It is a question that was asked by a certain lawyer of the Lord Jesus Christ The actual words were:

"Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Luke 10:25

Surely a sensible question and one that has been asked by the majority of people over many years.

There are some who would deny any kind of future existence. They would say: "When you die then that is the end"; or "There is a time of waiting, a time of judgement and then - nothing. We cease to exist"

Secondly you will notice the lawyer had a preconceived idea as to how to attain what he wanted. He expected to DO something.

In my work as a missionary in London for some fifteen years, I found this a very common idea: "I always do the best I can."; "I never do anyone any harm.."; "There are many people I have helped as I have had the opportunity.."; or even "I do go to church sometimes.."

When you think of it, this is a common basis of every religion in the world. It is generally believed that we do what good we know - or have been taught, and avoid the evil we know and have been taught.

If the balance of all the good ultimately exceeds the balance of all the evil - then hopefully all will be well.

It would seem that the lawyer's problem was one of what kind of good should he do - and to what extent - in order to be sure of eternal life.

The same question basically was asked a little later by a prison warden:

"What must I do to be saved?" - Acts 16:30

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness". (Romans 4:5)

Unusual or less known concepts need to be expressed in special language. We expect this in every discipline in our lives. So with spiritual realities the Bible needs to use special meaningful words. We should and are expected to learn the meaning of these words - to simplify them or change them can dilute their meaning or even corrupt their teaching.

So... where is the problem with the Authorised Version? It uses words with special meanings which are easy to learn.

• "worketh not but believeth" means do not try, but trust in Someone.
• "justifieth the ungodly" means to 'declare as just someone who was unworthy, or to 'pronounce forgiven' the person who was guilty.
• "his faith" is the means by which this spiritual blessing is imparted. It is not a 'work' or something we do; it is a grace given by God Himself.

Here again is another of those precious words - 'grace' which means the 'undeserved favour of God'. Love, it has been said, is the attribute of God, but grace is love in action.

"Twas the same love that spread the feast, that sweetly forced us in.
Else we had still refused to taste, and perished in our sin." Hymns of Light and Love (118)

"But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved;).... For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:4-10)

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."  (Titus 3:5-7)

Remember that question of the prison warden? "What must I do to be saved?" And they (Paul and Silas) said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31).

Salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone has been the gospel truth held dear by true evangelicals through the ages.

"I cannot work my soul to save, for that my LORD hath done...
But I would work like any slave, for love of God's dear Son."

There is a second important question to "How can a man get right with God?" (be justified). It is "When is a man declared right with God?" (present or future?)

We must of course recognise that the declaration of 'this sinner is just' can only follow an admission of guilt and of having offended a Holy God - with true repentance. "I have sinned against heaven and before Thee and am no more worthy..."(said the 'prodigal son' to his father). Repentance toward God is an essential prerequisite to faith in the "Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me..."

As a prayer in the Book of Common Prayer puts it:
"Grant us 0 Lord, true repentance of all our sins and a living faith in Christ our Redeemer....".

This twofold response to God is seen again and again in Holy Scripture.

But is it possible to know for sure? Is this not presumption? John 5:24 has provided a promise of certainty to many.
Paul evidently had certainty. - See 2 Timothy 1:11, 12.

WHAT IS WRITTEN...?

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."  (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

Romans 4:1-5

"What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?" (verse 1)

Paul proves his point by referring to two of the greatest figures in Israel's history: Abraham and David. God made great covenants with both these men. One lived centuries before the Law was given, and the other lived many years afterward. One was justified before he was circumcised, and the other after.

Let us first consider Abraham, whom all Jews could call their forefather. What was his experience according to the flesh? What did he find concerning the way in which a person is justified?

"For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God" (Verse 2)

But someone may argue, "Doesn't it say in James 2.21 that Abraham was justified by works?" Yes it does, but there the meaning is quite different. Abraham was justified by faith (Genesis 15:6) when he believed God's promise concerning a numberless posterity. It was thirty or more years later that he was justified (vindicated) by works when he started to offer Isaac as a burnt offering to God (Genesis 22). This act of obedience proved the reality of his faith. It was an outward demonstration that he had been truly justified by faith.

"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Verse 3)

In other words, Abraham was justified by faith. It was just as simple as that. Works had nothing to do with it. They are not even mentioned.

"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt" (Verse 4)

Think of it this way: when a man works for a living and gets his pay cheque at the end of the week, he is entitled to his wages. He has earned them. He does not bow and scrape before his employer, thanking him for such a display of kindness and protesting he doesn't deserve the money. Not at all! He puts the money in his pocket and goes home with the feeling that he has only been reimbursed for his time and labour.

But that's not the way it is in the matter of justification.

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Verse 5)

Instead, he believes on Him who justifies the ungodly. He puts his trust and faith in the Lord. He takes God at His word. As we have seen, this is not a meritorious action. The merit is not in his faith, but in the Object of his faith - that is Jesus Christ his Lord.

Notice that he believes on Him who justifies the ungodly. He does not come with the plea that he has tried his best, that he has lived by the golden rule; that he has not been as bad as others. No, he comes as an ungodly, guilty sinner and throws himself on the mercy of God.

And with what result? His faith is accounted to him for righteousness.

Because he has come believing instead of working, God puts righteousness to his account. Through the merits of the risen Saviour, God clothes him with righteousness and thus makes him fit for heaven. Henceforth God sees him in Christ and accepts him on that basis.

"BECAUSE THE SINLESS SAVIOUR DIED,
MY SINFUL SOUL IS COUNTED FREE.
FOR GOD THE JUST IS SATISFIED
TO LOOK ON HIM (CHRIST) AND PARDON ME."

There are, it is true, other important doctrines of the Christian faith as clearly taught as this in Holy Scripture, but few as important as this:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."  (Romans 5:1)

WHAT MAN THINKS REGARDING GETTING RIGHT WITH GOD

This is, in fact, the basis of all false religions not based on Holy Scripture.

It is becoming, however, the teaching of most of the modern versions of the Bible. They simply omit or question those verses or words which speak of salvation being of grace. Check Romans 11:6 and Colossians 3:16. Compare these with the Authorised Version.

Sometimes the word 'deeds' is added with no Greek basis whatsoever. Check John 5:29. Sometimes in Romans 2:6 we find the word DEEDS capitalised!

There is often a substitution of the words 'believe' with 'obey' and 'unbelief for 'disobedience'.

The former head of the Jehovah's Witness Watchtower and Tract Society, Charles Taize Russell, wrote in 'Studies for Scripture' Vol. 1, p. 158:
"Each for himself (must) prove by obedience or disobedience their worthiness of life eternal."
The Jehovah's Witness Bible consequently substitutes these 'working for salvation' words in place of faith and belief.
The same changes will be found to appear in most modern versions.

Check out the following:

We must remember that a salvation based on obedience allows an act of 'disobedience' to disannul that salvation.

This teaching is easily assumed from the following:

One modem researcher has listed no less than 135 verses in which the Names and Titles of Jesus Christ are omitted in modern versions. Rev. Charles (Chick) Salliby, "If the Foundations be Destroyed", p. 66. You may check for yourself how close the version you may be using is to the Authorised Version by referring to the J.J.Ray Test..

We then have verses in which words are changed, leading their readers to think that salvation is dependent upon perseverance or endurance:

These are just a few of the examples. You will need to check the various modern versions with the Authorised Version.

FAITH OR FAITHFULNESS?

"If any one saith that justification by faith and nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy which remits sin for Christ's sake alone: or that this confidence alone is where we are justified let him be anathema." (Roman Catholic Council of Trent, Sess. VI. Can.12). (our emphasis)

"Salvation is achieved through self discipline (faithfulness) not faith." Toward a World Religion for the New Age", p. 94.

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is called "Faithful and True..." Rev. 19:11.

It is because He was faithful that we can have faith. Our faith ('pistia') brings faithfulness ('pistos'). The two words are clearly different in meaning in both Greek and English. Yet most modern versions mistranslate 'pistia' as 'faithfulness'. Check the following:

GROW THEREBY or GROW INTO SALVATION?

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby."

HAVE PEACE WITH GOD OR HOPE FOR IT?

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

There are many precious verses which convey the blessed assurance - He is mine; I am His; He is in me and I am in Him.

If we are true Christians, born of His Spirit, the only working we do is in thankfulness as we work out that which God has wrought by grace in us. See Philippians 2:12, 13.

The Christian faith is unique. It is the only revealed way of salvation, whereby full and free forgiveness, the cost of which has been paid by another, is offered to those who will repent and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is not a cheap salvation.
It is not an 'easy believism', after which we may go and live as we please.

It is a personal reckoning - that if Christ loved me and gave Himself upon that cross for me - then I by faith reckon that I have died to self with Him and henceforth will live to serve and follow Him.

Is not this the faith attitude of the Apostle Paul himself? - see Galatians 2:20 and 6:14.

I believe the word of God is found in its clearest form in the Authorised Version, which has been used over the longest period of time. If I consult a modern version and find it changes, adds to or omits from the content of the Authorised Version, I question that particular version.

I hope through reading this that you will have been helped to think through two important matters concerning the Christian faith.

1.  That there is a difference between salvation that we endeavour to attain by self effort and being justified in the sight of God, by His grace through true repentance and living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.The one is human - an uncertain hope. The other is divine, a blessed assurance based upon the word of God that shall stand for ever.
2. That among the increasing number of new versions of the 'Bible' today, there is one that has not been changed in its content since it was first published in 1611. (Currently printed copies reflect changes in spelling up to 1769.)

However, with the increasing number of modern versions and their revisions, more and more Christians are becoming aware of the mercenary motives involved and are questioning modern versions.

More and more Christians are realising that as they read the Authorised Version in the right attitude of mind, there is far more that they do understand and gain spiritual profit from than that which they do not.