A FEW "ODD" PASSAGES FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN!

WHAT MUST A PERSON DO TO BE SAVED?

BELIEVE IN JESUS, THE SON OF GOD!

John 1:10-13 - He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made (created) by Him, and the world knew Him not.  He came unto His own (people, Israel), and his own (people) received (believed in) Him not.  But as many as received (believed in) Him, to them gave He power to become the sons (children) of God, even to those who believed on His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but (were born again according to the will) of God.

John 3:3-8 - Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus said unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water (physical birth) and of the Spirit (spiritual birth), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again.  The wind blows where it will, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell from where it comes, and where it goes:  so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 5:45-47 - Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father:  there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust.  For had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me:  for he wrote of Me.  But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe My words?

John 7:37-39 - In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.  He that believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  But this spoke He of the Spirit, which they that believe in Him should receive:  for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 9:35-38 - Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Do you believe in the Son of God?  He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe in Him?  And Jesus said unto him, You have both seen Him, and it is He Who talks with you.  And he said, Lord, I believe.  And he worshipped Him.

John 11:25-27 - Jesus said unto her (Martha), I am the resurrection, and the life:  he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  and whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?  She said unto Him, Yes, Lord:  I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, Who should come into the world.

John 13:13-19 - You call Me Master and Lord:  and you say well; for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.  If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.  I speak not of you all:  I know whom I have chosen:  but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.  Now I tell you before it comes, that, when it is comes to pass, you may believe that I AM He.  [Note:  "He" is not in the Greek texts.]

John 17:20-23 - Neither pray I for these alone, but for those also who shall believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that You have sent Me.  And the glory which You gave Me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as We are one:  I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me.

BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS OF THE BIBLE,

AND YOU WILL BE GRANTED ETERNAL LIFE!

INSTEAD OF THINKING OF OTHER BIBLE VERSIONS AS "PERVERSIONS," THINK OF THEM AS A PREACHER ATTEMPTING TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFICULT KING JAMES VERSION.

THE WORD OF GOD PRESENTED:

Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 King James Version - Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; while the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:  in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:  or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was:  and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.  Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

THE WORD OF GOD EXPLAINED:

Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 Easy-to-Read Version - Remember your Creator while you are young, before the bad times come—before the years come when you say, “I have wasted my life.”  Remember your Creator while you are young, before the time comes when the sun and the moon and the stars become dark to you—before problems come again and again like one storm after another.  At that time your arms will lose their strength.  Your legs will become weak and bent.  Your teeth will fall out, and you will not be able to chew your food.  Your eyes will not see clearly.  You will become hard of hearing.  You will not hear the noise in the streets.  Even the stone grinding your grain will seem quiet to you.  You will not be able to hear the women singing.  But even the sound of a bird singing will wake you early in the morning because you will not be able to sleep.  You will be afraid of high places.  You will be afraid of tripping over every small thing in your path.  Your hair will become white like the flowers on an almond tree.  You will drag yourself along like a grasshopper when you walk.  You will lose your desire, and then you will go to your eternal home.  The mourners will gather in the streets as they carry your body to the grave.  Remember your Creator while you are young, before the silver rope snaps and the golden bowl is crushed like a jar broken at the well, like a stone cover on a well that breaks and falls in.  Your body came from the earth.  And when you die, it will return to the earth.  But your spirit came from God, and when you die, it will return to Him.  Everything is so meaningless.  The Teacher says that it is all a waste of time!

Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 Good News Translation - So remember your Creator while you are still young, before those dismal days and years come when you will say, "I don't enjoy life."That is when the light of the sun, the moon, and the stars will grow dim for you, and the rain clouds will never pass away.  Then your arms, that have protected you, will tremble, and your legs, now strong, will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to chew your food, and your eyes too dim to see clearly.  Your ears will be deaf to the noise of the street. You will barely be able to hear the mill as it grinds or music as it plays, but even the song of a bird will wake you from sleep.  You will be afraid of high places, and walking will be dangerous. Your hair will turn white; you will hardly be able to drag yourself along, and all desire will be gone.  We are going to our final resting place, and then there will be mourning in the streets.  The silver chain will snap, and the golden lamp will fall and break; the rope at the well will break, and the water jar will be shattered.  Our bodies will return to the dust of the earth, and the breath of life will go back to God, who gave it to us.  Useless, useless, said the Philosopher. It is all useless.

AT SEVENTY-SEVEN, I CAN ATTEST

TO THE TRUTH OF THIS TEXT!

There has never been a preacher worth his salt, that did not attempt to explain the King James Version of a passage, to his congregation.  How many times did I say to my little flock, "In other words...?"  God wants His Word understood; that is why Jesus repeatedly said things like, "You have heard it said . . . . but I say unto you . . . ."  I have been a student of God's Word all my born again life of forty-nine years, and until I read the above passage in these two versions, I had no clue what the King James Version was saying.  But then again, I have never been the sharpest tool in the shed!

GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU SEEK UNDERSTANDING

OF GOD'S PRECIOUS MESSAGE TO YOU!

WHAT PART OF "LORD" DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?

SALVATION COMES TO THOSE WHO

BELIEVE IN THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE!

All Scripture is based upon my understanding of the King James Version.

Matthew 3:17 - And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 17:5 - While He yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud over shadowed them:  and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.

2 Peter 1:17 - For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.


John 8:24 - I said therefore unto you, that you shall die in your sins:  for if you do not believe that I AM He,* you shall die in your sins.      [* He is not in the Greek texts.] 

John 8:58 - Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.

John 9:35-38 - Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him, Do you believe on the Son of God?  He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?  And Jesus said unto him, You have both seen Him, and it is He Who talks with you.  And he said, Lord, I believe.  And he worshipped Him.

John 10:36-38 - Do you say of Him, Whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, You blaspheme; because I said, I AM the Son of God?  If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not.  But if I do, though you do not believe in Me, believe the works:  that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I AM in Him.

John 14:6 - Jesus said unto him, I AM the one and only Way, I AM the Truth, and I AM the Life:  no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.

John 18:3-6 - Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.   Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom do you seek?  They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus said unto them, I AM He.*   And Judas also, who betrayed Him, stood with them.  As soon then as He had said unto them, I AM He,* they went backward, and fell to the ground.    [* He is not in the Greek texts.] 

Philippians 2:5-11 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

NOTE:  THE WORD "LORD" APPEARS 7836 TIMES IN THE BIBLE;

THE WORD "SAVIOR" APPEARS ONLY 37 TIMES:

NO WONDER JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW 7:20-23 - 

Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.  Not every one that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name?  And in Your name have we not cast out devils?  And in Your name have we not done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:  depart from Me, you that work iniquity.    
[Note:  The will of the Father is that all would believe in the work of His Only Begotten Son, and not in their own religious works - see John 6:29!]

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH SAVES!

RIGHTEOUSNESS DEFINED!

Righteousness is the state of being which is pleasing to God;

holy, just, and humble.  In other words, it is being like Jesus!

MANKIND IS UNABLE TO MEET GOD'S STANDARD!

Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Romans 3:10-12, 23 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  there is none that understands, there is none that seek after God.  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one. . . . For all have sinned, and come short of the glory (the standard) of God.

GOD OFFERS US HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Romans 1:16-17 - For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes it; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Gentile; non-Jew).  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 5:18-19 - Therefore as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One (Jesus), the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For He (the Father) made Him (His Only Begotten Son) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are you saved (declared to be righteous) through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it (salvation) is the gift of God:  not of works, lest any man should boast.

ABRAHAM:  GOD'S EXAMPLE!

Genesis 15:6 - And he (Abram; later Abraham) believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:2-4 - For if Abraham were justified (made righteous) by works, he has whereof to glory; but not before God.  For what does the Scripture say?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Now to him that is counting on religious works, his reward is not the result of grace (a free gift), but of debt (God would be obligated to reward him).

Galatians 3:6-7 - Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  Know therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

James 2:23 - And the Scripture was fulfilled which said, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness:  and he was called the Friend of God.

DO YOU WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN?

ACCEPT GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS,

BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY JESUS:

HE DIED FOR YOUR SINS, HE WAS

BURIED AND ROSE AGAIN, ALL 

ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES!

SIMPLY ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR 

LORD AND SAVIOR!  IT'S THAT EASY!