Category: denominationalism

Christ’s Calvary Crucifixion Covers Christians

Monday, June 29, 2015

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7 KJV).

Certainly, Christ’s Calvary crucifixion covers Christians!

In and of ourselves, there is nothing special about us Christians. Who we are in Jesus Christ, now there is something special!! We have the privilege of standing before Father God in the manner Adam did before the Fall! In Christ, we have the same standing before Father God as Jesus Christ Himself! A very exciting truth, one that precious, precious, precious few believers are ever taught (sadly).

Denominations always instruct them to strain and strive to have a right standing before God. They fail to realize that God places them in Christ at the very top of the ladder. Instead, they become busy in religion, desperately trying to reach the top rung Jesus Christ already gave to them! When you consider it, it makes your head spin how far off religious tradition brings one from the Holy Bible rightly divided.

What Israel has to wait for at Jesus Christ’s Second Coming (Acts 3:19-21), we have now received the atonement (Romans 5:11). When we trust the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished crosswork, the Holy Spirit places us into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). We then share Jesus Christ’s identity (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are just as close to Father God as Jesus Christ is—unconditional acceptance (grace).

It is when we come to the Apostle Paul in the Bible that we learn that God’s salvation is available as a free gift to all men (1 Timothy 2:3-7; Titus 1:1-3). What was once reserved for Israel is now being offered to every person in every nation under heaven today. Rich or poor, black or white, male or female, Jesus Christ’s merits are available to all. Jesus Christ is “the Saviour of all men, specially those that believe” (1 Timothy 4:10). While it is unto all, salvation is only upon all them who believe (Romans 3:21-28). Lost people can come to Calvary’s cross by faith, and Father God will welcome them with open arms, no matter what they have done. There is nothing that Jesus Christ’s blood cannot cover.

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Is there ‘healing in the Atonement?’”

When Reality Catches Up

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:22,23 KJV).

Paul reaffirms that the Christian is not promised good health in this the Dispensation of Grace!

Scanning a newspaper sometime ago, I read the “obituaries” page and noticed a rather peculiar item—the death notice of the wife of a local “faith healing” pastor! (Her cause of death unknown.) Or, consider the well-known “faith healer” who was recently suffering cardiopulmonary issues and had to be hospitalized. More lately, a “faith healer” preaching on the internet recounted the time when he experienced influenza (and there was no instant healing for him!). All the “healing” claims aside, even the “faith healers” purchase medical insurance, grow sick, seek medical help, and, yes, they eventually die, too.

Dearly beloved, we can deceive ourselves into believing “healing” testimonies and attending “healing” crusades, or we can just believe today’s Scripture. As long as our Dispensation of Grace is operating, there can be no divine intervention regarding physical healing: “The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Someone may object and say that this verse does not apply to us Christians. The next verse of today’s Scripture answers them: “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

Our physical bodies have not yet been redeemed. They are still subject to sin, sickness, and death (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Thankfully, by God’s grace, we have immune systems, medical professionals, and prescription drugs. Even when these are not enough, and we must succumb to physical death, in Christ, we could not be headed to a better place! Above all, no matter what type of sickness or trouble, God’s grace is truly sufficient, surely enough, for us to bear it, that it not destroy us spiritually (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Spiritual fortitude—may we have it when we have bodily illness, that misery not have us (Romans 5:1-5)! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Was Saul a pastor, a prophet, or an evangelist?”

Students, of Teachers or Scriptures

Monday, June 22, 2015

“Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his [Jesus’] disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples” (John 9:28 KJV).

Similar pompous language is heard throughout Christendumb!

An emerging Christian writer was recently asked why he had such a strong Scriptural case for his uncommon end-times thesis. After all, most “Biblical prophecy scholars” have been teaching another position for decades, and if “Bible scholarship [?]” says so then it must be (pardon the pun) “gospel truth!” How could he—a “nobody”—be correct in quoting Scripture? Why disregard the many well-known “experts” who have preached and taught decades-old traditional eschatological ideas… without verses? How could “scholars” be wrong, much of the “Church” be wrong, and he be right by quoting verses? Did they not read those verses? “You know,” he replied, “I think we have been more students of our teachers than students of our Scriptures.” Upon hearing that, I could have leapt from my chair!

It is not uncommon to hear—“‘Dr. So-and-So’ says this verse is ‘better’ translated…”—“I go by what ‘Brother So-and-So’ teaches from that passage”—“My church’s teaching authority interprets the Bible for me”—“I will believe my study Bible’s notes long before I will believe my Bible text!”

Today’s Scripture is a case-in-point that Christendom is no different from Israel. They follow personalities and celebrities, religion and liturgy, but they do not value God’s Word and cannot see its simple truths. When convenient, conducive to church tradition, a verse is quoted. Remember, Israel studied Moses’ writings for 1,500 years and still overlooked the Messiah about whom Moses wrote. Nevertheless, they strictly followed the Mosaic Law—tithes, Sabbath day, kosher foods, et al. Similarly, Bible readers today still casually scan Holy Writ to find what they want to believe (and leave behind the divine words they prefer were not there). Why? They all are too busy following, mimicking, and believing apostate leaders!

Had those of today’s Scripture truly been Moses’ disciples, they would have let Moses’ inspired words teach them that Jesus was their fulfillment! Likewise, had all of today’s church members truly been Jesus Christ’s disciples, had they truly been Bible believers, they would have believed the Bible and the words of Jesus Christ spoken therein.

The ABCs of Becoming a Christian?

Thursday, June 18, 2015

“Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge” (Job 38:2 KJV).

Today’s Scripture could easily be God’s response to the average “Gospel tract” or “Gospel invitation!”

If there is one thing Fundamental and Evangelical Christians have utterly destroyed, it would be a clear Gospel message. The following poster demonstrates: “ABCs of Becoming a Christian: Admit to God that you are a sinner (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23). Repent, turning away from your sin (Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:9). Believe that Jesus is God’s Son, and accept God’s gift of forgiveness from sin (John 3:16; John 14:6; Romans 5:8; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8-9). Confess your faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9-10,13).”

While catchy, it is theologically deficient. To tell lost people to turn from their sin in order to be saved is to tell them, “You cannot be saved and you will never be saved!” No lost person has God’s power to quit sin. A Christian can resist sin, but not a lost person! How is it that lost people must quit sinning to be saved, but then Christians are urged to confess their daily sins?! (Religion is absurd!)

The above poster, save the Bible verse of Romans 5:8, makes no direct reference to Calvary’s crosswork. Is there salvation apart from Christ’s cross? Then why is it missing from the poster? How is that forgiveness from God possible? Where is 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, the clearest presentation of the Gospel of the Grace of God?

To tell someone they have to “confess” their faith to be a Christian is to make them work, and as Ephesians 2:8-9 says (the poster quoted), we are not saved by works! To grab verses from Romans chapter 10 and make them a Gentile salvation message is to ignore verse 1—it is the nation Israel’s salvation!

Beloved, from “Make Jesus the Lord of your life” to “Ask Jesus into your heart,” or “Say the sinner’s prayer” to “Confess your sins,” these are not clear Gospel presentations. They confuse. First Corinthians 15:3-4 and Romans chapters 3 through 5 are some of the best passages to use to make the Gospel as simple as possible. Lost people do not need to be further confused!

Give Yourself to the Lord

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

“Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 8:4,5 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is the key to giving under grace.

Giving to churches is justifiably a very sensitive matter. Especially when preachers demand $65-million personal jets! There is much abuse when it comes to religion and money. Ironically, when Jesus condemned “thieves,” He did not castigate publicans (tax collectors who amassed exorbitant amounts from the Jews to give the Roman government). Rather, Jesus entered the Temple—Israel’s religious center—and declared thieves had overrun His house. He drove these religious people from God’s house (Matthew 21:12,13; Luke 19:45,46; John 2:13-17). Paul confessed that, before salvation, he, a Pharisee, “profited in the Jews’ religion above many [his] equals in [his] own nation” (Galatians 1:14).

We read today’s Scripture in context: “[1] Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; [2] How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. [3] For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; [4] Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. [5] And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”

When Paul collected from his converts various goods to assist the poor believing Jews in Jerusalem, the Macedonian Christians, though poor, wanted to give more and more (beyond their means). The believers in Macedonia (Thessalonica and Berea) were motivated by God’s grace. We first give ourselves to the Lord. Then, we give to sound grace Bible ministries—NOT out of fear of God’s curse (tithing), but out of thanksgiving for God’s blessings (giving under grace). Let us give “cheerfully” (2 Corinthians 9:6,7)! 🙂

Bring Forth and Bud!

Monday, June 15, 2015

“For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10,11 KJV).

How can today’s Scripture be an encouragement when we witness to others?

Dear Christian friend, you have probably wanted to rush someone into salvation or spiritual maturity. You desired them to trust Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, right there on the spot. You wanted to see them immediately understand the Bible dispensationally. But, you fail to remember that there are many barriers to overcome. They have been so deceived, so confused, or so turned off to religion that much (or all) of the verses you shared with them seem to “go right over their heads.” You have tried to be as simple as possible and they just do not get it. The key is to remember the analogy in today’s Scripture.

In the physical world, we plant seeds underground, water them, and let the sunlight shine on them, but we cannot force them to grow. It takes time, something beyond our control. Likewise, we must remember that God’s Word does not show immediate results. It can take days, weeks, months, years, or even decades. Nevertheless, we are to faithfully preach and teach the Holy Bible rightly divided, that it be there to work in their lives. Once present, that “quick [living and life-giving] and powerful” Word will take care of itself (Hebrews 4:12).

Just as the little seeds cannot be seen sprouting underground, we cannot see God’s Word working in those precious people. Until they believe those verses, and bring them into their hearts (Romans 10:10), they will remain in their minds. Regardless of whether they believe or reject, God’s Word will still convict, show them where they are wrong, and it will glorify Him. One Christian “plants,” another believer “waters,” but “God giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6,7; cf. today’s Scripture)! 🙂

If Thou Be #10

Saturday, June 13, 2015

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6,7 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is the key to finding your identity in Christ!

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Once we realize the spiritual wealth we have in Christ, we can rejoice. We can be so thankful that we have the riches of God’s grace!!! Ephesians 1:7 says: “In whom [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Friends, we need to quit living and thinking like spiritual beggars, behaving like we are poor, ever asking God for things when He has given us “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). We lack nothing in Christ (Colossians 2:10). Now we need to believe these Bible truths and ignore what religion says to the contrary!

There can be no thanksgiving in a worrisome life—Did I do enough to please God?, Confess enough?, Give enough?, Keep holydays enough?, Get water baptized enough?, Love God enough?, Love my neighbor enough?, Attend church enough?, Pray enough?, Stop sin enough? There is no peace in a troublesome life—Am I God’s child?, Will I make into heaven?, Does God really love me?, What is His will for me?, Has He really forgiven me? Rather than being “tossed to and fro” by the wiles (schemes) of the Devil in religion (Ephesians 4:14), wondering about contingencies and conundrums, we can be “rooted, built up, and stablished” (stabilized) in Christ, in our identity in Him (today’s Scripture). The doubt, frustration, and perplexity thus cease.

Beloved, the Body of Christ is ever so weak today because it has largely forgotten its identity in Christ! May we take an intelligent understanding of Romans through Philemon, God’s Word to us, and rest our faith in that. We can then cease from our works, and let Father God start doing His by means of the indwelling Holy Spirit! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Where was Jesus during the three days between His death and resurrection?”

If Thou Be #9

Friday, June 12, 2015

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6,7 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is the key to finding your identity in Christ!

A dear brother in Christ often says, “Your Christian life will not operate on the basis of ignorance.” Why does the average Christian life not function properly? Ignorance concerning what God is doing today! The average Christian is not taught God’s Word rightly divided. They are not taught their identity as members of the Church the Body of Christ. Instead, they are taught from the Old Testament, the Four Gospels, early Acts, and Hebrews through Revelation—all of which describe Israel’s identity in Christ. No wonder Christians claim and follow Israel’s verses. They believe they are Israel. No wonder Christians claim to be Israel. They claim and follow Israel’s verses. In other words, the Bible has been so misconstrued that it is just one gigantic mess, and their identity is so screwed up in their minds!

Thankfully, in heaven, such confusion will be absent. There will be no denominations, and no hijacking Israel’s verses. God will clear that all up with one verse—2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” It is in Paul’s epistles alone that we find our identity, doctrine, duty, walk, and destiny as members of the Church the Body of Christ.

We received Jesus Christ by faith in His finished crosswork (Colossians 2:5), and everything in our lives is dependent on that crosswork (today’s Scripture). As we were saved unto eternal life, so we walk in Him—by grace through faith, apart from works, rites, rituals, ceremonies, and so on! We are to be taught that, stabilized in these grace doctrines, remembering we are alive with His life, built up in Him to be in full cooperation with Him as He accomplishes what He wants done in and through us! That is how we remember our identity in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Now, we can conclude this devotionals arc….

If Thou Be #8

Thursday, June 11, 2015

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2 Corinthians 11:3,4 KJV).

Can Satan use the Bible to confuse God’s people concerning their identity? Yes, today’s Scripture says he most certainly can (and does)!

If you want to be a Christian, it is commonly said that you need to be water baptized, give tithes, confess your daily sins, pray the “Lord’s Prayer,” observe holy feast days, faithfully attend church and “worship” on the Sabbath, keep the Mosaic Law, follow Christ’s earthly ministry, obey the “Great Commission,” seek the “manifestation of the Spirit” of tongues and miracles, et cetera. Beloved, while these activities are Scriptural, they do not belong in our dispensation. So, they are advantageous to Satan’s policy of evil in confusing us about our identity.

By the way, if you do not do these activities, traditional “Christianity” does not consider you a Christian. In agreeing with the Bible rightly divided, you disagree with traditional Bible thinking. Since religious tradition is the standard rather than the rightly divided Word of God, those who disagree with religion are labeled “non-Christians.” In that warped world, “Christians” follow tradition instead of Scripture! Behold the insanity, irony, and heresy!

Religion demands we give, confess, repent, attend, observe, seek, do, to get from God and keep it. Our one baptism by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ is seen as deficient. The written, completed Bible is seen as wanting. We are urged to pursue experiences and emotions to hear more from God. Our once-for-all forgiveness is seen as flawed. The Adversary causes Christians to revert back to Israel’s system of short sin-accounts (confession). In short, our sufficiency in Christ is seen as insufficient. Talk about identity crisis! What identity theft! Satan stole their identity, and then they stole Israel’s! The Devil’s damnable statement reverberates throughout the ages, right up to our present-day—“If thou be the [children] of God….”

Our latest Bible Q&A: “How are we ‘able ministers of the new testament?’”

If Thou Be #7

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him” (2 Corinthians 11:3,4 KJV).

Can Satan use the Bible to confuse God’s people concerning their identity? Yes, today’s Scripture says he most certainly can (and does)!

The Bible student must be Scriptural and dispensational. To use the Bible but not rightly divide the Bible is the most dangerous type of Bible quoting and teaching. During Jesus Christ’s temptations, Satan used the Bible but he ignored its dispensational boundaries. Like most in Christendom today, he just haphazardly grabbed any Bible verse that appealed to him, any passage that advanced his agenda (theological system), and unashamedly used God’s Word against God’s Son… on two occasions (Matthew 4:5-6 and Luke 4:9-11)!

Even today, organized religion uses God’s precious Words to “beat up” God’s people. When someone abandons traditional (denominational) thinking, and simply believes the Bible dispensationally, that Bible-believing Christian—not the denominational leadership—is the party accused of “heresy.” When that person calls out those who pervert and disbelieve the words of God in the denomination, that Bible-believing Christian is again condemned as a “heretic.” The Pauline dispensationalist is viewed as the “troublemaker.” Meanwhile, lest the denomination recant and collapse, the denominational leaders—the real troublemakers—cite additional non-rightly divided Scripture.

Thus, Bible believers are often unwelcome in denominational churches. However, those who believe the church’s doctrinal statement and traditions are applauded as “true Christians.” Those outside the denomination—those who use God’s Word, God’s way—are again the “apostates” and the “mischief-makers.” What a complete flip-flop! “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).

Yes, just as Satan corrupted the Corinthian Christians with non-rightly divided Scripture (today’s Scripture), Christendom finds itself in equally dire straits….