Unmodified Scripture Teaches God's Truth

One of my regular privileges is to "attend" various Bible Studies from around the world using Zoom.
Although I enjoy the scholarship presented by Biblical scholars far more educated and experienced than me, I do have some difficulty with the theology they occasionally develop from that scholarship.

Sometimes, they even insert their theology into the actual texts they "quote".
For example, recently, one verse discussed from Chapter 5 of the Book of Romans contrasted the effect of Adam and Christ on the human race.
Here is the verse.

So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.
[Romans 5 : 18  NIV]

That seems a very clear statement to me, and is certainly consistent with many other texts, like:

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
[1 Cor 15: 22  NIV]

However, the study leader's notes and words added some of his personal theology to the verse.
This verse became:
So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life if they believe.

But what Jesus did on behalf of all mankind does not depend on our belief for it to be true.

Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
[1 John 2 : 1 - 2  NIV]

It's a bit like the law of gravity on our planet.
It does not require our belief for it to be true.
Yet at some point in our life's experience we will come to believe and appreciate it.

God's Word is truth without our need to modify it - although it is equally true that we need to be reading an accurate English translation of the original languages of the Scriptures to be seeing that truth.

It is also true that we are not all acquainted with this truth, or given the faith to believe and appreciate it, at the same time.
Continuing the 1 Corinthians text from above in a more literal translation:

For just as in Adam all die, so also in the Anointed all will be given life.
And each in the proper order: the Anointed as the firstfruits, thereafter those who are in the Anointed at his arrival, then the full completion when he delivers the Kingdom to him who is God and Father.
[1 Corinthians 15 : 22 - 24  DBH]

We are currently in the second stage when God is choosing those to be "in the Anointed at his arrival".
These are the Body of Christ, the advance party.
And between this stage and the "full completion" stage is the Messianic Kingdom or Millennium, in which the Body of Christ is to serve King Jesus in His Kingdom.

With an accurate translation of the Bible, it is not difficult to see God's plans for His creation just as they are recorded.

However, many of our most popular translations leave us second guessing as to what God has in store and whether He is really in charge and can therefore execute His plans successfully.
Modifying what was originally recorded is an unnecessary (and risky) exercise for truth-seekers.

Blessings, Barry

Does God Sin?

Most Christians would be horrified by the thought. Yet these same Christians unconsciously believe that He will, if He hasn't already.
Let me explain.

First, let's remember that to sin means to miss the mark, to not achieve the goal, or to miss the target being aimed at.
So anyone who misses their target has sinned.

Second, let's remember that God's target is to save the world.

God intends all human beings to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of truth.
[1 Timothy 2 : 4  DBH]

So if God doesn't hit His target, He will have sinned.

The Bible describes the progress God has made towards achieving His goal as a consequence of Jesus' first coming:

Jesus paid the death penalty for the sins of all people.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
[1 Timothy 2 : 5 - 6  NIV]

Consequently, God is no longer at odds with his creation.

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them.
[2 Corinthians 5 : 19  NIV]
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Jesus), and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
[Colossians 1 : 19 - 20  NIV]

The Bible also describes what has yet to be achieved for God to reach His goal (as a consequence of Jesus' second coming):

Jesus will "round us all up" eventually.

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
[John 12 : 32  NIV]

Everyone destined to die in the natural realm will become alive in the spiritual realm.

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
[1 Corinthians 15 : 22  NIV]
Just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
[Romans 5 : 18  NIV]

Total peace and harmony will exist throughout the whole creation - it will be returned to its original perfect order.

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"
[Revelation 21 : 5  NIV]
With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
[Ephesians 1 : 8 - 10  NIV]

To our natural minds, limited by our earthly experience, this looks a most unlikely outcome, doesn't it?
But Christians should not be so limited.
Indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and with God's written Word so readily available, we are equipped to know things beyond the natural.

Without this equipping, we would not believe other unlikely events such as the virgin birth of Jesus, his miracles and his resurrection.
Although most Christians do believe these, they don't believe God will hit His target of saving the world.

Most Christians seem to believe this result will not be achieved - God will miss His target - most of His creation will finish up estranged from Him, and eternally tormented to boot.

They don't realise that by believing that God will miss His target they are actually inferring that God will sin.

I'm not one of them.
God is not a sinner. Nor will He be.
He will achieve everything His Word says He will. Praise God!

Blessings, Barry