The “Words, Words, Words” Series

March 15, 2008

Words, Words, Words: The Human Tongue
by Shawn Brasseaux

[15 March 2008]
2011 Update

         Some people can curse up quite a storm. They casually use obscenities as if they were communicating in everyday, normal language. To some, such speech is literally “everyday conversation.” Literature and the media just make it worse.

Institutions of “higher learning” promote books that are anathemas to God. For high school, I had to read some trashy material, and how much worse were the English reading assignments in college! Those books were completely filled with garbage—slang, vulgar, and extremely offensive language. Just the other day, another English professor spoke the “F” word, and the class—except myself—took great pride in that. The devil smiles at that sort of thing. God has been so patient and so longsuffering for all these years. His mercy and grace continue to tolerate such arrogant people. It seems by now that God would have grown tired of our disobedience and would have “let us have it.” However, God is pouring out His mercy and grace, providing ample time for more and more people to get saved in this the Dispensation of Grace. Praise the Lord!

God’s Word makes a few references to vulgar and obscene language, and other words that degrade and disrespect. In this Bible study, we want to consider what God’s Word says about our tongue and speech.

Let us look at Proverbs 18:21 KJV: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Our tongue (speech) can give life or it can kill—words are very powerful, as you should know. Words can drive someone to the point of suicide, or they can comfort a troubled soul. It all depends on what words are said, and in what manner (tone) those words are said.

Proverbs 15:1 KJV tells us: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Words spoken to someone in a harsh, disrespectful, or condescending tone will probably upset the person. But, we can be gentle and loving with our words, and not provoke that person to anger. Again, it all depends on what words are said, and in what manner (tone) those words are said.

We read in Ephesians 4:29 KJV: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” This is a direct reference to words that are “corrupt,” anything from lies to obscenities. God’s Word encourages us to use words that “edify” (build up, strengthen) others—words that minister grace (kindness, respect) to those who hear the words. Vulgar language and lies will only tear someone down.

The Apostle Paul further deals with “foolish talking” in Ephesians 5:3-5, commenting on the fact that such speech should “not be once named among you, as becometh saints.” Believers in Christ Jesus should have no association with “foolish talking,” or any of those other sins in Ephesians 5:3-5 such as fornication and covetousness. The Bible also speaks of “profane and vain babblings,” or conversations that are disrespectful (to God and others), useless, fruitless, and nonsensical (1 Timothy 6:20-21). Such speech is nothing more than “idle, empty chattering.” This would include denominational teaching (vain religious tradition) and human viewpoint.

Colossians 3:5-11 tells us that because we are sinners by nature, we sin. But, if we are members of the Church the Body of Christ, we are told to mortify (put to death) in our daily lives our old sinful desires. On a daily basis, in order to triumph over sin, we must deny the sinful appetites of the flesh. By nature, we want to rebel against God; God’s Word tells us that our old sin nature was crucified with Christ. One of those sins of the flesh is “filthy communication” (Colossians 3:8). Words that are slang or vulgar and words that disrespect or deceive should not be coming out of the mouth of a saint of the Most High God.

As Christians, we should be allowing God’s Word to renew our minds and cleanse our minds of our daily wicked thoughts (Romans 12:1,2; Ephesians 4:23). As Colossians 3:9-11 KJV says:

“9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge
after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is
all, and in all.”

Now, understand that even as Christians, we still sin, and we lie at times. Sometimes we let curse words accidently slip out; other times we intentionally curse. We should not be lying to one another (Colossians 3:8,9). As James 1:26 KJV says, speaking to the Jewish believers: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” Control your tongue and watch what you say!

In fact, the Bible says some very interesting things about our tongue and speech in James 3:5-12 KJV:

“5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”

The above verses are straight forward, so we need not comment on them. Moreover, let us consider additional Bible verses that concern our speech. Proverbs 6:17 says that one of the six things the LORD hates is “a lying tongue.” We also read of the “flattering tongue” of a strange woman (whore) (Proverb 6:24). Proverbs 15:2 speaks of foolish speech: “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” Proverbs 10:31,32 says: “The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the forward tongue shall be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh forwardness [disobedience, perversion].”

The LORD told Israel: “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile [wickedness, lies]” (Psalm 34:13).

The Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:10,11 KJV: “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”

The Bible portrays our tongue as a very powerful tool; it can be used as a weapon to do great damage, or it can lift someone’s spirits. Psalm 57:4 proves that the tongue can be utilized as a “sharp sword.” Consider the following verses from the books of Proverbs and Psalms:

  • Proverbs 12:18 KJV: “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.”
  • Proverbs 15:4 KJV: “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”
  • Proverbs 17:4 KJV: “A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.”
  • Proverbs 17:20 KJV: “He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.”
  • Proverbs 18:21 KJV: Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
  • Proverbs 21:23 KJV: “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
  • Psalm 39:1 KJV: “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”
  • Proverbs 26:28 KJV: “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.”
  • Psalm 119:172 KJV: “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.”
  • Proverbs 31:26 KJV: “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”
  • Psalm 10:7 KJV: His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.”
  • Psalm 50:19 KJV: (the LORD speaking to the wicked of verse 16): “Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.”
  • Psalm 12:3,4 KJV: The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?”

The Bible further explains how the tongue can be very dangerous, deceitful, and disrespectful:

Psalm chapter 140 KJV:

“1 Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
3 They have
sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.”

Psalm chapter 52 KJV:

“1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
2
The tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
4 Thou lovest all devouring words,
O thou deceitful tongue.
5 God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.”

While the tongue is many times used to ridicule, slander, or attack others, we can use our tongue for the glory of God. Earlier, we read in Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” God wants us to build up and strengthen (edify) others. We can do this by speaking kindly and respectful to others.

We can use our lips to praise the Lord Jesus Christ, too! Psalm 71 is a wonderful passage in that regard:

“22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.”

“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24 KJV).

Watch what you say, and remember, as the Lord’s Word says, “bridle your tongue!”

Words, Words, Words II: Fruitless Discussions
by Shawn Brasseaux

[10 May 2009]

In March 2008, I wrote an article entitled “Words, Words, Words.” I focused on the usage of slang and vulgar remarks, and how it grieves the Holy Spirit when Christians use profane language (whether it be profanity, or any type of deception such as denominationalism, church tradition, et cetera). We looked at how the tongue can be used to help others or how can be used to harm others. Now, over a year later, we are going to do something a bit different, but along the same lines of communication [pun!]. The Apostle Paul twice taught Timothy to avoid “profane and vain babblings” (1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16). For years, I understood this passage to be concerning swearing and cursing, but as we will see later on, there is much to these two verses than that.

First, let us look at this portion of Scripture (1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV): “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” In other words, a lost person thinks the Gospel of Grace is foolishness—lost people view our salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ as nonsense. However, as the verse says, for us who are saved, we know that is it not foolishness but rather it is the power of God. So, the same power that God used to create the universe is the power that has now saved me from myself!

One of my weaknesses is that I always have to be right. When talking about the Bible, I have a tendency to argue with Bible skeptics, and while it is good to be zealous for the Lord, I acknowledge this as a weakness. Nonstop talking to people who want to remain ignorant and uninformed does more harm than good—yeah, I am quite talkative once you get me on the right subjects!

When it comes to the Bible, you cannot twist arms. Some Christians mean well, but they may try to “force the Bible down lost people’s throats” (I used to be like that). The Holy Spirit must do the “convincing” by convicting them. Months back, I spoke to someone for over two hours about the Bible and answering her questions, but she was still bent toward her silly ideas after I was finished. Still, remember that God’s Word tugs at a lost person’s heart, and they feel convicted, so we will let God’s Word take care of itself (Isaiah 55:11).

When Jesus commissioned His twelve apostles to go to Israel, He gave His disciples clear instructions. If a Jew would not allow the apostles into their home, and he/she refused to listen to the apostles, Jesus told His followers to “shake the dust” from their feet and go on to those who did have an interest in salvation (Matthew 10:11-15). In other words, Jesus basically told them, “do not waste your breath on those who do not want to listen” (cf. Matthew 7:6). This is what Paul meant by “avoiding profane and vain babblings.”

Now, look at something else Paul told Timothy, which will better explain this concept (2 Timothy 2:23 KJV): “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender [promote] strifes [arguments].” If someone asks you a silly question about the Bible in a sarcastic tone, God says do not bother to answer him or her! “Vain babblings” is another term for “fruitless discussions.” If someone refuses to listen to Scripture, end the conversation. In his final instructions to Timothy, Paul told him not to engage in discussions where foolish people only wanted to argue. See how that fits perfectly with Jesus’s instructions in Matthew 10:11-15?

The Corinthian church had a host of problems. Paul writes to them, “But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:38 KJV). Although the context refers to Christians being ignorant regarding spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1), we can still apply it to people being ignorant about anything in Scripture. If the person (whether Christian or lost) does not want to learn anything from the Bible, let them be “willingly ignorant.” They do not want to know the truth of God’s Word, and we are not obligated to speak with them any further.

Paul also tells Timothy to embrace “good doctrine,” but to “refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise [train] himself unto godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7 KJV). And again, Paul instructs young Timothy to hold on to sound doctrine, “not giving heed to endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in the faith: so do” (1 Timothy 1:3,4 KJV). “Endless genealogies” is a reference to mythological stories passed down as family legends, which were not reliable. These would all bring doubts and confusion, and it would not be healthy and profitable discussions.

So, again, if someone wants to stay confused about spiritual matters, then leave him or her alone. If they want to argue, refuse to continue the discussion and politely tell them you do not want to argue. You will not convince them because only the Lord has the power to “soften their heart.” Avoid silly questions that only promote arguments (about ridiculous topics), because God wants the Bible to be profitable for you, not destructive or burdensome. Also, remember not to compromise God’s truth (the Bible) just to please someone!

Words, Words, Words III: God’s Message to Us
by Shawn Brasseaux

[7 June 2009]

Well over a year ago, I wrote an article entitled “Words, Words, Words.” About two months ago, I wrote the companion article and this time I bring you the third installment of the series. Our theme is still communication, but now we will look at God’s written Word to us. Of course, I am not referring to an audible voice or some angelic vision, but rather to the Holy Bible—God spoke to His holy apostles and prophets, who then wrote those words down. Before we begin, let us review four key definitions: revelation, inspiration, preservation, and translation.

Revelation means that the Lord God has made known information to His prophets and apostles that was not previously known. The prophet Isaiah, for example, writes that God spoke to him in an audible voice (22:14): “And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts….” Jeremiah 1:4, Ephesians 3:3-5, and Revelation 1:1 are other examples of revelation. Ephesians 3:3-5 talks about how God revealed the “revelation of the mystery” to the Apostle Paul alone.

The term inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16) refers to God’s Holy Spirit choosing the words that holy men of God wrote down in a human language (see also 2 Peter 1:20,21). Matthew 4:4 says that inspiration is “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (cf. Deuteronomy 8:3; Luke 4:4). These original Bible languages were Hebrew and Aramaic (Old Testament), and Koine Greek (New Testament). Inspiration refers to the original manuscripts, but these manuscripts are no longer extant (they perished centuries ago). This is where preservation comes in.

Preservation is God’s promise of protecting His inspired written Word forever. As Psalm 12:6,7 KJV says: “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.” There are reliable, infallible copies of God’s Word today (more on this in a moment). Jesus Christ said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away(Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33).

Lastly, translation is God’s method of conveying His Word to the peoples of the world, with their own unique language. When God’s Word is translated, it does not “lose its meaning,” nor does it become less authoritative than the original languages. An example of translation is found in Acts chapter 22. Verse 2 says that the Apostle Paul is speaking to these Jews in Hebrew, yet Luke is recording the book of Acts in Koine Greek! Whether in Koine Greek, Hebrew, or English, God’s infallible Word is still God’s infallible Word. Acts 2:4-11 is another example of God’s Word being translated into intelligent human languages.

Now that we have those four key definitions in mind, read Psalm 138:2, as found in the King James Bible: “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” The last portion of the verse says that God has magnified His Word above all thy name. Apparently, God takes His Word very seriously, so we had better take it seriously too!

Now look at John 17:17 KJV, as the Lord Jesus is praying to God His Father: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” So, God’s Word is truth; thus, we conclude that anything that is a lie is not of God, for God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth” (Psalm 33:4 KJV).

Modern English Bibles produced during the past 130 years (since 1881) contain errors and lies, so they cannot be God’s pure word. They cannot be of God or from God; they cannot be trusted. They are forged Bibles, such as found in 2 Thessalonians 2:2. Paul wrote, Many corrupt the word of God (2 Corinthians 2:17).

Why are modern English Bibles corrupt? Their New Testaments are translated from the adulterated/corrupt Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament. This text is based on adulterated Greek texts (the Alexandrian manuscripts, chiefly Codices Vaticanus and Sinaiticus, manuscripts that disagree amongst themselves over 3,000 times in the Four Gospels alone!). Bible-believing Christians have rejected these manuscripts for over 1,000 years now. Yet, dishonest scholars want us to believe that these manuscripts are better than the King James’ manuscripts, and poor unsuspecting church members fall for that scam.

The Bible versions debate is a serious matter because God’s pure Word is being threatened. It is a big deal, so never let someone convince you that you are making too much of it. Would you care to read man’s ideas for spiritual advice, or use the words of God as your source for spiritual advice? Do you prefer reading God’s pure words to you, or some adulterated, watered-down modern Bible translation tainted by man? After all, God’s Word is the final authority, not some mortal man’s thoughts and ideas.

A few days ago, I was thumbing through a copy of the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). Released in 1989, the NRSV is one of the many unreliable contemporary English versions. In fact, it is a version highly popular in one particular false religion (cult). There were so many footnotes on each page, it was ridiculous (“can also be read…,” “some manuscripts have…,” “some manuscripts omit…”). When reading a verse, would you not get confused if a footnote told you to stop in the middle and look below for a phrase that is not found in the text itself? This is an example of the twisting and corrupting that both Peter and Paul talked and warned about.

The Apostle Paul’s warning in 2 Corinthians 2:17 KJV says: “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.” God is warning us through Paul’s writing that many people will corrupt God’s Word (cf. 2 Peter 3:15,16). They wrest, they twist, and they distort the pure Word of God. This is a satanic ploy to discourage man from studying God’s Word. The devil does not want anyone reading God’s Word because the Bible is solid, reliable, and stands against everything the devil advocates. So Satan attacks the Bible!!!

Today, God does not communicate with us by means of an audible voice or a dream/vision. He does not send angels to us to reveal His will to us. We cannot “call God long distance” because God has already left us a message. He has ensured that His preserved Word has been passed down to us, so we have free access to His pure Word today! We read in 2 Timothy 3:16,17 KJV: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” We have the complete Word of God in the form of the Bible; we need no further revelation from God. The Lord has already told us what He needs to tell us in His written Word.

In the English language, God’s preserved Word and words is the Authorized Version King James Bible (which is translated from the reliable, trustworthy Antiochian/Byzantine Bible texts—the enemies of the manuscripts of modern English Bibles). Do not let someone try to tell you that the King James Bible we have today is not conformable to the 1611 King James Bible: the only differences between the two are spelling changes in the English language and the correction of printing errors.

Although the entire Bible is God’s Word, God is speaking to us today through the 13 books of Romans through Philemon, known as “the Pauline epistles” (they were written by Paul). Paul’s epistles are instructions for salvation in this the Dispensation of Grace and then living the Christian life as a member of the Church the Body of Christ. Using dispensational Bible study is the key to understanding the Word of God: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV). All of the Bible is for you; but not all of the Bible is to you or about you. Study the Bible from Genesis through Revelation, but rely more heavily on Paul’s 13 epistles, because they are God’s Word to us specifically.

If you do not think much of God’s Word, then that means you think very little of God Almighty Himself!

Words, Words, Words IV: Isolation
by Shawn Brasseaux

[7 June 2009]

         Look at that word “isolation.” It conjures up thoughts of loneliness and separateness, setting the tone for our fourth and final installment in the “Words, Words, Words” series. In part III, we discussed the significance of the Bible versions debate. God has revealed His Word to His holy prophets and apostles, He has moved them to record His inspired Word in human language, He has preserved His written Word through the ages since it was first penned, and He has overseen the translation of His Word into the world’s languages. But, what if God had not done any of this?

God is a Spirit (John 4:24). He is not bound by time or space. He is entirely separate from our dimension. You cannot see Him, you cannot feel Him, and you cannot hear Him. What if God decided to never communicate with us? What if there was no written Word of God? What if God had never sent His apostles and prophets to tell us His Word? What if God never became the man Christ Jesus; what if He would have stayed a Spirit forever? Humanity would be in worse shape today than it already is! We would look up to heaven, and ask Him to talk with us, but we would hear nothing.

Without the Bible, God’s Holy Word, we would never understand our lost sinful state. We would not know our origin… or our destination for that matter! We would be headed for an eternal damnation in the lake of fire, never knowing any better. We would have never even known God’s true nature: His unfathomable selflessness, His abounding grace, His enduring love, His endless mercy, His pure holiness, His gentle longsuffering, His awesome omnipotence, and His profound intelligence!

Without the Bible, God would be some distant Spirit; Someone who would give us the “cold shoulder”… an odd thing, most people do not want God to ignore them, yet most people ignore God! Human nature is pathetic!

Those ancient original Bible manuscripts (autographs) are long gone. Today, we have copies (apographs) of those original Bible manuscripts. It is in the Antiochian/Byzantine stream of Bible texts (the Textus Receptus, or the “received text” handed down by Christians from the apostles) that we find God speaking to us today. Most of us cannot understand Greek, so there must some English copy of God’s Word that is based on those reliable Greek manuscripts: if we are to learn what God wants us to know, we need an English copy that says the same thing as the Greek New Testament.

In English, we have God’s preserved written Word (and words) in the King James Bible. The Greek texts are of little importance because we cannot read Greek. There is a reliable English text just as authoritative and just as God-breathed as the originals and the copies of originals. The majority of the modern English versions (NIV, NASB, NRSV, NKJV, ESV, GNB/TEV, NEB, CEV, et cetera) are based on the Alexandrian manuscripts. As we said earlier, the two chief Alexandrian manuscripts (Vaticanus and Sinaiticus) disagree amongst themselves over 3,000 times in the Four Gospels alone! Even the New King James Version has been greatly altered when compared to the original King James Bible; the NKJV has hundreds of footnotes that question the King James and give credence to modern Bibles’ renderings.

Why do most of the modern English Bibles read differently from the King James Bible? Not because of a mistranslation, but because of different source texts. The modern English versions and the King James Bible come from two separate sources: the former (modern Bibles) are based on perverted manuscripts from Alexandria, Egypt, and the latter (KJB) is based on trustworthy texts from Antioch, Syria. Do you remember what Acts 11:26 said about Antioch? “The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” So, on that basis, where do you think God’s Word would come from: Alexandria, or Antioch?

Now that we have established that much, we can address a question that arises: “Why make a big deal about all these Bible versions, because they still contain the plan of salvation and some of it is still God’s Word?” Oh, yes, the modern English versions are not 100 percent wrong… yet. They keep removing phrases from the Bible, watering it down, and publishing “better” revisions, and pretty soon you may not even find one original word in those newer versions.

In part III, we vaguely discussed that Nestle-Aland text: as of right now, it is in its 27th edition—a 28th edition should be published by fall 2009, most likely resulting in the future publication of even more modern English versions! Revise, revise, revise…. Pervert, pervert, pervert…. Twist, twist, twist…. Wrest, wrest, wrest…. Shame, shame, shame!

No matter what happens in the future, we know that there will always be a reliable copy of God’s pure Word somewhere. Thank the Lord today that you have a reliable unadulterated King James Bible, God’s Word to you in your language—English. Thank the Lord that He has kept His promises, ensuring that we have a copy of His plan of salvation and His plan for the ages (His written Word). God has promised to preserve His Word forever: still, man and the devil will do their best to distort and dilute to kept God’s plans from being fulfilled. In the end, God will win!

God will not overlook that because if you fool with God’s Word, you fool with God, and He will not bend to appease you. All those people responsible for corrupting God’s Word down through the ages will answer to Him one day at the Great White Throne Judgment (or sadly, for some, at the Judgment Seat of Christ!). And then, after they are judged at the Great White Throne, they will be given their own degree of punishment in the lake of fire, a place of everlasting shame and suffering and isolation from God! Are you not glad you are not in their shoes?