October, 2023 | THE BIBLE VIEW

The BIBLE VIEW #930 —Tabernacle Giving

In This Issue:
Give and Give
Before Anyone Gave

Volume: 930 October 30, 2023
Theme: Giving for the Tabernacle

Read the FREE typeset version of this newsletter at https://openthoumineeyes.com/views23/EmailVersion/BibleView930email.pdf. Use it for your church bulletin inserts or as a ministry handout.

Give and Give
Bill Brinkworth

God had just given Moses the instructions for the construction of the first “church,” the Tabernacle. It was to be a beautiful place. It was a “tent” and very portable, as it would be taken up and down as the people of Israel followed God through the wilderness.

Although the tabernacle was a tent, it was a holy dwelling place for God. It would be richly laden with gold, silver, weavings, and precious stones. The place of worship would be a monument honoring God.

“Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord… (Exodus 35:5)” commanded God of His people.

The people of Israel had been delivered from the cruel clutches of the Egyptians. They had seen God open the sea so they could walk through it on dry ground! God’s people saw the pursuing enemy drowned by the waters that had been their escape route.

The Hebrews had seen the sky darken and the Earth shake as their leader, Moses, ascended a mountain to meet with God. They saw and felt the Earth tremble as Moses talked with God.

Israel felt the fury of God when they displeased Him. God was very real and wonderful to them. What a wonderful opportunity God’s people had to obey their heavenly Father and give back to Him!

So, the people gave and gave. Animals were skinned, and the hides were prepared for the Tabernacle’s outer coverings. Oil was readied for the tabernacle’s lighting. Wood was hewn. Gold and silver were collected and crafted. Furniture was constructed.

Women labored over weaving looms. Men collected precious stones and polished them. The people had a mind to work. All continued to give of themselves and their possessions with which God had richly blessed them.

Rich men contributed. Leaders donated. Socially important men and women shared. Families sacrificially offered what they could. Poor men and women gave.

What a sight it must have been to see the pile of goods given to the service of God continue to grow. How it must have felt to feel the air of unselfishness and zeal amongst God’s people.

One day, Moses stepped out amongst the people and commanded their attention. “ … Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary … for the stuff we have is sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.” (Ex. 36:6). The people were restrained from giving as they gave more than enough!

Oh, Christian, if only we would have the same spirit of giving today. Many today stop short when giving has anything to do with their pocketbooks.

There is not one person who has anything that God has not given or allowed them to have. Still, it is hard for people to give.

“Well, God had nothing to do with the new car I have sitting in my garage,” retort some. Not true. God blessed them with the job to earn the money to buy it. He allowed them to have the health to be able to work. Their heavenly Father blessed them with the intelligence to learn the skills that enabled them to earn money.

King Nebuchadnezzar once said almost the same thing. He was proud of what he had done and gave God no credit for his accomplishments.

Within one hour, God removed the leader’s intelligence. High and mighty King Nebuchadnezzar was not so high and mighty any longer. He ate grass and crawled on all fours like cattle.

The once powerful ruler stayed that way for four years. After finally recognizing that God had used him in doing all the marvelous things, God restored his sanity, and he became the leader again.

Do not learn the hard way, as did Nebuchadnezzar. If you have anything, it is through God’s blessing. Be a cheerful giver and give unto the Lord. The most you can give is only part of what He has allowed you to have anyway.

We are responsible for being good stewards with our money, helping others, and seeing that the Gospel is carried throughout the country and world. You can give of yourself, talents, time, and money to see that God’s will and way are accomplished. He could do it Himself, but he chose to allow us.

We also have the opportunity now to give and give. Would it be wonderful for our spiritual leaders to get us to stop giving because we had given too much? Oh, for giving hearts, as Israel once had.

“It is possible to give without loving, but it is impossible to love without giving.” — Braunstein

Before Anyone Gave
Bill Brinkworth

After fleeing Egyptian slavery, one of the most significant accomplishments of Israel was building the Tabernacle. That portable tent was a God-designed place of worship for the over two million refugees seeking a new land God had promised them.

All gave to support the monumental task that was to be laden with gold, silver, woven materials, and other materials (Exodus 35:5-19). However, giving did not come naturally to those people. Before they would provide, a change had to be made in their hearts.

Their leader, Moses, gathered the people together and pronounced they would head to a new land of great wealth and opportunity, but God would not lead them. Moses highlighted their sin as a reason for God’s not guiding them. He said they were a “stiffnecked people” (Ex. 33:3, 5, 34:9).

Their stubbornness and hard-heartedness cost them God’s protection, provision, and other blessings. They immediately knew what angered God. It was their clinging to ornaments (jewelry) they had brought from their bondage in Egypt. What in particular about their adornments was sin is not clear. The decorations were somehow tied to Egyptian idolatry and false worship.

God had them gather these treasures from Egypt in the first place for His pre-known purpose of decorating the Tabernacle. Most likely, the pagan etchings and engravings on the rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces depicted idolatrous images they were to flee from, not covet.

Israel removed their jewelry (Ex. 33:4,6), which was a remnant of their ungodly past. The realization that they were still hanging on to the old world and life they had been delivered from broke their hearts (they “mourned” – Ex. 33:4).

Turning from their sin changed their heart about giving. Those “treasures” of ungodliness lost their luster and value. The things became a tool to glorify God.

People then gave so willingly that Moses did what every pastor dreams of doing; he commanded Israel to stop giving as what they had given was “sufficient” (Ex. 36: 5-7) for the task God had for them. It is also recorded that they not only gave the valuables they were allowed to have while in Egypt, but many gave themselves to the task of building the place of worship.

This remarkable change in heart was all because they recognized their sin and desired to flee from its clutching grasp on their lives. When they truly repented, their giving and service to the Lord were given more willingly (Ex. 35:21, 22, 29).

Hearts were changed as their selfish priorities changed. They were more united because they now had one important goal, and they accomplished what God had for them to do.

Too many today also have barriers that will keep them from living for God and serving Him. It may be the pull on their lives of coveting, idolatry, dishonesty, or another sin. They may have moments of “religious” activity, but a relationship between them and the Lord is missing.

Unless sin is recognized, confessed, and repented of, people will not have the Lord’s leading in their lives. Not until they get to the place of being grieved over the waywardness from obedience to God will anything change. It is never too late to have the right change of heart! It will change many things, including one’s giving.

“The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.” — Corneille

The BIBLE VIEW #929 — Modern Bibles

In This Issue:
The Attack to Change God’s Word
False Statements about Modern Bible Translations and Versions
Can’t Silence Conviction

Volume: 929 October 23, 2023
Theme: Modern Bibles

Read the FREE typeset version of this newsletter at https://openthoumineeyes.com/views23/BibleView928.pdf. Use it for your church bulletin inserts or as a ministry handout.

The Attack to Change God’s Word
Bill Brinkworth

“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” II Corinthians 2:17

The most important possession anyone can ever have is God’s Word — the Bible. His Word will save a person’s soul from Hell, help one live a successful and fruitful life, protect one from sin’s damage, and help one get eternal rewards. Because of its great importance, unfortunately, great efforts have been made to keep man from its truths and to change it. None of the interferences have been from God!

In the Garden of Eden, the woman God created was first tempted to question and doubt God’s Word. It was Satan, using the serpent, who attempted to confuse Eve with what God had said. She fell for his trickery and allowed sin to enter the human race by disobeying God’s commandments.
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Gen. 3:1
Satan’s tool of tempting others to question and disobey God’s commandments continued throughout the Bible. The enemy of God and His people was most likely behind much of Israel and its leaders’ sins of disobedience. Satan certainly was behind King David’s defiance of God’s commandments to him.
“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” I Chron. 21:1
Early churches faced deceitful corruption of God’s truths and Jesus’ teachings. Some false preachers claimed to have seen Christ and other “ministers” of God’s work deceived their flocks.
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.” II Cor. 11:13
“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:” Acts 15:24
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:” II Pet. 2:1-2
Many tempted God’s people with their words rather than God’s.
“Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” Gal. 1:7 The perversion of the Gospel is continuing in many of today’s churches.
“And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.” Col. 2:4
Most that taught false doctrines and not what God’s Word says did it for their benefit and motives. Many false teachings continue today for the same reasons.
“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Rom. 16:18
“For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.” Tit 1:10-11 Often these “deceivers” are “religious” (the circumcision).
“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:” Philip. 1:15

The main reason for all new “bible” perversions is to make money! That is why each version varies from another, so it can be declared different and abide by copyright laws. The KJV can be duplicated without paying royalties, whereas most modern “bible” owners are paid royalties when their revision is reprinted or even quoted, in some instances.

In man’s last days, there will be an increase in the corrupting of God’s commandments. That occurs in ALL modern “bible” translations and versions.”
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” I Tim 4:1-2

A spiritual battle rages (Eph. 6:12) to turn many from obeying God’s Word. His Word is still being changed and hidden in all the new “bibles.”

With all the deception continuing today, how can one protect himself from those false teachings? Following God’s Word is the only protection from being a casualty in today’s spiritual war. It is preserved in the King James Bible for English-speaking people (the same Hebrew and Greek of the KJV is also preserved in Bibles in other major languages).

“Try” or test what is said about God, Jesus, or His Word to see if it aligns with God’s ruler — the Bible. If it does not line up, it is not the truth. It is a lie, and it is not of God!

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” I John 4:1

“People and organizations that declare to be of God are not always what they claim! Do not be deceived. Read and study your Bible to discern what is truly of God!” — Author Unknown

False Statements about Modern Bible Translations and Versions
Bill Brinkworth

“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:19

Much is said to sell new “bible” versions and their changed doctrines. However, much of what is said to convince readers to adopt their version of God’s Word is untrue. Here is a brief examination of incorrect statements said about the modern “bibles”:

“They make the Bible easier to understand.” Much of the King James Bible is at a 5.8 grade reading level (1) (Flesh-Kincaid Grade level indicator). The New International Version is at 8.4 grade level, New King James is at 6.9, and the New American Standard Bible is at 8.12. Besides that, it is the Holy Spirit that allows anyone to know God’s Word, not man’s editing (I Cor. 2:14)!

Another motive is also behind “making the ‘bible’ easier to understand.” That motive is to make money. If there are numerous changes, it can copyrighted, and its owner can earn money from its sales, as it is a new and different book. The King James Bible is not copyrighted, so no one makes any royalties from its sale!

“They come from the originals” or “originate from more reliable manuscripts.” The originals were never assembled in one place together. What some call more “reliable” manuscripts were the ones that earlier believers rejected because of their corruption, errors, and were seldom used. That is one reason some of the older manuscripts were in good condition.
“They change ‘archaic’ words.” They do, but in many places the words replacing them change the meaning of the verse. There are less than 20 words, not including verbs with “eth” added to them, in the KJV that are not commonly used today. It would make more sense to understand their meaning by using a dictionary rather than changing the Bible. Many modern books have words that the reader often has to look up in the dictionary, and no one even thinks of rewriting them to make them easier to understand.
“Scholars now know more than they knew then.” Many of the authors and translators of the new versions did not even know Hebrew or Greek, nor were they experts in over 10+ ancient languages, as were many on the 1611 King James translating committee. The translators of the King James were some of the most outstanding scholars and Christians of all time.
“They come from older manuscripts.” The Masoretic Hebrew Text and the Greek Textus Receptus used in the KJV are older and more reliable manuscripts, not what is used in most modern versions. Some of what are called the “older texts” are not reliable at all. Historically, they were avoided because of their known mistakes and alterations. Also, some “most ancient manuscripts” are over 100 years newer than those used in the KJV.
“They are correcting errors.” There are no known errors in the King James Bible! Most of what people call errors are intellectual or spiritual problems people had with what God said and recorded. Changing His words may have eased their consciences, but it does not make it God’s Word, will, and way. If the new “bible” versions are correcting “errors,” why are all 300+ versions different from each other? Don’t they have it right yet? Why are they still changing them?

Several years ago, a website offered a large sum of money to anyone who could find an error in the KJV. As far as I know, no one has ever found an error and has never collected a cent from the site!
“The new versions are more reliable.” Most versions are written to teach the beliefs of the author(s), religion, or organization that produced the work. Scripture that was contrary to their beliefs was removed or changed. Also, the King James translators were honest enough that if they added words to make the context understood or to show what the Hebrew or Greek meant, they italicized the words. Most modern versions remove the italicized words or do not italicize them.
“It is egotistical to think that only the King James in English is preserved.” There is a text that comes from the Masoretic Text and Textus Receptus for all the major languages, including English, Greek, Hebrew, French, and Spanish. Most of the major languages also have the preserved Word of God available to them.

Stick with the King James Bible! It is the reliable, preserved Word of God!

** The King James Bible has 783,137 words, whereas the New International Bible has only 727,969. **
1 Riplinger, G. A. New Age Bible Versions, Ararat, VA, 1995

“I notice if a man goes to cut up the Bible and comes to you with one truth and says, ‘I don’t believe this, and I don’t believe that,’ and doubts portions of the Word of God, he soon doubts it all.” — D. L. Moody

Can’t Silence Conviction
Author Unknown

A child was in the habit of going to room where there was a store of apples. She occasionally went to steal apples but encountered something that greatly troubled her.

There happened to be in that storeroom an old oil painting. It had a large face with eyes that appeared to be following her and a voice that seemed to say to her as she stole apples, “I see you. It is very naughty. I’ll tell on you. You are sure to be found out.”

That picture annoyed the little girl and she was determined to stop the convicting portrait. She got a small knife and struck the eyes out.

Two large holes remained in place of the eyes, and she never could look at them without thinking of what she had done and what they used to “say” to her. She had put out the eyes, but she had not, nor could she, get rid of her reminding conscience.

The same conviction of one’s sin is experienced after reading the real Word of God. One may find a modern “bible” translation that changes wording so one’s sin is no longer mentioned, but it is still remembered what the real Word of God said about one’s iniquity.

“God’s Word is meant to change the sinner, not for the sinner to change His Word to ease their conscience.”

The BIBLE VIEW #928 — Worldliness

In This Issue:
Why They Never Matured
Terrible Goods for Sale
The Ice Palace Is Gone
It’s All Vanity
Shaky Ground

Volume: 928 October 16, 2023
Theme: Worldliness

Read the FREE typeset version of this newsletter at https://openthoumineeyes.com/views23/BibleView928.pdf. Use it for your church bulletin inserts or as a ministry handout.

Why They Never Matured
Bill Brinkworth

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” I Cor. 3:1-3

The church in Corinth was often rebuked for its lack of spirituality. As much as Paul the Apostle wanted to preach and teach the harder and more spiritual principles of living the Christian life, he could not because of their immaturity.

Many may have been saved for a longer time, but they still had not learned or practiced the basic spiritual concepts they had been taught. Paul had to repeat and reteach principles they should have known and incorporated into their lives.

Why did they not grow in the things of the Lord? Why were they still at the same spiritual level as some who had just been saved?

It was not their intellectual level that was holding them back from growth. It was their carnal trust in their leaders rather than Christ Himself. They had good, godly leaders, but their trust was more in the man who had taught them the principles of God than faithfully following the One the preacher spoke of!
“For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” I Cor. 3:4-7

They boasted and were more proud that they had had Paul or Apollos as their preacher than that they were Christians and were following all the principles taught by Christ Himself. Their carnality and immaturity were because they were not following Christ!

Today, similar carnality abounds! Instead of obeying all they read from God’s Word, people choose to give earthly leaders and religions more credence than the Bible’s truths.

When asked if a person is going to Heaven, one often hears, “I’m Catholic” or “I’m Methodist.” Sometimes, one hears, “I went to Billy Graham’s church,” or another popular preacher.

We all need to attend a good, Bible-believing, Bible-obeying local church faithfully. Still, one must never put their faith in any leader, church, or even their teachings, especially if they do not align with God’s Holy Word. Just being a member of a Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Catholic, Hindu, or Islamic group and following their teachings alone also will not save anyone, nor will anyone ever grow spiritually!

That kind of “religion” only creates more carnal followers. That is why this world is full of religionists and baby “Christians” rather than God-obeying Christ-followers. Grow in a good ministry, but most importantly, be a Christ-follower!
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I [Paul] have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” I Cor. 3:10-11

“Ah, vain world! Thou art a poor reward for the loss of Christ and Heaven. While Satan is pleasing thy fancy with the rattles and baubles of the Earth, his hand is on thy treasure, robbing thee of that which alone is necessary. It is more necessary to be saved than to be in Hell.”
— Curnall, 1617-1679

Terrible Goods for Sale
Downaine, 1644

Like a subtle merchant, the world offers us a good sample of bad wares and outwardly presents the best end of the stuff to our view. The innermost and middle parts of what was offered are usually coarse and unsatisfactory. What we are tempted to partake in is slight and unworthy. What we end up with is counterfeit and purposely falsified. We find all this out when it is often too late to change our minds, and a life is often ruined by what the unsaved world offered.

“If you can get along with the world, then you are out of step with God.” — Dr. Harold Sightler

The Ice Palace Is Gone
Edited from an article by Newton, 1725-1807

As a boy, I read of an ice palace built one winter at Petersburg. The walls, the roof, the floors, the furniture were all of ice and were finished with taste. All that was in the ice palace could be found in a royal palace. The ice, while in the state of water, had been previously colored so that all seemed formed of proper materials to the eye, but all was cold, useless, and transient.

Had the cold continued until now, the palace might have still stood, but with the returning spring, it melted away. There should have been one stone in the building with an inscription reminding people of what once had stood on the spot, as there was no sign of it after the spring thaw.

Men build and plan as if their works were to endure forever, but time passes, and they are often gone. After all their preparations and labor, there is usually no reminder of what they spent their money, passions, labors, and priorities on. They put their life’s priorities on temporal things rather than those that would last for eternity. Their priorities were spent on the wrong temporary things.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” I John 2:15

It’s All Vanity
Edited from an article by Szvinnock, 1673

Men in the valley of poverty, disgrace, or pain often think that if they were on the top of a certain mountain, they would be far above their current position and be in a better place. They think if they were there they would have riches, honors, fewer problems, more delights, and would be happier.

King Solomon had gotten to the top of that mountain and realized what he had done to get there. It was there he said, “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” Eccl. 2:11. The things of this world can only bring temporary satisfaction.

“Those who go to the limit to enjoy all the things that the devil provides in this world find that the way in the end is hard. For the moment, sin appears to be the thing that you need, and there is a thrill in sin, but the thrill soon destroys the sinner, and it becomes a burden and a heartache.”
— Dr. Harold Sightler

Shaky Ground
Spurgeon

In Chile, where the ground is subject to frequent shocks from earthquakes, the houses are built of low height and are unenduring structures. It is useless to dig deep foundations and pile up high walls where the earth is so unstable. It would be foolish to build something that would stand for ages, when the whole edifice might be in ruins in a week.

Herein, we read a lesson as to our worldly schemes and possessions. This poor, fleeting world deserves not that we should build our hopes and joys upon it as though they could last us long. We must treat it as treacherous soil and build but lightly on it.

“Let us use worldly things as wise pilgrims do their walking staves and other necessaries they pack for their journey. So long as they help us forward in our way, let us use them and accordingly esteem them. But, if they become troublesome hindrances and cumbersome burdens, let us leave them behind us, or cast them away.” —Lowname, 1644.

The BIBLE VIEW #927 — Salvation

In This Issue:
“She’s Going Down!”
“The Walking Dead,”
“How Does the Bible Tell One to Be Sved?”

Volume: 927 October 9, 2023
Theme: Salvation

Read the FREE typeset version of this newsletter at https://openthoumineeyes.com/views23/BibleView927.pdf. Use it for your church bulletin inserts or as a ministry handout.

“She’s Going Down!”
Bill Brinkworth

Unbeknown to the S. S. Human Race, she was sailing her last voyage. In the misty darkness, at around 12 bells, the mighty ship struck a partially sunken shipping container that had previously strayed off a cargo ship.

The mighty vessel had been struck mid-ship, and there was a gashing, gushing hole on her bottom. The incoming seawater could not be stopped, nor could the tear in the ship’s metal belly be covered. Sea water was pouring in faster than all the bilge pumps could handle. She was riding deeper in the water and was slowly sinking.

Those in the low-rate berths were the first to experience the danger. Their cabins filled up with water quickly. Some drowned without even waking from their slumber. Many who did escape found that the passageways were blocked with floating debris and could not get out. They, too, drowned.

On the more luxurious upperlevels, a different situation occurred. They heard the warning alarms. They listened to the screams and heard of the disasters in the lower-class levels, but most were unalarmed, as most assumed they would be rescued.

“Why, we are important people in our society. Some of us are leaders in our country and are essential to our nation’s well-being. Others are wealthy and mean so much to the companies and foundations they run and support. We are all well-educated and have far more degrees and honors than most. Many are the elite and have done nothing but good to all around them. We are nothing like those poor, ignorant folks below deck. When the danger we are in is heard of, all effort will be made to keep us from the tragedy those other poor brutes below deck have faced,” was the thinking of those in the upper decks.

However, help never came in time. The vessel expelled its last breath of air and succumbed to the water’s pull. She went down with no survivors. The liner went down with all aboard: the poor, the rich, the ignorant, the intellectuals. All perished on the sinking ship.

Humankind is also on a similar “ship.” It has always gone down morally, spiritually, and socially since the first sin in the Garden of Eden. It is destined to perish. Finances, knowledge, good works, kindness, man-made religion, or goodness can never plug its leaking hull. Although it is still above water, it is riding lower in the sea of sin and shame daily. One day, it will be too late for anyone to be rescued from the doomed vessel.

However, right now, there is an opportunity for any to be rescued from her sinking demise if they do what God requires. God hates all of the sins we are guilty of, but He does not wish any to perish.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9

Many years ago, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to be a sacrifice for all of man’s sins if individuals would accept what Jesus had done for them. All that is needed to escape the sinking, Hell-bound “ship” is to acknowledge and confess to the Father the truth that we are sinners and are headed for a hot, lonely, eternal torment. After recognizing our sinful situation, the only life raft available can be boarded by trusting that Jesus’ death was the only payment God will accept for our sins.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Rom. 3:23

No good works, kindness, good living, religion, or anything we can do can rescue us from our doom. Only calling upon Jesus to save us will get us off the sinking “vessel.”
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8-9

A “savior” rescues a person from harm, but no person can save anyone from eternal destruction. Only a “Saviour,” who is God, can do that.

The only real Saviour is Jesus Christ, and He can save anyone from eternal damnation. Trust Christ alone as your Saviour to keep you from the Hell many on the S.S. Human Race will one day experience.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13

“I am not a Christian because I am strong and have it all figured out.
I am a Christian because I am weak and admit I needed a Saviour.”
— Author Unknown

The Walking Dead
Bill Brinkworth

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Ephesians 2:1-3

Is it possible to be dead, still walking, and appear alive? Could scenes from the old horror movies where the dead staggered through the villages be close to reality?

Of course not! When a person is dead, they either go to Heaven or Hell. However, it is possible to walk, talk, see, hear, smell, touch, and be spiritually dead.

When sin first entered humanity through Adam and Eve’s sin of disobedience, something terrible happened to them. God commanded Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He told them (Genesis 2:17) that if they did eat of the fruit, “… thou shalt surely die.”

They disobeyed God and ate the fruit, but it is clear that they did not die right away. They talked, walked, hid, and had children. Was God not telling the truth? No, God cannot lie. Eventually, their bodies died. They are definitely not walking the streets today. However, something more important in them did “die” long before their bodies gave their last breath.

When God made Adam, he became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). When sin was committed, that part of him “died.” He still walked, talked, and lived life, but not to the fullest because the most important part of him, his soul, became separated from God – a type of death. From then on, every person born was born separated from God. They laugh, cry, talk, and sometimes live long lives, but spiritually, they are far from God and are “dead”!

All are the “walking dead” until that dead part of them is made “alive.” When people realize they are guilty of breaking God’s heart and commandments with their sin and trust that Christ’s death on the cross is the only payment God will accept to cover their sins, they can be saved from Hell.

John 3:3 calls salvation being “born again.” When one is born again, he is a new creature in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17). The new person should see, think, talk, and live differently.

The famous hymn, “Amazing Grace,” touts this revived difference in the changed person when it says, “… I once was blind, but now I see.” A born-again person has a new, spiritual birth, and many things in his life change. He sees and experiences life quite differently.

It is possible to be alive but missing one of the most important facets of life: a soul in fellowship with God. Without that living part, there may be laughter but no joy, and sight but no understanding of the danger to which one is headed. There may be hearing, but only heeding the voice of the world and the wicked, and thinking only of themselves and certainly not what God desires of them.

Just as the deaf or blind are certainly alive but missing some of what life has to offer, so are the “walking dead.” Those that are not born-again are the walking dead. Are you born-again or one of the spiritually unborn?

“The most important question concerning any man living is this: Is he a saved soul or not? Is he a child of God or an heir of wrath?” — Spurgeon

How Does the Bible Tell One to Be Saved?

Know that you are a sinner:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23 Also: Romans 5:12, I John 1:10.
Know that Hell is the payment for all that have sinned.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12
BUT, there is good news! Jesus’ death on the cross is the payment for the sins of all that call upon Him for salvation!
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13

“There are only two classes of people in this world: the saints and the ain’ts.”
— Vernon McGee