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Religious QuestionsI am baptized so I am going to Heaven, correct? Why are there so many denominations? What are there so many versions of the Bible? Is the Bible really true or is it a bunch of stories? Does the Bible still apply today? AnswersThe term "born again" was used by Jesus when he spoke with Nicodemus (see John 3). Nicodemus' first reaction was "how is this possible, to enter the womb again?" However, as Jesus explained, physical birth was not the birth in question; rather, it was spiritual birth. We are all born with a sinful nature, a tendency to live against God's intentions. While we may consider ourselves "good" people, we still may lie, steal or lust. By stealing, I am not implying you or I are thieves; consider cutting in line as "stealing" the legitimate persons position in the line. Lusting is wanting something (or someone) in our thoughts, even coveting them. Does this mean we cannot look at someone and admire their beauty? No! God created many beautiful people. However, if we allow the desire to go beyond admiration and respect to a wanton desire, we lust. How do we correct this sinful nature? We cannot do it ourselves; it requires the power of God. We receive this power when we:
This power is manifested in His giving us His Holy Spirit to live within us. The Spirit convicts us of our sin and helps us to live a life glorifying God. This "new life" is what it means to be "born again". I am baptized so I am going to Heaven, correct? Incorrect. Baptism is a symbol of a person's belief, a public testimony. The only way to Heaven (John 14:6) is to be born again. An act such as baptism does not get you in to Heaven. In fact, Ephesians 2:8-9 states that no work can get you in to Heaven. Even if you are a minister with several advanced college degrees, you still need the gift of salvation given only by Jesus Christ. Why are there so many denominations? Denominations are man's creation, not God's. There is one Church consisting of all those persons who received the precious, priceless gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Man, however, disputed ways of serving God. Even governments said, "you shall be a member of this one church." The result was people splitting from a church, often under punishment, and forming their own congregation. Eventually, these churches established their own ways of conducting services and interpreting the Bible. That warrants a word of caution: not all denominations adhere to the age-old truths in the Bible. Be on guard for even subtle differences being taught. For instance, church is not a social organization; it is meant to serve and worship God together. Just going to church on a regular basis does not increase your "chance" of getting to Heaven. (Getting to Heaven is not a game of chance. You can only enter if you have received salvation through Jesus Christ.) So, find a denomination and local church that preaches the Gospel truth, emphasizing that it is an individual decision between you and God and not by works, heritage ("raised in a Christian home") or a specific denomination. What are there so many versions of the Bible? Many versions of the Bible exist in order to allow each person to receive this precious gift of God, His Word. The Bible was originally given by God through inspired thought to select individuals. These thoughts were recorded in Hebrew and Greek. People then copied these manuscripts for distribution. Given there were no printing presses, it was a laborious task. As the Word spread the original manuscripts were lost. However, we do have the various copies from several regions in the world. These copies were also translated to various languages. Largely, the texts themselves were available only to clergy and academia. In an effort to get the Word in a common language for the people, the text we know as the King James Version was authorized. This is just one of many translations from some of the available manuscripts into the English language. Over time, more and more manuscripts were discovered in archaeological ruins. Additionally, scholars compared the manuscripts to other works from the period to refine their lexicons (method of understanding a language). With these new texts came new versions of the Bible. Additionally, translations such as the New International Version (NIV) and New Living Translation (NLT) were created to help people understand the message of God's Word. This is by taking the manuscripts and developing the thought or meaning behind the text rather than translating the text on a word-for-word basis. All this is to help more people understand God's Holy Word and apply it to their daily lives. Are all versions of the Bible equal? No. You must research a specific version to understand who is developing it. You must watch for the message of the text being changed. For instance, there could be subtle changes that remove the fact that Jesus Christ is God (His Deity) or deny that salvation is only by Jesus shed blood. This can be a difficult task. I personally believe that if you are comfortable with the King James Version and fully understand it, continue using it. However, if you feel encumbered by the "Old English", consider one of the good modern translations such as the New King James Version (NKJV), New American Standard (NASB), New International (NIV) or New Living Translation (NLT) or the Amplified Bible. Other paraphrases such as The Message are also great supplementary readings. Also remember that there are many study Bibles targeting specific market groups such as teens, women and various ethnicities. These are great aids as they can focus explanatory content helping you to apply what you read to your specific group. Regardless, do not let the vast number of versions deter you from digging in to God's Word on a regular basis! Is the Bible really true or is it a bunch of stories? Yes it is! 2 Timothy 3:16 states "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (NASB) This means that God, through His Holy Spirit gave the message to the individual authors. Each writer used their own culture and personality to compose their book. This helps individuals apply the Word as each person is created unique. Does the Bible still apply today? Yes it does! The Bible is God's message to those He created, those He loves. He gave us His Word so as to reveal Himself to us. He also gave us His Son, Jesus Christ, to explain the principles of His Word through His words and His deeds. The principles in the Bible have stood the test of time. Society has changed, not the Bible. The poor choices of today's society such as abortion and homosexuality were present even in the earliest of Biblical times.
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