Amazing Paradoxes In And About The Bible

(Message by GB)

A great many recognized scholars in the world consider that the Bible is the greatest book ever written.  But for reasons beyond our comprehension the world in general doesn’t recognize it so.  This is not the only paradox.  There are innumerable ones similar to that.  The literary world treat it as a classic like Shakespeare, Milton and the like, and the religious world, as one of the religious books.  The greatest historian of the 20th century, Arnold Toynbee, a British born scholar, considers this book as a major source of primary reference for research in world history.  That is the status of this book in the secular world.

This book has to its credit certain interesting statistical records such as, the greatest number of copies printed every year, the greatest number of books sold in the publishing world, the greatest number of translations of this book in different languages, the cost of this book being lowest in the publishing market and so on.  Though educationalists know these facts, they regard it not stylish in these days to speak anything good of the Bible.  This is another paradox about the Bible.

Lecture 3: Faith

(GB Message)

The word faith is like an icon on a computer desktop. The icon by itself serves no purpose unless it directs the user to a document. Quite a number of believers stop with admiring the size and shape of the icon as it were, by being content with a superficial knowledge of ‘faith’. I urge every one of you to get better acquainted with the concept behind the icon rather than the glorious looking icon.

In order to have a sound knowledge of the concept of faith, let me divide it into two parts:-

1. Faith in the inerrancy of scripture (a belief in the truthfulness, inerrancy and the urgent message behind the word of God James 2: 17, 24)
2. Faith in the atoning work of Christ (the acceptance by the believer of God’s salvation offered by grace through the atoning sacrifice of Christ. It is to be availed with deep gratitude to Him, and also believing that other than Christ Jesus there is no salvation in any other Acts 4: 12)

We shall try to understand these two parts of faith in some depth. At this stage it will be useful to introduce the concept what I call the twin side principle, with respect to each of the two parts of faith viz.: (i) The theological aspect and (ii) the work aspect.

Being sure of going to heaven

(Murali’s notes about GB’s message)

Every growing church should have intelligent questions about the topics they study and should provide regular feedback to the preacher.

Every heaven-going believer will have great grief for people whom he knows will go to hell.  What is our feeling towards people whom we know for sure will go to hell if they do not change their course?  Do we really grasp the implications?  What have we done for them?  Have we done everything short of falling at their feet and pleading that they accept Jesus?

Can we correct verses in vernacular versions of the Bible

(GB Message)

Some people mistake it for meddling with the word of God, which is of course forbidden. Some feel that it discourages those who rely on these versions, who are not comfortable with English, especially because they are so familiar with some of the verses that one wants to change. In answer to this criticism, since I am the culprit with regard to this, I venture to answer this criticism.

Let me first cite some more of their arguments against me before I present my own apologetics. The early missionaries who did the translations were from Great Britain, Scandinavian countries and Germany. They took so much of trouble learning an Indian language and then translating the Bible from beginning to end. They had to perspire blood, as it were, to do such a herculean task. Had they not done this, the Indian people would have been in utter darkness. To destroy a thing is very easy but to build it is very difficult. It is easy to criticize a translation – but can I do that task?

Born of Water and Spirit Part 2

(GB Message)

A compendium for the guidance of those who have the anointing for the preaching of the Gospel of Lord Jesus

Post-baptism teaching

As far as this church is concerned, the word “Baptism” should convey the following meanings.

• The ritual in which the person is immersed in water in the name of Lord Jesus.
• The theological or doctrinal meaning of the word
• The word when used as a code for the entire doctrinal teaching concerning salvation or until the “born-again” stage (recently we had several sessions on this subject that totalled 12 hours of teaching)

By ‘post-baptism’ teaching, I refer to teaching that the believer requires after he is born again.

Gospel concerning Jesus Christ Part 1

(GB Message)

Click for Tamil translation

This is the commencement of my teaching about Jesus Christ and His Gospel (good news), which He proclaimed to the entire world through the Bible.

What is the Bible?
The Bible is one of the greatest literary writings in the world of literature. No book of literature can come anywhere near it in the quality, nature, and purpose of this book. But as true Christians, we are not excited because of this high honour bestowed upon this book, but are exceedingly delighted that it is a spiritual book par excellence and above all the very word of God.

The world does not believe the Bible, and there is nothing we can do about it. The Bible itself makes mention of the world’s rejection. “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him”, Jn 1:10. Sad as it is, this is true.

The oldest manuscript of any ancient publication available in the world is the Bible in the forms called Codex Sinaticus, Codex Vaticanus and the like. I myself was fortunate to spend a few hours looking at these great materials while I was in London.

God Almighty of the Bible

(GB Message)

Click for Tamil translation

This article contains my humble submission as to why I have chosen to worship the God Almighty of the Bible. This is also in accordance with the verse in Peter’s epistle that requires my preparedness to give a defense to everyone who reads this article to find out about the reason for the hope that is me.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear (1 Pet 3:15)

Besides, this is a witness, humble though, to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God, glorifying the Name of the One who offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice for all those who pray for salvation with genuine repentance.