The Voice Of Appearance

Your appearance says a lot about you. Most of the people who see you everyday don’t stop to talk to you, but they can clearly read the message you convey by your appearance.

Many are quick to remind the preacher that, “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart.” Well, it is true. A person who covers up on the outside by dressing right, when their heart is filled with wickedness, cannot fool God. God DOES look on the heart, but that does not mean He is blind to our outward appearance. The teachings of the Bible are clear that appearance is important. Also, don’t forget that “man looketh on the outward appearance.” People cannot look upon our hearts to know what is within. They must discern from what we display on the outside.

When you see a fat bird with a large orange bill waddling toward the pond, do you catch it and butcher it before you can decide what type of animal it may be? No, you don’t. You say, “There goes a duck.” Now, how could you gather so much information without seeing what is within? Could it be that God made just about everything so that what it really is inside is clearly identified by what shows on the outside?

A book is known by its cover. Whatever is written on the outside gives you the general idea of what you’ll find within its pages. Nobody would print the title “Cookbook” on the cover of a book filled with house plans. Even so, what is inside our heart is clearly displayed on the outside by our actions, our attitudes, our aspirations, and yes, our appearance. If your appearance says it for you, then what is your appearance telling the world about you?

–Copied from an article by Mrs. Cathy Corle

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The King James vs. The New Versions

**This comparison will be the passages of Matthew 7:13-14

KING JAMES VERSION: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION: “Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Both the NKJV and the NIV change the word “strait” gate to “narrow” gate. The word “strait” sets forth that which is restricted to God’s way, whereas the word “narrow” implies that which is limited. Jesus is the gate to salvation, “the door” (John 10:9), “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6), and the only “name” whereby any can be saved (Acts 4:12). This is strait, i.e., restricted to God’s one Saviour for mankind.

“Narrow is the way”, thus there is no margin for error, the way is limited to just “the way” with nothing else. While Jesus is the strait gate, He is not limited in what He is. But the way is limited to nothing more than Jesus. Calling the gate narrow implies that Jesus, Himself, is limited, whereas calling the gate strait implies it is restricted to Jesus.

The NIV says, in verse 14, “small is the gate”. There is certainly nothing small about the Saviour or His salvation, even though the way to be saved is limited to none other than Jesus Christ.

The NKJV says, “difficult is the way that leads to life”. This does not hold true with salvation by grace through faith. How difficult is it to receive the “gift of eternal life” by faith in Jesus Christ? Rather, saying that the way that leads to life is difficult is lending itself in support of being saved through works, which requires that one go through much difficulty before they actually arrive at having attained to life.

The King James says it like it is, declaring the supremacy of Christ, as well as manifesting the clarity of salvation only by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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A Point Of Sound Doctrine

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35

Heaven and earth have not passed away, so therefore we have not come to the place where we don’t have an inerrant Bible. One’s belief about Divine inspiration is lacking if one doesn’t accept the fact of Divine preservation. To have doubts about God’s Word being or remaining inerrant is where Satan begins all his works of deceit. It opens people’s minds to consider other things outside of the way God’s Word reads–as having so much good to offer (like Eve in the Garden of Eden.)

Did God’s promise of an inerrant Bible fall through the cracks because of language barriers? Has the process of true translation (not revised versions, which are all perversions of sacred inspiration) resulted in an inerrant Bible being lost along the way? “…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20 Jesus very well knew the continuance of His word to all nations, till the end of the world, would involve translating the scriptures.

How difficult is it to make an inerrant translation from one language to another? It happens every day, all over the world, between governments, businesses, etc. Yet many religious professions say it didn’t happen where the Word of God is concerned, so they are pushing new versions as the best way to get a full understanding of the scriptures. HOGWASH! This is deception and confusion, denying both God’s ability to preserve His Word, as well as saying that the process of translation doesn’t work and is unreliable. If inerrant translations are beyond God and human integrity, then the truth could not be preached unto all nations, unto the end of the world, and all international transactions would be flawed.

The Bible foretells everything, but it never speaks of the day coming when man will be left in a limbo of having no inerrant Bible! I read an article once that described “Pulpit Pride”, where preachers set themselves up as the “authority” on the Bible, with such positions as: “A better translation of this would be…” or “In the originals it means this” or “The King James says this, but it’s better rendered…”. NO ONE NEEDS A PREACHER TO RENDER THE BIBLE! This is not preaching faith in God’s Word, it is sowing doubts in men’s hearts and raising uncertainties in people’s minds about the credibility of God’s Word!

The Devil wants everybody uprooted from the inerrancy of God’ Word. He wants to keep man looking for something else, always open to the ideas of men (private interpretations) rather than settling down with the truth and doctrines of God’s Word.

Those who embrace revisions of the Bible, will also go for the “overviews” of men concerning the Bible, rather than get down to a verse by verse ministry and acceptance of the Bible. All who revise the Bible are in violation of the sacredness of God’s Word. Proverbs 30:5-6, Revelation 22:18-19

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Religious Theology vs. God’s Word

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5

Man’s apostate theology seeks to project that God’s love and grace functions on an entirely different plane than the inspired laws of God’s Word. Thus, the inclusion of that which is unlawful, such as the ordaining of homosexuals, etc. The idea that God really works in other dimensions outside of His laws, is what Satan beguiled Eve with, i.e., what God knows and does is really different than the way His law reads. (cp Genesis 2:17 with Genesis 3:4-5)

This has opened a flood gate of religious error, where people are now emphasizing all the “good things” that exist and go on outside the context of God’s laws. But (cp Matthew 7:21-23) Jesus rebuked every religious position that maintains that God has an operation that includes anything on the outside of God’s written Word. In Matthew 5:19, He indicted the error of breaking the least of God’s commandments and teaching others to do so, as that which will demote even a saved person to the lowest position in God’s kingdom.

There is to be no inclusion of anything outside of God’s commandments in a New Testament Church, which is rather commissioned to teach people to observe all things that are commanded, Matthew 28:19-20.

The idea that Christians are no longer to follow the principles set forth in God’s laws, because of a private interpretation of the Biblical statement concerning redemption from being held under the law, “we’re not under the law”, there is now a wholesale sellout of God’s Word taking place. People now are sold out to doing things that are contrary to the way God’s Word is written, as if these things are now good. To say that Christianity now includes ways that differ with the way that “all scripture” reads, is to say that God is no longer the God of His Word, and is to deny that God will judge according to His Word. In spite of this apostasy, true Christianity still abides with: “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, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Any teaching or position that is not according to the principles set forth in all scripture, does not pass the test of being correct New Testament doctrine.

The term, “we’re not under the law”, has to do with the fact of being redeemed from all the demands of the law upon our soul, since that in Christ, all the demands of the law are fulfilled through the offering of Christ’s Divine righteousness in our stead. Jesus fulfilled all the ceremonial laws! Jesus fulfilled all the types projected through the Old Testament system. Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us–through His death, we are dead to the law, it can never condemn us again! But GOD FORBIDS those who are made free, to live in transgression of His law, which is sin! (Romans 6 and 1 John 3:4) Rather, “the law is holy, just, good, and spiritual.” Romans 7:12,14

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Wisdom

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7

KNOWLEDGE is the act, fact, or state of knowing something. UNDERSTANDING is to get or perceive the meaning of. WISDOM is the power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action.

God says wisdom is the PRINCIPAL thing = that which is of the greatest importance:

–King Saul had knowledge and understanding. But because he did not apply wisdom to his choices and decisions, the day came when he cried out, “I have played the fool.”

–By knowledge and understanding, one can become a mastermind at crime. But due to the lack of wisdom, one becomes a criminal.

–Abraham and Sarah had knowledge and understanding regarding the need of an heir to inherit the covenant promises. But due to a lack of wisdom, Ishmael was born of the bondwoman, Hagar.

–One can have the proper understanding and wisdom essential to being a safe driver. But that will avail nothing, unless they use wisdom when they are behind the wheel.

–A Christian can have an outstanding knowledge and understanding of God’s Word. But apart from using wisdom to both discern and do God’s will, their knowledge and understanding will just be a wall that isolates them from being involved with God’s work.

–A church member can have knowledge and understanding regarding church membership. But apart from seeking and walking according to Godly wisdom, the sacredness and honor of being a member of Christ’s body is no longer perceived nor cherished.

–People can have knowledge and understanding regarding love and marriage. But apart from waiting upon God’s wisdom and leadership, the essentials for a sound marriage will be overlooked and missed.

While knowledge and understanding may supply the want and the will, only wisdom can put things in their proper order for success. Without wisdom, any success one may have will just be by accident.

“WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING; THEREFORE GET WISDOM.”

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