Category: human viewpoint / human wisdom / philosophy

No Corrupt Communication #14

Thursday, March 14, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

The Bible should be our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. If it is, we cannot be comfortable with an assortment of counsellors—one Bible version reflecting this translation philosophy, another Bible version produced using that translation method, this Bible version popular with this denomination, that Bible version courtesy of that sect. People wish to distort (“tone down” or “re-translate”) the Holy Scriptures so as to accommodate or support any belief system—Christian or otherwise. After all, we are told to be “inclusive,” respectful of various ideas and diverse opinions (and our pure Bible is a hindrance to that end!).

We are castigated, “Do not be so ‘narrow-minded’ or ‘divisive’ about Bible versions!” Yet, read Ephesians 4:3-6: “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Are there 200 Bodies of Christ? Are there 200 Holy Spirits? Are there 200 hopes of our calling? Are there 200 Lords? Are there 200 faiths? Are there 200 baptisms? Are there 200 Gods and Fathers? Then why are there 200 English Bibles available, and why are we being pressured to accept them equally?

Are we so inconsistent as to teach there is more than one Bible for English-speaking Christians? This is not a biblical position, but a humanistic position (human reasoning superior to Divine reasoning). Is it divisive to emphasize one standard; or it is divisive to favor many standards? Moreover, is it not strange that all modern English versions are copyrighted, so they legally must read substantially different, but they all “teach the same?” Have our critics taken leave of their senses? Are they thinking about the Bible as the Bible would have us think about it, or are they letting human opinions govern what they think about the Bible?

Beware of their “corrupt communication….”

No Corrupt Communication #13

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

In the 250 years that followed the translation of the 1611 King James Bible, the Church of England (Anglican Church) slipped into more and more apostasy via the efforts of the Jesuits (whose primary goal to this very day is to expand the Pope’s influence, reversing the Reformation by luring Protestants back to “Holy Mother Church!”). By the mid-19th century, unbelieving scholars had at last found a way to permanently undermine faith in the Authorized Version. Having access to two Roman Catholic Greek Bible manuscripts—Vaticanus and Sinaiticus—they began reviving and popularizing readings that Protestants had evaluated and rejected since the Reformation.

The result of Jesuit influence in England was the 1881 Revised Version, this work precipitating so much unbelief that the English-speaking world has been deluged with almost 200 modern English Bible versions these last 150 years. Now, the goal of these translation publi$her$ (bu$ine$$e$) is to make as much money as possible at the expense of the truth. Multiplied versions have greatly weakened the common voice of Christian believers. The authority is not in the Bible, we are told, but in the scholars’ opinions (which will change and thus result in another translation project and version with every passing year).

Dearly beloved, either we have an authoritative Bible, or we do not. Textual criticism says we do not; faith says we do. Scholars are always seeking to recover a lost Bible text (which originals they even profess not to have, so the process is never ending!); we should be believing the Bible text (King James in English) we already have. Either we believe all the Bible, or we believe none of it. Scholars want us to submit to them; God wants us to submit to Him. We could not care less what “Doctor So-and-So” or “Professor So-and-So” thinks God said; we know what God said, and we are ultimately accountable to Him, not people. Yea, they can call us “narrow-minded” and “old-fashioned,” but they cannot call us supporters or speakers of “corrupt communication….”

No Corrupt Communication #12

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

If someone tells us “it makes no difference what Bible version we use,” it is because of one of two possibilities. Firstly (the lesser charge), they have probably not personally studied the matter in great detail—and are only innocently repeating “authorities,” “experts,” or “scholars.” Secondly (the more serious reason), perhaps they know more than they are telling us and/or know more than we do about it, and they offer dishonest or incomplete information for fear their school or church will be exposed as being responsible for tampering with the Bible!

Throughout Israel’s history, despite the apostasy and unbelief, faithful Levitical (priestly) scribes collated (collected) and copied the Hebrew Scriptures (Genesis through Malachi) once God’s prophets wrote the original manuscripts. See the Levites’ ministry in Deuteronomy 17:18, Deuteronomy 24:8, Deuteronomy 31:24-26, Ezra 7:11, Nehemiah 8:6-9, and Malachi 2:7. By New Testament times, believers in Jesus Christ were collating and copying the Books of Matthew through Revelation after the Apostles wrote the original manuscripts. See Romans 16:26, 1 Corinthians 14:37, and Colossians 4:16.

Of course, the Devil always seeks to imitate God as much as possible so as to receive praise that only the Creator deserves (Isaiah 14:14). Only two Bible manuscript families exist—God’s preserved words and Satan’s counterfeit. If there were forged Bible manuscripts some 2,000 years ago (remember 2 Thessalonians 2:2), no one can ever truthfully tell us deliberate falsification of the Scriptures is not occurring today in some fashion.

Sinful man, agreeing with Satan’s policy of evil (“I will think and do what I want, no matter what God says!”), seeks to undercut or undermine faith in the preserved line of Bible manuscripts. No longer is it “God has guarded against error a text family worthy of our faith,” but rather (courtesy of “natural-man scholarship”) “God needs our help in recovering or reconstructing what text He lost because He was unable to protect it!” Indeed, the latter statement appeals to the flesh, and glorifies secular education under the guise of “Christianity.”

Doubtless, actual Bible text changes are the deadliest form of “corrupt communication….”

No Corrupt Communication #11

Monday, March 11, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

Let us take a more detailed look at Jeremiah chapter 23: “[1] Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. [2] Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD…. [16] Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. [17] They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you…. [30] Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. [31] Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith…. [36] And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.”

Some six centuries before Christ, the Jewish people were overrun with false prophets. These corrupt religious leaders “stole [God’s] words” from their neighbors by substituting Divine revelation with manmade information. Such an exchange made the Jews “vain” (spiritually empty and unproductive), for they were operating according to the faulty reasonings of fallible men as opposed to being filled with the life and will of the Almighty LORD God. Thus, the accusation rang out, “Ye have perverted the words of the living God!” Even this very moment, a large number of so-called “spiritual leaders” are guilty of this “corrupt communication,” preaching from their own heart instead of from the LORD’S mouth….

No Corrupt Communication #10

Sunday, March 10, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

“Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart” (Jeremiah 14:14). “Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:32). “For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 29:9).

In the above verses, preachers claim, “The LORD gave me a message for you!” However, the LORD avows He had nothing to do with it. They are pretending to be His spokesmen, trying to pass off their own opinions as “God’s words.” Go now to 2 Thessalonians 2:2: “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” Here is a forged letter—someone feigning to be Paul, someone claiming apostolic power, and using pretense (false information) to unsettle and lead believers astray.

Most of the “scholarly persuasion” reassure us it does not matter what Bible version we use—for, allegedly, one translation is “just as good” as the other. No one, they say, intentionally forges or alters Bible manuscripts for doctrinal purposes. They, being ignorant of the very Bible they profess to know, are nothing more than the blind leading the blind. This is harsh, but it pales in comparison to their disrespectful comments about what is and what is not the Word of God. One can easily search the Scriptures to find all sorts of verses about imposters or counterfeits—false brethren, false apostles, false prophets, false teachers, false Christs, and the like.

“Christian” books and sermons throughout history have been deliberately edited for doctrinal purposes….

No Corrupt Communication #9

Saturday, March 9, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

In the Scriptures, we read about false accusations (Luke 3:14; Luke 19:8; 2 Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3; 1 Peter 3:16), false apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13), false balances (Proverbs 11:1; Proverbs 20:23), false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:26; Galatians 2:4), false Christs (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22), false dealings (Genesis 21:23; Leviticus 19:11; Psalm 44:17; Jeremiah 6:13; Jeremiah 8:10), false divinations (Jeremiah 14:14; Ezekiel 21:23), false dreams (Jeremiah 23:32; Zechariah 10:2), and false gifts (Proverbs 25:14).

Also, the Bible refers to false lips (Proverbs 17:4), false matters (Exodus 23:7), false oaths (Zechariah 8:17), false reports (Exodus 23:1), false sayings (Matthew 7:15), false science (1 Timothy 6:20), false swearing (Leviticus 6:3,5; Leviticus 19:12; Jeremiah 5:2; Jeremiah 7:9; Hosea 10:4; Zechariah 5:4; Malachi 3:5), false teachers (2 Peter 2:1), false tongues (Psalm 120:3), false visions (Jeremiah 14:14), and false ways (Psalm 119:104; Psalm 119:28; Jeremiah 8:10).

However, the most prominent mentions are false prophets (Jeremiah 5:31; Jeremiah 29:9; Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:11,24; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26; Acts 13:6; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10) and false witnesses (Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20; Deuteronomy 19:16,18; Psalm 27:12; Psalm 35:11; Proverbs 6:19; Proverbs 12:17; Proverbs 14:5; Proverbs 19:5,9; Proverbs 21:28; Proverbs 25:18; Matthew 15:19; Matthew 19:18; Matthew 26:59,60; Mark 10:19; Mark 14:56,57; Luke 18:20; Acts 6:13; Romans 13:9; 1 Corinthians 15:15).

All the above references involve something untrue, deceitful, or counterfeit: they relate to dishonest businesspeople, lying religious leaders, and erroneous beliefs or messages. The two dominant themes—and note them well—are false prophets (people claiming to speak for God when they are not) and false witnesses (people arguing something is true when it is not). If the Holy Spirit dedicates so many verses about them, then it only stands to reason these passages about false witnesses and false prophets merit special attention. Yet, in the average “Christian” assembly or institution, little to no consideration is given them.

Let us see how false witnesses and false prophets factor into corrupt communication….

No Corrupt Communication #8

Friday, March 8, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

As any competent construction foreman or worker knows, the type and quality of the building material makes a difference. Furthermore, no responsible person erratically places components while erecting the edifice or building the site. Every piece has its proper place according to the blueprints, and only approved materials will pass the inspection. As believers in Jesus Christ, how much more careful should we be with regards to spiritual (eternal) matters?

The classic passage on this subject is 1 Corinthians 3:9-17: “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed [beware, be careful, exercise caution] how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

The Corinthian saints were being careless by embracing and exalting human wisdom—how unsaved people (such as heathen Greek poets or philosophers) thought about life. If you read both Corinthian epistles, you gain a sense of just how spiritually disoriented and debilitated these believers became once they fell into the trap of non-grace, non-dispensational, non-Spirit-filled thinking, corrupt communication….

The Centurions #7

Thursday, February 22, 2024

“And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,…” (Matthew 8:5 KJV).

What are “centurions?”

A centurion was the commanding officer of a century, a group of 100 Roman soldiers. Such military men did not appear in the record of Holy Scripture until politically-fallen Israel was subjected to yet another Gentile world-power—the Roman Empire—in the years leading up to Christ’s birth. It is thus beginning in the New Testament that we read of centurions, from Christ’s earthly ministry (Matthew to John) and even until the very end of the Acts period (Acts chapter 28). Their presence in the land of Canaan indicates Israel is under “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24), dominated by Gentile global rulers until Christ’s Second Coming and subsequent Millennial Reign (when Israel will once again be the head of the nations, God’s chief nation in the Earth).

Even though the centurions were pagan Romans, they were not completely without spiritual light from Israel’s God. Some of them were even walking by faith in the Bible information they had. However limited their spiritual understanding was, they were thankful for that which they did have (which was in stark contrast to unbelieving Israel, who had more spiritual light but could not care less about it!). Recall Matthew 8:5-13 (today’s Scripture); Luke 7:1-10; Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47; Acts 10:1-4,22; Acts 27:1,3,31,32,43; and Acts 28:16. It is here at this second point that we can make personal application.

Truly, dear friends, we do not have all the answers because we do not know everything that can be known. This should not discourage us, however, since we still have access to the Holy Bible that teaches us what we need to know. If we are appreciative of the few sound Bible doctrinal truths we know, if we trust the sound Bible doctrine we have learned thus far, God will value that attitude and provide us with more light. Yet, if we decide to set aside the Scriptures rightly divided, and take up in their place the tenets of philosophy or vain religious tradition or theological speculations of men, we will be in a lot even worse than ancient unbelieving Israel was. Remember the (believing) centurions!

Something in Which to Glory!

Thursday, February 15, 2024

“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:12-14 KJV).

In what shall we glory? About what shall we boast? In what shall we find value?

Religion produces people who enjoy bragging all about their “dedication to God.” “Look what I did—the ceremonies in which I have participated, the many prayers I faithfully recited daily, how much I put in the collection plate, see how many pleasures I gave up to please God! Come, see how much I love Him!” Dear friends, the Apostle Paul found great value in something—but that something was not what he did. All that human flesh can accomplish pales in comparison to the work in today’s Scripture.

As Lent begins, the time when religionists temporarily (a mere 40 days) relinquish some pleasant food or activity, let us remember that our performance is often non-performance. Once we place ourselves on that treadmill of “do, do, do,” we are guaranteed to fail at some point. Human flesh is simply too weak to maintain 100 percent—that is sin! Even concerning one rule, we cannot keep it perfectly. We mess up eventually.

If ever we believe that our puny works are worth bragging about, let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul in today’s Scripture. While some boast in their religiosity (in the passage, the Judaizers applauding their rite of physical circumcision), and such denominationalists today urge us to obey their church’s instructions so they too may boast in our ability, let us eschew such foolishness. Being imperfect, all their works do not measure up to Christ’s finished crosswork. At Calvary, we find the only sacrifice that will ever please the God of the Bible. If we must boast, let us brag that He did what we could never, ever do!

See our archived Bible Q&A: “Should Christians observe Lent?”

A Book That Will Teach

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

Today’s Scripture tells us who alone we can trust to teach us God’s truth!

Once, I heard a minister give his self-proclaimed “prophetic” message about top headlines that would appear in the coming year. While he reassured his audience that he received this information directly from “the Lord” (?), he gave a disclaimer: “I do not know, but at the end of this year, we will see if what I say came to pass.” Unlike the inner impressions and hunches of this “Christian” preacher, the Holy Bible is infallible, and we can trust its information completely.

Long, long ago, God Almighty wrote a Book, and He preserved it through history through a multiplicity of manuscript copies, so that it could eventually be translated into English, so we could read it even today! (Of course, Satan, the master counterfeiter that he is, most certainly had his own manuscripts—they still circulate today as corrupt Bible translations.) God promised to preserve His words forever (Psalm 12:6,7; Isaiah 30:8; Matthew 24:35; 1 Peter 1:25). Consequently, every person will stand before Him one day to give account as to what he or she did with that Bible. Did we reject it in favor of counterfeits? Did we re-translate it to fit our denominational beliefs? Did we apply it to life by faith? Did we even read it at all?

As English-speaking people, we understand—or, at least, we should understand—that we can trust the 400-year-old King James Bible. Sadly, even in many church circles, we are often cautioned not to trust God’s preserved Word. Unfortunately, footnotes, study notes, and seminarians usually attempt to claim that authority by offering “better” readings or “better” manuscripts. Beloved, we can do without unbelieving textual critics and their “scholarship.” God does not need lost people to explain His Word to His children; He never did and He never will (1 Corinthians 2:14). Never forget that!

The Holy Spirit will teach us the King James Bible if we “read” (Ephesians 3:4), “study” (2 Timothy 2:15), and “consider” it (2 Timothy 2:7)!

NOTE: This is the 4600th devotional of “333 Words of Grace!” A special-edition study will be presented once our New Year’s devotionals have run their course.