FAQ’s – Reflect and Renew

From time to time people ask if there is a simple way to lead some to Christ. There are many helpful ways to do that. Let me first of all refer you to the blog entry Fully Devoted Followers Share their Faith with Others, for some back ground. I personally use the Roman Road. I like it because it is simple and the passages are easy to remember because they are all in one book of the Bible.

[Rom 3:23 ESV] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

This passage reminds us that all of us fall short of what God desire of us. We have all missed the mark of what it means to be O.K. in God’s eyes.

[Rom 6:23 ESV] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here we are told that the result of our falling short is death. This death refers to spiritual death. Spiritual death is being separated from God. It is being cut off from God in this life and in the life to come. But the verse goes on to say that God offers a remedy for death and that is eternal life. This life is both a quality of life and a length of life. It is a gift that God graciously offers us. It can not be earned in any way.

[Rom 5:8 ESV] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This passage shows the extent of God’s love for each of us. God did not wait for us to get our life together. He sent Jesus to take the full penalty of our sin so that we could be reconciled to God.

[Rom 10:9-10 ESV] because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

This passage tells us how we can be saved, put right with God. It happens when we do two things:

1. Confess Jesus as Lord. This means that we agree with God that Jesus is the only Lord and that for all of our lives we have tried to be God. We now step off the throne of our lives as ask Jesus to take his rightful place and our Lord and Master. From now on we will follow his direction.

2. Believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead. We must trust what God did in and through the cross of Christ. We trust that when God says he accepts the sacrifice of Christ, he means what he says.

When we do those things we have God’s promise:

[Rom 10:13 ESV] For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

For another way of presenting the gospel click here

From time to time I am asked about the best Bible translation to buy and read. That is a difficult question. Let me tell you my personal preferences and then give you some links to do some research on you own.

I personally use the English Standard Version (ESV). The ESV as the publisher says is an “essentially literal” translation. It is a revision of the older Revised Standard Version (RSV). I like it because it takes a more literal approach to the translation process and therefore is a better starting place for detailed study of Scripture. Other translations in this vein are KJV, NKJV, NASB and the NRSV to some degree. The New International Version (NIV) is a good translation as well. However, I prefer a more literal translation when doing detailed study.
I also enjoy two more dynamic translations. The New Living Translation (NLT) and the New Century Version (NCV). These two attempt to render the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek in a more contemporary style. They are very helpful for understanding difficult passages.

Here are a few links that will help as you make a decision. (These are chosen because of their balanced content, not because I endorse everything in the article or on the website.)
Here is a good article that gives an overview of the different translations that are available.

The article Choosing a Bible offers a good over view of translation methods. It is produced by the company that publishes the ESV. It is in PDF format.
This site Which Bible is the Word of God offers a general overview of the reliability of the Greek text of the New Testament as well as an article on the work of Textual Criticism . Textual Criticism, also called lower criticism, is the analysis biblical manuscripts in order to determine as far as possible the original wording.

The Bible Choices article shows a chart of popular Bible translations with a view to grade level and reading difficulty. The article is a little dated in that it doesn’t mention some of the newer versions.

After you decide on a translation then comes the task of choosing what kind of Bible. A good study Bible is a necessary tool.

How to Choose a Study Bible gives a brief overview of the different types of study Bibles classified by their doctrinal orientation.

eHow offers a good overview what to look for in a study Bible.

Of course when it is all said and done, the best Bible translation is the one you actually read!

The Blog of Pastor Alan Cassady

Category: FAQ’s

The Romans Road

Which Bible is the Right One?