Professing Christians know that Jesus gave His life for mankind, but what else do they know about Jesus and why He came to earth as a human being? On today's Tomorrow's World program, we'll expose five myths about the Jesus of the Bible. He is, as Bruce Barton wrote, "The Man Nobody Knows". How surprising that is, when the world's largest collective religious body claims to worship Him.
I'll also be offering you a free resource that shows the depth to which the message of the Bible has been corrupted. John 3:16 is perhaps the most famous of all verses, yet one that says something very different from what people think. Our resource, John 3:16 - Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse explains how little, professing Christians know about Jesus Christ and the message He proclaimed, so be sure to take down our contact information to receive your free copy of our booklet on John 3:16.
And stay with me as I will give five commonly held myths about Jesus--myths that you were likely taught by the very ones who should know better. Stay tuned. ♪ A warm welcome to all of you from those of us here at Tomorrow's World. Today we'll expose five widely held myths about the Jesus of the Bible. And be sure to take down our contact information to order your free copy of our resource John 3:16 - Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse.
This easy-to-read booklet explains eight errors people have regarding this very important verse--straight from the pages of the Bible. As surprising as it may be, commonly held beliefs indicate much misunderstanding about the Savior of the world. The first myth is a major doctrine found among some Christian denominations.
It's amazing what people accept as truth simply because that is what their priest tells them, without ever investigating it for themselves from the only authoritative book about the life of Jesus. So, myth #1: This myth has far-reaching implications. Scriptures mention Jesus having brothers and sisters, but some allege that these verses refer to either cousins or disciples. What are we to believe? Should we follow traditions handed down to us that conflict with easy-to-understand scripture?
Or should we believe the Bible? You be the judge. The false narrative of Jesus' mother remaining a perpetual virgin and Jesus having no siblings is soundly contradicted in John 7, beginning in verse 3... So much for His brothers referring to disciples. This does not mean that He never referred to His followers as being brothers, only that He had "brothers" who were not disciples.
Another scriptural example of His blood family is found in Matthew 12, verses 47-50, where there is a clear distinction between His physical family and His spiritual family... These references to brothers cannot be shrugged off easily. Let's notice another passage on this subject where sisters, that is, plural, are mentioned. In Matthew 13:54-56, it relates how citizens in the area where He grew up, were perplexed by the wisdom and miracles that He performed...
Any objective reader who is not influenced by unfounded traditions, recognizes that Matthew 1:24-25 ought to lay the question to rest... [And notice this...] Although "firstborn son" does not necessarily mean that there were others, the inference is certainly there.
But more importantly, any student of the Bible knows that the expression "did not know her" is a euphemism for sexual relations, as we see in Genesis 4. [And then in verse 17...] [And then in verse 25 it says...] My friends, instead of blindly following Church traditions, read the Bible for what it says.
But you may wonder, "Is it important to know that Mary did not remain a perpetual virgin and that Jesus had half-brothers and sisters?" I'll give you the answer to that question, the reasons why after a short break to tell you about today's free offer--John 3:16 - Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse.
This may sound shocking, but most professing Christians have little idea what this verse really says, much less understand the message Jesus proclaimed for three-and-a-half years prior to His crucifixion. How can they when they have never been taught.
This resource exposes myths that people hold about Jesus and His message and it can be yours free for the asking, so pick up the phone, or go to our website at TWTV.org/John316 and order your free copy of John 3:16 - Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. And when I come back, I'll show you why it is so important to know that Jesus had brothers and sisters. For today's free offer call... Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. If you're calling for the first time, you will also receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's World magazine. Ten inspiring issues discussing news, science, and modern culture will help you make sense of your world from a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. Call now! Or go to... On today's Tomorrow's World, I'm exposing five widely held myths about the Jesus of the Bible. Most are the result of pagan inspired traditions handed down by mainstream churches, but they fly in the face of clear-cut, easy to understand scriptures. In the previous section, I revealed myth #1, that: Why is this important?
What relevance does it have for you? The answer is found in myth #2--the narrative that: Mary was the mother of Jesus and scripture indicates she was a righteous woman. But the role of Mary has been grossly and blasphemously corrupted. Nowhere do we find in the Bible anything about her "immaculate conception." Non-Catholics often misunderstand that the immaculate conception refers to Christ's conception, but this biblically unfounded doctrine refers instead to Mary.
Here is what a Catholic source explains: Yet, where is the proof of this? Certainly not from the Bible. Where does it come from? What many do not realize is how deeply, and how early, Christianity was corrupted by pagan doctrines that long predate Christ. Many historical sources show that the worship of Mary came about as traditions about pagan goddesses were transferred to the mother of Jesus. This truth is well established.
Here is merely one example from the highly respected Church historian Jesse Lyman Hurlbut. Writing about the origin of Mary worship, he says: Nowhere in the Bible do we read of Mary being immaculately conceived. Nowhere do we read of her remaining a perpetual virgin. We read just the opposite, in fact. And nowhere in the Bible do we read of Mary as intercessor between God and man. That role is reserved for Jesus Himself--not Mary, not human priests.
He is the One through whom we approach the Father. He revealed that to us on the night in which He was betrayed. We find in John 14:6... Then in John 14, verses 13 and 14, Jesus says if you ask in His name, He will do it. You don't have to go to His mother to appeal to Him, in other words... It's through the name of Jesus Christ, not Mary, that we come to God. There is not one shred of evidence in the Bible for the worship of Jesus' mother.
Not a single verse indicates we should use the name of Mary to approach Jesus or His Father. The simple truth is, as many historical sources prove, the cultus of Diana, Ishtar, and other goddesses have been transferred to Mary. When she awakes in the resurrection, she will be astounded how the worship of pagan goddesses has been transferred to her. I'm going to take a 15 second break to remind you of today's free offer--John 3:16 - Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse.
When I come back after this short break, I'll give you myth #3. Now doesn't it make sense that if you're going to follow someone that you know what He teaches? What was the message Jesus proclaimed in John 3:16? You need to know, so pick up the phone or go to our website and order your free copy of John 3:16 - Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. And when I come back in 15 seconds, I'll expose Myth #3.
This clear and straight-forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. Call now! Or go to... The true gospel of Jesus Christ has been suppressed, even though it is the greatest news ever proclaimed to mankind. As we are seeing on today's Tomorrow's World program, some commonly held Christian beliefs badly miss the mark. Such is the case with John 3:16.
Often these myths and erroneous ideas come from pagan traditions and philosophies, rather than the Bible. So let us look at myth #3: Now please do not misunderstand. That certainly is good news, and good news is what the word gospel means, but what gospel did Jesus proclaim for three-and-a-half years prior to His crucifixion? Why is it that so few know and understand what that message is, when it's spelled out so clearly in scripture after scripture?
Is not it strange that church-goers cannot tell you what the Bible reveals about Jesus' message to mankind? No, it wasn't only about His death, burial, and resurrection--though that is part of the good news. And no, it wasn't about going to heaven. It was about a world-ruling Kingdom of God to be set up on earth. Here is the beginning of His ministry as recorded in Mark 1:14-15... Do you realize that most of Jesus' many parables were about this kingdom? For example, in Mark 4:30...
The expression "kingdom of God" is found 69 times in the New Testament of the New King James Version. Obviously, I don't have time to cover them all, but proclaiming this message was one reason Jesus said He was sent to earth. See Luke 4:43... And Luke 8, verse 1 shows that He took this commission very seriously... But what exactly is this Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed? And what does that have to do with you?
Contrary to the widely held doctrine of going to heaven, His message was about a divine family ruling on earth--a family that you can be born into. Why, when there is so much said about this in the Bible, do so few comprehend Jesus' message? And this brings us to: We've pointed this out many times on this Tomorrow's World program and in our other resources, but let me quickly review this with you from the pages of the Bible. In a prophecy of the future, Zechariah 14:9 tells us...
But Jesus will not be alone in ruling. In Revelation 19:16, it tells us that Jesus will be King of kings and Lord of lords... Now who are these kings and lords that Jesus will be King and Lord over? Scripture reveals the answer. Speaking of the twelve tribes of Israel, the prophet Ezekiel, tells us... When Jesus' disciples asked, what was in it for them for following Him, He gave them this direct response in Matthew 19, verse 28...
So we have Christ as King over all the earth, David as king over all Israel, and the twelve apostles--each ruling over one of the twelve tribes of Israel under David. That's what the Bible reveals, but what about you and me? What's in it for us? Was Jesus' message to live a good life, jam as much fun into it as you possibly can before you die, and then go to retirement in heaven? Not at all.
The reward He offers is right here on earth to rule with Him and help solve the problems that exist here below--to bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to all men everywhere. In Jesus' parable of the minas, He describes Himself as a nobleman going into a far country to receive a kingdom. His servants are told to do His work while He is gone. And He demands an accounting upon His return, and gives rewards according to how each does. Here are the rewards as found in Luke the 19th chapter.
We'll begin in verse 16... Now that doesn't sound like a boring retirement sitting on clouds with little to do, or staring into the face of God in a celestial trance forever--the so-called beatific vision. There is another commonly held myth that I want to expose about Jesus and it is probably the most shocking one of all. But before I give it to you, don't forget to order a free copy of our eye-opening resource--John 3:16 - Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse.
On today's program I'm exposing five commonly held myths about Jesus, but our resource, John 3:16 - Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse exposes eight more myths. No wonder Jesus chided the people of His day, and our day as well, by asking... Now don't take my word for it. Prove it for yourself by ordering your free copy and comparing it with the Bible. Order it today, and when I come back, I'll expose a shocking 5th myth commonly held about Jesus Christ. For today's free offer call... Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. If you're calling for the first time, you will also receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's World magazine. Ten inspiring issues discussing news, science, and modern culture will help you make sense of your world from a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. Call now! Or go to... Our last myth about Jesus is the most shocking of all. The narrative about our Savior, is that the One we know of as God the Father, was harsh and demanding, but Jesus came with a message of love. Now it's true that Jesus' message was a message of love, but so was the message of scripture prior to His coming.
Remember how Jesus answered the lawyer who asked, "What is the great commandment in the law?" [That comes from Deuteronomy 6:5.] [That comes from Leviticus 19:18.] With this understanding, why is it that people believe this fifth commonly held myth about the Jesus Christ of the Bible, that: As shocking as this may sound, scripture reveals that Jesus was, get this, the God of the Old Testament. Now do not take my word for it. Prove it from your Bible.
Note what the Apostle John revealed about the relationship between the Father and the One referred to as the Word. In John 1, beginning in verse 1... So who was the Word? The answer is found in verse 14... The member of the God family that is referred to as the Word, who made all things and without Him nothing was made that was made, is none other than Jesus Christ. Look it up in your own Bible and read from the first chapter of John.
But that is far from the only proof that Jesus was the God of the Old Testament. Another powerful scripture is Ephesians 3, and verses 8 and 9... [Note this.] Need more proof? Consider Hebrews 1, and verses 1 and 2... [And get this...] Still not convinced? Who was it that created the angels? Who was it that created Adam and Eve, our first parents? Paul answers this in Colossians the first chapter, beginning in verse 15... [That is Jesus] But there's more.
There is no stronger statement than that found in 1 Corinthians 10, and the first four verses... No wonder Jesus claimed to be the Lord of the Sabbath. He was the one who created the Sabbath for mankind. Today we've exposed five commonly held myths about the Jesus of the Bible. Why are these myths promoted in our modern churches, when they're so easily debunked from the pages of the Bible? The answer will have to wait for another telecast.
In the meantime, be sure to order your free copy of John 3:16 - Hidden Truths of the Golden Verse. Cast off pagan mythologies and discover the truth Jesus proclaimed in this very important verse. And be sure to come back next week when Richard Ames, Wallace Smith, Rod McNair, and I will continue to share with you the revelation of Jesus Christ, the good news of the coming Kingdom of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and their meaning.
So be sure to join us here next week at this same time. For today's free offer call... Or go to... Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. ♪ The preceding program is produced by the Living Church of God.