Who And What Is God?

Who's the snake oil salesman?

You haven't addressed ONE Bible verse given from those proofs.

Please refer to this link.

SUBJECT:

QUESTION: I have heard that this verse was added by someone attempting to lend credence to the trinity idea, is that true?

ANSWER:

Here is the verse in question. This verse is well known as not being part of the original transcripts of the Bible.

1 John 5:7

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

KJV

Notice the Bible Commentaries:

1 John 5:7-8

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

The text of this verse should read, Because there are three that bear record. The remainder of the verse is spurious. Not a single manuscript contains the trinitarian addition before the fourteenth century, and the verse is never quoted in the controversies over the Trinity in the first 450 years of the church era. 8. The three witnesses are the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. "The trinity of witnesses furnish one testimony" (Plummer, The Epistles, p. 116) namely that Jesus Christ came in the flesh to die for sin that men might live.

(from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

*****

1 John 5:7

[For there are three that bear record in heaven ...] There are three that "witness," or that "bear witness"-the same Greek word which, in 1 John 5:8, is rendered "bear witness"-marturountes (NT:3140). There is no passage of the New Testament which has given rise to so much discussion in regard to its genuineness as this. The supposed importance of the verse in its bearing on the doctrine of the Trinity has contributed to this, and has given to the discussion a degree of consequence which has pertained to the examination of the genuineness of no other passage of the New Testament. On the one hand, the clear testimony which it seems to bear to the doctrine of the Trinity, has made that portion of the Christian church which holds the doctrine reluctant in the highest degree to abandon it; and on the other hand, the same clearness of the testimony to that doctrine, has made those who deny it not less reluctant to admit the genuineness of the passage.

It is not consistent with the design of these notes to go into a full investigation of a question of this sort. And all that can be done is to state, in a brief way, the "results" which have been reached, in an examination of the question. Those who are disposed to pursue the investigation further, can find all that is to be said in the works referred to at the bottom of the page.

(NOTE: Mill. New Test., pp. 379-386; Wetstein, II. 721-727; Simon, Critical History of the New Testament; Michaelis, Introduction to the New Testament, 4:412 ff; Semler, Histor. und Krit. Sammlungen uber die sogenannten Beweistellen der Dogmatik. Erstes Stuck uber, 1 John 5:7; Griesbach, Diatribe in locum, 1 John 5:7-8, second edit., New Test., vol. II., appendix 1; and Lucke's Commentary "in loc.")

The portion of the passage, in 1 John 5:7-8, whose genuineness is disputed, is included in brackets in the following quotation, as it stands in the common editions of the New Testament: "For there are three that bear record (in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth,) the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one." If the disputed passage, therefore, be omitted as spurious, the whole passage will read, "For there are three that bear record, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one." The reasons which seem to me to prove that the passage included in brackets is spurious, and should not be regarded as a part of the inspired writings, are briefly the following:

I.

II. It is missing in the earliest versions, and, indeed, in a large part of the versions of the New Testament which have been made in all former times. It is wanting in both the Syriac versions-one of which was made probably in the first century; in the Coptic, Armenian, Slavonic, Ethiopic, and Arabic.

III. It is never quoted by the Greek fathers in their controversies on the doctrine of the Trinity-a passage which would be so much in point, and which could not have failed to be quoted if it were genuine; and it is not referred to by the Latin fathers until the time of Vigilius, at the end of the 5 th century. If the passage were believed to be genuine-nay, if it were known at all to be in existence, and to have any probability in its favor-it is incredible that in all the controversies which occurred in regard to the divine nature, and in all the efforts to define the doctrine of the Trinity, this passage should never have been referred to. But it never was; for it must be plain to anyone who examines the subject with an unbiassed mind, that the passages which are relied on to prove that it was quoted by Athanasius, Cyprian, Augustin, etc., (Wetstein, II., p. 725) are not taken from this place, and are not such as they would have made if they had been acquainted with this passage, and had designed to quote it. IV. The argument against the passage from the external proof is confirmed by internal evidence, which makes it morally certain that it cannot be genuine.

(a)

(b) The "language" is not such as John would use. He does, indeed, elsewhere use the term "Logos," or "Word"-ho (NT:3588) Logos (NT:3056), (John 1:1,14; 1 John 1:1), but it is never in this form, "The Father, and the Word;" that is, the terms "Father" and "Word" are never used by him, or by any of the other sacred writers, as correlative. The word "Son"-ho (NT:3588) Huios (NT:5207)-is the term which is correlative to the "Father" in every other place as used by John, as well as by the other sacred writers. See 1 John 1:3; 2:22-24; 4:14; 2 John 3,9; and the Gospel of John, "passim." Besides, the correlative of the term "Logos," or "Word," with John, is not "Father," but "God." See John 1:1. Compare Rev 19:13.

(c) Without this passage, the sense of the argument is clear and appropriate. There are three, says John, which bear witness that Jesus is the Messiah. These are referred to in 1 John 5:6; and in immediate connection with this, in the argument, (1 John 5:8), it is affirmed that their testimony goes to one point, and is harmonious. To say that there are OTHER witnesses elsewhere, to say that they are one, contributes nothing to illustrate the nature of the testimony of these three-the water, and the blood, and the Spirit; and the internal sense of the passage, therefore, furnishes as little evidence of its genuineness as the external proof. V. It is easy to imagine how the passage found a place in the New Testament. It was at first written, perhaps, in the margin of some Latin manuscript, as expressing the belief of the writer of what was true in heaven, as well as on earth, and with no more intention to deceive than we have when we make a marginal note in a book. Some transcriber copied it into the body of the text, perhaps with a sincere belief that it was a genuine passage, omitted by accident; and then it became too important a passage in the argument for the Trinity, ever to be displaced but by the most clear critical evidence. It was rendered into Greek, and inserted in one Greek manuscript of the 16th century, while it was missing in all the earlier manuscripts.

VI.

(from Barnes' Notes)

*****

1 John 5:6-9 <> The name the Word is known to be almost (if not quite) peculiar to this apostle. Had the text been devised by another, it had been more easy and obvious, from the form of baptism, and the common language of the church, to have used the name Son instead of that of the Word. As it is observed that Tertullian and Cyprian use that name, even when they refer to this verse; or it is made an objection against their referring to this verse, because they speak of the Son, not the Word; and yet Cyprian's expression seems to be very clear by the citation of Facundus himself. Quod Johannis apostoli testimonium beatus Cyprianus, Carthaginensis antistes et martyr, in epistolƒ sive libro, quem de Trinitate scripsit, de Patre, Filio, et Spiritu sancto dictum intelligit; ait enim, Dicit Dominus, Ego et Pater unum sumus; et iterum de Patre, Filio, et Spiritu sancto scriptum est, Et hi tres unum sunt.-Blessed Cyprian, the Carthaginian bishop and martyr, in the epistle or book he wrote concerning the Trinity, considered the testimony of the apostle John as relating to the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit; for he says, the Lord says, I and the Father are one; and again, of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit it is written, And these three are one. Now it is nowhere written that these are one, but in v. 7.

(from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible)

*****

Commentary by: Daniel B. Wallace, Th.M., Ph.D Associate Professor of New Testament Studies Dallas Theological Seminary

http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=1186.

Here is the text found there:

5:7 For there are three that testify, 5:8 the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these

Before toV pneu'ma kaiV toV u{dwr kaiV toV ai|ma, the Textus Receptus reads ejn tw'/ oujranw'/, oJ
pathvr, oJ lovgo", kaiV toV a{gion pneu'ma, kaiV ou|toi oiJ trei'" e{n eijsi. 5:8 kaiV trei'" eijsin oiJ
marturou'nte" ejn th'/ gh'/ (“in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one.
5:8 And there are three that testify on earth”). This reading, the infamous Comma Johanneum, has been known in the English-speaking world through the King James translation. However, the evidence—both external and internal—is decidedly against its authenticity. Our discussion will briefly address the external evidence.1

This longer reading is found only in eight late manuscripts, four of which have the words in a marginal note. Most of these manuscripts (2318, 221, and [with minor variations] 61, 88, 429, 629, 636, and 918) originate from the 16th century; the earliest manuscript, codex 221 (10th century), includes the reading in a marginal note which was added sometime after the original composition. Thus, there is no sure evidence of this reading in any Greek manuscript until the 1500s; each such reading was apparently composed after Erasmus’ Greek NT was published in 1516. Indeed, the reading appears in no Greek witness of any kind (either manuscript, patristic, or Greek translation of some other version) until AD 1215 (in a Greek translation of the Acts of the Lateran Council, a work originally written in Latin). This is all the more significant, since many a Greek Father would have loved such a reading, for it so succinctly affirms the doctrine of the Trinity.2 The reading seems to have arisen in a fourth century Latin homily in which the text was allegorized to refer to members of the Trinity. From there, it made its way into copies of the Latin Vulgate, the text used by the Roman Catholic Church.

The Trinitarian formula (known as the Comma Johanneum) made its way into the third edition of Erasmus’ Greek NT (1522) because of pressure from the Catholic Church. After his first edition appeared (1516), there arose such a furor over the absence of the Comma that Erasmus needed to defend himself. He argued that he did not put in the Comma because he found no Greek manuscripts that included it. Once one was produced (codex 61, written by one Roy or Froy at Oxford in c. 1520),3 Erasmus apparently felt obliged to include the reading. He became aware of this manuscript sometime between May of 1520 and September of 1521. In his annotations to his third edition he does not protest the rendering now in his text,4 as though it were made to order; but he does defend himself from the charge of indolence, noting that he had taken care to find whatever manuscripts he could for the production of his Greek New Testament. In the final analysis, Erasmus probably altered the text because of politico-theologico-economic concerns: he did not want his reputation ruined, nor his Novum Instrumentum to go unsold.

Modern advocates of the Textus Receptus and KJV generally argue for the inclusion of the Comma Johanneum on the basis of heretical motivation by scribes who did not include it. But these same scribes elsewhere include thoroughly orthodox readings—even in places where the TR/Byzantine manuscripts lack them. Further, these KJV advocates argue theologically from the position of divine preservation: since this verse is in the TR, it must be original. But this approach is circular, presupposing as it does that the TR = the original text. Further, it puts these Protestant proponents in the awkward and self-contradictory position of having to affirm that the Roman Catholic humanist, Erasmus, was just as inspired as the apostles, for on several occasions he invented readings—due either to carelessness or lack of Greek manuscripts (in particular, for the last six verses of Revelation Erasmus had to back-translate from Latin to Greek).

In reality, the issue is history, not heresy: How can one argue that the Comma Johanneum must go back to the original text when it did not appear until the 16th century in any Greek manuscripts? Such a stance does not do justice to the gospel: faith must be rooted in history. To argue that the Comma must be authentic is Bultmannian in its method, for it ignores history at every level. As such, it has very little to do with biblical Christianity, for a biblical faith is one that is rooted in history.

Significantly, the German translation done by Luther was based on Erasmus’ second edition (1519) and lacked the Comma. But the KJV translators, basing their work principally on Theodore Beza’s 10th edition of the Greek NT (1598), a work which itself was fundamentally based on Erasmus’ third and later editions (and Stephanus’ editions), popularized the Comma for the English-speaking world. Thus, the Comma Johanneum has been a battleground for English-speaking Christians more than for others.

Unfortunately, for many, the Comma and other similar passages have become such emotional baggage that is dragged around whenever the Bible is read that a knee-jerk reaction and ad hominem argumentation becomes the first and only way that they can process this issue. Sadly, neither empirical evidence nor reason can dissuade them from their views. The irony is that their very clinging to tradition at all costs (namely, of an outmoded translation which, though a literary monument in its day, is now like a Model T on the Autobahn) emulates Roman Catholicism in its regard for tradition.5 If the King James translators knew that this would be the result nearly four hundred years after the completion of their work, they’d be writhing in their graves.

2 Not only the ancient orthodox writers, but also modern orthodox scholars would of course be delighted if this reading were the original one. But the fact is that the evidence simply does not support the Trinitarian formula here—and these orthodox scholars just happen to hold to the reasonable position that it is essential to affirm what the Bible affirms where it affirms it, rather than create such affirmations ex nihilo. That KJV advocates have charged modern translations with heresy because they lack the Comma is a house of cards, for the same translators who have worked on the NIV, NASB, or NET (as well as many other translations) have written several articles and books affirming the Trinity.

3 This manuscript which contains the entire New Testament is now housed in Dublin. It has been examined so often at this one place that the book now reportedly falls open naturally to 1 John 5.

4 That Erasmus made such a protest or that he had explicitly promised to include the Comma is an overstatement of the evidence, though the converse of this can be said to be true: Erasmus refused to put this in his without Greek manuscript support.

5 Thus, TR-KJV advocates subconsciously embrace two diametrically opposed traditions: when it comes to the first 1500 years of church history, they hold to a Bultmannian kind of Christianity (viz., the basis for their belief in the superiority of the Byzantine manuscripts—and in particular, the half dozen that stand behind the TR—has very little empirical substance of historical worth). Once such readings became a part of tradition, however, by way of the TR, the argument shifts to one of tradition rather than non-empirical fideism. Neither basis, of course, resembles Protestantism.

*****

Restoration Light Bible Study Services

web site located at: http://godandson.reslight.net/1john-5-7.html

This is an excerpt from that site:

"For there are three that bear record [in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth,] the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one."

(Words in brackets are spurious! They are not retained by any manuscripts of earlier date than the seventh century and are not in the Revised Version. One hundred and twelve of the oldest manuscripts do not retain them. Trinity thus loses its supposed main Scriptural support.)

This is the only passage in the whole Bible that gives any color to the trinity or "oneness" doctrines. However, the bracketed portion (see above) of this passage is almost universally recognized as an interpolation. It first crept into the Greek text in the fourteenth century. It is true that some late Latin, Vulgate MSS., copied not more than five centuries before, do contain it. This interpolation was first inserted into some Vulgate manuscript and was therefrom in the fourteenth century translated into the first Greek text having it. Had this text been in the Bible when the trinitarian controversies were going on, in the fourth to the eighth centuries, certainly the trinitarians who were hard pressed by their opponents to produce such a text, would have used it as a proof text. But none of them ever so used it, for the good reason that it was then not in the Bible. It doubtless crept into the Latin text by a copyist taking it from the margin, where it was written by somebody as his comment on the text, and inserting it into the Latin text itself, from which, as just said, it was first translated into a Greek manuscript in the fourteenth century. The next Greek manuscript that contains it is from the fifteenth century.

Additionally, Ivan Pain, who was a trinitarian, gave added testimony that the portion in question does not belong through his Biblical numerics. More than likely Panin, being a trinitarian, would like to have proved the portion as genuine with Biblical numerics, but could not do so; thus he came to the conclusion that it must be spurious. Regarding Biblical Numerics, see: Epiphany Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 12 (1949, by Paul S. L. Johnson), pages 603-632, available from Laymen's Home Missionary Movement, P.O. Box 679, Chester Springs, PA 19425. http://members.aol.com/lhmmbible/catalog/publications.html

Regarding 1 John 5:7,8, Paul S. L. Johnson states: "Assuming that this text were genuine, it would not prove that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God; for the Greek word for 'one' here is 'hen,' and is neuter; and the masculine word Theos (Greek God) cannot be supplied after it; for the Greek word for one in that case would have to be heis (masculine for one). Nor can the Greek word for being (ousia) be supplied after it, because ousia is feminine, which would require the feminine of one, mia. If the passage were genuine we would have to supply a neuter noun, e.g., like pneuma (disposition), after hen in this text even as we have to do so in John 10:30: 'My Father and I are one' (hen) disposition. It could not be theos (God) or ousia (Being), which would respectively require the masculine heis and the feminine mia." -- Ephiphany Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. I - God, page 477. For more information on John 10:30, see http://members.tripod.com/~reslight/john10-30.html

The Father, Son, and holy spirit are one in disposition, one in heart, mind, and will; but not one God. The Bible nowhere states that there are three persons in one God. Nor does it ever say that there is a being called God who is more than one person. In the Bible, one person IS one personal being, and one personal being IS one person always, and never more than one. It was Satan who, in producing a counterfeit for everything in the Bible, counterfeited the true God as one Being composed of three persons. This unbiblical, unreasonable and unfactual distinction between the words *person* and *being* when referring to a personal being should be avoided. It is surely an error invented by Satan to deceive -- a work of darkness, a self-contradiction, which no one can understand or explain, while Bible doctrines are all explainable and understandable.

Additionally, we might say, if the logic were valid that the Father's, Son's and holy spirit's oneness in John 5:7,8 must be that of being, we would have to say that Paul and Appolos were one being (1 Corinthians 3:6-8)! Of course they were two separate beings. Hen being used of them in 1 Corinthians 3:8 (not mia, which would be necessary to agree with the feminine ousia, being) proves that their oneness was not one of being but of spirit, disposition (Acts 4:32; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:3-6,13; Philippians 1:27; 2:2; 4:2) Hence 1 John 5:7,8 does not by the Greek word hen prove that the Father, Son and holy spirit are one being any more than 1 Corinthians 3:8 proves by the word hen that Paul and Apollos were one being; but the same word and form of that word, proving Paul and Apollos to one in heart, mind and will, gives presumptive evidence that the same word and form that word in John 10:30 proves the same of the Father and Son.

But we have more than presumptive proof of this. When Jesus prayed (John 17:11,21,22) that all of the saints may be one (hen, not heis, nor mia) he did not pray that they be all one being, which would be nonsense, but that their unity may be one in mind, heart and will. Since the oneness for which He prayed for them was not a oneness of being, the oneness between Him and the Father cannot be that of being, because Jesus in John 17:11,22 prays that the oneness for which He prayed on their behalf be patterned after the oneness that exists between the Father and himself: "That they may be one as we are." Hence the oneness between the Father and Jesus is not one of being, but one of mind, heart and will. Moreoever Jesus defines this oneness in verse 21 as follows: "that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me [Yahweh was in Jesus by his holy spirit, disposition, (John 14:17,20) and I in thee [Jesus was in the Father (John 14:10,11,20) by accepting and keeping the Father as his head, i.e,, by his being and remaining in the consecrated attitude. (1 Corinthians 3:23; 11:3 are passages that also strongly prove Jesus' inferiority to the Father, and the Father's being the Supreme Being)], that [thus the Father and the Son, by their spirit, disposition, being in them and they by their spirit of consecration, being in them (1 John 5:20; Colossians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 12:12,13] they also may be one in us . . . that they may be one, even as we are one." Thus these verses prove that the same kind of oneness as exists between the saints, also exists between the Father and Son and vice versa. Therefore, since the oneness that exists between the saints is not one of being, but one of heart, mind, and will, the oneness that exists between the Father and Sons is not one of being, but one of will, heart, and mind.

Futhermore, if the Father and the Son were but one being, they could not be the two beings bearing required witness, as John 8:17,18 says they were, since the law required at least two different beings to be witnesses sufficient to establish a matter. But since they gave sufficient witness, they must be two beings. Therefore their oneness is not that of being -- for they are two beings. It must be that of mind, heart and will. Accordingly, John 10:30 does not prove the Son's equality with the Father. Rather, it proves the Son's subordination to the Father. John 17:21, which shows the kind of unity that exists between them to be connected with the Son's being in the Father, implies that the Father is the Son's head that the Son is His in the sense that believers are Christ's, in subordination to him. Thus Jesus must be subordinate to the Father (1 Corinthians 3:23; 11:3), even as the headship of Christ makes the Church subordinate to Christ (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22,23; 4:15; 5:23,24, compared with Colossians 3:19).

The above was adapted from the book entitled GOD (1938, by Paul S. L. Johnson), pages 476-478, 516-518, available from Laymen's Home Missionary Movement, P.O. Box 679, Chester Springs, PA 19425.

For more information about the trinity and oneness doctrines, see: http://reslight.net/l-numerics.html.

PLEASE NOTE: The following books are given as sources of more information on the above topic. The opinions and conclusions given in the books are those of the author(s) and does not necessarily reflect our conclusions.

Two Babylons or the Papal Worship by Alexander Hislop

Concepts of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by Matthew Alfs
Amazon's Description: Subtitled "A Classification and Description of the Trinitarian and Non-Trinitarian Theologies Existent Within Christendom," this is a theological and historical handbook of how the variety of Christian denominations have defined and viewed God the Father, Christ the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit. Detailed and penetrating, it demonstrates how Christendom's many denominations and sects have differed and even powerfully clashed in explicating this so-called "central doctrine of the Christian faith," often with heated verbal sparring and sometimes by inflicting physical violence on opposers. Objective in tone, which is rare for a work of this sort, this careful study encourages the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. Unlike apologetic works, which often quote what critics say about variant denominational theologies, this work allows the plethora of denominations to speak for themselves. The author further solicited comments from many denominational headquarters to clarify and expand upon material from their available published works. It can truly be said that no stone has been left unturned in order to provide the reader with full and complete coverage of the subject. Includes 355 references and a detailed index. Sturdy libary binding, brown cloth with gold-embossed cover illustration. 104pp.

*****

Suny Buffalo Online Library—a resource for the Muslim faith. This from a Page, “What Did Jesus Really Say?”

Web site located at: http://wings.buffalo.edu/sa/muslim/library/jesus-say/ch1.2.2.5.html.

1 John 5:7

The only verses in the whole Bible that explicitly ties God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in one "Triune" being is the verse of 1

John 5:7

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."

This is the type of clear, decisive, and to-the-point verse I have been asking for. However, as I would later find out, this verse is now universally recognized as being a later "insertion" of the Church and all recent versions of the Bible, such as the Revised Standard Version the New Revised Standard Version, the New American Standard Bible, the New English Bible, the Phillips Modern English Bible ...etc. have all unceremoniously expunged this verse from their pages. Why is this? The scripture translator Benjamin Wilson gives the following explanation for this action in his "Emphatic Diaglott."

Mr. Wilson says:

"This text concerning the heavenly witness is not contained in any Greek manuscript which was written earlier than the fifteenth century. It is not cited by any of the ecclesiastical writers; not by any of early Latin fathers even when the subjects upon which they treated would naturally have lead them to appeal to it's authority. It is therefore evidently spurious."

Others, such as the late Dr. Herbert W. Armstrong argued that this verse was added to the Latin Vulgate edition of the Bible during the heat of the controversy between Rome, Arius, and God's people. Whatever the reason, this verse is now universally recognized as an insertion and discarded. Since the Bible contains no verses validating a "Trinity" therefore, centuries after the departure of Jesus, God chose to inspire someone to insert this verse in order to clarify the true nature of God as being a "Trinity." Notice how mankind was being inspired as to how to "clarify" the Bible centuries after the departure of Jesus (pbuh). People continued to put words in the mouths of Jesus, his disciples, and even God himself with no reservations whatsoever. They were being "inspired" (see chapter two).

If these people were being "inspired" by God, I wondered, then why did they need to put these words into other people's mouths (in our example, in the mouth of John). Why did they not just openly say "God inspired me and I will add a chapter to the Bible in my name"? Also, why did God need to wait till after the departure of Jesus to "inspire" his "true" nature? Why not let Jesus (pbuh) say it himself?

The great luminary of Western literature, Mr. Edward Gibbon, explains the reason for the discardal of this verse from the pages of the Bible with the following words:

"Of all the manuscripts now extant, above fourscore in number, some of which are more than 1200 years old, the orthodox copies of the Vatican, of the Complutensian editors, of Robert Stephens are becoming invisible; and the two manuscripts of Dublin and Berlin are unworthy to form an exception...In the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the Bibles were corrected by LanFrank, Archbishop of Canterbury, and by Nicholas, a cardinal and librarian of the Roman church, secundum Ortodoxam fidem. Notwithstanding these corrections, the passage is still wanting in twenty-five Latin manuscripts, the oldest and fairest; two qualities seldom united, except in manuscripts....The three witnesses have been established in our Greek Testaments by the prudence of Erasmus; the honest bigotry of the Complutensian editors; the typographical fraud, or error, of Robert Stephens in the placing of a crotchet and the deliberate falsehood, or strange misapprehension, of Theodore Beza."

"Decline and fall of the Roman Empire," IV, Gibbon, p. 418.

Edward Gibbon was defended in his findings by his contemporary, the brilliant British scholar Richard Porson who also proceeded to publish devastatingly conclusive proof that the verse of 1 John 5:7 was only first inserted by the Church into the Bible in the year 400C.E.(Secrets of Mount Sinai, James Bentley, pp. 30-33).

Regarding Porson's most devastating proof, Mr. Gibbonlater said

"His structures are founded in argument, enriched with learning, and enlivened with wit, and his adversary neither deserves nor finds any quarter at his hands. The evidence of the three heavenly witnesses would now be rejected in any court of justice; but prejudice is blind, authority is deaf, and our vulgar Bibles will ever be polluted by this spurious text."

To which Mr. Bentley responds:

Peake's Commentary on the Bible says

"In all the vehement universal and lasting controversy about the Trinity in Jerome's time and both before and long enough after it, the text of the 'three in heaven' was never once thought of. It is now in everybody's mouth and accounted the main text for the business and would assuredly have been so too with them, had it been in their books… Let them make good sense of it who are able. For my part I can make none. If it be said that we are not to determine what is scripture and what not by our private judgments, I confess it in places not controverted, but in disputed places I love to take up with what I can best understand. It is the temper of the hot and superstitious part of mankind in matters of religion ever to be fond of mysteries, and for that reason to like best what they understand least. Such men may use the Apostle John as they please, but I have that honor for him as to believe that he wrote good sense and therefore take that to be his which is the best"

Jesus, Prophet of Islam, Muhammad Ata' Ur-Rahim, p. 156

According to Newton, this verse first appeared for in the third edition of Erasmus's (1466-1536) New Testament.

For all of the above reasons, we find that when thirty twobiblical scholars backed by fifty cooperating Christian denominations got together to compile the Revised Standard Version of the Bible based upon the most ancient Biblical manuscripts available to them today, they made some very extensive changes. Among these changes was the unceremonious discardal of the verse of 1 John 5:7 as the fabricated insertion that it is. For more on the compilation of the RSV Bible, please read the preface of any modern copy of that Bible.

Such comparatively unimportant matters as the description of Jesus (pbuh) riding an ass (or was it a "colt", or was it an "ass and a colt"? see point 42 in the table of section 2.2) into Jerusalem are spoken about in great details since they are the fulfillment of a prophesy. For instance, in Mark 11:2-10 we read:

"And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring [him]. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed [them] in the way And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed [be] the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest."

*****

CONCLUSION:

As one can see, there is more than enough proof to show that 1 John 5:7 is not a true part of the Bible that God inspired to be written.

Now that I've had more time to address the issue...

What is "Justification"?

       Your dictionary says the word "justify" means: "To show to be just or right...to clear of blame or guilt; to vindicate." My dictionary even has a biblical meaning: "Justification by faith: freedom from the penalty of sin through faith in Christ" (The World Book Encyclopedia Dictionary). As I write, I have a feature on my word processor which justifies the margins on the page. That is, it forces all the letters at the beginning or the end (or both, if I desire) of a line to be exactly square; perpendicular. The word "rectified," or the expression "made right" means the same thing as "justified."

       When we are wrong, we need to be "made right." When we are sinners, we need to be "justified." Justification means the forgiveness of sins that are past. It has to do with the removal, through God’s grace, of our past sins!

       When we repent of sin, which is the breaking of God’s laws, God says He will forgive us. When He has forgiven us, we are then justified: made right, straightened out, rectified—forgiven!

       Then what? Does this mean we are then free to go out and do the very same things we just repented of? Of course not! However, when we have been forgiven, God expects us to live a life of overcoming!

       Here is a most vital point concerning the "grace versus works" arguments of so many nominal Christians. Millions have become convinced that there is nothing they must do in order to be saved. Instead of understanding that salvation is as the result of God’s loving grace, and that His grace forgives us from our past sins, they believe there is no obedience toward God required! Some have gone so far as to say once they have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, they cannot sin!

       How utterly ridiculous! Because one has believed Jesus Christ died for our sins; believed he or she should accept Him as Savior, does this mean that lying, cheating, stealing, or even murder are completely overlooked?

       Never forget that repentance and the forgiveness of sins is but the first step in becoming a child of God! Why would Jesus Christ urge us to overcome if there is nothing further we must do once we have accepted Him as Savior?

       He said, "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

       "And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father" (Revelation 2:26, 27). Keeping Christ’s works unto the end means holding fast to His teaching and His example. It means not only believing in the mighty works He accomplished here on earth, but continuing in His work during our entire Christian lifetime.

       Over and over again, your Bible says we must live a life of struggling against sin; a life of striving to overcome sin.

       Some of Christ’s most important parables dealt with how we are to overcome. Christ showed that God judges each of us according to our own individual talents and abilities; that each of us is to be rewarded in His Kingdom according to what we do with what we have.

       Notice, "He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

       "And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

       "But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. [Note this carefully! They would not obey. They detested government!].

       "And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

       "Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

       "And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

       "And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

       "And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

       "And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

       "For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

       "And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

       "Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

       "And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

       "(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

       "For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

       "But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me" (Luke 19:12-27).

       This is a profound parable. Clearly, Christ showed that the man who doubled his money with only five pounds (the King James English Bible uses the English "pound sterling" instead of dollars, or Hebrew coin) accomplished just as much as the man who doubled his money with ten pounds. The only difference was in their natural gifts; their natural several abilities.

       The attitude of the enemies was one of rebellion against laws. They resented any rulership over them. Christ shows those who rebel against God as the RULER are to be slain.

       Notice that each one of the servants was GIVEN a certain amount. Salvation is GIVEN of God through Christ’s sacrifice. But once God has freely GIVEN us forgiveness and salvation because of His loving grace and mercy, He expects us to live a life of overcoming. The servants were each given a gift of money. They didn’t earn it. But after receiving the free gift, they were expected to produce; to use the gift they had received.

       The parable clearly shows that we are to "Grow in grace and knowledge"; that we are to overcome when we have been converted.

       The parable of the "talents" is a similar example (Matthew 25:14-30).

       In the famous "Sermon on the mount," Jesus Christ showed there is struggle and difficulty involved in overcoming. He clearly showed some would seek to enter in to His kingdom, and would not be able. His words are completely incompatible with the concept of "no works" following our repentance and baptism.

       Christ said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

       "Because strait [meaning difficult, tortuous] is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13, 14). A little later in this passage, He said, "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.

       "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?

       "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [lawlessness]" (Matthew 7:21-23).

       These rebellious, lawless ones have works, whether they know it or not, but their works are "works of lawlessness," or rebellion toward God’s laws, not the good works God wants to see in our lives.

       Millions call Jesus Christ "Lord." They continually speak of how they "love the Lord," and become emotional about "praising the Lord." Jesus Christ asks of all these: "And why call ye me ‘Lord, Lord’ and DO NOT THE THINGS WHICH I SAY?" (Luke 6:46).

How do We PROVE We Have Faith?

       Countless numbers of professing Christians believe they are saved by "faith." All their lives, they have heard the message, "Only believe." They have heard repeatedly that they must only "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." They have heard almost none of the scriptures you have just read; almost none of the scriptures that show obedience to God must be coupled with our belief, or else our belief is in vain. By selective "proof texting," such as you saw at the beginning of this booklet, deceivers quote only part of a phrase, or carefully select certain verses to prove their point, while avoiding others.

       Millions believe we are saved by "faith alone." They have heard, over and over again, "By grace are you saved through faith."

       But what is faith?

       "Faith is the substance [ground, or confidence] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Even faith is a gift from God. It is not something we can stir up, or create within ourselves (Ephesians. 2:8). A few verses later, we read, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews. 11:6). The apostle James said there is a way to demonstrate our faith. He wrote, "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

       "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

       "And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

       "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

       "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

       "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble [Satan the devil is a believer. He knows God exists. He has seen Him; He has tempted Jesus Christ up close, in person! Never forget, the devil "believes!"],

       "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

       "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

       "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

       "And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.
       "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

       "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

       "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:14-26). Can scripture be any plainer? There are works which must be accomplished; the kind of works Christ described. First, there is the work of God, of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all the world as a witness. Then, there is the work of feeding the flock of God. Then, there is the work of the church, and the work of each individual Christian.

       What kind of work? First, love and obedience to God. Second, love toward fellow man. James wrote, "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

       "But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

       "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all (James 2:8-10).

       All the mainstream churches believe in accomplishing "good works." They conduct missionary efforts, build hospitals, shelters, and homes for the elderly and homeless. They conduct flood and clothing drives for the poor. All this is admirable. However, they do not believe that last line of James’ statement, nor do they believe most of the scriptures you have been reading! The fourth commandment is the one they reject.

       But the Word of God says if we break even one point of God’s Ten Commandments, we are guilty of all of them. Clearly, God is telling us He holds Sabbath-breaking on the same level as idolatry or murder!

Jesus Christ Said We Must "Overcome."
Does That Means We have Something to DO?

       Again and again, Christ tells us we must overcome in order to inherit eternal life. Overcoming requires effort. It requires work, not just "belief" or "faith" with no proof of our faith, which James clearly urged.

       Notice how Christ said it was those who overcame sin in the flesh who would be saved. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7). "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it" (Revelation 2:17). "And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

       "And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father" (Revelation 2:26). There are no "nations" up in heaven. The Kingdom of God will rule HERE, on this earth (Isaiah 2; Isaiah 11; Micah 4; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 19; Revelation 20:4).

       There are three major forces we must overcome. We cannot overcome any one of the three without the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit, which is only given to them that obey God (Acts 5:32).

       The first major force is Satan, who is the present evil world ruler (2 Corinthians 4:4); the "prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:2), and is pictured as a "roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Satan has deceived all nations from the very beginning (Revelation 12:9). Remember, a deceived person can be a very nice person; one who is honest, sincere, hard-working; the kind of a person you might like for a neighbor.

       Being deceived connotes honesty and sincerity by definition. If we know we are deceived, then we are not deceived! One of the most difficult things for a human being to do is to admit he or she has been wrong. It goes against ego; against vanity; against our self esteem. Yet, no matter how sincere; how trusting and believing we might have been, it is very possible we have been deceived by Satan and his ready-made world.

       The second major force is this evil world around us; society, with its manifold danger, frustrations and temptations. You live in a time when mankind possesses several different methods by which all life could be exterminated; an age of nuclear proliferation, the population explosion, spreading, pandemic disease, malnutrition and starvation; an age of brutal despotism and suppression of human rights. You live in the age of total trash in entertainment and in literature. The forces at work around us from radio, television, magazines, books, and from society itself are at work to destroy character, destroy the home and family, corrupt our youth, and can cause us to lose out on God’s Kingdom! Parents know they must carefully monitor what their children watch on television; that most of what is provided for children should never be put into any child’s mind.

       The third major force is our own human nature which is filled with physical, carnal pulls. Because we are fleshly, material beings, we tend toward material things. Paul wrote, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

       "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

       "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

       "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:4-7). Because we are fleshly; because we are physical creatures with physical senses, we tend to "mind the things of the flesh" far more than to mind "the things of the Spirit."

       Does anyone believe for an instant that it does not require effort, concentration, determination, struggle—WORK, to overcome these three great forces?

       It does not require "works" to BE SAVED! But once God has saved us from certain destruction in Gehenna fire through His loving grace, He requires us to quit sinning! Talk to any former smoker who finally managed to quit, and ask him or her if it required EFFORT; a STRUGGLE; WORK, to quit! Talk to any former alcoholic, and ask the same question! God FORGIVES sin, and, once He has graciously forgiven us, He tells us we must strive with all that is in us, and with the help of His Holy Spirit, not to live any further in sin. That means He requires us to live a life of overcoming. Paul wrote extensively about grace, justification, and the struggle to overcome the great trials in this life. Speaking of material things in contrast to the great prize of the resurrection, and co-rulership with Christ, He said, "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, [material things; physical possessions] and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

       "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:

       "That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;

       "If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

       "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

       "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

       "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:8-14). Read that again! Notice that Paul, unlike some who have been deceived by false teachers, did not "count himself to have apprehended," or to have already achieved the Kingdom of God, but he "followed after" the great prize of God’s Kingdom! He pressed toward the mark, like a long-distance runner who sees the finish point ahead, and who puts on a burst of speed to win the race!

       What are all these scriptures doing in the Bible if one may be saved merely by belief, and profession of Christ?

       Christ was asked about whether the many or the few would be saved: "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them,

       "Strive [this connotes a struggle — hard work!] to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

       "When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

       "Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

       "But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

       "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

       "And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

       "And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last" (Luke 13:23-30). Jesus Christ told His disciples to STRIVE to enter into the strait [narrow, difficult] gate that leads to life, and plainly said MANY WILL SEEK to enter in, and SHALL NOT BE ABLE! This is your Savior who said this, not any man, or human teacher!

       Notice what Jesus Christ told a young man he must DO to be saved: "And, behold, one came and said unto him, good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

       "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

       "He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness,

       "Honour thy father and thy mother: and, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

       "The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

       "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

       "But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

       "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

       "And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

       "When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?" (Matthew 19:16-26). Plainly, Christ said, if we will enter into eternal life, we must keep the Ten Commandments! God is not "required" to repeat all ten in meticulous detail each time He mentions His law! Some argue that because Christ did not repeat all ten He is only saying that some of them are still in force and effect. Yet, the man knew Christ was referring to the Ten Commandments, for they are the only laws which contain the words Christ quoted! After referring to the Ten Commandments, Christ then summarized the last six. The man knew exactly which commandments it was to which Jesus Christ referred, and his response proves it.

       Again, what are all these scriptures doing in the Bible if salvation consists ONLY of "believing," and does not require obedience to God?

Does "Being Under Grace" Mean
We Can IGNORE God’s Laws?

       The entire argument about "grace versus works" is absolutely shattered when we understand all the foregoing; what grace truly IS; how and when we receive it; what justification IS; HOW we are "justified," and what sin IS.

       Because we have sinned, the law has claimed our life. The penalty for sin is death (Romans. 6:23). But Christ died in our place. If we truly BELIEVE this, and accept Jesus Christ as our wonderful, loving, gracious, merciful Savior, He will turn to His father in heaven, and intercede for us! We can be forgiven for our sins!

       But forgiveness of past sins does not mean we now have license to go right back into the same way of life! No, we are to live in a new and a different way of life! As you read through these wonderful scriptures, never forget the MEANING of the terms. Remember, SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF GOD’S LAW. Grace is God’s loving mercy; His gracious forgiveness!

       Suppose an embezzler is discovered by his employer. The employer confronts the embezzler, and tells him he is going to report him to the police. However, after listening to the man’s heartbroken confession; hearing that he was desperate, that he is terribly sorry he stole from his boss, the employer decides to forgive him. Can any amount of honest work on the part of the former embezzler erase the fact that he stole money?

       Now, he is forgiven! Is he now free to continue to embezzle money? Of course not! Since he has been forgiven for stealing, his employer now expects that he will never steal again! The embezzler has discovered that his boss is a gracious man, and is now living under his boss’ graceful pardon—under "grace!" But because his boss was gracious and forgiving does not mean the man is now free to steal all he can!

       So it is with God’s law. When we repent of breaking it; when we are under God’s wonderful grace, He expects us to begin keeping His laws.

       We are justified by the death of Jesus Christ, but, believe it or not, we are not saved by His death! No, we are forgiven of SIN by His death; by His shed blood, but we are saved by His LIFE! If Christ’s death saves us, then why did He need to be resurrected? He was resurrected to become our living High Priest, making intercession for us daily before God’s throne!

       Notice this carefully, "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

       "Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

       "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled [the same thing as "justification"] to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Romans 5:8-10). Millions of professing Christians are completely unaware of this vitally important scripture! They have heard all their lives that "Christ died to save sinners," which is true on its face, but they have not been taught the difference between justification and salvation!

       How many sermons have you heard preached about what Jesus Christ is doing TODAY?

       Why was He resurrected nearly 2,000 years ago, and what has He been doing ever since? Let God’s Word answer: "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

       "For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

       "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16). We need not confess to any man, or any human priest! We need only confess our sins and faults, our shortcomings and mistakes directly to Jesus Christ! As John said, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

I hope this is enough information, to cause you to reconsider ...

Oh, I almost forgot to address your last issue, What is Your Destiny?.

Kind Begets Kind

Remember, God created man in the image of God. As stated, human reproduction is a true cycle. We can discover no beginning of the cycle short of actual creation.

Not only did God reveal that He created man "in His image," but when Adam and Eve had children, the Bible says "And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his own image; and called his name Seth" (Genesis 5:3). Of course, Cain and Abel came along before Seth, and perhaps several daughters were born somewhere in between, but the important point is that in this first of the genealogical tables of the Bible, God's Word says Seth was "in the image" of Adam and Eve, his parents.

There is no more obvious law at work in our ecosphere than that of the law of biogenesis. Kind begets kind. Like produces like. Horses do not produce dogs; chickens do not produce cows; dolphins do not come from elephants, and, for all the obvious similarities in comparative embryology, (which should prove to questing minds the fact that the same great DESIGNER produced all forms of life.) the embryo of the egg becomes a chicken, and the human embryo becomes human.

It is a fabulous MIRACLE that a microscopic spermatozoon (male sperm cell) can unite with a virtually invisible human female egg in the womb of the mother, and that this new life which is now engendered by the uniting of male and female cells, is on its way toward becoming a separate, individual HUMAN BEING.

I have said, for many years, that birth is ABSOLUTE. There was a moment when you did not exist. Then, there was a moment when that life which became you was the result of intense competition between potentially hundreds and thousands of others, but YOU were begotten, instead.

Humorously, I have told audiences for many years that "never has a young girl come home, frightened, and said to her mother, 'Mom, I am half pregnant.'"

Begettal is a positive act. When it takes place, a separate, unique human life is being developed.

It is a fabulous miracle that height, shape, weight, texture of skin, color and texture of hair and eyes, tone of voice, abilities and proclivities, talents and aptitudes can be conveyed from parent to child.

No wonder David marveled that he was "fearfully and wonderfully made." No wonder David gave God the credit for having "knit me together in my mother's womb," and exulted, "How marvelous art all thy works, 0 Lord God."

When human parents reproduce, it is as if a microcosm of the whole plan and purpose of GOD-a microcosm of ultimate human destiny.

There was a moment in time when you were begotten. For the sake of understanding one of the great "mysteries" of the plan of God-understanding your own human destiny, you need to understand the process by which YOU came to be. You need to understand the difference between begettal (conception), the gradual development of the fetus in the womb, and actual parturition, or birth.

Obviously, begettal and birth are not the same. There is difficulty with a Greek word, gennao, which means the entire process of begettal and birth. The Greek makes no distinction between begettal, and birth, but is used interchangeably.

It is only in the context that we can discern whether the Bible is speaking of a spiritual begettal, or spiritual BIRTH.

And there is a DIFFERENCE.

When you were begotten, your mother was probably unaware of it. She may have discovered it about a month or so later, but wasn't really sure, until after two or three months, and a visit to the doctor. Meanwhile, you were gradually developing within the womb of your mother. Now, the placenta that was forming was causing the nutrients from your mother's own bloodstream to flow into the tiny, strange-looking little shape (bearing resemblance to other types of embryos) that was to someday become YOU.

The Bible instructs us through analogies often. It speaks of God (the great God whom Jesus came to reveal, but who no man has ever seen.) as "the Father."

Jesus said we are to pray "our Father, which art in heaven..." He warned us not to call any man "father," in a spiritual sense on this earth, for "One is your Father, who is in heaven."

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

The church is depicted as a woman (see Revelation 12) and is spoken of as the "mother" of those who are the members of the church.

Within the church, converted men and women are called "brothers and sisters." The apostles spoke of "the brethren," and these family terms are found throughout the New Testament.

What have we here? We have words commonly applied to a human family being applied to God and Christ in heaven, to the church, and to members of the church.

Now, follow the analogy: Even as you, as a tiny embryo, had to be protected and nurtured in the womb of your mother; so newly-begotten Christians must be "fed with the milk of the word" (1 Corinthians 3:1,2), and must be nourished and protected within the church, which is a group or assembly of "called-out ones."

The nourishment is not physical, but SPIRITUAL. The food comes through sermons from the pulpit, perhaps radio broadcasts or telecasts, written literature such as articles, Bible study courses, pamphlets and booklets, through personal/social contact with other Christians, through private conversation, and, MOST importantly, through personal Bible study and PRAYER. In these ways, God's Holy Spirit flows into the mind of the newly-developing Christian, in similar fashion as nutrition flows through the mother's body into the placenta, and to the developing embryo.

At last, after approximately nine months in the womb, you were "full-term," and ready to be BORN.

Now, a shocking change occurs.

No longer are you carried about in the womb of your mother; no longer are you fed through the umbilical cord directly into your stomach from your mother's bloodstream and the placenta. Now, shockingly, you enter the world, gasp your first breath, perhaps begin to cry from the shock and surprise of it all, and are truly ON YOUR OWN. Of course, if a loving mother (or nurse) did not care for you immediately, you would die of starvation or exposure, or both.

But now, you are truly a separate human being.

Another analogy can be developed beginning at birth, relating the Christian development, but for the sake of the analogy I am drawing here, being BORN of your human parents, becoming completely SEPARATE; beginning to develop your own personality, your own peculiar talents and abilities, developing your own thoughts and mind, developing your own individuality, your own conscience and personal morality-all these things are uniquely YOU.

These analogies are not imaginary-the Bible truly uses analogous representations of the family unit as a teaching method. It is through understanding the physical creation we can come to understand Almighty God as an invisible Spirit Being.

"The invisible things about God are clearly seen by looking at what He has created-they are understood by the things He made-including His eternal power and godhead-so ungodly men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20, paraphrased).

Jesus used the physical creation; specifically, the phenomenon of wind and its actions in attempting to teach Nicodemus about spiritual rebirth.

"You Must Be Born Again"

Jesus told Nicodemus "Verily, verily I say unto you, except a man be born again [gennao, Greek-meaning 'born from above'], he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

The Greek word Jesus used has already been explained. You can only discern whether He intended "begotten" or "born" in the context.

In this case, we need not wonder, for Nicodemus was responding to Jesus in the Greek language.

"Nicodemus said unto Him, how can a man be born [gennao, Greek] when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" (John 3:4).

Do you see? Was Nicodemus engaging in a little sarcastic humor? The point is, Nicodemus did not misunderstand the word Jesus used. He knew the word Jesus used connoted birth. Stunned, dumbfounded by Jesus' statement, Nicodemus spoke of the utter impossibility of what Christ implied.

Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit IS SPIRIT.

"Marvel not that I said unto you, you must be born again.

"The wind blows where it will, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell where it comes from, and where it goes. So is everyone that is born of the spirit" (John 3:5-8).

Paul was inspired to write, "And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.

"Behold, I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised in-corruptible and we [we who are alive and remain at that time] shall be CHANGED.

"For this corruptible must PUT ON incorruption, and this MORTAL must PUT ON immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:50-53).

Read that again. Come to understand.

Your Bible plainly tells you that you CANNOT ENTER the "kingdom of God" as a human being.

Jesus Christ said you must be born anew-born from above. When Nicodemus assumed Jesus was referring to the impossible, Jesus told him "Marvel not." He then explained. He said you can hear the noise the wind makes in the trees, or under the eaves of the house-but that the wind, while powerful enough to uproot trees, blow down buildings, or sink ships with hurricane force, is invisible.

And what did He say? "SO IS everyone that is born of the spirit.''

How is one who is born of the spirit? He is like the wind. He is invisible. He IS SPIRIT.

WHY cannot many sincere, yet deceived people see the plain, simple TRUTH of what Jesus SAID?

He said, "That which is born of the flesh [you and I-we human beings who are physical, fleshly, created 'in the image' of our physical parents.] are flesh."

So far, so good. Are you physical? Are you human? Are you FLESH?

Of course you are.

Were you born of fleshly parents? Of course.

And what are you? You are FLESH.

Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh IS FLESH."

Now then. Read the rest of John 3:6. "and that which is born of the spirit IS SPIRIT."

Have you, then, been "born" of the spirit? How to answer the question? ARE you spiritual essence? Are you composed of spirit? Can you appear or disappear at will? Can you walk through solid stone, granite, concrete block or brick? Can you zip around the heavens, visiting Mars, Venus and Jupiter?

No, you are mundane, temporal, mortal, human, FLESH.

Then you HAVE NOT been "born of the spirit" according to what your Savior, Jesus Christ, plainly tells you.

You can become "begotten" by God's Holy Spirit. You can repent, be baptized, and receive a spiritual begettal by receiving the Spirit of God. (Acts 2:38).

But you cannot, now, be "born of the spirit" UNTIL a certain moment, of which you have already read. (1 Corinthians 15:23).

Go back and read that quotation from 1 Corinthians 15 again. Better yet, turn to and read the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15. Here is the "resurrection chapter." If you read it slowly, carefully; if you ponder what you read, drinking in meaning from each word, you will learn great and profound truths which are not known; not taught, by the churches of this world.

No one, reading the simple and beautiful words of Almighty God concerning the coming resurrection at the return of Christ could believe in the pagan fables of the "immortality of the soul"; that people go either to heaven or an ever-burning hell when they die.

Rather, they would come to know the TRUTH of the Bible; that man is physical, fleshly, mortal. That when man dies, his very thoughts cease, and he shares the very same kind of death as do beasts.

And what did Paul say? "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God."

What is the Kingdom of God?

You have heard of "the plant kingdom," "the animal kingdom," and "the human kingdom."

Biologically, the term "kingdom" is often used to connote flora and fauna, or humankind. A famous television series is entitled, "Wild Kingdom."

Technically, however, a "kingdom" is the government of a king.

A "kingdom" correctly includes four parts: (1) A king, (2) A territory over which that king rules; (3) Subjects, living in the territory under the rulership of that king; (4) Laws, by which that king rules over his subjects in his territory.

When we speak of "the kingdom of Great Britain," or "the kingdom of Norway," we know exactly what we mean. Even though parliamentary and democratic-type governments have supplanted monarchies, the expression "kingdom" is clearly understood.

Read Revelation 19. In this shocking chapter, you see the description of the returning, conquering CHRIST. Notice. "And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:16).

The great KING of the coming kingdom of God is Jesus Christ.

His territory? THIS EARTH. Notice many Bible PROOFS. "And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: [the physical, human nations of this earth.] and He shall rule them with a rod of iron..." (Revelation 19:15).

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the EARTH." (Matthew 5:5).

"...ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven SHALL SO COME in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11).

"Behold, the day of the Lord cometh. . then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.

"And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east.. .and the Eternal shall be King over all the EARTH: in that day there shall be one Lord, and His name one." (Zechariah 14:1-9).

"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:10).

"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations [on this physical earth.] and he shall RULE them with a rod of iron... (Revelation 2:26, 27).

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne [on this EARTH.] even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne." (Revelation 3:21).

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them... and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years... blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:1-6).

Study Isaiah 11, the whole book of Zephaniah, Zechariah 14, and especially the latter chapters of the book of Revelation.

Jesus Christ is the returning, conquering KING of the kingdom of God.

The territory over which His kingdom will rule is this earth. The subjects are those human, physical remnants of rebellious, war-making nations which will still be alive following the great battle of Armageddon, the outpouring of the last plagues of God, and who will be forced to submit to the government of God after the second coming of Christ.

The laws by which Jesus Christ will administer His kingdom are God's Ten Commandments as magnified by Jesus Christ; GOD 'S LAWS, mercifully and justly applied at last to a sinning, rebellious, war-mongering world.

The kingdom of God is the living, ruling, governing FAMILY of God. At this present moment, it consists only of Father and Son.

Yet, it is into this ruling family we must be BORN.

Now comes the greatest truth you could ever come to understand.

Christ the "Firstborn"

Jesus Christ is called the "firstborn from the dead".

"For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29).

Do you now understand what that scripture means?

When Jesus came back to His disciples after His resurrection He said, "ALL POWER is given unto me in heaven and in earth-go ye therefore..." (Matthew 28:18-20).

Did you notice it? Jesus said He had now inherited ALL POWER. Now, He was no longer merely flesh and bone, but SPIRIT. He was once again VERY GOD.

He had risked everything, and won. He had overcome Satan the devil; dispossessing and disenfranchising him as the present world ruler. He had overcome sin in the flesh. He had qualified to become the super WORLD RULER. Now, as VERY GOD; having been BORN OF GOD by a resurrection from the DEAD, He said He had inherited "all things."

Yet, He says you and I have the opportunity to be born of God just as HE WAS.

He is the Captain and Author of our salvation-the "first born" from the dead.

Notice. "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption [son-ship.] whereby we cry, 'Abba,' Father.

"The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

"And if children, then HEIRS [not yet inheritors.] heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ..." (Romans 8:15-17).

And what did Christ inherit?

ALL THINGS. He has been given eternal life forevermore. He now has ALL POWER. He has conquered death. He will live forever in joyous happiness; ruling, administering, carrying out the plans, policies and purposes of God the Father at His right hand. As such, Christ is the executive member of the Godhead; the KING of the coming "kingdom of God" to rule on this earth for one thousand years and throughout the UNIVERSE for all eternity.

And what did He promise you? Read again the promises of Revelation 2:26 and Revelation 3:21.

He promises you... are you ready for this? Are you willing to believe it? He promises you CO-RULERSHIP with Him in His kingdom.

Notice. "But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept" (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Christ has been resurrected from the dead. He is alive. He is VERY GOD.

If you are to be BORN into the very family of God, then what will you BE?

Will you be a kind of "superhuman"? Will you be at the angel level? Will you be like a spiritual "plaything," a "pet," or some lesser being, staring up adoringly into the eyes of the Father?

What are you, now, in relationship to your human parents? Are you not, in every way their equal, except that you owe them HONOR as your parents? Are you not of their very flesh, bone and blood? Are you not a mature, adult human being, on an equal level with your fleshly, human parents? Are you not an intimate member of their family?

Of course you are.

And when you are BORN OF GOD what will you be? Will you not be a member of the very FAMILY OF GOD? Notice. "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.

"But every man in his own order: Christ the FIRSTFRUITS; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming."

No one has ascended to heaven except Christ Himself. He said so. "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven" (John 3:13).

What is the order of events-WHEN can you and I be born into God's kingdom? You just read it-"AT HIS COMING." And not one second before.

Do you see, now? God is your Spirit FATHER. Christ is your Spirit OLDER BROTHER.

IF you are converted-begotten of God by His Holy Spirit, then you are ON YOUR WAY to becoming a full-BORN member of GOD'S OWN FAMILY.

Now, drink in what you are about to read-and NEVER FORGET it.

God is a Family

The Hebrew word used in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created..." is "Elohim." Elohim is a plural. The "im" ending connotes MORE than one-a duality of Persons in the Godhead.

Notice. "And 'Elohim' [God] said, 'Let us make man in our image...'" He did not say, "I will make man in my image"-but, "Let us," MORE THAN ONE-"make man in OUR image."

You know now that Jesus Christ of the New Testament is the Person or the Godhead who DID THE CREATING. (John 1:3, 10). The member of the Family of God who wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger; who parted the Red Sea; who wrestled with Jacob; who spoke to Abraham-that Person was one of the Divine Beings called, in the Hebrew tongue, Elohim. He became HUMAN; changed from Spirit to flesh, born of a virgin, and came among us as Jesus Christ of Nazareth-a human, to become the Author of our salvation; our redeemer from sin and Satan-the firstborn from the dead.

He revealed to us that He had a FATHER in heaven.

He said, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him" (John 1:18).

Jesus said, "I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me..." (John 8:18). He enraged the Jews when He proclaimed, "Verily, Verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58).

The Jews knew by heart what God had said to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM; and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel; I AM hath sent me unto you." (Exodus 3:14).

To them, this was BLASPHEMY. They "took up stones to cast at Him" when He made that statement. They later accused Him of "making Himself EQUAL WITH GOD."

And WHO WAS Christ?

He WAS THE CREATOR-come in HUMAN FLESH. He was the executive member of the Elohim (GOD) who did the commanding; who "Spoke, and there was light," Truly, before Abraham was ever thought of-HE EXISTED.

He reveals to us that there is a divine FAMILY of beings; which HE chooses to call the "Father," and the "Son."

He says we can be "begotten by His Holy Spirit, and become "children" of God. We are then "brothers and sisters'' in Christ.

The church, which nourishes and protects us, is likened to our "mother." When we are resurrected, or when we are instantaneously changed, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump..." at the second coming of Christ, then we are BORN OF GOD. Yes BORN into our new, spiritual, divine FAMILY.

We are then "JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST."

And what did Christ "INHERIT?"

ALL THINGS.

Now do you see?

Your great human potential-your divinely-appointed human destiny-YOUR PERSONAL FUTURE is to become a MEMBER OF GOD'S OWN DIVINE, SPIRIT FAMILY.

YOU are to become a MEMBER of the FAMILY (KINGDOM) OF GOD.

Paul said, "Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" (1 Corinthians 6:3).

Yes, those who are resurrected in the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5) are to share RULERSHIP OF THE WORLD with Christ for the first one thousand years (Revelation 2:26, Revelation 20:4), and are to be like "pillars in the temple of God" (Revelation 3:12) living, ruling, reigning with God the Father and with Jesus Christ His Son FOR ALL ETERNITY.

God says the time will come-after the millennium-AFTER the great judgment of the "rest of the dead" (Revelation 20:5, 11:15) that He, God the Father, will come down to THIS EARTH-and ".... the throne of God and of the Lamb [Christ] shall be in it..." (Revelation 22:3), and then Christ says, God will"... MAKE ALL THINGS NEW" (Revelation 21:5).

Then is a "NEW BEGINNING" in the great plan and purpose of God.

THEN it will come clear WHY Almighty God is SO GREATLY enlarging HIS FAMILY. Then we will know perfectly what we can now know only in part.

Does your mind comprehend it? Can you really grasp it? YOU were born of your human parents as a POTENTIAL MEMBER OF GOD'S SPIRIT FAMILY. As you are a full-fledged member, an equal, in your HUMAN family, so through God's Holy Spirit-through growth, development, overcoming-and, finally, through an actual, literal CHANGE; a change from HUMAN to DIVINE; a change from FLESH TO SPIRIT-you will experience your own great personal, human destiny-YOU WILL BECOME A SPIRIT BEING-A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING KINGDOM, THE FAMILY OF GOD.

This GREAT TRUTH is somehow hidden from the eyes of the MILLIONS, today. The churches don't teach it. But you have SEEN, with your own eyes, in your own Bible, the real truth about YOUR personal DESTINY.

May God help you to surrender your will to HIM; to repent; to be baptized; to receive His Spirit-to become HIS CHILD-to finally be BORN into His great Spirit FAMILY. That is the only real reason you are living on this good, green earth.

Please know it is not wise to take any man's word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

Ping.

You got it! The word of God is the point! It is the first and the last; it shall never pass away! What else would you want?
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee.” (Psalm 119:11)
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
“The entrance of thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding unto the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)
“My sheep hear My voice; and I know them and they follow Me.” (John 10:27) “.....Jesus answered.......Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37c)

Sorry! But I see a mixed understanding and teaching of the fact Jesus Christ died for our SINS, and redeemed us from our SINS, once and forever, and we have been given the gift of ETERNAL LIFE through His finished work of atonement.

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)

Then after we become the Sons (children) of God He deals with us (displines us) as His children. That is, we will be judged for our SERVICE, not our SINS. And our Service (works) will be tested as to they are good or bad. (1 Corinthians 5:10)
Sad to say some men will understand (misunderstand) grace as a license. “Be deceived; God is not mocked,for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

Someone told a pastor, “If I believed like you do (saved by grace, and not by works, I would sin all I want to!”

The pastor answered; “I already do sin all all I want to, but one sin is too many; because when you are in Christ you do not want to sin any more, God gives you a new set of wants.”

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation (creation): old things are passed away.” (1 Corinthians 5:17)

Repent, believe, and OBEY God.

It's the "OBEYING" part that I'm emphasizing.

He destroyed cities for not keeping His Sabbaths Holy.
Do you worship on the First, or the Sabbath?

You might find this audio worth your time, Nailed To The Cross.

WHY have most professing Christians been taught all their lives that the law was harsh, disagreeable; a burdensome, unwanted list of "do's and don'ts" which Christ came to DESTROY?

Christ said HE was the One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush. He said this to the persecuting Pharisees, and they tried to KILL Him for it, because they knew He was claiming to be very God: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by" (John 8:58, 59).

If the professing Christian churches of this world knew even this ONE simple truth about Christ, they would KNOW that the Ten Commandments have NEVER been "done away!"

Notice what God [Elohim: "I AM"] told Moses after reiterating the law, "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

"Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.

"But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.

"Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

"Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess" (Deuteronomy 5:29-33).

Continually, God emphasized the GREAT BLESSINGS which would occur if the people would keep His righteous laws.

God's Ten Commandments were only codified; written down in stone, at Sinai! But they were WELL-KNOWN by the ancients; they were known by the patriarchs! God's law was in full force and effect long before Sinai! It will be in full force and effect in His Kingdom!

Notice, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

"And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

"And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2:2-4).

Christ is prophesied to be the KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS, RULING this world with a rod of iron for 1,000 years! "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

"And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father" (Revelation 2:26).

Make no mistake! God will not save a single person He cannot govern!

Near the close of the Bible, God's church is described as a COMMANDMENT-KEEPING CHURCH: "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17).

What about you?
Are YOU one who understands what sin IS?
Do you know that, when we repent of sin, and God forgives us, He expects us to "go, and sin no more"?
Are YOU one who is a member of a church which "keep(s) the commandments of God"?

Notice the very last chapter of the Bible: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14).

The Divine LOGOS, or Spokesman of Elohim; the One who became Jesus Christ; the One who said He spoke to Moses from the burning bush; who called Himself "I AM," said, "I CHANGE NOT!" He did NOT come to "change" the law, or "do away" with it, but to LIFT the letter of the law to a spiritual plane!

Which is the more binding — the command which says "do no murder," or the command which says, "If you hate your brother in your heart, you have as good as killed him"?

Christ "MAGNIFIED the law, and made it binding!"

As Jesus Christ, our Savior, He says to us today,

"If ye keep my commandments,
ye shall abide in my love;
even as I have kept my Father's commandments,
and abide in his love"
(John 15:10).

Wōden

Wōden and The Religion of the Teutons.

That is correct, the 10 Commandments were not “done away” they were fulfilled.
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Matthew 5:17)
Also the Lord Jesus said: “For the Son of man
is come to save that which was lost.” (Matthew 18:11)
And He said, “Even as the Son of man came not to minister, and to give His life a ransome for many.” (Matthew 20:28)
And I love : “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17)
Now, that is the Gospel! The sinless one came to give Himself for sinners. He could save us from the demands of the Law; because He was sinless, the Law had no claims on the “Sinless One.” “For He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

According to the Holy Scriptures, what is sin?
1)”A high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked is sin.”
2)”The thought of foolishment is sin: ....”(Proverbs 24:9)
3)”..... for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)
4)”Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17)
5)”Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4)
6) “All unrighteousness is sin.....(1 John 5:17)

We also should read Romans 3;23,6:23, James 1:15, and Romans 5:8.
Let us confess we establish the law by acknowledging we have not, nor could ever keep the law. “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid, yea we establish the law.” (Romans 3:31)

"by acknowledging we have not, nor could ever keep the law."

I take issue with this.

Without God's help I'm inclined to agree with you, yet there is Job of the old testament, and Noah.

But with God's help, we can keep the law.

I find it strange you mention Job and Noah, for neither had the Law, they were before the Law.
We read, “He (Jesus) came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His nmae. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bear witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me, for He was before me. And all of His fulness have we all received, and grace for grace. For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:11-17)
“Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” (John 6:28-29)

Let us not forget, “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10:4)

In Galatians we read, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whoever of you are justified by the Law, ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4) “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For the Law is fufilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Galatians 5:13-14) “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the Law.” (Galatians 5:18)

Yes, with God’s help we could keep the 10 Commandments, but it is not His will. His will is that we are made righteous, in and through His righteous and Holy Son, Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:2-4)

Have you read the 49 commands of Christ, and the rewards of keeping Christ’s Commands?

"they were before the law"

Think again...

When Did God's Law First
Take Effect?

When did God first inform His creation that He, God, was the RULER? When did He give mankind any commands?

"And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

"And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:15-17). By virtue of being his CREATOR, God [ELOHIM: the "Spokesman" Member of the Godhead who did the speaking became Christ!] "commanded" the man! He revealed Himself as the giver of every good gift, by saying the man could "freely eat" of dozens of succulent, beautiful, ripe, tasty, healthful kinds of foodstuffs. There were no doubt many kinds of trees within easy reach; many kinds of palms, with dates and coconuts; fruit trees like peaches, pears, apples, plums, cherries and the like; nut trees with walnuts, filberts, pistachios, almonds, and dozens more; olives were there, as were dozens of kinds of berries. All the green, leafy plants, from shrubs and vines to root crops were at hand.

Adam could partake of any and all of them freely!

But God reserved just ONE tree in the middle of the vast garden (which may have been as large as a very large country) which He commanded the man not to touch!

To touch it brought about the DEATH penalty!

Then, after Eve's creation, came Satan, the world's first liar. He is called a "whispering enchanter" in Genesis. The word "serpent" comes from Nachash in the Hebrew, which says nothing about aspect, but only about character. It means "whispering enchanter," and is definitely not a "snake," even though Satan is likened in scripture to a "serpent."

Notice what happened: "Now the serpent [Nachash] was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

"And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

"But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat" (Genesis 3:1-6).

The Nachash was "SUBTLE." He did not come right out and accuse God of lying. Instead, he couched his question in misleading terms. He IMPLIED that God had told the first two humans that they should STARVE to death! He implied God had said they could not eat anything that was appetizing and attractive for food! He subtly implied that God was cruel; that He had placed them in the midst of all that food, and yet told them not to touch any of it — but to starve to death!

The world's first unsuspecting housewife listened to the dishonest salesman's spiel. She thought she needed to "explain." She said, in effect "Oh, no, you've got it wrong. God said we could eat of any of the trees except the one in the middle of the garden. If we eat of it, He said we would die!"

"Explaining" to Satan is to fall into his trap.

Satan then told the first LIE. It is the "BIG LIE" which he has foisted off on the professing Christian world. He as good as said, "Oh no, you won't surely DIE—why, don't you know you can live forever, just like God? That fruit He doesn't want you to have is `smart fruit,' which will make you wise, like God. Why, God KNOWS that you will not surely die!"

In the Spanish Bible, the expression reads, Mas sabe Dios, which means "God knows more," or "God knows better."

Satan has perpetuated that first lie for thousands of years. Even today, MILLIONS believe they will NOT ever die—they believe they have an "immortal soul" which will remain ALIVE FOREVER, either in heaven or in hell!

But Adam and Eve had now SINNED! How? They broke the first commandment, for they put the forbidden fruit between them and God. They broke the fifth commandment, for they dishonored and disobeyed their only Parent. They broke the eighth commandment, for they stole that which did not belong to them. They broke the tenth commandment, for they lusted after, and coveted the forbidden fruit.

James wrote, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).

Notice the consequences of the first sin: "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

"And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

"Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Genesis 3:16-19).

God then drove them from Eden: "Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

"So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life" (Genesis 3:23, 24).

The sentence was a lifetime of grueling work! Instead of easily available succulent fruit, man would have to fight thorns and thistles; he would labor, the sweat pouring off his brow, to raise crops in order to survive. Adam and Eve lost their home with its beauty, its rippling brooks and pleasant climate, with everything to eat close to hand. They lost their innocence. Where they had previously seen only beauty, they now thought that nakedness was shameful, embarrassing. They now felt guilty, and hid from God!

They saw their firstborn commit the first murder — brutally rising up and killing his own younger brother out of jealousy. Their lives had to be miserable; wretched tragedies, horrible memories, brutal work, and, finally, death.

Who was in charge, here? Were there any laws? Any commandments to be kept?

Of course there were! The whole point of the story is to reveal the origin of SIN; to catalogue the FIRST SIN of the first man and woman!

Notice what God said of the sodomites in Sodom and Gomorrah: "But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly" (Genesis 13:13). And what IS sin? The SAME Divine Person of the Godhead who inspired Genesis 13:13 also inspired John to write, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4).

Paul wrote, "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression" (Romans 4:15). In order for the Sodomites to be sinners there had to be a LAW in force! So says your Bible!

As for the rest, see post #28.
God most definitely wants us to "Keep His Commandments".

Yes, Adam and Eve were given choices, they could have eaten of the tree of life, but instead ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Now the LORD God gave them freedom to eat of every tree but one, they chose the one God said thou shalt not. Today, in our time of grace, God says there is only one way of salvation, that is through His only Begotten Son. Man says there are many other ways.
But God made an unconditional promise to provide a seed of woman (Genesis 3:14-15) which is our Saviour Christ the Lord.
As to time, we know God is not subject to time, yet He acknowledges time. “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a women, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:4-7)
Earlier we had Scripture teaching us what was the purpose of the Law, what the Law could not do, and that Christ is the end of the Law, and those that are in Christ are free from the Law. So let us focus on what and who we are in Christ, “For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2) “.....Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” Romans 8:9b) “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14) “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:16-17)
“But now the righteousness of God without the Law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that believe, for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forebearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what Law? of works? Nay: but of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law.” (Romans 3:21-28)

So what law does God want you to break?

Our Father God, did not call us to break, but to repent and receive. We are taught : “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) The Lord Jesus did teach us: “And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24)
We are taught: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

63 times we are admonished to keep his commandments.

Think long on this.

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.
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?
And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine,
and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man,
which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell not:
for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine,
and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man,
which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
And it came to pass,
when Jesus had ended these sayings,
the people were astonished at his doctrine:
For he taught them as one having authority,
and not as the scribes.

Also ponder this.

Here is the patience of the saints:
here are they
that keep the commandments of God,
and the faith of Jesus.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me,
Write,
Blessed are the dead
which die in the Lord from henceforth:
Yea, saith the Spirit,
that they may rest from their labours;
and their works do follow them.