When is it...Time to Change Churches? Chapter 4

THE PASTOR AS…

THE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

One of the first things a person needs to understand is this…

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:4-5

These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. Jude 19

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2 Peter 1:20

This is a tough chapter to teach so let’s take it one step at a time. There are two different dynamics at work here. One is that the congregation members who are not saved, have absolutely no discernment concerning Scripture. They will not have the ability to tell whether the pastor is teaching God’s Word properly or not. The second problem is that when a pastor is spiritually discerned, he is unable to examine the truth of God’s Word and bring the truth out of it to teach the congregation.

You will know there is a problem when the pastor contradicts himself while preaching. During one sermon he might read a Scripture and say that it means one thing and then the next time he reads it he might say it means the opposite. What does the bible tell us?

For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33

Now it is possible that there are different teachings from one verse of Scripture. That is very common. The believer is constantly learning more from Scripture each time he reads it. But the new learning will always line up with Scripture and will not contradict any other teachings in the bible.

Of these things put [them] in remembrance, charging [them] before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, [but] to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:14-15

The following is an example of how much pastors lack spiritual discernment. Read the following Scripture:

For certain men whose condemnation was written about* long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Jude 4 NIV

Now when you read this Scripture, does it line up biblically with the Word of God? There are pastors all over America that use the NIV and they do it out of ignorance. Read again what the last line says, Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. The word used for Sovereign has a meaning of master, Lord. So they are saying Jesus Christ our only Lord and Lord. Now compare that Scripture version with this one:

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 4

Do you see the difference? The KJV calls Jesus only Lord God as opposed to Sovereign. The word “theos” is missing from the NIV. Why? Because, the NIV takes away the lordship of Jesus Christ as God. The NIV has no problem calling Jesus, Lord or Christ, but it does not call Jesus, God. The following section of this chapter shows a comparison of the KJV Bible to the NIV bible. The one is the Word of God. The other is the word according to man. The Westcott and Hort version (NIV), has taken the oldest manuscripts but the oldest ones do not agree with each other. So, what they have done is taken the verses that they wanted to keep. Just realize that even back when Jesus walked on this earth, there were false teachings taking place. There were books, manuscripts that denied the deity of Christ and this is what Westcott and Hort have used. Pray right now before proceeding. Let your eyes be opened to the truth of God’s Word. Take a good long look at how the NIV takes away the Lordship of Jesus Christ. You will be amazed as this is only a small sampling.

Matthew 6:13 KJV “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” NIV “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” The NIV leaves out “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen.” Everything pertaining to His Kingdom and Deity is left out.”

Matthew 6:33 KJV “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” NIV “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” “The kingdom of God” is changed to “his kingdom.”

Matthew 8:29 KJV “And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” NIV “’What do you want with us, Son of God?’ they shouted. ‘”Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?’” NIV leaves out “Jesus, thou”, degrading the power of the verse concerning His deity.

Matthew 9:18 KJV “. . there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him. .” NIV “While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, ‘My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.’” NIV changes “worshipped” to “knelt before.” Men kneel before their own kings and queens, but they do not worship them.

Matthew 13:51 KJV “Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto Him, Yea, Lord.” NIV “’Have you understood all these things?’ Jesus asked. ‘Yes,’ they replied.” NIV leaves out “Lord,” again, leaving out His Lordship.

Matthew 16:20 KJV “Then charged He his disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ.” NIV “Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.” NIV leaves out “Jesus,” as it does in numerous verses.

Matthew 20:20 KJV “Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him. .” NIV “Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.” NIV again changes “worshipping” to “kneeling down.”

Matthew 25:13 KJV “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” NIV “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” NIV leaves out “wherein the Son of man cometh.”

Mark 1:14 KJV “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.” NIV “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.” NIV says “the good news” and leaves out “the gospel of the kingdom of God.”

Mark 5:6 KJV “But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,” NIV “When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.” NIV changes “worshipped” to “fell on his knees.”

Mark 9:24 KJV “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” NIV “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” NIV leaves out the reference to Jesus as “Lord.”

Mark 11:10 KJV “Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.” NIV “’Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest!’” NIV changes his present kingdom to a future one saying “Blessed is the coming kingdom” and strips Jesus of His present Lordship.

Luke 4:8 KJV “And Jesus said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord they God, and him only shalt thou serve.” NIV “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” NIV leaves out “Get thee behind me Satan.”

Luke 4:41 KJV “And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God ...” NIV “Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God! ...’” NIV leaves out the reference to Jesus by the devils that He was “Christ.”

Luke 7:31 KJV “And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? And to what are they like?” NIV “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?” NIV leaves out “And the Lord said.”

Luke 11:2 KJV “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” NIV “He said to them, “When you pray, say: “’Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.” He isn’t “Our Father” but just Father, and He isn’t in Heaven, because that tells you something of who He is and points to Him as the Heavenly Father, so both references to heaven are removed.

Luke 11:4 KJV “And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” NIV “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ‘” The NIV leaves out “but deliver us from evil.”

Luke 23:42 KJV “And he (the thief) said unto Jesus ‘Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.’” NIV “Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” NIV leaves out “Lord,” doing away with His Deity.

John 10:30 KJV “I and my Father are one.” NIV “I and the Father are one.” Satan is trying to do away with the Heavenly Father, and set himself on the throne. These are some more of the verses doing away with the Personal “My” or “Our” Father for an impersonal one, as well as changing “Our Lord” and “My Lord” to “the Lord” in referring to Jesus.

John 10:32 KJV “Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?” NIV “but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “

John 14:28 KJV “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you, If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” NIV “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” This is just a sample of many such verses.

Galatians 1:3 KJV “Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,” NIV “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,”

2Thessalonians 1:2 KJV “Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father. . .” NIV “Grace and peace to you from God the Father. . .”

1Timothy 1:2 KJV “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father. . .” NIV “To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father. . .”

Acts 2:30 KJV “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;” NIV “But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.” NIV replaces “Christ” with “one of his descendants,” which could be anybody.

Acts 8:37 KJV “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” NIV leaves out the entire verse.

Romans 14:10 KJV “. .for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” NIV “For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” NIV does away with Christ and His authority in judgment.

Romans 16:24 KJV “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” NIV leaves out the entire verse.

Galatians 6:17 KJV “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” NIV “Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. “ NIV leaves out “Lord.” They don’t mind calling Jesus Savior, but they don’t want you to surrender your life to His Lordship. They want you to think that you can accept and receive Jesus as your Savior for “fire insurance,” to keep you from hell, without receiving Him as your Lord.

Ephesians3: 9 KJV “. .which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” NIV “and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.” NIV leaves out “by Jesus Christ” to undermine His Deity.

Ephesians 3:14 KJV “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” NIV “For this reason I kneel before the Father. . . “ The NIV leaves out “of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Colossians 1:2 KJV “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” NIV “To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.” NIV leaves out “and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Timothy 2:7 KJV “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” NIV “And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.” NIV leaves out “in Christ.”

1 Timothy 3:16 KJV “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” NIV “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” NIV reduces “God” to “He” and changes “manifest in the flesh” to “appeared in a body.” That doesn’t say the same thing. That is no different from the mount of transfiguration when Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus. They appeared like men, with bodies.

2 Timothy 4:22 KJV “The Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Grace be with you. Amen.” NIV “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.” NIV leaves out “Jesus Christ.” So whom is the reference speaking of that is Lord? They don’t want Jesus to get the honor and glory due Him, nor for you to serve Him as your Lord and Savior.

Hebrews 2:7 KJV “Thou made Him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst Him with glory and honour, and didst set Him over the works of thy hands.” NIV “You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor” NIV leaves out “and didst set Him over the works of thy hands.” Why do they continually leave out the most significant parts of these verses that show Jesus to be both Lord and Savior?

1 John 5:13 KJV “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” NIV “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” NIV leaves out the last 13 words of the verse (underlined) that speak of putting our faith in Christ…

Revelation 1:11 KJV “Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and What thou seest, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia...” NIV “which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches:...” NIV leaves out “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.” This is a reference to Christ, and who He is, as the eternal God, the only begotten of the Father, and the firstborn from the dead.

Revelation 5:14b KJV “... And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever.” NIV “... and the elders fell down and worshipped.” NIV leaves out “Him that liveth for ever and ever.” Who were the elders worshipping? The lamb who was slain, the one who said in Revelation 2:8 “These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.”

These are examples from the many verses in the New Testament in which references to Christ as Lord, as God, as Creator, are watered down or entirely deleted. The translators of the NIV are against Christ. They are truly Anti-Christ. They do not want you to believe in Him nor put your faith in Him as your personal Lord and Savior, and they do not want you to serve Him and obey Him. If they can get you to believe in a historical Jesus, whom you do not put your faith in and trust in for forgiveness of your sins, and without bowing your life and heart to worship and serve Him as Lord, they will have succeeded in keeping you from Heaven and will help send you to Hell for all eternity!

What conclusion did you come to? Do you have the spiritual discernment to be able to tell the difference between the two versions? Can you see how the deity of Christ has been removed? Can you see the motivation of why someone would remove His Lordship? Why? Because they do not believe in the One True Son of God, Jesus Christ. Satan has a way of diluting the Truth of God’s Word. Will you fall for his deception? Many pastor’s have fallen for it. Has your pastor fallen prey to Satan and his words? It takes discernment to know the difference.