RED LETTER EDITION OF THE BIBLE
Some wrongly believe that the only scriptures binding upon all today are those printed in red, and that they are the only words spoken by Jesus. However, they fail to realize that the words in black print are also inspired of God. Paul wrote, “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, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; 1 Corinthians 2). Peter wrote, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:20, 21). Thus, every word the Holy Spirit moved the writers to record is equal in value. A great example of this is found in the book of Revelation, where John says the words he is writing are, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him,….” (Revelation 1:1). With these few thoughts clearly implanted in our minds, please read the words in red and black letters to see the harmony (same teaching, 1 Corinthians 1:10) between the two with regard to what one must do to be saved.
Mark 12:29, “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: that is the first commandment.”
John 8:24, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
Luke 13:3, 5, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Matthew 10:32, 33, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
John 3:3, 5, Jesus answered and said unto him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Read verse 23 to see that water, and how much water, was necessary to do what Jesus has said.
Mark 16:15, 16, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Notice that the conjunction, “and”, ties belief to baptism.
Now, notice how the words written in black perfectly harmonize with those written in red.
Romans 10:13, 14, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Heard. Hear
Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Faith
Acts 17:30, 31, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now he commandeth all men everywhere to repent. Because he hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” Repent
2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Repentance
Romans 10:9, 10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Confess
1 Peter 3:20, 21, “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:….” Baptism
Galatians 3:26, 27, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptized into Christ
Acts 8:37-39a, “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water,….”
Down into/up out of the water
Romans 6:1-5, 17, 18, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Baptized into Jesus Christ—Buried–Into His death (blood)–Freed when obeyed
Beloved, the Bible does not contradict itself. It is all the saving word of God. (James 1:18, 21). Jesus and the other writers are in agreement. This can clearly be seen herein. Obey all of it, and Jesus will save you. (Hebrews 5:9).
It Is Written 