Author: Richard Rives

Today many would tell us that its all about grace and that to concern ourselves with the commandments of God is to be legalistic.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  We are to be doers of the word, and not hearers only, and are told that to do otherwise is to deceive our own selves.

Throughout the ages, many have decided what they want or need Christianity to be and have been so bold as to suppose that it will yield to their desires. In search of non-Biblical grace, rather than conforming to Biblical precepts and acting upon them, they wrest the scriptures to their own destruction.

While “talking the talk,” they redefine Biblical Christianity to accommodate their own needs failing to recognize that true faith, as outlined in scripture, and as practiced by first century believers, is more than the recitation of Christian phraseology. It is walking the walk. It is a life-style of obedience to the commandments of our Creator, as recorded in the Bible, by the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s not being legalistic – That’s Biblical Christianity.

Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints,
I’m Richard Rives with Just the Facts.

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Richard Rives:

There is a belief which is being propagated that anything Greek must be suspect and that only Hebrew is to be trusted. Now, some question the New Testament, which has been used for almost two thousand years, simply because it was translated from Greek manuscripts. A few years ago these people believed the Bible. Today they do not trust it; and that is exactly what our adversary wants.

Having learned of pagan traditions which have crept into the churches, some are jumping out of the frying pan of contemporary Christianity into the literal fire of unbelief - to the extent of denying that Jesus / Yeshua is the Christ / Messiah. The Greek, Hebrew, debate has been a contributing factor.

Today there are those who teach that the entire New Testament must have been originally written in Hebrew or Awmaaic and that it could not possibly have been written in Greek. Their is no basis for what they teach. The earliest New Testament manuscripts and fragments are all found in Greek.  No New Testament manuscript is to be found that predates the Greek. Not one!

First page of the Gospel of Mark, by Sargis Pitsak, a Medieval Armenian scribe and miniaturist (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

THAT IS NOT TRUE !

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There is a terrible thing taking place among believers who have learned that aspects of pagan sun worship have had a great influence upon modern day Christianity. Believers are now beginning to imagine problems lurking within every precept of the Christian faith. These imaginations are being presented as fact when in reality there is no factual evidence to support them - imaginations that are sowing discord among the brethren.

There are those who are saying that the writers of the New Testament had an agenda, an agenda to intentionally pervert the name of Messiah. Some are saying that the name Jesus is derived from the name of the pagan god Zeus when in fact there is no evidence to support that premise. Deceptive theory is being presented as fact and the integrity of the entire New Testament is being called into question, causing some to reject its life giving truths. A rejection of truth based on the imaginations of men who regard conjecture with greater esteem than fact.

Our adversary as a roaring lion seeketh whom he may devour. He is the father of lies and it makes him no difference whether we believe the lies of paganized traditional Christianity or whether we reject the veracity of New Testament scripture. Either way he has accomplished his goal of deception, which always leads away from the Creator.

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. ...2Timothy 3:14-17

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