Daily Bible Nugget #80, Romans 10:17

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

My Comment:

I firmly believe that faith comes by hearing God’s Word. That hearing may take place by literally hearing Bible truth spoken by someone, such as a pastor or Christian worker, presenting the message orally. Equally, that hearing may take place as a result of our own reading of the Bible for ourselves. This verse, so understood, argues for the understandability of the Bible. It also argues for the effectiveness of the Bible to accomplish what God intended it for, namely, the salvation of souls. If you read the Bible, starting with the New Testament, you can be saved as God the Holy Spirit enables you to understand what it means. It happened to me. It has happened to a number of my students in public school to whom I recommended that in the face of the difficulties they were facing they would find help, comfort, and guidance in the Bible. They did. They wrote compositions in my English class to let me know, or they told me in person, or called my home to let me know they had received Christ as a result of reading the Bible.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1290 for Romans 10:17.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1311 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Romans 10:17.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Romans 10:17. faith. ver. 8, *14. Ro **1:16. Lk *16:29-31. 1 C *1:18-24. Ga 3:2, 5. Ep 2:8. Col *1:4-6. 1 Th **2:13. 2 Th *2:13, 14. He *4:2. Ja *1:18-21. 1 P *1:23-25. *2:1, 2. by hearing. T#888. Ro **1:16. Jb 42:5. Ps 18:44. *19:7, 8, 11. *119:105, 130. Pr 6:23. 8:33, 34. Is 2:3. 55:2, 3, 10-12. Mk *4:24, 25. Lk 9:11. Jn 1:37. **5:39. 6:63. **20:31. Ac 4:4. 10:22, 36-43. 15:7. +**17:11, 12. 1 C 1:21. Ga *3:2, 5. Ep 1:13. Col 1:6. He 4:2. Ja *1:21. 2 P *1:19. Re *1:3. and hearing. FS16, Ge +1:27. Je +*23:28, 29. Mk *4:24. Lk 8:11, 21. +*11:28. 2 C *2:17. He **4:12, 13. Re 1:9. by the word. Gr. rhēma (S#4487g), Mk 9:32n. T#1115. ver. 8. Pr *4:20-22. 1 Th **2:13. 2 T +**3:15-17. Ja *1:18. 1 P *1:23. of God. Lk 3:2. **4:4. Jn 3:34. **8:47. Ep 6:17. He 6:5. 11:3. 13:7. 1 P **1:25. Significant ancient authorities support the alternate reading “of Christ,” but Gifford cites Meyer, De Wette, Lange, Philippi, etc., who “agree in regarding it as a gloss intended to define more precisely the meaning of “by the word of God.” Furthermore, if the alternate reading is accepted, it is the only occurrence of rēma Christou in the New Testament. Jn 5:38. 8:37. Col 3:16. 1 P 1:11. 1 J 1:10.

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Daily Bible Nugget #79, Romans 10:13

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

My Comment:

Very plain as to what one must do to be saved. The message of the Bible on the theme of salvation can be understood by anyone. Memorizing the verses about the plan of salvation I have been sharing should help you to explain to others how to be saved. For any who read here, should it happen that you are not saved, these verses should be of help to let you know what to do to be saved. Notice we do not earn salvation by being good enough. We do not earn salvation by doing good works. We receive salvation by asking for it by calling on the name of the Lord for Him to save us from our sin. He is eager to do that, patiently waiting our call to Him.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1290 for Ro 10:13.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1311 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Romans 10:13.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Romans 10:13. whosoever. Ro 3:30. Nu 21:8, 9. Is 45:22. *55:1. Jl >2:32. Mt 11:28-30. Lk 12:8. Jn 3:16. 4:14. Ac 2:21. 10:35, 43. 11:18. 2 P +*3:9. 1 J +*2:2. 5:1. Re *3:20. *22:17. shall call. or, may call. May call translates epikalesētai, an aorist tense middle voice subjunctive mood verb. The subjunctive is a potential mood and so conditional—may call or may not call; if they do call they will be saved. Further, one potentially calls for himself/herself since epikalesētai is also in the middle voice. This shows the participation of the subject in the action. Thus salvation is for the masses of humankind, but they respond to God individually, conditionally—may respond (Lavender NT, fn e). Ge 4:26. 2 S 22:4. Ps +*50:15. 86:5. 91:15. 105:1. Is **55:6, 7. Je *33:3. Zc 13:9. Mt 15:21-28. Ac +*2:21. +*7:59. 1 C *1:2. the name. To call upon the Name of the Lord implies right faith about Him, as the Object of worship (Liddon). Ge 12:8. 1 K 18:24. Ac +2:21, 38. shall be saved. ver. **9, **10. Mt 19:25. Jn **11:25, 26. Ac **4:12. **16:30-32. 1 Th 2:16. 2 Th 2:10. 1 T +*2:4. 1 J **5:10-13.

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Daily Bible Nugget #78, John 3:18

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

My Comment:

Those who believe on Christ are not condemned. But those who do not believe on Christ are condemned already. It is very necessary to believe on Christ to be saved. One cannot be neutral. Not to choose Christ is to not believe on Him. If it is necessary to believe on Christ to be saved, and it is, surely anyone who does not believe on Him is not saved. This makes it plain what every person must do to be right with God. But what does a person have to do to be lost? Nothing.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1167 for John 3:18.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1189 or in Logos 5 Bible software for John 3:18.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

John 3:18. He that. Lk 2:34, 35. believeth. ver. 16. Jn 1:12. **5:24. 1 J *5:13. is not condemned. ver. **36. Jn **5:24. *6:40, 47. **20:31. Ro **5:1. *8:1, 34. 1 J **5:12. he that believeth not. Jn 5:38. *8:24. Pr +*1:29. 15:12. Is +**66:4. Zp 3:2. Mt 21:25. Mk *16:16. Lk 19:44. He *2:3. 3:19. 11:6. 12:25. 1 J *5:10. is condemned. FS121C2D2, Ge +15:14. Jn 15:22. Ge 2:17. Ac 3:23. Ro 2:8. Ga 3:10. 2 Th *2:12. T *3:11. Re **20:15. 22:15. already. ver. *36. 2 C 2:15, 16. +*6:2. He +*2:3. 1 J *5:12. hath not. FS158, Mt +5:18. Jn +*8:24. 16:8, 9. Pr 1:7. believed. 1 J +5:13. in the name. i.e. in Him. FS144A4, Ge +4:26. FS121T1, Dt +28:58. Jn +1:12. Ps +20:1. only begotten. ver. 14, +16. 1 J 4:9. Son of God. Mt +14:33. Re 2:18.

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Daily Bible Nugget #77, Romans 8:1

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

My Comment:

If you truly believe in Christ, you are “in Christ.” There is no condemnation to those who are “in Christ.” Jesus Himself said that those who continue to hear His Word, and continue to believe on God who sent Him, continue to now have everlasting life (see John 5:24). In the same place Jesus said such persons “shall not come into condemnation,” but are “passed from death unto life.” What is the mark of those who are “in Christ”? Paul states those who are in Christ “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” The person who is truly in Christ has experienced regenerative change that produces a new character. They now walk after the Spirit, not the law, not the flesh, and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23) is produced in their life.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1283 for Romans 8:1.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1304 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Romans 8:1.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Romans 8:1. therefore. Ro 7:25. now. Ro 7:6. no condemnation. ver. 30, 33, 34. Ro 4:7, 8. 5:1, 2, 9, 16g, 18. 6:7. 7:17, 20. Nu 23:21. 35:25, 27. Jsh 10:2. 23:7. Ps +*37:33. 130:4. Is 45:17, 25. 54:17. Ezk 18:22. Jn **3:18, 19, 36. **5:24. 8:36. **10:28. Ac 10:43. 13:39. 2 C **5:21. Ga *3:13. 1 J 4:17. which are. Ro 3:22. 6:11. Jsh 20:2. Jn *3:36. 2 C **5:21. Ep 1:6. 1 J *2:5. in Christ. E. H. Gifford remarks “‘To be in Christ’ does not mean in St. Paul’s writings ‘to be dependent on Christ’ (a common classical usage), nor merely…to be His follower or disciple, as Pythagoreans or Platonists were followers of their several masters. It implies that living union which Christ Himself first made known (Jn 14:19, 20). What St. Paul affirmed at Athens of all mankind in their natural relation to God (Ac 17:28), he applies in a higher sense to the spiritual union of believers with Christ. In Ga 3:26-28, we see both the inward and outward means of this union, namely, faith and baptism. In speaking of this union, St. Paul never uses the name ‘Jesus’ alone nor first, but gives prominence to the Divine dignity and saving power of ‘Christ'” (Commentary on Romans, p. 146). Baptism in Galatians 3:26-28 is not a reference to ritual water baptism, but the real baptism accomplished supernaturally by the Holy Spirit when we place our faith in Christ (Acts 1:5n. 1 C +*12:13). Ro +6:23. +*16:7. Le 4:34, 35. Jn **14:19, 20. *15:4-7. 1 C *1:30. 15:22. 2 C **5:17. 12:2. Ga +1:22. 3:26-28. *5:6. 6:15. Ep 1:1, 4. 2:10, 13. Ph *3:9. 1 P 3:16. 5:10, 14. 1 J 2:5, 6, 24, 28. 3:24. *5:20. Jesus. Ac +19:4. who walk. FS108B42, Ge +5:22. ver. 4, 14. Ge 5:22. Ho 11:10. 2 C 10:2. Ga *5:16-25. Ep *2:10. T *2:11-14. Ja 2:18. 2 P 3:14-16. after the flesh. ver. 13. Ge 6:3. Jn 3:6. 2 P 2:10. but after. Ga 4:29. Spirit. Gr. pneuma, FS121A2. Figure of speech Metonymy of the Cause, “spirit” put for the new nature which it creates, as the greatest of His gifts: Ro 8:2, 4, 5, 5, 9, ?9, ?9, 10, 11, 11, 13, 14, 16b, 23. 1 C 2:12b. 12:3a. 14:15, 15, 16. Ga 3:2, 3, 5. 4:6, 29. 5:16, 17, 17, 18, 25, 25, 6:8a. Ep 4:23. 1 J 3:24. Ju 19. For the other uses of pneuma, see Mt +8:16n. For FS121A2, see Ps +51:10. Jn 3:6. 1 C 2:12.

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Daily Bible Nugget #76, John 5:24

Posted on November 9, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

My Comment:

Jesus emphasized what He says here by introducing it with the words “Verily, verily.” His solemn promise is that those who continue to hear His word, and continue to believe on Him that sent Jesus, now have everlasting life. Those who meet these criteria shall not come into condemnation or judgment, but have already been passed from death to life. This has been one of my favorite verses because it furnishes a firm basis for assurance of salvation. Many religious faiths contradict this verse, but I prefer to go by what the Bible itself actually says. Most certainly Jesus promised that we can absolutely know for sure that we are saved in this life. We do not have to wait until death or the resurrection to find out.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1172 for John 5:24.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1193 or in Logos 5 Bible software for John 5:24.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

John 5:24. Verily. ver. 19. Jn +1:51. Nu +*5:22. Mt +5:18. Mk +14:18. He that. T#1119. Jn **3:16, 18, 36. 6:40, 47. 8:51. *11:26. 12:44. **20:31. Mk 16:16. Ro *10:11-13. **14:12. 1 P 1:21. 1 J **5:1, 11-13. heareth. Jn +8:43. 12:37-40. Is +**55:3. Mt 13:9. Mk +*4:24. Lk +*8:18. Ac 3:22. 10:22. Ro 8:17. He 3:7. my word. Gr. logos, Mk 9:32n. believeth. Jn +*3:16n, 36. **20:31. Ac 10:43. 13:39. +16:34. Ro 3:28. *4:5. Ga 3:22. Ep 2:8. 1 T 1:16. **4:10. T 3:8. He 6:1. *10:39. 1 P *1:21. 1 J **5:9-13. that sent me. ver. 23, 38. hath. Eternal life is a present possession. ver. 26, 39. Jn +8:12. Lk 10:42. 1 J **5:13. everlasting. Gr. aionios, Mt +18:8. Jn 3:15, 16. 6:68. Ro **6:23. and shall not. Jn **10:27-30. +*17:6. Ro 5:1, 2, 9. **8:1, 16, 17, 28-30, 33, 34. Ep **4:30. 1 Th 5:9. 2 Th *2:13, 14. 1 P 1:5. Ju *24. into condemnation. ver. 29. Jn 3:18. Ro **8:1. Re 20:11-15. but. Mt 18:8. Col *1:13. 1 J *3:14. is passed. FS144C1, Ge +21:1. Ps *37:28. Is 45:17. 51:6. Col 1:13. 1 J 3:14. from death. Lk 15:24. Ro 6:13. Ep *2:1-3. Ja 5:20. 1 J 3:14. unto life. Ps 133:3. Pr 16:22. Ro 6:4. 2 C 5:15. Col 1:13. 2:13. 3:3. 2 T 1:1, 10. 1 J 3:14. *5:12.

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Daily Bible Nugget #75, John 3:36

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

My Comment:

This most important verse is very controversial for some who wish to deny such Bible doctrines as the doctrine of eternal punishment. Some would argue that if “God is love,” then He surely would not punish for eternity sin that took place in the brief moment of time occupied by this life. My answer is, quit playing with God. He did not appoint either you or me to re-write the script He has laid out most plainly in Scripture. The warnings of Scripture are no joke. We all must heed them or suffer the eternal consequences. He that does not believe on Jesus Christ, the Son of God, shall not see life. The consequence of that is declared to be that the wrath of God continues to abide on him. Jesus warned us there are two options: eternal life, or eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46): “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” There is no way to legitimately assign a different meaning to eternal in the clause mentioning eternal life, compared to the same word eternal in the second clause speaking of everlasting punishment, when it is the same Greek word in both. Therefore, however long those who believe on Christ are promised to have eternal life, that is how long those who do not believe will be punished. The idea that the wicked are punished only for a time commensurate with their guilt and then mercifully terminated by annihilation is nowhere taught in the Bible. Therefore, it is important to be sure you believe on Christ and now possess eternal life!

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1168 for John 3:36.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1190 or in Logos 5 Bible software for John 3:36.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

John 3:36. he that believeth on. ver. *15, **16, *18. Jn **1:12. +4:39. **5:24. 6:29, 40, 47-54. 9:35. **10:28. 11:25, 26. 12:46. 14:4, 6. **20:31. Hab +*2:4. Mt +19:16. Mk 16:16. Ac **16:31. 20:21. Ro 1:17. 3:27. 4:11. 6:22, 23. *8:1. Ga 3:22. Ep *2:8. 1 T 1:15, 16. 1 J 3:14, 15. **5:10-13. Re 22:14. the Son. ver. 35. Jn 1:34. 9:35. Lk 9:35. 20:13. Ac 2:36. 3:13. **4:12. +*10:36. 13:35. Ro 1:3. 2 C 1:19. Ph 2:9. He 3:6. 1 J 5:12. Re 2:18. everlasting. Gr. aionios, Mt +18:8. Jn +4:14. Mt 19:16. life. Pr 8:35. Ezk 33:16. Mt +7:14g. **25:46. 1 J *5:11. believeth not. or, obeyeth not. Gr. apeitheō [S#544g: Rendered (1) believe not: Jn 3:36. Ac 17:5. 19:9. Ro 11:30, 31. 15:31. He 3:18. 11:31. (2) disobedient: Ro 10:21. 1 P 2:7, 8. 3:20. (3) obey not: Ro 2:8. 1 P 3:1. 4:17. (4) unbelieving: Ac 14:2]. ver. 18. Jn 8:24. Ge 22:18. Le 13:45. Dt *8:20. Pr 1:32. Is 1:19, 20. Mk 16:16. Lk 20:5. Ac +14:2. Ro 2:8. 2 Th 1:8. 2:12. He 3:19. +*5:9. Re +*21:8. the Son. Jn +*8:24. Ac **4:12. Ro *5:1. not see. ver. *3. Jn 6:53. *8:51. 20:23n. Nu *32:11. 2 Ch 15:13. Jb *33:28. Ps 22:29. *36:9. 49:19. 106:4, 5. Pr 1:32. Is 65:20. Mt 11:14n. 18:3. **25:46. Lk 2:30. 3:6. 14:24. 16:26. Ro *8:24, 25. 1 J 5:12. Re +*21:8. but the wrath. i.e. [permanent] wrath. Gr. orgē (S#3709g, Ep +4:31n); as in Mt 3:7; Ro 1:18; 1 Th 2:16. Not thumos (S#2372g, Ep +4:31n), which means [temporary] wrath (CB). ver. 18. Jn 9:39. 12:40. Nu 25:11. Dt 28:20. 2 K *22:13. Jb **36:18. Ps *2:12. 88:7. *90:11. Pr **11:23. Is %55:7. Je 10:10. Jon 4:2. Na +*1:2. Mt 3:7. 22:7, 12. 24:28, 30. 25:12. Mk 16:16. Lk 19:27. Ro *+1:18. 2:4-9, 17. *4:15. *5:9. +*11:22. 2 C +*5:11. Ga *3:10. Ep 2:3. *5:6. Col *3:6. 1 Th *1:10. 2:16. *5:9. He **2:3. *10:29. Ju 15. Re **6:16, 17. 11:18. 20:15. abideth. Present tense. Jn *12:46. Is %55:7. Jon %4:2. Mt 12:31n, 32n. +**25:46. He +*9:27. 2 P 2:17. Re +*22:11.

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Daily Bible Nugget #74, John 1:12

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

My Comment:

This verse may well hold the key to explaining the plan of salvation successfully. We must receive Christ. Those who do receive Christ are given the power to become the sons of God. We become, spiritually, part of the family of God. Those who receive Christ are those who believe on His name. “Believe on His name” is not a concept people who are new to hearing the Bible’s message will readily understand. In the Bible, “his name” has reference to his character, including faith that He will do as He has promised. Today marks the 60th anniversary of the date I personally received Christ. I just learned lately that this date marks Billy Graham’s birthday. Today is Billy Graham’s 95th birthday. If my mathematics is correct, I was saved on Billy Graham’s 35th birthday. I had heard Billy Graham earlier that Fall at the State Fair Grounds in Detroit where he held an evangelistic crusade. I attended with the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) that my neighbor Mrs. Cole had invited me to attend. I remember praying for the salvation of those who had raised their hand to go forward at the Billy Graham service, never realizing that I myself had never accepted Christ, or received Him as my Savior. That past summer I had begun reading a little New Testament that once belonged to my Aunt Norma. My brother had found it in our Grandmother’s farmhouse in a book closet, and graciously let me have it when I asked for it. I began reading it avidly that August so I could learn it well to avoid being embarrassed all the time by not knowing the answers to Bible questions posed by my Sunday school teacher at Highland Park Baptist, Dean Sawdon. In late October I participated in a Bible Quiz at the MYF, and won. I think the Lord must have had all the smart kids stay home. I was to represent the youth group against all the other youth groups in the city in just two weeks, Saturday, November 7, 1953, at the Holiness Youth Crusade monthly meeting at the Detroit Institute of Arts auditorium. I read the New Testament from Matthew to 2 Corinthians in those two weeks. While delivering The Detroit Shopping News that Saturday morning, I thought over what I had been reading daily from the little New Testament. I realized that I had never personally received Christ, though I had gone to church since my parents carried me to church and Sunday school when I was still an infant. I stopped for a few moments while folding the next newspaper to deliver to a house on Lumpkin street. I stood under a young oak tree and prayed to receive Christ and salvation. No one was with me. There was no church in sight. In fact, I recall thinking “Maybe I should wait until tomorrow, Sunday,” when I could ask my Sunday school teacher at Highland Park Baptist Church how to be saved. Then I thought, it might not be wise to wait, for I had no guarantee of tomorrow. So I prayed right there where I was. I remember vividly I was whistling the Gospel tune, “Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me, not for the years of time alone, but for eternity” as I continued on my paper route. I learned how to be saved by reading the New Testament, believing what it said, and receiving Christ as I prayed for forgiveness and for eternal life. By experience, I know it is possible to read the New Testament, and find Christ as a result. Some of the verses that most impacted me then and helped me make a decision to receive Christ are those I’ve been posting in this series about Bible Verses About Salvation. If you find it possible to learn these verses by heart as I did, you will find God will open doors of opportunity for you to share your faith in Christ and lead others to Him.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on pages 1161-1162 for John 1:12.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1182 or in Logos 5 Bible software for John 1:12.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

John 1:12. as many. T 1:4. Ju 3. received. Jn 8:47. 19:27. Dt 30:19. Is 53:1. Mt 10:40. 13:23. 18:5. Mk 4:8. Lk 8:8. *18:17 with Mt 18:3. Ro 5:11. Col **2:6, 7. Re **3:20. to them. Is *56:5. Je 3:19. Ho 1:10. Ro 8:14, 15. 2 C 6:17, 18. Ga 3:26. 4:6. 2 P *1:4. 1 J 3:1. 5:1. gave he. Mt %+27:43. Ph **2:13n. power. or, the right, or, privilege. Jn 20:17. Ga 3:26. 4:4-6. Ep 1:5. He 13:10. 2 P 1:4. Re 22:14. to become. FS96C4, Mt +3:17. Mt 5:45. T 1:4. 1 J 3:1. the sons. T#584. Jn 8:39. +11:52. Dt 14:1. +33:9 (T#672). Ps +119:1 (T#504). Mt 13:38. Ac +13:48 (T#254). Ro *8:14-17. 2 C 6:17, 18. Ga **3:26, 29. *4:4-7, 31. Ep +1:4 (T#255), 5. 5:1. 1 J *+3:1, 2. of God. Jn 20:17. 2 S +*7:24. even. Jn 2:23. 3:18. **20:31. Mt 12:21. Ac 3:16. 1 J *3:23. **5:12, 13. believe. or, [are] believing. T#183. Jn *3:15, 16, 18, 36. 6:28, 29, 40, 53, 54. *8:24, 47. 11:25, 26. Mt 12:21. Mk 16:16. Ac +3:19 (T#601). 10:43. **16:31. 18:27. Ro *10:4, 10. Ga 2:16. Ph 1:29. 2 Th *2:10-12. He **11:6. Ja +5:20 (T#175). 1 J 2:23. **5:10-12, +13. 2 J 9-11. 3 J 4. on. Gr. eis. Eric Sauer points out that “the word faith is associated with the Person of Jesus Christ in a fourfold manner. (1) We believe on Him, literally “into” Him (Gr. eis). This means that He is the object of our faith, its living goal, its magnet. Faith is always in motion towards Him” (From Eternity to Eternity, p. 45). Sauer notes the significance of other Greek prepositions and grammatical structure related to saving faith: (2) We believe in Him (Col 1:4), Gr. en, denoting where, as a determined place, our faith is placed: we are in Him, “in Christ” (Ro 8:1n). (3) We believe upon (Gr. epi) Him, Ac 16:31. Ac 2:38n. (4) We believe Him (2 T 1:12), “faith” in Greek is joined to the dative case of the person trusted, signifying “He is the person to whom our faith refers and in whom personally it centers” (From Eternity to Eternity, p. 46). his name. i.e. himself. Note.—As the name of God denotes his character and attributes, the revelation of Himself by which he is known (Ex 3:13-15. 6:3. +*34:5-7. Jn 17:6), so the name of Christ denotes his person and offices as Saviour; and to believe in his name is to believe the revelation he has made, and trust in the work he has accomplished. See Mt 1:21, 23; Ac 4:12; 8:12; Ro 1:5. Compare Mt 28:19 (De Burgh, p. 224). FS144A4, Ge +4:26. FS121T1, Dt +28:58. Jn 2:23. 3:18. 14:13, 14, 26. *15:16. 16:23, 24, 26. **20:31. Ps +20:1. Mt 12:21. Ga 3:26. 1 T 1:15. 1 J 2:12. 3:23. **5:13. 3 J 7. Re 2:3, 13. 3:12. 14:1.

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Bible Nugget #73, John 3:16

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

My Comment:

This is likely the best known verse of the New Testament. Note that God so loved the world. That includes everybody. Nothing in this verse or its context suggests this is merely a reference to God’s elect. In response to the need of the world that God loved, He gave His son for us. That is the provision. Note that the benefit promised, eternal life, has a contingency attached. Eternal life is available only to those who continue to believe, the significance of the “eth” on the word “believeth,” which represents the force of the present tense of the underlying Greek verb. Notice the expression “should not perish.” This is better understood as “may not perish,” translated to represent the subjunctive mood that marks the presence of the contingency–continuing belief. Those who will place their faith in Christ, who continue to believe, are having eternal life. This may not be exactly how you were taught to understand this verse in Sunday school or even in seminary, but that is the Gospel as presented in the Greek text. God promises eternal life now to those who continue to believe in His son, Jesus Christ, and it is they, and only they, who will never perish.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1167 for John 3:16.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1188 or in Logos 5 Bible software for John 3:16.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

John 3:16. God. Je 31:3. Zc 9:17. Lk 1:78. 2:14. Ro **5:8. 8:3. 2 C *5:18-21. Ep *2:4-7. 2 Th 2:16. T *3:4-7. 1 J 3:1. **4:9, 10, 14, 19. Re 1:5. loved. Gr. agapaō (S#25g: Jn 3:16, 19, 35. 8:42. 10:17. 11:5. 12:43. 13:1, 23, 34. 14:15, 21, 23, 24, 28, 31. 15:9, 12, 17. 17:23, 24, 26. 19:26. 21:7, 15, 16, 20). FS96C1, Ge +4:1. Ps 36:7. 40:10. 103:8. Mt 5:43g. Mk **10:21g. Ro 8:39. 2 Th 2:16. 1 J 3:1, 16. 4:10. world. Gr. kosmos, Mt +4:8. ?**FS121J8. Metonymy of the Subject F/S 576. The world is put for its inhabitants, affirmed by some to denote without distinction, but not without exception. For other instances of this figure see Jn 7:4. Ac 17:31. 2 C *5:19. 1 J ?**2:2. 5:19. Re 12:9. See related notes and figures listed at Ge 24:10n. There is no viable reason within this text and its context to suppose that world is used in a special or limited sense. Some grammarians class the usage of world here as a Monadic Construction, because the world is an indivisible whole, the only such thing there is. “So monadic construction cannot be subjected to a division of the race as elect and non-elect. It is a single, indivisible unit. Thus there can be no predestination of the world as to destiny” (M. L. Lavender on John 3:16). Jn +*1:9, +29. 4:42. 1 J **2:2. **4:14. gave. FS96C1, Ge +4:1. Jn 1:14, 18. 5:43. 7:29. Ge 22:12. Is +*9:6. 55:4. Mt 7:11. Mk 12:6. Ro 5:10, 15. **8:32. 2 C 9:15. He 1:1, 2. 1 J 5:11. only. ver. 18. Jn 1:14. Ge 22:2, +=12. Lk %+7:12. begotten. Gr. monogenes, S#3439g, Lk +7:12. lit. the only one of a family, unique of its kind. Monogenes, applied to Jesus, expresses the unique and eternal relationship of the Son to the Father. As firstborn does not mean born first (Col 1:15n), neither does only begotten imply a begetting, birth, or origin in time. In His pre-existence, Jesus was always uniquely the Son of God (Ps 2:7. Is +*9:6. He 1:8). When used of Christ, only begotten speaks of “unoriginated relationship.” Only begotten “indicates that as the Son of God He was the sole representative of the Being and character of the One who sent Him” (Vine, Expository Dictionary, vol. 3, p. 140). It is a word picture which portrays the relationship of the Father to the Son in the terms of a Middle Eastern patriarchal family (Ge **21:12. 22:2, 12, 16. He 11:17). Isaac, termed Abraham’s only begotten son (He 11:17), though Abraham had a prior son Ishmael by Hagar (Ge 16:15) and later sons by Keturah (Ge 25:1-4. 1 Ch 1:32, 33), sustains a unique relationship to Abraham as the son of promise (Ga 4:23). The same picture, portrayed in parable (Mt 21:37), emphasizes the unique authority of Jesus as sent by the Father (Jn 20:21. 1 J 4:9), and our responsibility to receive the truth declared by Him (Jn 1:14, 18. 3:18. Mt 17:5). Pr 8:24. Col 1:15. He 1:6. 11:17. 1 J %5:18. Son. ver. +35, 36. Jn 1:34. +5:25. Ps **2:7. Is +*9:6. Ezk +2:1n. Mt 17:5. 21:37. 26:63. 27:43. Mk 1:1, 11. 9:7. Lk 9:35. 20:13. Ro 1:3. Ga 2:20. 4:4. He 1:2. 5:5. Re 2:18. that whosoever. ver. 15. Mt *9:13. 1 T *1:15, 16. Re *22:17. believeth. or, is believing (Young). “In the New Testament, when belief is said to lead to eternal life, as is the case here, the tense expressing continuous action is always used while the tense expressing a single action is never used. The stress is thus placed on a continuous faith rather than on an isolated moment of faith.—Thus never in these passages expressing belief in eternal life is one’s eternal security said to be guaranteed by a single, isolated act of faith” (George Allen Turner and Julius R. Mantey, The Gospel According to John, p. 99, who for the final sentence, given as footnote 20, cite E. A. Mills, “Terms for Belief in John’s Gospel”; thesis in Asbury Theological Seminary, 1952). See related notes (Mt 24:13n. Ga 2:20n. 1 T 4:1n. He 6:4n, 6n, 9n. 1 J 5:13). T#865. ver. *18, *+36. Jn **1:12. +4:39. +5:24, 44. 6:27-29, 35, 40, **47. 12:46. 14:4. 20:29, **31.. Dt 30:15. Is 28:16. 45:22. Mt 11:28. Mk 9:23. 16:16. Lk 7:50. Ac *10:43. 13:48. **16:31. Ro **1:16. *4:5, 11. 9:33. 10:4. Ga 3:7, 9, 11, 22. Ep **2:8-10. 1 T 1:16. **4:10. He 2:3. *6:12. *10:38, 39. 1 P 2:4-6. 1 J 5:10, 11. in him. Jn 15:4. 16:33. 1 J 5:12, 20. should not. or, may not (Young). The use of “should” confuses some English readers here because the English word “should” connotes a degree of doubtfulness, as if the text said “should not perish, but maybe he will.” The Greek text contains no such connotation here; “should” has no directly corresponding equivalent word in the underlying Greek text, but is used in rendering the verb “perish,” to represent the subjunctive mood (aorist tense, middle voice, third person singular) of the original. The subjunctive mood in Greek as used here does not express, as in English, doubtfulness or “conditions contrary to fact,” and can be used, in fact, in the strongest possible antithesis to doubtfulness in strong denial (subjunctive aorist with ou mē), as in He 13:5; Mt 5:18; Mk 14:25. See related notes listed at Ga 3:14n. This use of the subjunctive mood marks the presence of a stated contingency: continuing belief. perish. Gr. apollumi, Mt +2:13. Jn +*10:28. 11:50. Ps 1:6. 73:27. Mt 7:13. 18:11. Lk 15:4-6, 8, 9, 32. +*19:10. 23:35. Ro 6:23. 1 C 1:18. 2 C 4:3. 2 Th 1:8, 9. 2 P **3:9. but have. or, may have (Young). Again, the subjunctive mood reflects the presence of a stated contingency, which if met, renders the promise certain. Jn 6:47. 1 C *2:9. 2 C 1:19. everlasting. Gr. aionios, Mt +18:8. ver. 15. Jn 6:47, 51, 54. 17:3. Is 51:6. Mt +*25:46. T 1:2. life. Jn 4:10. 8:51. **10:28. Dt 30:15. Pr 8:35. Ezk 47:9. 2 C *5:15. Col 3:3. 1 J **5:11-13.

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Daily Bible Nugget #72, Romans 5:8

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

My Comment:

It is because God loves us that Christ died for us, even while we were yet sinners. This means Christ died for all, not just for some. This means Christ died for you. That is God’s provision. The provision is clearly for all. But the benefit of that provision is reserved for those who will hear, believe, and come to Christ.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1279 for Romans 5:8.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1300 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Romans 5:8.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

Romans 5:8. God. FS101, Dt +32:42. commendeth. ver. 20, 21. Ro +3:5. Jn *15:13. 2 C 6:4. Ep 1:6-8. 2:7. 1 T 1:16. his love. Ro *8:39. SS 2:4. 3:10. Ezk 16:8. Zc 9:17. Lk 6:35. Jn *+3:16. Ep *2:4. 2 Th 2:16. 1 J *4:9, 10. in that. ver. 6, 10. Is **53:6. 1 P *3:18. 1 J *3:16. *4:9, 10. while we were yet. ver. 6, 10. Is 42:16. Mt 7:11. Lk 7:42. 10:33. 22:32. Ep *2:5. sinners. Ro 3:23. Lk 7:37. +**18:13. Ep 2:4-9. 1 T 1:15. 1 P 4:18. Christ died. ver. 6. Ge 22:2, 12. 1 C +*15:3. 2 C *8:9. He 9:15. for us. He +**2:9.

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Daily Bible Nugget #71, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Jerry

The Nugget:

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

My Comment:

Think you understand this verse? You don’t. Even if you’ve heard this verse all your life, you have been reading this verse or hearing it from gravely mistaken translations of the Bible. That is why we desperately need a new translation that is free from doctrinal error. We need a translation which is true to the Greek grammar, reflecting in English the distinctions clearly present in Greek pertaining to tense and mood of verbs, and devoid of a false salvation vocabulary derived from (dare I say it?) Roman Catholicism. The Protestant Reformers only began the Reformation, they did not finish it. In the matter of salvation vocabulary they accepted the Roman Catholic salvation vocabulary lock, stock, and barrel–as the expression goes. To follow truth, we must ever be reformed and reforming. We must be open to the careful discoveries of Greek grammarians and linguists and allow their findings to shed light on what we think we know or thought we knew. Truth is not decided by a majority vote. Truth is not determined by the creeds of Christendom. To hold up past statements of formulated doctrine as the last word that settles the matter is idolatry. We MUST take a continuing and fresh look at what the Bible says, not what others have said it says. This verse, 2 Corinthians 5:21, is perhaps the most egregiously mistaken translation of any verse in the Bible. Even on the surface what it states ought to raise eyebrows. How could the Holy Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, be “made sin”? The answer–He cannot. It is not necessary to translate the Greek text involved here as “made sin,” as has been done perhaps in all translations in every language since early times. The text should be rendered “took sin.” Furthermore, this verse does not teach the mistaken doctrine of the Substitutionary Atonement of Christ, nor does it properly teach the Penal Satisfaction Theory of the Atonement, though as mistranslated, it has been used as a chief proof text for these mistaken doctrines. So then, what does this verse teach? It teaches that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself as both Priest and Offering took, bore or carried our sins in what can be called the Priestly-Sacrificial Atonement. Christ’s blood shed at Calvary on the Cross most certainly is a far better sacrifice with far better results than represented in type by the blood of the Levitical sacrifices. The book of Hebrews plainly tells us that (see Hebrews 10:4, 11, for example). The blood of bulls and goats “can never take away sins.” What does the blood of Jesus do? The Bible in the New Testament declares His blood takes away sin, removes sin. Careful study will show that this takes place in this life, in the “here and now,” not in the future as an after-death experience. The Bible tells us in no uncertain terms that we are to “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Logical necessity in the light of Hebrews 12:14 absolutely requires that this holiness must be experienced in this life. An interesting fact of Greek grammar is that the verb “to make holy” has a form in the Greek language for the future tense, but the future tense for the verb “make holy” never occurs in the New Testament. Now notice the last half of 2 Corinthians 5:21, “that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Some of us remember the Gospel song, “There is Power in the Blood.” And the Bible declares there is. We have been living beneath our privileges in part because we have been taught false doctrine supported by bad translations. If you have read this far, this ought to be wonderful news, an encouragement in your Christian walk, and it ought to provide you once again the impetus to “Search the Scriptures” to see that these things are so.

For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:

(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 1335 for 2 Corinthians 5:21.

(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1357 or in Logos 5 Bible software for 2 Corinthians 5:21.

(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:

2 Corinthians 5:21. The usual translations of this verse create insuperable difficulties doctrinally, for surely Jesus Christ can never be made sin, for He is God, and is perfectly holy. The order of the Greek, made clear in Bagster’s The Englishman’s Greek Testament by its interlinear translation, reads: “For him who knew not sin for us sin he made, that we might become righteousness of God in him.” But this translation is incorrect. Dr. Malcolm Lavender properly translates: “Now the One not having experienced sin, He took sin in our behalf, in order that we might be made righteous by God, in Christ.” Dr. Lavender notes that the emphatic idea comes first: “Now the One not having experienced sin….” This phrase emphatically proclaims the impeccability of Christ: He not only did not sin, but he could not sin (He +*4:15n). Dr. Lavender rightly asserts, “Emphatically then, we do not have here a Christ made sin in any sense whatsoever—real, imputed, or mystical!” The rendering “made sin” translates εποιησεν, a form of poieō (S#4160g, Jn 5:29n). Dr. Lavender notes, “The verb poieō should be translated ‘took’ in this context, i.e., ‘He (Christ) took sin….’ This translation preserves the Oneness of God, the Deity of Christ, His Immutability and innate Holiness, together with the utter necessity of a perfect and blameless Sacrifice in order to access Deity! Note further on poieō: Mark uses lambanō in the sense of to take a wife (Mk 12:19). In the NT, the Majority Text, poieō is used in [other] parallel passages in the Synoptic Gospels, in which it has the same meaning as lambanō, the regular word for ‘take.’ In Mk 3:6, they ‘were…taking (poieō) counsel…against’ Jesus. In Mt 12:14, they ‘took (lambanō) counsel against Him,’ [thus lambanō is] a basic word for take. In Lk 6:11, they sought ‘what they might do (poieō) to Jesus.'” Note further that Peter expressly states that Jesus “bare our sins in his own body on the tree,” 1 P 2:24. Thus Jesus took our sins, and bore our sins (He 9:28), but He was never made sin for us. Compare Is 53:4, 6. he hath made him. Is *53:4-6, 9-12. Da +*9:26. Zc *13:7. Mt 26:38. Lk 22:37. Ro +4:25. *8:3. Ga *+3:13. Ep *5:2. 1 P *3:18. 1 J *2:1, 2. sin. **FS121L5, Ge +4:7. 2 C 11:7g. Ex 29:14. 30:10. Le 1:4. 3:12, 13. 4:3, 21, 34. 5:11. 6:25. 8:14, 22. 9:2, 3, 15. 12:6. 14:19. *15:14. 22:19. +23:19. Nu 7:45. 8:8. 19:9. 28:15. Dt 21:23. 2 Ch 29:21. Jb 21:19. Ps 40:6. Ezk 40:39. 43:19. 45:22. for us. Ge 3:21. Ex 12:13. 28:38. 29:10. Le 3:2, 8. 4:35. 10:17. **16:10, 21. +=23:19. Nu *21:9. 28:30. 1 S 18:4. Pr 17:15. Is *53:10. 57:19. Mt +*1:21. Mk 10:45. 15:24. Jn 6:51. 11:51, 52. Ro 4:25. 5:10. 6:10. 8:32. 1 C **15:3. 1 Th *5:10. 1 T +*2:6. He +*2:9. 1 P **2:24. *3:18. who knew no sin. FS145, Jg +11:40. Ex 39:30. 40:10. Ps 69:4. Is *53:9. Mt 27:24. Lk +*1:35. Jn **8:46. %9:24. **14:30. 16:10. 19:4. Ac 22:14. He +*4:15n. *7:26. 9:14. 1 P 1:19. *+2:22-24. 1 J 2:29. *3:5. that we. ver. *17. 2 C 3:9. Ps 4:1. 22:31. 24:5. 85:11. 89:16. *98:2. Is 1:27. *45:24, 25. **53:5, 11. 54:17. Je +*23:6. *33:16. Da +*9:24. Zc 3:4. Mt 6:33. Jn 1:29. 13:10. Ro *+1:17. *3:21-26. 4:6. **5:19. *8:1-4, 10. **10:3, 4. 14:17. 1 C *+1:30. Ph *3:9. 2 P 1:1. in him. 2 C 12:2. Jn 17:23. Ro 16:7. Ep 1:3, 6. 2:13. 1 J 2:5.

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