For any Christian upon this earth, there is one decision that MUST be made: whether they care to make this decision, or not.
Some will say that their eternal future depends on this decision. But no, this is not true because as Paul taught, any person who makes the wrong decision here, shall be concluded in unbelief: so that God might have mercy on them . . . on Judgment Day.
In any case, this is . . .
A very Christian decision, because
any person, claiming to be a Christian, is stating that their future is fully described within the pages of the Bible. This is simple, true, and just fine: but
which Bible?
This author could lose the following argument, but to this author, there are only two different Bible versions available today. Oh, there are a great many “translations,” but there are only two “versions” which describe a person’s path toward Heaven. To this author, all other variations (between the great many translations) are minor and of no consequence to mankind. Only Bible scholars argue these tiny differences: and do so to no avail.
These two versions shall be shown here, and then the very, very simple decision every Christian must make shall be shown. But what if you make the wrong decision? Well, God would never punish a person for this mistake (or any “one mistake,” for that matter). Biblical Proof:
(Words in italics and parentheses have been added by this author to show the conversation Paul is having.)
Romans 11:30 For as ye (meaning those who never believed) in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Romans 11:31 Even so have these (meaning those who “say” they believe, but believe the wrong things) also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Please note that this means mercy regarding unbelief or believing wrong things. It does not mean mercy for living an evil life. Paul, here, is only discussing belief, unbelief, and a bit regarding misbelief. All of this clearly identifying God’s second chance, given to those of His choosing: meaning those who truly led good lives and “thought” they were following the correct Truths of God. But God found them in error regarding His Truths placed upon this Earth.
Now, my dearest friends, rest easy: and learn about the matter-at-hand.
The Christian Bible comes in two parts: the Old Testament is written in Hebrew and the New Testament is written in Greek. But very few people, today, speak either of these languages. So, how do you decide upon “your” Bible? You use your common sense and know that it shall never fail you.
About one-hundred years ago, two fellows named Brooke Westcott and Fenton Hort decided that the life required for a Christian to find Heaven (in the Bible) was too difficult. Westcott openly declared, “it cannot be done.” So they made it easier. In fact . . . they made it effortless. Never mind that God, Himself, placed the words found in the Bible; Westcott and Hort decided they could describe an easier path to Heaven. All translations of the Bible, today, either side-with or side-against Westcott and Hort. It should be noted that before Westcott and Hort, not one translation sided with their beliefs of an effortless (and guaranteed) path to Heaven.
For nearly two-thousand years, all Bibles taught that we are to strive for possessing the “faith of” Jesus. This means we must work through our mistakes, our vanities, and our decisions so as to at least move in the direction of having the faith which Jesus, Himself, possessed. If we completely fail, we will be able to show that we tried! (Reference the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15.) All of this is based upon God’s Truth that every person will sin and God shall only judge us by our intentions and our efforts to leave these sinning ways. (This simple and enduring truth is found in the Old Testament, the Gospel, the Qur’an, and the Hindu and Buddhist faiths.)
Well, Westcott and Hort decided that no human could ever attain this level of faith and that God had made life too difficult for mankind. So they changed the words to “faith in” Jesus. All Bible translations after 1881 follow either the “faith of” or the “faith in” words. More on this below.
Before the difference is discussed, know that the original Greek words used (pistis Iesous) literally translate to “faith Jesus.” The words “of” and “in” do not exist in ancient Greek. To reference these words click here. Type “Galatians 2” in the top field, and click on “search.” Scroll down to verse 16 when you get there and click on the number G2424. See how the phrase “of Jesus” was originally just “Jesus!” So, neither argument is actually supported by any Bible! This is important! And this is where you must make your own decision. But the decision is oh, so easy.
FAITH OF JESUS examples (King James Version):
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
So, these verses are telling us that we should try to possess the faith which Christ, Himself had (and which Christ, Himself, showed this world). Faith in God, the Father; and faith in the Scriptures of God, across the world, regarding our need to obey His teachings (meaning God’s help for our living the life which is required for us to find Heaven).
FAITH IN JESUS examples (American Standard Version used here):
Romans 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
Galatians 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
So, these verses are telling us that we only need to “believe” in Jesus (with no further effort required on our part) and we shall find Heaven. Just have faith in Jesus and we are guaranteed a free ticket to Heaven. How simple!
My friend, these were just “examples.” The Truth of this letter can be found all through “certain” Bibles. (More on this below.) So, ignore for now, the words of Paul given in the verses above. Search the Gospel (meaning the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Find the words that Christ, Himself, spoke. In His words, in His parables, and in His teachings, did Christ teach that we must live a good life and do good works? Did Christ teach about mistakes and our getting past mistakes? Did Christ teach (to those who He healed) to go, and leave their sinning ways? Did Christ teach that God placed us upon this earth so that He could find out what sort of person we were? This author cannot answer these questions for you. This author can only place these questions before you here!
Or, did Christ say that we only had to believe in Him (or God, the Father) and no further effort was required on our part? Just believe . . . and you have made it to Heaven! How easy is this? No matter what we do on this earth, all we have to do is “claim to believe” and we get to Heaven! Well:
Al Capone killed hundreds of people; but he believed in God.
Ferdinand and Queen Isabel (of Spain) killed thousands of people during the Spanish Inquisition, but they believed in God.
Adolf Hitler killed millions of people, but he believed in God. He truly did! One of his favorite books was written by Martin Luther (a German) who, at the end of his life, stated that it would not be a sin to kill every Jew. Reference this by clicking here, or especially, here. (Links open in a new window.)
The list could go on and on.
To all Christians! Are you truly a Christian? Do you believe that some effort is required here in this life?
Are we told to forgive all who trespass against us? Well, this takes work.
Are we told to love all others, as God has loved us? Well, this takes work.
Are we told to never commit adultery? Well, this takes work.
Are we told to tell the truth? Well, this takes work.
Are we told that however we judge others, we shall be so judged ourselves, by God? Well, this takes work.
Are we told to lay down our lives for others, when necessary? Well, this takes a lot of work.
Now, about one-hundred years ago, some religious leaders decided to make life easier for us: “Just ‘believe’ because everything is going to be forgiven.” “There is no need to find the ‘straight path’ which Christ described because everything is going to be forgiven.” Nearly all versions of the Bible, translated after Westcott and Hort’s interpretation, have followed the concept that all we have to do is to just “believe” (with no effort required on our part of life). Nearly all Christian faiths follow the Westcott/Hort teachings. Now, why would they do this? Two fellows, long ago, thinking they could improve on the Word of God? But the fact-of-the-matter is: all they really decided, was that they would “write a better Bible” than God, Himself, had supplied to this world! And the majority of this world’s Christian faiths have blindly followed them. (More on this “blindness” at the end of this letter.) Again, why would today’s religious leaders do this?
Well, maybe they just don’t want to offend their members? Maybe they want to maximize their collections so they don’t dare to complicate life? Maybe they think they are competing against other churches? Maybe they just want their churches filled each Sunday? Maybe it’s just easier to follow this doctrine? (Because maybe if we are not required to DO anything in our life, then they are not required to TEACH anything?)
My friend, the decision is yours. Do not place your eternal Life in the hands of some minister you have never really known. Do not place your eternal Life in the hands of this author, who’s words you now read, but who you have never known either. Make your own decision! Make sure you never experience the second death found in Revelation 2:11, 20:6, 20:14, and especially 21:7 – 8.
When you ever stand before God, on Judgment Day, you can either stand there with only a faith (which you truly understand, but never cared to demonstrate: this same faith which Jesus demonstrated toward all!) or you can stand there with your good deeds (that have been documented in God’s Book of Life) and a sincere “desire” to have faith in our Father, which Christ showed to us (and then told us to follow His example). Your decision here is: if Christ came here to be our example, did He demonstrate life, or did He demonstrate faith? Or did He demonstrate both, equally? Did Christ teach that the ONE equals THE OTHER? Ignore, for now, the letters of the Apostles. But do consider, greatly, the words Christ spoke while He was here. Christ’s words (meaning God’s words) are found in the four Gospels. Remember always, the following: mankind has never fully understood the letters of the Apostles. Why? Because mankind has always placed the letters of the Apostles “ahead of” the words of Christ. (Honestly, know now that Christ was God. Christ was always God! And Christ’s words can be hard. The Apostles were men: and their words seem easy. So, do you follow “men?” Or do you follow God? Oops, another “Christian Decision” here!) When Christ taught this world about faith, He usually compared it to a tiny mustard seed. But when Christ taught this world about life, He only compared it to that which is “right or wrong.”
(Think of it this way . . . if you found a “word” of the Apostles that disagreed with the Words of Christ, who’s words would you place first? If that Apostle were standing next to you, right now, who’s words would that Apostle tell you to follow? Christ’s words; or the Apostle’s words? This, exactly, is the error of many Christians, today.)
The decision is yours, but now, at least, you have all of the facts.
Westcott and Hort (just two men!) published their famous work in 1881. Since then, nearly every Bible follows their concept of translation. But is Life a popularity contest? Or is Life supposed to be lived according to our LORD, who holds our futures in His hands?
“FAITH OF JESUS” BIBLES (and year of completion)
King James Version (1611)
Wycliffe New Testament (1395)
21st Century King James Version (1994)
“FAITH IN JESUS” BIBLES (and year of completion) – a partial listing
New American Standard Bible (1995)
New International Version (1984)
American Standard Version (1901)
New International Version 2011 update (2011)
New Century Version (1978)
Worldwide English Version (1969)
New King James Version (1979)
Christian Standard Bible (2017)
English Standard Version (2001)
Contemporary English Version (1991)
Good News Translation (1966)
New International Readers Version (1994)
New Living Translation (1996)
You can verify all of this by clicking here. Once there, you can “one-click” switch to any version of the Bible that you desire; and then compare to the King James Version. Please notice both verses 16 and 20.
My friend, have you had time to consider the decision put before you, here in this letter?
For any who have not yet made this decision, there is one further proof that needs to be considered. The Greek word “pistis” (faith) appears in many other places of the Bible. Let’s see how the two different Bible versions treat the word there: (Please note that this is a CRITICAL LESSON!)
FAITH OF examples (King James Version):
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
The translators treated it exactly as the above “Jesus” verses. And we truly should try to have the faith which Abraham possessed and we truly should try to have the faith which God’s elect possess.
FAITH IN examples (American Standard Version used here):
Romans 4:16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,
So, they kept the word “of” in these verses. Why? Same writer . . . Paul! Same Greek word used for faith . . . pistis! Same sentence structure: placing the feminine noun (faith) before the masculine proper nouns (Abraham and God’s elect)! But here, they are not telling us to have faith IN Abraham (or IN God’s elect)? Why? Because they KNEW this was forbidden by God. They knew that Abraham was long since dead and could not help us one bit. (By the way, THEY KNEW these Greek words were identical to those they had already changed regarding Jesus.)
Knowing all of this, and knowing that this is not just a “scholarly argument” (and knowing that this truly affects the life God wants you to live), you now have a decision to make. You can do nothing: and as Paul teaches, then be placed amongst the unbelievers of this world and hope that God grants you His second chance, maybe, if you are lucky. Know now, that not everyone receives a second chance: Christ taught this through the story of Lazarus in Luke 16:19 – 31. Click here for the story. This “second chance” belongs only to God; and He obviously has His guidelines for who obtains it. (Meaning that no person can claim a right to God’s second chance!)
Or . . . would you rather “get everything right” here in this lifetime (meaning your first chance)? Well, this might mean making some changes in your life and actually working toward the eternal goal you have decided upon. Do not seek help in this matter! Remember always, that it was the so-called experts who started you down the wrong path of believing. Question your minister/preacher, if you want to, but never let them declare the above Truths of God as “untrue.” Better yet, ask your minister/preacher to read this webpage. (It will only take ten minutes of their time.) Then ask them to explain the above truths. Always “question” those who preach the Word of God to humanity! And know that God did not write HIS BIBLE for preachers and ministers. God wrote HIS BIBLE FOR YOU! Decide, for yourself, the course of your eternal life! We are talking about your next billion, or so, years here! Your heart will know when you are on the right path. Trust your common sense.
If this author were to give any advice to any person, at this point, it would come from Christ’s own mouth:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
Notice that Christ placed the emphasis on our loving all others . . . and He did so twice in the same sentence!
Obviously, this takes work. Sometimes, it takes a lot of work! Christ’s commandment, above, has little to do with any sort of faith.
God Bless you in your journey.
My dearest friend, if I could give just one more piece of advice, it would be to read my second book of Wisdom. This book is free to download here, at this website. You do not need to request it: just “take it” via the free download available to you. In this “free” book, you will finally understand exactly what you will be doing (on a daily basis) in Heaven, someday. It shall only take you about two evenings (of reading) to understand the daily details of your life in Heaven: should your life here, today, warrant you a place in Heaven. I call this book “the greatest story never told” and do so for a reason. That reason is because this second book of Wisdom is about YOU and only YOU: regarding the daily activities of your next billion, or so, years! If your life here allows you to get to Heaven, what do you think you will be doing there? Answer that, quickly, before scrolling down here. (And yes, this is a “forced-scroll” you are facing here: an obscure “literary license” this author is exercising.)
Will you be sitting on a sofa, praising God whenever He walks by? This would get boring after a few thousand years. Will you merely be singing songs to praise God? This would get boring after a few hundred years. No! Think about this . . . for just a moment!
JUST WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING, ON A DAILY BASIS, IF YOU EVER GET TO HEAVEN?
Well, the Bible does tell you EXACTLY what you will be doing every day that you are in Heaven! (Oh, but it teaches much, much more than this! More on this: below.) The Bible also teaches that this life in Heaven shall be the busiest part of your entire life! And your life, in Heaven, truly is the greatest story never told. All you have to do is to believe the words of your Bible and you will finally understand that the best years of your eternal life “lie just beyond” your short time spent here, upon this Earth: regardless of your faith! Once you come to understand the duties that God shall give you in Heaven, you will truly understand how your time spent here (on this Earth) was always just “a brief probationary period.” Indeed, we were all put here merely to show God of our value: later, to Him, in HIS ETERNAL HEAVEN. In this knowledge, you will finally realize how the amount of time that anyone spends upon this silly little Earth means nothing to God: because only He understands our eternal existence. Oh, a life-cut-short here on this Earth is such a tragedy to us, but God, in Heaven, understands how the LIFE that He grants is so eternal! We understand nothing, here. Through this Wisdom of God, you will finally understand how some others, who departed this world earlier than expected (such as children, brothers, sisters, or any other loved ones), might have actually fared-better than you, regarding our task of demonstrating to God what we can do for Him: once we are in Heaven!
And here is a hint that goes far beyond the scope of this letter. Do you actually believe that God, the Father, really cares about the “quality of our life” spent during our 10, 20, 30, 50, or 80 years of life spent here in this world? Knowing that He has already PREPARED (AND PLACED!) a billion years, or so, in front of us? Oh, we might not understand any of this (during our short little lives here), but God, the Father, truly does! Does this help you understand how a poor, destitute person, living in Haiti, Mexico, or China might actually get to Heaven someday?
Is a poor and destitute person, living elsewhere in this world, able to please God, our Father, by way of the life they lived? Can they help a lost stranger find their way? Can they help a neighbor in times of trouble? Can they raise their children to be good, decent, and hard working people: who help others as they did their selves?
My second book of Wisdom explains all of this and is freely available here on this website. The sole purpose of this book is to show you exactly how important these years, upon this earth, are to every person’s future, in Heaven! Oh, this author is nothing, here in this world. But your future is everything! Please download my second volume of Wisdom and you truly shall understand your future in Heaven in just three, or four, hours of reading time.
You will understand everything . . . about half-way through the book. Everything that comes later will only be the “icing on God’s cake.”