Saturday morning I opened my front door to find a piece of literature evidently left by some visiting Jehovah's Witnesses. The title of the pamphlet read, "Would You Like to Know More About the Bible?" So, I opened it up alongside of my Bible to check references and their scriptural contexts. I hadn't even finished the first paragraph before coming across a problem. Discover for yourself...
"If you harmonize your life with the standards set out in the BIble, God will give you everlasting life - Romans 6:23"
Really? What is wrong with this "if/then" statement? What does Romans 6:23 actually say?
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 (emphasis mine)
Hmmm... How about some additional supporting verses?
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," Romans 3:23-24
"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
Would you like to know more about the Bible? One way, for those in the Hattiesburg area or by podcasts, is to join us Sunday nights for a study of theology and doctrinal truths. The goal of theology is to know and love your God and make Him known to others. We all are theologians. What do you base your beliefs on? Do you take fancy pamphlets distributed by nice people as factual? Or, are you a student of the Word of God?
"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." John 17:17
