Doctrine Doesn't Matter Examined

[Guest tiggr]

How many sins did Adam and Eve commit before they were put out of the Garden?

Saul did everything he was supposed to except he didnt kill King Agag and all of the animals, yet he lost the kingdom.

Abraham was told to take his wife and leave his kin behind, look at all the trouble that Lot caused him.

What if he had not been willing to sacrifice Isaac as God instructed, what if Noah had decided that the ark didnt need to be made of gopher wood, what if Moses decided to build the tabernacle the way he wanted instead of the way God wanted?

What if our interpritation of the Bible is not what God says it should be, how far off can we be and still get in?

Matt 7:21-23

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

KJV

Not pointing fingers or anything just something for all of us to think about

[jmwhalen]

Tiggr writes:

"What if our interpritation of the Bible is not what God says it should be, how far off can we be and still get in?

Matt 7:21-23

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

KJV

Not pointing fingers or anything just something for all of us to think about "

________________________________________________________________

Would God "go to all the trouble" to preserve His word(preservation), but not have it presented in a form that his creatures could understand it's most important doctrines? That does not seem to be a very capable God, does it?

Please read 2 Timothy 2:15. Much of the confusion many have regarding supposedly "contradictions" in scripture is dispelled by "rightly dividing the word of truth"(a command, not a request).

I showed you the gospel of Christ in my previous post. Please post it for me. I want to make sure you understand, and thus believe, this "good news". This is the only gospel that will save you. It is so simple, a 5th grader can understand it.

Did you know you will not find this gospel in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? See if you can find the gospel of Christ(the gospel that saves you if you believe it) in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John(Hint;read Romans 16:25-what was "...kept secret since the world began...."?)

The gospel of the kingdom is not equivalent to the gospel Paul preached. Gospel means, of course, "good news", but there is more than "one" gospel in scripture.

I await your response.

"...Speaking the truth in love...." John M. Whalen

[kjvtrue]

There are many good works that one can read on the authority of the King James Bible, and this particular effort offers nothing really new. However, it does attempt to explain the issue in a simple and brief manner for all to understand. Over the years I have learned a great deal about this issue, and I believe that a truth worth learning is a truth worth telling.

Many preachers and teachers across our land talk about "preferring" and "using" the KJV, but I haven't heard them speak much about BELIEVING it. Many prefer it and use it, because that's what their congregations prefer and use, but they do not BELIEVE it to be the infallible words of God. They are taught in college to USE, PREFER, and RECOMMEND the KJV, but they are NOT taught to BELIEVE it. Most "Christian colleges" teach that the King James Bible is only a translation, and that NO translation is infallible. Consequently, the average minister today uses a Book which he doesn't even believe.

Now, I thank God that I don't have that problem. I don't have to play make-believe with anyone about the word of God. I believe it. I believe the King James Bible is the preserved and infallible words of God. It doesn't merely "contain" the word of God: it IS the word of God. I'm absolutely sure of it, and I'd like to give a few reasons why. Here are twelve reasons how I know that the KJV is the word of God:

God Promised to Preserve His Words

Psalm 12:6-7 says, "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." Then we read in Psalm 100:5 that ". . . . his truth endureth to all generations," and Jesus said in John 17:17 that God's WORD is truth.

These words state very clearly that God's preserved word MUST be available to us today, because God PROMISED to preserve it for us. There MUST be an infallible Book somewhere.

You say, "But ALL translations are God's word, not just one." That's impossible, because the various translations contain different readings, and God is not the author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33). Besides, if all of the versions are the word of God, then where are the "corrupt" and "perverted" versions that we are warned about in II Corinthians 2:17 and Jeremiah 23:36? If everyone is innocent, then where are those who are said to be GUILTY of subtracting from and adding to the word of God (Rev. 22:18-19)? God wouldn't have warned us about Bible perversion if it wasn't going to be a reality. According to the scriptures, there must be a single Book that is the word of God, and there must be MANY which are involved in CORRUPTING the word of God.

Now, if the Authorized Version isn't the infallible word of God, then WHAT IS? There has to be a Book somewhere in "all generations" which is God's word; so what book is it? Those who "use" the new versions believe that these are good and reliable translations, but they do NOT believe these to be INFALLIBLE translations. However, I know MANY people who believe the King James Bible to be an infallible Book. Why? Because they know that the One True God has ONE TRUE BOOK. He promised to preserve His words, and we believe that He has done just that. Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). If His words didn't pass away, then where are they? I want to read them. There has to be a perfect volume somewhere. I know the King James Bible is the word of God because God promised to preserve His words.

The Authorized Version Was Translated Under A God-Ordained English King

The main subject of the Bible is the kingdom which God intends to give to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will be crowned "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS," according to Revelation 19:16. Ecclesiastes 8:4 says, "Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?" Unlike the modern versions, the KJV was translated under a king. In fact, the king's name was "James," which is the English word for "Jacob," whom God renamed "Israel," because he had power with God and with men (Gen. 32:28).

The new versions have been translated in America, which is not a monarchy. God's form of government is a theocratic monarchy, not a democracy. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that His word would be translated for the English speaking people under a monarchy with an English king. I know the King James Bible is the word of God because it was translated under a king.

Because It Has No Copyright

The original crown copyright of 1611 does not forbid anyone today from reprinting the Authorized Version. It was only copyrighted then for the purpose of allowing the printer to finance the publication. For nearly four hundred years now we have been printing millions of copies of KJV's without requesting permission from anyone. Over eight-hundred million copies of the Authorized Version have been printed without anyone paying royalties. This cannot be said of any of the new translations.

The new "bibles" are the work of MEN, but the KJV is a divine work of the Holy Spirit. The term "Authorized" has traditionally been applied to the King James Version alone, for this is the one Book which the Holy Spirit has blessed and used for so long. The fact that it bears no copyright allows printing ministries throughout the world to print millions of copies each year for the mission field. I know the King James Bible is the word of God because it has no copyright.

Because God Always Translates Perfectly

The words "translate" and "translated" occur three times in the Bible, and GOD is the Translator each time. The scholars insist that the KJV cannot be infallible, because it is "only a translation." Do you suppose that such scholars have checked II Samuel 3:10, Colossians 1:13, and Hebrews 11:5 to see what GOD has to say about translating?

In II Samuel 3:10 we are told that it was God Who translated Saul's kingdom to David. We are told in Colossians 1:13 that Christians have been translated into the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and Hebrews 11:5 tells us that God translated Enoch that he should not see death. God was the One doing the translating each time. What's the point? The point is that a translation CAN be perfect, if God is involved in the translating.

When the New Testament writers would quote the Old Testament (Mt. 1:23; Mk. 1:2; Lk. 4:4; Jn. 15:25; Acts 1:20; 7:42; I Cor. 2:9; Gal. 3:13, etc.), they had to TRANSLATE from Hebrew to Greek, because the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, but THEY wrote in Greek. So, if a translation cannot be infallible, then EVEN THE NEW TESTAMENT IN THE "ORIGINAL GREEK" ISN'T INFALLIBLE, because it contains translations from the Hebrew text!

Obviously God assisted them in their translating by the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and He assisted the King James translators as well. The scholars will never understand this, for most of them have QUENCHED the Holy Spirit in their own lives by looking to higher education for truth, rather than seeking the Lord's leadership (Jn. 16:13).

The Holy Spirit Who inspired the word of God through "holy men of God" (II Pet. 1:21) is quite capable of guiding His servants to KEEP the words which Jesus told us to keep (Jn. 14:23). In essence, the KJV translators were merely INSTRUMENTS which God used in translating and preserving His word. In fact, they said this themselves in the Dedicatory to the Authorized Version: ". . . . because we are poor instruments to make God's holy truth to be yet more and more known to the people. . . "

I know the King James Bible is the word of God, because God is very capable of using anyone He pleases as His very own instruments of righteousness in order to preserve His word.

Because It Produces Good Fruit

The Lord Jesus said that every good tree will bring forth good fruit, and we can know them BY their fruits (Mt. 7:17-20).

God had the KJV translated for the purpose of bringing forth fruit, and it has been very obedient to the call. The greatest preachers of the past four centuries have been King James Bible believers. Billy Sunday is said to have led over one million people to Christ, and he was a KJV believer. Spurgeon, Moody, Whitfield, and Wesley were all KJV men, and the list goes on. God has richly blessed the ministries of such men as these because they stayed busy OBEYING His word rather than questioning its authority.

The KJV produces good fruit. I was led to Christ with a King James Bible. Nearly every Christian I know was led to Christ with a KJV. Why? Because it produces good fruit.

The new translations produce EVIL fruit. The modern perversions of scripture are producing infidels who do not even know what the word of God is, much less where to find it. The new translations produce spiritual babies who are totally incapable of discussing Bible doctrine. The new versions produce NEWER versions, which produce MONEY for the publishers, and I Timothy 6:10 tells us that the love of MONEY is the root of all EVIL.

The Holy Spirit doesn't bear witness to the modern translations, but He DOES bear witness to the King James. I've always believed the KJV to be God's word, even before I was saved. No one ever told me to believe this, but the Holy Spirit just bore witness to the King James--not the others. After being saved, I spent several years of my Christian life not being aware of the big debate going on these days between King James Bible believers and New Age Version believers. The whole time I believed only ONE BOOK to be God's word, and even then I was suspicious of the new versions, although no one had told me to be. When I discovered that over eighty percent of the "Christian" schools in our nation do not believe the KJV to be the word of God, I was shocked.

How is it that one comes to believe the KJV naturally, but must be EDUCATED OUT of his belief in it? Why is it that King James believers are accused of following men when GOD is the One Who led them to believe it? Why do opponents of the KJV accuse us of following men, when THEY are the ones who allowed MEN to talk them out of believing the KJV?

The KJV produces good fruit, because the Holy Spirit bears witness to it like no other book in the world. It's easier to memorize than any new version, and the beautiful old English language gives the reader the impression that he is reading a Book very different and far superior to the rest. It reads different because it IS different, and it IS different because it has a different Author. We shall know them "by their fruit", and I know the King James Bible is the word of God, because it produces GOOD fruit.

Because the King James Translators Believed They Were Handling the Very Words of God

One can see this truth by reading the Prefatory and Dedicatory remarks in the Authorized Version. These men didn't believe they were handling "God's message" or "reliable manuscripts." They believed they were handling the very words of God Himself. As I Thessalonians 2:13 says, they ". . . . received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."

Like the serpent of Genesis 3:1, modern translators approach the scriptures in skepticism, saying, "Yea, hath God said?" This was the first recorded sin in the Bible, and it still runs rapid through the hearts and minds of most scholars and new version promoters.

God has always allowed such people to be DECEIVED because of the IDOLS in their hearts (Ezek. 14:1-9; II Thess. 2:10-12; I Kings 22). A man who lacks faith in God's word is in no condition to translate it. This eliminates every revision committee in the past one hundred years, because these committees have consisted mostly of highly educated men who were heady, high-minded, and proud, thinking that their intelligence qualified them to tamper with the pure words of God.

The KJV translators were not like this. Their scholarship FAR EXCEEDED that of modern translators, yet they remained humble and allowed God to use them in order to produce an infallible masterpiece. They didn't set out to "judge" and "correct" the word of God. Their purpose was to translate God's word for the English speaking people, as they were told to do by their appointed king. I know the King James Bible is the word of God because the KJV translators believed it themselves.

Because the King James Translators Were Honest In Their Work

The critics of the KJV enjoy making a fuss about the words in italics, which were added by the translators, but the argument is entirely unnecessary and unfair.

The italic words in the KJV actually PROVE that the translators were honest in their work. When translating from one language to another, the idioms change, thus making it necessary to add certain words to help the reader grasp the full meaning of the text. When the KJV translators added such words they set them in italics so that we'd know these words were added, UNLIKE we find it in so many new versions today, which do NOT use the italics.

Besides, no one has ever PROVEN that the italic words are not the words of God, because no one has "the originals" to check them with. In fact, we know for sure that the translators were led by the Holy Spirit to add at least some of the italicized words.

One good example of this is found in II Samuel 21:19. When the translators came to this verse in the Hebrew text, they noticed that an exact translation would give Elhanan credit for slaying Goliath, but we know from I Chronicles 20:5 that he actually slew THE BROTHER OF Goliath. So the KJV translators added the words "the brother of" to II Samuel 21:19. If the Lord had not led them to do so, then II Samuel 21:19 would contradict I Chronicles 20:5 (as it DOES in the New World Translation!).

Another fine example is I John 2:23. The last half of the verse was missing at the time, but the KJV translators inserted it anyhow (in italics), feeling that it was necessary. This naturally disturbed many people, but since that time new manuscripts have been found which CONTAIN the last half of I John 2:23. The translators were RIGHT in adding the italicized words.

One last example of the Holy Spirit's guiding influence on the KJV translators is found in Psalm 16:8, which says, "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." As you can see, the words "he is" are in italics. According to many scholars they should be omitted, but according to the Apostle Peter they should NOT be omitted. Peter quotes Psalm 16:8 in Acts 2:25, and he USES the italicized words! How did the translators know this if the Lord didn't lead them?

The italics in the King James Bible are the marks of an HONEST translation, for no one added these words to mislead us, or to change the word of God. They added the words to help us, and they set the words in italics so we'd know they were added. That's honesty. I know the KJV is the word of God, because the translators were more honest in their work than any of the modern Bible translators.

Because All New Translations Compare Themselves to the KJV

The new versions do not compare themselves with each other, because they're too busy comparing themselves with one Book--the King James Bible. This fact alone proves that there is something very special and unique about the KJV.

Why does everyone line up in opposition AGAINST the King James Bible? Why not attack one another? That's easy: Satan has no desire to divide his own kingdom (Mt. 12:26). His desire is to discredit the word of GOD, not himself; so he attacks only one Book, God's Book, the KJV.

Those who oppose the KJV are unsure of themselves, for they have no Final Authority; so they despise those of us who DO have an Authority. They're unstable, insecure, dishonest, and very inconsistent. They're all TERRIFIED of One Book, the KJV, and they'll stop short of nothing in their efforts to rid the Body of Christ of that Book.

I know the KJV is the word of God, because it's the standard which all others use for comparison.

Because of the Time in History in Which It Was Translated

The King James Bible was not translated during the apostate and lukewarm Laodicean church period, like the new translations. The Laodicean period is the last church period before the Second Coming of Christ. It is the last of the seven church periods in Revelation chapters two and three. One can clearly see that we are living in the Laodicean period today by simply comparing modern churches to the church of Revelation 3:14-22. This lukewarm period began toward the end of the 1800's and will continue until Christ returns. The new versions fit well into the lukewarm churches, because they are lukewarm "bibles."

The Authorized Version, however, was translated LONG BEFORE the Laodicean churches appeared. It was translated during the Philadelphia church period, which is the best church period of all. It was this church that the Lord Jesus COMMENDED for KEEPING HIS WORD( Rev. 3:8-10)!

In 1611, when the King James Bible was completed, the scourge of lukewarm Laodicea had not yet swept over the world. There was no "scientific" crowd around in 1611 to put pressure on the translators. There was no civil rights movement going on at this time to influence the work of these men. The women were not screaming for "equal rights," and the humanists and socialists had not yet taken control. The massive army of liberal and modernistic preachers had not yet been assembled. The open public denial of God's word and the Deity of Christ was practically unheard of among ministers. It wasn't until the twentieth century that professing Christianity became flooded with lukewarm preachers who would be willing to compromise the word of God for self gain.

The greatest missionary work in church history occurred between 1700 and 1900, so it makes perfect sense that God would have a Bible ready for this great work, and He did - the KJV. Unfortunately, the new translations appeared a bit LATE on the scene! Think about that. I know the KJV is the word of God because of the time in history in which it was translated.

Because No One Has Ever Proven That the KJV is Not God's Word

Any honest American should know that innocence is supposed to prevail in our land until guilt is proven. The KJV should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Has anyone proven it guilty? No. Has any scholar actually PROVEN that there are errors in the King James Bible? No. Enemies of the KJV delight in IGNORING the facts about the Authorized Version, while never PROVING anything. All apparent "errors" in the KJV can be explained through prayer and a careful study of the scriptures, but the opponents of the KJV aren't interested in looking for TRUTH; they're interested attacking God's word, while never proving anything. I know the KJV is the word of God, because, over nearly four hundred years, no one has proven otherwise.

Because of the Manuscript Evidence

Only a very deceived individual could believe that the new versions are equal to the King James Bible. Ninety-five percent of all evidence SUPPORTS the text of the King James Authorized Version. The new versions are supported by the remaining five percent evidence.

The new "bibles" are supported by two very corrupt fourth century manuscripts, known as the "Vaticanus" and the "Siniaticus." These manuscripts are filled with many text alterations to meet the demands of Roman Catholic tradition. They also include the Apocrypha, which the Lord Jesus Christ EXCLUDED from the Old Testament in Luke 24:44. All new versions contain readings from these corrupt manuscripts, and all new versions use their tiny five percent evidence to attack the ninety-five percent majority text of the King James Bible.

The Textus Receptus (received text) from which the King James Bible came can be traced clear back to Antioch, Syria, where the disciples were first called Christians and where Paul and Barnabas taught the word of God for a whole year (Acts 11:26). The other "bibles" do not come from Antioch. They come from Alexandria, Egypt, and from Rome. We don't need an Egyptian version, for Egypt is a type of the WORLD in the Bible. God called His people OUT of Egypt (Exod. 3-14), and God called His Son out of Egypt (Hos. 11:1 with Matt. 2:13-15). Why, the Bible says that "every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians" in Gen. 46:34, and the Lord Jesus Christ is called a SHEPHERD in John chapter ten. Alexandria, Egypt, is associated with SUPERSTITION in Acts 28:11, and Aquilla and Pricilla had to set an Egyptian straight on his doctrine in Acts chapter 18. Alexandrians are also found DISPUTING WITH STEPHEN in Acts 6:9. So we don't need a "bible" from Alexandria, Egypt.

Then there's the Roman text, also called the "Western Text." We can also do without a Roman "bible", because it was ROMAN soldiers who nailed our Lord to the cross. The harlot of Revelation 17 is a perfect description of the Roman Catholic Church, which has persecuted Christians for thousands of years. Romans persecuted the Christians in Acts18:2, and in 70 A.D. the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. Rome is the "dreadful and terrible" beast of Daniel chapter seven, and Christ will destroy the "Revised Roman Empire" at the Second Coming (Dan. 2; 7; and Rev. 13). It has been estimated that Rome is guilty of the blood of some 200 million people who have rejected her corrupt system. A "bible" from Rome is another thing we can live without.

There's only one line of manuscripts that we can trust, and this is the line from Antioch, called the "Syrian" or "Byzantine" type text. The word of God speaks POSITIVELY of Antioch, and NEGATIVELY of Rome and Egypt. We should TAKE THE BEST AND DUMP THE REST! I know the King James Bible is the word of God because of the manuscript evidence.

Because It Exalts the Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: And they are they which testify of me." John 5:39.

A REAL Bible will testify of the Lord Jesus Christ. The true word of God will always EXALT Jesus Christ, and it will NEVER attack Hid Deity, His Virgin Birth, His Blood Atonement, His Bodily Resurrection, His Glorious Second Coming, or any other doctrines concerning His Person. However, the new versions attack ALL of the fundamental doctrines concerning the Lord Jesus Christ at one time or another.

By perverting the many important verses of scripture which deal with the fundamental doctrines of Christ, the new "bibles" have a CONTINUOUS ATTACK launched against our beloved Savior, and this is NOT an overstatement! His Virgin Birth is under attack in Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:34, and Luke 2:33. His Blood Atonement is under attack in Colossians 1:14, Acts 20:28, Ephesians 1:7, and Revelation 1:5. The Bodily Resurrection is under attack in Acts 1:3, Luke chapter 24, and the last twelve verses of Mark. His Deity is under attack in Acts 10:28, John 9:35, and I Timothy 3:16. The new versions attack the Second Coming in Revelation 11:15, and Titus 2:13, and the list goes on, because the new versions have an extreme bitter HATRED toward the Authorized Version and the way it gives the Lord Jesus Christ the preeminent place.

If the reader doubts this, we challenge you to take whatever version you want and compare the above verses in it to the same verses in the King James Bible. If you still doubt it, after checking the verses, then write us and we will send you a great many more references to check. The new "bibles" have a very consistent record of attacking the Lord Jesus Christ; so they cannot possibly be "the scriptures" that He said would testify of Him in John 5:39. They testify AGAINST him.

The King James Bible NEVER attacks our Lord. More than any book in the world, the Authorized Version of the Protestant Reformation EXALTS the Lord Jesus Christ. If we had no other reason for receiving the Authorized Version as the word of God, this reason alone should be enough to convince any true believer, for how could we not become suspicious of the new versions for making such changes? I know the King James Bible is the word of God because it always exalts the Lord Jesus Christ.

Over the past few decades, new Bible translations have been popping up like popcorn. Many strong Christians have stood their ground and continued to believe, read, and study only the Authorized King James Bible. Many others, however, have forsaken the Book that God has used for centuries. Such people have fallen for smooth advertising schemes and have actually started believing that the modern versions are superior to the King James Bible. It's very sad that most Christians today have not taken time to study the subject thoroughly enough to see what is really happening.

Originally we published only one tract about the King James Bible. The tract is titled How I Know The King James Bible Is The Word Of God, and it presents some rather strong arguments for the KJV. Then we offered a second tract, titled Let's Compare Bibles. This tract shows how the modern Bible translations are literally attacking God's word! Both of these tracts are still available, and are free upon request.

Now, by the grace of God, we are able to offer a third tract on the King James issue. We call it Fables And Facts About The King James Bible. It's purpose is to better educate Christians about the KJV by clearing up some of the fables that have been spread by the critics. Far too many Christians are accepting the Authorized Version by faith alone, rather than working and studying to become more grounded in some of the basic FACTS about this important issue. The following information should be helpful to the believer who desires to be readily armed with TRUTH.

FABLE: The King James Bible was revised several times before 1800, so modern translations are just additional revisions of the original King James Bible of 1611.

FACT: The so-called "revisions" of the King James Bible prior to 1800 were to correct typographical errors, add notes, and omit the Apocrypha from between the Testaments. There were no changes in the actual TEXT of the King James Bible. The REAL changes (over 36,000 of them) didn't start until the modern revisionists came on the scene.

FABLE: The modern translations are more accurate because they have been translated from older and better manuscripts.

FACT: It is truly amazing how so many Christians have bought into this lie without ever checking to see WHAT these manuscripts are, WHERE they came from, and WHO wrote them. It's also strange that no one seems to be asking the question, "Has God honored these 'older' and 'better' manuscripts throughout Church History?"

The modern translations are based on the work of two nineteenth century Greek scholars from England--B. F. Westcott and F. J. A. Hort. Westcott and Hort, who were deeply involved in the occult, hated the Textus Receptus Greek text, from which the King James Bible was translated, so they conjured up THEIR OWN Greek text. This Westcott and Hort Greek text was based primarily on two very corrupt fourth century ROMAN CATHOLIC manuscripts: Codex Vaticanus (discovered in the Pope's library in 1481) and Sinaiticus (discovered in 1859 in a trash can at St. Catherine's monastery on Mt. Sinai). These are usually the "older" and "better" manuscripts that we keep hearing so much about. These manuscripts support most of the attacks in the new versions.

The Vaticanus is considered to be the most authoritative, although it is responsible for over thirty-six thousand changes that appear today in the new versions. This perverted manuscript contains the books of the pagan Apocrypha, which are not scripture; it omits the pastoral epistles (I Timothy through Titus), the Book of Revelation, and it cuts off the Book of Hebrews at Hebrews 9:14 (a very convenient stopping point for the Catholic Church, since God forbids their priesthood in Hebrews 10!). The attacks on the word of God found in these manuscripts originated in Alexandria, Egypt with the deceitful work of such pagan Greek "scholars" as Origen and Clement of Alexandria. Then in 313 A.D. the Roman emperor Constantine ordered fifty copies of "the Bible" from Eusebius, the Bishop of Caesaria. Eusebius, being a devout student of Origen's work, chose to send him manuscripts filled with Alexandrian corruption, rather than sending him the true word of God in the SYRIAN text from Antioch, Syria. So the corrupt Alexandrian text (also called the "Egyptian" or "Hesychian" type text) found it's way into the Vatican manuscript, then eventually into the Westcott and Hort Greek Text, and finally into the new "Bible" versions in your local "Christian" bookstore. Therefore, when you hear or read of someone "correcting" the King James Bible with "older" or "more authoritative" manuscripts, you are simply hearing someone trying to use a ROMAN CATHOLIC text to overthrow the God-honored text of the Protestant Reformation and the great revivals. God has never honored this corrupt text and He never will.

FABLE: New translations are needed to correct the errors and contradictions in the King James Bible.

FACT: No one has ever proven that there are errors and contradictions in the KJV. Many "Christian" colleges and preachers have a nasty habit of pointing out APPARENT contradictions to their people, but these arguments have been disproven so many times that it is nothing less than disgusting to hear them still being used.

FABLE: New Translations are needed to bring the archaic Old English language up to date. People have trouble understanding the language of the King James Bible.

FACT: The King James language is NOT hard to understand. Most of the so-called "archaic" words are explained by the context of the passage or by comparing the passage with other passages in the Bible where the same word is used. Heady and high-minded people resent the King James language because it is plain and simple, and it isn't in tune with their high-minded vocabulary. In fact, the Grade Level Indicator of the Flesch-Kincaid research company says the King James language is EASIER to understand than the new versions.

We certainly agree that the language of the King James Bible is a unique language, but why shouldn't it be? It's the WORD OF GOD!

FABLE: The King James Bible cannot be infallible because the translators were only men, and all men are sinners. The human element prevents the KJV from being infallible.

FACT: If this is true, then even the ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS in Hebrew and Greek were not infallible, because they too were penned by men!

The fact of the matter is that the King James translators were only INSTRUMENTS of preservation (which is exactly what they called themselves in the Dedicatory to the A.V. 1611). God has always been the Divine Preserver of His word (Psa. 12:6-7), but He has used men as tools and instruments of preservation, just as He uses men to teach and preach His words. When men humbly yield themselves to the will of God, God can use them to accomplish His will (Rom. 12:1-2), and this is precisely what happened between 1604 and 1611.

FABLE: The King James translators added to the word of God, because the italicized words in the KJV were not in the originals.

FACT: The italics in the KJV prove that the translators were HONEST in their work. They set the words in italics so we'd know they were not in the manuscripts they were using.

Besides, no one has a copy of the original manuscripts today, so no one knows for certain that the italicized words aren't in them. In fact, there are many cases where we know that the italicized words are justified. For example, notice in Deuteronomy 8:3 that the word "word" is in italics. However, when Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 4:4 he INCLUDES the italicized word! If the italicized word does not belong in the Bible, why did the Lord Jesus quote it?

FABLE: The original King James Bible included the Apocrypha in the Old Testament.

FACT: The King James translators knew the Apocrypha was not scripture, so they placed it BETWEEN the Old and New Testament as a HISTORICAL DOCUMENT, not as scripture.

Friend, don't be deceived by the crafty critics of God's word. LEARN THE FACTS! If you haven't read our other tracts on the KJV, order them soon and read them. Arm yourself with the facts!

If you've never received Jesus Christ as your Savior, please send for a free copy of Understanding God's Salvation Plan.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (III John 4)

[Guest tiggr]

The gospel of the kingdom is not equivalent to the gospel Paul preached. Gospel means, of course, "good news", but there is more than "one" gospel in scripture.

So what are you saying, that Paul taught a false gospel?

So the verses below are not the gospel

1 Cor 15:1-4

15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

KJV

Jesus died, was buried, and rose again and He did all so that we could be saved, sound like good news to me

[Guest yod]

I like the KJV for the Psalms and Isaiah....but I prefer the New American Standard usually. I believe all versions..once they are interpreted correctly. There are quite a few words in the KJV (1611 version) that have different meanings now.

For alternate readings of a verse I like the Jewish New Testament from David Stern. It captures the idioms of the day in an imaginative way that gives one a feel for the culture it was written in.

[Guest tiggr]

Did you know you will not find this gospel in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? See if you can find the gospel of Christ(the gospel that saves you if you believe it) in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John(Hint;read Romans 16:25-what was "...kept secret since the world began...."?)

The gospel of the kingdom is not equivalent to the gospel Paul preached. Gospel means, of course, "good news", but there is more than "one" gospel in scripture.

Paul wrote Romans so how can you say that the correct gospel is in Romans but that Paul did not preach the right one?

Also Romans was written to believers in Rome they didnt need to know what they had to do to be saved but what they needed to do to stay saved.

[jmwhalen]

Tiggr, you write:

"So what are you saying, that Paul taught a false gospel?

So the verses below are not the gospel

1 Cor 15:1-4

15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

KJV

Jesus died, was buried, and rose again and He did all so that we could be saved, sound like good news to me"

and,

"Paul wrote Romans so how can you say that the correct gospel is in Romans but that Paul did not preach the right one?

Also Romans was written to believers in Rome they didnt need to know what they had to do to be saved but what they needed to do to stay saved. "

________________________________________________________________________________

_______

No, I did not say Paul taught a false gospel. And 1 Cor. 15:1-4 is the gospel of Christ. But your question/statement "So the verses below are not THE GOSPEL" demonstrates the misunderstanding most(including myself until the Lord sent teachers to me to instruct me from His word, and I "checked it out" per Acts 17:2,11!) have regarding the term "gospel"-the term "THE GOSPEL" needs to be qualified within its dispensational setting.

Paul was commissioned to preach the gospel of the grace of God, the gospel of Christ, that was revealed to him from the risen, ascended, glorified, Lord Jesus Christ from heaven by revelation. This was his calling from the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is the only "good news", as you rightly say, that will save you from the penalty, power, and presence from sin(salvation and justification, sanctification, glorification). This gospel is summarized in 1 Cor. 15:1-4. But this is not "the gospel of the kingdom"-these are not equivalent or synonymous.

The Lord Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry, the apostles, and the disciples all preached "the gospel of the kingdom". "Gospel" means "good news", but there is more than one "gospel" in scripture, and the confusion in Christianity results from the failure to understand the absolute necessity of "rightly dividing the word of truth"(2 Tim. 2:15), mainly failing to distinguish between the prophetic program as revealed in the Old Testament, and the Mystery Program that was revealed to Paul.

Nowhere in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John will you find 1 Cor. 15;1-4 being preached as the "good news", the basis for our salvation and justification. Nowhere.

Consider this. You cannot preach what you do not know. You cannot believe that which you do not know.

During the Lord Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, the apostles and disciples had no knowledge of his impending, death, burial, and resurrection:

"From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee" Mt. 16:21,22

"And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him." Mark 8:31,32

(Comment: Obviously, Peter was attempting to prevent the Lord's death! If the death, burial, and resurrection was the grounds for Peter's salvation and justification(as Paul expounds on in his epistles), why was Peter trying to prevent the very thing that would be the basis for his justification? See also John 18:10. Did he ever preach 1 Cor. 15:1-4? If he had, his rebuke of the Lord would be a non-sensical reaction!)

"For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him." Mark 9:31,32

"Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken." Luke 18:31-34

"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day...." Luke 24:45,46

"For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." John 20:9

(Comment: Notice they did not know it or understand it prior to His death! They were not preaching 1 Cor. 15:1-4).

Even after the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection, they intially did not believe it:

"And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted." Mt. 28:17

"And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." Mark 16:11

"And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not." Luke 24:9-11

" And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?" Luke 24:41

It is a prevalent but erroneous view that there is only one gospel in scripture. The fact that the message of the cross is not part of the "gospel of the kingdom" does not mean that the Lord jesus Christ's death was not the critical event. And no one has ever been, nor ever will be, saved apart from the death, burial and resurrection. But it is an entirely different matter to say that it was the contents of one and the same gospel of all time. Christ's death was the central event, , but that fact was not always part of the content or message(a discussion of progressive revelation would be beyond the scope of this message). Indeed, during the Lord Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, the "gospel of the kingdom", the good news" of the approaching Davidic, Messianic kingdom("...as the days of heaven upon the earth...." Deut. 11:24), which was the subect of Old Testament prophecy concerning the restoration of earth with Jesus Christ ruling in righteousness, was preached:

"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." Mt. 4:23

"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Mt. 10:5-8

"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15

And yet, as shown previously, the disciples and apostles understood absolutely nothing of the cross and resurrection. Any honest read of scripture must come to this conclusion. So, how can anyone say that they "...preached Christ crucified...." 1 Cor. 1:23), or 1 Cor. 15:1-4, as Paul did? Impossible. Only later, through Paul's apostle ship, was the cross revealed as the central theme of the gospel(again, the discussion for the reasons for this are beyond the scope of this article).

Romans was not written to believers to show "how to stay saved", it was Paul's lawyerly exposition on salvation, justification, imputation, propitiation(satisfaction), reconcilliation-doctrine. The letters of Paul are structured in keeping with "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"(2 Tim. 3:16), as follows:

Romans-the gospel of Christ-doctrine-main focus is the believer's justification

Corinth-reproof-main focus is the believer's sanctification

Galatians-correction-main focus is the believer's righteousness

Ephesians- the "mystery" doctrine-main focus is the believer's heavenly standing

Philippians-reproof-focus on the believer's defect in conduct

Colossians-correction-focus is on the believer' completeness "in Him"

Thessalonians-focus is on the believer's soon glorification-After the Lord's return, there cannot be any possible need for "reproof", for "correction", hence no church epistles follow Thessalonians.

The doctrine of Romans answers Job 9:2.

_____________________________________

Tiggr, perhaps the following articles by another writer(s) much better state the intent of my e-mail to you. Thanks for the questions.

In Christ,

John M. Whalen

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More Than One Gospel

Nancy Paulson

Too often we do not have an understanding of God's purpose and plan because we are unaware of the different messages that God has given to man. It is a surprise to many when they learn that Paul actually preached a different message than Jesus during His earthly ministry. This is because of a faulty thinking that there is only ONE Gospel that is proclaimed in the Bible. The word Gospel simply means "good news". To say that there is only one Gospel is to say that the "good news" spoken of is always the same.

The Bible contains many passages that tell of "good news", but is the "good news" always the same message? There are distinctive terms that describe the various "good news":

The Gospel of the Kingdom

The Gospel of the Grace of God

The Gospel of the Circumcision

The Gospel of the Uncircumcision

If each of these gospels are called something different, then would that not indicate that they have different meanings and are not the same?

The "good news" has not been revealed all at once. Different aspects of the "good news" have been revealed at different intervals of time throughout the ages.

To Adam - Genesis 3:15 - the "good news" was that there was to be a Redeemer.

To Abraham (Abram) - Galatians 3:8 - the "good news" was in him all nations shall be blessed.

To David - 2Samuel 7:16 - the "good news" was that his throne shall be established forever.

To that Twelve Apostles - Luke 9:1-6 - the "good news" was that of the Kingdom of God.

To the Apostle Paul - Romans 4:16, Ephesians 3:8-9 - the "good news" that we are saved by grace through faith.

There are many Gospels (good news) in the Bible. In this study we will consider five aspects of the "good news" (five Gospels); note the different characteristics of each one.

Five Different Gospels - (Five Different Kinds of "Good News")

Gospel of the Kingdom- This Gospel begins with David, with whom the covenant of the kingdom was made. (See 2Samuel 2:17)

Gospel of the Circumcision- This Gospel begins with Abraham, with whom the covenant of circumcision was made (See Genesis 17:10-14)

Gospel of the Uncircumcision- This Gospel begins with Abram, who, as an uncircumcised heathen was justified by faith. (See Romans 4:9-11)

Message of Reconciliation- This "good news" begins with Adam, through whom the world was alienated from God. (See Genesis 3:8)

Mystery- This "good news" begins with God Himself and the good pleasure of His will.(See Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:9)

The Gospel of the Kingdom

(2 Samuel 7:16 KJV) And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

The covenant God made to David is the covenant in which the Kingdom of Christ is to be established.

(Daniel 2:44 KJV) And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

This Kingdom is to be established forever because Christ is to occupy the throne.This kingdom is to be established in the earth. The final outcome of the whole entire prophetic program is to have a kingdom on the earth.

(Jeremiah 23:5-6 KJV) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. {6} In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Even though the prophets prophecied about the Kingdom they did not tell the "good news" of the kingdom. John the Baptist began to preach the Gospel ("good news") of the Kingdom of God in that it was "at hand"(soon to be established).

(Matthew 3:1-2 KJV) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, {2} And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

When Jesus began to preach, he preached the same thing, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

(Matthew 4:17 KJV) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

It is important to realize that when the twelve Disciples were commmanded to go forth and preach they were commanded to limit their preaching to the " lost sheep of the house of Israel" and to tell them, and only them, the "good news" about the kingdom.

(Matthew 10:5-7 KJV) These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: {6} But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. {7} And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

The main theme of their preaching was that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. At no time in Jesus' earthly ministry did they preach that Christ was to die for their sins.The Disciples did not even comprehend that Jesus was to die. (See Luke 18:31-34) Their message was always that the kingdom of heaven was at hand.

It is imperative to understand that although the kingdom of heaven was at hand it was not actually offered to Israel at this time. In other words, the kingdom of heaven is soon to be established, but it was not available at that time. The prophets spoke of the sufferings of Christ and the glory to follow. (See 1Peter 1:11) Christ had to die first before the kingdom could be established.

One point that needs to be made is that even though Jesus had to die the message is NOT that He was to die for our sins, but that He had to die before the kingdom could be established. The kingdom could only be offered on the basis of the New Covenant, which was not made until the death of Christ. (See Matthew 26:28)

(Joel 2:28-32 KJV) And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: {29} And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. {30} And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. {31} The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. {32} And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

These verses in Joel make it clear that the kingdom could not be offered until after Pentecost. The Spirit needed to come first.

God foreknew that Israel would reject Christ.

(Matthew 21:33-41 KJV) Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: {34} And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. {35} And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. {36} Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. {37} But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. {38} But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. {39} And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. {40} When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? {41} They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

(Matthew 21:43 KJV) Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

During the earthly ministry of Jesus it was evident that the leaders of Israel would not accept Christ as their king. The parable in Matthew 21 makes it clear that they would not inherit the kingdom, but it would be given to another nation. Who is this other nation?

(Matthew 19:28 KJV) And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(Luke 12:32 KJV) Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

The ones who are to receive this kingdom are the twelve Disciples and the "Little Flock", those who follow Christ in the prophetic program, are to be the ones who would inherit this kingdom. It is not to be given to the ones who just follow a religious system of beliefs.

The Gospel of the Circumcision

The "good news" or Gospel of the Circumcision was to show a separation of Abraham and his seed from the ungodly Gentiles. What exactly is circumcision?

(Romans 4:11 KJV) And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

Circumcision is the seal of the righteousness of faith that Abraham had while he was uncircumcised.

(Genesis 17:9-11 KJV) And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. {10}This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. {11} And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

Circumcision is a token of God's covenant with Abraham. It is because of this covenant that Abraham and his seed, those of the circumcision, were to be a blessing to all nations.

(Genesis 22:17-18 KJV) That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; {18} And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

The Gospel of the Circumcision is the "good news" based on the covenant that God made with Abraham. This Gospel was committed to Peter and it is what he preached. (See Galatians 2:7)

(Acts 3:25-26 KJV) Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. {26} Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

It was "good news" to those of the circumcision to know that they were to be a blessing to all nations and that was going to happen through the establishment of the kingdom.

The "Gospel of the Kingdom" and the "Gospel of the Circumcision" are very closely related. The covenant God made with Abraham concerned a nation and the covenant God made with David concerned a government and a throne. In order for there to be a government and a place to rule there would have to be a people to govern.

From the Scriptures we can plainly see that the Gospel of the Kingdom was proclaimed before Pentecost and the Gospel of the Circumcision was proclaimed after Pentecost. Both Gospels promise that God would bless the nations through Israel with Christ as King.

The Gospel of the Uncircumcision

(Galatians 2:7 KJV) But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

This verse shows that Peter's message was different than Paul's message. Paul went to Peter and the other eleven and explained to him the gospel that he was preaching among the Gentiles. Peter and John recognized that Paul's message was different from what they were preaching because in the Gospel of the Uncircumcision one is no longer justified by the works of the law, but by grace through faith.

In the Gospel of the Uncircumcision the "good news" is not based on any covenant. The blessing of Abraham is now come upon the Gentiles through Christ.

(Galatians 3:14-16 KJV) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. {15} Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. {16} Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

The Gospel of the Uncircumcision goes back to Abram, before he was circumcised, when he was justified by faith; years before he was circumcised.

(Romans 4:9-11 KJV) Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. {10} How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. {11} And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

The Gospel of the Circumcision was limited to the seed of Abraham and it was through them that the nations would be blessed, but the Gospel of the Uncircumcision includes all who believe, both Jew and Gentile alike.

Romans 4:11 stresses that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness before he was circumcised in order that he might be the father of all who believe even though they are not circumcised.

Paul has been sent forth to tell of salvation by faith to both the Jews and the Gentiles alike because Israel had rejected Christ and God in His longsuffering offered His mercy to all. (See Romans 11:32).

Ministry under the Gospel of the Kingdom was limited to the nation of Israel, the twelve were commmanded not to go to the Gentiles.When they were commissioned with the Gospel of Circumcision they were instructed to go to the Jew first.Through both these Gospels God promised to bless the nations through Israel. But now, Israel refused to be that channel of blessings to the nations so God suspended the fulfillment of the covenants for a time and He raised up a new Apostle, Paul, and commissioned him to go forth with the Gospel of Uncircumcision, in which:

(Romans 10:12-13 KJV) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. {13} For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Ministry of Reconciliation

The message of reconcilation was first committed to Paul to tell, but it actually goes all the way back to Adam, the father of the human race, the "one man" by whom sin entered the world and the whole human race became alienated to God. At this time both Jew and Gentile are alienated to God and need to be reconciled.

When Jesus Christ was on the earth He did not preach reconciliation, neither did the twelve at Pentecost. During their teaching they referred back to David and Abraham, with whom the covenants were made, not to Adam in whom the world was alienated from God.

The message of reconciliation could not be preached to all until Israel was cast aside for a time. The reason for this is before Israel was set aside they were considered to be "friends of God". Friends do not need to be reconciled. In the early Acts period Israel is still in her exalted position.

(Romans 11:15 KJV) For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

Reconciliation comes after alienation; hence, it was not until after Israel was set aside, lost the friendship status, did God offer reconciliation through the Apostle Paul. It is with the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7) that Israel joined the Gentiles in rebellion toward God and Christ. This is why Paul refers back to Adam, the man by whom all mankind had been alienated from God.

(Romans 5:12 KJV) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

It was natural that Israel should fall, because they, even though they had enjoyed a priveleged status, are also children of Adam. So even though they had a exalted position among the nations God is showing us that they had fallen and have become alienated from God. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, all have sinned.All are in Adam.

The message of reconciliation is not offered based on covenants that God had made with man, but on the fact of man's alienation from God.

The message of reconciliation tells us about another man, Jesus Christ who is the "second man", the "last Adam", the "one mediator between God and Man". (See 1Corinthians 15:45, 47; 1Timothy 2:5)

It is by Jesus Christ and His death on the cross that sinners, Jew and Gentile alike, may be reconciled to God. Christ died for us while we were enemies of God, so that we can be reconciled to God. (See Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:11-18)

(Romans 5:18-19 KJV) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. {19} For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

(Colossians 1:21-22 KJV) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled {22} In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

The message of reconciliation is our "great commission":

(2 Corinthians 5:18-21 KJV) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; {19} To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. {20} Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. {21} For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

God is offering everyone reconciliation today, but we have to accept what He is offering to us. It is our responsibility to proclaim God's offer of reconciliation.

(2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

The Mystery

As the Kingdom of Christ is the subject of the prophetic program, so the Body of Christ is the subject of the Mystery which was revealed to and through the Apostle Paul. The Mystery" was made known to Paul by revelation. The risen Lord Jesus Christ revealed it to Paul. The "Mystery" is that there is to be one body, Body Of Christ, which is to be made up of both Jew and Gentile alike. This one body is made possible because of the reconciliation of both the Jews and Gentiles to God.

(Ephesians 3:3-6 KJV) How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, {4} Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) {5} Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; {6} That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

In times past there was a middle wall of partition, the law, which keep the Jew and Gentiles apart. But now, that wall is torn down. It is no longer there.

(Ephesians 2:14-18 KJV) For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; {15} Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; {16}And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: {17} And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. {18} For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Although this great mystery cannot be found in any other writings in the Bible except for Paul's Epistles, we ought not to assume God decided to do it as an afterthought. For it was in the mind of God from before the beginning. It was always a part of God's purpose and plan, He just chose to keep it a secret until He revealed it to and through the Apostle Paul. It is through the Gospel of the Uncircumcision-(justification by faith through grace), that we are given the Ministry of econciliation, in which both Jew and Gentile become one body in Christ.

(Romans 16:25 KJV) Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

(Ephesians 3:5 KJV) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

(Ephesians 3:9 KJV) And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

(Colossians 1:26 KJV) Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

(Ephesians 3:11 KJV) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Nothing has taken God by surprise. Everything is in accordance to God's plan and purpose which God will fulfill in heaven and in earth.

Reference used:

Things That Differ by C.R.Stam

© 1985

Worzalla Publishing CO, Stevens Point, WI

_________________________________________

see http://members.tripod.com/bereanworkman/di...ational/two.htm

[Guest LCPGUY]

"...  Also Romans was written to believers in Rome they didnt need to know what they had to do to be saved but what they needed to do to stay saved. "

I would strongly disagree with that statement. Once saved, always saved. Once you are truly saved, God will not allow you to slip away. You are His! However, many say they are saved, when in reality they aren't.

In Love,

John

[salt and light]

First of all, no religion in the world can save a soul, protestant,catholic or otherwise. Religion is the greatest hinderance to people getting saved,because people think that as long as they at least go to church and maybe get baptized, and go to confession etc. they are ok. Sin is the problem,and religion won't take it away. Christianity is not a religion, not really. People try to make it a religion,but it's not. Christianity is a relationship, a relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If you can make it to heaven by just being religious,and being good and doing good works and being sincere, then Jesus died for nothing. Jesus can do what religion can't do, save a soul. Christianity is different than religion,because all religions say, "you have to do this or that", or "do your best". Christianity says, "you can't do it,you need a saviour". There are many good,decent,religious people in hell right now. They had religion,but they didn't have Jesus. Jesus told a devoutly religious man Nicodemus that he had to be born again in John chapter 3,and He would say the same thing to any religious person today. Some people are really sincere,but they can be sincerely wrong. It is simply Jesus with nothing added or nothing minus or hell.

[Guest shadow2b]

-Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Rev. 3:10 NKJV

-Heyyyy Bro.. I love that book--Also LOVE the Speaker in the BOOK-as weLL as

-the writer--howsome-ever IF ya look UP that word "KEEP"as also used in the

-Gospels-IN STRONG'S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE--GREEK-NEW TESTAMENT--

-HEBREW-Chaldean--anyhow---the definition of "KEEP"is -to keep the eye upon--to

-preserve for ones own service--to protect--to KEEP from loss or??{I don't have

-my Strongs with me right now it's still in the other house--somewhere??}BUT

-nowhere is it defined as taking out of--rapture--remove-from a specific place--like

-this hyaRr liLL-ole planet---{the other word is to keep from INJURY or harm}I

-have posted this only about uhhhhh??WeLL??-MANY-MANY times -yet few want to

-accept that fact--YET IF only those that have gone thru "great-tribulation"rule &

-reign with jesus----What are those that have been{RAPTURED OUT OF ANY"great-

-tribulation"-not GONE-THRU "great-tribulation"What are they gonna be doing in

-the thousand year reign of JESUS & those that have "made their robes WHITE by

-going thru THE great tribulation"??because ONLY THOSE THAT GO THRU RULE &

-REIGN WITH JESUS---that IS in REV.chpt.7-9.thru.17---Hey Bro.prayed fo yo job--how did it go bro.??-- :hug: :sweating: