What Does That Bible Verse Really Mean?

How many times have you read someone's post on social media about a verse in the Bible?  The posts sounds wonderful and so very thought provoking.  But is what you are reading truly what the Bible verse meant to convey?  Or did the well meaning person just take that favorite verse out of context?  The posts or internet articles that your friends share sound so beautiful and many times are given to us in times of true despair.  But as of late, I have read many posts from those that have not fully understood the passage.

Before we get into one of the most abused verses in the Bible, we must all come to the same conclusion: The Bible is the final authority from God.  We all must be willing to submit to it and it alone.  Paul wrote, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV).  We cannot deny one verse and lift up another part just to prove what we believe.  The real issue is this; Don't go into the Bible with a preconceived belief system and try to prove what you think is true.  Go into the Bible with the understanding that it is God's Word and that I will let it guide my thoughts. 

It was hard to choose just one verse in the Bible that is abused by the masses so this will not be the only article on the topic.  The first passage that I would like to address is Ephesians 2:8-9.  This has been so twisted by those in the denominational world and for so long that even those in the church have started to accept the error of interpretation.  God breathed out these words to Paul, "For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Eph. 2:8-9 ESV). 

So what is the problem?  The masses on social media and countless websites try to assert that this passage means that "works" is talking about baptism.  This is very interesting because the word baptism is not in this passage.  But what are the "works" that Paul is discussing?  Well if we stop at the end of verse 9 we can put anything that we want into the passage to fit our belief system.  But let's read on further in the passage to get the true understanding of Paul's message to the church at Ephesus. 

"Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called 'the uncircumcision' by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands - remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace," (Eph. 2:11-15 ESV). 

What is the "law of commandments?"  This is the law of Moses, the ten commandments.  This is the "works" that Paul says you are not saved by.  Remember that the Jews converted to Christ continued to pressure the Gentiles into certain laws or works of the old system.  One of those laws being circumcision.  This was the same conflict going on in the churches of Galatia.  "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.  Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.  I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.  You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace"   (Galatians 5:1-4 ESV).  The work of circumcision could not save any of the Gentiles nor could doing any other work of the old law.  Trying to be justified by the old law would cause the Christian to fall from the grace of God. 

Another verse in the letter to the Galatians, really opens up the meaning behind the question, "what are the works."  "Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified" (Galatians 2:16 ESV emphasis jer).  Paul really helps us understand what he was talking about to Christians in Ephesus.  Paul encourages the Gentiles to have faith.  But not a faith working in the works of the old law but that of an obedient faith in Jesus Christ.

Let us all continue to minister the message of God's Word correctly.

NOW IS THE TIME...

“Show up an hour late in Brazil, and no one bats an eyelash.  But keep someone in Switzerland waiting for five or 10 minutes, and you have some explaining to do”

(“Clocking Cultures”, by the Editors of Scientific American. Volume 23, No. 4 Autumn 2014, p. 48). 

How do you view time?  Do you rule time or does time rule you?  The world does not view time the same way that you or I might.  You might not think that time is all that important and are late to most events.  I on the other hand hate to be late to any event.  I would rather arrive an hour before anyone else than be just a few minutes late. 

In a book entitled, “A Geography of Time,” Robert V. Levine writes that based on the variables of “walking speed on urban sidewalks, how quickly postal clerks could fulfill a request for a common stamp, and the accuracy of public clocks” not every country views time the same.   Levine’s conclusion was that the five fastest-paced countries in the world are, “Switzerland, Ireland, Germany, Japan and Italy; the five slowest are Syria, El Salvador, Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico.  The U.S., at 16^th, ranks near the middle” (ibid. p. 49). 

Does God view time the same as we do?  As time is relative to the world, God is not bound by time.   God’s not being bound by time, in its broad meaning, is best summed up in 2 Peter 3:8, “but, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”  Peter means that God does not hold to time like we do.  Time will cease to exist at the Judgment Day.  There is a “longsuffering toward us” at the present but it will end in God's time.

The apostle Paul wrote, “For He says; ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’  Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).  Paul is telling us that God has not guaranteed us a lot of time to do whatever we want.  Time as we know it could end at any moment in time.  “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Cor. 6:1). 

You must think about your salvation at this time.  Not tomorrow!!!  God is in control of time and has promised us that it will cease at the end of His longsuffering.  Now how will you minister this message? 

BOOK REVIEW: "MUSCLE AND A SHOVEL"

I have seen many people today try to review the book, "Muscle and a Shovel" by Michael Shank.  But most of the reviews have been bias and with an agenda.  Many have tried to discredit the author by saying that there is no way this could have happened.  While others have stated that the results from the book are inflated.  But neither argument takes away from the truths found in this enlightening book.  So with all the criticisms and praise for the book, I want to look at the content.

Michael Shank starts his story at the end and just before you see the conclusion he jumps back in time to show just how he and his wife got to that point.   This is a clever and productive way to draw you into what he is about to recount.   "Muscle and a Shovel" (Muscle) is on location in Nashville, TN.  It tells the story of how one man's courage to teach the Bible leads another man on the soul-changing journey of a life-time.  The man of courage is Randall and the journeyman is Michael Shank.  This eight month trip through spiritual turmoil drives Michael from one extreme to the other.  This is the same journey that so many Christians today have traveled.  And it is why this book is not only relative but an essential tool for evangelism.

The trip Michael took started with an unlikely friendship and for the better part of the next year would cover almost every type of emotion one could experience.  I for one love the pure honest truth in the book.  How Randall never backs down and always has a scripture to back up his teaching.  In fact Michael mentions that there are over 1,000 individual verses referenced from the KJV Bible.  It seems like every page of Muscle has the inspired Word of God mentioned. 

The Muscle book puts all the verses of the Bible that help you understand what must be done for salvation into a nice organized package.  You only need to have an open mind and search for yourself.  Michael would ask Randall a serious question and then Randall would give a biblical answer.  No need to second guess what Randall was saying all you have to do is look it up.  In the back of the book is listed every verse that is used in each chapter. 

I cannot find fault with this uplifting book.  I have read the reviews both positive and negative.  One said, "In the book, Randall says that everyone that is not church of Christ is going to hell."  That is not exactly what he said.  In fact the one quoted to have said that was a fellow named Kirk.  Kirk is seen to not like Randall very much and really hates religion.  On page 50, Kirk says, "You know that guy Randall believes that Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Catholics - everybody but his church are all going to Hell?"  Michael confronts Randall with this statement and Randall's response is not only loving but honest.  Randall says after telling Michael that God is the final Judge, "from my understanding of God's Word, if you're a member of a denomination, whether it be Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Mormon, any church that Jesus Christ did not establish and buy with His blood, there's no question that you're headed toward eternal destruction" (page 52).  You see, Randall once again calls on God and His word to be the final judge. 

The difficulty with people and their opinions about this book is that most will not go into it with an open heart.  But these are the same people that find faults with God's Word and don't search His book with an open heart.  Now before someone goes on a tangent and says that I am placing Muscle on the same level as the Bible let me say in all caps, THIS BOOK IS NOT ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE BIBLE.  THE BIBLE IS FROM GOD AND MUSCLE AND A SHOVEL IS FROM A MAN.  Ok, did that clear it up.  But one thing that Muscle has is over 1,000 verses from God's word.  I would say that Muscle is a really good read. 

Have you read the book?  Take a look, and read the book.  Decide for yourself.  And as one said that Michael quoted on the back of the book, "This story provoked me on spiritual levels I didn't know existed!  Everyone who reads this story should be prepared to "fight or flee" - Muscle and a Shovel is one of those rare books that will raise your blood-pressure.  You'll either give it to everyone you know or put it into a shredder - there's no middle-ground.  This book just might turn the religious world on its ear! (Baptist Minister of 18 years). 

If you desire a copy of the book Muscle and a Shovel to read for yourself then email me with your address and I will mail one to you for FREE.  smellchristlike@yahoo.com

This truly is a book that ministers with a message.