Sunday, December 29, 2013

The Holy Bible.


     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the New International Version ( NIV ).  The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:
"THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION is a completely new translation of the Holy Bible made by over a hundred scholars working directly from the best available Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts.  It had its beginning in 1965 when, after several years of exploratory study by committees from the Christian Reformed Church and the National Association of Evangelicals, a group of scholars met at Palos Heights, Illinois, and concurred in the need for a new translation of the Bible in contemporary English.  This group, though not made up of official church representatives, was transdenominational.  Its conclusion was endorsed by a large number of leaders from many denominations who met in Chicago in 1966."  [  See HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, ZONDERVAN PUBLISHING HOUSE, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, The Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society, p. v.  ]
     In Matthew 5:3, Jesus ( see Matthew 4:23 ) said the following:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  He also said the following in Matthew 7:21:  "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."  With these two verses from the Holy Bible in mind, it is clear that only those who are willing to be poor in spirit are willing to do God's ( see Matthew 16:13-16 ( especially verse 16, for example ) and John 17:1-5 ( especially verse 3, for example ), for example ) will.
     God has commanded through His word ( the Holy Bible - see Psalm 119:65-72, 142, 151, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:1, 14; 3:16; 7:16; 8:26; 10:30; 14:6; 17:17, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, and 1 John 5:6-8, for example ) that Christian ( see Hebrews 10:22 and 1 Peter 1:1, 2, for example ) wives have a "gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight" ( see 1 Peter 3:4 - please read 1 Peter 3:1-6 to get the context ).  God equates a loud and defiant ( the word "rebellious" - see Proverbs 7:11 ( NKJV, for example )) woman with a prostitute ( see Proverbs 7:10, 11 ):  it is important for women to understand this.  Please also read Proverbs, chapter 7, to get the full context regarding the description of the adulteress.
     To you, the reader, the Bible video ( associated with the following link ) is available for your viewing.  Please click on the link below:
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE:  Various denominational references are mentioned in the quotation at the top of this weblog posting.  It is important to understand that "religious" denominationalism is not authorized in the Holy Bible.  There is one New Testament church:  it is the church of Christ ( see Matthew 16:18 and Romans 16:16, for example ).  Also, the disciples were "called Christians first at Antioch" ( see Acts 11:26 ): they were not called Evangelicals.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     A copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the New Living Translation ( NLT ), is pictured to the left.  Matthew 22:34-40 read as follows:  "But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they thought up a fresh question of their own to ask him.  One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:  'Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?'  Jesus replied, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important:  'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."  Jesus said in Matthew 22:39, "'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  This statement renders racism a sin ( see Psalm 119:65-72, 142, 151, John 1:1, 14; 7:16; 8:26; 10:30; 14:6; 17:17, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, 1 John 3:4 ( KJV, for example ), and 1 John 5:6-8, for example ).
     This weblog posting is brief so that you, the reader, will have more time to view the Bible video ( associated with the following link ).  Please click on the link below:
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwt40y5qiELlUjVkWE51N2NBTWM/edit?usp=sharing>.
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

Monday, December 23, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the New Living Translation ( NLT ).  The apostle Paul ( see Galatians 1:1 ) recorded the following in Galatians 1:3-5:  "May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.  That is why all glory belongs to God through all the ages of eternity.  Amen."  From verse 4, we see that it was God's plan that His Son Jesus ( see Matthew 16:13-16 ( especially verse 16, for example ), for example ) would die for our sins.
     We read of Jesus' crucifixion and death on the cross of The Skull in Luke 23:26-49 ( especially verse 33, for example ), for example.  The Hebrew name, for the place of Jesus' crucifixion, is Golgotha ( see John 19:17, 18 ).  The name "Golgotha" means Skull Hill ( see Matthew 27:33, for example ).  It was at this place that Christ ( see Matthew 1:16; KJV, for example ) died "to sin once for all" ( see Romans 6:8-10 ( especially verse 10, for example ), for example; NKJV, for example ).
     This weblog posting is brief, to allow you, the reader, time to view the Bible video ( associated with the following link ).  Please click on the link below:
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

Saturday, December 21, 2013

The Holy Bible.


     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the New Living Translation ( NLT ). The book of Galatians was written by the apostle Paul ( see Galatians 1:1; 5:2; 6:11 ). This book was written circa A.D. 49 ( see page 666 ).
     The opening sentence of Galatians 1:3 reads as follows: "May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ."  The apostle Paul used similar statements in his greetings, in all of the other New Testament books he wrote, as follows:  "May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" ( see Romans 1:7 ), "May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you his grace and peace" ( see 1 Corinthians 1:3 ), "May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you his grace and peace" ( see 2 Corinthians 1:2 ), "May grace and peace be yours, sent to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord" ( see Ephesians 1:2 ), "May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace" ( see Philippians 1:2 ), "May God our Father give you grace and peace" ( see Colossians 1:2 ), "May his grace and peace be yours" ( see 1 Thessalonians 1:1 ), "May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace" ( see 2 Thessalonians 1:2 ), "May God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace" ( see 1 Timothy 1:2 ), "May God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace" ( see 2 Timothy 1:2 ), "May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace" ( see Titus 1:4 ), and "May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace" ( see Philemon, verse 3 ). There is some debate among Bible scholars, regarding whether the apostle Paul wrote the book of Hebrews.
     This weblog posting is brief, so that you, the reader, will have time to view the Bible video ( associated with the following link ).  Please click on the link below:
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE:  The two previous weblog postings have included links to Bible videos stored on SkyDrive ( cloud technology ).  The Bible video, associated with this weblog posting, is stored on Google Drive.  These weblog postings are just a few examples of how technology can be used to glorify God ( see 1 Corinthians 10:31, for example ).  Note also that the number "666" does not always represent evil ( cf. Ezra 2:13 and Revelation 13:18, for example - please read Ezra, chapter 2, and Revelation, chapter 13, to get the context of those two chapters ).


Friday, December 20, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the New Living Translation ( NLT ).  James 1:26, 27 read as follows:  "If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.  Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for the orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us."  Moreover, Ephesians 4:29 reads as follows:  "Don't use foul or abusive language.  Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."
     If we control our tongue, then we will not use foul and abusive language.  The phrase "foul and abusive language" in Ephesians 4:29 includes: profanity, euphemisms for profane words, and gossip, for example ( see also Proverbs 11:13 and Colossians 3:8, for example ).  Furthermore, Jesus ( see Matthew 15:16 ) said the following in Matthew 15:17-20:  "Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes out of the body.  But evil words come from an evil heart and defile the person who says them.  For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all other sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.  These are what defile you.  Eating with unwashed hands could never defile you and make you unacceptable to God!"  Jesus said that if we use evil words, we are defiled.
     This weblog posting is brief so that you, the reader, can have more time to view the Bible video ( associated with the following link ).  Please click on the link below:
<https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=6DC6D0B436523EA5!304&authkey=!AH3mUB_5HFTwihU&ithint=video%2c.wmv>.
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

Thursday, December 19, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the New Living Translation ( NLT ).  The apostle Paul ( see 1 Timothy 1:1 ) recorded the following in 1 Timothy 2:9:  "And I want women to be modest in their appearance.  They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes."  The phrase "decent and appropriate clothing" rules out: short-shorts, bikini tops, bikini bathing suits, one-piece bathing suits, short-cut shirts which reveal the bellybutton, shirts or dresses with low-cut tops ( which reveal the breasts and cleavage ), and tight-fitting dresses ( or any other tight-fitting clothing ), for example.
     Women are to dress according to what God has commanded in His word ( the Holy Bible - see Psalm 119:65-72, 142, 151, Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14, John 1:1, 14; 7:16; 8:26; 10:25-30 ( especially verse 30, for example ); 17:17, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV or NKJV; with center-column references ) to find the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), Colossians 2:8, 9, 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, and 1 John 5:6-8, for example ), and not according to the sinful ( see 1 John 3:4, for example; KJV, for example ) examples of the female supermodels.  To you, the reader, if you have about 30 minutes of time available for viewing, then please click on the following link:
<https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=6DC6D0B436523EA5!254&authkey=!AN_aqphONYm5n6U&ithint=video%2c.wmv>.
This weblog posting is brief in length, to allow time for viewing the Bible video associated with the above-referenced link.  Please study the Holy Bible ( see 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the New Living Translation ( NLT ).  The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:
"The goal of any Bible translation is to convey the meaning of the ancient Hebrew and Greek texts as accurately as possible to the modern reader.  The New Living Translation is based on the most recent scholarship in the theory of translation.  The challenge for the translators was to create a text that would make the same impact in the life of modern readers that the original text had for the original readers.  In the New Living Translation, this is accomplished by translating entire thoughts ( rather than just words ) into natural, everyday English.  The end result is a translation that is easy to read and understand and that accurately communicates the meaning of the original text."  [  See HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois, Holy Bible, Gift and Award Edition copyright 1997 Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., p. xiii.  ]
     Mark 10:45 reads as follows:  "For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."  The Greek word ( Greek [ 3083 ] ) for the word "ransom," in Mark 10:45 ( KJV ), is defined as follows:
"something to loosen with, i.e. a redemption price (fig. atonement)."  [  See ABINGDON'S STRONG'S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE, STRONG, JAMES, S.T.D., LL.D., ABINGDON PRESS, NASHVILLE, Copyright, 1890, by JAMES STRONG, MADISON, N.J., ( A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek/New Testament with their Renderings in the King James Version, p. 60. ).  ] 
The phrase, "to give his life a ransom for many" in Mark 10:45 ( KJV; with center-column references ), has a cross-reference to Titus 2:14.  Titus 2:13, 14 ( KJV; with center-column references ) read as follows:  "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
     Moreover, the phrase "Who gave himself for us" in Titus 2:14 ( KJV; with center-column references ), has a cross-reference to Galatians 1:4.  Galatians 1:3, 4 ( KJV; with center-column references ) read as follows:  "Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father."  Romans 6:3, 4 read as follows:  "Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him?  For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.  And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives."  Galatians 3:27 reads as follows:  "And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him."
     Thus, with all of the above-given information in mind, we are made like Christ when we are united with Him in baptism.  We come in contact with the blood of Christ when we are buried with Him by baptism:  a figurative sprinkling of His blood, upon us, occurs during this act of immersion in water ( see Hebrews 10:22 and 1 Peter 1:1, 2, for example ).  We are freed from our sins by the blood that Jesus Christ shed for us ( see Revelation 1:5, for example ).  Since the blood of Jesus Christ frees us from our sins, the blood that He shed at his death is the redemption price for our sins.  Additionally, just as God raised Jesus of Nazareth to life and freed Him from the grip of death ( see Acts 2:22-24, for example ), God loosens us from that grip of death, with regard to our past sins ( see Romans 6:23; 8:11, for example );  the blood of Jesus Christ frees us from them once we are baptized.
     Therefore, when we read the word "ransom" in Mark 10:45, for example, the image of the lifeless body of Jesus Christ, hanging on the cross of Calvary for our sins, must come to mind ( see Luke 23:26-49 ( especially verse 33, for example - see Luke 23:33 ( KJV; with center-column references ) to find the equivalent translation for the word "Calvary" ) and Romans 6:10, for example ).

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>
     

Saturday, December 14, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     A copy of the CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION ( CEV ) of the Holy Bible; being entitled: open hearts, open minds, OUTDOORS!, is pictured to the left.  Daniel 2:36-45 read as follows:
"That was the dream, and now I'll tell you what it means.  Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings, and God has highly honored you with power over all humans, animals, and birds.  You are the head of gold.  After you are gone, another kingdom will rule, but it won't be as strong.  Then it will be followed by a kingdom of bronze that will rule the whole world.  Next, a kingdom of iron will come to power, crushing and shattering everything.  This fourth kingdom will be divided-it will be both strong and brittle, just as you saw that the feet and toes were a mixture of iron and clay.  This kingdom will be the result of a marriage between kingdoms, but it will crumble, just as iron and clay don't stick together.  During the time of those kings, the God who rules from heaven will set up an eternal kingdom that will never fall.  It will be like stone that was cut from the mountain, but not by human hands-the stone that crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold.  Your Majesty, in your dream the great God has told you what is going to happen, and you can trust this interpretation."  The four kingdoms being referenced in the above-given passage from the Holy Bible are as follows:  Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman.  Jesus was born during the time of the Roman empire ( see Luke 2:1, 5, 21, for example );  the phrase "Caesar Augustus" appears in Luke 2:1 ( KJV, for example ).  Please read Luke, chapter 2, to get the context.
     Jesus prophesied ( see Deuteronomy 18:15 and Acts 3:19-26, for example ) concerning the church in Matthew 16:18.  Luke ( cf. Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1 ) recorded the following in Acts 2:14-17:  "Peter stood with the eleven apostles and spoke in a loud and clear voice to the crowd:  Friends and everyone else living in Jerusalem, listen carefully to what I have to say!  You are wrong to think that these people are drunk.  After all, it is only nine o'clock in the morning.  But this is what God had the prophet Joel say, 'When the last days come, I will give my Spirit to everyone.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy.  Your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams.'"  Acts 2:17 ( KJV; with center-column references ) has a cross-reference to Joel 2:28-32.  Thus, what was prophesied by the prophet Joel ( in Joel, chapter 2 ) occurred on the day of Pentecost, as we read in Acts, chapter 2.
     The church which Jesus mentioned in Matthew 16:18 was first established on earth in Jerusalem ( see Acts 2:5, 38, 41, and 47, for example );  the word "church" appears in Acts 2:47 ( KJV, for example ).  Thus, the "eternal kingdom that will never fall" ( as we read in Daniel 2:44 ) is a reference to the New Testament church.  The phrase "eternal kingdom" ( the word "kingdom" in singular form ) clearly implies that since there is only one eternal kingdom, there can only be one New Testament church.  This New Testament church is the church of Christ ( see Romans 16:16 and Ephesians 1:22, 23, for example, and recall Matthew 16:18 );  the phrases "churches of Christ" ( see Romans 16:16; KJV, for example ) and "Christ's churches" ( see Romans 16:16; CEV ) must have the same meaning.
     With all of the above-given information in mind, "religious" denominationalism is not authorized in the Holy Bible.  This means that the Methodist denomination, for example, is not the New Testament church.  The time of Acts, chapter 2, was circa A.D. 33.  The various Methodist denominations were not established until the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries A.D.  [  See Handbook OF Denominations IN THE UNITED STATES:  NEW TENTH EDITION, MEAD, FRANK S., Abingdon Press, NASHVILLE, Copyright 1985, 1990, 1995 by Abingdon Press, pp. 194-207.  ]

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE:  The words "empire" and "kingdom" are somewhat similar in meaning, though the word "kingdom" is specifically used in the phrases "kingdom of heaven" ( see Matthew 5:3, for example ) and "kingdom of God" ( see Matthew 6:33, for example; KJV, for example ), for example.  The word "empire" does not appear in the sacred text of the King James Version New Testament.

Monday, December 9, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of the New Revised Standard Version ( NRSV ) of the Holy Bible.  The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:
"This preface is addressed to you by the Committee of translators, who wish to explain, as briefly as possible, the origin and character of our work.  The publication of our revision is yet another step in the long, continual process of making the Bible available in the form of the English language that is most widely current in our day.  To summarize in a single sentence:  the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible is an authorized revision of the Revised Standard Version, published in 1952, which was a revision of the American Standard Version, published in 1901, which, in turn, embodied earlier revisions of the King James Version, published in 1611."  [  See HOLY BIBLE, New Revised Standard Version, Published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan  49530, U.S.A., Copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, p. vii.  ]
Job 24:1-8 read as follows:
"Why are times not kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see days?  The wicked remove landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them.  They drive away the donkey of the orphan; they take the widow's ox for a pledge.  They thrust the needy off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves.  Like wild asses in the desert they go out to their toil, scavenging in the wasteland food for their young.  They reap in a field not their own and they glean in the vineyard of the wicked.  They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.  They are wet with the rain of the mountains, and cling to the rock for want of shelter" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).
Psalm 61:1-3 read as follows:
"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I call you, when my heart is faint.  Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).
     Psalm 61:1-3 ( KJV ) read as follows:
"HEAR my cry, O God;  attend unto my prayer.  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed:  lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).
Romans 12:1, 2 read as follows:
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect."
James 1:27 reads as follows:
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:  to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).
     From Job 24:7, 8 we learn the spiritual plight of the wicked.  Specifically, they are spiritually naked and, thus, they are exposed to the cold, harsh elements of this sinful world ( see John 16:1-11 ( especially verse 8, for example ), for example ) in which we live.  They have no shelter from these elements.
     The lesson we learn from Psalm 61:1-3 is that God is our refuge ( or the word "shelter"; KJV ).  God will shelter us from the enemy.  Who is this enemy, ultimately?  Jesus ( see Matthew 13:34 ) said in Matthew 13:39 that the enemy is the devil ( please read Matthew 13:34-42 to get the context ).
     With Romans 12:1, 2 and James 1:27 in mind, when one is not conformed to this world, then that one keeps himself or herself unstained by the world.  God, through His will, will shelter us from this sinful world.  1 Timothy 2:3, 4 ( KJV ) read as follows:  "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."  God's will is clearly stated in the preceding passage from the Holy Bible.  See also 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 and James 1:19-21 ( especially verse 21, for example ), for example.
     Only the "one who believes and is baptized will be saved" ( see Mark 16:16 ).  We know that when one is baptized, by immersion in water, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of his or her sins, that such individual puts on Christ ( see Acts 2:38; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example ), Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), and Galatians 3:27, for example ); becoming a Christian ( see Acts 11:26, for example ).
     Therefore, if one is a Christian, he or she lives a sheltered life; being sheltered by God from this sinful world.  Those of us who are Christians must not allow sinners ( see Matthew 26:45, for example ) to try to discourage us ( see Hebrews 12:3, for example ) from living such a sheltered life.  Please study the Holy Bible ( see 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE:  In the bibliography of the copy of the New Revised Standard Version ( NRSV ) of the Holy Bible ( pictured above ), a national council of Churches of Christ is referenced. It is important to understand that the New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:18 and Romans 16:16, for example ) is not a member of any such national council of churches. Such a structure is not authorized in the Holy Bible. Rather, each local congregation ( see Galatians 1:2, for example ) of the universal church of Christ ( see Ephesians 1:22, 23, for example ) is to be autonomous; having elders and deacons in those local congregations where men are qualified to serve as elders and deacons ( see Acts 14:23; 20:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4, for example ).

Thursday, December 5, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of the KING JAMES VERSION ( KJV ) of the Holy Bible; being entitled: The Scofield Study Bible.  The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:
"The last fifty years have witnessed  an intensity and breadth of interest in Bible study unprecedented in the history of the Christian Church.  Never before have so many reverent, learned, and spiritual men brought to the study of the Scriptures minds so free from merely controversial motive.  A new and vast exegetical and expository literature has been created, inaccessible for bulk, cost, and time to the average reader.  The winnowed and attested results of this half-century of Bible study are embodied in the notes, summaries, and definitions of this edition.  Expository novelties, and merely personal views and interpretations, have been rejected."  [  See HOLY BIBLE, KING JAMES VERSION, SCOFIELD STUDY SYSTEM, SCOFIELD, C. I., D.D., NEW YORK, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, The Scofield Reference Bible, Copyright 1909, 1917; copyright renewed, 1937, 1945 by Oxford University Press, Inc., p. iii.  ]
     Job 32:21 reads as follows:  "Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  Psalm 111:1, 9 read as follows:  "PRAISE ye the LORD, I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.  He sent redemption unto his people:  he hath commanded his covenant for ever:  holy and reverend is his name" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  Matthew 19:16, 17 read as follows:  "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good?  there is none good but one, that is, God:  but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."  Matthew 23:9 reads as follows:  "And call no man your father upon the earth:  for one is your Father, which is in heaven."
     The lesson from Job 32:21 is clear:  we are not to give flattering titles to any human being.  This means that we are not to call any man "reverend," for example.  Furthermore, women are not to be given such titles either.  To begin with, the same lesson applies to women, as it does to men.  Secondly, women are not allowed to be gospel preachers, and they are not allowed to lead the worship service - period ( see 1 Timothy 2:12, for example ).
     Moreover, with Psalm 111:1, 9 in mind, only God's name is reverend.  Psalm 111:9 ( ESV ) reads as follows:  "He sent redemption to his people;  he has commanded his covenant forever.  Holy and awesome is his name!"  Thus, only God is to be called awesome.
     Jesus ( see Matthew 19:14 ) refused to be called "Good," as we read in Matthew 19:16, 17.  The Greek word ( Greek [ 18 ] ) for the word "Good," in Matthew 19:16 is defined as follows:
"upright, honorable."  [  See THE NEW THAYER'S GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICON, Thayer, Joseph Henry, D.D., HENDRICKSON PUBLISHERS, PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS  01961-3473, Copyright 1979, 1981, by Jay P. Green, Sr., p. 2.  ]
We know that Jesus is upright and honorable ( see Hebrews 4:14, 15, for example ).  Therefore, we must conclude that Jesus, Himself, refused to be given a flattering title.  Additionally, Proverbs 25:27 ( NKJV ) reads as follows:  "It is not good to eat much honey;  so to seek one's own glory is not glory."
     Finally, Jesus ( see Matthew 23:1 ) said, in Matthew 23:9, to call no man on earth your father.  The same Greek word ( Greek [ 3962 ] ) is used for the words "father," and "Father," in this verse in the Holy Bible; this Greek word being defined as follows:
"a title of honor [cf. Sophocles, Lex. s. v. ], applied to  a.  teachers, as those to whom pupils trace back the knowledge and training they have received:  Mt.  xxiii.  9. . . ."  [  Ibid., p. 495.  ]
Thus, Jesus teaches in Matthew 23:9 that we are not to use the name "father" as a title of honor for any man, as is done with priests in the Catholic denomination, for example.  Such a title of honor belongs only to the heavenly Father.  Please study the Holy Bible ( see 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of the NEW KING JAMES VERSION ( NKJV ) of the Holy Bible.  The following quotation is taken from this version:
"In harmony with the purpose of the King James scholars, the translators and editors of the present work have not pursued a goal of innovation.  They have perceived the Holy Bible, New King James Version, as a continuation of the labors of the earlier translators, thus unlocking for today's readers the spiritual treasures found especially in the Authorized Version of the Holy Scriptures."  [  See HOLY BIBLE, NEW KING JAMES VERSION, THOMAS NELSON PUBLISHERS, Nashville, Copyright 1988 Thomas Nelson, Inc., p. iii.  ]
     The apostle Peter ( see 1 Peter 1:1 ), in writing to Christians ( see Acts 9:1-22 ( especially verse 20, for example ); 11:19-26 ( especially verse 26, for example ), Galatians 3:27, Ephesians 1:22, 23, Hebrews 10:22, and 1 Peter 1:1, 2, for example ), referred to the church as a chosen generation. Therefore, veterans of the second world war are not members of the greatest generation ( unless they are members of the New Testament church ). The greatest generation is the New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:18 and Romans 16:16, for example ). Thus, Christians ( members of the church - see Acts 2:41, 47 and Romans 12:5, and recall Acts 11:26, Galatians 3:27, and Ephesians 1:22, 23, for example ) are the greatest generation.
     Nevertheless, I do not want to be unthankful for the sacrifices that members of the United States military have made for this country in the past.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 reads as follows:  "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  Therefore, as a Christian, I am commanded by God ( see Ecclesiastes 12:13 and 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, for example ) to give thanks in everything, and that I will do; being most thankful for the sacrifice of Christ on the cross of Calvary for the sins of everyone ( see Luke 23:26-49 ( especially verse 33, for example ), Romans 6:10, and Hebrews 9:23-28 ( especially verse 26, for example ), for example ), since no human sacrifice compares to His.
     However, there are things that this country represents that I, as a Christian, do not represent.  The United States of America represents freedom of religion ( or, more accurately, "religion" ).  Freedom of religion is not authorized in the Holy Bible.  Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me."  This statement that Jesus made rules out Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed, and everyone else.  Jesus is the only way to come to the Father.
     Moreover, freedom of speech is not authorized in the Holy Bible.  The apostle Paul ( see Ephesians 1:1 ) recorded the following in Ephesians 4:29:  "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."  Thus, Christians are not to: use profanity nor euphemisms for profane words ( see also Colossians 3:8, for example ), gossip ( recall Colossians 3:8, for example ), listen to gossip ( see Proverbs 26:22 and Ephesians 5:11, for example ), nor lie ( see Ephesians 4:25, for example ), for example.
     There are other "freedoms" set forth in the United States Constitution, which are condemned in the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-72, 142, 151, John 1:1, 14; 7:16; 8:26; 10:30; 14:6; 17:17, Romans 1:20, Colossians 2:8, 9, 1 John 5:6, 7, and recall 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, for example ).  Whatever the case may be, whoever is baptized, by immersion in water, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of his or her sins ( see Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 41, 47; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example ), and Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), for example ), will become a member of the greatest generation - the New Testament church.

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE:  It is a sin to fight for freedom of religion ( see Ephesians 4:5, 1 Timothy 6:12, and 1 John 3:4 ( KJV, for example ), and recall John 14:6, for example ), for example.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     A copy of the CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION ( CEV ) of the Holy Bible; being entitled:  open hearts, open minds, OUTDOORS!, is pictured to the left.  The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:
"Languages are spoken before they are written.  And far more communication is done through the spoken word than through the written word.  In fact, more people hear the Bible read than read if for themselves.  Traditional translations of the Bible count on the reader's ability to understand a written text.  But the Contemporary English Version differs from all other English Bibles-past and present-in that it takes into consideration the needs of the hearer, as well as those of the reader, who may not be familiar with traditional biblical language.  The Contemporary English Version has been described as a 'user-friendly' and a 'mission-driven' translation that can be read aloud without stumbling, heard without misunderstanding, and listened to with enjoyment and appreciation, because the language is contemporary and the style is lucid and lyrical."  [  See The Holy Bible, CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION, AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, NEW YORK, Text:  Copyright 1995, American Bible Society, p. vii.  ]
     Jeremiah 44:15-18 read as follows:  "A large number of Jews from both northern and southern Egypt listened to me as I told them what the LORD had said.  Most of the men in the crowd knew that their wives often burned incense to other gods.  So they and their wives shouted:  'Jeremiah, what do we care if you speak in the LORD's name?  We refuse to listen!  We have promised to worship the goddess Astarte, the Queen of Heaven, and that is exactly what we are going to do.  We will burn incense and offer sacrifices of wine to her, just as we, our ancestors, our kings, and our leaders did when we lived in Jerusalem and the other towns of Judah.  We had plenty of food back then.  We were well off, and nothing bad ever happened to us.  But since the time we stopped burning incense and offering wine sacrifices to her, we have been dying from war and hunger."  With the preceding passage from the Holy Bible in mind, we see that the Jews tried to justify the sin of idolatry ( see Exodus 20:3, Matthew 4:10, Romans 15:4, Colossians 2:11-14 ( especially verse 14, for example ), and Hebrews 8:1-13 ( especially verse 13, for example ), for example ) by stating that they had plenty of food, were well off, and that nothing bad ever happened to them.  The LORD had spoken to them, through the prophet Jeremiah ( see Jeremiah 44:1, 4, and 16 ), and told them that they would die in war or from starvation ( see Jeremiah 44:12 ), because of their sin of idolatry ( please read Jeremiah 44:1-18 to get the context ).
     Moreover, the Jews refused to listen ( see verse 16 ).  Many ( see Matthew 7:13, for example ) people are equally stubborn even today.  They refuse to listen to God's word ( the Holy Bible - see Psalm 119:65-72, 142, 151, John 1:1, 14; 7:16; 8:26; 10:30; 17:17, Colossians 2:8, 9, 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, and 1 John 5:6-8, for example ); choosing, rather, to practice idolatry.  Jesus ( see Matthew 5:1 ) said that only those who obey His Father in heaven will get into the kingdom of heaven ( see Matthew 7:21, for example ).  Please study the Holy Bible ( see 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

Saturday, November 23, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of the REVISED STANDARD VERSION ( RSV ) of the Holy Bible.  The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:
"The Revised Standard Version of the Bible is an authorized revision of the American Standard Version, published in 1901, which was a revision of the King James Version, published in 1611. . . .  The Revised Standard Version of the Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments, was published on September 30, 1952, and has met with wide acceptance."  [  See THE BIBLE, REVISED STANDARD VERSION, AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York, Old Testament Section, Copyright 1952, New Testament Section, First Edition, Copyright 1946, New Testament Section, Second Edition, Copyright 1971, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, pp. iii, vi.  ]
     1 John 5:10 reads as follows:  "He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.  He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to his Son."  The phrase, "has made him a liar," in the preceding passage from the Holy Bible might, at the first, be a source of difficulty for the reader.  We know that God "never lies" ( see Titus 1:2, for example ).  The comparison between the above-referenced phrase in 1 John 5:10, and what is taught in Titus 1:2, for example, would seem to be a contradiction.
     However, since we know that God never lies, we must clarify who the word "liar," in 1 John 5:10, refers to.  The answer to this question becomes clear when we give additional consideration to the phrase, "has made him a liar," in 1 John 5:10.  Specifically, the words "has made," in this phrase, must refer to the intellectual dishonesty of the one who does not believe God.
     Clearly, then, the one who does not believe God is the liar, because this person "has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to his Son" ( recall 1 John 5:10 ).  Thus, there is no contradiction in 1 John 5:10.  Please study the Holy Bible ( see 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE:  In the bibliography of the copy of the REVISED STANDARD VERSION ( RSV ) of the Holy Bible ( pictured above ), a national council of Churches of Christ is referenced.  It is important to understand that the New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:18 and Romans 16:16, for example ) is not a member of any such national council of churches.  Such a structure is not authorized in the Holy Bible.  Rather, each local congregation ( see Galatians 1:2, for example ) of the universal church of Christ ( see Ephesians 1:22, 23, for example ) is to be autonomous; having elders and deacons in those local congregations where men are qualified to serve as elders and deacons ( see Acts 14:23; 20:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4, for example ).

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of The Bible in Today's English Version ( TEV ); being entitled: GOOD NEWS BIBLE.  The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:
"In September 1966 the American Bible Society published The New Testament in Today's English Version, a translation for people everywhere for whom English is either their mother tongue or an acquired language.  Shortly thereafter the United Bible Societies requested the American Bible Society to undertake on its behalf a translation of the Old Testament following the same principles.  Accordingly the American Bible Society appointed a group of translators to prepare the translation.  In 1971 this group added a British consultant recommended by the British and Foreign Bible Society.  The translation of the Old Testament now appears together with the fourth edition of the New Testament."  [  See GOOD NEWS BIBLE, The Bible in Today's English Version, AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, New York, Old Testament:  Copyright American Bible Society, 1976, New Testament:  Copyright American Bible Society, 1966, 1971, 1976, p. ix.  ]
     Job 1:13-22 read as follows:  "One day when Job's children were having a feast at the home of their oldest brother, a messenger came running to Job.  'We were plowing the fields with the oxen,' he said, 'and the donkeys were in a nearby pasture.  Suddenly the Sabeans attacked and stole them all.  They killed every one of your servants except me.  I am the only one who escaped to tell you.'  Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, 'Lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and killed them all.  I am the only one who escaped to tell you.'  Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, 'Three bands of Chaldean raiders attacked us, took away the camels, and killed all your servants except me.  I am the only one who escaped to tell you.'  Before he had finished speaking, another servant came and said, 'Your children were having a feast at the home of your oldest son, when a storm swept in from the desert.  It blew the house down and killed them all.  I am the only one who escaped to tell you.'  Then Job got up and tore his clothes in grief.  He shaved his head and threw himself face downward on the ground.  He said, 'I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing.  The LORD gave, and now he has taken away.  May his name be praised!'  In spite of everything that had happened, Job did not sin by blaming God."  Notice how Job responded to this great adversity.  He ultimately praised the name of the LORD.  How do we respond to adversity?
     Psalm 69:1 reads as follows:  "Save me, O God!  The water is up to my neck;  I am sinking in deep mud, and there is no solid ground;  I am out in deep water, and the waves are about to drown me."  Proverbs 24:10 reads as follows:  "If you are weak in a crisis, you are weak indeed."  Psalm 27:1 reads as follows:  "The LORD is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one.  The LORD protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid."  To be sure, we must trust that the LORD will protect us from all danger ( cf. Matthew 7:21-23, Acts 16:16-34 ( especially verses 25-34, for example ), 1 Timothy 2:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), and Hebrews 9:27, for example ).  We must be strong in a time of crisis.
     Finally, we must view trials in a positive way.  James 1:2, 3 read as follows:  "My brothers, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure."  Please study the Holy Bible ( see 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ), so that you will know how to deal with adversity, for example.

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>
     

Monday, November 18, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of the HOLMAN CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE ( HCSB ).  The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:
"The HCSB has used computer technology and telecommunications in its creation perhaps more than any Bible translation in history.  Electronic mail was used daily and sometimes hourly for communication and transmission of manuscripts.  An advanced Bible software program, Accordance, was used to create and revise the translation at each step in its production.  A developmental copy of the HCSB itself was used within Accordance to facilitate cross-checking during the translation process-something never done before with a Bible translation."  [  See HOLY BIBLE, HOLMAN CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE, AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, NEW YORK, Holman Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers, p. vi.  ]
     Acts 18:14, 15 read as follows:  "And as Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, 'If it were a matter of a crime or of moral evil, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you Jews.  But if these are questions about words, names, and your own law, see to it yourselves.  I don't want to be a judge of such things.'"  In verse 14, the phrase "moral evil" is used.  At the first, this phrase would appear to be contradictory, since there is no such thing as righteous evil.  However, it is necessary to consider the definition of the word "moral."
     The word "moral" is defined as follows:
"adj.   1   Pertaining to character and behavior from the point of view of right and wrong, and obligation to duty; pertaining to rightness and duty in conduct.  2  Conforming to right conduct; actuated by a sense of the good, true, and right; good; righteous; virtuous.  3  Concerned with the principles of right and wrong; ethical:  moral philosophy; moral values.  4  Acting or suited to act through man's intellect or sense of right:  often opposed to physical:  moral support.  5  Logic Probable as opposed to demonstrative:  moral proof. . . ."  [  See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY  10016, dictionary portion:  pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 635.  ]
Sense 5, of the above-given definition of the word "moral," agrees with the context of Acts 18:14, 15.  Specifically, the word "probable" could be substituted for the word "moral," in the phrase "moral evil" in Acts 18:14, thus reading "probable evil."
     Moreover, the word "probable," in the above-given definition of the word "moral," is defined as follows:
"adj.   1   Having more evidence than the contrary, but not proof;  likely to be true or to happen, but leaving room for doubt.  2  That renders something worthy of belief, but falls short of demonstration:  probable evidence. . . ."  [  Ibid., p. 771.  ]
Furthermore, the word "demonstrative," in the above-given definition of the word "moral," is defined as follows:
"adj.   1   Having the power of demonstrating or pointing out;  convincing and conclusive. . . ."  [  Ibid., p. 262.  ]
With all of the preceding information in mind, if the situation ( please read Acts, chapter 18 ( especially verses 1-17 ), to get the context ) had been a matter of crime or probable evil, Gallio would have been willing to consider it.  Whatever the case may be, there is no reason to panic regarding the phrase "moral evil" in Acts 18:14, provided that we are willing to to consider the definitions of a few words.  As expressed in a previous posting to this weblog, I would like to encourage ( see 1 Timothy 4:13 ) you, the reader, to study the Holy Bible ( see 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

The Holy Bible.

     A lesson on the subject of the New Testament church is taught from the NEW AMERICAN BIBLE REVISED EDITION ( NABRE ); being entitled: THE NEW CATHOLIC ANSWER BIBLE.  A copy of this version of the Holy Bible is pictured to the left.
     Matthew 16:18 reads as follows:  "And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it."  The phrase, "my church," in the above-given verse in the Holy Bible, teaches two things.  To begin with, Jesus ( see Matthew 16:13 ) used the word "my," which clearly indicates that the New Testament church belongs to Him.  Thus, since the New Testament church belongs to Jesus, a Scriptural phrase used to identify the church is "church of Christ."  Furthermore, the apostle Paul ( see Romans 1:1 ), through Tertius his secretary ( see Romans 16:22 ), recorded the following in Romans 16:16:  "Greet one another with a holy kiss.  All the churches of Christ greet you" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  From Romans 16:16, we see that a Scriptural identifying phrase for the universal New Testament church is "church of Christ"; the plural form of this phrase being used in reference to a plurality of local congregations of the universal New Testament church ( see Galatians 1:2, for example ).  Moreover, the quotation below is taken from the following uniform resource locator ( http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=2678 ):
"The combination 'the Catholic Church' ( he katholike ekklesia ) is found for the first time in the letter of St. Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, written about the year 110" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).
With the above-given quotation in mind, it is important to understand that God's word ( the Holy Bible - see Psalm 119:65-72, 142, 151, John 1:1, 14; 7:16; 8:26; 10:30; 14:6; 17:17, Romans 1:20, Colossians 2:8, 9, 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, and 1 John 5:6-8, for example ) was completely revealed in written form when the apostle John finished writing the book of Revelation circa A.D. 96-98.  Therefore, the phrase "the Catholic Church," is not a Scriptural reference to the universal New Testament church.
     Secondly, Jesus used the word "church," singular, in Matthew 16:18.  Therefore, there is one New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see also Romans 12:5 and Ephesians 1:22, 23, for example ) and, thus, "religious" denominationalism is not authorized in the Holy Bible.  The universal New Testament church is the church of Christ - not the Catholic denomination.

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

     

Saturday, November 16, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     A lesson on the subject of baptism is taught from the NEW AMERICAN BIBLE REVISED EDITION ( NABRE ); being entitled: THE NEW CATHOLIC ANSWER BIBLE.  This version of the Holy Bible is pictured to the left.  Baptism is an extremely important subject in the Holy Bible.
     To begin with, Exodus 24:6-8 read as follows:  "Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar.  Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, 'All that the LORD has said, we will hear and do.'  Then he took the blood and splashed it on the people, saying, 'This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.'"  The above-given passage appears in the context of the ratification of the Mosaic covenant.  Moreover, Hebrews 9:18-22 read as follows:  "Thus not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.  When every commandment had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves [and goats], together with water and crimson wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, 'This is '"the blood of the covenant which God has enjoined upon you."''  In the same way, he sprinkled also the tabernacle and all the vessels of worship with blood.  According to the law almost everything is purified by blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
     The phrase, "first covenant," in Hebrews 9:18 is clearly a reference to the Mosaic covenant.  It is important to understand that the Mosaic covenant is not the first covenant mentioned in the Holy Bible.  However, it was the first covenant to be ratified by blood and, thus, the phrase, "first covenant," is used in Hebrews 9:18.
     Moreover, Mark 16:16 reads as follows:  "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned."  Acts 2:38 reads as follows:  "Peter [said] to them, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.'"  Romans 6:1-4 read as follows:  "What then shall we say?  Shall we persist in sin that grace may abound?  Of course not!  How can we who died to sin yet live in it?  Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life."
     According to Romans 6:3, we come in contact with the blood of Christ when we are baptized into Christ Jesus; being baptized into His death.  How do we come in contact with His blood?  1 Peter 1:1, 2 read as follows:  "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen sojourners of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, in the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification by the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ: may grace and peace be yours in abundance."  Furthermore, Hebrews 10:22 reads as follows:  "let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."  The phrase, "bodies washed with pure water," in Hebrews 10:22 is clearly a reference to baptism.  Thus, when we are buried with Christ Jesus through baptism into death ( recall Romans 6:4; the word "buried" indicates that baptism is by immersion in water - not sprinkling ( aspersion ) or pouring ( infusion )), there is a figurative sprinkling of the blood of Jesus that occurs.  Also, since we are baptized into Christ's death, we come in contact with the blood that He shed at His death.  Where did He die?  On the cross of the Skull ( see Luke 23:26-49 ( especially verse 33, for example )).  Additionally, Revelation 1:5 reads as follows:  "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.  To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood."  Therefore, when we are baptized into Christ Jesus, we come in contact with His blood, which frees us from our sins ( "washed us from our sins" - see Revelation 1:5; KJV, for example ).  If we are not baptized into Christ Jesus, we are not freed from our sins.
     The literal sprinkling of blood, by which the Mosaic covenant was ratified, is a foreshadowing of the figurative sprinkling of the blood of Christ, which occurs when we are baptized.  Luke 22:19, 20 read as follows:  "Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.'  And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you."  Luke 22:19, 20 ( KJV; with center-column references ) read as follows:  "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you:  this do in remembrance of me.  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."  The word, "testament," in Luke 22:20 ( KJV; with center-column references ) has an equivalent translation, which is the word "covenant."  Therefore, as the Mosaic covenant was ratified by blood, the New Testament ( new covenant ) is ratified with us, when we are baptized into Christ Jesus; coming in contact with His blood, through the figurative sprinkling of His blood that occurs during the act of baptism.

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE:  This weblog posting has shown that the sacred text of the NEW AMERICAN BIBLE REVISED EDITION ( NABRE ) version of the Holy Bible ( being entitled: THE NEW CATHOLIC ANSWER BIBLE ) can be used to effectively teach God's word ( see 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, for example ), provided that we ignore the seven Old Testament apocryphal books contained within it ( Baruch, Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom ( or Wisdom of Solomon ), and Sirach ( or Ecclesiasticus )), and reject any false teaching contained in the inserts ( labelled "A-1" through "V-4," which is what the June 4, 2012 posting to this weblog was intended to show ).

Thursday, November 14, 2013

The Holy Bible.

Pictured to the left is a copy of the NEW AMERICAN BIBLE REVISED EDITION ( NABRE ), which is entitled: THE NEW CATHOLIC ANSWER BIBLE.  A quotation regarding this Bible is as follows:  "Beginning with the release of the Revised New Testament in 1986 and the subsequent revision of the Psalter in 1991, the release of the remaining Books of the Old Testament (with further revisions of the Psalter) in 2010 completes an entire revision of the original New American Bible of 1970."  [  See THE NEW CATHOLIC ANSWER BIBLE, NEW AMERICAN BIBLE REVISED EDITION, FIRESIDE CATHOLIC PUBLISHING, WICHITA, KANSAS, COPYRIGHT, 2011, 2006, 1987, 1981, BY DEVORE & SONS, INC., WICHITA, KANSAS  67201, COPYRIGHT, 1970, BY CATHOLIC BIBLE PUBLISHERS, WICHITA, KANSAS  67201, p. xxiii.  ]
     The sermon on the mount is found in Matthew, chapters 5-7.  In Matthew 5:2, concerning Jesus ( see Matthew 4:17 ), we find the following phrase, "He began to teach them" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  At the end of the sermon, in Matthew 7:29, concerning Jesus ( see Matthew 7:28 ), is the following statement:  "for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  Thus, we see the concept of teaching associated with the act of preaching.
     Moreover, in Matthew 26, we see that Jesus ( see Matthew 26:17 ) can sing.  Verse 30 reads as follows:  "Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives."  Furthermore, concerning Jesus ( see Luke 4:14 ), Luke 4:16-20 read as follows:  "He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day.  He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.  He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:  'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.'  Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him."
     Additionally, John 8:6, 8 read as follows:  "They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him.  Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.  Again he bent down and wrote on the ground."  The preceding verses appear in the context of the scribes and Pharisees, having brought a woman to Jesus, who was "caught in adultery" ( see John 8:3 ).  Please read John 8:1-11 to get the context.
     Finally, Matthew 8:5-13 read as follows:  "When he entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, 'Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.'  He said to him, 'I will come and cure him.'  The centurion said in reply, 'Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.  For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me.  And I say to one, '"Go,"' and he goes; and to another, '"Come here,"' and he comes; and to my slave, '"Do this,"' and he does it.'  When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, 'Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.  I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven, but the children of the kingdom will be driven out into outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'  And Jesus said to the centurion, 'You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.'  And at that very hour [his] servant was healed."  Also, concerning Jesus ( see Mark 6:4 ), Mark 7:37 reads as follows:  "They were exceedingly astonished and they said, 'He has done all things well.  He makes the deaf hear and [the] mute speak.'"
     With all of the above-given passages from the Holy Bible in mind, Jesus can preach ( and, therefore, teach ), sing, read, write, and listen well.  To be sure, He can do all things well.  I would like to encourage ( see 1 Timothy 4:13 ) you, the reader, to study the Holy Bible ( see 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>

NOTE:  The wear, to the lower right corner of the copy of the Holy Bible pictured above, is a result of its use.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

The Holy Bible.

     Jeremiah 10:6-8 ( NKJV ) read as follows:
"Inasmuch as there is none like You, O LORD (You are great, and Your name is great in might), who would not fear You, O King of the nations?  For this is Your rightful due.  For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You.  But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish;  a wooden idol is a worthless doctrine" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).
Mark 16:20 ( NKJV ) reads as follows:
"And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.  Amen."
John 2:11 ( KJV; with center-column references ) reads as follows:
"This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."
     2 Thessalonians 2:9-11 ( NKJV ) read as follows:
"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).
1 John 2:22 ( NKJV ) reads as follows:
"Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son."
"Born at Mecca in A.D. 567 or 569.  His flight (hijra) to Medina, which marks the beginning of the Muhammadan era, took place on 16th June 622.  He died on 7th June 632."  [  See THE KORAN, Rodwell, J.M., DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC., Mineola, New York, Bibliographical Note:  This Dover edition, first published in 2005, is an unabridged republication of the work first published by J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London, in 1909, p. vi.  ]
     "The Koran admittedly occupies an important position among the great religious books of the world.  Though the youngest of the epoch-making works belonging to this class of literature, it yields to hardly any in the wonderful effect which it has produced on large masses of men.  It has created an all but new phase of human thought and a fresh type of character.  It first transformed a number of heterogeneous desert tribes of the Arabian peninsula into a nation of heroes, and then proceeded to create the vast politico-religious organizations of the Muhammadan world which are one of the great forces with which Europe and the East have to reckon to-day."  [  Ibid., p. vii.  ]
"That widely different estimates have been formed of Muhammad is well-known.  To Muslims he is, of course, the prophet par excellence, and the Koran is regarded by the orthodox as nothing less than the eternal utterance of Allah.  The Eulogy pronounced by Carlyle on Muhammad in Heroes and Hero-Worship will probably be endorsed by not a few at the present day."  [  Ibid.  ]
"Linguistic investigations, poetry, and other branches of literature, also made their appearances soon after or simultaneously with the publication of the Koran; and the literary movement thus initiated has resulted in some of the finest products of genius and learning.  The style in which the Koran is written requires some special attention in this introduction.  That literary form is for the most part different from anything else we know.  In its finest passages we indeed seem to hear a voice akin to that of the ancient Hebrew prophets, but there is much in the book which Europeans usually regard as faulty" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  [  Ibid., p. ix.  ]
     "The fault appears, however, to lie partly in our difficulty to appreciate the psychology of the Arab prophet.  We must, in order to do him justice, give full consideration to his temperament and to the condition of things around him.  We are here in touch with an untutored but fervent mind, trying to realise itself and to assimilate certain great truths which have been powerfully borne in upon him, in order to impart them in a convincing form to his fellow-tribesmen.  He is surrounded by obstacles of every kind, yet he manfully struggles on with the message that is within him.  Learning he has none, or next to none.  His chief objects of knowledge are floating stories and traditions largely picked up from hearsay, and his over-wrought mind is his only teacher" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  [  Ibid., pp. ix and x.  ]
"But the sequence adopted was in the main based on the best available historical and literary evidence; and in following the order of the chapters as here printed, the reader will be able to trace the development of the prophet's mind as he gradually advanced from the early flush of inspiration to the less spiritual and more equivocal role of warrior, politician, and founder of an empire" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  [  Ibid., pp. x and xi.  ]
SURA [ I. ] reads as follows:
"RECITE thou, in the name of thy Lord who created;  created man from CLOTS OF BLOOD:  recite thou! . . ."  [  Ibid., p. 19.  ]
     SURA [ II. ] reads as follows:
". . . Thus God misleadeth whom He will, and whom He will doth He guide aright: . . ."  [  Ibid., p. 23.  ]
With all of the above-given information in mind, Muhammad died on June 7th,  A.D. 632.  He is still dead.  Christ "died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" ( see 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; NKJV ).  Moreover, after Jesus ( see Matthew 1:16; NKJV, for example ) was raised from the dead, He was seen: "by Cephas" ( see 1 Corinthians 15:5; NKJV ), "then by the twelve" ( see 1 Corinthians 15:5; NKJV ), "by over five hundred brethren at once" ( see 1 Corinthians 15:6; NKJV ), "by James" ( see 1 Corinthians 15:7; NKJV ), "then by all the apostles" ( see 1 Corinthians 15:7; NKJV ), and, last of all, He was seen by Saul of Tarsus ( called to be the apostle Paul - see Acts, chapter 9 ( especially verses 4 through 16, for example ), Acts 13:9, 1 Corinthians 1:1, and 1 Corinthians 15:8, for example ).  God "raised up Jesus" ( see Acts 5:30; NKJV ), and exalted Him "to His right hand to be Prince and Savior" ( see Acts 5:31; NKJV ).
     The New Testament church is not a politico-religious organization:  it is the body of Christ ( see Ephesians 1:22, 23 and Romans 12:4, 5, for example ).  Furthermore, not only are Europe and the East having to reckon with the great forces of the Muhammadan world, but other areas of the world are having to deal with the spread of the false religion of Islam, and the terrorists associated with it.  Additionally, the word "Allah" is not the name of the one, true God.  The explanation of the word "Elohim" is as follows:
"Elohim (sometimes El or Elah), English form 'God,' the first of the three primary names of Deity, is a uni-plural noun formed from El = strength, or the strong one, and Alah, to swear, to bind oneself by an oath, so implying faithfulness.  This uni-plurality implied in the name is directly asserted in Gen. 1. 26 (plurality), 27 (unity);  see also Gen. 3. 22.  Thus the Trinity [ the correct word being "Godhead" - see Romans 1:20, for example; NKJV, for example ] is latent in Elohim.  As meaning primarily the Strong One it is fitly used in the first chapter of Genesis. . . ."  [  See HOLY BIBLE, SCOFIELD STUDY SYSTEM, KJV, SCOFIELD, C.I., D.D., NEW YORK, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, The Scofield Reference Bible, Copyright 1909, 1917; copyright renewed, 1937, 1945 by Oxford University Press, Inc., p. 3.  ]
Muslims wrongly attempt to deny the concept of the Godhead; this concept being extremely important in the Holy Bible.  Therefore, the name "Allah," is not a reference to God.
     The above-given reference to a work, entitled Hereos and Hero-Worship, indicates a practice that is clearly condemned in the Holy Bible.  Jesus said the following in Matthew 4:10 ( NKJV ):  "Away with you Satan!  For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"  We are not to worship any human beings, including the late Muhammad.
     With regard to the above-given reference, to much in the Koran being usually regarded as faulty by Europeans, why believe something that is faulty?  James, the half-brother of Jesus ( see Mark 5:36-6:4 ( especially Mark 6:3, for example ), Acts 15:23; 23:26, Galatians 1:19, and James 1:1, for example ), records for us the following in James 1:25 ( NKJV ):  "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does" ( emphasis mine, R.E.W. ).  Also, the "chief objects of knowledge" of Muhammad were "floating stories and traditions largely picked up from hearsay"?  Jesus IS the truth ( see John 8:58; 14:6, for example ).  Muhammad's over-wrought mind was his only teacher?  Jesus ( see John 6:43 ) said the following in John 6:45 ( NKJV ):  "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.'  Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me."  Since the late Muhammad was not taught by God, do not believe anything he said.
     Muhammad "gradually advanced from the early flush of inspiration to the less spiritual and more equivocal role of warrior, politician, and founder of an empire"?  How does one simultaneously advance and become less spiritual?  The apostle Paul ( see 1 Corinthians 1:1 ) recorded the following for us in 1 Corinthians 3:1 ( NKJV ):  "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ."  See also Hebrews 5:13.
     With regard to SURA [ I. ], Adam and Eve were not created from clots of blood.  The word "miracles," in John 2:11 ( KJV; with center-column references ), has an equivalent translation, which is the word "signs."  Thus, the words "signs" and "miracles" are used interchangeably.  Therefore, the word "miracles" can be used interchangeably with the word "signs" in Mark 16:20.  From Mark 16:20, we see that the purpose of miracles was to confirm the word.  The word that was being preached ( as indicated in verse 20 ) by the eleven apostles ( see Mark 16:14, for example ) was what Jesus of Nazareth ( see Mark 16:6 ) commanded them to preach - the gospel ( see Psalm 119:65-72, 142, 151, Mark 16:15, John 1:1, 14; 7:16; 8:28; 10:30; 14:6; 17:17, Colossians 2:8, 9, and 1 John 5:7, for example ).  When the apostle John finished writing the book of Revelation ( circa A.D. 96-98 ), God's word was, thus, completely revealed in written form; there not being any need for miracles after that time.  However, at the second coming of Christ, the "dead in Christ will rise first" ( see 1 Thessalonians 4:16; NKJV, for example ).  The event of the dead rising from the dead is clearly a miracle.  Thus, the Holy Bible teaches that miracles ceased to occur circa A.D. 96-98, and that there will be no miracles until the second coming of Christ.  Therefore, since Muhammad was born, and died, after A.D. 96-98 ( and before the second coming of Christ ), there were no miracles occurring then.  Thus, Muhammad did not perform any miracles, God did not reveal anything to anyone ( there was nothing left for Him to reveal to mankind ) and, therefore, the Koran is not God's word.  With this information in mind, the claim in SURA [ I. ], that man was created from clots of blood, is a lie.  Dear reader, please read Genesis 1:26 - 3:24 to get the truth about God's creation of Adam and Eve, through whom the human race has descended.
     With regard to SURA [ II. ], God does not mislead anyone.  It is "impossible for God to lie" ( see Hebrews 6:18; NKJV ).  The Greek word ( Greek [ 5574 ] ) for the word "lie," in Hebrews 6:18, is defined as follows:
"to utter an untruth or attempt to deceive by falsehood."  [  See ABINGDON'S STRONG'S EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE, STRONG, JAMES, S.T.D., LL.D., ABINGDON PRESS, NASHVILLE, Copyright, 1890, by JAMES STRONG, MADISON, N.J., ( A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek/New Testament with their Renderings in the King James Version, p. 106. ).  ]
     Moreover, the Greek word ( Greek [ 3992 ] ) for the word "send," in 2 Thessalonians 2:11 ( NKJV ), is defined as follows:
"to dispatch (from the subj. view or point of departure, . . .), espec. on a temporary errand; also to transmit, bestow, or wield."  [  Ibid., p. 75.  ]
The word "dispatch," in the definition given immediately above, is defined as follows:
". . . -n.   . . .   6   Obs.  Dismissal;  deliverance;  riddance. . . ."  [  See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY  10016, dictionary portion:  pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 282.  ]
Perhaps sense 6 of the definition given immediately above applies to 2 Thessalonians 2:10 ( NKJV ).  Namely, God allows people to engage in an outright dismissal of the truth.  Whatever the case may be, it is impossible for God to attempt to deceive ( mislead ) by falsehood.  Therefore, the claim in SURA [ II. ], that God "misleadeth whom He will" is a lie.
     Finally, SURA [ II. ] - THE COW, simply refers to Jesus as the son of Mary.  [  SEE THE KORAN, Rodwell, J.M., DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC., Mineola, New York, Bibliographical Note:  This Dover edition, first published in 2005, is an unabridged republication of the work first published by J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London, in 1909, p. 346.  ]
Thus, Muslims wrongly deny the deity of Jesus.  However, Simon Peter said the following to Jesus ( see Matthew 16:13; NKJV, for example ) in Matthew 16:16 ( NKJV, for example ):  "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Therefore, according to 1 John 2:22, all Muslims are liars and antichrists.
     Finally, according to Jeremiah 10:8 ( NKJV ), human religion is a worthless doctrine.  Thus, Islam, as a human ( and, therefore, false ) religion, is a worthless doctrine.  Islam cannot save anyone from his or her sins ( see Acts 2:38; 4:10-12; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example ), Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, James 1:21 and Revelation 1:5, for example ).  Muhammad was a false prophet.

If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>