IS THIS AN ACCEPTABLE TEACHER?

2 A PROSPECTIVE TEACHER  This teacher: ♦Is widely used by congregations in the brotherhood. ♦Has a reputation for being easy to understand. ♦Has been recommended by many.  Should this teacher be allowed to influence this congregation?  Some questions are in order!

3 QUESTIONNAIRE  QUESTION #1: ♦We believe that when a child is born into this world, he is pure and free from sin. Each person becomes a sinner when he commits sin. ♦Is this what you will teach?  THE PROSPECT’S RESPONSE: ♦Actually, my view is quite different. ♦I teach that a person is sinful at birth; in fact, I teach that a person is sinful from the time he is conceived.

4 QUESTIONNAIRE  QUESTION #2: ♦We believe that man is created in the image of God. ♦What do you teach about the nature of man?  THE PROSPECT’S RESPONSE: ♦Again, my view is quite different. ♦I teach that a person inherently has a sinful nature.

5 QUESTIONNAIRE  QUESTION #3: ♦We believe that the Scriptures teach that obedience is necessary for salvation. ♦What do you teach about salvation?  THE PROSPECT’S RESPONSE: ♦I think you are wrong in what you teach about salvation. ♦I teach that our righteousness before God is by faith from beginning to end, from first to last. I teach that those who only believe in Jesus will be saved.

6 QUESTIONNAIRE  QUESTION #4: ♦We believe that the Bible was written in a way that it can be understood by man. ♦Both those who are Christians and those who are not Christians can understand and obey the Bible. ♦Do you believe and teach that?  THE PROSPECT’S RESPONSE: ♦I disagree. ♦I teach that the only person who can understand the Bible is the person who has the Holy Spirit in him.

7 QUESTIONNAIRE  QUESTION #5: ♦We believe that after people become Christians, they must live faithfully the rest of their lives to inherit a heavenly reward. ♦Do you believe and teach that?  THE PROSPECT’S RESPONSE: ♦No. I do not. ♦I teach that once people believe in Christ, then they are assured of eternal life. This is an unconditional promise of Christ.

8 QUESTIONNAIRE  What do you think of this teacher?  Based on what would be taught, we would not want this teacher having an influence in this congregation!  Yet, many are allowing this teacher to: ♦Teach in the classes/worship assembly. ♦Teach in homes. ♦Teach the young people.  In fact, they are encouraging others to use this teacher. This teacher is the NIV (New International Version of the Bible)

Let us look at a few of the erroneous doctrines that the NIV teaches by the way it interprets (not translates) passages.

10 THE NIV TEACHES  Erroneous teaching #1: ♦I teach that a person is sinful at birth; in fact, I teach that a person is sinful from the time he is conceived.  NIV text: (Psa 51:5 NIV) Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.  NKJV and ASV text: (Psa 51:5 NKJV/ASV) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. The NIV teaches original sin.

11 SOUND DOCTRINE  The text says that a person was conceived by a sinful act, not that the person was guilty at conception.  A man is responsible only for his sins. (Ezek 18:20 NKJV) “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. (Rom 5:12 NKJV) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned; The NIV opposes sound doctrine.

12 THE NIV TEACHES  Erroneous teaching #2: ♦I teach that a person inherently has a sinful nature.  NIV text: (Rom 7:18 NIV) I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  NKJV text: (Rom 7:18 NKJV) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. The NIV teaches men are “depraved.”

13  The NIV translates sarx (which means “flesh”) as: ♦“flesh” when referring to Jesus (John 1:14), ♦but inconsistently translated the same word as “sinful nature” in many passages referring to man. THE NIV TEACHES

14 SOUND DOCTRINE  Man is created in the image of God. (Gen 1:27 NKJV) So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Eccl 7:29 NKJV) Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.”  Man was not created with a predisposition to sin. The NIV opposes sound doctrine.

15 THE NIV TEACHES  Erroneous teaching #3: ♦I teach that our righteousness before God is by faith from beginning to end, from first to last. I teach that those who only believe in Jesus will be saved.  NIV text: (Rom 1:17 NIV) For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, …  NKJV text: (Rom 1:17 NKJV) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith (from faith unto faith, ASV); … The NIV teaches salvation by “faith only.”

16 SOUND DOCTRINE  Faith alone will not save! (James 2:24 NKJV) You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.  Repentance is also necessary. (2 Cor 7:10 ASV) For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, …  Confession is also necessary. (Rom 10:10 ASV) … with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Baptism is also necessary. (Acts 2:38 ASV) … Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; … The NIV opposes sound doctrine.

17  In fact, the NIV teaches that a person is saved before they believe!  NIV text: (Eph 1:13 NIV) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. …  NKJV text: (Eph 1:13 NKJV) In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; … THE NIV TEACHES

18 SOUND DOCTRINE  A person is not “included in Christ” the moment he hears the gospel.  The only way to get “into Christ” is baptism: (Rom 6:3 NKJV) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (Gal 3:27 NKJV) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. The NIV opposes sound doctrine.

19 THE NIV TEACHES  Erroneous teaching #4: ♦I teach that the only person who can understand the Bible is the person who has the Holy Spirit in him.  NIV text: (1 Cor 2:14 NIV) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.  NKJV text: (1 Cor 2:14 NKJV) But the natural man (KJV, NKJV, ASV) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, … [psuchikos = worldly-minded] The NIV teaches a direct influence of the H.S.

20 SOUND DOCTRINE  The Scriptures distinguish between the man controlled by his carnal side and the man controlled by his spiritual side. (Rom 8:6 NKJV) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  God’s message can be understood by all. (Rom 10:17 NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (1 Th 5:27 NKJV) I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. (Eph 3:4 NKJV) by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), The NIV opposes sound doctrine.

21 THE NIV TEACHES  Erroneous teaching #5: ♦I teach once a person believes in Christ, then they are assured of eternal life. This is an unconditional promise of Christ.  NIV text: (John 3:16 NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  NKJV text: (John 3:16 NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should {subjunctive tense, sjc} not perish but have everlasting life. The NIV teaches salvation cannot be lost.

22 SOUND DOCTRINE  Many Scriptures teach that a Christian can be lost: (I Corinthians 8:11 NKJV) And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? (James 5:19-20 NKJV) Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death … (I Corinthians 15:1-2 NKJV) … the gospel … by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain. The NIV opposes sound doctrine.

23 CONCLUSION  The NIV is a “teacher” that has no place in our pulpit or our classroom.  It should be used with great caution even for personal study.  It should never be recommended (because of its readability or any other factor) to those who are not Christians or those who are new Christians. Based on an article by Jack Williams.

24 SOUND DOCTRINE  Faith alone will not save! (James 2:24 NKJV) You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.  Repentance is also necessary. (2 Cor 7:10 ASV) For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, …  Confession is also necessary. (Rom 10:10 ASV) … with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  Baptism is also necessary. (Acts 2:38 ASV) … Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; …