Let's remember to keep learning our Spiritual Curriculum

Let's remember to keep learning our Spiritual Curriculum

The book of Romans lays the groundwork for our faith. First Corinthians addresses issues of immaturity and divisions within the church. Second Corinthians focuses on comfort and understanding as one learns these truths. In Galatians, Paul warns us not to foolishly try to achieve perfection through our own efforts and laws, which he also discusses in Romans chapters 7 and 8. He introduces the idea of the "new creature" in Galatians.

Ephesians reveals this new creature, which we refer to as the "new man." Paul encourages us to live in a way that reflects our calling and prepares us for spiritual battles. This isn't just about us; it's about the new man, Jesus Christ, who is in conflict with sin and the world. That's why we are told to put on the armor of God.

Philippians teaches us to work together for the faith of the Gospel, united in mind and spirit, while deepening our understanding of the Son of God. Colossians encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith and to grow in our walk with God, embodying the new man. These seven letters guide us in living out the work of faith, and the labour of love.

The letters to the Thessalonians present an example of a strong church. First Thessalonians encourages us to be patient in hope and to grow continually. Second Thessalonians reminds us not to be easily shaken or troubled, and it emphasizes the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the teaching of the Apostle Paul, outlining a path for us to follow. By studying these letters and obeying their teachings from the heart, we can grow from spiritual infants into mature sons of God, living by the Spirit and pleasing our Father as we bring glory to Christ.

See more here: https://thebigpicturelink.blogspot.com/2023/10/as-grace-believers-what-is-our-primary_14.html

The Words and the Spirit in the written Word

The Words and the Spirit in the written Word

Rom 2:25-29  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.  (26)  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?  (27)  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?  (28)  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:  (29)  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Studying the written Word is more than just reading scripture to learn about the message in the words themselves. Yes, there is important truth in the message delivered by the words, but one should also learn and partake of the spirit of God in the passage, which is found behind the words.

Let’s have a look at the above passage and, as an example, extract a basic learning and understanding from the words in the passage, but also learn something about God’s character and will from the spirit behind the words.

I cannot believe all the Bible because man compiled the canon of scripture

I cannot believe all the Bible because man compiled the canon of scripture

SOCIAL MEDIA CONVERSATION concerning this post:

https://thebigpictureviews.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-bible-should-be-understood-not-used.html

COMMENT:

I say this with love and respect...

If it’s not in the written Word, one cannot say, “Thus saith the Lord”

If it’s not in the written Word, one cannot say, “Thus saith the Lord”

The Bible affirms that the era of the prophets, as with the canon of Scripture, has closed. There is no necessity for new revelations today. We already possess the sufficiency of the Bible, which declares, "Thus says the Lord." Shouldn't we consider what we have in the Bible as sufficient? Why then do people persist in either adding to or subtracting from the Word of God by proclaiming their own "prophecy," most of which fail completely? In the Bible, every word spoken by the prophets was on behalf of God and constituted the word of God. Adding to Scripture is to tread on perilous territory (Deut 4:2; Prov 30:6; Rev 22:18-29).

Regarding the legitimacy of someone claiming to be a prophet, Deuteronomy 18:22 offers guidance: "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." God's prophets are infallible, as their prophecies always come true because they originate from God, who is never wrong. Unlike humans, God has the power to fulfill prophecies. Jeremiah states that a prophet's authenticity is confirmed when their prophecy is fulfilled, as noted in Jeremiah 28:9: "The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him." Otherwise, they are not a true prophet, but a false one.

The inspirational history of the King James Bible

The inspirational history of the King James Bible

The latest video called, "Unforgettable Story About William Tyndale, in Translating & Publishing the 1611King James Bible", recently added to my "Recommended Videos" playlist on YouTube (link below), has prompted me to write this short post concerning the absolute value and importance of our King James Bible. The history, effort, and sacrifice of others, to get this book in our hands, is inspirational and heartfelt. 

I am overwhelmed!!! (What do you think about the history of this book?)

I encourage you to take time to look at the links below and learn about the history of this book so that it might prove itself to you too, that it is indeed the pure 'WORDS OF GOD'.

Some inspiration

ANNOUNCEMENT: Online KJV Audio Bible (with read along verses and background worship music)

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Online KJV Audio Bible
(with read along verses and background worship music)

Hi all,

This is just to announce that I'm systematically uploading an online audio bible that contains read along verses and background worship music. 

This is a GREAT tool to read and/or listen to the inspired text of the King James Bible. Often, online bibles simply show a static screen, but this version has captions of the verses as it is read. This allows you to not only hear the text, but see it too, which adds to the learning and absorbing of the scripture. 

Play it often and use it as a learning and study aid to get the Word of God into you.

Click here to access the playlist.

If you like this online bible, please share the link with your family and friends.

This translation knocked the wind out my sails

This translation knocked the wind out my sails

Browsing YouTube recently, I saw this video in my feed. (See image above). I immediately noticed the caption showing 2Corinthians 5:14-17, one of my original 'go to' verse references for teaching and encouraging the study of the Bible rightly divided. I thought, WOW!!! I have never seen or heard of many preachers who teach this passage, because it is very controversial. I wanted to know what this preacher was going to say about it, and how he was going to teach it. Without even reading the actual verse onscreen, I clicked the video and found the location of the sermon where the preacher started with this verse.

Then, as he started to read the verse to the congregation, all my excitement and anticipation came crashing down. My first thought was, what is he reading? I don't recognize anything that was coming out of his mouth. Then I read the caption on the screen and thought, "what philosophy book did this come from?" That passage is not even CLOSE to the verses I am familiar with in my King James Bible. Not even the message, or meaning, of these verses' lines up with what my KJV says. I am aware that modern Bible translations are corrupt, but this translation knocked the wind out my sails. I was shocked!!! 

The Bible - God's Miracle Book

ONLINE STATEMENT:

The Bible was written by people, not God!

ANSWER:

The Bible was indeed penned by humans, BUT the author and compiler of the Bible is the Almighty God. The following content provides insights and facts that promote this stance.

THE BIBLE: GOD'S MIRACLE BOOK (AMAZING FACTS)

All reference in this article to the 'Bible’ refers to the ‘Authorized King James Bible (1611)’

The Bible is a very wonderful book. It is a composite library of 66 books, of which 39 comprise the Old Testament and 27 the New Testament. The Bible is unique, for it is no mere haphazard collection of writings, but is an organic whole, each of the 66 books being necessary to the whole 'library'. Any careful reader will quickly discover that there is a plan behind the arrangement of the books, and a unity about the Bible that is nothing less than miraculous. That is why we have entitled this study 'The Bible: God's Miracle Book'. The Bible is inspired, authoritative and entirely trustworthy. What are the grounds for believing this? Consider the following:

THE WORDS OF GOD: KJB or Modern Bibles?

THE WORDS OF GOD: KJB or Modern Bibles?

This EXCELLENT video shows the difference between the King James Bible versus modern translations. It is SHOCKING when one sees the changes that have been made to corrupt the modern translations and it is PROOF that the KJV is ‘THE’ Bible for us in the English language.

See this video for yourself:

THE WORDS OF GOD: KJB or Modern Bibles? (youtube.com)

_________________

For additional reading, also see:

https://thebigpicturelink.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-king-james-bible-purified-seven.html

Two Types of Righteousness

Two Types of Righteousness

The Bible speaks of two types of righteousness. There is a righteousness of the law and there is a righteousness of faith.

Php 3:6-9  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  (7)  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  (8)  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  (9)  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Paul clearly points to his own righteousness, which is of the law and by man’s works, but then he mentions another righteousness which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Different views and perspectives of Bible doctrine

Different views and perspectives of Bible doctrine.

Social media is a rich ground for finding questions on Bible doctrine and discovering what views and doctrines people hold to. Sadly, it is rare to find posts and interactions that correctly divide the Word between prophecy and mystery so that interpretations are more accurate and in context. Going online to various sites does of course allow one to post one's own rightly divided content, and sow seeds that others might read, providing them the chance to identify sound doctrine which may have escaped them. 

As grace believers, what is our primary objective? (Part 5)

Studying the Bible in the correct context

Start this series of posts with: Part 1

I stand firm on the fact that our primary objective, as grace believers, is to come to a knowledge of God’s Word. However, I also understand that we live our lives, day by day, bearing responsibilities, and being pulled into different directions due to demands, circumstances, and issues of life. So how do we balance the two? Well, the key to note is that 1Tim.2:4 does not have a deadline. We do not need to learn ALL truth and be experts in Bible doctrine before we can be used of the Lord. Life does not stop because we first have to learn ALL truth! No. The Lord provides us the opportunities daily, to encourage and edify others based on the measure of truth we know at our personal levels. We can offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord daily, allowing the truth of the Word within us, to make us ambassadors of God’s kingdom, and reconcilers who show God’s love and forgiveness to others.

Even as babes in Christ, new believers can share the gospel with others through their testimony. However, our objective is to grow steadily in knowledge, not all at once, but daily, over our lifetime, so that we can increase in our responsibility of ambassadorship and in our ministry of reconciliation. Every grace believer can be a light for God’s kingdom, but when it comes to teaching others about God’s Word, this is when proper knowledge is very important. This is when the truth we know either approves us or disapproves us before God. Let me explain.

As grace believers, what is our primary objective? (Part 4)

Paul’s Encouragement to Increase in Knowledge and Understanding

Start this series of posts with: Part 1

Paul’s letters are full of statements that encourage one to learn, to increase in one’s knowledge of God’s Word, and to gain understanding of it, so that it embeds in one’s heart and becomes part of the outflow of one’s life, in thinking, reasoning, speech, and actions. You cannot go far in Paul’s epistles and not read statements that encourage growth and increasing in knowledge and understanding.

In Romans, the foundational epistle that establishes us in ‘the faith’, Paul immediately starts to fire up our minds, compelling us to think upon things, or to know things, coercing our learning and understanding. Have a look at the following statements that we encounter so early in the mystery curriculum,

As grace believers, what is our primary objective? (Part 3)

As grace believers, what is our primary objective? (Part 3)

Start this series of posts with: Part 1

No knowledge, no understanding, no foundation

The key verse in this series confirms that after we come to salvation, it is God’s will that we come to a knowledge of the truth, 1Tim.2:4. Isn’t it interesting that God’s one desire for us, having been saved, is not to get busy with any activities, no matter how spiritual or noble they might appear to be, but to sit down, to quiet our minds, and to study His Word.

2Tim.2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

Why is this so?

As grace believers, what is our primary objective? (Part 2)

As grace believers, what is our primary objective? (Part 2)

Start this series of posts with: Part 1

In the first part of this series, I motivated the fact that the single most important thing to do, after getting saved, is to spend time in the Word of God and gain the knowledge of the Word rightly divided. In upcoming parts, I will also deal with points instructing why this is important, what happens when we do, and God’s will and purpose for us in doing this.

In this post I want to focus on what is milk and what is meat. As previously mentioned, a babe in Christ cannot be fed meat. So, it becomes really important to know what milk is in the Word, and where we will find the solid food. In this regard, we will find that God’s Word is so perfectly designed. As with the nine Hebrew epistles, Hebrews to Revelation, Paul’s nine church epistles to the Gentiles are also arranged in a form of curriculum, starting with Romans to 2-Thessalonians. It shouldn’t be surprising to note that these Gentile letters, for us in this dispensation of grace, start with a letter called Romans and the Jewish letters, for the Jewish believers in the tribulation, start with a letter called Hebrews. God could not have made this distinction clearer.

Learn or Present to Others the Bible Rightly Divided (Video Series)

Hi friends,

This is just a short announcement 📢 to inform you of a new video series I am posting on my YouTube channel. The lesson series is called: "Learn or Present to Others the Bible Rightly Divided".

If you do not know right division of the Word, or if you know it but want to learn how to present it to others, then this video and series of teachings is for you. This series will present you with key verses that can highlight the need to rightly divide the Word, and also provide the supporting verses to confirm this stance.

It would be great to have your support on the channel, to listen to the lessons and provide comments or ask questions in regard to the topic. If you have learned something and believe it can benefit others in your circle, please feel free to send them the link.

Find the video series here: Learn or Present to Others the Bible Rightly Divided

God bless. 🙌

Wow! How these copyrighted bibles have skewed the Word of God.

Wow! How these copyrighted bibles have skewed the Word of God.

I THANK GOD for the ever-faithful King JamesBible which has stood the test of time, which has been kept pure by the power and preservation of God, which has escaped the corrupt translations of the carnal mind of man, so that we can learn and understand the mind of God, His true intentions and purpose, His will, and His ways for us and for all of His creation.

The word “to” in the skewed verses below is vastly different to the word “of” in the KJV.

Studying Scripture by Application of Right Division (2Cor 5:16)

Studying Scripture by Application of Right Division (2Cor 5:16)

When a person takes time to study the Bible, that study will ultimately result in the need to rightly divide, (2Tim 2:15). This cannot be avoided! As one cross-references scripture, it will lead one into both the prophetic and mystery programs, according to the intent and design of God’s written Word. Right division is the only way to accurately interpret scripture by keeping these two programs separate and distinct. Let’s apply this instruction on the key verse below to understand its true context.

2Cor 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The King James Bible - Purified Seven Times

The King James Bible - Purified Seven Times

The word of God is pure, perfect, and preserved throughout all ages.

Psalm 12, verses 6 and 7 tell us "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 forever." Let's break these verses down part by part.

1. The words of the LORD are pure words

Notice how the verse says that the words of the LORD are pure. Every one of His words are pure (Pro 30:5). The word pure can take on different meanings but in this sense, it means free from defects; perfect; faultless. There is not a single word in scripture which is in error or that God did not intend to be there.

Qualified to use the Sword of the Spirit

Qualified to use the Sword of the Spirit

The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, can save a man, Rom.1:16, but it can also kill a man, 2Cor.3:6. If a believer does not use the sword correctly, it can do great harm to those on the receiving end.

Did you notice that in Eph.6:13-18, the sword is the sixth item on the list for a soldier to take up. It is the offensive weapon in the midst of the defensive armour, which is to be put on first. In context and in application, the believer is to be familiar with his armour first, before he goes for the sword. Before he wields the swords, he is to first gird himself with truth, which is the knowledge of the Word. Thereafter, he is to stand straight with righteousness, which is to apply that truth, resulting in a proclamation of the gospel, the exercising of faith, and abiding in that hope of salvation. It is only then, when that soldier is fully prepared, fully qualified, and thoroughly furnished, that the sword should be picked up.