Importance of Understanding Biblical Texts

From the Mecca of . .

Show 16L Super-Duper Importance

Taped January 17th 2021

Aired January 19th 2021

Okay, along the road of showing New Ways to understand traditional biblical interpretations I realized (by way of our verse by verseTGNN’s Bible teaching series—book-by-book, through the lens of fulfillment and spiritual liberty. study of Romans) that there is a super-duper important area of study and knowledge that many believers today do not realize. Understanding it is KEY to understanding the faith today. So, let me build my case and I sincerely pray this information will seep in and help you trust in what the Bible actually says and “not” . . . what men say it says.

Old and New Testament Distinction

The Bible is not composed of an Old Testament and a New Testament. The Bible consists of the Tanakh (or what Christians call the Old Testament) and what should be seen as the apostolic record (which is what Tertullian decided to name the New Testament).

Why is this distinction important? Because God describes His New Testament as the time when He would write his laws on the hearts and minds of those who are his, and not as a set of gospels, letters and revelations gathered up into a collection of written demands. Speaking directly to this, God said through Jeremiah

Jeremiah 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Paul even said the following which supports this view (if you will let it) and speaking of God said in 2nd Corinthians 3:6

“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

Differences in Transmission

Tonight, I want to fortify this position by detailing, in brief, the differences between the Old Testament and the Apostolic writings that we use to instruct us, inform us and lead us when we read the words by the Spirit. In Romans chapter 3:1 Paul writes:

Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

And in verse 2 he responds, saying

2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them (the Jews) were committed the oracles of God.

Above anything and everything else, Paul says the principal benefit of being a Jew is they produced, processed and possessed the sacred Scriptures, or what Paul calls the “Oracles of God.” The word translated to oracles here is log-ee-on in the Greek and it means that they were entrusted with the “utterances” of God.

Now, when it comes to manuscript evidence, the Apostolic Record has hundreds of times more evidence than the Old. This is something to talk about in a minute. But there is a reason for this. Critics (who like to challenge the reliability of the Bible) have pointed out that the oldest version of the Old Testament is less than 1,500 years old. That’s not too old when we consider the story goes back some 4500 years. The critics point is that after centuries of copies upon copies, errors HAD to have crept in, right? But Israel's profound reverence of God's utterances brought about the creation of a copying system which is nothing short of astounding!

Copying Procedures

The Levites created the system of making new copies (of the Old Covenant) as old copies wore out and (listen) once they were worn out, they were destroyed which is why there is so little mss evidence for the Old Testament around today. This is one significant difference between the transmission of the Old Testament and the Apostolic record. Also, knowing it would be easy for men to make a mistake in copying a new transcript, the Nation of Israel developed what I see as a very tedious process. For example, when a person was making a new text, he had to copy the original page with such exactness that the number of words on the copy page could not be changed. If the original page had 288 words, then the page being copied had to have the same 288 words.

The Precision in Transcribing the Old Testament

Scribes ensured accuracy by matching the format of each line with the original document. If the first line had nine words, the copy needed to have exactly nine words. The number of letters on a copied page was meticulously counted and compared with the original. Additionally, the center word was checked for consistency between the pages, ensuring precise replication. Scribes focused on transcribing letter by letter, not by paragraphs, sentences, or even words.

According to Davidson in his book, The Hebrew Text of the Old Testament: "A synagogue roll [remember that they did not have paper as we do today] must be written on the skins of clean animals, the length of each column must not extend less than 48 or more than 80 lines; the breadth must consist of 30 letters. No word or letter, not even a yod, must be written from memory… Between every consonant the space of a hair or thread must intervene, between every book three lines. Besides this, the copyist must sit in full Jewish dress, and wash his whole body" (The Hebrew Text of the Old Testament, Davidson). Additionally, the sinews connecting the pages had to be of clean animals too. When each page of the whole book was finished, a separate person would count the number of phrases in entire book and compare it to the new version. If ANY of these were off, any, the whole new version was tossed . . . and the scribe started over.

Safeguards Employed by Scribes

These are just a few examples of the great detail that went into ensuring the accuracy of the Scriptures of the Tanakh, or the totality of what we call the Old Testament. But there were many other steps taken in the process. Bible scholar Bullinger described the additional safeguards this way: “The scribes would "fence” the Scriptures because it locked all words and letters in their places… They would then record the number of times several letters would reoccur in the books; the number of words, the middle word; the number of verses, and the middle verse; the number of expressions and combinations of words, etc… All this (Bullard says) for the set purpose of safeguarding the Sacred Text, and preventing the loss or misplacement of a single letter or word" (Bullinger's Companion Bible). Because of all of this these men had no worry whatsoever that there might have been an error.

It was Ezra, assisted by the priests and Levites of the Great Assembly or Synagogue, who completed the final editing and canonization of the Old Testament Scriptures in the late fifth century B.C. (or about 400 to 500 years before Christ). By the time Jesus was born, the content of the Old Testament had been established for some four to five hundred years.

Preservation and Accuracy of the Old Testament

Has the Old Testament been accurately preserved for us today? ABSOLUTELY! Noted Bible scholar Jack Finegan said, "It has been… estimated that there are …variations in hardly more than a 1000th part, of the text." This means the Old Testament is at least 99.9% true to the original! And the challenges against it have proven faulty over the years. The Dead Sea Scrolls have supported this. For the most part, when the Apostles refer to the scriptures or to the Word of God, they are speaking almost entirely of the Old Testament or Tanakh.

When Paul says that Timothy in 2nd Timothy 3:15 “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.” He was speaking only of and specifically of the Old Testament. So, take all of that in. Let it germinate in your mind. The true Old Testament was preserved and presented through an elaborate system of transcription. God led the Nation to copy his words this way and through it they produced what Paul calls the scripture, and which Timothy, from a youth, knew, and this knowledge of those scriptures, Paul said, made Timothy “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” We also know that God himself referred to His New Covenant or Testament as being the time when He would directly WRITE His laws on believers' hearts and minds. Finally, we realize that it is a misnomer to refer to the Apostolic Writings as the New Testament – and this is supported by the fact.

Apostolic Record and the Spirit

Paul said, referring to God, that he had made them: “able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” Now, to fortify what I am saying even more, ask yourself – “what method did God institute for the transmission of the Apostolic record’s contents?” Was there a gaggle of scribes especially “anointed” to copy those gospels and letters? Did they have the safeguards in place to avoid error and/or manipulations like the Jews had in place? Did they toss the old copies away like the Jews did when they made new ones? What does it say about the purpose and place of the Apostolic Record if the response to all of those questions is no, no, no, no? It tells us several super-duper important things – if you are willing to hear them.

The Role of the Spirit

First, it tells us that post Pentecost, the Spirit was moving on and upon individual believers as God was writing on their hearts and minds. This appears to have led him to allow men to write and copy and do as they wanted and wished with the inspired words the Apostles penned – which is why we have so many copies, variants within the copies, and pseudepigraphal submissions too. The words and letters were NEVER supposed to become a new lawful canon. They were to be used to teach and instruct, but the ways of the Spirit were to override when differences cropped up. This is so contrary to the idea of sola scriptora that was concocted by men in the sixteenth century. Another difference is that unlike the Old Testament, which was composed when the Holy Spirit rested upon a writer, the New Testament Gospels were composed after the fact – decades later – which I do not mention to denigrate their trustworthiness, but to show that the import of word perfectness was not absolutely necessary (since God writes His laws on our hearts and minds in His real New Testament).

Apostolic Writings vs. Law

You ought to know by now that I adore the Apostolic writings, and trust that they are able to correct, guide, lead and instruct. But only by the Spirit. And they are NOT our Law as believers. His words written in our minds and hearts are our law. And those words ALWAYS lead to agape loveSelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty.. In the Former Old Covenant, which was by the letter of the Law, it was imperative for the transmission of the text to be exact and protected. In the New Covenant, where (AGAIN) God writes his laws on the hearts and minds of believers, and where the letter kills, the Apostolic Record is a gift, and a historical tool, that based on the way it came about (as compared to the Old) ought to seen as such, and NOT a New Testament of Letters to obey or a compilation of demanded practices. The Record is a collection of writings, inspired and not, that assist all seekers of the Living God and His Son, in knowing them and their ways more deeply. The writings become a personal map for all who are lead by the Spirit, and are absolutely in an entirely different category of Holy Writ from its predecessor, the Tanakh.

I agree with Roman 10:17 regarding the import of God’s Word today when Paul wrote:

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

I also attest to Ephesians 6:17 which calls the Word of God the, “Sword of the Spirit” and directly ties it to the workings of the Holy Spirit within us.

I admit and trust that by the Spirit, and citing Hebrews 4:12, that

“ . . . the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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.”

But we have gotten it all wrong, as believers, when we call it God’s New Testament, when we appeal to it as Law, or see it as a code of Law for doing church.

Most importantly, we have made and continue to make the egregious error when we take these letters and use them to attack, divide, dismiss or pummel others to deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. with them.

That was what the words of the former covenant did.

CS Lewis said something profound which I personally see as true and in harmony with all of this.

Understanding the True Word of God

It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true word of God. The Bible, read in the right spirit and with the guidance of good teachers, will bring us to Him. We must not use the Bible as a sort of encyclopedia out of which texts can be taken for use as weapons. I don’t think what I say and promote will ever be universally embraced. I am fairly certain that those zealous folks out there who insist on appealing to the Apostolic Record as Law will reject this and continue to use the sacred text to kill, maim, hate, and divide. But what God writes in the hearts of those who are His stands directly opposite of such attitudes. We can only love the literalists, the dogmatists, the separatists, and the attackers who use the Good book badly. I personally feel that most Reformed Theology goes a long way to push otherwise devoted people into such ways and means, which I also view as entirely unfortunate. But along the way, and in love, those with eyes to see and ears to hear will rise above the din and cacophony of religious rhetoric – and the Law written, and will choose to love, love, love.

Importance of Spiritual Nourishment

Spiritually, both the Tanakh and the Apostolic Record is no more required to read, search, study and hear by the spirit than it is mandatory for a human to physically drink water. But lack of either will bring people to the same end – state of physical or spiritual dehydration. Show me a Christian who chooses to read and hear the Word taught and I will show you a Christian who deals with life’s trials and successes with an inner-strength not found anyplace else in this world. Conversely, show me a believer who chooses to refrain from being in or hearing the Word and I will give you a person who is constantly tossed to and fro by the trials, tests, and temptations of life. I applaud this audience for seeking Him, in spirit and truth, through a contextual study of His Word by the Spirit.

Letting the Fruit of the Spirit Lead

I am as blessed and pleased to offer up its contents to you and see myself as a man operating an open free cool water stand in death valley. But let’s apply what is read appropriately. Which is letting the Fruit of the Spirit always take the lead – which is love. And with all of that, let’s go to your comments from our abundance of shows on YouTube!

Talking to Mormons • 15 hours ago
As I've gotten to know Justin, I admire his authenticity and hunger to follow the Lord and to learn truth. Great interview. I hope it inspires others who struggle with addiction to know there is peace and joy found in the liberty of Christ. Praise God!

Time with Justin Nielson

Angel Maria • 1 day ago
Absolutely!
REPLY0 replies

Washing of the Mind

Lori Neilson
A good tool indeed.! I have skipped around the Bible the last few years. But at the beginning of this year my church came out with a chapter a day starting in Matthew for the entire year I can’t remember where it ends at. But reading a chapter or two a day has really helped me stay in the Word of God. And to remember that he wants me to know him.

Washing of the Mind

Chance Chopp • 2 days ago
Maybe I'm too stupid.
REPLY0 replies

[13L NBP-4] Last Day – Last Hour – At Hand – Part 4

ExJW Born-in
Shawn, sorry I spelled your name wrong (Sean) on my Patreon monthly support message! Great interview with Justin! ??

Time with Justin Nielson

Robbie Carrier • 3 days ago
Please start a rumble video channel
REPLY0 replies

Live Spirits in the World 43b

Robbie Carrier • 3 days ago
Hahaha dude! That’s awesome! The rules on a resurrected being! It’s so simple it’s hilarious yet hugely profound

Live Spirits in the World 43b

Robbie Carrier • 3 days ago
My view is that if the founding of your doctrine is based on the words of a murderer then most likely your theology is majorly in error. i.e. Roman Catholicism, Luther, Calvin and pretty much every other “church father” they’re all murderers ??? if you have to kill your opponents or those you call “heretics” then your message probably sucks….love the show!

Forced Faith

Michel Chalon Chaplon scammer • 3 days ago
Shawn is wrong . Mormonism is a cult . Mormons are not Christian . They do not love . They love money and themselves .
REPLY0 replies

A Revised Assessment of Mormonism (14L)

Stephanie Smith • 4 days ago
Thankyou for sharing Justin! So much truth.

Time with Justin Nielson

richard neumann • 4 days ago
??
Time

Time with Justin Nielson

Seth Frazer
• 4 days ago
Shawn needs to rethink his views of the Sacrament Baptism…where we LITERALLY invoke the Holy Trinity and God truly puts His Name on a person.

Ep 16 – James White and Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion. – HOTM 2.0

Ruth Smart
• 4 days ago
Thank you Justin! XOXOXO

Critical Reflections on Mormonism

Marc Vincent
• 4 days ago
I got a sick and uneasy feeling going through the mormon temple for the first time. It didn't seem right, I had an evil feeling about all the signs and handshake crap, masonic rituals. I can't believe people, smart people don't research and don't know their religion and buy into all the b.s. Shawn should do a show on the corporation of the mormon church and the 100 billion they are worth on top of the 7-8 billion collected from members each year in tithing. Go to the article in the wall street journal if interested.

Marc Vincent
• 4 days ago
He can get those records unsealed nowadays. It much easier. I am appreciative of my adoptive parents but on the other hand they were absentee parents and mormon. I didn't pick them as my parents and I could have been adopted by another couple and maybe been a better person in a home where my emotional needs were taken care of which they weren't and wouldn't have been raised in mormonism, which I terribly regret and am flushing out all that crap I was taught by that cult. My natural mother is a wonderful human being and has great attributes that I wish I had more of if I could have been raised with her. I totally understand why she gave me up, it was the best decision for her and me. She had no support and a flaky guy that didn't stay around.

Viewer Interactions and Observations

Laura Odle
• 5 days ago
Listened to this a while back. Excellent!

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Matteo Semaj
• 5 days ago
2:44 Beautiful love u

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Alamo James
Awesome! I’ll be buying
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J B
• 5 days ago
Thank you!
Knife to a Gun Fight – A Quick Shameless Plug

Sandra Balance
• 5 days ago
I love your show!
Forced Faith

Nameless2all
• 6 days ago
Five or six replies. All cryptic.
Where In The Bible Does It Say No More Prophets?

James Rosano
Why can’t Matt prove Christianity wrong
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Angel Maria
So…….no hell fire preaching!? Lol
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Tony Dardi
What a train wreck
Episode 431: Pastor Jason Wallace Confronts Shawn McCraney

John Humble
• 1 week ago (edited)
Free agency !!! They can try to spin that one but it’s a fact !!! We are free to choose in this life ! In fact Christ says – draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you !!!! The gospel of Jesus Christ is a choice !!
Forced Faith

Learning Peace
• 1 week ago
Good video! Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it Thanks for the visit
Forced Faith

Trey Tomeny
• 1 week ago
Every video I watch is more evidence that you have the mind of Christ. I stand amazed. This graph makes so much sense.
Choose Your Retirement Plan {14s}

Trey Tomeny
• 1 week ago
You are brilliant! You get right to the "heart of the matter". I'm sending this out to a friend who is a highly influential Protestant pastor who has reached the same conclusions after starting out in Calvinism years ago.
Forced Faith

Chance Chopp
• 1 week ago (edited)
Careful, can't talk about fraud on youtube anymore. Lol Jesus bless sean
A Revised Assessment of Mormonism (14L)

Lanigame
Will you accept an invitation to my house for dinner and speak with my wife? She just won’t give up her Mormonism.
Going back to Mormonism – August 2019

Chance Chopp
• 1 week ago
Thanks for putting this out there. Been following you for many many many years and yes I always found the aspect of Calvinism to be intuitively wrong. Because it gives that boasting element to people who might think that they are chosen and others are not and from there just naturally look down on others which is not the Christ likeness that I have come to understand. Of course I could be very wrong also. But under calvinism it would seem a bit of a broken idea that God essentially chose the fall of man if he would so easily remove free will from us now. Which to me sounds suspect. I think that the spirit is far more organic and understanding and willing to accept people and their choices than a more fundamental Christian type would simply because we don't have that all knowing capacity.

Faith and Belief Discussions

I donno man. I tend to stay away from the types that are certain of who is going where. If it was a matter of no choice why then are we told to ask for Jesus. Seems very suspect to me is all. Yet I can pray for dreams and I get them, and healing, and even the weather on a few occasions. But who goes where and when isn't something I concern myself with, that's not even my domain nor could I ever know. It is a trap to think you can be certain of those things. I've always understood if you tell someone their going to hell you simply endanger yourself of that same fate. Forced Faith

Clarence Nelson • 1 week ago We do make choices all the time, but those choices have a cause, they are not uncaused choices, Shawn. And we don’t choose God, rather He chooses us. Some are chosen in this age but God will eventually choose ALL in his own time period, in accordance with Scripture (Timothy 2:4–6). John 6:44 tells us: “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” Strong’s # G1670 Greek: to drag (literally or figuratively):- draw Forced Faith

Views on Salvation

Eli Sheets • 1 week ago I don't know man I'm about 50/50 on it. I feel like it is two people looking at the same hill from opposite directions. I think both Calvanism and Arminianism are correct. Now what I said was either the dumbest thing you've ever heard or you just had an epiphany. Forced Faith

James Lloyd What Joseph Smith "restored" was the Old Covenant of the law – what you can eat, wear, temple rituals, and priesthood that claims you have to go through them to be saved. Paul clearly states that the law was death. As a former Mormon, who is born again through Christ, I would never go back. To be in good standing, you give your daily life to trying to serve the church and that takes you away from serving God. A Revised Assessment of Mormonism (14L)

germanslice • 1 week ago (edited) You had failed to understand the gospel. Times of the Restitution of All Things. Charity is all about service to others, serving your fellowman, and ministering to their needs through following the Spirit. Doing the same things Jesus himself did when he was led by the Spirit. How do you expect to live in heaven and inherit the Kingdom Where God is if you're not willing to live the laws of heaven, to live his kind of lifestyle. How can you exercise faith in the savior without keeping his Father's Commandments to show that faith? To be a doer of the word and not a hearer only. This is what God has to say to all the apostates of the Church: "Your words have been stout against me saith the Lord. Wherein have we ought against thee? Ye have said. ''It is vain to serve God and what profit it us to keep these ordinances and to walk mournfully before the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 3) So the Lord God already knows the hearts and minds of those who left the LDS Church and criticize it.

LDS Doctrine and Criticism

John Humble • 1 week ago Wrong And by the way everyone quotes Paul But this isn’t Paul’s Church or doctrine, it’s Jesus Christ’s!!!!

germanslice • 1 week ago (edited) God the Father knows everything going on in this world of what's going on in the hearts and minds of his own children. That's why God told us what their thoughts and intentions of their hearts are of those particular group who like to argue with God so God simply revealed their attitude through the prophet Malachi. Those who continually fight against Zion.

Siri M • 1 week ago I don’t quite understand the current anti-church Christian movement, but each to their own. Thank you for the kind words. I attend the LDS Church for its doctrine and what I believe is true. I don’t always feel all those perks that you list, but I do appreciate things such as the approach to doctrine and the abundance of resources available. I think I disagree with your take that the Bible was all for their own day. There are some limitations and context is important. I believe that’s why we have more scripture today

Maxwell Silverhammer • 1 week ago Counterfeit money can still be spent; it has no worth but it is designed to appear authentic.

A

Revised Assessment of Mormon Beliefs

Uzi Kalashnikov
• 1 week ago
I think it's stupid to bug folks when the secular country is still having riots about racism.

Mormons Get Annoyed When You Bring Up Their Church History

Joan Lantis
• 1 week ago
I used to have Christian radio on during the day to keep me company. I can't listen to it hardly at all anymore because of their call to open churches and go maskless. I feel like you, Shawn, how selfish this is. Also, the whole Christian cult of Trump ettes. What the hey? I just don't get it. I feel like I'm in an episode of the twilight zone.

Religious Perspectives

Joan Lantis
• 1 week ago (edited)
I'm 59 yrs old, raised in mormondome. I feel like I've seen everything change from the b o m, to who can say a prayer in sacrament, to the time we go to church meetings, to the word of wisdom and on and on. The only thing that hasn't changed is, of course, their belief in polygamy. These men love the idea of polygamy. I think the church would dissolve, because the men would resign, if they didn't have the hope of polygamy. Thoughts?

Religious Manipulations 37b

GRACE ambassador
A Revised Assessment of Mormonism (14L)

People of the Free Gift
• 1 week ago
Replying back as you requested. When a person says, “know the lord” would they be talking with a believer or unbeliever? It seems unnecessary for one believer to say to another believer “know the lord.” So I do believe Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel and the other prophets foretold a day in which Jesus will literally rule and reign on the earth and all will know him. Please continue explaining why you believe this is written to believers about believers and why all only means some.

Testimony and Belief

A Revised Assessment of Mormonism (14L)

Back and forth with this comment with a man named German Splice.

@Shawn McCraney It's not my personal view, It's not an Opinion, it's not a Belief, it's knowledge of God. You have a belief in God and you have a hope in God and you have your own viewpoint on God, but I have got knowledge on God. So I am beyond just believing that God lives or hoping that God exists. For I KNOW God lives. So having a knowledge of God is not just a belief. It was all explained in Alma Chapter 32 how Faith grows from a small little seed from belief and hope into a great tree… That is why I can say I KNOW that the LDS Church is the TRUE and LIVING Church on the Face of this Earth and that those two divine beings the Father and the Son are leading the leaders in that church. This is why their wisdom excels above all that of the world's, just like with Solomon of old. And that Zion's light will continue to grow more brighter and brighter and brighter as the day of the Second ComingChrist’s return, fulfilled in 70 A.D., ending the old covenant—not the world. gets more closer. Because I have got a knowledge of God. There's a difference between having a faith and a belief and hope in God and believing that he exists and hoping that he exists than having a knowledge of God and knowing. A testimony is not just about only hoping or believing that God lives, but is coming to KNOW that God Lives and that Jesus is the Christ. That's why you have members who say I believe, and other members who say I KNOW because they are in different stages of growth in their testimony.

Shawn McCraney
• 1 week ago
@germanslice yeah, I know that you know.

Mormonism Insights

Helen Waite
• 1 week ago
If you choose to proceed, you will be REQUIRED to take upon yourselves, sacred OBLIGATIONS, the VIOLATION of which will bring upon yourself the JUDGMENT of God. That mark on the right… a constant reminder of EXACTNESS and HONOR in keeping the covenants entered into this day. Revealed directly from God to the Prophet of the Restoration, in the English Language. (No translation or cultural issues.) These words have been sustained by every priesthood holding member, every Leader, every Apostle, and every Prophet and improved by revelation to an approved Prophet. REQUIRED, OBLIGATIONS, JUDGMENT, and guilt and failure is 100% CERTAIN.

A Revised Assessment of Mormonism (14L)

Trey Tomeny
• 1 week ago
I love you Shawn. And I love the LDS Church. And I love many, many churches everywhere. Perhaps there are many churches as God loves every individual and meets all right where they are. He cares little about what we believe, but is completely concerned with what we

Understanding Faith and Eschatology Perspectives

do, do we love on another? I can learn a lot from you, and maybe you can learn a bit from me. I live in Christ and Christ lives in me. Are you having live church services now? I can't wait to meet you in person. You are a great and beautiful light in this dark world.

A Revised Assessment of Mormonism

AJ The Oklahoma Guru

• 1 week ago
I just loved your video. I am a Latter Day Saint, and have watched you sparingly over the years. I would watch your videos when the LDS people would call in, I just could not watch them, because the ones I watched you would destroy their reasoning, and I more angered by their comments than your answers by far. I do not agree with your interpretation of the Bible when it comes to Christ reign upon the earth but you do have a great message. Here is a question? Jesus came in the flesh, then He dies then He comes to Mary and then He goes to the Father, and then He comes to the Apostles, I could go on and add to this list, but the reality is, He has returned on several occasions.

Benjamin Colson

• 1 week ago
If your only hang-up is eschatologyStudy of “last things”—TGNN teaches all biblical eschatology was fulfilled in 70 A.D. More, become a Christian, come to Christ, the only eternal God, in faith! While preterismThe belief that all biblical prophecy—especially “end times”—was fulfilled by 70 A.D. More is a good thing, this guy takes it way too far. Basically every Christian believes that Jesus is coming back bodily (Acts 1:9-11, Heb 9:24-28), even if you believe that all of Matthew 24 is fulfilled. So don't let this guy's strange eschatology hold you back from true Christianity, since the LDS teach a false gospel.

Charity and Repentance

germanslice

• 1 week ago (edited)
Pau;l taught that without having Charity ALL YOUR FAITH AND AL YOUR "TRUTH" MEANS NOTHING WITHOUT IT. If you don't have love for others and you are rude, and are insensitive and know the scriptures but despise and judge others. Then you have no charity. And are nothing before God but a tinking hollow cymbal. What Lack I yet? Is what all the Whites and the Aaron's should be saying to themselves…..Repentance is only acceptable before God in the Church if the walk with God causes the person to forsake their sins. That applies to the none-member who wants to join the Saints and also to the Saint in the Church. Paul didn't just teach ONLY NON-BELIEVERS about repentance, so repentance is not just a priinciple of the gospel for only the Non-Members of the Church. For Paul also taught BAPTIZED saints of the church that they still had to live the principle of repentance and keep the Commandments of God each day and endure to the end and that's exactly what Latter-day Saints do.. Because they are the Saints of Zion that God raised up in the last daysThe final years of the old covenant age—fulfilled in the first century, not future end times. to set as a standard for the world, for Zion is to stand as an Ensign to the world and as a light and beacon out to all the nations. Zion the outcast whom the Bible heathern world had rejected, God would raise up Zion as a light set upon a hill, and those that murmured shall learn doctrine (Isaiah Chapter 29). Paul even rebuked those saints who had backslidden back into their old ways of SinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. and warned them if they don't keep the Commandments and learn to walk in the Spirit before God (1 John) and ENDURE TO THE END then these baptized saints would not reach their goal of becoming like Christ and become wandering stars (JUDE). or Lukewarm (Rev) As Christ rebuked these Saints for being Lukewarm and slothful in the Commandments……So you do have to continue in Faith in Dilligence in keeping the commandments to overcome sin (1 John) otherwise if you believe in God by faith and are not being dilligent in the commandments and say you love God and judge or despise your fellowmen then your faith is in vain, your religion is in vain, and you are found to be a liar before God.. And what's more, the gospel teaches to develop Faith, Hope, Charity, Benevolence, Mercy, Love, temperance, Godliness, Holiness, Righteousness, Long-Suffering, Dilligence, Paitence, Kindness, Wisdom, Knowledge, Integrity, Honesty, , a whole slew of God-like Attributes that make up the character of God. That's why because of all these attributes that must be developed is why Latter-day saints teach Í'm trying to be like Jesus'' They mean what they say and practice.

Walking in the Footsteps of the Savior

Walking in the footsteps of the Savior to learn to become more like him, they walk their talk. What many Bible believers are doing these days is just spouting all off about the Bible instead of living the principles taught in the Bible and not walking in the footsteps of the Savior, but walking instead in their own way—getting too caught up in their own intellectual pursuits and judging others with the Bible instead of preparing themselves to meet the Lord when the Bridegroom comes. Isaiah also knew and talked about LDS Doctrines of the Afterlife and was speaking directly to all the latter-day saints in the last days who knew what heaven is like—a place of glory and fire—and also on the qualifications of heaven since Isaiah had been in heaven himself, so he would know it's a place of glory and fire. Isaiah knew about the Saints of Zion and so did Jeremiah, and Ezekiel and Daniel; they all spoke about them and the blessings they would receive from God in the last days. That's why God has prospered the latter-day saints for over 250 years.

Jude's Warning to the Saints

JUDE warned that baptized saints who turn back to sin, like a dog who returns back to its own vomit and does not continue their walk in Christ, are in danger of eternal judgment from God. So it's quite plain in the Church that the principle of repentance is a daily action, not a one-time event for saints of God. Otherwise, Jude would not be warning the saints of falling away from the day of grace and going down to perdition if they backslide into sin, since Jesus taught that the Father will save all with a degree of salvation "For in my Father's house are many mansions" except for those very few who sin against the Holy Ghost and go down to perdition. And that is why there are different grades in the resurrection and not just only one grade.

The Kingdom of God on Earth

The Kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future. is already on the earth, both in spiritual and material form, and that's the kingdom of Zion. And also, the temple will come down out of heaven to greet the Saints of God in the MillenniumA symbolic period of Christ’s reign—fulfilled by 70 A.D., not a future thousand-year timeline. More. So that's also more of God's kingdom being restored.

A Revised Assessment of Mormonism

Mormonism is a social club that you join in exchange for your soul. Price of admission is your eternal destiny. It’s a deal with the devil. And he will collect at the end of your life.

Legacy Wedding Entertainment DJ Service • 1 week ago That’s not exactly what mormons see it as but okay.

Dan Reich • 1 week ago @Legacy Wedding Entertainment DJ Service Well, no doubt. They are deceived.

germanslice • 1 week ago That's where you're wrong. The Covenant was made with God. God's lifestyle is totally different to the world's. That's why the church is different.

Klarity*11 • 1 week ago David Bokovoy is a great Bible Scholar that the LDS Church educated. He no longer believes and either is totally inactive or left the Church altogether. He was interviewed by John Dehlin on Mormon Stories.

germanslice • 1 week ago I don't care if hes the most learned scholar on this planet. he had no faith to endure.

Paul Nielson • 1 week ago Bokovoy in those videos clearly states he still believes Mormon scripture.

byronofcalgary • 1 week ago "I have zero interest in spending Eternity in Mormon Heaven's Basement Level… arguing with Jehovah's Witnesses… about who has to hold the bike and who gets to ring the bell."

John Humble • 1 week ago I doubt you know anything about the church if Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Your comment is arrogant and judge mental homeboy.

Religious Comparisons and Critiques

Klarity*11 • 1 week ago (edited) Meet Catholicism. Lots of structure and great buildings around the world. Great charity programs.

MAC The Knife • 11 hours ago Superb organization when it comes to protecting pedophiles.

Sarah Leann Young • 1 week ago What's in 4 weeks?! Tell me now!

Methuselah • 1 week ago How does one invest more than 52 weeks in a year?

truthseeker staats • 1 week ago I can see why the maker of this video left the LDS faith. :>)

Thoughts on Belief Systems

Ken Olson • 1 week ago No other religion on Earth has the temerity to sell Godhood for 10% of everything you have been blessed with either Sean.

not BANGERTV • 1 week ago There is no mormon god… Or Joseph Smith wasn't taking advantage of a foreign language.

Mashimo • 1 week ago Great response!!

Robbie Carrier • 1 week ago I spoke too soon! Shawn and James are both great in this and gets real good around 2:10.

Ep 16 – James White and Shawn McCraney – HOTM 2.0

Robbie Carrier • 1 week ago James white is a good man and seems very caring, true to what he believes and honest…with that said, he is just talking in circles and never actually answered the questions posed to him.

Robbie Carrier • 1 week ago This is too hilarious to pass up he def mean cuck not cock hahahaha!!!! But omg dead ??

Michael Carr • 1 week ago Not beinn proud or nuthin, but how does all you said of Rev. 20 and 21 fit for the Preterist.

Sarah Leann Young • 1 week ago On the other hand, I do talk in church too much, so maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing to shut me up. 😀

byronofcalgary • 1 week ago Born Again is a kid cutting the sick neighbors lawn… Religion is the kid doing it for money… not entirely fair… low blow on money But really about Love done freely as a Gift vs Obligation making it a Chore.

byronofcalgary • 1 week ago Shawn your archives are such a treat – defining Christianity for Mormons is still such essential insight for others. Highly recommended for any Bible Students. Today I had someone ask me what a Concordance was…. told her it was a cult buster.

Remorseless Cuck Slayer II • 1 week ago What woman running for president is he talking about?@27:55?

Braden Sorensen • 1 week ago (edited) I left because I recognized the fallacious reasoning the Church uses to convince members to stay. Truth doesn’t have to be “affirmed” on constant basis—I’m talking about Fast and Testimony Meeting.

People of the Free Gift • 1 week ago Reading church fathers in context is as important as reading scripture in context. Otherwise lds apologists can quote them as saying we become gods.

Main Teachings

Last Day – Last Hour – At Hand – Part 4

[13L NBP-4]

Sean Harracksingh
 • 1 week ago
Wait, im ok with everthing dude said, but he aint right for knocking the DogFather Snoop. Nah son, we here in the 313 dont play that. Detroit West Siiiieeede.
Mountain Meadows Massacre

roy brocklehurst
 • 1 week ago
I don't want to say anything that might hurt some of my Mormons friends but my wife and I was in the church for 16years.and my wife was never happy.however we left the church nearly 5years ago we never been so happier especially when we found out that there were things which we weren't told when we join the church.forgive me my Mormon friends but Joseph Smith was a false prophet.jesus said if any prophet made a prophecy that didn't come true then he was false and Joseph made at least 4 prophecy which never came true so it's speaks for itself.its not enough to say I believe in jesus.you have to believe in the right Jesus which is Jesus from the bible.my Mormons friends do what we did throw away yours book of mormon.and feast on the Bible.
Joseph Smith Was A False Prophet

Interpretation of Hebrews 8:11

People of the Free Gift
 • 1 week ago
Hebrews 8:11, quoting the Old Testament does not say, “nobody shall say know the Lord for all shall know him who are his” as Shawn stated. It says, “nobody shall say know the Lord, for all shall know him, from the least to the greatest.” Ask yourself if that is true. Ask yourself why Shawn is intentionally inserting “who are is” in order for it to be believable that this has already taken place.