(Matthew 1:21)"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (ESV)
The name Jesus means the Lord saves. Jesus did not just make salvation possible, he actually saved his people from their sins. Christ accomplished salvation for the elect. Salvation is the work of God alone.
In the early days of the King James Version of the Bible, there was a famous error in one of the printings. The word "not" was left out of the seventh commandment in Exodus 20. It actually read, "thou shalt commit adultery."
This edition of the King James Version was nicknamed the "Wicked Bible." The printer was fined somewhere around $90,000 in today's money.
In a recent podcast, Kamala Harris made an interesting statement. She said she did not aspire to be humble. The opposite of humbleness is pride and self exaltation. Of course Donald Trump is not exactly humble, he constantly exalts himself. So apparently we will have someone in the White House in 2025 who is not humble.
Ironically both of these candidates claim to be Christians. So let us see what the Word of God says about being humble.
(Matthew 23:12)"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
(Psalm 147:6)"The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground."
(Proverbs 11:2)"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
(James 4:6)"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
(James 4:10)"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
(All Scripture quotations from the ESV)
The immaculate conception is the Roman Catholic doctrine that Mary herself is without sin, that she was born without sin. The Bible does not teach the immaculate conception, it actually refutes it.
(Luke 1:46-47)"And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior," (ESV)
These verses come from what is known as the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Mary refers to God as my Savior, and only sinners need a Savior. If Mary was without sin she would have no need for a Savior.
The Roman Catholic Church holds to the immaculate conception and other false doctrine because of it's rejection of Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone). Nowhere does Scripture teach that Mary was without sin. Mary found salvation by God's grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
(Psalm 19:7)"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;"
(Psalm 119:105)"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
(Proverbs 30:5-6)"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar."
(Isaiah 40:8)"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."
(John 10:35)"Scripture cannot be broken"
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
(Hebrews 4:12)"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
(2 Peter 1:20-21)"knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
(Scripture quotations from the ESV)
Here is a timeline of some of the most significant Bible translations in English.
(1526) Tyndale New Testament
(1539) Great Bible
(1560) Geneva Bible
(1611) King James Version
(1885) Revised Version
(1901) American Standard Version
(1952) Revised Standard Version
(1971) Living Bible
(1971) New American Standard Bible
(1978) New International Version
(1982) New King James Version
(1989) New Revised Standard Version
(1996) New Living Translation
(2001) English Standard Version
(2003) Holman Christian Standard Bible
(2017) Christian Standard Bible
(2021) Legacy Standard Bible
Even though this world sometimes seems scary and out of control, Christians need not fear. We should trust in God because he is in control of all things.
(Hebrews 13:6)"So we can confidently say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"
(Matthew 10:28)"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
(Romans 8:28)"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
(Romans 8:31)"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
(Joshua 1:9)"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
(Scripture quotations from the ESV)
