Category: human viewpoint / human wisdom / philosophy

An Ambassador Turns 38!

Friday, August 7, 2026 🎂

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 KJV).

Only by God’s grace, I celebrate 38 years of earthly life today!

At my nephew’s high-school graduation a few months ago, I was surprised to notice my old high-school English teacher (who had attended my graduation 20 years before—almost to the very day). With a chuckle, I told him how he now had two decades’ worth of teaching experience. Also, I commented that time was passing quite rapidly, with us (my classmates and I) now almost middle age. (He is 10 years older, so he is already well into it!) I shook his hand and thanked him for the work he did so long ago.

I have been a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ for 31 years now, and a dispensational Bible student for just under 20. There is still much more for me to learn, and much more for me to teach others. If I could share one life lesson that I have ascertained, it is this. Not only is the Christian life difficult for me to live, it is impossible for me to live. I do not live for God, for I cannot live for God. Also, I cannot give Him my life. The only thing I can give Him is my sin. It is He who must give His life to me. Only Jesus Christ can live His life. This is what I have learned firsthand, and what I have learned secondhand from others. It is unwise to trust myself or anyone like me. I do not build my Christian life on preachers and teachers, theological/denominational/philosophical systems, or any other such faulty foundations. These are nothing but distractions and disappointments.

As the Holy Spirit led Paul our Apostle to see it in today’s Scripture, so we agree. We have no life without Christ, so the life we have in Him is all about Him and not about us. Therefore, whatever age we are, may He alone be “magnified [lifted up]” in our physical body (Philippians 1:20). “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #45

Friday, July 3, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Glance at all the world’s “Christian” churches, schools, and ministries. Their activities are largely irrelevant to God’s work, for they emphasize entertainment (noisy “worship” music) instead of edification (sound Bible doctrine built in the inner man). Of course, each quotes Scripture verses to “prove” how they have “God’s authority” and “serve Jesus.” Yet, each and every “Christian” group has its own unique blend of beliefs—including major, contradictory differences that will never be resolved. Bitter fights have not only exploded between members of the same local church, all denominations relentlessly bicker with one another in their effort to be supreme. Even people who use the Bible wonder exactly what it teaches, what (if anything) they are to believe in it, and how it relates to them. You can see how appealing it is to just throw away the Scriptures altogether, and turn to atheism, agnosticism, and so on. How did this mess ever arise? Is there any way we can avoid it, or are we condemned to an eternity of this spiritual blindness, darkness, and ignorance?

About 2,000 years ago—yes, that far back—Christians were exceedingly careless. Yea, even in New Testament times, while the Bible canon was still being written, they were not keeping their doctrine pure. The two classic examples, of course, were Corinth and Galatia. Corinth blended Grace with man’s wisdom (philosophy, no Bible), whereas Galatia mixed Grace with works-religion (Law of Moses, which, like the grace of Paul’s ministry, was in the Bible, but not in effect as Grace was). During the next 20 centuries, Bible users and church members followed either the Corinthian pattern or the Galatian pattern, which severed them from God’s light and power. Throughout that time, a few people realized to various degrees to return to the Romans standard. Unfortunately, these few were “outcasts,” for the system of Christendom and its leaders were content with their fusion of Corinthianism and Galatianism. Others proposed various combinations of “solutions” in (failed) attempts to “restore” God’s light and power. Now you know how our denominations formed centuries ago, being preserved to confuse and distract us up to the present moment….

NOTE: In order to bring you a special study tomorrow, we will temporarily break away from this devotionals arc….

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #44

Thursday, July 2, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Some of the most unfortunate verses, written forever (!) in the Holy Bible, are 1 Corinthians 3:1-3: “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual [filled with the Holy Spirit], but as unto carnal [fleshly], even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” Paul had preached the Gospel of the Grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:3,4) to these Corinthians in Acts chapter 18, prior to writing them. Considering the passage of time, they should have matured in the faith, gaining a capacity for solid food. Yet, remarkably, they were still spiritual newborns, sucking on a baby bottle of milk! It made no sense at all, but we can easily understand what happened. They depended on philosophers (human “thinkers”), assuming these could bring them the life and words of God. How terribly mistaken they were!

Dispensational Bible study is the only system that has been proven useful in extracting maximum profit from the Word of God. We do not deny that even denominationalists get a little something here and there out of the Scriptures. Yet, this “little something” is equivalent to snacking on miniscule appetizers and sipping froth from a diluted beverage. They could be feasting and growing rapidly, developing exponentially to become spiritual adults who actually possess an awareness of what God would have them believe and what He desires to accomplish in and through them. Alas, like the Corinthians, they are in the snare of the Devil, taken captive by him at his will, existing in a spiritual nursery (manmade system) where they struggle to think, walk, and speak even the simplest of sentences. We can rest assured that they are no bother to Satan, for his evil world system has indoctrinated them to be exactly where he strove to have them.

It does not have to be this way….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #43

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

For advanced practical truth, which is situated in the context of the invisible and spiritual battle of Ephesians 6:10-18, turn to Ephesians 5:14-18: “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;….”

Similar to the nation Israel spiritually asleep in the satanic darkness of Isaiah 60:1-3, the Ephesians languish in a spiritual drunken stupor and are dead practically (their Christian life not functioning). No soldiers can afford to sleep while in the midst of a war! Foolishness or senselessness has no place amongst soldiers! If we are to have any hope or prayer of standing and withstanding the wiles (schemes, tricks, stratagems, tactics) of the Devil, we must “walk circumspectly” (looking around, having careful or cautious conduct, and awareness of our surroundings). We should understand the will of the Lord, for our Superior Officer has given orders for us to follow. If we are “filled with [controlled by] the Spirit,” “the word of Christ dwell[s] in [us] richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16), and then not even Satan himself can cause us to fall. Problems arise when we lean upon our own intellect, depend on the weapons we fashion—and then we end up conquered, frustrated, and unhappy!

Christian living is not we “doing the best we can” and then letting Christ do the rest. No, that is guaranteed failure, so do not even bother with it. Christian living is 100% Christ living. There is never a single defeat as long as we remember and trust the absolute, total, complete victory He secured forever at Calvary for us. If only more believers would simply understand that, they would have much more peace and joy than they are relying on the flesh and the world to give them….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #42

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Dear friend, imagine warriors preparing for battle. They put on baggy jeans with holes, cheap and thin shirts, and shabby shoes with worn-out soles. Also, they take up plastic trashcan lids as shields, plus baseball caps and butterknives. They get into formation—and are slaughtered when the enemy attacks! Look at the panorama of corpses scattered across the ground. The stench of death is tremendous. Here and there a severely maimed or disfigured body groans and moans—a life not ended but permanently ruined nevertheless. Similar massacres occur every second in the spiritual realm. After our denominations “arm” us with nothing of any real significance, they send us to stand against Satan’s attacks. This has eternal, spiritual results whose full scope we will not realize until the Lord sits in judgment.

How completely preposterous it is that soldiers could ever expect to win any war with such unacceptable clothing and feeble weapons! Moreover, if these causalities occurred in combat—because of saggy pants (instead of snug clothing secured with a belt), a low-quality shirt (not a breastplate), a pair of busted shoes (instead of boots with soles that grip), and a baseball cap (not a strong helmet); and holding a flimsy plastic disk (instead of a metallic one) and a butterknife (not a sharp sword)—these misfortunes could have been foreseen and prevented entirely had the troops used more suitable armor and tools. Did they not have sense to know any better?! Were their commanding officers not more competent than this?!

Satan is always assaulting us believers, but God has given us armor to survive the attack in Ephesians 6:13-18. Essentially, it is sound Bible doctrine (dispensational Bible study) with prayer (talking to God in light of that doctrine, with prayer activating or energizing as the Holy Spirit works in us). We put on this armor by faith, but we cannot believe it unless we are first made aware of it. Manmade materials (denominational doctrine, philosophy or man’s wisdom, church tradition, and so on) are no substitute for the whole armor of God….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #36

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

The saints at Corinth were the secular humanists of the Bible. How greatly they venerated man—worshipping human wisdom and obsessively pursuing pleasure/entertainment. Intellectualism or philosophy was their downfall, as numerous resultant sins further overcame their assembly. Since they were not thinking or behaving according to grace (the grace standard of Romans), the Holy Spirit reproved them, told them their faults. You can read all 16 chapters of 1 Corinthians and all 13 chapters of 2 Corinthians.

One word of warning from which we can profit is 1 Corinthians 3:9-15: “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed [be careful!] how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try [evaluate/test/assess] every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

The Christians of Corinth are here reminded of the Judgment Seat of Christ, when Christ Himself (the Builder Inspector!) will one day expose and destroy all the garbage/worthless information (wood, hay, stubble) they built into their inner man. Only the edifice of sound Bible doctrine (gold, silver, precious stones) will remain, and just that will equate to a reward; everything else will be a loss of reward. Unfortunately, most of our churches and schools these last 2,000 years have placed more emphasis on attendance and revenue than they have on the quality of the information they teach. They have not learned this lesson of Corinth that they should have….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #35

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Remember, the God of the Bible purposes to build a house (“oikos”) of doctrine in our inner man (soul and spirit) as members of the Church the Body of Christ. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord [by faith; verse 5], so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up [‘epoikodomeo’] in him, and stablished [stabilized] in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6,7). Such edification, building up of a structure/edifice, will lead to us becoming, in practice, “the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

“In whom all the building [‘oikodome’] fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together [‘sunoikodomeisthe’] for an habitation [dwellingplace, house] of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21,22). “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16,17). “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19,20).

Mark this well. Take whatever religious/philosophical/theological system you want, and you can live according to that system’s values without their founders (Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Socrates, Buddha, Plato, Confucius, et cetera) living in and through you. HOWEVER, you cannot enjoy Christian living (grace principles) without Jesus Christ living in you! Hence, the goal of sound Bible doctrine is to have “Christ formed in you” (Galatians 4:19), the indwelling Holy Spirit working to make Jesus Christ’s life real in our lives. Therefore, it is so (!) extremely (!) critical (!) that we build the correct doctrine in ourselves and in those who hear us….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #32

Friday, June 19, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Since the vast majority of church-goers (wrongly) assume they can live the Christian life (“I am trying my best to live for God!”), non-Christians deduce Christianity is “just another religion.” What a shame! The Bible simply does not get a fair hearing because the Holy Spirit is prohibited from teaching and Jesus Christ is prevented from living His life. Professing Christians are teaching what they want, and living how they please, so Satan’s policy of evil stays unabated—and non-Christians are absolutely turned off to faith in Christ because Christians themselves are not trusting Christ! Dear young reader, if we want to make a difference in this world for God’s glory, we must depend on the Lord’s wisdom and the Lord’s power; human wisdom and human effort are not Christian living, but Adamic living.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;…” (Ephesians 5:18,19). “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness…. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:10,14).

No amount of works-religion or law-based efforts will ever compare to this true Christian living….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #30

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Theologians, philosophers, and other supposed “intellectuals” have discussed and debated for centuries the purpose of our existence—and they still have more questions than answers because no amount of man’s “wisdom” is sufficient to comprehend the mind of Almighty God. Howbeit, as Bible believers, it is no enigma to us. Let us therefore be appreciative of the spiritual light Colossians 1:16-20 furnishes us in this regard.

“For by him [Jesus Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

Remember, as we discover in Ephesians 1:8-10 (higher doctrine than Romans), God saving us from Hell is but a minute addendum in His overall plan for the ages. Colossians is a supplement to, or sister epistle of, Ephesians. Although creation—Heaven (Job 15:15; Job 25:5; Ephesians 6:12) and Earth (Matthew 4:8,9; Luke 4:5-7; 2 Corinthians 4:3,4)—is in rebellion because of Satan and Adam, this is only temporary. Father God’s original plan for creation, that His Son Jesus Christ’s life be displayed for all to see, is momentarily delayed. That eternal purpose will still be achieved in the ages to come, when Christ fills us (the Church the Body of Christ) with His life and then fills the heavenly places with us, and when He fills redeemed Israel with His life and then fills the earth with Israel.

This is how we find meaning in life….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #28

Monday, June 15, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

According to Romans chapter 6, Calvary’s cross is the foundation for victorious Christian/grace living. It is where Christ performed and finished His work to pay for our sins—so we could die with Him to sin’s power, be buried with Him, and be raised again with Him to “walk in newness of life.” “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” (verses 11,12). “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (verse 23).

Yet, two groups converted under Paul’s ministry believed they could live the Christian life. Defined in Romans chapter 7, Paul himself had been confused in this way—and how he was such a defeated, disappointed, depressed soul! He did not walk according to the grace truths of chapter 6, and the only way out of the trap was to re-learn them as presented and amplified in chapter 8: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:12-14).

Human nature, the sin nature we have inherited from Adam, has two extremes. One is lasciviousness, as in loose, crazy, wild conduct (humanism/philosophy)—and that would be the Corinthians who lived in the very depths of sin. The other is ascetism, which is strict works-religion or legalism (Law)—and that would be the Galatians who lived in the very depths of self-righteousness. Both groups were stuck in the misery and hopelessness of Romans chapter 7, trying and failing to copy Jesus Christ’s life when only He can live the Christian (His) life!

To repeat, victorious Christian living or grace living is Romans truth, found in Paul’s most basic epistle….