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SALVATION - INDEX

 

 

 

 

 

There is NOTHING in this life that is more important for you to do than to decide where you will spend eternity.

 

If you have everything that this world can offer you - an easy life, family, friends, money, and pleasures - but you decide by default to spend eternity in Hell, then your life will have been a complete failure.

 

On the other hand, if you have practically nothing in this life of esteemed value, but you choose to seek God and to spend eternity with him in Heaven, then your life will have been an enormous success.

 

The difference isn't so much in what you have or don't have; it's in what you choose and don't choose. Jesus said, "except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

 

List of Articles:

 

What does it mean to be "Born Again"?

 

Is Baptism part of Salvation?

 

Who is God? - Make it Simple (links to our Doctrine Article by this title)

 

A Personal Message from Our Family to You

 

 

BIBLE VERSIONS - INDEX

 

 

King James?                   New Bible Versions??

List of Articles:

 

FOUNDATIONAL ARTICLES

 

The Nature of War

 

What About the Septuagint?

 

Antioch and Alexandria

 

NIV Says to Reject Jesus

 

AN Excellent Reference for King James Bible Believers - By James L. Melton

 

NIV Quiz - by Rex L. Cobb

 

Bible Memorization Test - by Pastor James Knox

 

Personal Pronouns - Thee, Thou, Ye, Thy, Thine, etc

 

Believing God’s Word

 

Errors in the King James Bible

 

An Open Letter to Cheryl

 

DEFENDING GOD'S WORD ONLINE

 

How We Know the King James Bible is God's ONLY Word in English

 

LOST In the Confused Mind of A Pentecostal Bible College Student (A Series)

00 - LOST - Intro

01 - LOST - First Email Exchange

02 - LOST

03 - LOST

04 - LOST

05 - LOST - SUMMARY CHART

06 - LOST

Is The King James Bible Wrong About Easter at Acts 12:4?

 

Is Eugene Peterson's book "The Message" a true copy of God's Word, the Bible?

 

CONTRADICTIONS IN THE KING JAMES BIBLE

 

01 - I Sam 17:50; II Sam 21:19: WHO KILLED GOLIATH?

 

02 - Gen 1:27; Gen 2:7, 20-30: The Timing of Adam and Eve's Creation

 

03 - Judges 4:21; Judges 5:25-27: How Did Sisera Die?

 

04 - I Sam 31:4; II Sam 1:10; II Sam 21:12: WHO KILLED KING SAUL?

 

05 - Joshua 15:21-32: HOW MANY CITIES - 29 or 36 or 38?

 

06 - II Sam 24:9; I Chron 21:5-6: David Numbers How Many Men of War in Israel?

 

07 - Acts 20:35: Did Jesus Really Say This?

 

08 - Matt 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; John 2:1-11: Was Jesus in the Wilderness or at the Wedding?

 

 

 

 

SOUND DOCTRINE - INDEX

 

 

In this series we intend to examine doctrines with the intent of establishing which are sound and which are false.

 

Sound doctrine unites believers in Christ, false doctrine divides people from Christ, and conflicting doctrine disrupts unity and fellowship in Christ.

 

Therefore, each of us ought to purge ourselves of false doctrine and earnestly seek sound doctrine.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
(I Thess 5:21)

This is not a matter of personal opinion - nor one of one-upmanship; it is a matter of personal righteousness and of right-standing before God.  Ultimately, we must be willing to let God’s Word speak to us, and we must be willing to conform ourselves to that Word.

 

Question: How much false doctrine can one believe and still be saved? 

 

At the Berean Research Institute, we are not willing to be comfortable with any false doctrines - no matter how few they are, nor how little they may be, nor what cost we may face to rid ourselves of them.

 

For good reason, Jesus warns us to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees:

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.  (Matt 16:6)

Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (Matt 16:12)

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Gal 5:9)

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. (I Cor 5:7)

Therefore, as we examine various doctrines, we do so not to be confrontational or disagreeable with others, but to be obedient to these specific commandments of God and to be faithful to his scriptures, overall.

 

Let's Be Scriptural, In Determining Sound Doctrine.

 

 

List of Articles:

 

OK…. So, you’re a "CHRISTIAN"...

What’s Wrong With Being a “Christian”??

 

Who is God? - Make it Simple

OK…. So, you’re a "PENTECOSTAL" - Let’s Be Scriptural About:

Pentecost and the Modern Pentecostal Movement

Examining the Pentecostal Statement of Faith, “What We Believe”

 

Pentecostal Feminism

 

Why I left the Tongues Movement - Alfred H. Pohl (Opens in New Window)

 

“Slain in the Spirit”

 

“Speaking in Tongues”

 

My Pastor, the "Spiritual Hippie"

Fake Healers, Apostles & Prophets

Smith Wigglesworth - A Book Review - by Mike Wright

 

Benny Hinn - "Man of God"?? - Videos

 

Benny Hinn - Outrageous Claims

 

Benny Hinn - Politics with China

United Pentecostal Church International

Is Water Baptism Necessary for Salvation?

 

Is the UPCI Gospel True?

OK…. So, you’re a "BAPTIST" - Let’s Be Scriptural About:

The Eternal Security of the Believer

The Eternal Security of the Believer

 

Eternal Security

 

The “Carnal” Christian

The Local Church

The “Local” Church - A Review of Dr. Kirkland's Book

 

Bible Verses Refuting the "Local Church" doctrine (Opens in New Window)

Calvinism and Arminianism

Calvinism and Arminianism

 

The god of the Calvinist

 

Calvinism and Modern Bible Versions

 

OK…. So, you’re a "CATHOLIC" - Let’s Be Scriptural About:

Salvation for Catholics

Can a “Catholic” be a “Christian”?

 

A Warning to Catholic Christians !!

 

Catholic Booklet - “Be Careful of Protestant Teachings”:  a Review

Catholic Doctrines

The Virgin Mary

 

The Mass - Transubstantiation

 

Roman Catholic Responses - Refuted

The Judgment of Rome

The Judgment of Rome - The Mother of Harlots

 

OK…. So, you’re a "JEHOVAH'S WITNESS" - Let’s Be Scriptural About:

Questions For Jehovah's Witnesses

Questions For Jehovah's Witnesses - Intro

 

Question For Jehovah's Witnesses

 

 

 

ENDTIME PROPHECY - INDEX

 

 

In this series we intend to examine  eschatological (study of endtime) teachings with the intent of determining which are true and which are not.

 

Perhaps as much as one third of the bible is prophetic, and God said (in reference to those living in the last days), that the wise shall understand (Dan 12:10).

If we knock, the door shall be opened unto us. (Matt 7:7)

It is true that Endtime prophecy has been interpreted in many different ways and by many people, but this is not a matter of personal opinion - the scriptures are not of any private interpretation.

 

We must earnestly seek to understand God’s interpretation of prophetic scripture. Despite what others say, for some, this may become a matter of salvation - a misunderstanding of this subject may result in the loss of their soul.

 

At the Berean Research Institute, we believe that God does not waste his words and that he wrote in his Word precisely what he wanted to say to us, even in this matter of prophecy.

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev 19:10)

It is equally important then, in this area of eschatology, that we study to shew ourselves approved unto God, workmen that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Tim 2:15)

 

Therefore, as we examine various eschatological views, we do so not to be confrontational or disagreeable with others, but to be obedient and faithful to his Word.

 

 

List of Articles:

Bible Prophecy - Relevant Today:

Understanding the Book of Revelation

 

Where Are We Today in Bible Prophecy?

 

What Should We Expect Next?

Preterist/Historicist/Amillennial:

Our Letter to an Historicist

 

Refuting Preterism/Historicism - Conclusively - Page 1

 

Refuting Preterism/Historicism - Conclusively - Page 2

 

Refuting Amillennialism

 

Although we do not agree on some issues (in particular with his soteriology), we appreciate the work and research of Irvin Baxter of Endtime, Inc for assembling many of the pieces of our understanding of the Book of Revelation for us.

 

 

 

OTHER ISSUES - INDEX

 

 

In this series we intend to address several controversial subjects. As the men of Berea did, we want to receive the word with all readiness of mind and to search the scriptures daily, whether these things are so. (Acts 17:11)

 

For us, this is not a matter of personal opinion nor one of one-upmanship; it is a matter of personal righteousness and of right-standing before God.

 

Ultimately, we must be willing to let God’s Word speak to us, and we must be willing to conform ourselves to that Word.

We know that we have liberty in Christ Jesus.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Cor 3:17)

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. (1 Cor 8:9)

So, (at the least) we must be careful in exercising our liberty.

Further, the bible teaches us that liberty in Christ Jesus makes us free FROM sin. It does not make us free TO sin.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom 6:1,2)

Moreover, we are commanded to:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (John 2:15)

So, our hearts shouldn’t even desire those things in the world from which we have been saved.

 

Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost. We who were dead in trespasses and sins he hath quickened.

Why then would we willingly go back into trespasses and sins?

 

Why would we wander away and become lost again?

(For those who believe in eternal security - please read the articles on OSAS, but in the meantime - why would we even ’behave’ as if we were lost again?)

The question then would be…...are the things we will discuss matters of sin, or are they legitimately matters of personal conscience?

 

Let’s find out.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (I Thess 5:21)

List of Articles

 

Issues Common to Most Fellowships:

“Church” Membership

 

"Brother" Bill and "Pastor"

 

Lisa's Thoughts on the Depravation of Literature

 

Social Drinking/Use of Alcohol

Holidays:

Christmas:

 

Questions About Christmas

 

Is Christmas Scriptural?

 

Every Green Trees to Worship False gods?

 

Explaining to Friends - What is ‘wrong’ with Christmas

 

Comparison Between the Lord Jesus Christ and Santa Claus

 

Easter:

Television and Movies:

Watching Television

 

Mel Gibson - Our “Christian” Hero?

 

Mel Gibson - Our "Christian" Hero - The Passion of the Christ - Summary

Creation vs Evolution:

Creation, Evolution and the Gap Theory

 

Evolution - Fact or Fiction by James L. Melton - (Excellent !)

 

Robert Howie - Geologist - A Book Review by Mike Wright

 

 

 

 

 

Antioch and Alexandria

 

 

 

(Birthplaces of manuscript lines and a key to identifying God’s Word)

 

1. In Acts 13, Saul becomes Paul (vs. 9) and is part of the church at Antioch. (vs. 1)  Paul and Barnabus are separated out from the rest "for the work whereunto I have called them", God said. (vs2)  They preached in a number of places (nowhere near Egypt) and by verse 49 we learn the keys words, "And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region."  (That phrase is a key to understanding which text is the true word of God).

 

So, where was the word of the Lord published - Alexandria or Antioch?

 

2. If we trace the manuscripts back to their origins, there are only two sources for them - Antioch and Alexandria.  Text types that represent a time period or location are traceable back to one of two families of manuscripts - the Majority text and the Minority text - the Majority text originating in Antioch, Syria and the Minority text originating in Alexandria, Egypt.

 

3. The Majority text (literally) includes approximately 99% of the 5,000 + extant manuscripts (meaning manuscripts that are in existence today).  These manuscripts include the ones used by the King James Bible translators and they have a high level of agreement with each other.  The Minority text (literally) includes the remaining less than 1% of extant manuscripts.  These manuscripts include those used by all modern versions and they have a high level of disagreement between each other (For example, Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, the two principal Alexandrian manuscripts by far, disagree with each other in over 3,000 places in the four gospels alone - see chart below).

a.  The Differences Between Sinaiticus and Vaticanus in the Four Gospels: 

Matthew	656+
Mark	567+
Luke	791+
John	1022+
Total	3036+

b. Modern translators have sub-divided the two families into Alexandrian, Western, Caesarean, and Byzantine categories, but this division obscures the fact that only two origins exist.  The first three categories originate from Alexandria and the latter from Antioch;

 

c.  Other names given to the Majority text include: the Antiochian text, Byzantine text, Traditional text, Apostolic text, the Eastern text and the Textus Receptus (Latin for Received Text).

 

d.  Therefore, we will refer to the two lineages based on their origins: Antioch/Antiochian and Alexandria/Alexandrian.

4. Antioch and Alexandria are as diametrically opposed in character and in fruit as are God and Satan, as are good trees and evil trees (Matt 7:17), and as are fresh water and salt water (James 3:12).  Because the bible is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice, let's study what the bible "practice" is regarding Alexandria, Egypt and Antioch.  For each section, keep in mind the "law of first mention", a principle wherein the first mention of anything in the bible generally sets the tone for the use of that word throughout the whole bible.

a.  What does God think of Egypt?:

1)  It is a place where they'll kill you and will take your wife (Gen 12:10-12) (First mention - negative),

 

2)  It is a place where they'll make you into slaves (Ex 1:11-14)

 

3)  It is a place that God, himself, calls "the house of bondage." (Ex 20:2)

 

4)  It is a place Moses calls "an iron furnace" (Deut 4:20)

 

5)  It is a place with which God commands his people that their future king is not to conduct any commercial trade.  He specifically warns them not to buy horses there, nor even to go that way again (Deut 17:16)  (Keep this in mind for later.)

 

6)  It is a place that God uses to denounce the city in which his two witnesses are murdered. (Rev 11:8)

b.  What does God think of Alexandria?  There are only four occurrences; these are all of them:

1)  It is a place where people disputed with and killed the first Christian martyr, Stephen (Act 6:9) (First mention - negative),

 

2)  It is a place where bad bible teaching comes from.  Apollos was learned in the scriptures but was unsaved (knowing only the baptism of John).  Aquilla and Priscilla explained the gospel - that Jesus was the Christ - and Apollos corrected his theology.  (Acts 18:24)

 

3)  It is a place that leads people to bondage and death.  Our champion, the Apostle Paul, was taken to be executed in Rome (of all places - Home of the Harlot) by a ship from Alexandria.  (Acts 27:6)

 

4)  It is a place, God emphasizes, that leads to bondage and death.  Our champion, the Apostle Paul, after surviving a shipwreck and a snake bite, is taken to be executed in Rome, by another ship from (once again) Alexandria. (Acts 28:11)

c.  What does God think of Antioch?

1)  It is a place - the only hometown mentioned - from which a man of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom came, and was appointed over church business (Acts 6:3-5) (First mention - positive),

[Note also that the first appearance of Antioch and Alexandria occur in the same book of the bible and in the same chapter, as if God is highlighting the two options we have from which to choose.  (coincidence??  Not likely.)]

 

2)  It is a place where the first great awakening of the Gentiles occurred.  The persecution following Stephens death scattered the Christians, who went preaching wherever they went.  At Antioch, they preached to the Grecians and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord (Acts 11:19-21) 

 

3)  It is a place where much people were added unto the Lord.  It is also where the people were glad, and were exhorted to purpose in their heart to cleave unto the Lord.  Barnabus was sent to Antioch and these things resulted.  (Acts 11:22-24) 

 

4)  It is the place where God established the headquarters of his New Testament church.  Barnabus sought Saul and shepherded him back to Antioch (not to Jerusalem and certainly not to Alexandria), and assembled with the church (Acts 11:25,26)

 

5)  It is the place where believers were first called "Christians"  (Acts 11:26) 

 

6)  It is the place to which God moved his prophets, signifying his blessing on Antioch, while the world was plagued with dearth. (Acts 11:27,28) 

 

7)  It is the place God has blessed for keeping his word.  The disciples had been told to go into all the world and to preach the gospel; but they didn't, and remained at Jerusalem.  Now, relief was needed from Antioch, where they had been faithful, to Jerusalem - which they sent at the hands of Barnabus and Saul.  (Acts 11:29,30) 

 

8) It is the place from which God sends missionaries (not from Jerusalem, and certainly not from Alexandria) Paul and Barnabus went on the first great missionary journey from Antioch (Acts 13:1-3) 

 

9) It is the place to which two envoys traveled from Jerusalem; each made a decision that had consequences.  One, (Judas) returned to Jerusalem and into oblivion; the other, (Silas) stayed in Antioch and became a tremendous missionary partner of Paul.  (Acts 15:23-27) 

 

10) It is the place from which the second great missionary journey began, (not from Jerusalem and certainly not from Alexandria), with Paul and Silas as the missionaries.  (Acts 15:40,41)

d.  How about the horses?

1)  In (I Kings 3:1)  Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, ignored God's commandment to avoid Egypt, and to NOT multiply horses unto himself from Egypt.

 

2)  But he bought the horses and married the Pharaoh's daughter anyway.

 

3)  The result was, that his heart was turned away from God (I Kings 11:3,4), he began worshipping other god's (I Kings 11:5-9) and God pronounced judgment on him (I Kings 11:9-43)

5. So here's the pertinent question.  What is the bible practice?  If God holds these opinions of Alexandria and Egypt, and he commands his people to not even buy horses from there, then how likely is it that he would want us to get a BIBLE from there?  Conversely, would he recommend a BIBLE from Antioch, where "the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region."? (Acts 13:49)

 

6. Were there manuscripts published in Alexandria?  Absolutely.  But they were not the words of God.  These were manuscripts generated by Origen, founder of a school of philosophy, in Alexandria, Egypt and others of like mind.  Origen is perhaps best known for his life's work - the Hexapla, a six column side by side record of the Hebrew old testament with various interpretations of it in Greek.

 

7. Fragments of the Hexapla are the primary record of the mythical 'Septuagint', which is supposedly a pre-Christian Greek copy of the old testament.  There are good reasons why such a document never existed, and speculation that Origen himself produced it about 450 years after its claimed production.  Vaticanus, Sinaiticus and Alexandrinus (the three primary manuscripts underlying modern versions) are believed to be copies of columns from Origen's Hexapla.

 

8. It is possible that these are copies of the 50 bibles ordered by Constantine and produced by Eusebius, a student of Origen's work.  Vaticanus was found, and remains secluded, in the Vatican.  Sinaiticus was found in a garbage can in a monastery in the Sinai.  These works are filled with errors, strike-outs and contradictions, yet they form the basis for what was compiled by Westcott and Hort in their 1881 Greek manuscript that underlies the modern versions.  [This study requires an enormous amount of time, but it is important in understanding the foundation upon which today's "bibles" are based.  Can anyone honestly believe that: Bad manuscripts = Good Bible??]

 

9. In summary, the Word of God was published in all of the region around Antioch and was accepted as scripture by early believers when they received it as such (hence "Received Text").  Many fragments of these writings constitute the Majority Text which Erasmus and the King James translators used to compile God's Word.  In opposition to this move of God, Origen, Eusebius, the Catholic church, Westcott and Hort, and many others generated and continue to propagate many conflicting accounts of what God's Word says.  These deceivers bring into question passages of scripture (Yea, hath God said...? Gen 3:1), add or omit many portions (Rev 22:18), and create confusion with many contrary voices. (... God is not the author of confusion ...  I Cor 14:33).

 

10. But this issue involves much more than just determining which book to read, which bible is the Word of God - a bible from Antioch or one from Alexandria.  It involves a crucial matter of the heart - which attitude one should have towards the Word of God - the attitude of believers in Antioch who "cleave" to the Word of God, or the attitude of unbelievers in Alexandria who questioned, changed, corrected, added to, and deleted from, the Word of God.

 

11. This is a very important issue.

 

(Credits:  We would like to acknowledge the work of Dr. Samuel C. Gipp whose own research provided the basic concept and much of the content for this article regarding God's thinking of the three cities.)