Not or Now?

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Changing a single letter of a word can create a statement that directly contradicts the writer’s intended expression. To misspell not as now well illustrates this fact. It is bad enough to unwittingly make such an error in a word relating to the Scriptures. It is manifestly worse when one intentionally makes such substitutions, as illustrated in the following:

• “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Mat. 7:21). Jesus spoke these words near the end of His Sermon on the Mount. Perhaps 99% of Protestant churches change not to now in their salvation-by-faith-only doctrine. Belief will not save apart from obedience to the Lord.
• “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord” (Mat. 10:24). Jesus spoke these words to his newly appointed apostles, warning them that, as He was persecuted, so they would be, also. Many seem to believe this should read, “A disciple is now above his teacher,” in thinking they should not have to suffer any opposition or persecution for the One who suffered ultimately for them. Many others elevate themselves above the Lord by doing things in religion that please themselves rather than Jesus. All such will be lost when they stand before Him in Judgment (2 Cor. 5:10).
• “It is not lawful for you to have her” (Mat. 14:4). John the immerser thus condemned the adulterous marriage of King Herod, for which the prophet died. Multitudes have swapped the inspired not for a popular and self-serving now. Civil courts did so in the 1960s with their “no-fault” divorce decrees. For years, few who stand in pulpits have dared to preach faithfully Jesus’ law on divorce and remarriage, failing to warn millions of couples living in adultery—and lost (1 Cor. 6:9–11).
• “But be not ye called Rabbi” (Mat. 23:8a). In this proscription, Jesus not only condemned the use of one particular title, but by implication, the use of religious titles altogether. From the wide assortment of titles modern religious leaders have applied to themselves (e.g., Rev., Right Rev., Bishop, Arch-bishop, Cardinal, Pope, Monsignor, Father [specifically forbidden, v. 9], Mother Superior, et al.), one would think the Lord said, “But be ye now called Rabbi.”
• “For I am not ashamed of the gospel” (Rom. 1:16a). Paul proved the sincerity of this statement by his sufferings for the Gospel. “I am now ashamed of the Gospel” seems now to describe most men, including many professed believers.

Men tamper with Holy Writ at their own eternal peril.

[Note: I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, Denton, TX, August 31, 2012.]

Attribution: From TheScripturecache.com, owned and administered by Dub McClish.