J.C. Ryle

"When a man’s heart is cold and unconcerned about religion – when his hands are never employed in doing God’s work – when his feet are not familiar with God’s ways – when his tongue is seldom or never used in prayer and praise – when his eyes are blind to the beauty of the kingdom of heaven – when his mind is full of the world, and has no room for spiritual things – when these marks are to be found in a man the word of the Bible is the right word to use about him, and that word is, ‘Dead.’”

Monday, March 31, 2008

Born Again...What does it Mean?

(Video is 10.5 minutes)

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Quotable Quotes


"For those of you that are in here living a double life–coming here on Sunday but living like the devil during the week, and thinking that no one knows about it–understand that you are absolutely living on borrowed time. God will expose your sin either in this life or when the judgment comes, take your pick, neither one is going to be very pretty. So you might as well just get serious about repentance now and try and–like Nineveh–call on and see if God won’t relent and withdraw His burning anger against your hypocrisy. Because you do not get away with sin – ever!"

Don Green (Grace Community Church)

Monday, March 24, 2008

Thursday, March 6, 2008

What's Wrong With Our Bibles?


I recently mentioned in And the Wind Doth Blow that we are to be very careful about the things we are reading in the 21st century. This includes Bibles too. If people say that it doesn't say that in their Bible...it might be true! And for clarification, I am mainly talking about Bibles such as The Message that is a complete man-made version of the word of God. However, I do think some things regarding other versions are worth mentioning.

Let me give you some examples:

  • The New International Version (NIV) deletes more than 64,000 words or phrases from the Bible and more than 40 COMPLETE verses. Try to find Acts 8:37, Matthew 17:21 or Mark 11:26 in the NIV -- you won't find them. Some of the missing verses are actually in the footnotes. Who looks at the footnotes when looking for a verse in the Bible? I don't and therefore most don't even know a particular verse is even missing. This can lead to confusion and complete misunderstanding of the words of our Lord.

  • The same missing verses in the NIV are also missing in the New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness "Bible") and is similar to those missing in the New American Standard (NASB). I do not want to use Bibles that portray and mimic false doctrine.

  • In 1 John 5:7 of the NIV and the JW Bible the very important phrase "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; these three are one" is deleted. No wonder JW's are confused about the Trinity!

  • The New King James version omits 20,066 words from the authorized King James Bible and has 100,000 word changes.

  • The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is full of changed words and phrases. You can check out those in particular here.).


    "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar" (Proverbs 30:5-6)



  • Can you guess what "bible", book, chapter and verse this is? "How well God must like you - you don't hang out at Sin-Saloon, you don't slick along dead-end road, you don't go to Smart-Mouth College." I'm sure you are thinking is that in a bible somewhere? Seriously...it is. It is The Message "translation" of Psalm 1:1 which in the KJV says, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." The Message is full of New Age darkness.

  • The word sodomite (homosexual) will not be found in the NIV. That word was "replaced" with male or female prostitutes. Why? Because the chairman of the NIV Old Testament Committee was a homosexual.

    Here's what Robert Baker said in a booklet he wrote on this topic in 1997.
    "Jesus Christ said, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." (John 6:63) Removing or adding to Jesus’ words results in preaching "another gospel," which is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul implies that preaching another gospel leads people to receive "another Jesus" and "another spirit." (II Corinthians 11:4) I Peter 1:23,25 shows that there is a direct correlation between the preaching of the pure Word of God and spiritual regeneration: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, but by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever…and this is the word by which the gospel is preached unto you.

    The prophet Amos spoke of a day in which there would be a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. (Amos 8:11) Today, man-centered messages and experiences have largely replaced the expository teaching of the Word of God. Often missing from the Gospel presentation are vital doctrines of the Christian faith, such as the cross, the blood atonement, genuine faith, repentance, sanctification and judgment. Many in the church are busy serving, like Martha, but few are hearing Jesus’ words, as Mary did. (Luke 10:38-42) Deprived of the Bread of Life, many who profess to be Christians have an outward form of godliness but, perhaps unknowingly, do not possess true spiritual life."

    I for one do not want to be receiving somebody else's gospel or interpretation of the gospel. God's Word is being more and more destroyed and changed. We must fight to be keepers of the truth of His word. The lovers of sin are changing the words of the Bible so that it will fit their lifestyle.

    I am not advocating that we don't use these versions as God's word just cross-reference when possible in your studies.

    "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever." (Psalms 12:6-7)

  • Wednesday, March 5, 2008

    Out With the New, In With the Old


    Lately, I have been throwing away all the "new" and unbiblical ways of thinking and going back to the old. There is nothing that compares with the way the Puritans prayed, studied the Bible and lived their lives compassionately for the Lord.

    I came across this Puritan prayer called Resting On God (adapted from The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions).

    O God, most high, most glorious, the thought of Thine infinite serenity cheers me, for I am toiling and moiling, troubled and distressed, but Thou art for ever at perfect peace. Thy designs cause thee no fear or care of unfulfilment, they stand fast as the eternal hills. Thy power knows no bond, Thy goodness no stint. Thou bringest order out of confusion, and my defeats are Thy victories: The Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

    I come to Thee as a sinner with cares and sorrows, to leave every concern entirely to Thee, every sin calling for Christ's precious blood; revive deep spirituality in my heart; let me live near to the great Shepherd, hear His voice, know its tones, follow its calls. Keep me from deception by causing me to abide in the truth, from harm by helping me to walk in the power of the Spirit. Give me intenser faith in the eternal verities, burning into me by experience the things I know; Let me never be ashamed of the truth of the gospel, that I may bear its reproach, vindicate it, see Jesus as its essence, know in it the power of the Spirit.

    Lord, help me, for I am often lukewarm and chill; unbelief mars my confidence, sin makes me forget Thee. Let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut at their roots; grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to Thee, that all else is trifling. Thy presence alone can make me holy, devout, strong and happy. Abide in me, gracious God.

    Tuesday, March 4, 2008

    Beware The Moses Code

    Excerpt from article on Christian Worldview Network by Ingrid Schlueter on the new movie The Moses Code coming out in April. Here's the trailer which is now the new trailer. They deleted a lot of the parts including one where someone is stating "I am the way, the truth and the light {life}". Think they realized how blasphemous that is?

    See trailer here

    "Yes, there is a Big Shift underway. The two spheres that were once irreconcilably opposed to one another, (Evangelicalism and New Spirituality) are coming together. The overlap has begun. But millions of evangelical Christians in the pews are distracted. They haven’t researched these issues. They don’t know their Bibles. They accept without question whatever Zondervan or Thomas Nelson put out. They watch the DVD’s their church screens like Rob Bell’s Nooma videos and they don’t catch the language. It is slippery. It is subtle, but the enemy is getting bolder with each passing day. There is a lack of sobriety and vigilance, and now the enemy is walking boldly in the front doors of our churches and Christian colleges.

    At bottom, the New Spirituality blasphemers like the producers of The Moses Code are more honest than the emergents when they state openly that they believe they are the way, the truth and the life. At its core, their message is the same as many within the emerging “conversation”. The Bible is not a product of “Divine fiat”, Rob Bell says, “it’s a human product.” (Christianity Today, 11/1/04) The end result? We become God in our own minds. We can make things up as we go. Where does it all end? Rob Bell ends up promoting doctrines of demons---that we are co-creators with God, or rejecting the existence of hell, or the atonement, like Brian McLaren. That’s where it all ends. When you abandon a high view of Holy Scripture, your rebellion will take you places you never dreamed you would go. At some point, God blinds those who willingly believe a lie."

    Read full article here.

    Monday, March 3, 2008

    Tale of Two Doctors


    I went to the chiropractor recently to find relief for aching shoulder, back and persistent allergies.

    While the doctor was preparing the paperwork he asked me what I liked to do when I wasn't in pain.

    I laughed and said well I like to tell people about the Lord. I could tell he was a little surprised because he was quiet for a few seconds. Then I said, "Bet you haven't had anyone tell you that, huh?"

    "No, I sure haven't!"

    That opened the door and while he completed his paperwork I briefly discussed how I was reaching out to the lost by street witnessing every chance I got. Then he left the room to go grab some other things.

    Then I couldn't believe what happened next.

    When he returned he had another doctor with him that works in the office. The first thing he said when he came into the room was, "We want to hear more about your ministry."
    I was so surprised!

    I proceeded to tell both doctors how I shared my faith with others by taking them through the Law of God and then grace. Both doctors listened very intently, neither of them saying a word, but just nodding in agreement the whole time I was sharing with them.

    Then, one of the doctors took my hand and thanked me for what I was doing and told me that he hoped he could help me so that I could continue doing what I was doing. He mentioned that was the reason he did what he did so that he could help others too.

    I gave both doctors a Are you Good Enough to Go to Heaven and a Jump or Perish tract.

    Then one of the doctors left and I continued to discuss a few more minutes with the other doctor about how people say they are Christians when they really aren't. He said his ex-wife is always calling telling about how she is going to church but that her lifestyle didn't show it. I briefly touched on how using the Law could bring her into the realization of her sin.

    Always be prepared to bring up the Gospel of Christ! Non-believers and Christians alike are hungry for the word of God and learning how to do what the Lord commands us in Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."