Bible Student’s Resource Index

Forgiveness or Freedom? (Justification) The Greek word aphesis (G859) is a compound word: “from-letting” ( Concordant Keyword Concordance ) meaning “freedom from.” Ultimate freedom from sin is far more than the traditional “ forgiveness ” or “ pardon .” These are rooted in guilt. The followers of religion seek to obtain forgiveness through some means – concerted effort, confessions, prayers, penance, resolutions, etc. What Paul taught went well beyond “ forgiveness .” The revelation given to him involved “ justification ,” which instead of being rooted in guilt, is rooted in righteousness. “ In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the freedom from sins, according to the riches of His grace ” (Ephesians 1:7, BSV ). RESOURCES Book: Ultimate Liberation: Beyond Forgiveness (The Justification from and of Sin) , Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr., Bible Student’s Press https://www.pilkingtonandsons.com/clp.htm#2510 eBook edition: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Liberation-Beyon...

One God and One Lord The Scriptures plainly teach that “ there is but ONE GOD, THE FATHER, …. and ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST ” (I Corinthians 8:6). The only absolute God is “ the Father ,” and He has NO equals. The Lord Jesus Christ is a part of His creation; the Spirit is an expression meaning God’s spirit. Christendom’s teaching of the Trinity does great dishonor to both the Father and His Son, diminishing the true glory that belongs uniquely to each. “ The man Christ Jesus ” (I Timothy 2:5), is "the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69). The Scripture does not support a view of Jesus Christ as “God incarnate,” “God the Son,” or a pre-existent divine visitor. A combination of misguided theology and pagan speculation is responsible for the intrusion of Christianity’s unbiblical doctrines concerning Christ. For more information on this vital theme, see the books – No Equals! Reasons Why Our Heavenly Father has No Equals or Co-Equals & Why “the Holy Spirit” Is Not a...

  The Sequel   God has made a sequel to the trials of this life.   “No trial has taken you except what is human. Now, faithful is God, Who will not be leaving you to be tried above what you are able, but, together with the trial, will be making the sequel also, to enable you to undergo it” (I Corinthians 10:13, Concordant Version ).   God’s provision for our trials is not found in an “escape,” as the KJV renders it, but rather in “the sequel.”   The believer has access to the divine awareness of Romans 8:28 and Ephesians 1:11 which makes us confident that the best is yet to come ! Our earthly lives are merely an elementary stage on the divine drama of the ages. Faith rests in the grand sequel that awaits. Paul puts the anticipation of “the sequel” as that which takes us through the severest of trials.   Here are a few examples of the Scripture’s declarations of creation’s assured sequel .   “I put to death and I bring to l...

"Eternal," "Everlasting" and "Forever" (Aiōnios) The words “ eternal, ” “ everlasting ” and “ forever ” are translations of the Greek word αι ̓ ω ́ νιος ( aio ̄ nios ), which is the adjective of the Greek noun αι ̓ ω ́ ν ( aio ̄ n ) meaning “age” or “eon.” Thus, αι ̓ ω ́ νιος ( aio ̄ nios ) never carries the sense of “ eternal ” in Scripture, and literal translations that accurately convey its meaning render it “ age-during ” (YLT), “ age-abiding ” ( REB ), “ age-lasting ” ( ED ), and “ eonian ” ( CV ). A further investigation into the Greek word aio ̄ nios would be benefited by the book An Analytical Study of Words” by Louis Abbott (1915-1996). This in-depth study on various words that have been translated as “eternal,” “everlasting,” “judgment,” “hell” etc., is an invaluable study tool. It is available here: https://www.studyshelf.com/hell.htm#0622

 "Hell" In the New Testament, the English word “ Hell ” is an erroneous translation of one three Greek words: Hades , Gehenna , or Tartaroo  – none of which mean a place of so-called “eternal conscious torment.” For more information see, An Analytical Study of Words , Louis Abbott (1915-1996), Bible Student’s Press. https://www.studyshelf.com/hell.htm#0622

  Condescension   “For as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).   With God, being the Infinite Creator, and we, being His finite creatures, it is impossible to grasp even the most basics of His essence without divine education.   A keyway in which this instruction develops is through a revelatory, illustrative means known as “condescension.” By this God relates to us in very human ways – in methods that we can understand.   This condescension is progressive – from elementary though many medial stages, then from these medial phases to those which are advanced. Thus, as we learn the foundational elements, we then move on, bit-by-bit, to greater and greater divine figures. This principle has been displayed in the past through “ many portions and many modes” (Hebrews 1:1, CV ).   For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, ...