The Bible says, “I said, You are gods” – But is this entirely true?

Many preacher's today teach that we are gods, or little gods, based on the incorrect interpretation of scripture.  Some are very subtle in the way they teach this message, others come out right and just say it.

The verse they will show you to try prove their point is John 10:34 ”Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’?

But let me explain what Jesus really meant:

Jesus was in dialogue with the Jews of His day and quoting from the Old Testament Psalms, saying:  “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’?  The Jews wanted to stone Jesus for calling God His Father and making Himself equal with God.  So Jesus quotes Pslam 82 to them to show the distinction between himself and those in Pslam 82 who were called ‘gods’.  

Pslam 82 was written AGAINST certain unjust rulers in Israel’s history.  Men of high distinction (Judges/Rulers) were almost seen as gods because of the power they wielded over the nation.  The problem is these men were UNJUST.  Verse 82:2  says:  ”How long will you judge unjustly, And showpartiality to the wicked? and verses 6-7 say,  6 “I said, “You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High.”  7 But you shall die like men,  And fall like one of the princes.”  So these rulers are not gods, they were given this name by mere men, but were they still children of God?  Yes.  But they will die like everyone else.  So the point Jesus was making was that if unjust rulers can be called gods (by men), how can the Jews who wanted to stone Him object to Him saying that he was the Son of God?

Can you see how easily scripture gets twisted and the next minute you have men and women running around teaching New Age teachings under the banner of Christianity.

BEWARE of ANYONE who tells you that you can be a God or Christ.  When you become a born again Christian you grow to become more Christ-like, you DO NOT become like Christ or a Christ or anything Divine for that matter.  However in Charismatic churches you do; you become a little god - ‘Faith’ becomes an actual force that you wield at your command as you speak things into existence.  This is totally and utterly occult.  The New Age religion believes in something similar, that each person is a god/goddess, they just have not realised it yet – a god trapped in a human body part of a huge cosmos – trying to turn the world into one spiritual tower of Babel.

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD:

1. Deuteronomy 4:35,39 — Unto thee it was shown, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. (39) Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

2. Deuteronomy 6:4 — Hear, O Israel: The LORD thy God is one LORD. [Note in Mark 12:28-34 how Jesus and a Jewish scribe he encountered understood this text.]

3. Deuteronomy32:39 — See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

4. 2 Samuel 7:22 — Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God; for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

5. 1 Kings 8:60 — That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.

6. 2 KINGS 5:15 — And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

7. 2 Kings 19:15 — And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

8. 1 Chronicles 17:20 — O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

9. Nehemiah 9:6 — Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou has made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

10. Psalm 18:31 — For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

11. Psalm 86:10 — For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
12. Isaiah 37:16,20 — O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou has made heaven and earth. (20) Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.

13. Isaiah43:10,11 — Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.

14. Isaiah44:6,8 — Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Fear ye not, neither be afraid; have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

15. Isaiah 45:21 — Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time: who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.

16. Isaiah 46:9 — For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.
17. Hosea 13:4 — Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me; for there is no savior beside me.

18. Joel 2:27 — And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

19. Zechariah 14:9 — And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

20. Mark 12:29-34 —And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

21. John 17:3 — And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

22. Romans 3:30 — Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

23. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 — As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

24. Galatians 3:20 — Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

25. Ephesians 4:6 — One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

26. 1 Timothy 1:17 — Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

27. 1 Timothy 2:5 — For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

28. James 2:19 — Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Most Asked Questions.. About life in Heaven!

 The following are questions and answers to questions that

 are ask quite often about our life in Heaven.  I hope that it will

 answer many of your questions, and Minister to you as well.

 Most Asked Questions...

1. ( Q ) Will we know our loved ones in Heaven?  What if they

 are unsaved, will we still see them?

2. ( Q )  What about our beloved pets, are there any animals

 in Heaven?   Now if you are thinking No Way, you might

 be in for a surprise indeed!

 ( 1 )  The answer to question number one lies in the Book

 of Ezekiel, Chapter 44.  For the last Ten Chapters of

 Ezekiel are dealing with our life after Christ returns!  You will

 find more about the end time in those Ten Chapters than in

 the entire Book of Revelation.

 Now, we are dealing here with God's Word on the

 third or deepest level, for those with spiritual eyes to see, and

 ears to hear.  Remember when reading those last 8 Chapters

 of Ezekiel that you are dealing with the future not the present!

     In the 44th Chapter God is telling Ezekiel

 about the future Temple and the rules for His Elect!

 Now it is written; Yet they shall be ministers in 

My sanctuary, as gatekeepers of the house 

and ministers of the house; they shall slay the

burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people,

and they shall stand before them to minister to

them.                                 ( Ezekiel 44:11 )

 THEY "They [ that's you ] shall not defile themselves

by coming near a dead person. [ Spiritually dead ] Only

for father or mother, for son or daughter, for 

brother or unmarried sister may they defile

themselves.                      ( Ezekiel 44:11 )

 Thus it should be obvious that we will know our mother

 and father, brother and sister, and also our dear friends

 in Heaven.

 ( 2. )  The answer to question number two may be found in

 Book of Isaiah, where its written; The wolf also shall 

dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down 

with the young goat, The calf and the young 

lion and the fatling together; And a little child

shall lead them.                    ( Isaiah 11:6 )

 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young

 ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall

 eat straw like the ox.    

                                                ( Isaiah 11:7 )

 Again, we are obviously dealing with the future here, thus

 after the return of Christ.  However it proves that there are

 animals in Heaven also.  After all, when you think about it,

 they are also God's Creation!  Therefore if He didn't love

 animals they would not exist on the Earth right now!

The Bible is full of Hebrew & Greek Idoms

The Bible is full of Hebrew & Greek Idioms which can make understanding God's Holy Word difficult in many verses throughout the Old & New Testaments. So today we will take a look at some of these Idioms to gain a better understanding of how much they can change the English meaning of some verses.
The following verses are a few examples of this: GENESIS 19:26, 
speaking of Lott's wife, "BUT HIS WIFE LOOKED BACK BEHIND HIM, AND SHE BECAME A PILLAR OF SALT."
(Pillar of Salt) meaning lifeless; stricken dead.
DEUTERONOMY 32:33   "THEIR WINE IS THE
POISON OF SERPENTS, AND THE CRUEL VENOM
OF COBRAS."
   Meaning Pagan teaching; corrupt practices and slanderous
   actions.  In this verse Moses was speaking of Enemy Nations'
   like Sodom & Gomorrah, thus Nations which were cruel,
   immoral and corruptive!
2 SAMUEL 22:9   "SMOKE WENT UP FROM HIS
NOSTRILS;"
   Idiom meaning very angry, enraged!
JOB 15:2   "FILL HIS BELLY WITH THE EAST WIND.
   Idiom meaning he was proud, bragging, boasting.
PSALM 29:10   "THE LORD SITTETH UPON THE
FLOOD."
   Idiom meaning that God is in control.  He crushes the armies
   of the enemy.
PROVERBS 23:34   "LIETH DOWN IN THE MIDST
OF THE SEA."
   Idiom meaning Lost; in a dilemma; senseless; in doubt.
ECCLESIASTES 4:2   "CAST THY BREAD UPON
THE WATER AND THOU SHALL FIND IT."
   Idiom meaning to give generously to charities and it shall be
   given back to you.
   Note:  Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12 is filled with Idioms in all most
   ever verse!
ISAIAH 2:10   "ENTER INTO THE ROCK, AND HIDE
IN THE DUST."
   Idiom meaning take refuge in a cave; flee for your life.
MATTHEW 5:29   "IF THY RIGHT EYE OFFEND
THEE PLUCK IT OUT."
   Idiom meaning If you have a habit of envying others, stop it.
MATTHEW 5:30   "CUT YOUR HAND OFF."
   Idiom meaning to stop stealing!
MATTHEW 5:39   " WHOSOEVER SHALL SMITE THEE
ONTHY RIGHT CHEEK, TURN TO HIM THE OTHER
ALSO."
   Idiom meaning Don't start an argument or fight.  Instead be
   humble.
MARK 14:22   "EAT MY BODY."
   Idiom meaning Share my sufferings.  Make my teachings part
   of you.  Think of me when you celebrate the Passover!
MARK 14:24   "DRINK MY BLOOD."
   Idiom also meaning make my teachings part of your life.  Be
   willing to suffer for my truth. Think of me when you celebrate
   the Passover!
MARK 16:18   "DRINK ANY DEADLY THING."
   Idiom meaning live a clean life so if others attack your character
   no one will believe them!

   Each Book of the Bible is filled with such Idioms.
Especially Books such as Ecclesiastes, Daniel, Ezekiel and
Revelation, to name a few.  So the above is just a short sampling
of these type verses.

   For the deeper student of God's Word, you may purchase a
Book listing the meanings of many of the Idioms in the Scriptures,
Book by Book, at  Christian Bookstores.

HONOR TRADITION — TELL BEDTIME STORIES

The telling of bedtime stories is a time-honored tradition. There isn’t a child out there who doesn’t enjoy having his mother or father read to him before bedtime. It’s a way to stay close and connected to your children. It also tickles their imagination and their love for books and reading. Bedtime stories often inspire children to be creative as they grow up.

There are a lot of stories to choose from.  Fairy tales and fables, and recently parents have taken to telling children’s bible stories. The Holy Bible is full of inspirational stories and great characters. If you want to emphasize on courage, tell the story about Daniel in the Lions’ Den. The story of Noah’s Ark points out that family should stay together despite adversities. Whatever virtue or moral value you want your child to learn, there’s a bible story that talks about it.

THE BOOK OF JOB

The first book of the Wisdom Books of the Old Testament, The Book of Job, follows God’s most faithful servant, Job, through a series of unfortunate events. God tests Job’s faith when he is told by Satan that Job is only faithful because God favors him. God then takes away all that he gave to Job; a family, a home, and riches. Job at first does not curse God, stating that he was brought into this world with nothing, and realized it all could be taken away. But when God then curses Job with sickness, he was then ready to curse God. It was Job’s friends who brought him through his despair, and in the end God gave back all he had taken from Job.

This is one of the more controversial texts of the KJV bible, as it suggests that, for no moral reason, Job’s faith was tested. However, this is also a tale of the importance of faith because had Job not cursed God, he would have proved Satan wrong.

ALTER THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE THROUGH RELIGION

The Christian way of life is the pillar and support of the truth and should be concerned about congregational purity. That is why the entire life course of a faithful Christian is actually governed by faith, enabling them to overcome obstacles that would hinder their service to the Lord.

Most devoted Christians apply their faith and beliefs in their daily life. They take as much opportunity as they can to spread God’s words and help change the lives of other people for their betterment. Whether you are a casual follower or a devout Christian, having a New American Standard Bible in the house is an ideal way to ensure God’s word in omnipresent.

THE HISTORY OF THE KING JAMES VERSION

The Authorized King James Version is an English translation of the Christian Bible conceived in 1604 and brought to fruition in 1611 by the Church of England. Printed by the King’s Printer, Robert Barker, the first edition included schedules unique to the Church of England; for example, a lectionary for morning and evening prayer. The first “authorized version” was the Great Bible commissioned by the Church of England in the reign of King Henry VIII. In January 1604, King James I of England convened the Hampton Court Conference where a new English version was conceived in response to the perceived problems of the earlier translations as detected by the Puritans, a faction within the Church of England.

The king gave the translators instructions designed to guarantee that the new version would conform to the ecclesiology and reflect the Episcopal structure of the Church of England and its beliefs about an ordained clergy. The translation was by 47 scholars, all of whom were members of the Church of England. In common with most other translations of the period, the New Testament was translated from the Textus Receptus series of the Greek texts. The Old Testament was translated from the Masoretic Hebrew text, while the Apocrypha were translated from the Greek Septuagint (LXX), except for 2 Esdras, which was translated from the Latin Vulgate.

While the Authorized Version was meant to replace the Bishops’ Bible as the official version for readings in the Church of England, it was apparently (unlike the Great Bible) never specifically “authorized”, although it is commonly known as the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom. However, the King’s Printer issued no further editions of the Bishops’ Bible; so necessarily the Authorized Version supplanted it as the standard lectern Bible in parish church use in England. In the Book of Common Prayer (1662), the text of the Authorized Version replaced the text of the Great Bible - the Epistle and Gospel readings - and as such was “authorized” by Act of Parliament. In the United States, the Authorized Versions are known as King James Bibles. The earliest appearance in print of the phrase “authorized version”, to mean this particular version of the bible, was published in 1824. The phrase ‘King James version’ first appeared in print in 1884.