It is well known that some Bible translations of the original inspired principles for life are not accurate in their interpretation of the original teachings. But should one use this awareness as a reason and excuse to lean on one's own understandings? (Prov 3:5,6); understandings from an imperfect life full of past errors, especially if they have taught a desire for minimum effort as to self-improvement?

The New World Translation teaches to benefit where it says: "And quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Rom 12:2). In the Moffatt Translation it says: "Instead of being moulded to this world, have your mind renewed and so be transformed in nature, able to make out what is good and acceptable to Him and perfect." (Rom 12:2 Mo). By combining these two differently worded scriptures we obtain more understanding, not less, of the first requirement of God. Now if you read a spurious translation, you can immediately identify an error by the following means: Firstly, through use. For, "everyone that partakes of milk is unacquainted with the Word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong." (Hebrews 5:13,14 NWT). Also, by meditation, measuring oneself with the written Word of God, along with many supplications to Him. Through these things you will be able to "distinguish both right and wrong." For through the use of your own will you are only, and will remain only, a babe. It is written: "Foolishness is tied up with the heart of a boy; the rod of discipline is what will remove it far from him." (Prov 22:15).

But one may reason: 'What of a man old in years who is still a babe as to righteousness? What discipline can be administered for him?' It says in 1 Peter 4:1,2: "Therefore since Christ suffered in the flesh, you too arm yourselves with the same mental disposition; because the person that has suffered in the flesh, has desisted from sins, to the end that he may live the remainder of his time in the flesh, no more for the desires of men, but for God's will." (1 Peter 4:1,2).

A strange thing is often encountered among many people. They usually say they have faith, yet when speaking to them about the holy requirements of God, they do not understand, or do not believe most of what is written in the Holy Scriptures. Or again, they have no idea what the purpose of God is in connection with mankind.

THE PURPOSE OF GOD.

"And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers, with a view to the readjustment of the holy ones, for ministerial work, for the building up of the body of the Christ, until we attain to the oneness in the faith and in the accurate knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of stature that belongs to the fullness of the Christ; in order that we should no longer be babes".
                              (From Eph 4:11-16 NWT).

A DOER OF THE WORK.
"For man's wrath does not work out God's righteousness. Hence put away all filthiness and that superfluous thing, badness, and accept with mildness the implanting of the word which is able to save your souls. However, become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning. For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, this one is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, and off he goes and immediately forgets what sort of man he is. But he who peers into the perfect law that belongs to freedom and who persists in it, this man, because he has become, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, will be happy in his doing it." (From James 1:19-26 NWT).

Å BUT HE DID NOT GIVE US
     THE HYPOCRITICAL CLERGY.
     (See James 4:4).



Å BUT THROUGH THE CHRIST'S
     SUBJECTING OF YOU BY
     HOLY SPIRIT.

Å THEN GOD CAN GIVE GROWTH.



Å HE WHO LIKES TO HAVE HIS EARS
    "TICKLED" IS ONLY DECEIVING
    HIMSELF, AND IS NOT FREE IN HIS
    SPIRIT FOR A FUTURE LIFE OF
    PERFECTION. (See Rev 21:1-4).

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