Is it in the Bible?

Baptists have been known as people of the book (The Bible), but sometimes, Baptists say things that scripture does not support. Things like having a personal relationship with Jesus. I cannot find that anywhere in the Bible. The only verse that comes close is 1 Corinthians 1:9, which says, "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." I do not see the words "personal relationship," do you?

What about "accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?" I have not found the words "accepting Jesus anywhere." A.W. Tozer even said there is no Biblical support for accepting Jesus. Some pastors have even gone to say "make Jesus your personal Savior." Michael Horton said, in The Gospel-Driven Life, "Faith does not make, faith receives."

Probably one of the biggest things that has been said is "God helps those who help themselves." Where in the world is that in the Bible? From what I understand it was said by Benjamin Franklin (if anyone knows who really said it, correct me if I am wrong). It is ironic that Benjamin Franklin said this is because he is a deist, which believes God made the world, but has no interaction with his creation. He is just watching over the creation and does nothing to interact or intervene. We know does interact and intervene with his creation throughout the pages of the Bible. This popular phrase, "God helps those who help themselves" is not even found in Scripture. The Bible is clear that God helps those who cannot help themselves. Romans 5:6 says, "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly (ESV).

I want you to think about things you have heard within the church other than the things I have just mentioned. Can you find Scripture to back it up? I know some of you probably heard things from pastors and teachers. Yes, they maybe loving people who are saved, but some things they may have said may not be Biblical. They may not be gospel truth. When it comes to the teaching and preaching of the Word, we need to be like the Berans who searched the scriptures to see what Paul was teaching was actually true.

CNN had an interesting article on verses people say that are not in the Bible called "phantom verses."