Can a Believer Lose Their Salvation?

Recently, I was both stunned and dismayed to hear a very popular radio preacher talk about the works of a believer, and that a person can lose their salvation if they fail to produce works or fruits for God.  Perhaps this is an area that many Christians wonder about, or are confused about.  I know I struggled with it for many years, until the Lord taught me directly in His Word what the many passages referring to works and fruits actually mean. 

First of all, I'm going to agree on one point with the radio preacher that it is crucial that we bear fruit for God and for His Kingdom.  It is HOW we do so that is also crucial to understand and do, because there's one way we do it that will bear NO FRUIT, and the other way (as I'm going to point out in this blog) that will never fail to PRODUCT FRUIT for the Kingdom. 

The first way, which the preacher never fully explained well, likely because he doesn't understand it or believe it himself, are the works that you and I do on our own, without the empowerment, anointing, or direct instruction from the Holy Spirit.  These are called the works of the flesh.  They may still be what we would consider "good" works, but they are the works that will not stand the test of fire of our works when we get to heaven: 

1Co 3:11    For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1Co 3:12    Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 1Co 3:13    Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

1Co 3:14    If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

1Co 3:15    If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Also, God's view of our own good works is very different from ours, so we better get this right: 

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 

It is abundantly clear in Scripture that we are not saved by works: 

Tit 3:5    Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 

Eph 2:8    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9    Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

Good works stem out of a close relationship with Jesus: 

Joh 15:4    Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Joh 15:5    I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

These are the works that last, the gold, silver and precious stones.  When Jesus is working through us, these are the works of the Spirit spoken of in the following: 

Joh 14:12    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 

What works was Jesus referring to?  It always had to do with either healing, deliverance, or raising the dead, and so on.  They were works that were "supernatural," works that could only be done under the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.  Why?  So that men would know it was of God, and not of man.  Works are intended to advance the Kingdom of God.  They have to be greater than the works of man so that God is always glorified and not the person doing the works. 

The well-known radio preacher went further into John, and this is where he got confused, thinking that the following verse mean that you can lose your salvation if you're not producing fruit: 

Joh 15:6    If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 

Notice the phrase, "abide NOT in me."  Bible scholars agree that Jesus is either talking about a non-believer here, or He is referring to the works of a believer who is not fully consecrated in the Spirit, and his works are useless.  Therefore, those works (similar to the wood, hay and stubble in I Cor. 3 above), will be tossed aside and burned.  Backslidden believers may have one time produced fruit, but they have slidden away from the Lord, so they must first be dealt with before they can produce fruit once again. 

Works of the flesh stem from a fractured, and in many cases, a non-existent relationship with Jesus (religious works like all the religions of the world who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus). These same people may allow all kinds of sin in their lives and feel no conviction that they are living in error.  They weigh their good deeds against the bad, and think that this is how God will determine whether they are saved or not. Yet, nowhere in Scripture does it say this!  So we must question whether people who have not yet confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior and do not yet have a desire to live for Him are really saved in the first place!  Their works and lack of fruits (of the Spirit) will reveal whether they are of God or not. 

What are the good works that people think of when they read these Bible passages talking about works?  They might think of religious acts, like helping others, sacrificial giving like the Good Samaritan, visiting the fatherless and the widows (pure religion), setting up social networks to help street-people, women who are abused, and so on.  Yes, many people may get helped, and even saved.  But in order for any of it to be effective, the following must be evident: 

1Ti 1:5    Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned [not hypocritical]: 

In other words, the good works must be done out of a pure heart of love from the Father's heart to ours, with a strong conscience that it is what God has ordained us to do, and with a strong faith that will really get the job done to God's glory. 

I'd like to share some powerful verses that are promises to every believer, and provide an assurance of our salvation, regardless of works: 

Joh 6:39    And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Joh 6:40    And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Joh 10:28    And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Joh 10:29    My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 

1Th 5:9    For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 1Th 5:10    Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 

Rom 8:34    Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Rom 8:35    Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Rom 8:36    As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Rom 8:37    Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Rom 8:38    For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Rom 8:39    Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

In this day of apostasy and false prophets, we must be very careful what and who we listen to, to see if they are truly of God.  The radio preacher I heard had mixed truth with error, and clearly, did not have a true grasp of his subject.  I urge every reader of this blog to check the Scriptures for yourselves whenever anything you hear or read gives you a sense that something is amiss.   

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

When someone mis-handles a topic as critical as our assured salvation, and has caused confusion, fear, and doubt, then we must consider him as someone not trustworthy to handle the Holy Word of God.  May we be ever vigilant to keep and seek out the Truth of God's Word entrusted to us.  Amen!

Does It Matter What we Say? - Part 2

In a previous blog, Does it Matter What we Say?  I talked about going beyond just reading the Word of God, and to start verbally speaking it out loud.  So in this blog, I'd like to talk about the ability and power of the Word of God that can change us, alter our outlook, and change the world in which we live, and do so all according to God's will for our lives.  I'd also like to discuss how, as Bible-believing and professing Christians, we can partner with God through agreeing with His Word, and how this changes our prayer life, our relationship with Jesus, and increases our faith. 

I also shared how God's Word is "living" and active."  It is a "living Word."  The Word tells us in Romans 12:2 that it has the ability to transform us from what we are now, to what God intends us to be in Him.  We start with salvation where we are forgiven, cleansed, our sins pardoned, and our assured eternal destiny in heaven.  Although this is phenomenal in and by itself, our salvation comes with many additional benefits, such as living a victorious life over the flesh, the world and the devil, wisdom, health, and living the abundant life that He promised us, and so on (the number and magnitude of His promises are really staggering if you look them all up).

So what happens when we feel we are not really living the abundant and prosperous life that we have been promised in God's Word?  I think a few things have happened.   We have spent less time in God's Word, and in prayer, and we have not affirmed and repeated the many appropriate Scriptures of promise enough times every day to let it really sink in!  So when we become too busy, or too tired, we lose out on all that God intends for us to have.  We start to live by how we feel, rather than on what God's Word says.  Think back to how you got saved.  Were you relying on your feelings to determine the course of your life and destiny, or did you rely on the truth of God's Word, believe His Words are true, and then accept Him into your heart?  Didn't you notice an almost immediate change?  Your thoughts changed, your desires changed, your life changed!  At least I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that mine did!

When we do start to spend the time in the Word, and verbally affirming it and confessing it, we begin to change as it says we will in Romans 12:2.  We begin to see the results of what we believe according to the Word of God, and of course, the will of God.  When we confess something, things happen.  We actually become what we confess that we are.  Our body reacts, our mind changes, our feelings change. Things happen in the spiritual realm.  Our words go forth and "accomplish" what we say, both good and bad. 

As a rule, we need to affirm verbally what we have and who we are in Christ every day and perhaps several times a day.  Here are some verses to refer to and affirm when we are faced with various difficulties:

By our confession, we are healed: 

 James 5:16    Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

When we are ill, we need to affirm the following verse:

Isa 53:5    But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Similar to Matthew 16:19, our words can bring deliverance or keep us in slavery to sin, sickness, and everything else that the devil throws our way.  When we feel bound by something, or oppressed, we need to affirm the following:

Mat 18:18    Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

2Co 3:17    Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Joh 8:36    If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Our words can bring encouragement where discouragement reigns:

Rom 8:37    Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Our words will put our confidence in the Lord to supply all of our material needs:

Php 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

When we are feeling weak and unable to do something, we need to confess:

Php 4:13    I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 Agreeing with the Word of God

In my course of reading a book about the importance of what we confess and profess, I had not previously thought about whether the words I speak are in agreement with God's Word or not.  How could I expect God to answer my prayers if they are pathetically lacking in faith in Him, and I really don't believe He hears, and He will answer me?  How do you feel if someone you truly care about asks you for something, but they only half-heartedly believe you will provide it for them (even if you've always been faithful to provide for them), when clearly it is your pleasure to give them what they need?  Would you still want to give it to them?  Here's what Jesus says:

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

In a relationship, it is very difficult to thrive when you are in constant disagreement.  It says so in the Word:

Amo 3:3    Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

We need to be in agreement with God's Word and with Him, and we do so when we agree with what His Word says.  In the following verse, we see that when two people agree on something in prayer, it shall be done!  So do not be afraid to call a friend when you need prayer.

Mat 18:19    Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Jesus has said this verse somewhere else before, and he emphasizes, "Again I say unto you," to drive home the point.  He says if "two of you shall agree."  Agree with what?  We receive an answer when we agree with God's Word, and with God's will.  What are the criteria?

 Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

We must abide in Jesus, and digest His Word, and not just take a passing interest in it.  When we confess God's Word as right and altogether true, we come into agreement with God's Word.  We will become what we confess.  If, for example, we go around believing we are tired and weak all the time, we will most likely remain in that state.  We must rise well above our feelings, and agree with the Word of God.  What does God's Word say to us in each difficult situation we face?   I have given you several examples above.  For every situation we face, there are verses we can say and claim as our own until we truly believe we are what God's Word says we are, and we receive what He says we already have!  This is truly how faith works.  So we need to get into the habit of affirming and agreeing with God's Word over ourselves, our loved ones, and for whatever purposes God has set before us.  May we do so today and without delay, and continue to do so every day.  What a wonderful change we're going to see!   

Does it Matter What We Say?

Not too long ago, I started reading a book that explained the importance of verbally confessing and professing the Word of God.  The book used many pertinent Scriptures.  But since the book was about confessing the Word, rather than just silently reading the Scriptures suggested, the author encourages readers to start reading them out loud.  So I did.  Following reading the book, I started verbalizing Scripture much more often than I had done previously.  I often quoted verses I had memorized as a child.  At first, it seemed strange, but then after awhile, I began to notice a marked difference in my prayer life, and in my spiritual life in general.  I noticed that my prayers (especially for others), were more filled with faith than they had been before because I had quoted Scripture in the prayers themselves.  

Just how important does the Word place on us to share verbally and declare the Word of God?  Let's see what the Bible says.    

We choose life or death by the words we speak: 

Pro 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 

Jesus said we ourselves will determine whether or not we are justified or condemned by what comes out of our mouth: 

Mat 12:34    O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Mat 12:35    A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Mat 12:36    But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Mat 12:37    For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 

Our salvation has everything to do with a "hearing of the Word": 

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. 

If we are just giving mental assent to the Word (silently reading and agreeing with it), our testimony and the Word of God will not be heard.  It must be verbally expressed.  People's eternal lives are at stake, so we cannot shrink back and be afraid to clearly state what the Word of God says. 

In Romans 10, we have a treasure trove of verses having to do with the importance of hearing the Word, and also verbally confessing it.  Look at these verses: 

Rom 10:8    But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; Rom 10:9    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.

Rom 10:10    For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

In verse 8, it is "the word of faith," which we preach.  This is not our own words; this is the Word of God.

In verse 9, we are saved by the confession of our mouth, and the belief that God raised Christ from the dead.

In verse 10 we see the importance of the confession of our salvation. 

We need to ask ourselves, When was the last time I made a confession of my salvation (my personal testimony), to someone who is lost, without Christ?  When was the last time I shared an answer to prayer to testify to someone of the mighty works of God?  The more we confess what God has done and is doing for us and through us, the more assured we become of the power and truth of God's Word. 

Later in that same passage in Romans, we learn that faith comes by hearing: 

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

Hearing means that we physically "hear" it.  When my husband commuted to work each day, he listened to Bible tapes.  This is how he learned much of the Bible.  He was driving, and so he couldn't stop and read and take notes.  He simply "listened" to the Word of God. Years later, when he was writing as a commenter online, that same Scripture that he had listened to while driving, came to mind, and he was able to exhort, rebuke and teach the Word that he had heard. 

While it is important to attend church to "hear" the Word of God, we must be personally disciplined to hear it every day of the week and not just on Sunday morning!   

Another reason why it is important to express verbally the Word of God and the testimony of our salvation is because this is what gives us the ultimate victory over Satan's daily attacks, the enemy of our souls.  Take a close look at the following verses: 

Rev 12:10    And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 

They [we] overcame [overcome] him by "the word of their [our] testimony."   

We are to be fully clothed in spiritual battle dress to counter-attack the enemy: 

Eph 6:16    Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Eph 6:17    And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

In verse 16, it is the "shield of faith" that stops Satan in his tracks.  What is the shield of faith, but the "word of faith" spoken of earlier in Romans 10:8.  If we read the many accounts of Jesus ministry on earth, we notice that He did two things – He spoke the Word of God (what was already written), and then what the Father was giving Him currently to say. 

Luk 24:27    And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 

Joh 12:49    For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Joh 12:50    And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. 

Also, it is important to speak the Word of God because it is "living and active."  When it is spoken, things happen supernaturally.  We get saved, but we also continue to be sanctified, as the Word reveals to us what is of the flesh and what is of the Spirit: 

Heb 4:12    For the word of God is quick [living], and powerful [active], and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

So when we boldly proclaim the Word, there will be a reaction.  We will change, and our thoughts will change (see Romans 12:2).  It is powerful, and it will not return to God void (more on this in another blog).  

There is so much more on this topic, and as I said, I would like to continue this important topic in another blog.  For now, I would like to challenge every Bible-believing Christian to start repeating, out loud, the Word of God, both as you daily read Scripture in your devotional time, and also consider quoting Scripture when you pray.  This will put you in agreement with God's Word (I'll share more about the importance of agreement in the next blog).   

A few final verses: 

Psa 145:5    I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

Psa 145:6    And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.

Psa 145:7    They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. 

May God Bless you as you boldly proclaim His mighty Words and works! HE is worthy ... AMEN!

Which Bible Version to Trust?

About a year ago, I was alerted to the many omissions and changes to be found in our most widely accepted modern manuscripts of the Bible today.  I was introduced to a well-researched and powerful little book called, The Piper, by Dennis Bank (I have included a link to it further down in this blog).  I discovered that the Bibles I had trusted, namely the NIV and NASB, could no longer be trusted.  I pulled out my King James Version and began comparing the versions for myself, and I was truly astonished at the many changes and omissions that had been made. These were not just "thee's and thou's," these were key doctrinal changes like salvation, hell, the Deity of Christ, and many, many more (Dennis lists 24 of them alone in his book).  So I shelved the modern versions, and I began reading my King James Version only.  After awhile I stopped checking the other versions for comparison. Instead, I went to the original Greek, and I can tell you, it made a huge difference in my understanding of Scripture!  I was so revved up by this revelation of what I now believe to be "corrupted" versions of the Bible that I began to tell others.  Some quickly responded the same as I did, and quietly put aside their modern versions, and began reading the KJV. Others struggled with the whole idea.  A very common reaction is to brush it off as being fanatical, but truthfully, many people have a hesitancy of reading some of the older language, the thees and thous, cometh, goeth, etc.  But for those of us who had switched, we didn't care about that, and eventually, with patience and asking the Holy Spirit for guidance, the language was in NO WAY a stumblingblock.  In fact, most if not all the people that began reading the KJV noticed a great difference in their renewed understanding of Scripture, and in their overall spiritual walk with the Lord!  Why? Likely because nothing that is essential to doctrine has been omitted!

Not wanting to ruffle any more feathers, I let the matter drop until recently.  Someone had challenged me that I was being too legal about it, and so I started to really research it to see if there was something I was missing.  Was I being too emphatic about trusting more in the King James translation of the Bible than the modern versions?  What I found in my many hours of research overwhelmingly agreed with the historical information I had read in The Piper, and that Westcott and Hort, the two translators that changed so much of the KJV, were called into question again and again!

Checking out our Bible against another version is not something we normally think about. We just assume that the translators of the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures knew/know what they are doing when they translate God's most Holy Word.  Most of us will not think to check our preferred translation against another, so we assume we are getting the truth, the whole truth of what God intended to say to us.  However, if we start to compare our current version, and there are many modern translations today, to the Authorized King James Version, we will start to notice some remarkable, and indeed, alarming differences.  Much more than just removing the "thee's" and "thou's" which by the way, were deliberately inserted to make sense of possessive, singular, and plural pronouns, entire key doctrinal verses and phrases have been eliminated altogether!  So, we need to take a careful look at our modern translation Bibles, and then we have to question why they removed so much?

This is extremely important because of what the Word says when it comes to tampering with His Word:

Rev 22:18    For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:Rev 22:19    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.

This is what Jesus spoke to Satan.  Take note of the phrase "every word:"

Mat 4:4    But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

If over 54,000 words and phrases (including whole verses) have been omitted, we must question if we are receiving "every word" that proceeds from the mouth of God!  This is NOT something to take lightly!

Why do I say to check the modern versions against the King James Version, and not some other version?  I say this because the modern versions are based on a "minority text," but the King James Version is based on a "majority text." Let me explain.  There are over 5,000 documents of agreed-upon Biblical antiquity, and the KJV implements them all.  The minority text only uses about 45 of them (1%).  Two Catholic Bishops in the late 1800's, Wescott and Hort translated the Bible to many of the modern Bibles that we have today, notably the NIV as probably known as the most popular. 1 There is much more about their life and history found online, and I will give a list of sites at the end of this blog that are well worth checking out.

The importance of the accuracy of translations cannot, obviously, be over-stated, but neither can the method, or the character and integrity of the translators themselves!  The Authorized King James Version is undoubtedly a version of the Bible that CAN be trusted because of the careful way in which it underwent translation, and also because it held more to the original Greek transcripts that had been preserved from Antioch dating back to Biblical times.  The new translation of Westcott and Hort held to the Alexandrian documents associated with a Gnostic school in Egypt, and derived their material from the Vatican Scrolls, which were laced with Gnostic teachings.2

Here is the challenge that will stir us to re-consider what we are reading, and that if it is the best version for us to get accuracy and full coverage of what God intended us to know.  As they say, "the proof is in the pudding."  I was not wholly convinced that there was anything amiss with my NIV or other modern versions of the Bible until I saw with my own eyes what had actually been omitted and/or changed!  Here are some verses to compare that have to do with major doctrines in the Bible:

The Doctrine of Good Works to Salvation vs. the Finished Work of the Cross of Jesus Christ for Salvation:

1Co 1:18    For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  KJV

1Co 1:18    For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  NIV

Notice in the KJV the word "that perish" and the phrase "are saved."  These are in the present verb tense.  It is a done deal.  The NIV, on the other hand, are in the present progressive tense, "are perishing" and "are being saved."  Surely, they don't mean that salvation is not a once for all, because that is what Scripture teaches elsewhere.

Heb 10:10    By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.Heb 10:11    And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:Heb 10:12    But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; KJV

Jesus' sacrifice was "once for all."  Based on this Scripture, priests cannot ever take away sins, only Jesus can and did!

To believe the NIV version, you have to believe in good works to save you, and that you will not perish, but that you are perishing.  Who is "perishing," but a soul that was not saved when they died?  Doesn't this resemble something called "purgatory" that the Catholic religion teaches?  In John 3:18 it says:

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

An unbeliever today is "condemned already."  He is not "perishing." He is already spiritually dead!  That is the reality.  He is dead until He comes to Christ!

Notice also in verse 11 that the Bible clearly teaches that priests make sacrifices that can NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS.

So did Westcott and Hort slip in their own corrupted theology, and in such a way that we wouldn't even notice a word changed or missing here or there?  Friends, we need to be reminded that this is what Satan does.  He changes and twists the truth ever so slightly!

If you read the NIV and checked out John 3:18 against the KJV, it sounded similar to the KJV, didn't it?  But did you read further up in verse 16, the famous verse to introduce salvation, John 3:16?  Here they are omitting words that deify Jesus Christ for who He is:

 Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. NIV

Now look at the same verse in the KJV:

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

 Is "one and only Son" the same as "only begotten Son?"  No, it is not the same because the NIV fails to equate Jesus as "coming from the Father."  To say, "one and only" does not definitively indicate where Jesus originated.  He could have originated from anywhere; it doesn't specify.  This is a grave error because Jesus was so careful to state numerous times in Scripture that He came from the Father.

 Here is another verse that seems to strip Jesus of His Deity in the NIV when they say Joseph is Jesus' father rather than God the Father:

 Luk 2:33    The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. NIV

 Luk 2:33    And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. KJV

Notice the contrast in the KJV, where they use "Joseph and his mother."  God is His true Father.  Joseph had nothing to do with it!

I want to share one more noticeable difference, and it is an important one among many others. It has to do with repentance:

Mat 9:13    But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." NIV

Compare this with the KJV:

Mat 9:13    But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Oops! The NIV omitted the heart of the verse, the main verb:  they ended with "but sinners." But sinners to what? The KJV accurately says,"to repentance."  We have to wonder, why was this omitted?

From what I have shown you is only a small sampling of what has been tampered with stemming from the original manuscripts of the Bible which have been carefully preserved.  Here are a list of more verses you can check for yourself against the KJV of the Bible:

I John 4:3 - NIV omitted the key phrase, "Christ is come in the flesh"

John 6:47 - NIV omitted the key words, "on me."

Acts 8:37 - NIV omitted entirely.

I John 5:13 - NIV omitted entirely.

Mark 11:26 - NIV omitted entirely.

Luke 4:8 - NIV omitted "Get thee behind me Satan"

I Timothy 6:5 - NIV omitted, "from such withdraw thyself."

These changes may not seem like much, but honestly, can we really trust that if enough words are omitted and/or changed so drastically that at some point in time, we won't find ourselves far off course doctrinally and even spiritually?

 Here are some great resources that deal at length with the different versions of the Bible, give some history and lots more comparisons.  I urge you to check each one out:

 http://www.1611kingjamesbible.com/altered_verses.html/ 

 http://www.1611kingjamesbible.com/codex_sinaiticus.html/

 http://www.1611kingjamesbible.com/codex_vaticanus.html/

http://www.chick.com/information/bibleversions/

http://www.earnestlycontending.com/ewministries/jerry/bibleversions.html

http://www.ecclesia.org/truth/m-m.html

http://www.fmh-child.org/S8.7.11.html

http://www.graceway.com/articles/article_025.html

http://www.bereanresearchinstitute.com/02_Bible_Versions/BV.0003_Antioch_and_Alexandria.html

http://www.holybible.com/resources/about_kjv.htm

One final MUST READ is the book I mentioned earlier called, The Piper, by Dennis Bank.  This book is very well documented and will explain much more and in summarized detail.  I highly recommend reading it.  For me, it has been eye-opening and life-changing.

http://www.amazon.ca/The-Piper-Betrayal-Biblical-Consequence-ebook/dp/product-description/B00GD0VBK4

1  Taken from The Piper, Dennis Bank (see above URL)

2  Taken from The Piper, Dennis Bank (see above URL)
 

When it comes to matters as significant of which Bible version to read and trust, we should never leave one single stone unturned, as we must hold as closely to the truth of God's Word that we have been entrusted with.  I challenge you today, as I have been challenged, to do some research, and especially check the modern versions against the trusted King James Version, which holds to the majority text.  It may be difficult at first if you are not used to some language differences, but you will be able to get past this, as many others have already testified. Better to struggle through a few outdated words that do not CHANGE or ALTER the Word of God, than to miss out on whole passages, verses, and doctrines altogether.