In This Issue

 

• WHAT MUST I DO TO STAY SAVED?

• THE KING JAMES ONLY CONTROVERSY

• MORE INFORMATION...

WHAT MUST I DO TO STAY SAVED?

The Bible does not teach the doctrine of “once saved, always saved.” When the apostle Peter closed his discourse on the so-called Christian graces, he says, “If these things be in you and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Pet. 1:8-10). This Scripture certainly suggests that if you don’t make your calling and election sure, you will fall.

In Gal. 5:4, Paul tells the brethren there, “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law, you have fallen from grace.” The Hebrew writer says, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversary” (Heb. 10:26). And Peter says, “For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘a dog returns to his own vomit, and a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire’” (2 Pet. 2:20-22) Do these passages sound like you can’t fall from grace?

Several other passages could be cited to show the fallacy of the argument that the Christian, once having been saved, cannot then so sin as to be lost, but these should suffice. Then that poses the question comprising the title of this little piece: What Must I Do to Stay Saved?

WE MUST GROW. The passage we cited earlier from 2 Peter 1 says so. “If these things be in you and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful…” That argues the need for spiritual progress. The same apostle exhorts the one who is a child of God, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby” (2 Pet. 2:2), and “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). Growth is necessary to faithfulness. A Christian’s faith must grow, 2 Thess. 1:3. We are to leave off being immature, or “children,” “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ” (Eph. 4:14).

WE MUST WORSHIP HIM. There is no such thing as a true Christian who does not assemble regularly with the saints and take advantage of the opportunities to glorify Him. In the very first place, forsaking the Lord’s day assembly is not allowed. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” It is a very serious matter to willfully forsake the worship services. In fact, one who does so is said to “trample the Son of God underfoot,” and to have “counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace.” The writer concludes that “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” See Heb. 10:23-31.

WE MUST NOT NEGLECT OUR OPPORTUNITIES. We have opportunities to teach; we must be about the business of doing so, Acts 2:42, 46-47; 8:4; Gal. 6:6; 2 Tim. 2:2, etc. We have opportunities to practice benevolence; we must be about the business of doing it, James 1:27-29; Gal. 6:6-10. We have the opportunity to take a stand for truth; we must be about the business of doing so, Matt. 5:13-15; 1 Cor. 16:13; 1 Pet. 3:15; 1 Pet. 4:16.

WE MUST KEEP ON KEEPING ON. Paul said, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). That says it’s your salvation and that you must work it out. “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet. 1:9). We must keep on looking at the goal. “Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” (Heb. 12:12). We have to keep on keeping on.

It is not time to rest, Heb. 4:9. And so, let us “…give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken by angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation…” (Heb. 2:1-3).

–Dee Bowman, Stonegate Standard, July 3, 2005

THE KING JAMES ONLY CONTROVERSY

There is a popular movement to reject all English translations except the King James Version.

Actually, the King James Version of today is the latest of several revisions, made in 1762. Very few people could understand the antiquated English of the 1611 version. Even since 1762 the English language has changed immensely. Therefore, most people find the King James Version hard to read.

Many knowledgeable scholars defend the Textus Receptus upon which the King James Version (and New King James Version) is based. But it is unreasonable to claim special providence or inspiration for the scholars of the Church of England in 1611 that would not also be claimed for textual critics and translators today. The men who gave the world the King James Version of the Bible certainly didn't claim inspiration!

Some people contend the "Thees" and "Thous"" of the King James Version are reverential rather than archaic. Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language (Unabridged) calls the word "thee" "archaic." (p. 2369) When Jesus commanded, "Get thee hence, Satan" (Matthew 4:10), was he using reverential language? Was he showing reverence to Peter when He said, "Get thee behind me, Satan...."? (Matthew 16:23)

Some argue for the beautiful Shakespearean language of the King James Version. If that is their personal preference, fine. I don't try to steer anyone away from the KJV. But it is sinful to bind our personal preferences on others (Romans 14:1-3). I grant that scholars tell us that the Hebrew of the Old Testament is classical and that the Hebrew of Isaiah is some of the most elevated of all Hebrew literature. But it is very revealing that, when the New Testament was written, the inspired writers could have used the beautiful, classical Greek that learned authors used even in their day. Instead, with a few exceptions, they used "koine," "common," Greek, the language of the common people. If we follow the example of the apostles and prophets of the Lord, we will use a translation that is in the common language of ordinary people of our day.

Some lump all the modern translations together and charge that they deny the deity of Christ. First, it is blatantly unfair to lump the New American Standard Bible with Good News for Modern Man. Second, it is simply a slander to charge that all the modern translations undermine the deity of Jesus Christ. There are nine New Testament passages that in some or all Greek manuscripts expressly call Jesus "God." (John 1:1,18; Acts 20:28; Romans 9:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:12; 1 Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1) The King James Version translates five of them (John 1:1; Acts 20:28; Romans 9:5; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8) so that Jesus is denoted as God. Both the NASB and the NIV render seven of the passages in such a way that they specifically indicate that Jesus is a divine being.

Others, noting the liberalism of B.F. Westcott and F.J.A. Hort and tying all modern versions to the Westcott and Hort text, charge all newer translations with liberal bias. The only American translation that closely follows the Westcott & Hort text is the American Standard Version. The translators of the New American Standard Bible, the New International Version, the New King James Version, and the English Standard Version believe in the verbal inspiration of the Scriptures and the virgin birth of Christ (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:26-38).

The King James Version is by-and-large accurate. But it does have notable weaknesses. Ecclesiastical (church) words of the Church of England were sometimes used (e.g., "baptize" rather than "immerse"; "bishop" rather than "overseer"). There are a few mistranslations (e.g., "Easter" in Acts 12:4). Some of these weaknesses have been carried over into the standard modern English translations (e.g., "baptize").

The chief weakness of the King James Version is its age. Most people who did not grow up reading the Bible find the King James Version hard if not virtually impossible to read. The argument that, on average, the KJV uses shorter words than modern translations completely misses the point. The word "eschew" (1 Peter 3:11, KJV) is shorter than the phrase "turn away from" (NKJV), but how many modern readers know what "eschew" means? Should we require those we are teaching to learn Elizabethan English so they might know God's will?

Many Christians are having opportunities in our day to study with people who grew up Catholic or nothing at all religiously. They are not at all familiar with Elizabethan English. We encounter more and more to whom English is a second language. To demand that they study from the King James Version is like asking a country boy to read and understand Shakespeare. The refusal to consider updated English versions of the Bible cripples efforts to reach the lost.

If you prefer to use the King James Version, I have no quarrel with you. I preached from it for thirty years. But I switched to the New King James Version to make it easier to preach to and teach those who cannot understand old English. I use and recommend the New American Standard Bible and the English Standard Version because of their accuracy. All I ask is that you grant me the liberty of using an accurate translation of the Bible in modern English. Is that asking too much?

--Keith Sharp, Meditate on These Things, Dec. 26, 2005

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