greek, by 70 translators, before the Lord has been born in the earth, before the Word became flesh. LXX was there!
The LXX is not a perfect translation, but the writer of Hebrew sees LXX as God’s Word, he read and quoted from LXX, rather than the Hebrew Old Testament, he refers the LXX in writing the Book of Hebrew.
Are NKJV, CUV, NIV, and ESV not God’s Word?
1:7, this verse is quoted from Psalm 104:4, it is in Septuagint, LXX.
1:10-12, these verses are taken from Psalm 102:25-27, they are in LXX.
The writer of the Book of Hebrew sees that LXX is the “Word of God!” even thought it is not perfectly translated.
1:13, this verse taken from Psalm 110.
2:3, the GOSPEL MESSAGE WAS PREACHED AND DECLARED BY JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. JESUS CHRIST DECLARED the TRUTH! HE DID NOT ARGUE ABOUT WORDS.
2:11, Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call them, “brother,” even Christ united with sinners. Jesus Christ is perfect, but He is willingly to stay with imperfect people like us.
Why Jesus Christ wanted to unite with them? Because they had received the truth. (Mark 8:38).
2:12-13, these words are taken from LXX, quoted from Psalm 22:22, Isaiah 12:2 and 8:18.
2:14, Satan tempted man to fall into temptation, and so they may fall into sins. Sins bring death (Rom 7:11), Jesus became flesh, and He resurrected from death, He had victoriously won over death (1 Cor 15:55)
2:17, Christ became like his brothers in every respect, so that he may become a high priest for them, and even to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Jesus Christ died for his own brothers.
2:18, Jesus Christ is able to help those who are being tempted like us.
3:1-4:13, these are the commentary about Psalm 95:7-11, consider Jesus, think about Him.
3:6, we must hold fast our confidence.
3:7, the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.” The Holy Spirit says again, in this epistle, in Hebrew 3:15, and 4:7.
Today! This is a warning! Israelites had put God to test, are we?
Testing God with the VPP? Playing with God’s Words!
3:12 do not let anyone fall away from God! Unbelieving heart!
3:13, exhort one another every day! Today!
3:14, hold our ORIGINAL CONFIDENCE FIRM TO THE END.
If the theologians repented, we must restore them into brotherhood, otherwise they will be like the generations in the wilderness.
3:16, there was a generation who heard the message, but rebelled for 40 years, and they all died in the wilderness.
Do not forget!
Even Moses had the perfect Word of God, the 2 tablets of the stones, with God’s perfect Word, but he was refused to enter the Promised Land, Moses was punished. At the end God saved his soul, he was saved by grace.
Are any better than Moses, even to pursue the perfect underlying text!
You intention is good, but what is the profit?
If we do not receive Christ, we will all die in our sins.
Are we any better in reading KJV? Better than those who read NKJV, CUV, and NIV?
Do you think God is only going to choose, and save only those who are reading the KJV!
Are we not sinner? Who are reading the KJV? Like those sinner who read NKJV!
4:2, we all must hear the message by faith.
4:3, come to Jesus Christ today, to find “rest” in Him. (Matthew 11:28-29)
4:4-5, our spirits need rest.
4:6-7, Harden not our heart, there will be no peace, until we repented!
4:11, “spoudazo” speedily!
4:12-13, The Word of God is in the Bible, and the Word of God also in Jesus Christ, (John 1:1-4, 14).
The Word of God is
1.Living and active.
2.sharper than any two-edged sword
3.piercing to the division of soul and of spirit,
4.piercing to the division of joints and marrows,
5.Discerning the thoughts and intention of hearts.
Let the Word of God pierce us.
4:14, Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He is higher than us. He is our high Priest. He “sumpatheo” us, He knew all our sufferings.
5:2-3, that is why Jesus sacrifices Himself for us.
5:7, Jesus prayed with loud cries and tears in Gethsemane? The disciples heard those cries and tears.
5:8, next, He suffered on the Cross in obedient.
5:12-13, distinguishes good from evil. Maturity is a growth from being only a child.
6:1-8, we must continue to move from the foundation, pursue perfection!
These are the beginning of Christianity:
1.repentance
2.trusting God
3.washings or baptisms, (sprinklings or immerse)
4.laying of hands, (healings or ordinations of a pastors)
5.resurrection of the dead
6.eternal judgment
We must continue to grow from these!
Here are warnings for those hearers of God’s Word, they were educated in Christianity, but they are not saved.
Even they were enlightened, they saw the glorious Gospel, but they did not receive the gospel, rather they reject the gospel. They had tasted the goodness of Christ, but they did not take in the Christ into their hearts. Even they were touched and rebuked by the Holy Spirit, but they rejected the Holy Spirit in coming to the hearts. They heard the preaching of message on every Sunday morning, afternoon sermon and night sermon, they said the sermons are good, but they did not believe the messages. They even knew there is an eternal judgment coming, that God will judge the wicked, but they still do not want to return to God.
They are the churchgoers, some of them are the elders, pastors, theologians, they called themselves “Christians,” they had every good opportunities and experiences, but they still run away from the truth. In those harden hearts, God the Holy Spirit, will not work in it anymore. They become the enemy of Christ, they wanted to nail the Christ on cross again.
They are the seeds thrown in the thorn, choked; .its end is to be burned. They lost their salvation forever!
So some will eternally lose their opportunities to believe in Christ, the Savior, and they fall into the eternal hell. They are the fall away. “Methodist is saying that these people, seeker of faith, will lost their salvation forever, because they continue to reject the gospel, this is true, they had not fully receive the salvation in the beginning.”
They are the professor of faith, profess with their lips. Their hearts do not believe in Christ.
6:9, the writer said to the readers, they are called “brethren,” “God is still working in them,” so they are not lost forever like the previous churchgoer and faith seekers.
These brothers are professing with their lips, the Lord as their personal savior, and their hearts also believe the Christ is their Lord and God Savior. They are saved.
6:11-15, the writer gave an example of true believer, Abraham, even though he was not perfect, he had taken wives, Sarah and Hagar, he later chased away the slave wife. Abraham by faith was called righteous. The just must live by faith!
6:19, we had an anchor in Christ!
6:20, Christ is our forerunner of our faith, and He opened a lively and new way for us.
7:5, THE LIVITES ACCORDING TO THE LAW IN OLD TESTAMENT, THEY DO NOT HAVE PROCESSION OF PROPERTY, THEY LIVED BY FAITH. (Num 18:21-24)
7:12-26, Jesus Christ is better and higher than the Levites, human high priest can not save himself, we needed a perfect Priest, the lamb of God, and the Son of God, Christ dies for us even when we are yet sinner. He is our High Priest forever He is praying for us.
8:1, to expound the Old Testament in one verse, the writer said, “We had a high priest, seated on the right hand of the throne.”
8:5, this verse is taken from Exodus 25:40, the wording is from LXX. Greek OT.
8:6, in Christ, we had a better “covenant,” LXX, a better promise. In LXX, the Greek translated Hebrew “covenant”, (Joshua 9:6, Judges 2:2, 1 Samuel 23:18)
Christ came, is to save sinners, descended, crucified, resurrected, He is the OT and NT, He is even better than the Bible. He is the one we must look for after reading the Bible, He is the Perfect Word in fresh, He is better than all the MSS!
Why God preserved all those 5000 plus New Testament MSS? Until man can put them together and translated into the all kinds of languages. Why? So that we may find that perfect way, perfect truth, perfect life, The Lord Jesus Christ. He is better than all the scriptures put together, even the Perfect Bible.
9:1, the writer looked highly the Old Testament! He mentioned the Israelites wondering in the wilderness, and even there was Moses’ tabernacle, Jesus Christ is the better sacrifice, better tabernacle, better than everything, anything on earth.
Why Christ is better, because:
9:12, Christ’s atonement once and for all.
9:14, Christ’s blood purified our conscience, 70x70 purified? It is 100% purified!
9:15, Christ is the mediator.
9:22, without the shedding of Christ’s blood there is no remission of sins. Forgiveness is given because Christ died for us.
10:5-6, Even Jesus was quoted from LXX, He says these words, and actually it is the reading of Psalm 40:6-8, the wording is different from Hebrew Text, nearer to LXX.
Scholar found that in New Testament, there are few hundreds places are quotation from LXX.
The people in Christ’s time, they were using the LXX, Greek translation of OT, rather than referring to the Original Text, the Hebrew Text. They were using LXX rather than Hebrew Original Text. Jesus Christ never rebuked them in using the LXX.
Jesus Said, “even to the jots and titles, the Bible is fulfilled!”
Like the Chinese brother today, usually they will read the CUV, rather than asking themselves to read KJV, or the Hebrew OT, the Greek NT.
The LXX translations are different from the original text, so LXX is different from Hebrew Text. LXX wording is not like Hebrew Text. LXX is translated nearer to the original meaning. (Compared 1 Cor 14:21 and Isaiah 28:11-12)
But the LXX reader at Christ’s time never doubt anything about the Word of God, they sees LXX is the Word of God, and they subdued to the authority of the Old Testament in LXX Greek translation.
Even though there are changes made in LXX, the meaning more or less nearer to the original meaning, (compared Gal 4:30, Gen 21:10)
Sometimes there are word by word translations, literally. (Compared Matt 2:15, 22:43-45, John 10:34, 19:36-37, Romans 4:3)
Sometimes the writer mix the verses together, like (Romans 11:26-27, compare Isaiah 59:20-21, 27:9)
Sometimes they quoted loosely like Romans 9:27 from Isaiah 10:22-23.
Sometimes like Mathew quoting Micah, Matthew 2:6 from Micah 5:2.
The Bible is the Word of God, if there is the truth of gospel, the truth of the Gospel certifies the Word is true, the Bible is inspired!
10:11-14, all the enemies are defeated by Christ in the end.
10:16-18, quoted from Jeremiah 31:33-34.
10:19, by faith, we can come nearer, nearer, closer and closer to God, through Jesus Christ’s blood.
10:23, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for He who is promised is faithful.
10:24, stir up one another to love and good works. This is why Christ die for,..this is why we are called Christian!
10:25, and so we meet together in Christ, we called it fellowship, for encouragement, and not argue about words, we must not quarrel about words, even words from the Bible, we should not quarrel, encouraging one another, instead. The Day is drawing near, there is war and rumor of wars, even wars in our midst, but forget not to encourage!
10:26, there is a warning, who deliberately sinning, all kinds of sins, falling way from the truth, deliberately sinning is including those quarrel about words, wavering, wars in our midst, and those words and things which discourage others.
10:29, those who furthermore go beyond that, quarrels and quarrels, even has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant, by which he was sanctify, and has outrage the Holy Spirit of grace!
How severe is the punishment for those who do those deliberate sinning? The Holy Spirit has not He called you to encourage other from the day He called you into ministry? Did not He has spoke this clearly in the Word of God, and how about we forget this, and we continue until raising wars among us, even split the whole congregation?
When, Moses, Miriam, and Aaron, they were quarrels among themselves, in the wilderness for authority, they dare not to split the whole congregation of Israel. They are one, until King David, he fall into sin, in the time of Solomon, Solomon fell into gross idolatry. Next, the Monarch divided into two, in his son, Rehoboam, (sound like BOMB, 13017713). What lesson we can learn from these people? Spiritually?
10:30, Quoted from Deuteronomy 32:35, another example of different wordings.
10:32, the believers were called to endure suffering.
10:33, sometime they were publicly reproach and afflicted, bad treated. This is also like Christ’s suffering. Inside out, the persecutions, they were called to live beyond life, even death.
10:34, until the plundering of their property, but they knew they had a better possession in heaven. Never mind!
10:35, be confident!
10:38, “the just shall live by faith,” taken from Habakkuk 2:3-4, LXX, and written again in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11.
10:39, we must believe!
11:1, to live by faith is not easy. Have Faith in God.
11:4, Abel by faith, give offering to God, consider better! Faith is better!
11:13-16, by faith the pilgrims and travelers looking for a better heavenly city.
11:21, by faith, Jacob worship God, “by leaning on the staff”, it is quoted from Genesis 47:31, from LXX.
11:26, Moses looked down on riches and treasures in Egypt.
12:1, run the race ahead, lay aside sins.
12:2, endured the cross, the glory of Christ.
12:3, Jesus Christ had this “antilogia,” contradiction from sinners.
12:4-6, grow spiritually, chasten by God.
12:7-8, God’s children, beloved.
12:9-10, partaker of holiness from God.
12:11, peaceable fruit is given!
12:12, lift up the hands, pray! Leg, go for gospel preaching!
12:13, do not give up, the end of life is eternal life!
12:14, peace with all men, and without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.
12:15, any root of bitterness springs up trouble you? Defiled?
Root of bitterness in my heart, so it grows the tree of bitterness, and bear the fruit of bitterness! It continues to choke my life! And the root spread silently.
Hates, prides, fighting, quarrellings, is growing in me. My family, fellowship and society are troubled, defiled, destructions. May God forgive me!
12:16-17, Fornicator! They are the defectors and disobedient.
When a man becomes a profane person, more than the speech, it is about his life, Esau sold his birth right, and he became “profane,” to treat something sacred as common He treat his birth right as common. And he sold his birth right, exchanged it for food. He even wanted to kill Jacob!
Which is more profane? Treating birth right as common or treating the Word of God as common.
Mistreating God’s Word, it is sinful or not sinful?
My dear friend, so you treat God’s word as common? If so, afraid that, spiritually, you will become like Esau, profane! Not carnal, but profane.
All men are liars? Be honest!
Do you treat VPP as a sacred teaching?
Do you treat something sacred like Chinese Union Version as common?
Do you treat NKJV as common? Do not do that!
Do you treat ESV as common? Do you?
For more than 20 years, a man professing Christ as his savior, as a seeker of truth, he dare not to say that CUV is not sacred, dare not to say Chinese Union Version is common. Even he went on to study KJV, NKJV, NIV…dare not to say they are common, they are treated as sacred! He afraid he is judging the Word of God wrongly. All translations are not perfect.
If you look on that “underlying text,” a TR from KJV, as sacred, as perfect, you must not look down on that CUV as common! It is wrong! Totally wrong!
Esau afterward was rejected, situation was irrevocable. Esau missed the blessing! When he treat the sacred as common! He did not receive grace.
12:18-22, Mount Sinai, and Mount Zion, which one you choose?
Mount Sinai, Moses received the Sacred Stone, the Ten Commandments, and the gift of covenant of law.
On Mount Zion, Christians received the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior, giving covenant of grace.
12:23, there are names written in heaven.
12:24, the Blood of Christ speaks better things.
12:25, God speak from heaven. Warning.
12:26, God shake the heaven! Quoted from LXX, Haggai 2:6.
12:28-29, Since you have received the kingdom (Matthew 3:2), which cannot be moved so Christian must:
1.Give thanks, do not tremble because the hardship now, do not murmur or worry about the suffering on earth.
2.Serving the Lord, in this please the Lord.
3.fearful fear the Lord, they are living in covenant of grace, but God is still a fire (Deut 4:24)
13:1, lastly, Lets brotherly love continues. In Christ’s love we lived?
13:2, entertain strangers.
13:3 do not forget the prisoner.
13:4, respect the covenant of marriage, it is a sacred bond.
13:5-6, do not covet of money. Do not worship money. Be content (Phil 4:11)
God is taking care of his children, quoted from Deut 31:6, LXX. Do not fear man, what man can do on to us?
13:7, some teachings about Christian belief:
1.Respect those leaders who are good in conducts.
2.Jesus Christ is the same every day, forever.
3.Do not follow strange and different doctrines, those doctrines are not profiting, no edification at all, do not follow them.
VPP is a strange teaching or not?
Do not follow them who teach this teaching if you find this teaching is wrong!
13:12, Jesus Christ sanctified His people with His own blood.
13:15, sacrifice of praise is the fruit of our lips. Put away the root of the bitterness!
13:16 do not forget to do good!
13:25, Grace be with you all. Amen.
Thought:
What is Septuagint?
The Word of God is what, in this epistle?
Professor of faith, processor of faith
Without the shedding of Christ’s blood there is no remission of sins
The meaning of “a profane person.”
The writer did not put down his name, so there are many views who are the real writer even in the early church. My dear brother, even the early church also cannot certify who is the actual writer, how about us. Do not quarrel about this; accept the Word of God by faith. Some said the writer is Paul, some said Apollos. No matter who is the writer, his intend of writing is to say, Christianity is higher than Judaism.
1:2, Jesus Christ was giving the revelation.
1:6, “And again, when He bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, He saith, and let all the angels of God worship Him.” These words are not in Hebrew Text.
This is a quotation from Psalm 97:7 and Deut 32:43, found in copies of LXX, Septuagint.
The Hebrew Old Testament has been translated into Greek, by 70 translators, before the Lord has been born in the earth, before the Word became flesh. LXX was there!
The LXX is not a perfect translation, but the writer of Hebrew sees LXX as God’s Word, he read and quoted from LXX, rather than the Hebrew Old Testament, he refers the LXX in writing the Book of Hebrew.
Are NKJV, CUV, NIV, and ESV not God’s Word?
1:7, this verse is quoted from Psalm 104:4, it is in Septuagint, LXX.
1:10-12, these verses are taken from Psalm 102:25-27, they are in LXX.
The writer of the Book of Hebrew sees that LXX is the “Word of God!” even thought it is not perfectly translated.
1:13, this verse taken from Psalm 110.
2:3, the GOSPEL MESSAGE WAS PREACHED AND DECLARED BY JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. JESUS CHRIST DECLARED the TRUTH! HE DID NOT ARGUE ABOUT WORDS.
2:11, Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call them, “brother,” even Christ united with sinners. Jesus Christ is perfect, but He is willingly to stay with imperfect people like us.
Why Jesus Christ wanted to unite with them? Because they had received the truth. (Mark 8:38).
2:12-13, these words are taken from LXX, quoted from Psalm 22:22, Isaiah 12:2 and 8:18.
2:14, Satan tempted man to fall into temptation, and so they may fall into sins. Sins bring death (Rom 7:11), Jesus became flesh, and He resurrected from death, He had victoriously won over death (1 Cor 15:55)
2:17, Christ became like his brothers in every respect, so that he may become a high priest for them, and even to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Jesus Christ died for his own brothers.
2:18, Jesus Christ is able to help those who are being tempted like us.
3:1-4:13, these are the commentary about Psalm 95:7-11, consider Jesus, think about Him.
3:6, we must hold fast our confidence.
3:7, the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.” The Holy Spirit says again, in this epistle, in Hebrew 3:15, and 4:7.
Today! This is a warning! Israelites had put God to test, are we?
Testing God with the VPP? Playing with God’s Words!
3:12 do not let anyone fall away from God! Unbelieving heart!
3:13, exhort one another every day! Today!
3:14, hold our ORIGINAL CONFIDENCE FIRM TO THE END.
If the theologians repented, we must restore them into brotherhood, otherwise they will be like the generations in the wilderness.
3:16, there was a generation who heard the message, but rebelled for 40 years, and they all died in the wilderness.
Do not forget!
Even Moses had the perfect Word of God, the 2 tablets of the stones, with God’s perfect Word, but he was refused to enter the Promised Land, Moses was punished. At the end God saved his soul, he was saved by grace.
Are any better than Moses, even to pursue the perfect underlying text!
You intention is good, but what is the profit?
If we do not receive Christ, we will all die in our sins.
Are we any better in reading KJV? Better than those who read NKJV, CUV, and NIV?
Do you think God is only going to choose, and save only those who are reading the KJV!
Are we not sinner? Who are reading the KJV? Like those sinner who read NKJV!
4:2, we all must hear the message by faith.
4:3, come to Jesus Christ today, to find “rest” in Him. (Matthew 11:28-29)
4:4-5, our spirits need rest.
4:6-7, Harden not our heart, there will be no peace, until we repented!
4:11, “spoudazo” speedily!
4:12-13, The Word of God is in the Bible, and the Word of God also in Jesus Christ, (John 1:1-4, 14).
The Word of God is
1.Living and active.
2.sharper than any two-edged sword
3.piercing to the division of soul and of spirit,
4.piercing to the division of joints and marrows,
5.Discerning the thoughts and intention of hearts.
Let the Word of God pierce us.
4:14, Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He is higher than us. He is our high Priest. He “sumpatheo” us, He knew all our sufferings.
5:2-3, that is why Jesus sacrifices Himself for us.
5:7, Jesus prayed with loud cries and tears in Gethsemane? The disciples heard those cries and tears.
5:8, next, He suffered on the Cross in obedient.
5:12-13, distinguishes good from evil. Maturity is a growth from being only a child.
6:1-8, we must continue to move from the foundation, pursue perfection!
These are the beginning of Christianity:
1.repentance
2.trusting God
3.washings or baptisms, (sprinklings or immerse)
4.laying of hands, (healings or ordinations of a pastors)
5.resurrection of the dead
6.eternal judgment
We must continue to grow from these!
Here are warnings for those hearers of God’s Word, they were educated in Christianity, but they are not saved.
Even they were enlightened, they saw the glorious Gospel, but they did not receive the gospel, rather they reject the gospel. They had tasted the goodness of Christ, but they did not take in the Christ into their hearts. Even they were touched and rebuked by the Holy Spirit, but they rejected the Holy Spirit in coming to the hearts. They heard the preaching of message on every Sunday morning, afternoon sermon and night sermon, they said the sermons are good, but they did not believe the messages. They even knew there is an eternal judgment coming, that God will judge the wicked, but they still do not want to return to God.
They are the churchgoers, some of them are the elders, pastors, theologians, they called themselves “Christians,” they had every good opportunities and experiences, but they still run away from the truth. In those harden hearts, God the Holy Spirit, will not work in it anymore. They become the enemy of Christ, they wanted to nail the Christ on cross again.
They are the seeds thrown in the thorn, choked; .its end is to be burned. They lost their salvation forever!
So some will eternally lose their opportunities to believe in Christ, the Savior, and they fall into the eternal hell. They are the fall away. “Methodist is saying that these people, seeker of faith, will lost their salvation forever, because they continue to reject the gospel, this is true, they had not fully receive the salvation in the beginning.”
They are the professor of faith, profess with their lips. Their hearts do not believe in Christ.
6:9, the writer said to the readers, they are called “brethren,” “God is still working in them,” so they are not lost forever like the previous churchgoer and faith seekers.
These brothers are professing with their lips, the Lord as their personal savior, and their hearts also believe the Christ is their Lord and God Savior. They are saved.
6:11-15, the writer gave an example of true believer, Abraham, even though he was not perfect, he had taken wives, Sarah and Hagar, he later chased away the slave wife. Abraham by faith was called righteous. The just must live by faith!
6:19, we had an anchor in Christ!
6:20, Christ is our forerunner of our faith, and He opened a lively and new way for us.
7:5, THE LIVITES ACCORDING TO THE LAW IN OLD TESTAMENT, THEY DO NOT HAVE PROCESSION OF PROPERTY, THEY LIVED BY FAITH. (Num 18:21-24)
7:12-26, Jesus Christ is better and higher than the Levites, human high priest can not save himself, we needed a perfect Priest, the lamb of God, and the Son of God, Christ dies for us even when we are yet sinner. He is our High Priest forever He is praying for us.
8:1, to expound the Old Testament in one verse, the writer said, “We had a high priest, seated on the right hand of the throne.”
8:5, this verse is taken from Exodus 25:40, the wording is from LXX. Greek OT.
8:6, in Christ, we had a better “covenant,” LXX, a better promise. In LXX, the Greek translated Hebrew “covenant”, (Joshua 9:6, Judges 2:2, 1 Samuel 23:18)
Christ came, is to save sinners, descended, crucified, resurrected, He is the OT and NT, He is even better than the Bible. He is the one we must look for after reading the Bible, He is the Perfect Word in fresh, He is better than all the MSS!
Why God preserved all those 5000 plus New Testament MSS? Until man can put them together and translated into the all kinds of languages. Why? So that we may find that perfect way, perfect truth, perfect life, The Lord Jesus Christ. He is better than all the scriptures put together, even the Perfect Bible.
9:1, the writer looked highly the Old Testament! He mentioned the Israelites wondering in the wilderness, and even there was Moses’ tabernacle, Jesus Christ is the better sacrifice, better tabernacle, better than everything, anything on earth.
Why Christ is better, because:
9:12, Christ’s atonement once and for all.
9:14, Christ’s blood purified our conscience, 70x70 purified? It is 100% purified!
9:15, Christ is the mediator.
9:22, without the shedding of Christ’s blood there is no remission of sins. Forgiveness is given because Christ died for us.
10:5-6, Even Jesus was quoted from LXX, He says these words, and actually it is the reading of Psalm 40:6-8, the wording is different from Hebrew Text, nearer to LXX.
Scholar found that in New Testament, there are few hundreds places are quotation from LXX.
The people in Christ’s time, they were using the LXX, Greek translation of OT, rather than referring to the Original Text, the Hebrew Text. They were using LXX rather than Hebrew Original Text. Jesus Christ never rebuked them in using the LXX.
Jesus Said, “even to the jots and titles, the Bible is fulfilled!”
Like the Chinese brother today, usually they will read the CUV, rather than asking themselves to read KJV, or the Hebrew OT, the Greek NT.
The LXX translations are different from the original text, so LXX is different from Hebrew Text. LXX wording is not like Hebrew Text. LXX is translated nearer to the original meaning. (Compared 1 Cor 14:21 and Isaiah 28:11-12)
But the LXX reader at Christ’s time never doubt anything about the Word of God, they sees LXX is the Word of God, and they subdued to the authority of the Old Testament in LXX Greek translation.
Even though there are changes made in LXX, the meaning more or less nearer to the original meaning, (compared Gal 4:30, Gen 21:10)
Sometimes there are word by word translations, literally. (Compared Matt 2:15, 22:43-45, John 10:34, 19:36-37, Romans 4:3)
Sometimes the writer mix the verses together, like (Romans 11:26-27, compare Isaiah 59:20-21, 27:9)
Sometimes they quoted loosely like Romans 9:27 from Isaiah 10:22-23.
Sometimes like Mathew quoting Micah, Matthew 2:6 from Micah 5:2.
The Bible is the Word of God, if there is the truth of gospel, the truth of the Gospel certifies the Word is true, the Bible is inspired!
10:11-14, all the enemies are defeated by Christ in the end.
10:16-18, quoted from Jeremiah 31:33-34.
10:19, by faith, we can come nearer, nearer, closer and closer to God, through Jesus Christ’s blood.
10:23, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for He who is promised is faithful.
10:24, stir up one another to love and good works. This is why Christ die for,..this is why we are called Christian!
10:25, and so we meet together in Christ, we called it fellowship, for encouragement, and not argue about words, we must not quarrel about words, even words from the Bible, we should not quarrel, encouraging one another, instead. The Day is drawing near, there is war and rumor of wars, even wars in our midst, but forget not to encourage!
10:26, there is a warning, who deliberately sinning, all kinds of sins, falling way from the truth, deliberately sinning is including those quarrel about words, wavering, wars in our midst, and those words and things which discourage others.
10:29, those who furthermore go beyond that, quarrels and quarrels, even has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant, by which he was sanctify, and has outrage the Holy Spirit of grace!
How severe is the punishment for those who do those deliberate sinning? The Holy Spirit has not He called you to encourage other from the day He called you into ministry? Did not He has spoke this clearly in the Word of God, and how about we forget this, and we continue until raising wars among us, even split the whole congregation?
When, Moses, Miriam, and Aaron, they were quarrels among themselves, in the wilderness for authority, they dare not to split the whole congregation of Israel. They are one, until King David, he fall into sin, in the time of Solomon, Solomon fell into gross idolatry. Next, the Monarch divided into two, in his son, Rehoboam, (sound like BOMB, 13017713). What lesson we can learn from these people? Spiritually?
10:30, Quoted from Deuteronomy 32:35, another example of different wordings.
10:32, the believers were called to endure suffering.
10:33, sometime they were publicly reproach and afflicted, bad treated. This is also like Christ’s suffering. Inside out, the persecutions, they were called to live beyond life, even death.
10:34, until the plundering of their property, but they knew they had a better possession in heaven. Never mind!
10:35, be confident!
10:38, “the just shall live by faith,” taken from Habakkuk 2:3-4, LXX, and written again in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11.
10:39, we must believe!
11:1, to live by faith is not easy. Have Faith in God.
11:4, Abel by faith, give offering to God, consider better! Faith is better!
11:13-16, by faith the pilgrims and travelers looking for a better heavenly city.
11:21, by faith, Jacob worship God, “by leaning on the staff”, it is quoted from Genesis 47:31, from LXX.
11:26, Moses looked down on riches and treasures in Egypt.
12:1, run the race ahead, lay aside sins.
12:2, endured the cross, the glory of Christ.
12:3, Jesus Christ had this “antilogia,” contradiction from sinners.
12:4-6, grow spiritually, chasten by God.
12:7-8, God’s children, beloved.
12:9-10, partaker of holiness from God.
12:11, peaceable fruit is given!
12:12, lift up the hands, pray! Leg, go for gospel preaching!
12:13, do not give up, the end of life is eternal life!
12:14, peace with all men, and without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.
12:15, any root of bitterness springs up trouble you? Defiled?
Root of bitterness in my heart, so it grows the tree of bitterness, and bear the fruit of bitterness! It continues to choke my life! And the root spread silently.
Hates, prides, fighting, quarrellings, is growing in me. My family, fellowship and society are troubled, defiled, destructions. May God forgive me!
12:16-17, Fornicator! They are the defectors and disobedient.
When a man becomes a profane person, more than the speech, it is about his life, Esau sold his birth right, and he became “profane,” to treat something sacred as common He treat his birth right as common. And he sold his birth right, exchanged it for food. He even wanted to kill Jacob!
Which is more profane? Treating birth right as common or treating the Word of God as common.
Mistreating God’s Word, it is sinful or not sinful?
My dear friend, so you treat God’s word as common? If so, afraid that, spiritually, you will become like Esau, profane! Not carnal, but profane.
All men are liars? Be honest!
Do you treat VPP as a sacred teaching?
Do you treat something sacred like Chinese Union Version as common?
Do you treat NKJV as common? Do not do that!
Do you treat ESV as common? Do you?
For more than 20 years, a man professing Christ as his savior, as a seeker of truth, he dare not to say that CUV is not sacred, dare not to say Chinese Union Version is common. Even he went on to study KJV, NKJV, NIV…dare not to say they are common, they are treated as sacred! He afraid he is judging the Word of God wrongly. All translations are not perfect.
If you look on that “underlying text,” a TR from KJV, as sacred, as perfect, you must not look down on that CUV as common! It is wrong! Totally wrong!
Esau afterward was rejected, situation was irrevocable. Esau missed the blessing! When he treat the sacred as common! He did not receive grace.
12:18-22, Mount Sinai, and Mount Zion, which one you choose?
Mount Sinai, Moses received the Sacred Stone, the Ten Commandments, and the gift of covenant of law.
On Mount Zion, Christians received the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior, giving covenant of grace.
12:23, there are names written in heaven.
12:24, the Blood of Christ speaks better things.
12:25, God speak from heaven. Warning.
12:26, God shake the heaven! Quoted from LXX, Haggai 2:6.
12:28-29, Since you have received the kingdom (Matthew 3:2), which cannot be moved so Christian must:
1.Give thanks, do not tremble because the hardship now, do not murmur or worry about the suffering on earth.
2.Serving the Lord, in this please the Lord.
3.fearful fear the Lord, they are living in covenant of grace, but God is still a fire (Deut 4:24)
13:1, lastly, Lets brotherly love continues. In Christ’s love we lived?
13:2, entertain strangers.
13:3 do not forget the prisoner.
13:4, respect the covenant of marriage, it is a sacred bond.
13:5-6, do not covet of money. Do not worship money. Be content (Phil 4:11)
God is taking care of his children, quoted from Deut 31:6, LXX. Do not fear man, what man can do on to us?
13:7, some teachings about Christian belief:
1.Respect those leaders who are good in conducts.
2.Jesus Christ is the same every day, forever.
3.Do not follow strange and different doctrines, those doctrines are not profiting, no edification at all, do not follow them.
VPP is a strange teaching or not?
Do not follow them who teach this teaching if you find this teaching is wrong!
13:12, Jesus Christ sanctified His people with His own blood.
13:15, sacrifice of praise is the fruit of our lips. Put away the root of the bitterness!
13:16 do not forget to do good!
13:25, Grace be with you all. Amen.
Thought:
What is Septuagint?
The Word of God is what, in this epistle?
Professor of faith, processor of faith
Without the shedding of Christ’s blood there is no remission of sins
The meaning of “a profane person.”
29.10.08
911
You think people do not know who is the culpits behind the bombing of World Trade Centre. Look at the picture and you will know. Look very familier. They are talibans, they are still living on earth, next door? Maybe!
Some talibans are living in the church now, and they called themselves, christians, elders, some times they even called themselves pastors too.
Theological Study
What I learned from the Bible:
1. Firstly, Luther's "justified by faith," this doctrine must come first, apart from Romans Catholic. (Book of Romans)
2. Next is, Methodist's doctrine, "some seekers of truth, fall back from the truth, and lost their salvation," because faith without work is death, and some of these 'christians' are hearers of word, and they are not doers, so they are not truely born again. (Book of Hebrew)
3. Lastly, John Calvins "once saved always saved!" This is the truth from the Bible, this is applying to those born again believers, they are preserved and saved. (The New Testament)
These three types of doctrine, complementing each others, they are the truth from the Bible.
1. Firstly, Luther's "justified by faith," this doctrine must come first, apart from Romans Catholic. (Book of Romans)
2. Next is, Methodist's doctrine, "some seekers of truth, fall back from the truth, and lost their salvation," because faith without work is death, and some of these 'christians' are hearers of word, and they are not doers, so they are not truely born again. (Book of Hebrew)
3. Lastly, John Calvins "once saved always saved!" This is the truth from the Bible, this is applying to those born again believers, they are preserved and saved. (The New Testament)
These three types of doctrine, complementing each others, they are the truth from the Bible.
100% Purified Drinking Water
Now a day, I saw people are buying water filters, big and heavy, some of them look like a rocket, some look like a big bottle, some are indoor, some are outdoor, some cost thousands!
I am also looking for a big water filter, so that I may have 100% purified drinking water, I am sick of this 99.9% purified drinking water.
The fact is that the water is older than me!
The water had existed on earth when Noah build the Ark!
The Holy Spirit hover on the water in the begining!
Water was used for baptism on Jesus Christ!
Our bodies are made of 70% water
28.10.08
Last Days' reformation
“For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.”- 1 Peter 1:24-25
2 Timothy 3
Godlessness in the Last Days
1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
6They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
Paul's Charge to Timothy
10You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Death certificate
When a human was born, he or she will be given a birth certificate stated his or her name, and gender.
The Bible stated that we are born as "A Sinner"
when a human died, the medical doctor will write a death certificate, down there stated the cause of the death, some doctors will write "carcinova"..cancer, some will write, "old age,"...
the Bible says the cause of our death is "sin !"
Only Jesus Christ can save you and me ! No other way, or other person can save us !
Only Jesus Saves
25.10.08
Yes Man ?
One day, a friend, Mahax, a Christian brother, talked about "Christian leadership" in my town, he told me, one day, Ah Thir, the church leader whom we both knew had problem in his church, and he had left the church, I asked Mahax why?
Because Ah Thir had a fight and boxing with a brother in Christ, infront of the whole church members, on Sunday Worship, the chairman of the service, told the congregation, that Ah Thir had an affair with a sister in the congregation, Ah Thir was so angry, he went up the stage, and there at the pulpit, they had the fight of the year. What a fight, what an unity!
I am very afraid, after I heard the story. I may not be killed by the terrorist on the street, but by a hearer of the "Word of God!" in own bossom! Killed by our own brother in Christ? Who else wanted to be a "YES man" or to be a "hearer of the Word"
God wanted us to be doer of His Word.
23.10.08
The cloud of light?
A man waited for nearly 12 years,
only to see the light of God again,
The light of God return in one morning, on a sunny morning,
that unusual morning,
only that the day is brighter,
the light came,
like cloud in light, light in cloud,
hanging on the ceiling,
shining on him,
like a thin,
bright shining cloud,
He waited for 12 years,
why so long?
God waited for him,
because he lived in sin.
The light of God,
stay away from him.
Until he repent and turn away from sin,
the glory of God return...
God is waiting for you...
The Book of Philemon with VPP
The name of Philemon means “loving,” and the name Onesimus means “useful.” This letter is a masterpiece of graceful, tactful and delicate pleading for a forgiving spirit. It is about one Christian’s plea to another to forgive and restore a third person. This letter is about reconciliation and relationships between Christians. Consider the perfect Bible and this letter.
After Paul introduced himself, he went on to bless them. He prayed.
Verse 3; grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
GRACE, AND NOT GRAVE! GRACE BECAUSE HIS UNDESERVED FAVOR. God’s favor. PEACE AND NOT PIECE! PEACE BECAUSE BEING RIGTH WITH GOD.
Verse 4, love and faith of the Philemon ARE SEEN.
1.Toward the Lord Jesus Christ.
2.toward the saints
Verse 6, DO EVERYTHING FOR JESUS CHRIST?
Verse 7, the heart of the saints is refreshed through Philemon.
Philemon 9-10, “For love’s sake…appeal to you.” This is “appeal” is “parakaleo,” this is the Greek word verb form of the noun, “Comforter.” (John 14:16) The Holy Spirit. This appeal, and this call, is the tenderest words in the Bible.
Verse 13, the imprisonment for the gospel is mentioned, Paul rather died for the Gospel.
Verse 14, 2 kinds of Goodness, goodness in, which is better?
1.compulsion
2.Free will.
Verse 16, Paul focus on a newly convert, a beloved brother, this love, is the highest form of love, God is the source.
Onesimus is a brother,
1.in the fresh
2.In the Lord.
Verse 18, if he has wronged you. One of the most beautiful examples of imputation! “God declares the believer righteous.” Paul used this method to appeal Philemon.
Verse 20, “refresh my heart in Christ.” NOW ! In Prison, refresh me! Paul appeal.
Verse 25, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Enslaved by an Argument!
There is a transforming power in Jesus Christ. From a slave to a brother in Christ. The Christians have spirit kinship, by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The theologians are looking for a perfect underlying text, THE KJV UNDERLYING PERFECT GREEK TEXT; they cannot forgive anyone who does not endorse Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP), MAYBE they have no found any Word such as “forgiveness” in his perfect underlying text.
Are they INDIRECTLY saying THOSE WHO DO NOT ENDORSE VPP cannot reach God? And they INDIRECTLY saying there is no bread of heaven given accept the perfect Bible, ACCEPT THE PERFECT UNDERLYING TEXT?
They forget that the Lord is the bread of Life. And they continue to mislead the flock from the Good Shepherd, SO THEY SPLIT THE BP Churches INTO PIECES.
What good is this perfect underlying Text?
From Sodom and Gomorrah, DEATH, the theologians move on to the Dead Sea, they tried to find the living water in the Dead Sea. They cannot find any living water there, so the theologians dig a pit and jump into it, and they said, “We had find the perfect underlying text of the KJV, it is 70 times purer than the entire Bible in the world, let us died for it.” And they said they have the victory through the perfect Bible. Is this another religion they have found in the pit they dug?
They took around the perfect “Bible,” when they had found a child, who has nothing, and they took the child by their arms, and they asked the child to read his KJV, and then they said “this is not enough” and they pursue the child to read the Greek Perfect Bible, they said they are seeing God in the perfect underlying text. They wanted to pass the perfect Greek Bible to our children. The theologians argued about this “word,” that “word,” this article 4.2.1, this constitute 4.2.1, they made the church like a parliament, and they argue the “words” in the Westminster Confession, so there were the endless quarrels and useless arguments began! And then they continue to argue for this landmark, that landmark, this and that undone.
And the theologians who are teaching VPP said, they are the fundamentalist, and they said confidently that they have found the “foundation.” And they accused us, that we are not the fundamentalist. And they asked those brothers in Christ, “Where in the world is God?” And all their theologians said, “Perfect, Perfect, Perfect! Do not pray for one another, but pay for one another for a Perfect Bible!” They see that prayer meeting is not important than a perfect Greek NT Text, so they sacrifice the prayer meeting!
Perfect, perfect, perfect, not need to preach Christ, but pay for one another for a Perfect Underlying Text,” so they sacrifice the pulpit, and overturn the unity of the congregation for the sake of a perfect underlying text.
And they continue, “Therefore, be it resolved together for the Perfect Bible, if we BP churches do not resolved in a perfect underlying Bible, we will not talk to them and greet any of them any longer, no more a beloved brother in Christ, but stink and hated brother in Christ”
THEY SAID WE MUST BE TRANSFORMED INTO A kind of SLAVE, they see us, NOT a BROTHER IN CHRIST, AND WE MUST BECOME SLAVE FOR THE PERFECT UNDERLYING TEXT OF THE KJV. "A SLAVE OF THE PERFECT TR IS BETTER THAN A BROTHER IN CHRIST!” We must become a slave of an argument, in order to be mature!
Read, Proverb 12:18, Proverb 18:21, and asking these theologians who is this Balaam in Old Testament? How about our spirit, do we want to be like Balaam? We must move on from learner to be a probationary. Even to maturity. Do we continue to curse, and not to bless those who read CUV, NKJV, and NIV?
Paul wanted young Timothy, “Not to argue about words.” 2 Tim 2:14, do not become a slave to “mere languages,” slave to “words”
Justin Martyr said they read, “The memoirs of the apostles or the writing of the prophets.” (Apology 1.67). They never claim their copies were perfect! There were Latin and Syriac versions of the NT by Ad 200, and a Coptic one within the following century. No one claimed the Latin and Syric versions are perfect!
"The authority of the Holy Scripture……dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God…it is to be received…” (Westminster Confession of faith, 1.4) The Bible is to pass judgment on the theologian, not he the Bible.
"If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?” (John 3:12) Jesus Christ wanted us to believe the Bible! By faith. Paul does not want us to quarrel about words! The word of God, our Bible is thus NOT to be reduced to a miscellaneous argument of “words” We must fully believe and obey His Word! The very Word of God!
There are “words” or things in the Bible which are hard to understand, but this does not keep us from understanding, assuming they were intended to be understood. But we must know when and how to put a stop to endless and useless argument. (1 Cor 2:14.) There is no end to study for complete understanding; it requires sincere Bible study. Stop enslaving ourselves in argument of “words” The truth will set you free! (2 Cor 3:17)
Paul had fought the good fight, but he did not want to fight over mere “word,” the mere meaning of “word”! Do everything for edification, not for endless and useless strive about “words.” “STRIVE NOT ABOUT WORDS TO NO PROFIT….” (2 Tim 2:14)
DO NOT QUARREL ABOUT WORDS! Why? No Profit! Simple!
It is equally important today that all men should have access to the Bible in a language that is meaningful them. We knew, King James Version has met the test of universal acceptability. The reverence for the text is obvious in the high degree of faithfulness to the original Greek and Hebrew which is characteristic of the King James Version.
Some says, "THERE IS GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT KING JAMES VERSION IS STILL THE MOST ACCURATE AND RELIABLE TRANSLATION WE HAVE. THERE IS NOT GOOD REASON TO REPLACE IT WITH SOME EPHEMERAL MODERN TRANSLATION."
The people who read the KJV, they must make sure they understand the Bible well. But, others should be allowed to read NKJV, NIV, CUV, freely, as God's Word, or as for a reference and commentary. Understand the Bible COME FIRST! Unity must not be sacrificed! For no profit! For a argument.
The THEOLOGIANS MUST ADMIT KJV IS NOT PERFECT! NOR IT's UNDERLYING TEXT. IF THE THEOLOGIANS INSIST TO SAY THE UNDERLYING TEXT IS PERFECT, UNTIL THEY HAVE TO STRIVE WITH “WORDS” TO SUPPORT VPP. THIS IS WRONG!
Where is the universal acceptability for VPP?
Thought
The meaning of “philemon” is?
What is the meaning of “appeal” in this epistle?
Slavery in Christianity
Profit of VPP
18.10.08
We need the 15 th Century Reformation !
A FORGOTTEN REFORMATION
491 years ago when Martin Luther protested against the Roman Catholic teaching on their indulgences, and produced the 95 theses against this doctrine and other doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), the Protestant movement came into being. It was a great movement which saw the Church turning back to the Bible.
The days before Luther's reformation was the dark ages. It was a period of time when the Bible was kept from the common people. The RCC used the Latin Vulgate as the sole Bible in Christendom in those days. Not many people could understand Latin. This was the language that was "inspired by God" in those days. No one could go against the Latin Vulgate. To do so would be a death sentence. But when the reformation came to the Church, the Bible was given to the people in their own languages. It was the greatest moment in Christendom when believers could read the Bible in their own language and not be executed. God's Word is now available to everyone in the world!
Have we forgotten the Reformation? Today, there are people in the fundamental Church who insist that the Church use only the King James Version (KJV). They say that the KJV is the "inspired" Word of God in this modern Century.
Have we forgotten the Reformation? Did not the RCC behave in that manner? They forced the people to read Latin Bible. They said the Latin Bible was the only Scripture God had given the Church. They insisted that if they did not read the Latin Bible, they would miss God's Word. Such extremism is never to be tolerated. Luther brought the Bible to the people in the German language, so did Tyndale and other reformers. They all wanted the common people to have the Bible in their own languages so that they could read God's Word and be saved.
Have we forgotten the Reformation? The Reformation occurred when they returned to the reading of the Bible. Without the Bible, the Church has no truth to proclaim and no Gospel to share to a lost world. Why should the Church be reading only the KJV when the masses of people today do not understand it? Depriving the lost to understand the Scripture is a sin. It is hindering the unsaved to know the truth.
Thank God !
In Grace Church, we must never go to the extreme as these people are doing today. Our official Bible is the KJV, but we will also use the New King James Version (NKJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the English Standard Version (ESV). God's precious Word has been given to the people to read for edification and for comfort.
Have we forgotten the Reformation? No, we have not in Grace Church. We treasure this moment of truth. We have the Bible in our own languages today, be it in Chinese, Tamil, or English. We will seek to know God's Word as we read it and share the glorious truth to a lost world.
Thank God for the Reformation of the 16th Century, whereby the reformers had held the Bible highly. We, in Grace Church, have also believed in the infallibility of God's precious Word (2 Tim. 3 : 16-17) and that it is inspired and inerrant. Thank God for the courage of Martin Luther and the Reformation.
Pastor
___________________________________Qouted from a BP Church !
A dying man prayed
To the people,
Division in Cretan is very serious! There are pirates. Some people are worst; they are liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons. Empty talkers, holding on not to commandment of God, but human commandments. You must stop some these from teaching, but do not cast them away. Rather, cast away the devils and spirits which are teaching their doctrines among us. These kinds of spirits or devils must be cast out by fasting and prayers.
One day, a man teach this doctrine in his classes, doctrine from the spirits and devil’s,
This theologian said, “Hindus and Muslims all believe that their Scriptures, the Bhagavad Gita and the Koran respectively, are perfect. Yet Christians who claim to believe in the one living and true God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and Christ the only Mediator and Saviour of the world, are not so quick to believe they have an existing infallible and inerrant Scripture. What a shame! If we adopt Bauder’s position, then Christianity is no longer true, and Christians shall become the laughing stock of the religious world. Indeed, if the Christian Bible is not perfect, infallible and inerrant, “then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; … If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Cor 15:14-15, 19)…..”
This theologian is not preaching or teaching about Christ’s doctrines, he is preaching delusion, lies. He is trying to confuse the hearers and the students.
May God help us. May God deal with these spirits and devils which are putting doubts into the hearts of the teachers and hearers of Christian churches.
I do not care what Hindus and Muslim believe about their Scripture, I had nothing to do with their perfect scriptures. Even, if they are having their perfect underlying scripture text. I will not be bordered. The Hindus and Muslim do not have the Holy Spirit, this I know.
Be very sure about what we teach and said, that all true Christians have God, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Do not compete the Bible, CUV, NKJV, NIV with Bhagavad Gita and the Koran. Do not confuse the young hearer.
Stop laughing at us, since we already have the faithful Bible.
God in heaven, by the mercy of the Lord, please hear my prayer, because I had been bought very low, the water nearly overcome me. Give me strength to work harder, more good works, even more faith, more love, let me died even by faith.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command the devils and spirits which are teaching these kind of doctrines to be stopped, to cast out, into the hell of fire, out of Church forever, and may the peace of God come, and filled us. Amen.
In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, He is living, He is the fire, and He is the truth, I command you, the devils and spirits to go away at once! Do not come back again.
Protect all of the theologians from errors and enpower them!
May your light shine! Shine! Like fire, and cloud of light shadow every BP ministers and theologians in FEBC !
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I believe the Bible in my hand is the Word of God, in your most powerful name, I command the devils and the spirits, seen or unseen, to cast out and be bond forever and ever in our Church. Amen, free all brethren from these delusions and lies, and continue to trust the Bible and preach Christ.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
The Book of Titus with VPP
Titus 1:1-4, Paul explained his purpose being an apostle is for the sake of the “faith,” and for the sake of “knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness”
We must bear in our mind! Paul does not encourage people to quarrel about “words”, (2 timothy 2:14). Should we quarrel about words and meanings in Constitute 4.2.1…..?
1:10-11, He mentioned the false teachers. They are,
1.insubordinate
2.empty talkers
3.deceivers
They must be silent.
1.they ought not to teach (Titus 1:11)
2.rebuke them.(Titus 1:13)
Paul wanted Titus to deal severely with those who cause division and those insubordinate.
Paul himself even quoted from the local writers at Cretan. (Titus 1:12) He read a lot of books.
They must be dealt so that they may be sound in the faith (Titus 1:13). Not to cast them away.
1:11b-13, Paul command to Titus:
1.Not to devoting time to the “Jewish myths.”
2.Not to devoting time to “commands of people.”
Around 1400 BC, some say earlier as 2000 BC, God called some 40 men and women to begin a job, to do that job it took a long times, the job is to pen the Bible. God inspired them in writing the Hebrew and Greek Bible.
Those sacred writers are not machines. They are all fully inspired writers. Very words of the Bible are inspired by God. This inspiration does not guarantee the inspiration of any modern or ancient translation of the Bible, but it deals only with the original Hebrew and Greek languages. Weather Ancient or Modern translations, it does not allow for any false teachings.
George Washington I : “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without the Bible.”
Winston Churchill, “We rest with assurance upon the impregnable rock of holy Scripture.”
Chiang Kai-Shek: “The Bible is the voice of the Holy Spirit.”
Henry Van Dyke: “…No man is poor or desolate who has this treasure for his own.”
Augustine the church father, he said, “Let us give in and yield our assent to the authority of the Holy Scripture, which knows not how either to be deceived to deceive…”
Do not ask me, what Bible version they were using, at the moment they said that words.
Men die, and memories fail, but the written record remain, the Bible was preserved! From Septuagint, to Latin vulgate, (Vulgate was used for 1200 years), and to KJV (used for these few hundred years)…. They are translations! There is no one, no translation is perfect! Not even KJV.
No one is righteous too, and under the heaven, there is no name given,that by Him, we can be saved, He is Jesus Christ, my Lord, my God, let died in your arms.
By faith we believe we have the Word of God. No doubt about this!
ON MAY 3, 1870, THE PEOPLE WHO READ THE KJV, THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, the English, the Ang Moh, revised the New Testament. They published the revision in May 17, 1881. Shall we ask the Ang Moh to apologize for revising the New Testament? My foolish question ! You think it is easy to translate a Bible? You think it is easy to revise a faithful Bible version?
5000 manuscripts, a proof that we have the Word of God.
Shall we give thanks for the 5000 ancients Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. My foolish question! Off course! No doubt. How can you say, we do not believe the Preservation of the Bible. We believe. God do preserve the Bible. He does. Yes, we all must give thank for those preserved 5000 different ancients Greek manuscripts!
But many do not accept your saying, that God only preserve the complete, every words, perfectly in “the underlying text of the KJV.” This is your verbal plenary preservation view (VPP). This is your personal view. Let time be the judge, to prove your view. Abraham Lincoln said, “…but you can’t fool all the people all of the time!”
Let people have some time to do researches in this VPP, let the BP be at peace, be united in evangelism in the weekend, be united in prayer meeting on Friday and Tuesday nights, be united to worship the Lord on Sunday. Why are you so desperate to impose the VPP? And you attack the people who are using CUV even! Did they attack you in using KJV? Did they said anything like “KJV is not a faithful translation.” They never said that!
The Bible does not prohibit personal research. (Lk. 1:1-3) All of the denominations used different versions of Bible, but they all believe the Bible is the Word of God! Shall we give thanks for faithful translations? Another foolish question! Yes or not?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…”Isa 55:8,9.
2 Timothy 2:14, not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. To be a servant without a contentious spirit, helping people to understand the Christian faith.
I appeal to the theologians, do not argue in the legalistic way, which Bible version they are using. Do not wasting time in doing that.
Do not study the Bible in a legalistic way. God wanted us to study the Bible. (2 Tim 2:15) in Spirit. Do not argue about “words” (2 Tim 2:14). Give way for the Bible. Fight the false doctrines.
RATHER, take time to:
Teach sound doctrines:
1.family and work (Titus 2:1-14)
a.conversation (Titus 2:3, 8, 9)
i.No slander.
ii.Sound speech
iii.Not argumentative
2.society (Titus 2:15-3:7)
a.Be ready for every good work (Titus 3:3-7)
3.others (Titus 3:8-11)
a.AVOID FOOLISH CONTROVERSIES. Like VPP.
b.GENEOLOGIES
c.DISSENSIONS, DIVISION,
i.As for a person who stir up division, after warning him once and twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
ii.Division is wrong and sinful. The splits are because of VPP, is wrong.
d.NOT TO QUARREL ABOUT THE LAW
Finally, he reminded the believers to do good work, because this is the purpose of salvation. Not to be like those Cretans, lazy gluttons (Titus 1:12, 2:14)
LAST REMINDERS:
1.GOD NEVER LIES (Titus 1:2)
2.GOD SAVED US NOT BECAUSE OF WORKS DONE BY US IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, (Titus 3:5)
a.BUT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN MERCY (Titus 3:5)
b.BY THE WASHING OF RENEWAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
There are oppositions from the ungodly legalists, in the church. So, we must know how to live and interactions with them and the nonbelievers. Christian behavior is based on the fact that “the grace of God has appeared, bring salvation for all.” Hopefully this become true to every soul, may I numbered the days and minutes in thanksgiving, and unite all of us once again.
Thank God for the reformers, in 15th Century.
Those who believe in God are to:
1.live self-controlled (Titus 2:11-13)
2.live upright
3.live godly lives
4.Waiting for His return.
My beloved Friends and theologians,
In Titus 2:10, the writer called God (Titus 2:10, 3:4) and Christ as God. (Titus 1:4, 2:13, 3:6).
Think about this.
Forget VPP! Say, no to VPP!
“not to strive about words”
Assignment, research paper 30 pages:
Sound Doctrines in Titus
Christ is God
Division
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