Daily Bible Nugget #892, Colossians 1:13

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (KJV)

Col 1:13 Who has made us free from the power of evil and given us a place in the kingdom of the Son of his love; (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Col 1:13  God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Col 1:13 For God has rescued us from the tyranny of Darkness, and has removed us into the Kingdom of his Son, who is the embodiment of his love, (TCNT, Twentieth Century New Testament)

Col 1:13 who did rescue us out of the authority of the darkness, and did translate us into the reign of the Son of His love, (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Col 1:13  God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of his Son, whom he loves.  (GW, God’s Word translation)

Col 1:13 It is God who has delivered us out of the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of His dearly loved Son, (Williams NT)

Col 1:13 God rescued us from the dark power of Satan and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

I have shared above the text of Colossians 1:13 from eight different English translations. Reading more than one English translation can help each reader get a fuller understanding of what the text says and means.

I decided to devote this post to Colossians 1:13 because I shared Colossians 1:12 just recently in Daily Bible Nugget #890.

Here are both verses together:

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (KJV)

Col 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (ESV, English Standard Version)

Colossians 1:13 involves our present condition involving spiritual warfare with the promise of our future inheritance in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son.

One important aspect of defeating Satan in our life is to follow the promise and directions found in the book of James, where we are told “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded” (James 4:7, 8).

There is much more instruction in the Bible about these important matters. One way to begin to learn more from the Bible about these subjects is to carefully consult the cross references (the links to other verses throughout the Bible on these subjects) for Colossians 1:13 which I share below from The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Colossians 1:13
hath delivered. or, rescued. Gr. rhuomai (S# G4506, Mat 6:13). Isa 49:9, Zec 9:11, Mat 6:13, Mar 5:15, Luk 4:18, Rom 7:24, +*2Ti 2:26.

us from. +*Psa 71:20; Psa 86:13, Isa 49:24, 25; *Isa 53:12, Mat 12:29, 30, Luk 8:27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, +*Act 26:18, *Gal 4:5, +*1Th 1:10, *Heb 2:14; *Heb 2:15.

the power. Col 2:15, Mat 12:26, *Luk 22:53, *+Joh 12:31; *+Joh 12:32; Joh 14:30, **2Co 4:4, Eph 4:18; *Eph 5:8; *Eph 6:12, *1Pe 2:9, 1Jn 2:8, 9; **1Jn 3:8, %Rev 12:10.

of darkness. or, of the darkness. *Job 10:21; *Job 10:22, Psa 88:18; Psa 143:3, Ecc 6:4, Mic 7:8, +*Luk 22:53, Joh 12:27, 1Th 5:4.

and hath. FS96C6, +Mat 2:4. Here, future blessings are spoken of as present (as glorification, Rom 8:30), for this kingdom is declared by Paul to be future, **2Ti 4:1. The reference to the “inheritance” in the immediate context (Col 1:12) verifies the reference to be future. As the inheritance is certainly future, so the kingdom with which it is associated must be future. +*Luk 13:24, **Joh 5:24, Rom 6:17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, +**1Co 6:9, 10, 11, 2Co 6:17, 18, *Eph 2:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1Th 2:12, Tit 3:3, 4, 5, 6, +**2Pe 1:11, 1Jn 3:14.

translated. Gr. methistēmi (S# G3179, Act 13:22). Eph 2:13.

into the kingdom. *Psa 2:6; *Psa 2:7; Psa 97:1, +*Isa 9:6; +*Isa 9:7, +**Dan 7:13; +**Dan 7:14, *Zec 9:9, Mat 3:2; +**Mat 6:10; +**Mat 6:33; Mat 12:26; Mat 12:28; +*Mat 25:34, Luk 22:18, **Joh 18:36, Act 1:3, *+Rom 14:17, 1Co 15:23, 24, 25, Eph 1:22, **2Pe 1:11, Rev 3:21.

his dear Son. Gr. the Son of his love. FS24B, +Gen 9:5. Col 1:15, Psa 2:7; Psa 2:12, Pro 8:30; Pro 30:4, **Isa 42:1, **+Mat 3:17; Mat 12:18; **Mat 17:5, Mar 1:11, Luk 3:22, *Joh 3:16; *Joh 3:35; *Joh 17:24, Rom 1:3, Eph 1:6, 1Jn 1:3.

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Daily Bible Nugget #891, Colossians 1:3

Posted on December 8, 2024 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Col 1:3  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, (KJV)

Col 1:3  We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in our prayers for you. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Col 1:3 Each time we pray for you, we thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Colossians 1:3 is actually the first of the several mentions of thanksgiving in the book of Colossians. Paul mentions giving thanks in all four chapters of Colossians.

Studying each of the cross references given for Colossians 1:3 will lead to an abundance of further instruction and encouragement to give thanks and to pray.

For example, I have given the reference to 2 Corinthians 1:11 where I share the other references to the Greek word underlying the key words giving thanks found in Colossians 1:3, where it is translated thanks may be given:

2Co 1:11  Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

2 Corinthians 1:11
ye also. 1Co 12:22.

helping together. or, cooperating. 2Co 9:14, *Exo 17:12; Exo 36:29, Est 9:20, Isa 37:4; Isa 62:6, 7, Act 12:5, *Rom 15:30, 31, 32, Eph 6:18, 19, *Php 1:19, Col 4:3; Col 4:12, 1Th 5:25, 2Th 3:1, *Phm 1:22, Heb 13:18, *Jas 5:16, 17, 18.

by prayer. Gr. deēsis (S# G1162, +1Ti 2:1). A petition for a special object, having regard to our necessity rather than to God’s sufficiency to supply it: giving prominence to personal need (CB, Appendix 134,II.3, p. 164). Psa 6:9, *Rom 15:30.

that. 2Co 4:15; 2Co 9:11, 12, Act 12:5, Eph 6:18.

thanks may be given. Gr. eucharisteō (S# G2168). **2Co 2:14, Mat 15:36 g. Mat 26:27 g. Mar 8:6 g. Mar 14:23 g. Luk 17:16 g. Luk 18:11 g. Luk 22:17 g, Luk 22:19 g. Joh 6:11 g, Joh 6:23 g. Joh 11:41 g. Act 27:35 g. Act 28:15 g. Rom 1:8 g, Rom 1:21 g. Rom 7:25 g. Rom 14:6 g. Rom 16:4 g. 1Co 1:4 g, 1Co 1:14 g. 1Co 10:30 g. 1Co 11:24 g. 1Co 14:17 g, 1Co 14:18 g. 1Co 15:57, Eph 1:16 g. Eph 5:4; Eph 5:20 g. Php 4:6, Col 1:12 g. **Col 3:17 g. 1Th 1:2 g. +*1Th 2:13 g. 1Th 5:18 g. 2Th 1:3 g. 2Th 2:13 g. Phm 1:4 g. Rev 11:17 g.

I believe, based on a study of the above cross references, that prayer for others is very beneficial, even when we ourselves may not be in a position to witness the outcome of our prayers. Paul asked others to pray for him, just as Paul shared that he prayed for them.

Here are the cross references for Colossians 1:3 as I have collected them in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Col 1:3  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

Colossians 1:3
give thanks. Gr. eucharisteō (S# G2168, 2Co 1:11). Col 1:12, Act 27:35, Rom 1:8, 9; Rom 6:17; Rom 16:19, 1Co 1:4, Gal 1:24, Eph 1:15, 16, *Php 1:3, 4, 5; *Php 4:6, 1Th 1:2.

to God. Psa 72:17, +Rom 15:6.

and the Father. Joh 1:14.

Lord Jesus Christ. +*Act 10:36, 2Co 11:31.

praying. Col 1:9; Col 1:13, *Eph 3:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19; Eph 6:18, *Php 1:9, 10, 11, 1Th 3:10, 11, 12, 13, *2Th 2:16; *2Th 2:17, 2Ti 1:3, Phm 1:4.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #890, Colossians 1:12

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Jerry


The Nugget:

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (KJV)

Col 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (ESV)

Col 1:12 I pray that you will be grateful to God for letting you have part in what he has promised his people in the kingdom of light. (CEV)

My Comment:

As I write this post it is December 7, 2024. It is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. This attack upon our navy may well be the event that drew us in to full participation in World War II. I remember World War II quite vividly. I believe the fear present during that war was greater then than the fear we may now properly sense about the possibility of World War III. During World War II, I remember rationing. I remember air raid drills, both in school and at home. In school, we were escorted by our teachers to the school basement. Some drills had us line up quietly in the halls. Some drills required us to hide under our school desks. At home, night time drills were marked by wailing air raid sirens. We were to turn off all lights and close all curtains or drapes and await the all-clear signal when the sirens stopped sounding. We can be thankful that during World War II the war was fought elsewhere. My father served in World War II. I remember writing letters to him while he was overseas.

Paul mentions thankfulness in every chapter of the book of Colossians. In my last post I shared the cross references for Colossians 2:7. In this post I share the cross references for Colossians 1:12 as I have compiled them in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.

To dig deeper, read the cross references for Colossians 1:12

Colossians 1:12
Giving thanks. Col 1:3, +*Col 2:7; *Col 3:15; *+Col 3:17, 1Ch 29:20, Psa 79:13; Psa 107:21, 22; Psa 116:7, Dan 2:23, +Eph 5:4; +Eph 5:20, Heb 13:15.

the Father. Col 2:2, **Joh 4:23; **Joh 14:6; *Joh 20:17, +Act 1:4, +*1Co 8:6, Eph 4:6; Eph 5:20, Jas 3:9, 1Jn 1:3.

made us meet. 1Ki 6:7, Pro 16:1, Zep 1:7, Mat 25:10, Luk 1:17; *Luk 22:38 g. Joh 1:12; Joh 3:7, +*Rom 8:29; +*Rom 8:30; *Rom 9:23, *2Co 2:16 g. 2Co 3:6 g. *2Co 5:5, 2Th 1:5; 2Th 1:11, **Tit 2:14, Rev 22:14.

partakers. Rom 11:17; Rom 15:27, 1Co 9:23, Eph 3:6, +*Heb 3:1; +*Heb 3:14, *1Pe 5:1, **1Jn 3:1, 2, 3.

inheritance. or, lot. Gr. klēros (S# G2819, Mat 27:35). Gen 31:14, Num 26:55, +Jos 14:2; Jos 18:10, 1Ch 16:18, Psa 16:5; +*Psa 119:111, +*Dan 12:13, +*Mat 25:34, +*Joh 14:2, +Act 20:32; *+Act 26:18, **Rom 8:17, Gal 4:6, 7, +*Eph 1:11 note, Eph 1:14; Eph 1:18, **1Pe 1:2, 3, 4, 5.

the saints. +2Co 1:1.

in light. Exo 10:23, Psa 36:9; *Psa 97:11, +*Pro 4:18, Isa 49:9; *Isa 60:19; *Isa 60:20, Zec 14:6, *2Co 4:6, *1Th 5:5, *Heb 12:23, *Rev 21:23; *Rev 22:5.

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Daily Bible Nugget 889, Colossians 2:7

Posted on November 28, 2024 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Col 2:6  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.  (KJV)

Col 2:6  Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him.
Col 2:7  Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving.  (GNB, Good News Bible)

My Comment:

Today is the day we celebrate Thanksgiving in the USA. We have very much to be thankful for.

I noticed in my recent reading and study that the Apostle Paul mentions thanksgiving and often his own thankfulness and gratitude. This is true in the very short book of Colossians. Paul serves as a good example for us, for if I am not mistaken, the book of Colossians is one of his prison epistles, or letters from prison.

To dig deeper, enjoy the cross references given for Colossians 2:7 which I have collected and presented in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Colossians 2:7
Rooted. Literally, rooted once for all. *Col 1:23, +*Psa 1:3; Psa 37:35 mg. +*Psa 80:9; Psa 92:13, Pro 12:3, *Isa 61:3, Jer 1:10; *Jer 17:8, Eze 17:23, 24, Hos 14:8, %+*Mat 13:6, *Mar 4:6, %+**Luk 8:13, Rom 11:17, 18, *Eph 2:21; *Eph 2:22; *Eph 3:17 g. Jud 1:12.

built up. Literally, being built up. Gr. epoikodomeō (S# G2026, Act 20:32). Col 1:23, 1Ki 6:1, *Job 22:23, Jer 1:10, *Mat 7:24; *Mat 7:25, +*Luk 6:48, **Act 20:32, +Rom 14:19, *1Co 3:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, *+Eph 2:20, 21, 22, *1Pe 2:4, 5, 6, **Jud 1:20.

stablished. Gr. bebaioō (S# G950, Mar 16:20), made valid or guaranteed. *Col 1:23, Psa 96:10, Pro 24:3, Act 16:5, Rom 11:20; Rom 16:25, +1Co 1:8 g. **1Co 15:58, *2Co 1:21; *2Co 5:7, +*Eph 4:14, 2Th 2:17, *Heb 13:9, *1Pe 5:10, 2Pe 1:12; +*2Pe 3:17; +*2Pe 3:18, *Jud 1:24.

in the faith. or, by your faith. Instrumental Dative. or, through the faith. Thus, made secure through the faith. 2Co 13:5.

as ye have been taught. Eph 4:21, **1Ti 1:3, +*Jud 1:3 note.

abounding. +*2Pe 1:8.

thanksgiving. Ingratitude to God has been the secret of the ruin of a whole civilization. Thankfulness for all they had learned and experienced should make the Colossians slow to adopt doctrinal alterations (WKF, p. 155). *Col 1:12; *Col 1:13; *+Col 3:15; *+Col 3:17; Col 4:2, **Rom 1:21, *+Eph 5:20, +*1Th 5:18, *Heb 13:15, Rev 7:12.

Notice that Paul mentions thanksgiving in this short letter to the Colossians several times, at least once in each chapter:

Colossians 1:12
12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
King James Version

Colossians 2:7
7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
King James Version

Colossians 3:15
15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
King James Version

Colossians 3:17
17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
King James Version

Colossians 4:2
2  Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
King James Version

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #888, Matthew 16:28

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Mat 16:28  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (KJV)

Mat 16:28 Verily I say to you, there are certain of those standing here who shall not taste of death till they may see the Son of Man coming in his reign.’ (YLT, Young’s Literal Translation)

Mat 16:28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. (ESV, English Standard Version)

My Comment:

This is a much misunderstood verse!

I was reading the Bible and once again came upon this statement of Jesus.

This time I took the time to study Matthew 16:28 by reading the cross references given for this verse.

It was then that I saw that this verse and its parallels in Mark 9:1 and Luke 9:27 have been carefully explained by Peter in 2 Peter 1:16, 17, 18.

The Question

Mar 9:1  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. (KJV)

What coming is referred to in this statement by Jesus?

The Answer

2Pe 1:16  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Pe 1:17  For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pe 1:18  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

Peter explains that the coming that our Lord Jesus Christ referred to took place when He took Peter, James, and John to a high mountain where they witnessed the Transfiguration.

Therefore, this “coming” is not a prophetic reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD as claimed by the preterists. This “coming” has no reference to the Second Coming of Christ which is yet future. This “coming” provided Peter, James, and John a preview of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ as He was transfigured before them. This is further proven by the placement of the Transfiguration account in all three synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke immediately after claim Jesus made that there were some standing there who would not experience death before they had seen the Son of man coming in his kingdom (Matthew 16:28). His promise was fulfilled six days later as recorded in Matthew 17:1-8,

Mat 17:1  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
Mat 17:2  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Mat 17:3  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Mat 17:4  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Mat 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Mat 17:6  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
Mat 17:7  And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
Mat 17:8  And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

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Which is more effective, the Department of Education or The Language Enrichment Program?

Posted on November 16, 2024 by Jerry

I participated in a discussion thread earlier this week about the need for the Federal Department of Education.

I said:

While I was teaching in Detroit I encountered daily students who could not read anywhere near their grade level. That, of course, was the result of student failure to learn what they should have learned before they reached my classes in high school.

I had been taking courses in linguistics at Wayne State University. I decided to make a practical application of this knowledge to reading and writing.

I wrote my own self-instructional programmed learning lessons and they worked for all of my students.

In one semester of work, many of my students were as far above grade level as they had been behind in reading comprehension.

One year while teaching American history I used my lessons again to boost my students’ reading skills so they could read the required course textbook. Eleventh grade students were required to take the California Achievement Test in reading comprehension.

I was called into the principal’s office (almost never a good thing–what did I do wrong this time?). It turned out that my high school was the most improved/highest in reading achievement of Detroit’s 22 high schools and sleuths in upper level administration had traced that to students in my history classes!

I was made the school reading specialist right after that.

If I figured out how to solve the problem, what happened to the “experts” at the Department of Education that haven’t figured it out yet?

At my expense I have placed my reading program titled “The Language Enrichment Program,” on Amazon at the lowest price possible so anyone of any age who wants to easily improve their reading ability can do so. Sales are very slow. I will likely never recover the costs of making this resource available, but you can be sure it actually works!

A Facebook friend kindly responded:

That is amazing!!! I don’t know why your schools improvement didn’t spark curiosity from other schools in the district and from there lead to a widespread adoption of your methods. It is sad that programs that work are ignored, everyone is always trying to explain why this is an issue instead of looking at how this could be remedied. They want to investigate “new” theories and systems and thought leaders…instead of looking at what has already been proven to work.

I replied:

Research has carefully demonstrated that attention to “outliers” would lead astute administrators and researchers to those teachers who have discovered ways to improve student learning and success that could be of help to other teachers.

I was told that there may be a hidden factor involved. If this major problem were to be solved, further funds would no longer have to be asked for to support efforts to solve it. Therefore, avoid actually solving the problem in order to get more financial support..

There are hidden cultural reasons involved, as explained to me by a very wise African American teacher in the room next door to mine. He said that in the Black community there were “house” and there were “plantation” blacks. The administration represented the “house” strata who did not want the “plantation” blacks (the students) to succeed to their level.

My own black students asked me, “Mr. Smith, why have you never been named teacher of the month or teacher of the year?” They said they thought I was one of the best and most helpful teachers they had ever had. On another occasion when I had scolded them a little for talking too much when they were supposed to be working on their writing assignments, they said “Mr. Smith, we love you.” On another occasion they said, “Mr. Smith, you’re black!” I have been told that that should be considered a very high honor. They also said they had been told that white teachers would treat them unfairly and be prejudiced against them; they said they did not find that to be true of me at all.

I must say that my students attended my classes faithfully. They did not drop out, even though the school had a class of 1000 ninth graders but only a class of 300 seniors that graduated four years later, which by my understanding of the mathematics about equals to a 70% dropout rate. My students went on to college and graduated from college and did well thereafter. Even my administrators asked me, “Mr. Smith, what is your secret?” I had two classes that were “looped.” That means I was their English teacher for all four years of high school. I lost only one student over four years time and she dropped out the final card marking of her senior year.

The top administrator for the Language Arts Department of the Detroit school district was very aware of the success I had with my students. He arranged for me to be one of the two teachers to represent Detroit at the Michigan State Board of Education MEAP test writing committee. There were about nine teachers from across the state of Michigan chosen to serve on that committee. We evaluated student responses to the writing proficiency test and set the standards each year for evaluating student responses to the writing prompts on the test.

After I retired, that administrator commented on a post on Facebook where I mentioned that my reading program would work for anyone who would use it and follow its directions carefully that “If Mr. Smith says it works, it works!” He went on to say that I was the best teacher by far of all the teachers he knew and evaluated throughout his career in Detroit. That was nice to hear he remembered me that well these many years later!

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Is there such a thing as the One True Church?

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Jerry

 

A great many individuals firmly believe that their church, denomination, or organization is the One True Church.

In a recent Facebook conversation I wrote:

I, too, have encountered individuals in person and on line who have made such decisions as our mutual friend. Early in my Christian life I studied a stack of Knights of Columbus booklets and by request was asked to make a presentation in the form of a debate case of what I learned at the church high school youth group I attended. Several youth group members came up afterwards and said “Jerry, if we did not know for sure that you did not believe the case you were presenting, you would have convinced us to become Roman Catholics.” We must all learn to be as discerning as possible (1 Thessalonians 5:21; Jude 3; Proverbs 14:15; Proverbs 18:17; Acts 17:11; Acts 20:28-30; 2 Peter 3:17; 1 John 4:1). In my experience, any religious group claiming to be the “one true church” most certainly isn’t!

I think back now to when I prepared that debate case. That was an experience I will likely never forget. I had read enough material that it seemed as if I could see things the way the booklet writers did and could have been fully convinced myself.

My pastor at the more local to me Thoburn Methodist Church may have cautioned me more than once to “let the Roman Catholics alone.” That was very good advice, and for most individuals, I would recommend the same to them as my Methodist pastor did to me.

Nevertheless, I had taken a course at Cass Technical High School in discussion and debate. I was a member of the two-person team that represented Cass Technical High School in a regional debate tournament. I was on the team that won the regional championship that year. The course in debate and discussion taught me valuable research skills. I learned how to prepare an effective case on both sides of the debate topic. I used those skills in college where I was a member of a two person team in debate tournaments that won most of the debates we participated in. I value those experiences highly even today.

As for the question, “Is there such a thing as the One True Church?” I must say that if any church exists as a human institution, denomination, or organization, the answer is “Absolutely Not.”

The subject is complex and involves the careful study of church history and the Bible. History does not support any such claim made by anyone today. It is very evident that striking changes and departures from the true faith taught in the Bible took place very early in Christian history. These departures from the faith are spoken of in the New Testament itself (see Acts 20:25-35):

Act 20:25  And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Act 20:26  Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
Act 20:27  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Act 20:32  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Act 20:33  I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
Act 20:34  Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
Act 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

This passage from the New Testament is worthy of careful reading and rereading. It deserves further careful study by means of consulting the cross references given for each verse in resources like The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge or more completely as given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.

Among other things, notice that Paul’s prophecy or prediction (Acts 20:29, 30) that there would come men speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. This indicates that false doctrines and heresy were problems from the very beginning. Paul saw it. John saw it. Peter saw it. This means, in part, that the supposed ability to trace a doctrine or practice back to a very early time in church history is no guarantee that it is correct if it is not directly taught or  represented in the New Testament! This also means that the claims of any church, denomination, or other religious organization must be carefully tested against the record we read in the New Testament and the whole Bible itself.

Dig deeper into what the Bible teaches by consulting the following cross references for Acts 20:27 as given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: 

Acts 20:27
I have. **Act 20:20; **Act 20:35, *Act 26:22; *Act 26:23, Psa 40:10, Jer 1:7; Jer 42:19, 1Co 2:4, *2Co 4:2, *Gal 1:7, 8, 9, 10; *Gal 4:16, *1Th 2:4.

not shunned. +Act 20:20, Act 4:11; Act 4:29, Gen 40:19, Lev 19:17, Isa 58:1, Eze 3:11, Mar 6:18, 2Co 2:16, 17.

to declare. +*Act 4:20; Act 14:27; Act 22:14, 15, Job 26:3, Pro 14:25, Isa 21:10; Isa 58:1, Jer 1:17; Jer 6:17; Jer 7:27; Jer 19:2; Jer 42:21, Eze 3:11; Eze 33:7; Eze 40:4, *1Jn 1:3.

all. +Act 20:20, Act 2:23; Act 4:11, Exo 6:29; Exo 7:2, Lev 10:11, Num 9:8; Num 29:40, Deut 1:18; Deut 4:5; Deut 31:30, *Jos 8:35; Jos 11:15, 2Sa 7:17, 1Ki 22:14, 1Ch 17:15, 2Ch 18:7; 2Ch 18:13, *Job 6:10, *Psa 33:11; Psa 40:10, *Isa 46:10; *Isa 46:11, Jer 15:19; Jer 17:16; *Jer 23:22; *Jer 26:2; Jer 34:6; Jer 38:21; Jer 42:4; Jer 43:1, Eze 2:4; Eze 33:7, 8, *Mat 28:20, Mar 4:22, *Luk 7:30, Joh 15:15, 1Co 11:23, +*Eph 1:11, Col 1:28, 1Th 2:11, 12; 1Th 4:1; 1Th 5:14, +*1Ti 4:16, 2Ti 2:15, Heb 6:17.

the counsel of God. +*Psa 107:11, Eze 2:4, +*2Ti 3:16; +*2Ti 3:17.

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Daily Bible Nugget #887, James 1:21

Posted on November 7, 2024 by Jerry

 

The Nugget:

Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (KJV)

Jas 1:21 For this reason, putting away all dirty behaviour and the overweight of evil, take into your souls without pride the word which, being planted there, is able to give you salvation. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

My Comment:

It is now 71 years ago when I personally experienced the truth of this verse.

My object today is to explain, as simply as I can, how this can be your experience too. I want to share how you, too, can experience the salvation our Lord Jesus Christ offers, and how you can grow deeper in your knowledge of Him and your understanding of His written Word, the Bible.

I was motivated in the summer of 1953, August, to be exact, to begin a serious and sustained reading of the New Testament. I did not know the Bible very well at that time and was constantly embarrassed in Sunday school when I could not answer a Bible question correctly. I decided to read the copy of the New Testament once owned by my Aunt Norma which my brother Mark found in a book closet in our grandparents’ old farmhouse near Belfield, North Dakota, during a vacation trip my parents took us on. Mark let me have the New Testament. I figured I could read it through several times by the time we got back to Detroit and attended the high school Sunday school class again.

So the first step is to read the New Testament repeatedly all the way through.

The second step is to read the Gospel of John all the way through once a week by reading three chapters a day. That is what I did at the same time I was reading the New Testament consecutively through.

The third step is to notice, mark, and go back over subjects or topics that are mentioned repeatedly. I did this by giving the topics I noticed a marking in the margin of my Bible using two or three letters as an abbreviation, like “Pr” for prayer, “S” for salvation, “Sa” for sanctification, and so forth. I would then go back over all the verses marked for a topic like prayer, reading them in sequence.

On Saturday, November 7, 1953, meditating on the Bible passages I had been reading, I focused on John 5:24, and realized that though I had gone to Sunday school at Highland Park Baptist Church in Highland Park, Michigan, a suburb inside the city of Detroit, since my parents had carried me there as an infant, I had  never made a  profession of faith or commitment to Christ myself. So in the midst of delivering papers for my Detroit Shopping News route, I stopped and prayed while folding the next  paper while under an oak tree on Lumpkin Street, and whistled the tune of the song I had heard in Sunday school, “Now I Belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me, not for the years of time alone, but for eternity.” Now, 71 years later, I still belong to Jesus, and He belongs to me. You can have that faith and assurance if you do what I did, believe what Jesus promised in John 5:24,

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.

THE KEYS TO CONTINUED SPIRITUAL GROWTH:

  1. Keep reading God’s Word daily. I suggest reading a chapter a day from the book of Proverbs. Read the chapter that corresponds to the day’s date.
  2. Learn how to study the Bible in greater depth for yourself. I was helped by being introduced to a helpful set of reference books, especially The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, a book of cross references to every verse in the Bible. This resource is available in the downloadable Bible study software for FREE at www.e-Sword.net, so there is no excuse for anyone anywhere in the world not to have and use on about every digital device.
  3. Share your faith with others. I have discovered I do not have to say a word about the Bible or spiritual things. People immediately notice I must be a Bible believing Christian and soon, with no prompting from me, start asking me Bible questions.
  4. Spend time in prayer each day. We are to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and “In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
  5. Maintain fellowship and friendship with other Bible reading, Bible studying Christians who have learned to obey Romans 15:7 where we are encouraged to “receive one another.”
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Daily Bible Nugget #886, Proverbs 29:2

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 29:2  When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. (KJV)

Pro 29:2  When the righteous are praised, the people will rejoice: but when the ungodly rule, men mourn.
Pro 29:3  When a man loves wisdom, his father rejoices: but he that keeps harlots will waste wealth.
Pro 29:4  A righteous king establishes a country: but a transgressor destroys it. (LXX, Brenton translation)

Pro 29:2 When the upright have power, the people are glad; when an evil man is ruler, grief comes on the people. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Pro 29:2  When righteous people increase, the people of God rejoice, but when a wicked person rules, everybody groans. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Pro 29:2  Show me a righteous ruler and I will show you a happy people. Show me a wicked ruler and I will show you a miserable people. (GNB, Good News Bible)

My Comment:

Are you miserable enough yet?

Have you been to the grocery store lately? Do you enjoy those new, higher prices? Has your rent gone higher? Do you enjoy living paycheck to paycheck? Are your taxes high enough yet? Do you look forward to former tax cuts expiring so that your taxes spiral even higher? Have you noticed the war drums beating and threats of war increasing? Do you look forward to war and violence coming here? Have you noticed crime increasing? Do you want more of the same, enhanced by even more open border policies? Are you miserable enough yet?

If you want to see change for the better and sanity return to our leadership, today is the last day to vote for change. If you haven’t voted yet, get out and vote!

Today is a very important Election Day.  I hope all Christians (and non-Christians too) who may  read here will make sure to have cast their ballot for the candidates of their choice today.

Christians and non-Christians may well be deeply divided this year over their choice for the President of the United States of America.  I must respect each individual’s choice and conscience.  But once again, at the risk of making some people uncomfortable or unhappy, I will make some observations about the top two candidates for the highest office in the land.

Most of my adult life I have voted straight Democratic.  I rejected the Republican Party for good reasons.  As an educator in the public school system in Detroit, I well knew that the Republicans were against the public schools and public school teachers. They still are.  Republicans, on that issue, ought to be ashamed of themselves.  They are against the principle of due process, and are therefore on that issue diametrically opposed to what the Bible teaches.  I think I have written more than one post here with a title something like “The Republicans are not your friends!”

Republicans are for “right to work” laws, and states like Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan have passed such laws (though Michigan repealed that law under its current Democrat administration), in full violation of Psalm 15:4, the final clauses in that verse.  That is a most serious violation of Biblical Law, Law that is still applicable today, the violation of which will risk the loss of eternal life for anyone who supports such violation.  Don’t think so?  Go back and read the whole Psalm, starting with Psalm 15:1 and see it in “black and white” for yourself.  The purpose of so-called “right to work” laws is to negate contractual responsibility.  Such laws are designed to undermine the power of unions.  Unions are necessary to preserve the rights of employees against the arbitrary violation of negotiated rights and provisions in union contracts, particularly due process rights.

Many Christians are against unions, especially when workers are required to be union members.  When I had my first job, working for Michigan Bell Telephone Company as a power room operator, I was against union membership, but joined because it was required.  Talking with my father about the issue, he remarked, “The only reason we need unions is because of bad management.”  I’ve quoted my Dad here several times before on this matter.  See my earlier posts under the category “Politics and the Bible,” to the right on this page.  Many Christians and many broadcasters in the “mainstream media” mistakenly believe that union dues go to the support of political candidates that may not be supported by some union members.  This is false.  Union dues support union expenses.  Political contributions are made voluntarily and separately and are not a part of the union dues.

But today, voters have clear and very opposite choices to make.

I will be blunt:  No Christian has any business voting for the current Democrat party candidate for President.  The current Democrat candidate is too flawed, too compromised with extreme left Marxist elements that do not support our country’s values.

Our problem is that this country has become lawless, clear to the very top offices in this land.  The laws are not fully and promptly enforced, nor are they applied equally, a clear violation of Scripture.  To solve this problem, there must be a change in leadership.  The opportunity to change this leadership is today.  This is, without question, the very last opportunity in our lifetimes to effectively make such a change for the better.

Don’t miss this opportunity by refusing to vote, or refusing to vote for the one candidate who stands for nationalism, not globalism;  who is not “bought and paid for” by lobbyists and special interests;  who stands for law and order;  who promises to enforce our immigration laws and “complete the fence” to stop illegal entry into this country;  who stands for the Constitution;  who fully supports the Second Amendment;  who stands behind and fully supports Christians;  who personally believes in the Bible;  who supports our ally Israel in the middle east in accordance with Genesis 12:3;  who is concerned about the plight of our inner cities and knows what to do to make them prosperous once again;  who supports our veterans;  who understands economics and knows how to solve the terrible economic plight this country is now in;  who knows what to do to bring jobs back to America; who will select the best qualified candidates for the Supreme Court, should vacancies occur, perhaps the most important issue of all in terms of protecting the direction of this country for years to come.

To dig deeper into Proverbs 29:2 study the cross references for this verse as provided in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Proverbs 29:2
the righteous. Pro 11:10; Pro 28:12; Pro 28:28, Est 8:15, Psa 72:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; Psa 101:6, Isa 32:1, 2, *Jer 23:5; *Jer 23:6, Rev 11:15.

in authority. or, increased. Pro 29:16, Gen 7:17, Exo 11:9, Ecc 5:11.

the people rejoice. 2Ki 11:12; 2Ki 11:14; 2Ki 11:20, 1Ch 12:40, 2Ch 23:13, Est 8:15, Job 29:11, Jer 41:13, Rev 19:7.

when the wicked. Pro 29:16, Pro 28:15, Est 3:1; Est 3:15, Ecc 10:5, *Mat 2:3; *Mat 2:16.

people mourn. %Pro 11:10; Pro 28:28, Ecc 3:4, Amos 5:13.

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Daily Bible Nugget #885, Isaiah 3:12

Posted on November 3, 2024 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Isa 3:12  As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. (KJV)

Isa 3:12  “Children will oppress my people. Women will rule them. My people, your guides mislead you, and you don’t know which way to go.” (GW, God’s Word translation)

Isa 3:12 As for my people, their ruler is acting like a child, and those who have authority over them are women. O my people, your guides are the cause of your wandering, turning your footsteps out of the right way. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

My Comment:

There were some godly, gifted women rulers in Israel, including Vashti, Esther, and Deborah. The point emphasized by Isaiah is that being under the rule of women was considered a curse in the ancient Near East.

Considering the known record of the current woman candidate for President, it would appear that a vote for Kamala Harris would:

  • bring increasing higher inflation and higher prices at the grocery store;
  • mandate half of all new cars be electric–an absurd idea because our electric grid does not have the capacity to support charging all those batteries and reliance on “green energy” like windmills and solar farms won’t work because the wind does not always blow and the sun does always shine;
  • continue the present open border policy to bring in more crime including gang violence and more fentanyl;
  • continue a weakness in our support of Israel bringing increasing conflict to the middle east.

Unless you vote, 2025 could be even worse. History will record what you do. Make it too big to rig! Don’t wake up after the election wondering what happened.

From a mailing I received just yesterday in support of President Trump:

They shot him. They convicted him. They want to bankrupt him.

He has given everything he has for this country. All you have to do is vote.

To dig deeper into Isaiah 3:12 study the cross references I have given for this verse in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Isaiah 3:12
children. +Isa 3:4, 2Ki 15:8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 2Ch 33:1, Ecc 10:16, Hos 7:3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

are their oppressors. Lev 25:14, Pro 28:16.

women rule over them. Jdg 4:4, 1Ki 10:1, 2, 3, 4, 5 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 2Ki 11:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 2Ch 9:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; 2Ch 9:12; 2Ch 22:2, 3; 2Ch 22:10, 11, 12; 2Ch 23:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, Neh 2:6, *Nah 3:13, Zec 5:7, 8, Mat 13:33, Act 8:27, **1Ti 2:12, Revelation 17, Rev 19:2.

my people. *Hos 4:6.

lead thee. or, which call thee blessed. Isa 9:15, 16; Isa 43:7, *Num 6:23, 24, 25, 26, 27, Jer 5:31, +Mat 15:14.

cause thee. Jer 18:15.

err. Isa 28:7, *Jer 23:32, +Hos 4:12, Heb 9:7, Jas 5:19.

destroy. Heb. swallow up. Isa 9:16 mg. Isa 25:7 mg, Isa 25:8, Isa 28:4 mg. Psa 35:25, Lam 2:5; Lam 2:16, Mat 23:14.

paths. Isa 2:3, Jos 3:11.

 

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