Day 18 – Endureth For Ever!
(1 Pet 1:25) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. Peter tells us that God’s Word will endure forever. This leaves no room for questions or doubts. It means that God’s Words can and will be preserved and nothing can stop it!
I stand baffled at how man can say that God’s Word is not with us today. They actually believe that the Bible is man’s interpretations and that the originals are long gone. What do they have to back that up? They have the words of men who have actually changed the Bible and they hold that as their defense. Would you rather trust the words of a sinful man (we are all sinners) or would you rather trust God? Is He a man that He should lie? No!
Westcott and Hort were known accepters of catholic doctrine – both were admirers of Mary. Why would one want to accept their words over God’s? Dr. Hort did not believe in Christ’s shed blood as atonement for our sins! Why would you trust someone like that with the very Word of God? Westcott was no better. His idea of Heaven was in the mind of man. He also did not believe in the miracles of the Bible. These two men did more for modern-day translations of the Bible then anyone else. (Rom 1:22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and (2 Cor 10:12) For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
Here are some notable quotes from these two men:
“We may reasonably hope, by patient, resolute, faithful, united endeavour to find heaven about us here, the glory of our earthly life.” (Hort)“Certainly nothing can be more unscriptural than the modern limiting of Christ’s bearing our sins and sufferings to His death; but indeed that is only one aspect of an almost universal heresy.” (Westcott)
“I never read an account of a miracle but I seem instinctively to feel its improbability, and discover somewhat of evidence in the account of it.” (Westcott)
“I wish I could see to what forgotten truth Mariolatry (the worship of the Virgin Mary) bears witness.” (Westcott, Life & Letters- Ibid. )
“The pure Romanish [Roman Catholic] view seems to be nearer, and more likely to lead to the truth than the Evangelical.” (Hort, Life and Letters, Vol. I, p. 77)
“Evangelicals seem to me perverted. . .There are, I fear, still more serious differences between us on the subject of authority, especially the authority of the Bible.” (Hort, The Life and Letters of Fenton John Anthony Hort, Vol. I, p.400)
“Our Bible as well as our Faith is a mere compromise.” (Westcott, On the Canon of the New Testament, p.vii).
Why would you believe the words of two men who were not even saved? Would you learn how to swim from someone who did not know how? Would you ask an illiterate person to teach you to read? Would you ask someone to show you the way of salvation who wasn’t saved? Would you accept a translation from men who did not even love God? Do you actually believe that God would have His hand in their work?
Furthermore, those who add to the Bible through traditions and church leaders’ words state that God made account for changes in (Joh 21:25) And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. In response to that nonsense, I say this (Mar 3:24) And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If these Westcott and Hort changes were actually from God, then God is contradicting His own words. This is a kingdom divided against itself. Surely you understand this.
The Word is the very foundation of our belief system. It is the Bible that gives us our instructions for living and salvation. (Psa 11:3) If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psa 11:4) The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. We need to remember that although Westcott and Hort have tried to destroy our foundation (God’s Word), verse 4 tells us that this cannot happen because God is still on the throne in Heaven. He is all powerful and almighty and nothing can happen to His Word. He won’t allow it. (Psa 119:160) Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
The concept of those who have tried to corrupt the Word of God is not new. It was going on in the time of the Apostle Paul and it is going on today. (2 Cor 2:17) 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. Paul considered these corrupters of God’s Word to be prideful, ignorant, disputers, not having God’s truth. Paul warned us to stay away from people like this. (1 Tim 6:3) If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; (1 Tim 6:4) He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, (1 Tim 6:5) Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
This was serious business to Paul. He knew that if one gets caught up in the lies found in corrupt Bible versions, they would miss out on the truth and completeness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just compare the top four versions out there with the King James Bible and you will see that Christ’s deity, His atoning blood, and His complete work on the cross are being attacked. It is also very interesting that the catholic church attacks these very topics as well (Mary edified to the point of deity because she is the “mother of God”; Christ’s blood is not atonement enough so the catholic must go to confession and do penance; Christ’s work on the cross is not enough so the catholic must go to purgatory). The devil sure is having a field day! He has managed to add the burden of salvation through man’s efforts to the modern versions. If he can cause man to miss out on those important verses, maybe man just won’t get saved at all. That’s success in the devil’s eyes.
That is why Paul’s exhortation to continue in what we have been taught in the Word is so important. You cannot continue in something that you do not spend time reading and listening to. In fact, you will be easily led astray. (2 Tim 3:14) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (2 Tim 3:15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Timothy had learned the Scriptures (Old Testament) as a child and this led him to salvation in Christ when he heard about the Messiah. Is it any wonder that Satan would try so hard to cast shadows of doubt on the preservation of God’s words? They lead to life everlasting. They lead to salvation. They lead to Jesus!
Leave a Reply