The Bible is fairly easy to understand. The hard part is separating cherished beliefs and false doctrines from the Word of God.

How You Hear God

There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true (Jewish fables and traditions of organization religion); the other is to refuse to believe what is true (the Word of God). ~ Titus 1:13-15

Man supposes (assumes or believes doctrines that are not necessarily so). God disposes (deals with it conclusively and settles it). Organized religion repeating lies for many centuries does not make it true.

To learn the revealed truth of God we must know and understand the true meaning of the words God inspired to be written. Use Strong's Concordance to check the original word before it was translated. Do your own research, make up your own mind, rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you.

No Church has a franchise on God or a monopoly on the truth. The Church Jesus built is not an earthly organization, it's a body of Believers who seek first the Kingdom of Heaven.

If you have a problem separating truth from fiction, don't worry about it. God never said, "Understand every word". He said, "Trust Me". Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

The further Christians drift from the Truth of God's Word the stranger Truth will sound. Most of what Christians believe about the Bible they learned as a child in Sunday School. And they only learned what their denomination teaches.

Organized religion (Churchanity) demands conformity, God simply asks for unity. There is a difference. Worship God in spirit and in truth, and endeavor to get along with one another no matter what denomination we attend.

I, (the apostle Paul) therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. ~Ephesians 4:1-5

God looks on the heart, not at the sign in front of the Church building.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ; from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. ~ Ephesians 4:11-16

Get Your Doctrines From The Bible, Not The Traditions of Men.

True Christian assembly is with believers, not institutions. Believers are individuals, searching for God by revelation, perseverance, and personal conviction. They worship in spirit and in truth, not in Articles of Faith, dogmatic ritual, or by unction from a hireling clergy. Jesus knows His Sheep.

Jesus did not say, 'Follow your Church doctrines or some celebrity pastor'. He said "Follow ME" ~ John 10:27

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. ~ Colossians 2:8

I was brought up in a Christian denomination that claims to "speak where the Bible speaks". Not knowing any better, I fully trusted my parents, Sunday school teachers, and Pastors to rightly divide the Word of Truth. ~ 2 Timothy 2:15

When I began to study for myself and rely on the Spirit of truth to lead me (John 16:13), I was shocked to learn that everything I had been taught was false, a half-truth, or simply the traditions of men. ~ Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7

Caveat

As a church member you should honor pastors and teachers. As a Christian, you are wholly responsible for your knowledge of God’s will. ~ 2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees (religious leaders), hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte (a new believer), and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves." (with false doctrines)

~ Matthew 23:15

Just because someone appears to know a lot about the Bible does not qualify them to judge/condemn others.

As it is written, "Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand". ~Romans 14:4

Satan knows the truth that is written in the Bible, he knows all about Heaven and he even mentioned Judgement to Jesus and yet he still will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. So it’s not what you know, it’s WHO you Serve.

Consider The Source

Finally, I understand why Jesus warned me to be careful what I believe and why I believe it. "For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother (loves their false religion) more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me". ~ Matthew 10:35-38

Why don't Christian Pastors teach the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter using the correct definition of Hebrew and Greek words? Answer: Because their livelihood depends on upholding the traditions of their denomination. If Pastors started teaching the Bible correctly, they would lose 80% of their congregation and the 20% who remained would wonder why their Pastor suddenly went "off the deep end."

Organized religion is run as a business with paid staff, housing, car, medical insurance, paid vacations, retirement plan... the whole nine yards. The gospel has become a commodity to be sold by 501(c) preachers for profit. And Jesus said: "Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” ~John 2:16

How Can We Know The Truth?

The entirety (both Old and New Testaments) of God's Word is Truth, And every one of God's righteous judgments endures forever. ~ Psalm 119:160

Every Word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. (not trusting the traditions on men) ~ Proverbs 30:5

But He (Jesus) answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ (not our parents, not our pastor) ~Matthew 4:4 When Jesus spoke those words, there was no written "New Testament." Did the Old Testament proceed from the mouth of God?

Sanctify them by Your Truth. Your Word is Truth. (not your denomination's traditions) ~ John 17:17

The apostle Paul told Timothy: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Biblical truth is easy to understand once it has been revealed. The difficult thing is to discover Truth. As it is written... "Behold, I will bring health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth." ~ Jeremiah 33:6

Let's Examine Some of the Popular Doctrines of Denominational Christianity

1. The doctrine of an ever-burning "hell". - False

Truth: The word hell means "the place of the dead or grave." People only have two choices - eternal life or eternal death. You cannot be alive and dead at the same time. The dead know nothing and feel nothing. ~ Ecclesiastes 9:5

In Matthew 25:46 we read the words of Jesus: “And these (the goat people) shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” The word "punishment" means death or destruction which harmonizes with Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We cannot be alive "in agony" and dead at the same time. The wages of sin is death... not alive jumping from one hot rock to another. In verse 41, the translators chose the word "fire" instead of destruction.

The grave/hell and the "lake of fire" are two different things.

Truth: Notice carefully, Revelation 21:8 "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Death!... not alive and suffering forever. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 6:23 Learn More

2. The doctrine that Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus and Christian communion takes the place of the "Jewish Passover" - False

Most Church denominations take communion or the Lord's Supper instead of Passover. However, the word communion only appears in three scriptures, none of which say to replace Passover with a communion service.

Truth: Nowhere in Scripture does Jesus tell His followers to hold a sunrise service or hunt eggs as a memorial to His resurrection. Jesus commands His followers to remember His death, not His birthday or resurrection day. Jesus is our Passover Lamb, not our Easter Bunny.~ Matthew 26:17-19

3. The doctrine that the Law of God has been put away or "nailed to the cross" and Christians are under grace. - Half-Truth (Churchanity likes to call it "the law of Moses" and lump it in with all the Jewish ritual laws. Churchanity threw the baby out with the bath water)

Truth: Sin is the transgression of the Law. ~ 1 John 3:4.
It's not a matter of Law or Grace, it's Law and Grace. ~ Matthew 5:17 and Romans 2:13. Only the Levitical priesthood, animal sacrifices, and the death penalty were done away.

4. The doctrine of a rapture or "caught up" to escape tribulation. - False

Truth: Verse 16 of 1 Thessalonians clearly states this event is the first resurrection of the dead in Christ and those still living (the barley harvest) when Christ returns, not an escape. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection... Revelation 20:5-6. The second resurrection is the "wheat harvest" when Jesus separates the wheat from the chaff.

What makes this generation of Christians think they deserve to escape tribulation when Jesus, the disciples, and millions of Christian martyrs were not "raptured"? ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Truth: Matthew 24:12-14 (KJV)
And because iniquity (lawlessness) shall abound, the love (of the truth) of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure (truth) unto the end, the same shall be saved.And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

As it is written: For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ~Matthew 24:24

There's a very simple test the elect can use to make sure they are not deceived. When anyone claims to be Christ, stick a pin in your arm if it hurts the person is false. For when Christ himself returns we shall all be changed instantly into our glorified spirit bodies (spirits do not experience pain).

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed (not raptured)— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ~1 Corinthians 15:51-53

"And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” ~ Revelation 5:10

5. The celebration on December 25th as the birthday of Jesus. - False

Truth: We do not know the exact date of the birth of Jesus, and even if we did, Christians are to remember His death, not His birth. The custom of decorating trees predates Jesus by a 600 years. God forbid it then and forbids it now. Birth of Jesus

Truth: Jeremiah 10:1-5 (KJV)

Hear ye the word which the Lord speaks unto you, O house of Israel: (the name Israel means overcomer with the Mighty One)^.Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.They are upright as the palm (evergreen) tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them (knock on wood to drive out evil); for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

6. The doctrine of the Trinity - False
Truth: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! ~Deuteronomy 6:4

God does not have multiple personality disorder. The key to understanding the trinity is to know the definition of the word "God" in Hebrew, the original language of the Bible. The English translation of God causes much confusion because it is singular, The original word is Elohim, a uni-plural word like team, church, family. The family of God consists of many members, but all one family. God is not a trinity, God is a unity.

When Jesus said: "I and My Father are one (family),” He meant it. ~John 10:30

7. The doctrine that your "immortal soul" goes directly to heaven or hell. - False

The word translated as "heaven" simply means the sky or the atmosphere that surrounds the earth, not a place of abode. Jesus said, "heaven (sky) is God's throne, the earth is His footstool." ~ Matthew 5:33-35

Soul and Spirit are not the same. We don't have a soul, we are a soul... and man became a living soul. ~ Genesis 2:7

What does the Bible say about death and eternity? Read God's Great Plan

The word soul means living creature or life. The word spirit means breath. When the spirit (breath) leaves the body (living creature) dies.

Truth: Ezekiel 18:4(KJV)

Behold, all souls (lives) are mine; as the soul (life) of the father, so also the soul (life) of the son is mine: the soul that sins, it shall die. (not an immortal soul suffering forever in an ever-burning hell). ~ Malachi 4:1-3

If we are raised from the dead then we can't be alive in heaven or hell. As it it written: Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:12-14

All souls die. The difference is, a saved person is born twice (physical birth and spiritual birth) and dies once. Unsaved people are born once and die twice (physical death and spiritual death) From the second death there is no resurrection. ~ Revelation 20:6.

Then shall the dust (the dead person) return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. ~ Ecclesiastes 12:7

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Note that death and hell were cast into the lake of fire, not people. ~Revelation 20:14

8. The doctrine that the small country called Israel, established in 1948, is fulfilling Bible prophesy and the Jews are "God's chosen people." - False

Truth: Who was the Bible written to, for, and about? Here are a couple of clues in Matthew 10:5-7 and James 1:1

The promise to Israel and Judah to return to the land God gave them is explained in great detail in Ezekiel 37. Here's the truth ... "Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel!" (Ezekiel 37:12). Not one single solitary Jew, or Israelite, was resurrected from the dead and returned to Israel in 1948 - not a one!

Jesus Sending Out the Twelve

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles (the word gentiles means nations), and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ~Matthew 10:5-7

"James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings."

God made a covenant with a man named Jacob/Israel, not with the Jews or a country called Israel. Unless you know who the people of the Book are, and the task for which they were chosen, much of the Bible will remain a mystery. Learn who is the true Israel of the Bible.

Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. ~1 John 2:23-25

Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. The nations (tribes) of Israel received the Gospel first so they could take it to the whole world.

9. Tattoos and Body Piercing are Okay with God. - False

Truth: You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.~Leviticus

19:28

10. Sunday Morning Resurrection - False

Truth: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ~Matthew 12:40

The crucifixion of the Savior took place on Wednesday, April 3, 30 AD and He rose the third day after 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb. Most Bible commentaries claim Jesus was crucified on Friday in 33 AD to fit the popular "Good Friday - Easter Sunday" doctrine. Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection is false. Jesus rose Saturday night because the tomb was empty early Sunday morning. ~ John 20:1

Try to get 3 days and 3 nights from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning. According to the false teaching of organized religion, Jesus was in the grave two nights and one day. Who are you going to believe... man's traditions or Jesus?

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ~Luke 24:1-3

Why didn't they find the body of the Lord Jesus?... because HE rose Saturday night at the end of 3 days and 3 nights. There never was a Sunday sunrise resurrection. Two Kinds of "Sabbaths" led to confusion. As John tells us in John 19:31: "Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies [of those crucified] should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken [to hasten death], and that they might be taken away." Passover is a High Sabbath and is one day before the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. ~ Exodus 23:15

11. The King James Translators Were 100% Accurate - False

Since there is no J in the Hebrew or Greek alphabet, nor a sound that is equivalent to the English J, where did the names Jehovah and Jesus come from? The letter J was added to the Scriptures by the translators. This is why we must be very careful in rightly dividing the word of truth. Our Savior was never called Jesus in his lifetime. His name in Hebrew is Yahshua.

How Many Times is God Called Yahweh in the Bible? Answer: 6807 times

There is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords). ~ 1 Corinthians 8:4-6

In nearly every place you read "praise the Lord" it was translated from the Hebrew word halleluyah which means praise Yah, not just any "lord". Yah is the short form of Yahweh, like Bill is the short form of William.

Yahweh is God’s personal name (see Exodus 3:13-15 and Exodus 6:2-3), and is usually “translated” as LORD (in upper case). It’s not really a translation because Yahweh does not mean Lord. Rather, Yahweh means something like "I Am Eternal'', “I Am who I Am”, or “I will be who I will be”.

Truth: Therefore My people shall know My name; Therefore they shall know in that day That I AM He who speaks: ‘Behold, it is I.’ ~Isaiah 52:6

So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I AM the Lord, the Holy One in Israel. ~Ezekiel 39:7

Psalm 68:4 gives us the first part of God the Father's name, YAH. In Hebrew there are four letters or symbols that make up His full name. The four letters, read from right to left, are yodh, he, waw, and he. While there is no consensus about the structure and etymology of the name, the form Yahweh is now accepted almost universally.

Sing to God, sing praises to His name;
ExtolHim who rides on the clouds,
By His name Yah,
And rejoice before Him.

The word hallelujah is a pure Hebrew word transliterated into English, pronounced with a "y" sound. It means praise Yah. When we say "praise the Lord", we really mean halleluYah.

Yahweh (I AM ETERNAL) and Yahshua (Yah's Salvation). Yahshua himself tells us in John 5:43..."I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive".

Some people are dogmatic about the names of Yahweh and Yahshua. However, the Bible says my people shall know my name... not use it exclusively or demand that others use it - just know it. On the other hand, if we ask people to call us by our correct name and they refuse, it's pretty disrespectful to say the least.

12. The Prosperity Gospel - False

Truth: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.~ Matthew 6:19-20

“One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” ~ Mark 10:21

There is no virtue in being rich or poor. God provides our needs, not our wants.

13. The doctrine of a strict Saturday Sabbath. - True or False?

As I understand the Sabbath Commandment, the Sabbath is a day of rest after working six days, but I throw it in the mix for you to search it out. There is more to the Law of the Sabbath than just "going to Church." It was the custom to assemble on the Sabbath Day. Luke 4:16

The Sabbath vs The Lord's Day

Even strict Saturday or Sunday Sabbath keepers want the police, fire department, and hospitals on duty (and Walmart - lol). The whole world cannot shut down on the same day.

List of the Feasts of the LORD

The annual Sabbaths are commanded assemblies. If you are not familiar with "annual sabbaths" they're listed in Leviticus 23. If your Church does not keep the Feasts of the LORD, find a group to fellowship with at Feast time... http://www.feastgoer.org/index.html

Notice in Exodus 31:13... Sabbaths plural is a sign that sanctifies us, not just going to Church on Saturday or Sunday.

In that future Kingdom, all people will worship before God on the Sabbath (Isaiah 66:23). The Sabbath was made for all of humanity, (not just Jews and Seventh Day Adventist). ~ Isaiah 56:6

Test your knowledge of the Bible.

Open Book Quiz

The purpose of this post is to get people to think about what they believe and why they believe it, not debate who's right or wrong. To learn the revealed truth of God we must know and understand the true meaning of the words God inspired to be written. Use Strong's Concordance to check the original word before it was translated. Do your own research, make up your own mind, rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Renew Your Strength ~ Isaiah 40:31

Dedicated To The Glory of God and Those Who Serve Him

Blog Archive

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Understanding The Bible

We cannot be alive "in agony" and dead at the same time. The wages of sin is death... not alive jumping from one hot rock to another. In verse 41, the translators chose the word "fire" instead of destruction.

Jesus Sending Out the Twelve

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Feast of Dedication