The Book of Opinions

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Isaiah 14:12

Are you dissatisfied with what the Holy Scriptures say? 

Well now you can write your own! 

Whether you are a tyrant like John Calvin with his Geneva Bible (using it to lord over people) - or a Berean (a form of Calvinism) or like Billy Graham with his New King James version (that removes the conviction from the Authorized KJV - leading the "once saved - always saved" lie) - the Book of Opinions is all about you!

All joking aside, many opinions have come along and distorted God’s Truth - taking the focus off of Jesus, and placing it on ourselves. What's worse is we see in Isaiah 14:12 that the result weakens us...

Revelation 22:18-19 says, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

Considering the hell we are facing here on earth, perhaps it’s because we’ve gotten carried away with our opinions on Scripture as opposed to observing sound Biblical judgment or discernment.

Take a look at some “opinions” that have been (mis)taken as scripture so we can see where we went wrong:

Opinion 1:1 "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."

The actual scripture is: 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 

Opinion 1:2 He qualifies the called." 

This is quite a popular quote amongst believers. However, there is a truth that is missed in this statement. 

Matthew 22:14 says, "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Romans 8:29-30 says, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."

Many people believe they're qualified on merit or their status, but, your ordainment comes when your inner man matches that of Jesus. 

Opinion 1:3 "Once saved - always saved."

Philippians 2:12 (Amplified - Classic) says, "Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ)."

Backsliding, or rather rebellion against the Scriptures, has become a problem for many Christians. Habitual sins, love for material things and failure to love one another (forgiveness) is a serious road-block that holds many apart from Christ. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee...

Opinion 1:4 "If you spare the rod, you hate your son."

The complete verse in Proverbs 13:24 says, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”

It takes wisdom and diligence to train your child well. Disciplining your child involves love and should never be done in anger. Teach your child to love and fear the LORD as you yourself grow in the love and fear of the LORD! (Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.).

Opinion 1:5 "Jesus saves."

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This verse is highly misinterpreted. False (apostate) teachers would have us believe that all we need to do is believe in Jesus as the man in the flesh. We must believe in Jesus as the Living Word John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God! 

Jesus will save you, but you must put to death the deeds of the flesh; Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Opinion 1:6 "Time heals all wounds."

Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Time heals all flesh-wounds...well it's actually the body that does the work. When you break a bone, your body immediately begins producing new cells to heal the damage. When your skin is cut, platelets in your blood clot at the scene to stop the bleeding; white blood cells remove the dead and injured cells, new healthy cells repair damaged tissue. Time is nothing more than a continual measurable process. Since time is numbered, like us, time is always limited. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega; our beginning and end is only in Him. If you are dealing with unhealed spiritual wounds, it’s time to seek Jesus; He will restore you.

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Jude 1:18 how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 

For those who are full of self-love and wrath, time is nothing but a breeding ground - waxing you cold against the things of God...

Opinion 1:7 "Money is the root of all evil"

The scripture reads: 1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

What's the point of gaining if the cost is forfeiting your soul? The Bible says Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

Opinion 1:8 "Cleanliness is next to godliness"

The scripture reads: James 4:8: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."

Jesus raises an important point when speaking to the Pharisees in Luke 11:39-41. Godliness is a part of the inner man; cleanliness only pertains to the outer man.

Opinion 1:9 “You will prosper in everything you put your hands to.”

Prosperity preachers love Jeremiah 29:11 - especially in the NIV, it reads - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. This is falsely translated! The Authorized King James reads in Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

You must also observe verses 12 and 13.

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Opinion 1:10 "All things work together for good."

Romans 8:28 reads: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

We make plans, but the plans God has for us are (really) the only ones that will prevail.

Opinion 1:11 "God moves in mysterious ways."

The scripture reads: Isaiah 55:8: "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' saith the LORD."

There is no mystery. When your ways are aligned to God's Way, then His Way becomes clear. Proverbs 3:6

Opinion 1:12 "Pride comes before a fall."

Proverbs 16:18, actually reads: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

I have never seen God bless someone who was puffed-up and full of selfish pride. God lifts the lowly and the humble - not those who exalt themselves. 

Opinion 1:13 “Why does God take us through troubled waters? Because your enemies can’t swim.”

This statement flabbergasts me! 

It says in Matthew 14:26-33 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

A better interpretation should be “Why does God take us through troubled waters? Because that’s where you learn to "walk on water"; but don't quote me on this!

Opinion 1:14 "God will not give you anything beyond what you can bear."

The scripture reads: 1 Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

This Scripture debunks the myth that God will "spare" you from trouble. It's not that God won't give you anything beyond what you can bear, but that God will help you bear what [trouble] you've been given.

Opinion 1:15 “The Bible has one "fear not" for every day of the year."

The King James Bible has a "fear not" only 170 times; but, if God said it once, then once is enough. 1 John 4:18 Jesus said; "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

Those who need continual reassurance have not been made perfect on God's love - meaning  they don't fully know Jesus, and that they haven't fully accepted His love for them. When we don't fully know Christ, we need to get into the scriptures and learn more about Him. 

Opinion 1:16 “His death certificate became my birth certificate.”

The scripture reads: John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Jesus makes it clear that we must be "Born Again" - born of His [Holy] spiritual nature.

Opinion 1:17 “When you kneel down to God, He stands up for you; no one can stand against you.”

The scripture reads: Romans 8:30-33 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

There’s an “if” involved.  You need to be in right standing with God first. I have witnessed many (so called) Christians mistreat others - act as though they've done nothing wrong and run to God for his grace. God is for that person; and in order to be in Right Standing with God, you need to be in right standing with His people. Matthew 5:24 1 Corinthians 11:28-29

Opinion 1:18 “Satan says, look at your sin, God says, look at my Son.”

The scripture reads: 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Reconciliation is key. Satan will go on the attack, however, if there is sin present in your life, it may be the Holy Spirit’s conviction. Should that be the case, it's unwise to ignore it.

Opinion 1:19 “You will be blessed in everything you do.”

The scripture reads: Genesis 12:2-3 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

But when you examine Deuteronomy 28:15-19 you’ll note that it says, But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.

18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

19 Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

Prosperity messages have really corrupted a lot of believers. You will know that scripture is being misrepresented when it takes the focus off of God and places it solely on self.

Opinion 1:20 “Prayer changes things.”

The scripture reads: James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

"It's not necessarily that prayer changes things; prayer changes me, and I change things."

Opinion 1:21 “You will be the Head and not the tail.”

The scripture reads: Deuteronomy 28:13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

Prosperity (apostate) preachers soak this concept up with a false sense of royalty. Get away from that. This verse signifies the authority we have in Christ Jesus when we walk after Him!

Opinion 1:23 “I'm a good person/God sees the good in me"

The scripture reads: Psalm 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 

We are children of the devil by default. The more we accept our wickedness, the more God is able to cleanse it from us. 

Opinion 1:24 "God helps those who help themselves"

The scripture reads: Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

God gave us His Word. We are headed for disaster if we think we can live our lives - never opening our Bibles, and expect good outcomes. The power of God [Holy Spirit] is given to us as we feast on His Word. They are life; and when we eat of it, that becomes our life!

Opinion 1:25 "Grace upon grace - Gift upon gift" - taken from John 1:16

John 1:16 ESV reads - And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

John 1:16 in The Message reads - We all live off his generous abundance, gift after gift after gift.

John 1:16 in the Authorized KJV reads - And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 

Grace for grace; the for means to that we are affected by it - not that it is multiplied to us. I suggest you exercise caution when using other Bible versions other than the King James Version; a great deal of apostacy (false teaching & interpretation) is because of these versions. 

Opinion 1:26 "You will be blessed and highly favored."

It is assumed that Paul wrote this to the churches based on Philippians 4:10-23 however, these specific words were never actually spoken by Paul.

Opinion 1:27 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus - Romans 8:1" (straight out of the NIV)

The unadulterated King James Version reads: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Opinion 1:28 "Your Best Life is Now"

This is popular amongst Joel Osteen fans. Be careful when it comes to apostate leaders; their ideology leads you AWAY from the TRUTH! These ideas are 100% Antichrist! The scripture says in Psalm 39:5 "Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity." Selah.

Opinion 1:29 "Good Deeds Gets You To Heaven"

The Bible says in Revelation 3:2 “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” 

Opinion 1:30 "1 Chronicles 12:18 in the NIV reads: Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands."

The King James Version reads; 1 Chronicles 12:18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

We need to be careful especially when it comes to Bible translations; much Scripture has been taken out of content - leading people away from the truth.

If you have been carried off by inaccurate opinions and versions of Scripture, you will know because you will end up frustrated that your expectations have failed you. If this speaks to you, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you back into His Truth today.

If you know of other opinions that are (mis)taken as Scripture, feel free to share them with me. Thank you in advance :-)

God Bless,

Maria