Fight the Good Fight of Faith. 1Timothy 6:11 -12.

 Most translations entitle this next section

“Fight the Good Fight of Faith.”

But look at what the NASB translation says in 1 Timothy 6:11a.

“But flee from these things, you man of God.”

You would think that the editors would have something associated with their opening title and grabbed our attention right away.

What do we get, flee, but from what?

Obviously from sin, but it also includes the things that Paul described at the beginning of this chapter. In a moment we will see that there is a call to fight, but it is NOT what you think.

By the way, flee and fight is two extremely different things. In general, we perceive those who flee to be fearful, and fear doesn't do anything but demonstrate a lack of faith.

The majority of translations use the term flee. Flee is the Greek word pheugō which means to run away or escape.

The dictionary explanation of flee is this, “To run with rapidity, as from danger; to attempt to escape.” That same dictionary tells us that to fight is to “To strive or contend for victory, in battle or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue or destroy an enemy.”

The CEV calls these things that Timothy is to escape from evil. Here is a recap of what we have seen in chapter six that falls under the category of evil.

• Preaching a gospel that is different than anything Paul taught.
• Disrespect for those to whom you are submitted.
• Things that bring about strife, evil language, and controversial questions.
• Constant friction between people who are deprived of truth.

These last two items played a role in conversations I had over the Christmas Holiday season of 2020. My son-in-law had referenced a previous Pastor as a friend of mine. So, I took the opportunity to point out that this former Pastor and I were nowhere close to being friends.

[This is the Pastor who took me to lunch in a very public restaurant and then proceeded to humiliate me, first, by telling me that I could not teach “that,” considering that he had already asked me to lead a chapter at the book study on discipline that night. I had shown him my prepared notes for the meeting. And he immediately assumed that I intended to cover every word put on those pages. He was not interested in hearing any explanation. Secondly, after several minutes of frustration, he asked me why I teach Eschatology. Odd, seeing as he has never heard me teaching Eschatology, nor had he given me an opportunity. I began to answer him with a standard line; Eschatology is pertinent because it is happening worldwide. That was about all I got out of my mouth when it turned derogatory and abusive. I quickly stopped him and said, is that what you think of me? To which he replied, yes. I ended our session there.]

That former Pastor has moved on in an effort to repair some damage he previously created, and I could care less if I ever saw him again. I talked to my son-in-law about what the Bible says about forgiveness and how we are to follow Jesus’ words, found in scripture, for direction on running our daily lives.

At least I had my son-in-law’s attention for a few minutes. When I stopped talking, he immediately dove into talking about the stolen Presidential election and Joe Biden’s flaws. Honestly, I do not think that the son-in-law is willing to grasp anything from scripture unless it creates strife, controversy, or scares him away from hell.

End, page one.

Note the translation as this one is less a fearful escape and more of a responsible migration away from the snare that Satan is setting for you.

1 Timothy 6:11 CEV Timothy, you belong to God, so keep away from all these evil things. Try your best to please God and to be like him. Be faithful, loving, dependable, and gentle. [Contemporary English Version]

The (AMPLIFIED Bible) conveys the idea of running. However, if you spend any time in recovery, you will meet far too many people who unsuccessfully tried to run. You want to know what this equates to; it equates to people trying to do things apart from God.

Does God expect you to sit on your butt until you build up your running muscles? Hardly, and the sad part is that you know that God desires you to do something. The problem then becomes one in which we need to run to God, but we don’t do that either.

The (BBE) tells us, “But you, O man of God, keep yourself from these things, and go after righteousness.” If I were to describe what a life of trusting God while running from evil looks like, I would say that it looks like what we see here in The Bible In Basic English. We are living a life where we go after the things of righteousness.

Let me be clear; righteousness is NOT following religious rules. It is the perpetual act of following after Jesus and His Word. In short, if He says it, do it.

On that note, let’s look at the CEV once again. Halfway through the sentence, it says, “Try your best to please God and be like Him.” This is precisely what following after Jesus looks like.

Ah, now this is where the fighting begins.

1 Timothy 6:12 NASB Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Here we are instructed to fight the good fight of faith.

Fight is the Greek word agōnizomai and means to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary.)

The “good” is the Greek word kalos and means beautiful (figuratively), good (literally or morally).

The second usage of the word fight is different from the first that we find 1 Timothy 6:12. Here, fight is the Greek word agōn and means a place of assembly (as if led), that is, (by implication) a contest (held there); figuratively an effort or anxiety...

End, page two.

So what do we get if we place the alternate words into 1 Timothy 6:12?

We frequently struggle as if we are contending with an adversary, as we speak forth the Word from the Bible of from our spirits through the Holy Spirit, in our places of assembly. In these assemblies, we often exert an effort as though we were in a contest. (Me)

If we are struggling or exerting an effort, much like an athlete, the question is, why?

We all have an adversary, and occasionally that adversary convinces well-meaning people, who call themselves followers of Christ, when in reality they are actively following after Satan’s advice, to open their mouths and give him their tongues for the purpose of creating strife.

My Pastor, Jack Hibbs, talks openly, since the Covid shut down of churches, about how people have come so that they could attend an open church. The problem is, they have come, and they bring whatever beliefs they have learned from their collection of churches, with them; this would not be a problem if they kept those twisted beliefs to themselves, but several of these recent attendees have stood in opposition to the Pastor, challenging and intending to bring strife and contention.

When we do this, bring strife and contention, ignoring the witness of scripture, what then are we relying on as a witness for our ramblings? Nothing more than tradition and false teachings.

Content with what you have. 1Timothy 6:6-10

 This section is how I ended my last post on Timothy.

Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves. These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. (1 Timothy 6:2-5 TNIV)

Paul admonished Timothy to teach sound doctrine and insist on it; he then goes on to tell Timothy that if anyone teaches otherwise:

• They are conceited
• And they understand nothing.

Because we have been boiling in the hot water of liberalism for many years now, we, for the most part, will go into denial and defend someone teaching our elementary age school children about anal sex as a method of birth control. Sorry, that was a little rough, but we need to wake up and take action. Why do we have to get slapped in the face to wake up?

Paul goes on to say that these people, who have put themselves in opposition to sound doctrine, have an unhealthy interest in:

• “controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth.”

Just this evening, my son-in-law, who tells us that his relationship with Jesus is private, goes on a 45-minute rant about how evil the churches are because they closed their doors in response to California Governor Newsome's lockdown order. He went on to say he would have never closed the doors to the church. You want me to buy into that oration, especially since you make NO effort to get you, or your family, into church; and, there are opportunities. His arguments do not end there as he continues with his rants about masks and safety. He suggests that we could segregate the church by having all those who choose to wear masks to sit on one side, while the unmasked can sit on the other side. I said, you can't do that because the end result will be the two camps glaring at each other, thinking, how evil the other is; one for not caring, the other berating those with masks for acting in fear; all this helps to create turmoil within the church body. Paul says that people that cause this strife and friction have one goal financial gain. If you extend this twisted thought out to its end, do you think that your negative babbling will get you a teaching or pastoral position at the megachurch? Why, because you think the church is a source of financial gain. The son-in-law went on about how the pastors are getting rich. He referred to one I was recently involved with.

Alright then, let me just speak about the church I recently left. The most recent pastor was brought on as the new pastor by the pastor that was leaving, and he did so under the premise of bringing on a younger man that would carry on the work that the founding pastor began. As a church, we fed the poor and built homes in Tijuana on several occasions.

End, page one.

However, when this new pastor came, he effectively said, this church body is too old, and we need more people in the twenty to forty year age range. Obviously, irritating the majority is not a good way to start a relationship, but he did. He didn't show up driving a Mercedes Benz; he drove a beat-up Chevrolet van; and, for a time, had to live in people's homes and travel trailers.

Now, here is the oddity. My previous pastor owned a 2400 square foot home in New Orleans, not far from the small church he pastored before returning to Southern California. The community that he lived in was devastated by the floods brought on by the hurricane; however, his home was not destroyed. While the home was up for sale, and it took a while, a church member here in California, who owned several homes in a nearby affluent neighborhood, let the pastor rent one of those homes, for a meager price, until they could afford to buy another. Well, their New Orleans home sold for an excellent price, and the pastor eventually bought the home they were living in. The New Orleans home just about paid for the new one.

Would you say he was rich?

I wouldn't.

Did he come here to get rich off of us?

I don't think so, as it appears that he still wears the same jeans and shirts he showed up with.

Does it sound like I need to trash this pastor because he is trying to get rich off the church?

No, and not only that, I am quite sure that I would be judging the man, and therefore be subject to a judgment myself.

Is there an overabundance of greedy pastors destroying people's trust in the church?

Absolutely, but if this will cause you to lose sleep, then walk away from that church.

So my son-in-law's malicious talk, directed at ALL pastors and one I know a little something about, is clearly unfounded. All this sounds so negative, and it could be, but again Paul takes it to the next step.

1 Timothy 6:6 CEV And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have.

If I used the NASB, it could be perceived that the pursuit of Godliness is a means to financial gain, and it is NOT. As you can see, the CEV translation makes it quite clear that your life can be richer through Christ by making you content with what you have.

Read about Paul's take on this idea of getting rich off the church, as he went hungry on many occasions and had no permanent place to call home.

Keep something in mind if this challenges you.

1 Timothy 6:7-8 CEV We didn't bring anything into this world, and we won't take anything with us when we leave. (8) So we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes.

We are warned that those who want to get rich CAN fall into many temptations, snares, and destruction. To put it plainly, Dr. J. Vernon McGee says, “Riches will not bring satisfaction.”

End, page two.

1 Timothy 6:9 NASB But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

Eugene Peterson's Message tells us.

1 Timothy 6:9 MSG But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time.

As I read this, Benny Hinn comes to mind.

I will finish this off with the infamous, only because it is so frequently misquoted, by almost everyone, as a weapon to manipulate people and justify some's poverty, who are probably dealing with their inability to control their spending.

1 Timothy 6:10 NASB For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

There it is; it is the love of money that is the root of all sorts of evil.

Love seems like a simple word, but again, that is not the case here. The GK word is philarguria, which means – avarice, or the love of money. If you look up the word avarice in the dictionary, you find this:

Avarice means an inordinate desire of gaining and possessing wealth; covetousness; greediness or insatiable desire of gain.

An insatiable desire of and for gain. This is the kind of thing that drives people to murder.

The Cyclopedia tells us, “Avarice consists not merely in seeking after worldly wealth too eagerly, or by unjust means, but in loving it excessively, even though it be our own. Avarice is in its nature, sin, and, according to St. Paul, a kind of idolatry.” [Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.]

Considering what we have just spoken about, it is easier to understand how “some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

I want to close this out by retelling a story that Pastor Jack Hibbs shared with us one recent Sunday morning. He said, after the first service, a man came to him and said, I was raised in the church, been there all my life, and repented multiple times, as most of us did; but after hearing your sermon this morning, I am not sure I am a Christian. How can I know? Jack told us that he took a momentary look at the Bible in the man's hand, which looked unused, and said, You take that new Bible in your hand and read it, if it tells you to do something, then do it; that's how you follow Jesus; and it was Jesus who said, if you love me, you will follow me.

When it comes to money, you either use it wisely, or it uses you.

Keep yourself from sin and follow Jesus.

End, page three.

Part two on my review of Robert Breaker's message, Can you see in 2020?

In my last post I indicated that I had recently become aware of Pastor Robert Breaker and a YouTube video he made on the rapture of the church. You can find this video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccbzG8At9ak&t=783s

The YouTube site for Robert Breaker explains the video and title – to some degree.

“Missionary Evangelist Robert Breaker asks if you can see in the year 2020, and how what is happening now in the world appears to be pointing to the soon coming rapture of the church and the rise of the antichrist mark of the beast system.”

Robert, as I told you in the previous post, emphasizes the usage of the King James Version only. I debunked that premise and told you that you need to compare translations as God can miraculously feed us from multiple versions; we, as students of scripture, have to give due diligence and not be misled by false teachings that are interlaced through our Bibles, so keep that in mind as we progress.

A common but misleading theme within the church is the statement – NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR THE HOUR. This portion of scripture, which is taken out of context, is used as a big, Pharisaical stick against those who excitedly speak about the potential that the Lord could come back at any moment. Robert takes a calm approach to teaching and acknowledges that he is not trying to set a date as he directs us to scriptures that he uses to establish his point.

Robert repeatedly states, I will not give you my opinion without backing it up with scripture. The first verse we were taken to is Hosea 6:1-2.

Hosea 6:1-2 AMP, COME AND let us return to the Lord, for He has torn so that He may heal us; He has stricken so that He may bind us up. (2) After two days He will revive us (quicken us, give us life); on the third day, He will raise us up that we may live before Him. [Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37:1-10.]

While there is no denying that the assertion “on the third day He will raise us up that we may live before Him,” grabs my attention, but does it apply to me, us in general, or the church? To answer this we need to understand the context and subject of Hosea.

So what is the context of Hosea?

Hosea 1:1 tells us

“THE WORD of the Lord that came to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel.”

Most of us who have been raised in the church understand that God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. Unless you are watching the movie “A Pretty Woman” marrying a harlot is generally thought to be a bad idea – the reasons are rather obvious.

Because Hosea 1:1 immediately gives us an overview we can historically understand the time frame [Hosea’s ministry spanned several decades, beginning near the end of the reigns of Uzziah of Judah (ca. 790-739 b.c.) and Jeroboam II of Israel (ca. 793-753 b.c.) and concluding in the early years of Hezekiah’s reign.], and which kingdom(s) God is directing His message toward - Hezekiah and the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and Judah, the Southern Kingdom, which will, in the course of time, also go into Babylonian captivity.

End, page one.

Does knowing that God is directing His message toward the divided kingdoms of “God's” people, exclude those of Israel who were to come; and, the Gentiles that will also come into the kingdom? No.

2 Timothy 3:16 NASB All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

One of the biggest issues that Hosea is directed to speak against, is played out by his marriage to Gomer who returns to being a harlot.

J. Vernon McGee tells us, “Israel like Gomer was unfaithful and went back to practicing prostitution. God is applying Gomer's sin to the nation.” This prostitution, which is directed at God's people, really comes into view in verse 4 of 2 Kings 18.

Being made aware of Hezekiah we learn from 2 Kings 18:3-6 NASB that:

• He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.

• (Verse 4) He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. (Asherah was the name of a sensual Canaanitish goddess Astarte, the feminine of the Assyrian Ishtar. Easton's Bible Dictionary. Me: Let's be blunt, a sex god.). He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it, and it was called Nehushtan (the copper serpent). [Ask yourself a question, what did God remove His people from when He extracted them out of Egypt?]

• He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him.

• For he clung to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses.

An alternate translation lays out verse four in this manner.

2 Kings 18:4 GNB He destroyed the pagan places of worship, broke the stone pillars, and cut down the images of the goddess Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze snake that Moses had made, which was called Nehushtan. Up to that time, the people of Israel had burned incense in its honor.

Here, in the Good News Bible, we gain a better understanding of what these “high places” are. At this point, Hezekiah seems like a good guy on God's scale of morality. The problem is that 2Kings 18 and 20 continues to fill in details about Hezekiah, and we see him losing his faith in God and giving all the glory and wealth of the temple to the king of Assyria.

He said, "What have they seen in your house?" So Hezekiah answered, "They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasuries that I have not shown them." Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD. 'Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,' says the LORD. 'Some of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you will beget, will be taken away; and they will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.'" Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good." For he thought, "Is it not so if there will be peace and truth in my days?" (2 Kings 20:15-19 NASB)

End, page two.

So, do we have a relational association with at least two scriptural witnesses that validate the idea that after two days He will raise us up?

Yes, and one of those associations speak of Christ's death and resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:4 NASB (4) and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Although it is not word for word, the implications are that the time frame has taken place, and on the third day He raises us up by the catching away of the church, just as Jesus did. If you can handle it, Jonah is another example that validates being raised on the third day. In the case of Jonah the great fish spewed out on the shore and God raised him up. You see, you have to accept the fact that Jesus used Jonah as a sign when He responded to the Pharisee's demand that He give them a sign. If Jesus can use Jonah, then the logical assumption must be that Jonah was dead, without Jonah's death the reference does not work and makes Jesus a liar, which He is NOT.

The other assertion that Hosea 6:1,2 makes, is that we may live before Him.

Job, a man who suffered great loss and pain from affliction cried out -

Job 19:25-26 NASB "As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. (26) "Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God;

Another version, the TNIV, tells us that even, “...after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh, I will see God;” Where did Job get this kind of confidence?

If you are honest, most of us have heard little from the Old Testament that speaks of a future time of peace with the Father. Well, Job speaks with confidence about his future destination in which he will see God. Jesus, Himself, stated that we would see Him because we are in the Father.

John 14:18-20 NASB "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (19) "After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. (20) "In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

The other scriptures, the Robert Breaker referenced, make a bit more sense.

2Thessalonians 2:1-3 is a popular one, as it references the apostasia, which is the gathering of the church. Sadly, most translations used the term falling away, which is incorrect. Having covered this, in-depth, in the previous post, I will let you pursue the problems with translation and why on your own.

Another verse is:

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 TNIV (51) Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- (52) in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

And lastly Matthew 24:34.

Matthew 24:33-34 TNIV Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. (34) Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

End, page three.

Jesus said these words to a Jewish audience and referred to things. What things?

• Israel becoming a nation.

  That happened in 1948. Since Jesus said, this generation will not pass away, it behooves us to figure out the length of a generation.

  The average age of mothers at the birth of their first child was 20 and at the last birth 31, giving a mean of 25.5 years per female generation — considerably above the 20 years often attributed to primitive cultures. Husbands were six to 13 years older, giving a male generational interval of 31 to 38 years. https://isogg.org/wiki/How_long_is_a_generation%3F_Science_provides_an_answer

  So we are looking at 38 years if we take the extreme. 2020 minus 1948 gives us 72 years and we have practically doubled that time; this tells me that we are living on borrowed time.

• Wars.

  This seems to be a constant, as anywhere on the globe you can find warfare.

• Famines.

  The WHO is predicting horrific famines, these are, of course, over and above what we see daily.

• Earthquakes.

  These are happening daily, especially on the rim of fire that surrounds the Pacific Ocean.

• Deception will be out of control.

  When Jesus said it, He referenced those who will come presenting themselves, either as Jesus, or the savior of the world. Islam is also looking for someone to do this.

These things, for the church, means that He is coming to gather us home. Yeah, I know, you don't believe that, but it is going to happen. I know this because Jesus also told us that He would be killed and rise again on the third day. That event happened, so when He tells us that will come back and gather us home, it will happen. But not to worry, He will not bother those who do not want to be bothered.

Our life in Christ comes through faith in Him and the price He paid to bring you home to the Father – that's all.

Can you see in 2020? Apparently, you can if you have the King James Version of the Bible.

I was recently made aware of Robert Breaker III, and his video teachings on end times events and a few other things. 

An internet search on his background gives you this information from https://thecloudchurch.org/about.

"Robert Breaker III is an ordained King James Bible Believing Independent Baptist Minister. His father lead him to the Lord on July 29, 1992. A few years later he enrolled in the Pensacola Bible Institute and graduated there in 1998 with a Bachelors of Divinity. While attending Bible School, Robert pastored the Garcon Point Baptist Church for a short time. Two weeks after graduation, Robert journeyed to Honduras, where he eventually became a Missionary for seven years, planting several churches. Today Robert is a member of an Independent Baptist Church in Monterrey, Mexico, and travels throughout Central, South, and North America fulfilling his God-called ministry as a Missionary Evangelist to the Spanish-speaking people.”

I was directed to Robert Breaker from another YouTube video site, and the first thing I looked at was this. Can You See in 2020?

The YouTube sight for Robert Breaker explains the video and title – to some degree.

“Missionary Evangelist Robert Breaker asks if you can see in the year 2020, and how what is happening now in the world appears to be pointing to the soon coming rapture of the church and the rise of the antichrist mark of the beast system.”

I am giving you all this information, even though it is relatively brief because I thought that the person directing me to Robert indicated that he had a doctorate. As best I can tell, he does not.

I am NOT trying to discredit the brother, in fact, I rather like his teaching style because he uses a whiteboard so that I can see what he is doing, he has a voice that is easy to listen to, and he uses scripture to back up his claims. Now, to be honest, this last portion of my statement gives me a tad bit of grief, and here is why. Robert advocates the King James Version of the Bible ONLY. He tells you, this is because the KJV is the ONLY version that is true to the original texts, and, it is approved by God and is the inherent (original) Word of God.

Let's address this KJV ONLY idea for a moment.

Dr. Chuck Missler, years ago, informed us, that of the translations, the KJV was the sanest, ONLY because the ERRORS were well known and documented. I suppose that means that with other translations, the errors are not so well documented. 

So, do I throw away any Bible I have that has errors? NO, because you would not have a bible worthy of usage. I rely on the Holy Spirit of God, which abides in me and teaches me, to speak to me about odd things I find in particular translations, and then I begin asking questions, such as, does the statement that I am reading diminish the authority and character of God. At that point, I merely look to other translations that convey the subject matter that I believe the Holy Spirit is trying to convey, most clearly. If it matters to you I have over 30 Bible translations that I can draw from on the Bible Study program I use, and I use many of those translations with frequency.

Robert Breaker implied that translators of the KJV searched the original manuscripts diligently, to produce this fine document, with all it's “thees and thous”. The reality is, that the KJV met with much dissent from the presbytery, and they disputed the usage of the King's colloquialisms as the common man did not use such language. So translators produced a product tailored for the King. Can anyone else see a problem with this?

End of page one.

Let me show you an ERROR that I was recently made aware of. You need to know that this error pervades virtually every translation since the 1600s; and, that an error of this magnitude tends to indicate that most did not go to the original texts but merely copied the error of others.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 KJV Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

This verse, and the phrase “a falling away” coming first, is preached frequently, especially in our current environment; an environment that has everything to do with a presumed governmental lockdown of businesses, the normalization of masks, a mandatory spatial distancing from others, and church closures, all because of Covid 19. This attack on our freedoms comes as almost all the voices on the internet, who are relaying their dreams and visions are emphasizing that the Lord's return for His church is imminent.

The usage of the phrase “a falling away” implies that there has yet to be a turning away from the church and hence the Lord before the Antichrist can appear on the scene. 

Even though the English phrase is incorrect, how much more do we, as a church, have to do to turn our backs on God?

I became aware of this error, NOT ONLY with the KJV but the many other translations that use this terminology, while listening to Pastor JD Farag of Calvary Chapel Kaneohe, Hawaii. (https://www.youtube.com/user/alohabibleprophecy).

Pastor JD explained one recent Sunday morning, how that he learned of the error through Dr. Andy Woods, who had written a short booklet on this very subject (The Falling Away: Spiritual Departure of Physical Rapture?: A Second Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:3), and how that in the 1600s the state church, the Catholic church was disgusted and angered by parishioners who were leaving the church and migrating to Protestantism; therefore, church leadership decided to insert some added guilt and manipulation into scripture and make it the official Bible of the church. Translators were commissioned to change the words of this verse, in which the original Greek word – apostasia, was changed to read “a falling away.” Dr. Woods tells us that you have to go back to one of the earliest printed translations to find an appropriate translation with the words "the gathering", and you find it in the Geneva Bible, which was printed in 1587, in contrast with the KJV which was published in 1769.

So, what then is 2 Thessalonians 2:3 supposed to say?

According to Dr. Andy Woods, the original word apostasia should have read, the gathering. I am not going to take the time to give you all the research and the reasons for this word apostasia to read, the gathering, but most can see that the phrase, the gathering is a game-changer for our understanding; and, I will add that this passage has been a constant source of confusion for me, for years. 

Here I have inserted the correct wording.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 KJV Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a gathering first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

With the words “a gathering first” I have come to understand that the church must be removed before the man of sin can be revealed. We are not waiting for anything else to happen.

If you are not convinced as yet, then I implore you to do two things: (1.) Look at the Geneva Bible's translation of this verse, and (2.) continue reading 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8, which will give an added context for verse three.

I will show you the Geneva Bible here and add, it looks peculiar.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Geneva (3) Let no man deceiue you by any meanes: for that day shall not come, except there come a departing first and that that man of sinne be disclosed, euen the sonne of perdition,

Whether it reads, a departing, or a gathering, makes no difference as both return us to the Son who is coming to gather His church - His body.

End of page two.

From the Museum of the Bible, we get this information about the Geneva Bible.

“Chapters and verses make it easy to read today’s modern versions of the Bible, but that wasn’t always the case. Although little known today, the Geneva Bible was considered by many as the most influential English Bible of the 16th and 17th centuries. The King James Version of the Bible in 1611 owed much of its success to the popularity of the Geneva Bible. Translated by the best Protestant scholars of the day, the Geneva Bible was highly regarded. It’s thought to be the Bible Puritans brought with them to America on the Mayflower, and it was the first Bible to use chapters and numbered verses, as well as marginal notes.”

If you continue on to 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 you will see a comparable declaration, that shouts with clarity.

NASB (6) And you know what restrains him now so that in his time he will be revealed. (7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. (8) Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;

Here it is plainly stated that something is restraining the man of sin; and, that he (the lawless one) will ONLY be revealed when the restrainer is removed. We, the church, are that restrainer. There is no confusion, as verse 7 definitely implies a gathering of the church. Previously, when verse three read "the falling away", there was nothing less than confusion. Verses 6-8 have never been a point of confusion, however, it was not uncommon for the preacher to leave those three verses out of the message. So gathering is the more appropriate word in verse three.

While I may not have convinced you about the usage of the word gathering, I would hope that you can see that there is NO perfect translation and that WE, as good students of the Bible, need to do comparative readings from other translations.

I will continue with a brief look at the teaching that Robert Breaker gave in the next post.

End of page three.

By the way, if you had not caught on, I am writing to believers - followers of Christ. I do so because ERROR and false teaching are running rampant in the church, and because we choose to cling to tradition rather than the Word of God we stumble all over these broken teachings. Example: One brother in Christ spewed some of his false teachings on the Bible study one morning, and so I challenged him on what he said by using the Word of God. He got a pained look on his face and then said, that's my opinion and that is all that matters. Sorry my friend but it is the Word of God that matters, and that should be the end of all arguments. That seems like a magical concept, but then you all know that we Pharisees are prone to fight with each other.

Jesus is coming back soon. Ignore the fighting and put your faith in Jesus, the one who put himself on that cross, so that you might live.

He appeared to more than five hundred brethren. 1 Cor 15:5-11

 We ended the last study on these verses.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NASB (3) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (4) and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Of the utmost importance is the fact that Christ died for our sins. If you knew the scriptures and had some faith, that statement alone would be enough for you; there is, however, more. The Jews knew the scriptures, yet they chose NOT to believe, receive, or acknowledge Jesus. An excellent piece of evidence for their unbelief comes out of this story from Matthew 2.

Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'" Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. (Matthew 2:1-7 NASB)

Deeply troubled, for several reasons, Herod calls the chief priests and scribes of the Jews and inquired as to where this King of the Jews was born. They knew the answer and exclaimed, in Bethlehem of Judea.

Micah 5:2 AMP But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah; [yet] out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity).

Note how, in our example from Matthew, there was no denial and no refusal, but it was there. The fact that Herod had to turn to the Magi for answers is the most damaging piece of evidence against them, for their refusal to receive Jesus.

Many were aware of Christ's death on the cross. The Apostle John was standing close enough to the cross for Jesus to direct John to take care of Mary, Jesus' mother. Others witnessed this event, although they may not have understood what had taken place or what was about to occur.

There was a man named Joseph, who was from Arimathea in Judea. Joseph was a good and honest man, and he was eager for God's kingdom to come. He was also a member of the council, but he did not agree with what they had decided. (Luke 23:50 CEV)

Though many despise the man, Kenneth Copeland preached a powerful message called, From the Cross to the Throne. What happened during those three days? We have evidence that tells us what happened during that time, and Hebrews 5 is one of them.

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:8-10 NASB)

Page 1.

He (Jesus) suffered, not only the beatings, but the cross, and then hell itself. Yes, I have heard mere men like Hank Hannegraf express his scorn toward those that think that God could be put in hell. But what you, who are unwilling to accept that piece of information, forget is that Satan thought he had won. As far as Satan was concerned, he had killed Jesus. The problem with Satan's logic is that hell was made for those who sinned, and that would have included all of us were it not for Jesus and the cross. Jesus was NOT born into sin like we are; and, He never sinned. Satan had put Jesus there illegally, kind of like Joe Biden and this rigged election. The difference being, because Jesus never sinned, Satan could not hold Him, and this is why Jesus was able to rip the keys of death, hell, and the grave from that moron’s hands; preach to the captivity, and set them free.

Let's park here for a moment.

How many different ways could a person understand captivity?

At least a couple. Being born into sin, we are, in a sense, in captivity as we speak. The other definition of captivity comes from doing Satan’s will.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 NASB The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, (25) with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, (26) and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

This would be a most unfortunate and hopeless situation if there were no salvation. Ah, but there is a way to reverse this hopeless situation, and His name is Jesus. That change from a hopeless person to one that is hope-filled only comes through faith in Jesus' price that He paid on the cross for you, and, occasionally, it requires that we walk away from things that would enslave us.

Romans 6:5-7 NASB For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, (6) knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; (7) for he who has died is freed from sin.

So if you find yourself doubting your salvation, or wondering if there are legitimate reasons for your salvation, keep in mind that there were witnesses. Paul spells out, in generalized terms, who they were. I will walk through this slowly.

1 Corinthians 15:5-7 NLT He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. (6) After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. (7) Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.

At the time of its writing, this statement was vital, as many of these people knew Peter by visual contact. To add that most of these witnesses are still alive is like telling these readers to go look them up for yourself, as they will validate what I say. When you realize Paul's potential age, as he wrote this letter to the church in Corinth around 59 A.D., you can guess the ages of those living witnesses and ascertain that they may not be around much longer.

Our faith is not the ramblings of fools and older men; they were the words of Jesus/God. John, in the opening lines of his gospel, tells us that Jesus spoke the worlds into existence.

Page 2.

John 1:1-3 NASB, In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him, nothing came into being that has come into being.

He told us what He was going to do, and then He did it with such a precision that it leaves the wisest baffled. He rose from the dead and is now seated with the Father. God put Him there and the writer of Hebrews tells us that.

Hebrews 1:1-4 NASB God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, (2) in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. (3) And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (4) having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

He is not merely lounging around, waiting for His next mission, He is constantly standing on our behalf much like a defense attorney.

Hebrews 7:25 NASB Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them.

What Paul says next is a challenge to understand.

1 Corinthians 15:8 NASB (8) and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

Some translations talk as though Paul is saying that he should have been aborted. I would like to tell you that something like this never happened in Paul's day, but I cannot attest to the fact that it did not. Murdering a baby, as we do today, was detestable to the Jews, although handing your newborn into the arms of the god Moloch is no better. So, to read something like abortion is absurd, and therefore, forces us to look at some other meaning. The assumption then would be, that after all these years, perhaps he now wishes he could have been there at the beginning and walked with Jesus, as these disciples did. Paul tends to answer the question for us.

1 Corinthians 15:9 NASB (9) For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Why would he say, I am the least of the apostles?

Peter, originally called to be the apostle to the Gentiles, fumbled the ball, and Paul, in time, picked it up and ran with it, although we, for the longest time, still see Paul with a focus on the Jews.

When Paul says, I am not fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church, it makes sense. Remember, Paul told us he had a thorn in the flesh. You can continue to rant how you know what Paul's thorn was, based on some traditional but incorrect teaching. Still, you fail to remember that Paul, was above all else, an astute theologian, with the only known composition they had, the law and the prophets. There, in the book of Numbers, God told Israel to eliminate the Canaanites, or they will become pricks in your eyes and thorns in your flesh. This reference to scripture by Paul tells us that he did not adequately eliminate something from his life.

Page 3.

If you have read the book of Acts, then you can admit that Paul was not only a passionate man but a man capable of a fast temper. Remember, he chased off John Mark and Barnabas, a decision that he may have regretted for years, and yet, there is this statement from Paul.

1 Corinthians 15:10 NASB (10) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain, but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

• But by the grace of God, I am what I am.

What is it that Paul turned out to be? Only one of the most influential writers of not just the New Testament, but the Bible itself. If one of us Gentile believers thinks about a writer of the Bible, we think about Paul. You would think he wrote the book of Acts. He didn't, but he was a dominant player as we learn about the grace of God first hand. We also saw the labors of Paul as he went on his missionary journeys. And finally, we see Paul point to the fact that it was the grace of God working through him that makes his labors so significant.

Paul closes out this fifteenth chapter of 1Corinthians with this comment.

1 Corinthians 15:11 NASB (11) Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Wow, Paul put tremendous trust in the idea that others were following Paul's lead and preaching the same message that Paul preached. We know he struggled with this idea and told young Timothy:

1 Timothy 1:3 NASB As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,

As many of you know, doctrines are the foundational reasons for us having church, and clearly, this had become a problem in Ephesus. The phrase “to teach strange doctrines” is merely a repeat of the same word three times. It translates to English as instruct differently. Example. If the doctrine is one of salvation upon the cross, and you tell the Christians that attend your Bible study weekly that they are sinners with no hope of anything other than hell's flame, then you are instructing differently. By the way, I mention this because I attended a bible study in which the leader repeatedly said such things.

Many of us have sat under false teachings. It is nothing short of a miracle, or perhaps God's grace that we have come to know and understand this grace – the same grace that Paul preached.

One last thing. This forgiveness on the cross happened once, with no reason, whatsoever, to repeat the event, as the Jews had to do with their sacrifices. Having believed, we are saved eternally.

Hebrews 5:8-9 NASB Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. (9) And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,

In Christ, we have eternal salvation.

Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. 1 Cor 15:1-4.

 I realize it is not 1 Timothy chapter six, but it has been on my heart for several days. So I am going to work through this with you. The KJV, and probably most others, entitle this section, THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, and certainly, that is a prominent aspect of the conversation, but it so much more.

It is the primary reason for our hope.

Here is the first part of the passage. I will break it down – as usual.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Paul tells the readers, found in the church at Corinth, that, once again, this is the gospel which I preached to you. I am not sure how germane this information is to the passage, but I immediately found myself curious about what he preached and where he preached.

Corinth is in the southwestern area of what we now call Greece – it was formerly called Achaia. Athens is on the opposite and eastern coast of Greece. The letter was written from Ephesus, which is on the western coastline of Asia Minor, almost directly opposite of Athens. Immediately, this tells me that this was not a prison letter. Prison has a way of adding additional stress.

Paul's first missionary journey does not show him going to Corinth at all. The second missionary journey does have Paul going to Corinth and then almost directly to Ephesus. Mind you, while this stretch between Corinth and Ephesus seems short on paper, this was wind-powered vessels at best and may have taken months.

How long was Paul in Ephesus that he heard about an issue in Corinth that needed to be readdressed?

We have a time frame of two years for the entire journey.

Dr. J Vernon McGee observes, “You remember that when he came out on this second journey, the Spirit of God would not allow him to come down to Ephesus. Now, on his way back, he stops at Ephesus, but he does not stay there very long.”

For me, the statement – very long, is a comparative term, and without something to compare this to, it is hard to determine a time frame. It could have been a couple of weeks; if that was the case, it was a clear and powerful sermon about the good news of Jesus. Since we know that Paul was preaching to Jews (who are best a hard sell), it is hard to imagine that a message about Jesus and His death on the cross made its point in one sermon.

For those who wish to argue, thinking that the Bible was written for and about Gentiles, let me point something out in the scriptures. Paul, even when he was Saul, entered into the Synagogues at every opportunity. In Damascus, as a new believer, and one that had to deal with an open resistance because he, only days before this, was trying to get Christians killed, was now, with some of the disciples in Damascus, was proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues.

End page one.

Acts 9:17-20 NASB So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." (18) And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; (19) and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days, he was with the disciples who were at Damascus (20) and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."

When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.

Acts 13:4-5 NASB So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. (5) When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper.

They arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day, they went into the synagogue.

Acts 13:13-16 NASB Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. (14) But going on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day, they went into the synagogue and sat down. (15) After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it." (16) Paul stood up and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews. I will give you a heads up. The Bible translators added the word Gentiles. It may have been a logical assumption based on what we see in Acts 17:4 KJV, where it says,

“And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women, not a few.”

Acts 17:16-17 NASB Now, while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. (17) So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present.

This last verse is odd, and even more so, I asked a Jewish convert if Gentiles were allowed in the synagogues. His answer was crisp and immediate NO. Now, this may not be the atmosphere these days, but considering how the Jews that did not appreciate Paul's message treated him, they would have run the Gentiles out of the synagogues.

Acts 18:2-4 NASB And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, (3) and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers. (4) And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

We see in Acts 18 that Paul and Aquila – a Jew, worked together, making and selling tents. A place that would have had everybody mingling about, and Paul took every opportunity to advance the gospel of Jesus; and, yes, the Gentiles would have heard.

End page two.

Eugene Peterson's “The Message” has a different spin to it.

Friends, let me go over the Message with you one final time—this Message that I proclaimed and that you made your own; this Message on which you took your stand (1 Corinthians 15:1 MSG)

As for me, I have to remind myself, frequently, of what I believe should be solidly embedded within me.

• “Which also you have received.”

These people, even though they may have had Paul in their faces, are no different than you or I. We, in fact, have an advantage in that we have the written and this very letter that Paul wrote to this church.

So when we read, you have received, what is Paul saying?

Obviously, Paul is speaking to those who have received the gospel of and about Jesus. The word received can mean several things, from a casual hearing of the word to a full-blown life-changing event thanks to this relationship with Christ. The interlinear Greek indicates that in receiving this word, the hearers have come alongside.

But, alongside what?

Jesus, the salvation that He brings, and His message to the world.

• Another piece of information, which could seem vague, is this statement, “wherein you stand.”

Didn't I open this study in 1Corinthians 15:1-4, with my own acknowledgment? I occasionally have to be reminded of this hope, and even why it is believable. I have talked about this over the years, and many have expressed their scorn and surprise, as though I have made a choice to forget or ignore the goodness of God. Actually, it is quite the contrary, as the sudden and momentary realization that I am trying to control the world around me drives me staggering back to God, where I rehearse something similar to these verses here in 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4.

To use terminology like wherein you stand does not tell me much because sometimes I am NOT standing in the right place, or I inadvertently stepped in a mud puddle. I know I am being simplistic, but I am trying to make a point.

Some of us still have good brains capable of holding onto information; mine used to work like that. You would think that by my own efforts, I could make myself firm or become established in God's ways and heart toward us. The problem with that kind of thinking is that you can do nothing, outside of having faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross, to change my life. Oh, sure, some motivational speaker can make you think you are in charge, but that person on stage does not seem to know that we are all broken people, incapable of fixing ourselves, and that is why we needed a savior – Jesus. There is a strong sense that once you belong to Christ, He never lets you go, and that is true.

And this last statement takes us to verse two.

End page three.

It is not only the gospel message, but it is the fact that you came alongside Jesus with a conscious decision, but it is also the fact that the Father, who was waiting for you the entire time, establishes you and makes you firm. This word, very clearly, holds you fast. You know what many call this? Eternal Salvation. It is not that you can maintain a condition that holds you tight to Jesus; it is the Father who has engraved you upon His hand, that now holds you.

For me, a primary scripture that speaks to the fact that God will never let go of you comes from John's gospel.

John 10:27-30 NASB "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; (28), and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. (29) "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (30) "I and the Father are one."

Some will use 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 as an anchor for their eternal salvation. Don't get me wrong, we are eternally saved, but verse two, which says, “by which you are saved, if,” is a conditional conjunction; and, much like a computer logic flowchart, you have to determine if you have met the conditions that make the statement work. One sister in Christ who clings to the KJV of the Bible probably sees something like this.

1 Corinthians 15:2 MKJV by which you also are being kept safe, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain.

If I chose to accept the MKJV at face value, then it would be easy to apply the idea of eternal salvation if that was all it said. The problem is the minority of those that chose to interpret Paul's thought in this manner. My friend chooses to ignore the conditional “if” aspect of the verse. This “if” is NOT a negative interpretation, which we understand as we consider the verse's context. Should you look at a translation like the ISV, you will see that Paul is talking about an ongoing process in which we are in a continual state of being saved from the trials (tribulations) this world dishes out throughout our lives.

1 Corinthians 15:2 ISV "... by which you are also being saved if you hold firmly to the message I proclaimed to you—unless, of course, your faith was worthless."

Paul continues, as he emphasizes an aspect of the message he previously preached.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NASB (3) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (4) and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

In giving US this information, he tells us that what he about to say was of the utmost importance.

• Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

End page four.

Romans 6:8-10 NASB Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, (9) knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. (10) For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Romans 8:3 NLT, The law of Moses, was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body, God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB (21) He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Hebrews 9:25-28 NASB nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. (26) Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world, but now once at the consummation of the ages, He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (27) And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, (28) so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

This one verse speaks to Christ dying for our sins; and, it answers the questions about His death and resurrection.

1 Peter 3:18 NASB For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

I do not know how much time we have left here on earth; the Church is about to be called back home to be with Jesus.

How do I know that I will be among them?

For the same reasons that you would, if you are a follower of Christ, because we came alongside Him and made a decision to ride this bus until it reaches the destination no matter how difficult the road gets. The faith that I applied, and it wasn't much in my eyes, caused me to be in Christ, and I am deemed a follower of Christ and a part of the church – the body of Christ.

Some would say, what about all the things you have done?

It doesn't matter to the Father anymore, as Jesus took it all to the cross with Him - past, present, and future sins. And, in case you are keeping score, all sins are covered, and I gave you scripture for that. Even if, as one might say, your sins are BIGGER and more freakish bizarre than mine; it doesn't matter, as they are all covered in that blood – blood that blankets all sins, including the sins of those deemed to be outside of God's grace; they, even if the rapture comes, are still entitled to the forgiveness of God, the only difference is that during the time of wrath after the church is gone, you will have to prove your dedication to God through your death.

If you have ever wondered why so many of us speak of such horrors, it is because we don't want you to have to endure the absolute hell that is coming upon the earth. It doesn't take but half a brain to see what is coming. These globalists are not on your side.