John 3:16 (In Context)

 (John 3:16) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."  (ESV)  

This verse if often used to promote the view that God has simply made salvation possible for all people.  In reality Jesus has actually accomplished salvation for his people.  

The term "world" does not refer to every single person in the world (See John 17:9) but to people from all nations not just Israel.  God has chosen to save people from different groups and of different ethnicity.  Jesus is the only unique Son of God.  The Father and the Son are of the same essence and nature.  Christ died on the cross to save his people from their sins.  Jesus lays down his life for the sheep (See John 10:11).  

'Whoever believes" refers not only to Jews but to Gentiles as well.  "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out" (John 6:37,ESV).  Those who believe are God's elect who were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (See Ephesians 1:4).  

Those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life.  They will enjoy eternal blessings in God's presence in heaven.  Those who do not believe in Jesus will perish by suffering eternal judgment in hell. 

Ranking Bible Translations

 All Bible translations are not equal, some are better than others.  Unfortunately some modern translations are even politically correct.  We will rank ten of the most popular and significant modern translations of the Bible in English.  

Rankings

1. ESV

2. NASB95

3. NKJV

4. NASB2020

5. CSB

6. NIV

7. NLT

8. NET

9. NRSV

10. The Message 

The ESV and the NASB95 are the two best translations.  They are more literal translations that are accurate and not politically correct.  The NKJV is good and not politically correct, but it does not use some of the more recently discovered manuscripts. The NASB2020 and the CSB are pretty good but they are slightly politically correct.  The NIV, NLT, and NET are fair but somewhat politically correct.  The NRSV is more liberal and also politically correct.  With The Message one hardly knows if he is even reading the Bible.  

One final note, the LSB (Legacy Standard Bible) is due to be published in 2021 and it looks to be another good translation. 

Who Wrote Hebrews?

 The author of the book of Hebrews is not named in the epistle, so there is a mystery as to who actually wrote it.  Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians somewhere around A.D. 67.  

The earliest tradition from the late second century has Hebrews associated with the Apostle Paul.  Many have pointed out that the style of Hebrews differs from Paul's other epistles.  In Hebrews 2:3 the author says the message of salvation was attested to us by those who heard.  This would seem to rule out Paul.  The Muratorian fragment which may date back to the second century lists thirteen epistles written by the Apostle Paul and it does not include Hebrews among them.  

Other possible candidates for authorship of Hebrews include:  Luke, Barnabas, Apollos, and Clement of Rome.  The Greek in Hebrews 11:32 suggests that the author was male.  One plausible theory is that Luke wrote down the teaching of Paul.  This could account for the early church tradition that associated Hebrews with the Apostle Paul.  It also could explain the difference in style from the other Pauline epistles and the reference in Hebrews 2:3.  If it was written by Luke this theory could explain why Hebrews was associated with Paul even if he was not the author.  But as Origen said, only God knows who wrote Hebrews. 

A Bible Verse That Refutes Islam And Judaism

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all monotheistic religions, that is they all believe in one transcendent God.  Many people believe that all three religions worship the same God, but this is wrong.  

(1 John 2:23) "No one who denies the Son has the Father.  Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also."  (ESV) 

Islam rejects the very notion that God could have a son.  It is considered to be blasphemy by Muslims.  In Islam Allah is not a father.  Muslims consider Jesus to be a prophet but not the Son of God or Messiah.  The Qur'an seems to be confused about the Christian doctrine of the Trinity referring to it as God, Jesus, and Mary.  One wonders how Allah could get this wrong.  

Judaism also does not believe Jesus is the Messiah or Son of God.  They believe Christians are worshiping more than one God.  Unfortunately many Jewish people believe Christianity is not a Jewish thing, thinking instead that Judaism must be their religion.  Orthodox Judaism expects a messiah who is not divine.  Judaism worships the same God as Christianity in name only.  

Since Islam and Judaism deny the Son they do not have the Father.  They do not truly know or worship God.  The correct doctrine of God is trinitarian monotheism.  There is one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  There are three persons of one essence.  All three members of the Trinity are co-equal, co-eternal, and equally divine.  In order to be right with God and get to heaven one must confess Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God. Islam and Judaism are false religions that lead people to hell.  

 

Pope Francis Approves Of Homosexuality, Opposes God

 In a documentary Pope Francis has given his endorsement to civil unions for same sex couples.  He referred to homosexuals as children of God who must be accepted.  We must not that Pope Francis did not say this in his official capacity as Pope.  Therefore it is not considered an infallible and binding proclamation by Roman Catholics.  But it is still teaching from the Pope and one wonders what conservative Catholics are thinking right now.  

The Bible is the Word of God and most traditional Catholics would at least agree with that.  What the Bible says is what God says.  The Bible calls homosexuality an abomination (Leviticus 18:22), dishonorable, unnatural (Romans 1:26-27), and deserving of death (Romans 1:32).  Homosexuality is referred to as unrighteous and we are told not to be deceived, that homosexuals among others will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).  Homosexuality is such an offense to God that in Old Testament Israel the punishment for it was the death penalty (Leviticus 20:13).  

Pope Francis is leading people astray teaching them to disobey God.  People following his teaching will end up in hell.  The office of Pope is not found in the Bible.  Therefore the Pope has no authority.  Unfortunately the Roman Catholic Church is full of errors.  It does not even get the gospel right.  The Roman Catholic Church proclaims a different gospel of justification by faith plus works (see Galatians 1:6-9).  Our Roman Catholic friends need to embrace the true gospel of justification by faith alone in Christ alone.  They also need to reject the teaching of the Pope and the bishops and embrace Scripture alone as the ultimate authority. 

Tear Down Statues Of Jesus?

Some protestors have recently advocated tearing down statues of Jesus.  While the phrase "black lives matter" is true, the Black Lives Matter organization is based on Marxism and postmodernism.  In this way of thinking Christianity is seen as the oppressor and some have even referred to it as "the white man's religion." Of course neither of these things is true.  The Black Lives Matter movement is founded on a false worldview.  

So, what if I told you that these protestors were actually right about removing statues of Jesus (though for the wrong reasons)?  You see statues of Jesus are actually a violation of the second commandment.  

(Exodus 20:4) "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." (ESV) 

I believe a statue of Jesus is definitely a carved image.  The prohibition of images would apply to all three members of the Trinity.  Any kind of image or representation of God tends to become a false idol.  God is the Creator and he cannot be confined to any representation by the creation.  The first commandment deals with who is to be worshiped and the second commandment deals with how God is to be worshiped. 

A Biblical/Theological View Of the COVID -19 Pandemic

We have basically been presented with a naturalistic view of the coronavirus pandemic.  Naturalism denies the supernatural and believes this world is all that exists.  Many people (including many professing Christians) are practical atheists.  They do not call themselves atheists but they live as if God does not exist.  In reality God is there and he is in control of all things.  

While we have tended to look at the COVID-19 pandemic as a purely naturalistic phenomena, it is not.  Things do not just happen.  Nothing comes to pass that is not ordained by God.  If things just happen then God would be less than God.  God is not the author of evil but he ordains all things that happen including the coronavirus.  God is the primary or ultimate cause of COVID-19 but he is not the secondary or proximate cause of it.  

The virus exists as part of God's plan and purpose.  Through the evil of the coronavirus God is bringing about a greater good.  We may not be able to understand it because finite humans cannot fully comprehend the infinite God.  We live in a fallen world that is under the sin curse and things like the coronavirus occur.  It is also something God is using to conform his people to the image of Christ.  

The ultimate purpose of all things including the coronavirus is to glorify God.  Christians need not fear death because heaven awaits all those who trust in Christ alone for salvation.  

The Bible And Reincarnation

The concept of reincarnation is taught in Eastern religions such as Hinduism and has even gained popularity in the West.  It is not uncommon to hear people in the Western world talking about good and bad karma.  But what does the Bible teach about reincarnation? 

(Hebrews 9:27) "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,"  (ESV) 

This verse clearly refutes the idea of reincarnation.  A person lives one life and after that comes judgment.  The idea of karma is also refuted by this verse.  Karma is a sort of law of cause and effect where a person reaps in this life what he has sown in a previous life.  In Hinduism the problem is ignorance of one's own divinity.  The solution is to break free from the cycle of karma and reincarnation and to merge into the great oneness (Brahman).  

The real problem we have is that we are all sinners who stand guilty before a holy God.  Because of our sin we are under God's wrath and on the road to hell.  But God sent his only, unique Son to save his people from their sins.  Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of his people and was resurrected victorious over sin and death.  Christ takes our sin on himself and his righteousness is credited to us.  Jesus is the only way to heaven.  We must respond with repentance and faith in Christ alone for salvation.  

Hebrews 9:27 and the entire Bible refute the idea of reincarnation.  So concepts such as reincarnation and karma must be rejected as false teaching from a false religion, Hinduism.  We must hold to the teaching of the Bible which is the Word of God.