“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” (Psalm 68:11)

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (I Peter 1:24, 25)

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”(Matthew 24:35)

“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” (I John 2:20-22)

“The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; for the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.” (II John 1:1, 2)

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (III John 1:4)

“For let me tell you this, even though you know it perfectly and be already master in all things, still you are daily in the dominion of the devil, who ceases neither day nor night to steal unawares upon you, to kindle in your heart unbelief and wicked thoughts against the foregoing and all the commandments. Therefore you must always have God’s Word in your heart, upon your lips, and in your ears. But where the heart is idle, and the Word does not sound, he breaks in and has done the damage before we are aware. On the other hand, such is the efficacy of the Word, whenever it is seriously contemplated, heard, and used, that it is bound never to be without fruit, but always awakens new understanding, pleasure, and devoutness, and produces a pure heart and pure thoughts. For these words are not inoperative or dead, but creative, living words. And even though no other interest of necessity impel us, yet this ought to urge everyone thereunto, because thereby the devil is put to flight and driven away, and , besides, this commandment is fulfilled, and [ this exercise in the Word] is more pleasing to God than any work of hypocrisy, however brilliant.” (Dr. Martin Luther, The Large Catechism, Concordia Triglotta, pg 39, CPH)
January 4, 2004
Thomas E. Fisher; 654 Springfield Ave.; Joliet, IL 60435; Tomfisher99@yahoo.com
Copyright 2004 by Thomas E. Fisher
WHAT IS THE AUTHORITY OF THE MODERN BIBLES?
REASONING OR THE WORD OF GOD?

What gives the modern Bible translations legitimacy: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the modern Bible translations the authority to omit 2,544 words from the Word of God: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the NKJV the authority to change the words of Christ in Luke 22:20 to say, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you” instead of “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the NIV the authority to alter Christ’s Words of institution during the last supper in Luke 22:20 to say “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you”, instead of This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you”: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the NASB the authority to change the Word of Christ in Luke 22:20 to say, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” instead of “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you”: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the NASB the authority to change God’s Word in Hebrews 9:16, 17 to say “For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it? For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives” instead of “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth”: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the NKJV, NIV, & NASB the authority to change the Lord’s Supper into a vain useless covenant instead of an all powerful life giving testament in the blood of Christ our testator: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the modern Bible translations the authority to either omit, place in footnotes, or question the authenticity of God’s Word in Mark 16:9-20 and John 7:53-8:11: reasoning or the Word of God? By what authority do the modern Bible translations change God’s Word in I Timothy 3:16 to deny that “God was manifest in the flesh”: reasoning or the Word of God? By what authority does the NIV teach that Christ “appeared in a body” in I Timothy 3:16: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the NKJV the authority to use a footnote in I Timothy 3:16 to question or deny that “God was manifest in the flesh”: reasoning or the Word of God. By what authority does the NASB change I Timothy 3:16 to say “He who was revealed in the flesh” instead of “God was manifest in the flesh: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the NKJV the authority to change Baptism into a vain and useless “antitype” in I Peter 3:21: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the NIV the authority to change Baptism into a vain and useless symbol in I Peter 3:21: reasoning or the Word of God? By what authority does the NASB shorten Luke 4:4 to read “It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone.” Instead of “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”: reasoning or the Word of God? By what authority does the NASB change Deuteronomy 8:3 to read “that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord” instead of “that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live”: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the NIV the authority to shorten Luke 4:4 to read, “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone” instead of “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God”: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the NKJV the authority to use a footnote to deny or question if Christ said, “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” in Luke 4:4: reasoning or the Word of God? By what authority does the NIV change the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11: 2-4 to say, “Father hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation” instead of “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. 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”: reasoning or the Word of God? By what authority do the NKJV, NIV, NASB, & RSV deny or question the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 by using footnotes and by omitting “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”: reasoning or the Word of God? By what authority does the NASB change the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11:2-4 to read, “Father, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation” instead of “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. 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””: reasoning or the Word of God? What gives the RSV the authority to change the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11:2-4 to read, “Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation” instead of, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. 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”: reasoning or the Word of God? By what authority do these modern Bible translations omit the Words of Christ in the Lord’s Prayer: reasoning or the Word of God? Christ our Lord said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” (Luke 21:33) What authority gives these modern translations the power to cause even the Words of Christ to pass away from the Lord’s Prayer? Since the Words of Christ our Lord in Luke 21:33 take away any and all authority from the modern Bibles to cause any of His Words to pass away, we must conclude that wicked reasoning gives the modern Bibles their authority to change, question, and omit the Word’s of God and His Son Jesus Christ. The NIV, NASB, NKJV, and RSV cause the Word’s of Christ our Lord to pass away from the Lord’s Prayer only by the authority and cunningly deceitful power of wicked reasoning.

6. "Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they sapke unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway." (Acts 16:29-33)

7. "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." (I Peter 3:20-22)

8. "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)

9. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4)

10. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:26,27)

11. "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them." (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

12. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosphy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." (Col. 2:8-12)

13. "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Heb. 10:19-22)

14. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:25-27)

15. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, no covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (I Cor. 6:9-11)

16. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Eph. 4:4-6)

Our Lord Jesus Christ never preached against Baptism by promising another way the world could be "born again". The words of Christ our Lord live forever in John 3:5 "Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." Our Lord Jesus Christ commands us to baptize all nations in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Bring to mind again Matthew 28:18-20 "All power is given unto me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world." When did the apostle Peter preach against Baptism by promising the Jews another way outside of Baptism? Bring to mind Acts 2:37-39 "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as many as the Lord our God shall call." When did Ananias preach against Baptism by promising Saul another way? Bring to mind Acts 22:12-16 "And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." When did the apostle Paul preach against Baptism by promising another way to become in Christ? Bring to mind Romans 6:3 "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." The apostle Paul never preached against Baptism to the Galatian Christians. Bring to mind Galatians 3:26-27 "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." When did the apostle Paul preach a way to be justified without Baptism? Bring to mind Titus 3:4-7 "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Again and again Scripture testifies that no one is "in Christ" without Baptism. Bring to mind I Cor. 6:9-11 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

On the contrary those pastors who follow Dr. Franz Pieper teach that fornicators, adulterers, idolators, effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, drunkards, thieves, revilers and extortioners are "righteous in Christ" without Baptism, without the washing of regeneration, without true repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, for "God has already declared the whole world to be righteous in Christ" (Dr. Franz Pieper, 1932 Brief Statement, Pg. 9) Scripture testifies again and again that God does not justify the wicked. Bring to mind the following Scripture passages:

1. "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are an abomination to the Lord." (Proverbs 17:15)

2. "The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous." (Prov. 15:29

3. "The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked." Nahum 1:3

4."He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)

5. "Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked." (Exodus 23:7)

6. "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." (Ezekiel 3:18,19)

7. "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." (I Peter 3:12)

8. "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished. (II Peter 2:9)

9. "What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" (Ro. 3:9-10)

10. "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." (Ro. 3:19)

11. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." (Ro. 1:18)

12. "And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." (1Jn.5:19)

The mouth of the Lord has spoken against you pastors who follow the pernicious teachings of Dr. Franz Pieper: "Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the Lord." (Ezekiel 13:22-33)

Scripture admonishes us again and again to cling to true faith in Jesus Christ. Bring to mind II Cor. 11:2-4 "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtility, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." The apostle Paul always preached the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Bring to mind I Cor. 15: 1-8 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present day, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." The apostle Paul always preached the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Bring to mind Galatians 1:11 "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by revelation of Jesus Christ." The apostle Paul preached the true gospel promised before in the prophets. Bring to mind Romans 1:1-4 "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy Scriptures,) concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: by whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name." The apostle Paul only preached the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Bring to mind Romans 1:15-17 "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." The eternal Word of God in Galatians 1:6-9 warns all those who are tempted to follow a false gospel: "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Today we hear a false gospel preached by pastors who follow Dr. Franz Pieper. They preach a false gospel never preached by any of the apostles or by our Lord Jesus Christ. They preach that everyones bank account is credited with forgiveness, just reach out your cold dead empty hand of faith and accept it. They trouble true Christians by urging them to believe that they are "in Christ" by a universal decree rather than by being baptized into Christ in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. They give a false faith to Christians by urging them to have faith in God forgiving the whole world instead of true faith in Jesus Christ alone. They give false hope to the wicked by urging them to realize that they are righteous in Christ without true repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ for "God has already declared the whole world to be righteous in Christ." (Dr. Franz Pieper, 1932 Brief Statement, pg. 9) The eternal Word of God in Galatians 1:8,9 testifies against all pastors who preach the false gospel according to Franz Pieper instead of the true gospel of Jesus Christ: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

Who has the words of eternal life? Dr. Franz Pieper and his deluded followers? Or Jesus Christ our Lord? Shall we not cry out in true faith: "Lord to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God."(John 6:68-69) True Christians hear the voice of their good Shepherd Jesus Christ. They will not hear the voice of strangers who preach a false faith and a false gospel of objective and subjective justification. The eternal Word of our good Shepherd Jesus Christ lives forever in John 10:27-30 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers' hand. I and my Father are one." Our good shepherd Jesus Christ died for us. Bring to mind I Peter 2:24,25 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: buy whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls." Jesus Christ our good shepherd keeps us safe from the ravening wolves who preach a false justification, a false faith, and a false gospel. "And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." (I John 5:19-20) We know we are in Jesus Christ by our Baptism, not by a universal decree. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Gal. 3:26,27) We know we are under grace by being born of water and of the Spirit in our Baptism, not by a universal decree. "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7) We know we are not in the flesh but in the Spirit by being born of water and of the Spirit in our Baptism, not by a universal decree. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Ro.8:1) We know we are led of the Spirit by being born of water and of the Spirit in our Baptism. "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Gal. 5:18) We know we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ not by faith in everyones bank account being credited with forgiveness (objective/subjective justification). "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 works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16)

"Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." (I John 2:24-29)

"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev. 22:11-17)