(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)
(Proverbs 27:17)"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." (ESV)
Through encouragement and constructive criticism one man sharpens another. This applies especially to the study of Scripture and theological matters, as we learn to love God with our mind.
A worldview is your philosophy of life and the world. It is composed of the foundational beliefs you hold, that shape how you see everything else. We will take a brief look at the basics of a Christian worldview.
Metaphysics
-What is ultimate reality?
-(Genesis 1:1)"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (ESV)
-Here we see the Creator/creature distinction. God is the Creator and everything else is creation. God is God and you are not.
Epistemology
-How do you know what you know?
-(Proverbs 1:7)"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." (ESV)
-True knowledge depends on God who knows all things and controls all things. We must think God's thoughts after him.
Ethics
-How should we live?
-(Exodus 20:1-17) The Ten Commandments
-(Matthew 5-7) The Sermon On The Mount
-Ethics and morality are rooted in the law and character of God.
How many times have we heard someone say, I do not have time to read the Bible? Usually when a person says he does not have time for something, he means it is not a priority. So when someone says he does not have time to read the Bible, he is saying it is not a priority.
When a person does not consider the Bible a priority, he does not consider God a priority, because the Bible is the Word of God. When a person does not consider God a priority, he views other things as more important than God. These other things have become his god or gods. This person is actually guilty of idolatry.
(Mark 13:27)"And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven." (ESV)
Some have tried to use this verse as evidence that the Bible teaches a flat earth. But Jesus is obviously using symbolic language to say he will gather his elect from everywhere. Jesus has perfect knowledge of the earth, he created it (John 1:1-3).
Since it is Pride Month, let us look at what the Bible says about pride.
(Proverbs 11:2)"Where pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
(Proverbs 16:18)"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
(Proverbs 21:4)"Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin."
(Mark 7:20-23)"And he said, what comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
(James 4:6)"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
(1 John 2:16)"For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world."
*All Scripture quotations from the ESV (English Standard Version)
In a recent interview Pope Francis said that people are fundamentally good. The Bible teaches the exact opposite.
(Romans 3:10)"as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one;" (ESV)
(Romans 3:23)"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (ESV)
(Ecclesiastes 7:20)"Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins." (ESV)
The faulty theology of Pope Francis undermines the gospel itself. Fundamentally good people do not need a savior. Sinners need a savior. Christ came to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
We must take the Word of God over the word of the pope. Scripture alone is the ultimate and final authority.
Ephesians 6:5
(ESV)"Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,"
(LSB)"Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the integrity of your heart, as to Christ;"
(KJV)"Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;"
Romans 1:1
(ESV)"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,"
(LSB)"Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, having been set apart for the gospel of God,"
(KJV)"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,"
John 8:34
(ESV)"Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin."
(LSB)"Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin."
(KJV)"Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."
At issue is how to translate the Greek word doulos. Should it be translated as slave, bondservant, or servant? The ESV sometimes uses slave, sometimes bondservant, and sometimes servant, depending on the context. The LSB consistently translates it as slave. The KJV regularly renders it as servant.
ESV (English Standard Version)
LSB (Legacy Standard Bible)
KJV (King James Version)
On social media an atheist was debating a Christian, making the argument that God is not necessary for morality to exist. He laid out his case as follows. In World A God does exist, and in World B God does not exist. The atheist asked the Christian, in World A if someone throws a baby off a building is it wrong? The Christian answered yes. The atheist then asked the Christian, in World B if someone throws a baby off a building is it wrong? The Christian responded yes again. The atheist then concluded that he had proven morality does exist without God.
Did the atheist really prove his case? No, not at all. The Christian should have answered the question about World B as no. Because in a world where God does not exist it is not wrong to throw a baby off a building. Without God there is no basis for the concepts of right and wrong. By what standard could the atheist even determine that throwing a baby off a building is wrong? Without God there is no ultimate and final authority. You would be left with nothing more than one opinion versus another opinion.
If humans just somehow happened, if humans are just chemicals reacting, and if humans just cease to exist when they die, then nothing really matters anyway because humans would have no value. The only consistent response for an atheist to anything that happens, including throwing a baby off a building, is so what?
When an atheist thinks throwing a baby off a building is wrong he is actually borrowing from the Christian worldview. The atheist cannot escape the fact that he is made in the image of God and must live in God's world. He cannot consistently live out his own worldview. A baby matters and has value because he was created by God in his image. Throwing a baby off a building is wrong because it is a violation of God's law and character.
(Psalm 118:9)"It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes." (ESV)
Those who view politics as ultimate need to listen to this verse. No politician is going to save you. Salvation is found in Christ alone. Our trust should not be in politicians or any human beings. Our trust should only be in God.
With the recent death of my father, both of my parents are now in heaven. There is no more pain, suffering, sin, or death; it is perfect there. So, how did my parents get to heaven?
(Romans 1:18)"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth."
(Romans 3:10)"as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one;"
(Romans 3:23)"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
All people are unrighteous sinners who face the wrath of God. Unbelievers suppress the truth about God, refusing to honor and submit to him. Since we all deserve to go to hell and not heaven, how can we be right with God?
(Romans 3:28)"For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."
We are justified (declared righteous) by faith alone. We are incapable of keeping God's law so we cannot be saved by works of the law (Romans 3:20). Through faith alone in Christ alone we receive the righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:22). Jesus through his death on the cross turned away the wrath of God from us (Romans 3:25, Romans 5:8-9).
(Romans 5:1)"Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
(Romans 6:23)"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
If we die in our sins we spend eternity in hell. If we repent of our sins and place our faith in Christ we will have eternal life in heaven.
(Romans 8:1)"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
(Romans 10:9)"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
*All Scripture quotations from the ESV (English Standard Version)
