ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE:
A BRIEF CRITIQUE
by Dr. John E. Russell
CONCLUSION
What is the best translation? There have been
and there will probably will be many good translations. The Lord will probably
inspire people to make new translations to communicate his good news. Whether
the recipients speak another language or the language has changed so that
it seems like another language, new translations will be needed as long
as there are human beings.
How do we become the Word of God incarnate,
like the Lord Jesus Christ? The scriptures tell us how. First, realize
that God loves you!
1. GOD LOVES YOU. Realize that God loves you and desires
a life of joy and peace for you:
Not only did God tell you that he loves you,
but he proved his love by sending his Son to die for you! His love is also
expressed by the full and high quality life he has planned for you now in this life as well as in the life to come. Jesus said,
Why is there so much evil in the world and
why do many people not experience a life of peace and joy?
2. SIN HAS SEPARATED YOU FROM GOD. Because people are
sinful, they are cut off from God and his blessings. The Bible teaches
and human experience confirms that we are sinful:
We were created for fellowship with God, but
that fellowship was broken when we rebelled against God. Sin brought us
spiritual death:
We continually strive for the abundant life
but always fall short. Business success, wealth, education, religion, fame,
drugs, pleasure and all human substitutes cannot fill the God-shaped void
in the human heart. How do we become reconciled with God and experience
a life of peace and joy?
3. JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY ANSWER. Jesus Christ is God's
only provision to forgive our sin and give us abundant life. Jesus died
for us he took our penalty of death:
God demonstrated that Christ's death was accepted
as a sacrifice for us by raising Christ from the dead:
Christ is the only way to God:
It is not enough to know that God loves you,
that sin has cut you off from God and that Jesus Christ is the only way
to God.
4. YOU MUST RECEIVE CHRIST PERSONALLY. You must personally
receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. The Bible states that,
You receive Christ by faith:
If you choose to receive the truth about Jesus
Christ, then the Holy Spirit will give you faith to trust him as your personal Savior. Then, when you receive Christ, the Holy Spirit will give you a spiritual rebirth. Jesus called this being born again:
This is the most important experience that you will ever have. God will bring new life into your being. This new life will make you more like the Lord Jesus. The Prophet Isaiah painted this beautiful word picture concerning the ministry of Christ: The Spirit of the Sovereign
Isaiah speaks of the joy of deliverance from past guilt and bondage of sin. However, it does not happen automatically. Christ stands at your heart's door, but you
must open the door:
You can receive Christ in your heart right
now. Pray this prayer from your heart:
Tell someone that you have accepted Christ
as your Savior. Please write me and tell me the good news also. (This presentation of the plan of salvation was adapted from Dr. Bill Bright's "Four Spiritual Laws.")
THE END. |
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Copyright © 1995-1997 by Dr. John E. Russell,
Internet Version Copyright © 2001 by Dr. John E. Russell.