Popular Myths About the Bible

LivinginChrist Thu 17 Apr 2008, 8:52 am

www.tribulation.com

MYTH:	FACT:
Jesus could have been an alien who came to Earth in a spaceship, right?	Wrong. The Scripture shows clearly that everything in the Universe that was created, whether seen or unseen, was created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:15-17).
Where in the Bible does it say, "God helps those who help themselves"?	It doesn't. This is a saying from American Benjamin Franklin.
Eve gave Adam an apple in the Garden of Eden, right?	Actually, it only says "fruit". (Genesis 3:6 KJV).
If a person obeys the 10 Commandments of God, then they go to Heaven, right?	Wrong. It is by Faith in Christ's Atonement. "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the Faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the Faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law: for by the Law shall no flesh be justified" (Galatians 3:16 KJV). "I do not frustrate the Grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain" (Galatians 2:21 KJV). The Ten Commandments was a covenant between God and the Nation of Israel at Mount Sinai. Christians are not under the Ten Commandments. Christians fulfill the Spirit of the Law, NOT the letter of the Law, for the letter of the Law kills, but the Spirit of the Law gives Life. (Read Paul's Epistle to the Galatians AND 2nd Corinthians chapter 3!).
Mary, mother of Jesus, must intercede on behalf of Christians for forgiveness of sins, right? And the Pope must intercede to Mary, who intercedes to Christ, right? And special requests have to go to saints who are in charge of certain things, right?	Wrong. Believing Christians have Christ the Son as their Mediator & God the Holy Spirit as their Intercessor: "For there is One God, and One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a Ransom for all..." (1st Timothy 2:5-6 KJV). "...for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Itself maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God. And He that searcheth hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26-27 KJV).
But, it's very important that you pray your "Hail Mary's", right? After all, the Blessed Virgin Mary has special access to Jesus her Son, right?	Wrong. Let's see what Jesus said: "And it came to pass, as He spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto Him, 'Blessed is the womb that bare Thee, and the paps which Thou hast sucked'. But He said, 'YEA RATHER, BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, AND KEEP IT'" (Luke 11:27-28 KJV). And the multitude sat about Him, and they said unto Him, 'Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren without seek for Thee'. And He answered them, saying, 'WHO IS MY MOTHER, OR MY BRETHREN?' And He looked round about on them which sat about Him, and said, 'BEHOLD MY MOTHER AND MY BRETHREN! FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL DO THE WILL OF GOD, THE SAME IS MY BROTHER, AND MY SISTER, AND MOTHER' (Mark 3:32-35 KJV).
Christian Saints can only be elected through the long and complicated election process of the Catholic Church, right?	Wrong. "Saints" cannot be elected by ANY Church. All Christians are elected as Saints by God Himself when they become Believers in Christ. Every single Christian is therefore a Saint and no one can boast otherwise. (Romans 1:6-8; Ephesians 2:8-10).
The "Word of God" is the Bible right?	Yes, but so is Jesus. "...and His name is called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:13 KJV).
The Bible is a book, right?	Wrong. Actually, the Bible is an anthology, a collection of 66 books written by at least 40 human authors.
Noah took two of every creature into the ark with him, right?	Yes, but some of them he took in groups of seven, probably for sacrifice since they were ceremonially "clean" (Genesis 7:2-3).
Jesus carried His Cross all the way to Calvary, right?	Wrong. A North African man, Simon the Cyrenian, from Libya, carried Jesus' Cross a significant part of the way. (Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26, cf. John 19:17).
According to the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", the Chalice or Cup of Christ used at the Last Supper can bring eternal life...right? maybe?	Wrong. The "water" that Jesus spoke about was the sealing of the believers by God the Holy Spirit at the moment of Salvation. (John 4:13-15, 7:37-39).
Only really good people can be Saved, right? Not those who have committed lots of sins, right?	Absolutely, positively WRONG. ALL people can come to Christ. (Luke 7:36-50).
Okay, then people who haven't sinned don't need to be Saved since they are already going to Heaven, right?	Wrong. ALL people have sinned from the worst sinner to the best preacher and ALL must come to Christ (Romans 3:22-24).
God wants to send people to Hell, right?	Wrong. Hell was prepared for the Devil and his angels. People only can choose this alternative. (Matthew 25:41, 2nd Peter 3:9).
True Christians never sin after they are Saved, right?	Wrong. It is a problem even for them until the day they die. (1st John 2:1-2).
Joining a church and taking Communion as Remembrance of Christ's Sacrifice are the ways to be Saved, right?	Wrong. These are activities to be engaged in AFTER Salvation. (Romans 10:9-11).
God is finished with the Nation of Israel in His plans, right? They blew it by crucifying their King and Savior, right?	Absolutely wrong. Israel is temporarily "blinded" to Christ as Savior. (Romans 11:25-29). He is coming back for them (Zechariah 12, 14) after they rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
The Rainbow is not mentioned in the Bible is it?	Actually, the Rainbow is a symbol and reminder to God not to destroy the entire Earth with a flood again (Genesis 9:11-17).
Jehovah is the Name of God, right?	Actually, the word "Jehovah" does not really exist in the texts but is in fact an Anglicized word that is made from the Jewish tetragrammaton YHWH which was modified to be pronounced YaHWeH. YHWH is in fact an unpronounceable Holy Hebrew word.
According to "Raiders of the Lost Ark" the Ark of the Covenant was a radio to communicate with God ... This can't really be true, right?	The Ark of the Covenant held the Ten Commandments and was placed in the Holy of Holies of the Temple when Jews offered animal sacrifices for their sins. The High Priest of Israel was the only person who could enter the Holy of Holies. Jesus became the Great High Priest (Hebrews 9-10). No, it was not a radio box.
You should pray with your eyes closed, right?	Jesus prayed with His eyes open in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 17)
The King James is the only authorized Bible, right?	Well, the King James was never "authorized" but King James I of England did order the new translation at the request of the Puritans. The NASB (New American Standard Bible) is a good choice for a modern, accurate rendering as well as the New King James Bible (NKJV). Books such as The Living Bible, Good News for Modern Man and The Book are paraphrases of the original manuscripts and are not recommended for serious study.
Jesus died on Good Friday and rose on Sunday the Sabbath, right?	Well, perhaps there's another view that we can examine by looking at Scripture. Remember, Jesus was a Jew and the Jewish Sabbath is Saturday; Christians are the ones who observe Sunday as Sabbath. Jesus made a direct, prophetic statement concerning His death: "FOR AS JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE WHALE'S BELLY; SO SHALL THE SON OF MAN BE THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH" (Matthew 12:40 KJV). So, Jesus may have been crucified Wednesday and arose on Saturday: Wednesday - 6pm - Burial & Night 1 Thursday - Day 1 & Night 2 Friday - Day 2 & Night 3 Saturday - Day 3 Jewish Sabbath* *The Jewish Sabbath is not so much a day as a period of time. It starts at sundown Friday and ends at sundown Saturday. So, before sunrise Sunday (the first day of the week) morning: "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, (the tomb) and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre" (John 20:1 KJV).