Just a Book

Just like any other Religious Book?

Do you know any, and there is a growing number of them, who say the Bible is nothing? That it is an old Book, written by a bunch of old Men, who wanted to control the masses. Or that it should never be taken literately. Or that it is a great history Book. Or that it is filled with contradictions. Or that there is no difference in the Bible, Torah, Qur'an, Tripitaka, The Scientology Handbook, or even Books Atheist read, like "The impossibility of God" and "An anthology of Atheism and Rationalism."

They tell you that if that is the "Religion" you chose to follow, then great for you. Just let everyone else have their "Holy Book" and leave them alone. The Bible is no different, not better, nor worse, than any other "Religious Book."

First let's start with this simple fact. The Truth does offend those who chose not to accept it. Truth is, all Religion is equal. However, there is only ONE Way, One Truth, One Life. There is only ONE Salvation. His Name is Jesus.

{John 3:16-18}

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Jesus also plainly told us this.

{John 10:7-11}

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

There is no other Way.

{John 14:6}

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Any "Religion" or Man-made Tradition, that does not have Jesus as the Foundation is a lie. Anyone telling you that you can get to Heaven, in any other way than accepting Jesus's Sacrifice for your Sins, is lying to you. Without Love, your Religion is worthless. Jesus IS Love. God IS Love. Without Jesus, your Religion is nothing.

Again, I understand that this may offend some people. Sorry. Like I said before, the Truth can become offensive to those who chose not to accept is. Doesn't change the fact that it is the Truth. We talked about Religion before, so we will not spend too much time on that aspect here. However, I could form a Religion today, and in 20, 50, or 100 years from now, we could have Carlockians, Peterites, Petetite, and others, that didn't like my Book I wrote, so they broke off, formed their own Religion, writing their own Book.

Point is, Religion, or Man-Made Traditions, are nice little groups to belong too, but if they do not have Jesus, they mean nothing at all. Not mine, nor any of the ones that broke of from mine. Not any other. God does not care about Religion. He cares about YOU. He wants a one on one relationship with YOU. You have to have Faith in His Plan. His Way. His Truth. His Life.

This is why He gave us His Word. It is our Instruction for Life.

{2 Timothy 3:16-17}

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

Was the Bible written by Man? Yup. All the things Jesus did, was done by a Man. Jesus, although God, was a Man. He had to become a Man, to deal with us in this Physical Realm. God gave Man His Word, to write down in the Physical Realm, so we could have it here, and learn from it. The words you are reading right now are not by the Man Peter, but by the Holy Spirit, who is leading me to write them. I'm not that smart. It is He who speaks through me. Not my opinion or point of view, but inspired words of God.

Another reason some become offended at the Bible is because it is Absolute Truth. Truth that cannot be refuted. Truth that is above us.

{Hebrews 4:12}

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

It is alien to us. It goes against our Sinful Flesh. This is why so many see it as a list of Don'ts. As restrictive. As confining and controlling. Instead of for what it is. A way to live our Lives in Love, Safety, and Security. An Instruction Manuel for Life itself. To keep us safe, and from those things, that in most cases we do to ourselves, that can hurt us.

This is why God tells us things like do not eat too much Pork. We will get sick.

Do not Murder or Steal. We will go to Jail, be killed ourselves, or worse, never get to Heaven.

Do not commit Adultery. We will hurt those we claim to love the most, and again, we may even be killed.

Do not have any other Gods before God? Because everything else is a Lie. And it will not matter in the end.

See,,

{Isaiah 40:6-8}

"The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." 

Peter put it this way..

{1 Peter 1:23-25.}

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." 

Without the Word of God, there is no Salvation. What does the Word have to do with Jesus? Jesus IS the Word..

{1 John 1:1-3}

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

OK. So of course The Word of God was from the beginning. So?

{1 john 1:14}

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Jesus was the Word of God, in the Flesh, again, so He could operate in this Physical Realm. Without Jesus, there would be no Word. Without Jesus, the World would not even be here. Without Jesus, there is no Salvation.

So when we look into His Word, we find Life itself. The Word should be Praised by the Children of God. It should be taught to our Children. Sung about. The book of Psalms is a collection of Hebrew Poetry, or Poems designed to be sung. The Hebrew title for the book is Praises, and most of the Psalms deal with praise for God. Psalm 119 especially deals with praise for God's Word, or law of God, His written Will for His people. Like this part of 119, entitled, or numbered HE. HE the fifth letter in the Hebrew Alphabet

Psalm 119, HE

{Psalm 119: 33-40}

"Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Establish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness." 

What it is saying here is forget Covetousness. Do not let me Greedily Desire anything other than God's Word. Do not wast time with useless things that mean little to nothing, but teach me to follow YOU God, and YOUR Word.

You see, every answer, to every question, can be found in God's Word. There are no contradictions. There are misinterpretations, misunderstanding what is read, differing points of view from the Writers, and simply, lack of understanding of what we are reading. Through Prayer and reading His Word, you will have a wealth of knowledge that most will never know. Most will never know they don't know. Let the World rejoice in it's own knowledge. For we know the knowledge of the World is foolishness to God. Learn from He who made the world. Use this Manual for Life, by the one that gave you Life. The one who created all that is, was, or ever will be. Who do you think knows better? The Creature? Or the Creator? My bet is on God.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}