Purpose
This journal offers various articles presenting the gospel, defending the Christian faith, and upholding New Testament Christianity.
Editor
The editor is Scott J Shifferd. Scott is a researcher and serves as an evangelist in Thomasville, GA. He has a B.A. in Biblical Studies (2004) and an M.A. in Biblical Studies (2017). Scott is a husband and father of four children. His email is: ScottJShifferd[at]gmail.com.
Why “Seeing God’s Breath”?
By “Seeing God’s Breath,” this journal recognizes the Scriptures as “the breath of God” from the Greek word theopneustos meaning “God’s breath” and often translated “inspired by God” in 2 Timothy 3:16. Christ’s Spirit revealed all truth through the Scriptures to make each person of God complete unto every good work (2 Tim 3:16–17). Here is the first article from 2007 and the basis for the title of this site: “A Defense of 2 Timothy 3:16 & 17.”
Beliefs
As Christians, we believe that God loves all and only Jesus Christ can give eternal life because He rose from the dead. For this reason, we make disciples by going to the world with gospel, baptizing believers, and teaching every repentant believer to observe all that Jesus commanded (Matt 28:19–20; Acts 2:38–47; 1 Cor 15:1–4). This is the mission of the churches of Christ.
The churches of Christ are non-denominational, independent, and autonomous churches with no hierarchy or head other than Christ. We believe in the triune God, the inerrancy and all-sufficiency of the Scriptures, and salvation by grace through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation by faith includes dying to the old self of sin, being buried with Christ in baptism, and rising to live in the newness life (Rom 6:4–6; Eph 2:4–6; Col 2:12–13). Salvation is the hope of the faithful bodily resurrecting as Christ rose from the dead (Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 15:53). We are merely Christians. If you want to know more about churches of Christ, please see this article: “Ten Characteristics Shared among Churches of Christ.”
The Breath of God 
Could you do one on tattoos & body piercings and what the bible says about them? I personally know people who would be interested in what the bible has to say on this subject.
That will take some study, but I think that I can start on that. Thanks for subject.
I was doing some searching about drawing near to God. Finding God when you seek for Him with your whole heart. I struggle with the feelings issue on a regular basis. Ive come to some realization that it is a problem because I am not doing the above. Im not seeking or drawing near to the Lord like I need to be. Thank you for your insight. Walking with the Lord is a daily choice. Not a one time conversion. But if we make the right choice everday, the Lord will honor our efforts. For He looks at our hearts, not at anything else.
It is encouraging to hear that I could help. Yes, we have to keep growing to stay close to God. I personally write these articles in teaching and reminding myself. God bless.
Scott,
To what extent are we “to draw closer to God through the scriptures?” I draw closer to God through His Spirit in me. Not trying to minimize the power of words but I believe that the words in the scriptures are intended to help us awaken to His Spirit within us ad then live according to His Spirit. If this is wrong then please show me where.
We draw closer to God by the Scriptures, which includes the Spirit speaking to us. When the Scriptures speak, the Spirit speaks (Acts 1:16, 28:25-27, Heb. 3:7-11, 10:15-16). Unless we are an Apostles of Christ or one who had their hands laid on us making us a prophets, we do not receive direct revelation, but receive revelation like everyone else through the Scriptures (Acts 8:14-17, Eph. 3:3-5).
Do not forget that Christ is in us and God in in us (Rom. 8:10, 1 John 3:24, 4:16), and we are in the Spirit and we are to abide in Christ (John 15:4-10). Remember the command to be filled with Spirit in Ephesians 5:18 has a parallel in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John 8:31), and “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). Whatever spiritual life that we claim to have, a true spiritual life is in the words of Christ, which He gave to His Apostles (John 15:20, 17:8, Act 1:2) by His Spirit (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:12-13).
The Spirit is truly in us when “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (Rom. 8:5). This is how the Spirit transforms us (2 Cor. 3:18) and we renew our minds (Rom. 12:2).
Scott, please define the church of Christ. Don’t mean to be funny or contentious. I too believe that only those in Christ will be in Heaven. But there are still those who state that only those who attend a building with the church of Christ above the door are those saved. Yes, it is confusing. Many of the past and current doctrines produce more fruit like that of Colossians 2 than Galatians 5. It is totally antithetical to Matthew 7, Colossians 2 and James 4. I wish I could say I haven’t had first hand experience, but it is still occurring. I have to pretty much agree with Felix. Galatians 6 is not a verse to be taken lightly, yet that is exactly where many who raised many of us who right came from or are coming from. Want and need to grow closer to Christ and away from the Phariseeism and the soul damage it causes. Many of the addictions I’m still fighting, while of my own foolishness, have their roots in the self-righteous finger pointing I was taught.
Paul and John spoke against false teachers. We should also. Jealousy is a demonic influence and the basis of many doctrines taught in many groups including many of the churches of Christ. Hence the taboo against choirs, solos and many other new “laws”. We need to remember the exhortation that the Lord knows who are His. I too went to Church of Christ universities and have read much of the old standard writers. Hence I know of the danger of much of their writings in regards to judging one another and again I’ve seen the fruit. Sadly even in myself. I’ve also seen repentance. I thank God he helped me to see it. 1 Corinthians 6 and Revelation 21 give a pretty comprehensive list of those who will not enter the Kingdom. In Acts the apostles exhort Paul not to bind more than they presented. We claim to be the restored 1st century church? In a way we are. We still have to fight the Law in it’s old and new forms. We have to fight the isms of old. The names have changed but the enemy is the same. What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus. I appreciate the forum as we’ve lost in many cases that old striving for truth. We’re no longer the Bereans. But there is still too much opinion taught is place of the Blood. James 3 :1 is awesome.
I’m not quite following you on the new “laws” about choirs, etc. We should be very careful. Just be the Church. Yet, this means that focus on Christ and His words and life are the complete pattern. If the perfect and complete revelation of Christ’s Spirit teaches a specific definition of the Lord’s Supper, baptism, and His music in congregational singing, then we must keep it as such, but this is not to judge or to immediately withdraw from the immature or misguided churches. First, we must consider ourselves and whether we err in understand. Second, we must encourage others to repent and return to the completeness of Christ’s revelation. Third, we must withdraw from false teachers, elders, and even those brethren openly practicing sin (Rom. 16:17ff, 2 Thess. 3).
God bless.
I mean that the Church that Christ built (Matt. 16:18), the Church that Jesus bought with His blood (Acts 28:20). The church that has existed through the ages. Those who not only claim to believe in Jesus, but believe what He says by the act of obeying Him. The Church are those who immerse in faith for forgiveness of sins (Gal. 3:26-27, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Rom. 6:3-7) and those who meet on the Lord’s Day to partake of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:20, 33, Acts 20:7). The Church are those who love God and love their neighbor (Rom. 12-13), and these are those who disciples indeed by that they abide His word (John 8:31).
I really enjoy your posts-have you heard of William Branham?
Thank you. Not anymore than I have googled about Branham. Why?
Well, you are certainly on your way to the podium as a spokesman with Contending for the Faith, Firm Foundation, and the Spiritual Sword. I admire your strength, certainty, and fortitude. I, however, truly hope and pray that the grace that we all so easily speak about is sufficient to cover all of our interpretations, biases, histories, and lines in the sand – for you, me and others. I humbly but firmly believe that there is no one or any group who has the sole monopoly and proprietorship on what is absolute spiritual truth – the kind that really will set us free (John 8:32). Sadly – for many of us – God will not concern himself with whether I was more right than the next but, rather, he will ask if I was merciful and loving (I Cor 13:13) – first!. I fear that, for many of us, he will question us on our opinions and stances about sacrifice (acts and “core truths’) vs. mercy (humbleness and caring for others more than ourselves) (Heb 6:6, Matt 9:13; 12:7). If our lives and former actions answer these questions wrong – it won’t matter how “right” or “wrong” I have been. God is a dependable and honest judge. God will judge me as one who is as a Pharisee – “You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matt 23) Be well, sir. May we both strive to be humble, loving, patient, and worthy students of Scripture – but may we also both let God do the judging while we take care of his earthly domain in kind, loving, and passionate ways while we can. He loves us so, in an act of grace-gratitude, I love and give myself to and for others. Prayers. (I write this anonymously – I just can’t bring myself to reveal my identity at this time. In God’s good time, perhaps. Love you.)
Why do the Churches of Christ reject the biblical way of salvation? Why do they not allow women in leadership roles since the bible clearly teaches that women are to be elders, pastors, evangelists etc. Why do they reject musical instruments in worship since the New Testament clearly says we are to use them. I agree with them on rejecting Calvinism.
https://godsbreath.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/questions-for-churches-of-christ/
Dear mr.scott . i was very glad to read your article about greek words used for worship,,because i recently had a strong debate about worship with a jehova witness..he told true greek word for worship is latreuo and this word is used for jehova only and proskyneo means simply showing respect and thus he told in connection with god latreuo is used and in connection with jesus proskyneo is used in short he is telling bible does not give worship to jesus..but from your article i understood that correct greek word for worship is proskyneo..that means jesus is worthy of worship..thank you brother
Wow. I never thought of the application of these words in that way. Yes, this word-study would would defend the deity and worship of Jesus Christ especially in Revelation. Thank you for bringing this to my mind, because otherwise I cannot imagine such a profound thought coming to me. God bless you.
Jesus is worthy of respect but that does not mean he should be worshipped. He also did not want to be worshipped and he himself only worshipped his Father to whom he prayed often. (he did not pry to himself and did not ask himself why He had abandoned him.)
Jesus was worshiped and accepted worship (John 20:28, Rev. 5:9ff). Jesus is God come in the flesh (John 1:1-3, 14). God bought the Church with His blood (Acts 20:28). “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;” (Col. 2:9). “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”, (Isa. 9:6, cf. Psa. 2, 110).
Colossians 1:15-17 says about Jesus, “He is the image of the invisible God, the archborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
@Scott Shifferd Jr. mentions Thomas who talks about a god and does not speak about the God. Like the Pharao is called god and all high persons were called and still are called god or gods, they next to the heathen gods where called god, but I do hope you would not consider them (Apollo, Zeus, Madonna, Spears, Pen, Presly, Ali,a.o) to be really the God because they are called god and are worshipped by many people?
“Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28 ASV) Or, “with the blood of His own” pinpointing at the blood of Jesus, about whom God said this is my beloved son:
“21 Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 23 And Jesus himself, when he began [to teach], was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the [son] of Heli,” (Luke 3:21-23 ASV)
Would God then not have told the truth? And why if Jesus was Him did He not say “This is me having come down on earth”?
Dear Scott – After years of studies I must agree to the answer you gave – The reality is that you are 100 percent correct, I cannot find any scripture in the old or new testament that give guidelines for the ordination of woman as elders which are pastors. Tom if you have any please enlighten us all – I mean this with a very humble spirit. I just left a church where they teach plural eldership unscriptural and the church is governed by a single man and his wife that does most of everything
Thank you, Richard, for the affirming comment.
What do you mean that the Churches of Christ reject the biblical way of salvation? What do you believe is the biblical way of salvation? Where in the Bible that teaches CLEARLY that women are to be elders, pastors, evangelists, etc.? Where in the New Testament does it CLEARLY say we can use musical instruments? I want to see Book, Chapter and verses not what you think.
I want to share my story to help others to over come the ememy forces; human and otherwise; to stay faithful to the end. My story includes being hunted in the feilds since 2004 by false prophets whom I came from their camps but their corruptions were revealed to me espically when I cast out a demon and the leaders became very jealous and threw me into a pit and sought to distroy any sembalence of a devine destiny in my life; God led me to Jerusalem and I have been reporting to International Authorities and Federal Authorities and church leaders working on these issues since 2007.
My information is sensitive but God has a purpose for the good of thus informaion as it includes corruption, fraud and the demonic and victory in Christ.
I am writing other websites also who are trying to inform and warn the body of the evils of out day.
Sincerely,
Andrea Ten Harmsel
Sounds interesting, but no thanks. Get a site or hubpage. Take care.
The lady is like so many that think God needs help. Our God is in control and if only she would study the Word and not go on feelings!