BIBLE MYTHS YOU HAVE MOST LIKELY HEARD AND BELIEVED

A FEW MYTHS I HAVE HEARD FROM PULPITS OVER THE YEARS

1.  Jesus spoke more about hell than He did heaven.
     - The word "hell" appears 19 times in the four Gospels and Revelation.
     - The word "heaven" appears 75 times in the Gospel of Matthew alone!

2.  There were "three wise men" who worshipped Jesus as a newborn babe in a manger.
     - There were three gifts, but the number of Magi is unknown (Mt. 2:11).
     - By the time the Magi arrived, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were living in a house in Bethlehem, and based upon Herod's command to kill all male children up to the age of two, it is more likely that Jesus was about one year old when the slaughter of the innocents occurred (Mt. 2:11, 16-18).

3.  As God manifest in the flesh, Jesus could do whatever He chose to do.

     -  Jesus could do only a few healings due to those who doubted Him (Mk. 6:4-5).

     -  Jesus did miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit, not His own (Mt. 12:28; Jn. 8:28).

4.  Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God.

     -  Jesus did not rebuke those who identified Him as the Son of God:  the two demoniacs (Mt. 8:28-29); His disciples (Mt. 14:33; Jn. 11:27).  

     -  His accusers said He called Himself the Son of God (Mt. 27:43; Jn. 1:49). 

     -  Jesus said so:  (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 9:35-38; Jn. 10:36).

     -  Jesus identified as the "I AM" of Exodus 3:14:  (Mt. 27:43; Jn. 8:58; 9:35-38; 10:36 - note:  in some of these cases, the italicized word "he" has been inserted by the translators.).

5.  Jesus was crucified with three nails.  Not all crucifixions were done with the feet being pierced by a single nail.  The number of nails was not given in the text.

6.  Matthias was Judas' replacement as an apostle: 

     -  Jesus told His disciples to wait for the Spirit (Acts 1:4).

     -  Peter, instead of waiting, held a "business meeting" and the disciples chose Matthias by lots!

     -  Peter's contention that Judas' replacement had to have been one who had been with Jesus from the beginning was not stated in the Scriptures.

     -  Jesus, in the Book of Revelation reveals there are only twelve Apostles (Rev. 21:14).

     -  Jesus chose Saul of Tarsus (Paul) as His Apostle to the Gentiles:  (Acts 9:15; Rom. 1:1; 11:13; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2 Tim. 1:1).

7.  Children and born again believers have "guardian angels" who watch over us and protect us from Satan.  The fact is, angels are God's messengers, and they are not watching us, but Him, awaiting His instructions.  

     -  Mt. 18:10 - "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father Who is in heaven."

     -  Heb. 1:14 - "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"

THE BEST WAY TO KNOW IF WHAT IS BEING PREACHED IS TRUE,

IS TO BE LIKE THE BEREANS, WHO LISTENED INTENTLY, AND THEN

COMPARED WHAT WAS BEING TAUGHT WITH THE SCRIPTURES!