More Mini-Studies | Greg Merrill

I am using at least two pages for these mini-Bible studies so that the pages will load for you faster.

HOW IS OUR SPIRIT CLOTHED AFTER DEATH?
How is our spirit clothed after death? 2 Corinthians 5:1 gives us the answer in the phrase "a building of God." This is not a building made or given to us by God. This house is God Himself. God is not going to give us a house or a mansion or a similar "dwelling place" to live in. He is going to have us live inside Himself. This is not a house made up of wood or stucco. It is made up of God. The building is God Himself. We will be housed in God. Let's look at the verse and then the words that make up the verse.
"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
"Earthly" means it is located on earth, not that it is made 'of' earth. This earthly "house," is a physical place of abode, a place we live in and have our home. Before it speaks of our future house after our death, it speaks of our earthly house, our human, physical body.
"Of," of this tabernacle, made up of, what it is made of; blood, bones, muscles, etc., etc.
Some houses are made of wood, stone, or some other material things.
"This tabernacle" (body) is like a tent, a temporary abode of our spirit. People usually camp in tents, but don't permanently live in them. This tabernacle is the corruptible, mortal human body we live in temporarily until our spirit leaves it at death.
"Dissolved" speaks of the processes our dead bodies go through at cremation, or under the sea, or in a casket over time.
"Building of" what the building is made of; not wood or stone, but God Himself. It is not a building made of wood, but a building "of God," not made by God, but the building is God.
"An house" refers to God Himself. It (He) is "not made." Isaiah 43:10b tells us that "God" was not made.
"With hands" Earthly, physical, human homes, are made by human hands, but not God.
"Eternal in the heavens." This is not referring to empty houses having existed forever in the past, or houses that Jesus has been working on, preparing for saints since his resurrection and ascension. These are not houses waiting for people on earth to die and have their spirits come and live in them. No! It is referring to God Himself, eternal in past and future.

Verse 2 speaks of desiring to be clothed with our "house from heaven." Clothed with God.
Will we be in a heavenly mansion distinct from God, and not God himself? No. We will be in a "house" that is God? Do other verses speak about being "in God"? See Jn 6:56; 14:20; 15:5; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; Eph 1:1,4-7; Phi 1:1; Col 1:2; 2:7,10. When Jesus says "In my Father's house are many 'dwelling places/Mansions” He is not speaking specifically of Heaven being our house, but of God Himself (in Heaven) being our house, Jn 14:2. In the same verse Jesus says He is going to prepare a place for us. He doesn't say He is going to Heaven and preparing a mansion, a place with walls and furniture. No. He is going to the cross to prepare the way by dying and providing the payment for our sins. He is not preparing the place we will live in, which is God Himself, but preparing the way for us to be accepted by God through our sins being paid for. There are "many dwelling places" (Jesus says), for there is space for many people to live, all in God. God wants to be so close to us that He ordained that He would be in us and we in Him. This is how Jn 14:10,11 can say that God the Father and God the Son live in each other.
There are a number of verses that may not be teaching of this EXACT idea of literally living in God once we no longer are living in our physical body, but give us an idea that we live and will live IN God 1 Co 1:30. "But of him are ye in (inside) Christ Jesus. Ro 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,…” Ro 13:14, "but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ." Now having looked at 2Co 5:1 in this way, look at Psalms 91:1-2 and see if it seems more meaningful. Read your Bible again and see if other verses don't start to jump out at you.

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WHAT GOD SHOULD RECEIVE FROM US

Revelation 4:11 says "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for they pleasure, they are, and were created."
Let's look at these words as they relate to God: "glory", then "honor", and then "power". "Glory." This involves giving God credit, praise, and recognition for Who He is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. God should receive much glory from us.
"Honor." A demonstration(s) of the giving of that credit, praise, and recognition. In the past people use to say "Hip, hip hooray" or sing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" to honor a person. Today we sing "Happy Birthday" to a person to honor them on the anniversary of that person's birth. We honor other people by giving speeches, awards, plaques, trophies, and sometimes valuable gifts/presents. At the end of the World Series they gave "The Most Valuable Player Award" and also a brand new truck to one player. Some people have been given ticker tape parades down major boulevards before thousands of people. We should give God honor by bowing our head before Him in prayer; kneeling before Him in prayer; prostrating ourselves before Him in worship! We should give Him honor by serving Him through giving, through doing good works, through enthusiastically testifying to what great things He has done in the ancient past, in the present, what He will do in the future, and what He has done in our own lives!
"Power." God is omnipotent, already has all power; so we are not giving Him power to increase the power He already has. No, we are giving Him glory and honor with power; not quietly but loudly; not in secret or privately, but publicly; not with restraint but with enthusiastic energy and force. Those people we honored with parades were not honored with three weak Cub Scouts pulling them in red wagons, but with large floats and powerful, Cadillac convertibles. Let's honor God with power.
Revelation 5:12 says "Saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Again, this is not speaking of the power and riches and wisdom, etc. that He already and has always possessed, but that which comes from us. We are to recognize Him powerfully. We are to give Him our riches (that which is valuable to Him); our love, our loyalty, our service, our worship. We are to give Him the wisdom we use in exalting HIM rather than in exalting ourselves; in putting HIM supreme over everything. We are not to worship Him weakly, but with all our "STRENGTH". Again, we are to honor Him and give Him glory as was explained in the commentary on Rev 4:11. Then Rev 5:12 ends with our giving God "blessing." This is declaring our well-wishes for God; our desire that all these good things spoken of here come to reality for and upon Him. Let's give God what He rightfully deserves!

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AMOUNT OF ETERNALLY LOST IN RELATION TO ETERNALLY SAVED

Will more people be lost than saved forever? It appears so. Jesus said in Mt 7:13,14 “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.”
Man’s total history can be divided up into 7,000 years, from creation to man’s final judgment. The first 2,000 years can be thought of as roughly the time from Adam until Noah’s flood. The first person that was ever born, rejected God’s plan of reconciliation after the murder of his brother. Some followed God, but it seems most in that time period did not, as only 8 people chose to take God’s way, the ark that was lifted up above the waters, as Jesus would be lifted up upon a cross. The next 2,000 years, until Jesus’ time, God raised up and dealt with the Jewish Nation, who much of that time also rebelled
against God. Man then crucified Jesus, and most of the world has followed false religions (Mt 7:21-23) or atheism ever since. Jesus will come again to reign as King over the world for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1-7), but man will be lead by Satan once again to rebel against Him (Rev. 13:4). Through all seven dispensations time periods of man’s history, the majority has chosen to rebel against God. More people are living in this world than ever before, yet Christians are in the vast minority. How fortunate Christians are to have come to be saved, rather than being like most of the rest of the people in the world who have chosen to go the other way.

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BIBLE COMPARISON
What I would like to do with this study is compare to the KJV what my modern versions say, and give an explanation of the subject or importance of the difference: Psa 12:7 having to do with preservation of God's Word for example; and Mt 7:14 having to do with whether getting saved is "difficult" or not; 1Co 1:18 are we saved, or are we "being" saved as Catholics teach and is printed in the Jerusalem and New Jerusalem Bibles. I have the NKJV, NLT, NIV, NASB, Holman, and if I don't have them I can go on line for the ESV, and others. I don't want to write all the words of a verse, just the applicable words to the subject involved and a commentary/explanation. I could write them side by side, or in a column.
The column seems easier to compare, but leaves empty space, taking up more space, as seen below.

Acts 2:26
KJV his Son Jesus
Amp his Servant Jesus, Son Jesus
Hol his Servant Jesus
NKJV his Servant Jesus

Side by side:
Acts 2:26

KJV: his Son Jesus; Amp: his Servant Jesus, Son Jesus; Hol: his Servant Jesus; NKJV: his Servant Jesus

As I chose to memorize 1Pe 4:16 and was just beginning to memorize it, I noticed that the last phrase of the verse sounds a little "awkward", not like modern English. I then realized THAT is one of the things that people that put out modern versions want to change. They want to take the "awkwardness" out of the Bible and make it sound like the modern language we normally speak. Then this thought hit me. "The Bible is not supposed to be OUR words, but GOD'S WORD." When we quote or read it, it should not sound like OUR words, our language, but God's. Now I know that in the KJV it still isn't in "GOD"S LANGUAGE" (unless all language is God's, for He knows them all, and the ability to communicate through language ultimately comes from God the creator of man and language). The KJV is referred to as "Elizabethan ENGLISH", and isn't even in the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic that the Bible was first written in. Elizabethan English is not like the English modern Americans speak, or even in the English that modern people of England or Great Britain speak. The vocabulary and the style is different. When modern Americans speak to one another, except sometimes for "geographical" accents that people may have, coming from such places as the southern USA, or certain states like Texas, New York, and New Jersey; or from even certain cities like Boston, there is usually nothing special about the way they speak that is that noticeable. Yes, there are things like very bad grammar, or very good grammar, or speaking a lot in slang, or speaking crudely or with profanity, and even noticing that the younger generation may speak a little different than the older generation, and of course there is a noticeable difference from the educational levels of say a two year old and a ten year old, or perhaps just a grammar school graduate and a university graduate, or one that is a non-reader of a variety of literature and one that is well-read, and such things; but generally speaking there is not much in the sound of our conversation that draws attention to the English language itself. Having said all that, does one really honor the Word of God by making it sound the same as what this modern generation is speaking today!!!! If the modern generation is being "dumbed down", if the rules of proper grammar are being ignored through one of the biggest fields of communication (the Internet), does it stand to reason that the Word of God should be printed in such language just to make it sound like it is written in their language, or to make it more understandable for them? Even if that were a legitimate reason, not only do modern versions change vocabulary, style, and grammar, they change MEANINGS and DOCTRINES! But my point of this article is that it is not a bad thing that the Word of God sounds distinctly different from man's modern language. It is a GOOD thing that the Word of God can be distinctly recognized immediately as the Word of God. Elizabethan English is still used in Shakespeare, but how often do millions of Americans listen to Shakespeare. How many books of Shakespeare are in homes today in comparison to works by Shakespeare? How many church buildings can you find in comparison to Shakespearian theaters? So when someone would hear the Elizabethan English of the KJV read or quoted, they would probably understand that it is the Bible, God's Word, not Shakespeare. "Thee's and Thou's", and words that have the "th" added to them, like "speaketh and heareth" rather than "speaks and hears" are not hard to learn and understand, as some would try to use as reason for not using them. If we think something is important enough to learn, we learn it. We learn how to understand "legal" language, lyrics in music we may not use in usual conversation, "political" language, and a number of other things we don't usually speak in. Why not learn THE WORD OF GOD, and recognize its particular language that it has been so used and blessed with from 1611 even until the present? If people can be bi-lingual, knowing two languages that are very similar (like Spanish & Portuguese), or two languages that are alike in some ways (like Spanish and English), and especially two languages that don't even use the same style of written alphabets (like English and Chinese), it shouldn't be that difficult for them to learn two kinds of the same language (Elizabethan English and modern English).

There are some 200 verses that can be used to test modern versions in comparison to the KJV. So often modern versions are based on one group of ancient manuscripts that leave out words that pertain to the deity, blood, cross, Lordship, and Virgin Birth of Christ, key doctrines that a "school" of ancient translators did not strongly adhere to. Some have changed Psalms 12:7 so that it is not referring to the preservation of God's Word, but to the preservation of God's people. That is such an interesting verse in the light of studying how versions have changed or omitted what the KJV says, and was so mightily used by God in saying it for hundreds of years. Though the market has been flooded with new versions, it has not eliminated God's preservation of His Word, or the KJV.

44 Key Test Passages for Modern Bibles:
Ex 16:28; 1Ks 15:12; Ps 12:6,7; Pr 18:24; Isa 40:3; Dan 9:27;
Mt 7:14; 18:4; 19:9; 23:14; 25:13; Mk 1:1; 2:17; 6:11; 9:44,46; 11:26; 16:9-20;
Lk 2:14,33; 4:4,8; 24:40; Jn 3:7,15; 5:4; 7:53-8:11; 16:16;
Ac 2:30; 3:26; 8:37; 9:5,6; Rom 9:5; 14:9; 1Co 1:18; 6:9; Eph 3:9,14;
Col 1:14; 1Ti 3:16; 1Pe 1:22; 4:1; 1Jn 5:7; Rev 5:14; 11:17; 14:5

ADDRESS ENGLISH: AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION
Psalms 12:7 Retains preservation of the words of God.
1 John 5:7 Omits "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost"
Colossians 1:14 Omits "through his blood"
Proverbs 18:24 Changes meaning from "shew himself friendly"
Romans 1:3 Omits "Jesus Christ our Lord"
1 Thessalonians 1:1 Omits "from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Galatians 4:7 Omits "through Christ"
Ephesians 3:9 Omits "of Christ" Changes "fellowship" to "dispensation"
Changes "beginning of the world" to "ages"
Ephesians 3:14 Omits "of our Lord Jesus Christ"
2 Timothy 4:22 Omits "Jesus Christ" Omits "Amen"
Matthew 17:21 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
Matthew 18:11 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
11 [For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.]
Mark 7:16 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
Mark 9:44,46 These verses are put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
Mark 15:28 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
John 5:4 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
Acts of the Apostles 8:37 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.
37 [And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.]
Romans 16:24 This verse is put in brackets, questioning its acceptance.

A few changes and omissions wouldn't be so bad, or probably even noticed. Actually there are hundreds of changes or omissions of words or complete verses that most people don't even notice, but when one sees them all listed together it is shocking what has been changed or left out or put in brackets with shades of doubt upon these words.

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COULD JESUS HAVE SINNED?

No! Jesus has always been God, and God can’t sin. Jesus has never had a sinful nature, unlike all humans, except Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve started out without a sinful nature, just like Jesus, except they weren’t God, while Jesus was. No angel started out with a sinful nature. Lucifer was holy, until he sinned. But no angel was God either. Both humans and angels were given free will to choose between right and wrong, good and evil, righteousness and sin. There were both angels (about 1/3, Rev 12:4), and the first two humans that began without a sin nature, but chose to sin, “fell”, and their sin natures began. But Mt & Lk both tell us how the devil tempted Jesus. Then how could he have actually been “tempted?”
Jesus said the devil had nothing in him, no sin nature to get his grips on or to get him to make the choice to sin (Jn 14:30). Then what does it mean that the devil “tempted” him? Did Jesus ever think about, contemplate, or was pulled toward sinning? No. He has always been God, pure righteousness, that has nothing in him that desires in any way to sin. We can easily get the wrong idea from this English word “tempted” in our modern language. But it was used centuries ago for the same idea that we have of being “tested.” Jesus was tested by the devil from without, but never was tempted from within his pure heart to sin.
The story goes that a railroad company built a trestle across a deep gorge, but a town wasn’t brave enough to ride in it for fear of falling to their death if the trestle collapsed under the weight of the train. The company had 100% faith in their trestle and knew it COULDN’T collapse, so they set up a public test; not to see if it would fail, but to prove that it wouldn’t fail. They loaded the train with as much weight as they could, far more than what passenger weight could ever be. They rain the train across the trestle to the other side, put the train in reverse and backed it up across again, and did this all day long, showing the people that the trestle didn’t even shake at all, it was so strongly built. The same is true when the devil “tempted” Jesus. It only showed that nothing could encourage Him to disobey God, to sin; and that He was ideally suited to be our Savior. We can have complete confidence in Him, and He is worthy of the highest praise.

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DID SATAN HAVE THE GOODS?

In Mt 4:8, 9 and Lk 4:5, 6 Satan shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, show Jesus all their glory, and then tells Jesus “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Did Satan actually have all this to give to Jesus, or was he lying? If Satan were lying, wouldn’t Jesus, or Paul, or the Holy Spirit let us know this in writing? On the other hand if Satan was not lying, there would be no need for any of these to say otherwise. Of course God is the ultimate ruler of the universe, and of this earth as well, but does He not allow man and Satan to rule it for a time to show what things become when God’s rule is rejected and theirs is followed? When we look at this present chaotic earth, doesn’t it make sense to say it is this way because Satan is presently ruling all those that have rebelled (or been born into rebellion) against God. Does not (verse) say that the unsaved are presently captives and slaves to sin in this present world?

Dan 4:17 tells us that God gives the kingdoms of men to whomsoever He will. In the beginning God gave headship over to Adam (verses), but when Adam sinned Adam advocated this headship through no desire of his own to Satan. Satan is referred to by Jesus as the prince of this world in Jn 14:30. Satan is referred to as the god of this world by Paul (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) in Eph 2:2 and Col 4:4. If Satan was lying to Jesus, and Jesus knew He was lying, it seems unusual that Jesus would not point this out to him and us. It is the natural thing to take a Biblical passage at face value, rather than think that what Satan was saying and how Jesus didn’t call him on it was actually Satan lying. It only takes one lie to become a liar, and though Satan is called the Father of lies (verse), and we know that he is deceptive, the Bible nowhere says that everything Satan says is a lie. When Satan said “For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Lk 4:11,12; none of that was a lie. It truly all is written in Ps 91:11, 12. That proves that the statement Christians occasionally hear that “Every time Satan speaks it is a lie.” is not true.

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UNDERSTANDING ECCLESIASTES 3:11
"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." Ecc 3:11 Though I review this memory verse regularly, I still wasn't understanding it at times. Modern versions of the Bible changing the word "world" to "eternity" were not helping me to understand it better either, so I took the time to pray and meditate on it and came to understand it as written below.
The first word of the verse, "He", is referring to God. The phrase "in his time" refers to the "end" of time, seeing the completion of mankind's history in this present evil world, seeing "the big picture" that God sees, not just the minute part that we as individuals see of our own small lifetime. In our lifetime we see bad things continuing in this world we live in throughout our entire lives. We don't see them coming to an end. We don't see, yet, with our physical eyes all evil removed and Jesus sitting on the throne of the new heaven and earth that Isa 65:17 and Rev 21:1 speak of. In "the world" that Ecc 3:11 brings to my mind, is not "the world" spoken of in Jn 3:16, the people of the world that Jesus came to save, but that "present evil world" system that Gal 1:4 speaks of. God doesn't love THAT evil world, for it is not the world that God created, but the EVIL world that came about because of the sin of Lucifer, Adam, and Eve. Sinful, unregenerate man, the unsaved, do not look at GOD'S world with eyes of faith in Him and His written Word, but just with their physical eyes at this present evil world. Opposite of the command in 1 John 2:15 to NOT love the world, this evil world so many love and cling to, is "set" in the heart of evil mankind, as our holy God has become separated from people because of their sin. God though has planned from eternity and is working on making the way of reconciliation with God a reality in individual's hearts so that they might no longer be separated from God but united with God. Through the Bible, God has revealed to the "spiritual" man (1Co 2:14-16) the beauty God will bring to the end of man's story, so that we may understand God's work and plan from beginning to end.

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EXPRESSING LOVE
This was on the website "The Christian Forum" of March 15, 2018, that I used to regularly read at the time.
"Hi! I need prayer for my marriage. Been married 5 years. I have always felt like what is wrong that my husband is not able to show me affection. We have talked about it .. i have told him what i need to feel loved .. hugs .. kisses.. caressing .. loving words.. and then when he does do these things sometimes .. they feel fake!! I just keep hoping that this would change! It feels to me like we are living like roommates. I need help God help me to keep loving him .. because i just feel like giving up! It feel like we r growing apart.. like we both rather do our own thing. Please help. Part of me wants to keep going and see what God can do. But how do i keep going with the way things are.. when i want more out of this marriage and he seems content. Thanks"

This was my reply:
"It is one thing to love, it is another to express that love. There are things that can be done to help express that love, but I also think of people that might be able to write a great love song, but they can not sing it well, no matter how much they try or train to be a singer. So they have someone else sing the song. Some can sing great, but are not great song writers. Your husband may love You greatly, but is just not a great expresser of love. You might learn to relish in his love, rather than in his expression of that love. Don't feed your mind with thoughts of doubt of his love. Feed your mind with thoughts of that love being real. Philippians 4:8. Your present thinking is neither good for you or your husband, but if you change to a thinking that relishes that you are loved (regardless of how it is expressed), this will help both you and your husband. He may not be a good singer, a good dancer, a good expresser of love, but that doesn't have to defeat the love between you. Imagine if he did all the things you wanted with great convincing power of his love that satisfied you completely. Imagine that he was a great singer, dancer, expresser of love. Now imagine that in order to save your life he had to through his body in front of something that would kill you otherwise. Imagine this results in a brain injury to him, where he is unable to sing, dance, or express himself well. Would you then start doubting his love for you? I don't think so. Though he hasn't had this kind of an injury, maybe he is just not "wired" the way you would like, but the love is still there for you. If he were to lose his arms in an accident, and was no longer able to hug you, would you still love to hug him, and be satisfied with that? I hope so. Father, I pray for this couple, that You will help them both move into the place of being secure in their love for one another. Amen."

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FORGIVENESS

This was also on the Christian Forum (See intro to above study).
The following are not my words, but I hold to the same opinions. This is something that churches across the country need to hear. Regardless of what you're comfortable with, the Bible cannot be changed.

"Have you ever had it happen that when you rebuked an abuser, not only did she refuse to apologize, repent, or change her hurtful behavior, but she then proceeded to smugly inform you that 'God forgives her' because 'God forgives everything,' and that the Bible says that you have to forgive her, too? I have, more than once.
And all I can say to that is, 'Nice try.' Because it's just not true. Biblical forgiveness doesn't work that way. Not even close. God forgives everybody who REPENTS, not everybody who doesn't repent, and continues sinning. Repentance means turning from one's sinful ways and changing one's LIFE. It does not mean continuing on as before, and it also does not mean stopping just one or two obnoxious behaviors while continuing all the rest, or even finding some new ones. It might surprise such self-righteous offenders to learn that God does NOT forgive 'everybody,' and that he does NOT tell us to, either. In fact, there is NOT ONE INSTANCE in Scripture of the Lord forgiving anyone who remains 'stiff-necked' (stubborn) and unrepentant.
Before one starts quoting the Bible, it might be a good idea to actually READ IT first. When ungodly people state that God's Word says something that justifies or facilitates their wickedness, I just love to hand them a Bible and ask them to show me exactly where it says that. Usually, they get all flustered, angry, or embarrassed, and quickly change the subject or storm off in a huff. If, by some remote chance, they can actually find the Scripture they're referring to (and conveniently misinterpreting), then we can read it in context and explore it together. But that hasn't happened to me yet!
Those who know the Lord and study his Word know that he has such a heart of love for the downtrodden and the broken-hearted, and that he desires us to be free of every kind of bondage. God's Word is infallible, and God does not play mean little tricks on abuse victims. He NEVER says anything that would make it easier for a sinner to keep on sinning or an abuser to keep on abusing. To even suggest otherwise is to reveal a profound ignorance of God's divine nature.
Biblically speaking, NO ONE gets forgiven without changing his ways and turning to God and godliness. The New Testament includes an additional requirement for meriting forgiveness: accepting Jesus as one's Lord and Savior (and no one who has genuinely done that can continue abusing others). Abusers would just love an excuse to obligate us to forgive them without the slightest effort to make amends, commitment to change, or anything expected of them at all. It's the Abuser's Dream Gig: to be able to commit one evil deed after another with impunity, and then pervert the Word of God by claiming that others have to repeatedly and unconditionally forgive her. This is utter nonsense.
BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED: FOR WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP. (Galatians 6:7) The Bible is not an excuse for abusive people to have a field day without ever suffering any consequences. Distorting the Word of God to get away with evil is an indication of the demonic nature of such people, not of their innocence and good intentions. Ask any deliverance minister and you will learn that twisting God’s Word to facilitate evil is one of the most common tactics used by demons.
Abusers by definition wouldn't have the slightest idea what the Bible REALLY says about forgiveness, or anything else. It's not like they spend a lot of time studying God's Word and applying it to their lives. They're just repeating something they heard somewhere along the line, and twisting it to suit their own purposes. They're using what they imagine Scripture says to pressure us and guilt us into forgiving them when they have done nothing whatsoever to deserve our forgiveness.
Some abusers like to call themselves Christians, because it enables them to get away with abusive behavior more frequently without being challenged or confronted. These people might actually be familiar with Scripture, and then use it, twist it, and take it out of context to justify their behavior and attempt to deceive us into forgiving them when no forgiveness is warranted. But talk is cheap. We need to study the Bible concerning this, and pray for the discernment and wisdom to distinguish between REAL Christians and PRETEND Christians: those who are conveniently 'Christian' only when it suits them. One big clue is that REAL Christians ACT LIKE real Christians. This means they do NOT mistreat other people.
The Bible does in fact tell us that we should forgive as the Lord forgave us (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32). But there are requirements for forgiveness. If we read in more depth and in context about God forgiving us, including the hows, whys and under what circumstances, we will see that he only forgives us when we come to him in the spirit of remorse, change our lives through his Son, ask for forgiveness, and repent (CHANGE). So if we are to forgive others as God forgives us, then we are to forgive them AFTER they have shown genuine remorse by the grace of Jesus's cleansing blood, and AFTER they have repented (CHANGED), NOT BEFORE. That is the formula for forgiveness which God models for us, and that is the formula which he instructs us to follow.
Other Scriptural examples of the Lord forgiving us IF AND WHEN WE REPENT are written in Ezekiel 33:10-20, Isaiah 55:6-7, Jeremiah 6:16-30 & 26:3, Luke 13:3 & 5, Acts 3:19. These are just a few of the examples we can study that will educate us about God's prerequisites and requirements for forgiveness.
We are not to cheapen the gift of forgiveness by giving it prematurely or undeservedly, to those who demand it and act as if they are entitled to it, and yet have done nothing to merit it. The Lord's higher purpose is to change men's hearts and make them turn from evil, give up their wicked ways, and choose to follow HIM instead of Satan. He does that by requiring repentance before forgiveness, not by giving evildoers a free ride.

In Luke 17:3, Jesus tells us very clearly that we are to forgive someone who sins against us IF he repents. He does NOT tell us to forgive everyone, including those who have absolutely no remorse and fully intend to continue abusing others and behaving badly. That would be preposterous and contradictory. God does not do nonsensical things that do not serve his ultimate purpose of bringing all men into his grace and his presence.
When an abuser refuses to change his ways, stop abusing, and start doing good, we are unable to grant him forgiveness. When we cannot forgive him because of his intention to continue repeating his wickedness, then God does not forgive him, either. AGAIN JESUS SAID, 'PEACE BE WITH YOU! AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, I AM SENDING YOU.' AND WITH THAT HE BREATHED ON THEM AND SAID, 'RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. IF YOU FORGIVE ANYONE HIS SINS, THEY ARE FORGIVEN; IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE THEM, THEY ARE NOT FORGIVEN.' John 20:21-22 NIV.
God does not want us to continue to be abused. And he does not want us to allow abusers to continue their abuse with no consequences. In fact, we are told numerous times to shun evildoers (some of these Scriptures are: Proverbs 22:10, Proverbs 22:24, Proverbs 23:9, Proverbs 24:25, Proverbs 25:4-5, Proverbs 24:24, Proverbs 26:24-26, Psalm 37:9, Psalm 119:115, Proverbs 19:19, Matthew 18:15-17, Titus 3:10-11, and 1 Corinthians 5:11). Look up 'rebuke' in a large Concordance, and you will also find dozens of references.
The Bible teaches that all evil behavior has consequences. The only way to come into a state of grace is to give up sinfulness and walk in the ways of the Lord, in love for others. Abusers by nature could not care less about coming closer to God, and usually need some extra incentive to straighten up and fly right. That incentive is often some kind of social censure, which may, for a particular individual, include our refusal to forgive him until and if he has earned it.
There are times that God will use us in this way to bring a person into repentance and to him. By forgiving unremorseful evildoers, we are not helping them and we are not serving God's purposes. We are depriving them of the opportunity to repent and transform their lives, to truly accept Jesus as their Savior so their sins can be washed away, and to walk forever with our Father. By interfering with God's Law of Sowing and Reaping, we are preventing God's purpose from being fulfilled in that individual's life.
The Lord requires that we do our part in bringing others to repentance. SON OF MAN, I HAVE MADE YOU A WATCHMAN FOR THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; SO HEAR THE WORD I SPEAK AND GIVE THEM WARNING FROM ME. WHEN I SAY TO THE WICKED, 'O WICKED MAN, YOU WILL SURELY DIE,' AND YOU DO NOT SPEAK OUT TO DISSUADE HIM FROM HIS WAYS, THAT WICKED MAN WILL DIE FOR HIS SIN, AND I WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS BLOOD. BUT IF YOU DO WARN THE WICKED MAN TO TURN FROM HIS WAYS AND HE DOES NOT DO SO, HE WILL DIE FOR HIS SIN, BUT YOU WILL HAVE SAVED YOURSELF. (Ezekiel 33:7-9)
So despite attempts by ungodly people to mislead, deceive or pressure us, we need to stand firm in the knowledge that the Lord does not forgive those who are 'stiff-necked,' refuse to repent, and intend to continue in their sinful ways, and he does not expect us to, either. There is no such thing as unconditional forgiveness. There are CONDITIONS on receiving forgiveness, there is a REASON for those conditions, and the conditions are repentance and turning from one's evil ways. Forgiveness is not to be given just because someone simply demands it, or insists he is entitled to it. It is only to be offered to those who are truly worthy of it."

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KJV – NLT PEOPLE'S PARALLEL BIBLE
John Doe (my former pastor) gave me a parallel version of the Bible containing these two translations. John wanted to know my opinion of the way the NLT was put together. It has a 6 1/2 page intro telling how this was done. I have read it, and made some notes in the book that I copied into this file, and then sent John an edited copy of it. This Book was given to me (along with a $50 gift card) on occasion of my 65th birthday. In the past John has also given me 'The Companion Bible (KJV)' and 'The Life Essentials Study Bible' (Holman Bible) on 3-8-15 and 1-19-16 respectively, along with an old computer to set up and maintain the church website." Below is the version of this file that I emailed to John.

Pastor John Doe,
thank you again for the parallel version containing these two translations. You wanted to know my opinion of the way the NLT was put together. It has a 6 1/2 page intro telling how this was done. I have read it, and made some notes in the book and have copied them into this article.

I have written the following on one of the title pages of my new "KJV - NLT People's Parallel Bible": "Though I have a number of points against the NLT, the NLT makes the KJV easier to understand. Since the KJV has a number of points against it as well, one should not take the position of being 'KJV Only' in regards to Bible Study." 4-15-18
(There are some good answers to the points against the KJV, but that is not the subject of this article.)

I prefer the KJV over "modern versions" for a number of reasons: It was the main Bible used by scholars for 400 years before modern versions started coming out, and thus the foundation of many of the sources we use today. It doesn't have a copywriter and can be freely used. It is based on the Masoretic Text for the O.T. Hebrew, and the Textus Receptus for the Greek N.T., not the Alexandrian manuscripts that leave out words concerning doctrines on the Deity, Virgin Birth, Lordship, Blood Atonement of Christ, as well as the Trinity and the Preservation of the Scriptures. It either has no, or fewer footnotes (and anti Christ bias) than modern versions, depending on the particular KJV being used. I have used it for years, am familiar with much of the "archaic" language, and have done all my memorization from its verses.
Because of the style of the KJV, it seems easier to memorize for me, and of more enjoyment to read. There are over 200 verses that have shown "notable" differences or omissions of either key words, phrases, or complete verses. Some verses have been completely changed in their meaning, while many other verses seem to be changed for no particular reason but to not be an exact copy of the KJV.

I have a list of test verses that I use to see what a modern version has done with them. Some of these verses deal with the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, the mention of His blood, the cross, and His Lordship. Notice that these all have to do with the person of Jesus Christ. In addition to Christ, Who is the central theme of the Bible, the subject of the preservation of the Scriptures themselves is among my test scriptures (Ps 12:7). Some of the verses I use are these:
Ps 12:6,7; Pr 18:24; Isa 40:3; Mt 18:4; 19:9; 23:14; 25:13; Mk 1:1; 2:17; 6:11; 9:44,46; 11:26; 16:9-20;
Lk 2:33; 4:4,8; 24:40; Jn 3:15; 5:4; 7:53-8:11; 16:16; Ac 2:30; 3:26; 8:37; 9:5,6; Rom 9:5; 14:9; Eph 3:9,14; Col 1:14; 1Ti 3:16; 1Pe 1:22; 4:1; 1Jn 5:7; Rev 5:14; 11:17; 14:5

PLACES WHERE I PREFER THE NLT OVER THE KJV
When it comes to the verses that mention Palestine or Palestina in the KJV, I prefer the NLT which translates it Philistia, or Philistines, such as Joel 3:4; Isaiah 14:29,31; and Exodus 15:14. As is the case with the NIV, I also prefer the NLT over the KJV for Titus 2:12 where the KJV says "Denying ungodliness." The NIV says "Just say no" and the NLV says "turning away from."

Though modern translations may stress that they believe the KJV was a good translation for its time, because the English language and the meaning of some of its words have changed since 1611, they say that there was the need for their particular translation to be made. While it may be true that modern translations may be easier to understand for today's readers than the KJV, I feel that in many places these translations are not as accurate. Also, while one schooled in the KJV will understand the NLT, one schooled in the NLT or other modern translations will not understand the KJV. So one could say “that being schooled in some modern translation, rather that the KJV, contributes to the "dumbing down" of the people, rather than the educating of the people.” Since we are speaking of the most important words in existence (the Word of God), we should not be so lazy that we can't learn or stand to be taught (if not the original languages of Hebrew and Greek) a little of the old English vocabulary used in what is recognized as the English translation (KJV) "against which all other English translations are measured" (quote from KJV/NLT people's parallel Bible).
This book says "we avoided using words such as "justification" and "sanctification,"… In place of these words, we have provided renderings such as "made right with God" and "made holy." To me, instead of challenging a person to further their education and increase a person's vocabulary, this seems to keep people in ignorance, dependent on modern, inferior translations, again, dumbing them down, rather than "wising them up."

The publisher of this KJV/NLT parallel Bible has a 26 page section called "Tyndale Bible Verse Finder" in which are 183 subjects placed in alphabetical order. Subheadings are given under each of these, with proof scripture addresses. Though most of this seems pretty good, some theological bias can be seen. For instance, for the subject "Rapture" the reader is directed to "see Second Coming of Christ". Under "Second Coming of Christ" there is no time distinction given between the resurrection of believers and the resurrection on non-believers. There is no distinction between a coming of Christ for believers before the Tribulation and a resurrection of non-believers at the end of the Tribulation.
Under "Spiritual Gifts" five statements are made, with proof references given, but there is no mention pro or con on the subject of "the cessation of sign gifts" (tongues, miracles, knowledge). This then would seem to take the "side" that all the spiritual gifts still exist.
Usually for each of the 183 subjects, only one proof reference is given. When only one reference is given, it doesn't give a very full case for the subject, and there are many subjects where some verses on it would relate to one time period in history, and other verses would refer to another time period, giving different understanding on that subject. Some verses may relate to living under the law, or to being a Jew, or to living in the age of Grace, and other things. These all place a different shade of understanding on a subject. Under the subject "Cult" the statement is made "Members of the occult will never enter God's Kingdom" yet we know that members of cults can be saved and enter the Kingdom. Under "Death" it says 'Every person will face death (Psalm 89:48), yet if the Rapture is true (1 Co 15:51-53; 1 Th 4:13-17) we see that not everyone dies, similar to Enoch (Gen 5:24) and Elijah (2 Ks 2:11). Under "Discrimination" 'God does not discriminate among his people'. The word "discriminate" could be misleading, for God does make "distinction" between His people, (Lev 19:28; Co 14:34; 1 Jn 2:12-13).
Under "Righteous/Righteousness" it says 'Human nature is the opposite of righteousness (Romans 3:10-18), yet we know that Jesus had a 'human nature' though not a 'fallen/sinful' nature. The treatment of most of these subjects would fit with the theology that I would hold to, but I know that it would not fit with the theology that some other Christians would hold to.

To introduce it's "365-Day Reading Plan" this book says "This 365-day plan will give you a year-long guided tour of the Bible. Though it doesn't include every verse, it will lead you through all the most important passages." It doesn't purport to take one through the entire Bible, and suggests "The One Year Bible" to do so. This may be good, but it doesn't seem to be what God would think best according to Deuteronomy 8:3 and Matthew 4:4. Again, is this a "dumbing down" approach to Bible study?

The introduction to the New Living Translation speaks of certain manuscripts that omitted what some of the other manuscripts included, and then often says that it has put footnotes on the page to show this. It then goes on to say "more people will hear the Bible read aloud in church than are likely to read it for themselves." If this is true, why would those that put the NLT together expect its readers to read its footnotes? Could it be they really don't want them to read the footnotes, but just follow what is in the text that they have produced, and follow what "they believe" was actually in the original Word of God, following the selected group of ancient manuscripts that they want to follow (The Samaritan Pentateuch, the Syriac Peshitta, the Latin Vulgate, Codex Alexandrinus, Codex Siniaticus, and Codex Vaticanus, over other ancient manuscripts they do not want to recognize as superior? They use the Majority Text (M-Text), the Nestle-Aland Greek N.T., and follow the deceptive works of Westcott and Hort. Could the "dumbing down" of its readers make them easier to convince them to follow their selected and preferred translation, even buying it rather than the KJV, having to get permission from them to use it in certain ways because of its copy write, unlike the KJV that has no copy write?

While thinking of what they call a "modern audience" and how to make clear to them the meaning of certain verses, the publishers have chosen to change the "male-oriented terms" except when it comes to God Himself. Though helping people understand the meaning of Scripture should be a goal (Nehemiah 8:8), catering to a "modern audience" to the point of changing the words of Scripture can lead further and further away from the true meaning. Realize that this "modern audience" is being shaped into an audience that accepts homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, cross-dressers, and others God has expressed to us as abominable. This modern audience will not just use the euphemistic term "gay" to describe themselves, but admit to the term LGBTQ with the "Q" standing for "queer". Notice how a dictionary defines this word, and reveals how this "modern audience" now uses it. USAGE The word queer was first used to mean ‘homosexual’ in the early 20th century: it was originally, and often still is, a deliberately offensive and aggressive term when used by heterosexual people. In recent years, however, many gay people have taken the word queer and deliberately used it in place of gay or homosexual, in an attempt, by using the word positively, to deprive it of its negative power. This use of queer is now well established and widely used among gay people (esp. as an adjective or noun modifier, as in : queer rights;: queer theory) and at present exists alongside the other, deliberately offensive, use. The words fag and faggot are occasionally used in the same way. This use is similar to the way in which a racial epithet may be used : within a racial group, but not by outsiders. See also usage at nigger.

The words of the original Scripture were originally the words chosen by the Holy Spirit. As "sinful", limited, fallible man became involved in making copies and translations of the original scriptures, I doubt all those productions have been pleasing to God. Indeed, some must have displeased Him greatly. At times I read through the KJV/NLT and see that they do not reveal the same thing. Mark 14:17 KJV says "thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth there to." He had "the accent" or vocabulary of a Galilean. Yet in the NLT it simply says "You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean." How did they know he was a Galilean? It doesn't tell us they recognized a Galilean accent or use of distinct vocabulary. When people today say "Ye all" it may tell us they are from the southern part of the USA.

Though the NLT will justify changing, modernizing the language so modern people can understand, what they are understanding is something that really didn't happen. In Mk 15:24 KJV they cast lots, they didn't through dice as the NLT says. The latter is easier to understand, but it is not accurate. It is not that hard to go on the internet or check a reference book to learn that casting lots was completed by throwing sticks or stones with markings or symbols into a closed-off space to determine the will of God. It was used by Jews throughout the Old Testament, and even Jesus Christ's disciples in the New Testament until Pentecost. Deuteronomy 4:2 (adding and omitting words to the scripture) is commonly ignored by both the KJV and modern translations, though sometimes a footnote is used by the latter, and additions are needed to make the original more understandable and easier to read more smoothly.

In conclusion, I am not a "KJV-Only" person, but am leery of all modern-translations, keeping 1 Th 5:21 in mind.
Someone wrote "God is not the author of confusion. New versions have cause-- Loss of deity of Christ in scriptures, loss of easy memorization (especially for congregations to memorize together), and loss of unity within the local church." In addition, congregations have a hard time following the preaching of pastors and the teaching of teachers, when not everyone is using the same version with the same wording, or even including all of the same text.
It has not usually been the student of the KJV that has lost their faith in the trustworthiness of the Bible, but the students of the modern Bibles, and the Bible college and seminarians that have been taught from those same modern Bibles. Though I preached and taught from the modern NKJV for over 16 years, I am not sure I would do that if I had it to do over. Again, modern Bible can both give better clarity, and confusion, but when understood in the proper light, can be helpful. Pastor John Doe, this should give you a better idea of my position, and why I hold it.
Thanks again for the Bibles you have given me, and also this computer upon which I have written this.
Greg

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[Below are Bible studies that I am still working on finishing:]

PREPARE FOR JUDGMENT

Ecc 12:14; Ro 14:12; Ps 42:2; 2 Co 5:10; Ps 139:23; Ps 62:12;

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS LIFE & THE NEXT

Ga 1:4 "this present evil world" 1Ti 4:8 "the life that now is, and of that which is to come" Tit 2:12 "this present world" 2Ti 1:12 "against that day"??? 2Ti 2:4 "the affairs of this life" Heb 6:5 "the world to come" In between or the end of this life…. 1Ti 4:1 "latter times" 2Ti 3:1 "the last days"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HEIRS OF GOD

Ro 8:17Heir, inheritance. Earthly vs. Heavenly. An earthly inheritance can be planned for by both parents and child, but it can change. What God plans to give His children by inheritance will not change, for God will not change His mind, and God Himself will not change. On earth exists inflation and deflation, but not in Heaven. On earth, more and more siblings can be born into a family, diminishing the amount of inheritance for each, but not the inheritance from God. Once gained, an earthly inheritance can run out or be squandered, but not God's inheritance.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OLD AGE

Ps 71:9 Ecc 12:1

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"REASONS TO PRAY"

1. Commandment. 2. Brings joy, and meets needs. 3. Gives power. 4. Brings immediate rewards.
"Take root, bear fruit." "He hears, is near, is dear." "Prayer: the cure to worry."
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PROPHETIC MEANING OF THE FEASTS OF LEVITICUS 23

V. 5 Passover
God delivered the Jews from Egypt, Christ delivers us from sin

V. 6 The Feast of Unleavened Bread

V. 10 First-fruits

V. 16 Fifty days (Pentecost)

V. 22 Harvest The Church age

V. 24 Trumpets The rapture of the church
V. 27 A Day of Atonement The Tribulation period
V. 34 The Feast of Tabernacles Christ reigns on Earth for a 1,000 yrs.

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THE THREE EARTHS

Gen 1:1

2Pe 3:1-10

Rev 21:1