Bibles for America Distributing Free study Bibles and Christian Books to Feed America http://biblesforamerica.org The Main Function of the Word of God <p>“All Christians know that the function of the Word of God is to reveal God to us. Although this is true, this is not its main function. The main function of the Bible is to impart God into us as life and as the nourishment of life. It is not only to give us knowledge about God and His love, but to impart God Himself into us. Whenever we read the Bible, we should not merely try to know or understand it, but take something of God’s essence into us just as we take our food. Then, like food, this substance will be assimilated into our very being.”</p> <p class='footer'>From Basic Elements of the Christian Life, vol. 3, by Witness Lee and Watchman Nee (mass-distribution ed., p. 34). Bibles for America gives this book away for free. You can <a href="http://biblesforamerica.org/order/" target="_blank">order your free copy here</a>. You can also <a href="http://www.mass.ministrybooks.org/Download.aspx" target="_blank">download a free PDF version here</a>.</p> <p><img src="/media/BECL3_small.jpg" style="width: auto;" alt="/media/BECL3_small.jpg"></p> Wed, 04 Mar 2015 02:00:00 +0000 http://biblesforamerica.org/the-main-function-of-the-word-of-god/ http://biblesforamerica.org/the-main-function-of-the-word-of-god/ What Is the Bible In Its Essence? <p><img src="/media/2_tim_3_16_small.gif" alt="2_tim_3_16_small.gif"></p> <p>We may not often think of the word <em>essence</em> in relation to the Bible, but the Word of God does have a particular essence. If we want to grow in Christ, it’s critical for us to know what that essence is. </p> Sun, 01 Mar 2015 14:00:00 +0000 http://biblesforamerica.org/what-the-bible-really-is-pt1/ http://biblesforamerica.org/what-the-bible-really-is-pt1/ The Grace of God <p class='verse-quote'>1 Corinthians 15:10—“But by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace unto me did not turn out to be in vain, but, on the contrary, I labored more abundantly than all of them, yet <strong>not I</strong> but the grace of God which is with me.”</p> <p class='verse-footnote'>Note 2 on <strong>not I</strong> says: “<em>Not I but the grace of God</em> equals <em>no longer I…but…Christ</em> in <a href="http://online.recoveryversion.org/bibleverses.asp?fvid=5957&lvid=5957" target="_blank">Gal. 2:20</a>. The grace that motivated the apostle and operated in him was not some matter or some thing but a living person, the resurrected Christ, the embodiment of God the Father who became the all-inclusive life-giving Spirit, who dwelt in the apostle as his everything.”</p> <p class='verse-quote'>Cross-reference “a” on <strong>grace</strong> directs us to these verses:</p> Wed, 25 Feb 2015 02:00:00 +0000 http://biblesforamerica.org/the-grace-of-god/ http://biblesforamerica.org/the-grace-of-god/ Can You Lose Your Salvation? [with video] <p>Can a Christian lose their salvation? Having the security of salvation is <a href="http://biblesforamerica.org/why-is-assurance-of-salvation-important/">critical to our growth as Christians</a>, yet many of us are plagued with the fear that we will somehow lose our salvation. Maybe we think God will someday change His mind about us and cause us to be “un-saved.” Or maybe we fear that if we disobey the Lord, our failure will cause us to lose our salvation. Whether from God’s side or our side, we just don’t know how secure our salvation really is.</p> <p>But one of the first things we should be clear about after we believe in Jesus Christ is that our salvation is eternally secure. We have an eternal salvation. <a href="http://biblesforamerica.org/can-i-lose-my-salvation/">We cannot lose it</a>, and it can never be taken away. How can we know this? Seven proofs in the Scriptures confirm this fact. </p> <p>The video below briefly covers these proofs from the Scriptures and shows how definite the Bible is: once you are saved, you are always saved, and you cannot lose your salvation. </p> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MkTV7GZJeoY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Mon, 23 Feb 2015 02:00:00 +0000 http://biblesforamerica.org/can-you-lose-your-salvation-with-video/ http://biblesforamerica.org/can-you-lose-your-salvation-with-video/ A Life Wholly Centered on Christ <p class='book-quote'>“As people who have been born of God and have Christ living within them, all Christians must be brought by the Lord’s mercy to the point where they are no longer wholly caught up in studying about Christ, doing something for Christ, or even serving Christ, but rather are in the reality of touching and experiencing Him in a living way day by day. Romans 5:10 testifies, ‘For if we, being enemies, were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more we will be saved in His life.’ This ‘much more’ must be more of Christ. A Christian’s initial salvation experience is indeed wonderful. He is now one who has been born of God, but ‘much more’ he is to be saved by the life of Christ. Every person who knows Christ as his Savior can and must be brought into this experience of ‘much more,’ which is entering into the fullness and reality of a life wholly centered on Christ—experiencing, touching, and enjoying Him moment by moment.”</p> <p class='footer'>From Basic Elements of the Christian Life, vol. 2, by Witness Lee and Watchman Nee (mass-distribution ed., p. 13). Bibles for America gives this book away for... Wed, 18 Feb 2015 02:00:00 +0000 http://biblesforamerica.org/a-life-wholly-centered-on-christ/ http://biblesforamerica.org/a-life-wholly-centered-on-christ/ Does God Have a Plan? <p><img src="/media/a_god_of_purpose_small.gif" alt="a_god_of_purpose_small.gif"></p> <p>When we’re little children, many times we play with our toys in a random way, exploring as we learn. But we have no grand scheme or purpose to our play. We simply make it up as we go. </p> <p>But can you imagine God doing something like that? Would the God who is wise, loving, and eternal create the universe without a purpose? Could He create human beings without a purpose?</p> Sun, 15 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000 http://biblesforamerica.org/does-god-have-a-plan/ http://biblesforamerica.org/does-god-have-a-plan/ God’s Masterpiece <p class='verse-quote'>Ephesians 2:10—“For we are His <strong>masterpiece</strong>, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand in order that we would walk in them.”</p> <p class='verse-footnote'>Note 1 on <strong>masterpiece</strong>: “The Greek word, <em>poiema</em>, means <em>something that has been made, a handiwork, or something that has been written or composed as a poem</em>. Not only a poetic writing may be considered a poem, but also any work of art that expresses the maker’s wisdom and design. We, the church, the masterpiece of God’s work, are a poem expressing God’s infinite wisdom and divine design.</p> Wed, 11 Feb 2015 02:00:00 +0000 http://biblesforamerica.org/gods-masterpiece/ http://biblesforamerica.org/gods-masterpiece/ The Bible’s Source—God or Man? <p><img src="/media/2_peter_1_21_final_small.gif" alt="2_peter_1_21_final_small.gif"></p> <p>Where did the Bible come from? Are its words simply religious lore, written down by people over the centuries? Are they the product of the thoughts and imaginations of men? Or is the Bible the inspired Word of God? Did God write the Bible? Or did men?</p> <p>Since our faith is based on this book, it’s crucial for us as Christians to know the source of the Bible.</p> Sun, 08 Feb 2015 16:00:00 +0000 http://biblesforamerica.org/bibles-source-god-or-man/ http://biblesforamerica.org/bibles-source-god-or-man/ God’s Full Salvation for Us <p class='book-quote'>“After regeneration, a believer needs to be baptized (<a href="http://online.recoveryversion.org/bibleverses.asp?fvid=1745&lvid=1745">Mark 16:16</a>). Then God begins the lifelong process of gradually spreading Himself as life from the believer’s spirit into his soul (<a href="http://online.recoveryversion.org/bibleverses.asp?fvid=6124&lvid=6124">Eph. 3:17</a>). This process, called transformation (<a href="http://online.recoveryversion.org/bibleverses.asp?fvid=5103&lvid=5103">Rom. 12:2</a>), requires human cooperation (<a href="http://online.recoveryversion.org/bibleverses.asp?fvid=6259&lvid=6259">Phil. 2:12</a>). The believer cooperates by allowing the Lord to spread into his soul until all his desires, thoughts, and decisions become one with those of Christ. Finally, at Christ’s return, God will fully saturate the believer’s body with His life. This is called glorification (<a href="http://online.recoveryversion.org/bibleverses.asp?fvid=6298&lvid=6298">Phil. 3:21</a>). Thus, instead of being empty and damaged in each part, this man is filled and saturated with the life of God. This is God’s full salvation! Such a man now expresses God, fulfilling God’s plan!”</p> <p class='footer'>From Basic Elements of the Christian Life, vol. 1, by Witness Lee and Watchman Nee (mass-distribution ed., p. 9). Bibles for America gives this book away for free. You can <a href="http://biblesforamerica.org/order/" target="_blank">order your free copy here</a>. You can also <a href="http://www.mass.ministrybooks.org/Download.aspx" target="_blank">download a free PDF version here</a>.</p> <p><img src="/media/BECL1_small.jpg" style="width: auto;" alt="BECL1_small.jpg"></p> Wed, 04 Feb 2015 02:00:00 +0000 http://biblesforamerica.org/gods-full-salvation-for-us/ http://biblesforamerica.org/gods-full-salvation-for-us/ Is Jesus in Your Boat <p><img src="/media/John_6_20_small.gif" alt="John_6_20_small.gif"></p> <p>Whether we’re unsaved, newly saved, or have been Christians for a long time, we all have the same basic need—Jesus. We may need to receive Him for the first time, or we may need to receive Him into a particular situation. In this gospel post, we’ll see how we can invite Jesus into our turbulent life.</p> Sun, 01 Feb 2015 20:05:00 +0000 http://biblesforamerica.org/is-jesus-in-your-boat/ http://biblesforamerica.org/is-jesus-in-your-boat/