Category: human viewpoint / human wisdom / philosophy

Benoni and Benjamin #1

Sunday, April 15, 2018

“And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin” (Genesis 35:18 KJV).

Dear friend, look and see—herein lies prophecy!

Bible deriders never sincerely study what they speak evil of; they merely skim and gripe. Dodging the “trouble” of studying, they dismiss Scripture as “a random collection of Jewish campfire fantasies.” There is very little, if any, personal investigation underlying that claim. Rather, something silly was heard at a “Christian” church, something preposterous was read in a “Christian” book, and the skeptic thus embarks on his lifelong, pompous crusade, “Look here and look there, the Bible is riddled with superstition and mistakes everywhere!” (He has no idea that his controversy is not with Scripture, but rather with religionists who distort and complicate Scripture.)

The Bible is no ordinary Book. Friend, you approach it with an arrogant, faultfinding attitude, and you will never get one hint of truth out of it. It will tightly lock so you will not gain its insight. At that point, God will then let you use it (!) to prove whatever you want. You can therefore quote Scripture and mock, “Error, error, error!,” but you will look completely foolish. God already gave you over to error, and looking at the Bible thereafter, all you are capable of seeing is error. This is exactly where atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers have placed themselves. They did not want to know—so now they do not know! However, all hope is not lost. Friend, as long as you are living and breathing, and not in the Devil’s Hell where you belong, you can obtain forgiveness of sins through simple faith in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). You also still have opportunity to start understanding and enjoying the Bible.

Today’s Scripture, at first glance, seems like easy reading. Some woman died in childbirth after naming her boy, but her husband called their newborn by another name. Big deal! The critic passes over it as trivial, whereas the Bible student pauses and investigates. We are Bible students (yes?), so we now stop and study. There is something downright marvelous here, but ONLY (!) if we are willing to receive and believe it….

Bible Q&A #485: “Can you explain the ‘spot’ in Deuteronomy 32:5?”

How to Know Your Apostle Paul

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office” (Romans 11:13 KJV).

Friend, have you ever wondered how to know your Apostle Paul?

Initially boasting, “I do not follow ‘some man,’ I go by what ‘Jesus’ says;” professing Christians subsequently assemble at their denominations where manmade traditions masquerade as pure Bible. There, they have been trained to snatch “charming verses” out of context. Since each Bible dispensation differs, and religionists “pick and choose” verses from multiple dispensations, countless combinations and divergent denominations result. Some follow Moses, but most stress Christ’s earthly ministry and the (transitional) Acts period. Yea, denominations arise when Bible readers fail to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). They do not understand which dispensation applies to them—namely, God’s spokesman to them.

The Book of Acts records God’s dealings with man in “time past” giving way to the “but now” (Ephesians 2:11-13). With Saul of Tarsus’ conversion and commission in Acts chapter 9, God temporarily suspended His dealings with the nation Israel and began forming the Church the Body of Christ with any believers (Jew or Gentile) in Christ’s finished crosswork at Calvary.

Christ Jesus told Saul/Paul (Acts chapter 26): “[16] But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; [17] Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send [apostello—cf. today’s Scripture] thee, [18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Therefore, we read: “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:…” (Ephesians 3:1,2). Since the ascended Lord Jesus Christ sent Paul to us, we find God’s instructions for us today in the Pauline epistles, Romans through Philemon. Avoid the abounding confusion; take heed to Christ’s heavenly ministry!

For more information about Paul’s apostolic authority, you may see: https://ambassadorsfortherisenchristministries.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/pauls-apostolic-authority-verses/.

How to Know Dispensational Bible Study

Monday, April 9, 2018

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

Friend, have you ever wondered how to know dispensational Bible study?

People often inquire, “Why are there so many churches?” Expectedly, precious few of those tens of thousands of professing “Christian” denominations understand and appreciate the Holy Bible. Unfortunately, they are “lost” in the Scriptures, unable to make any sense out of them. No wonder they are tempted to—or actually do—completely throw out the puzzling and contradictory Bible! Since all groups quote some verses, using the Bible to sort out the confusion appears impossible. Yet, today’s Scripture allows us to not only answer but even avoid those spiritual catastrophes—“study… rightly dividing the word of truth.”

A “dispensation” is simply a particular set of instructions that God gives to man for his faith and obedience during a definite time (see 1 Corinthians 9:17; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:2; Colossians 1:25). We must (!!!) recognize and “rightly divide” the various dispensations as God has already done. Verses will become destructive and the Bible loathsome if we ignore dispensational contexts and boundaries (timing). Provided that we want to believe the Word of God, and not promote a denominational agenda, absolutely nothing here is difficult.

Religionists consider “dispensational Bible study” dirty words, curse words, profanity. Their denominational doctrine is threatened, and they know it! If people understand the Bible by themselves, they will no longer depend on the denominational hierarchies for “guidance” (brainwashing)! Dispensational Bible study is simply placing the Scriptures on a timeline. Just as we sort secular history instead of jumbling all the events and peoples together, so we recognize God’s arrangement of the Scriptures to form a wonderful, sequential layout.

Ephesians chapter 2 provides three invaluable timeline markers—“time past” (verses 11,12), “but now” (verse 13), and “the ages to come” (verse 7). Acts 3:21 shares information God has “spoken… since the world began.” Romans 16:25-26 mentions knowledge God “kept secret since the world began” but has now revealed through the Apostle Paul. Unless we organize Bible verses dispensationally—whether history, present-day, or prophecy, and involving either the nation Israel or us the Church the Body of Christ—we will be hopelessly flummoxed by Scripture!

For more information about dispensational Bible study, you may see: https://333wordsofgrace.wordpress.com/whats-dispensational-bible-study/.

How to Know Your Purpose

Friday, April 6, 2018

“For by him 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” (Colossians 1:16,17 KJV).

Friend, have you ever wondered how to know your purpose?

A noted atheist, who has since expired (!), conceded, “One can’t prove that God doesn’t exist.” Nevertheless, fervently gripping his worldview, he boasted, “But science makes God unnecessary. The laws of physics can explain the universe without the need for a creator.” Really? Has science made God “unnecessary?” Can the laws of physics show us that our universe originated without a Creator? Why, what wishful thinking he entertains! (Does physics explain the origin of consciousness? Of logic? Of memory? Emotions?! Morals?! Ethics?!)

Being a scientist for many years, I can guarantee (!) you that science is not as “settled” as its worshippers would have the general public believe. Despite the various experiments conducted over the course of decades and centuries, we still know an extremely small fraction about our incomprehensibly massive universe. What little we do know (or think we know!) involves constant refining, rejection, and disagreement. Science is merely a tool, not a god. It is limited and flawed too—chiefly because it relies on human nature, which itself is faulty (accidental errors, deliberate lies, impaired senses, et cetera). Since man manufactures all lab equipment, such equipment malfunctions to reflect its builder’s defects. Therefore, rest assured, save in the deluded mind, science will never overthrow God!

According to today’s Scripture, God created heaven and earth for a purpose. We see that He structured a government to operate in both realms. He intended to fill those administration offices with creatures—angels and people—to then carry out His will in their respective spheres. We, you, friend, are not here by accident!! Holding to a strict “empirical” view—“I must see it to believe it!”—is imperfect. You can observe and test to learn “how” the universe works, but the “why” will never, ever be answered using scientific means. To answer the purpose question, we must use spiritual eyes.

How to Know God

Thursday, April 5, 2018

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:19-21 KJV).

Friend, have you ever wondered how to know God?

Many today are allegedly “looking for God.” After “soul-searching,” they uncover nothing but disappointment. Visiting “church,” they find nothing but confusion. Appealing to scientists and philosophers, they realize nothing but disagreement. Glancing at society, they discover nothing but evil. In light of the disappointment, confusion, disagreement, and evil, they throw up their hands in defeat and plead ignorance: “It is impossible to know for sure if there is a God!” Those most damaged in this faulty approach reach the well-known conclusion, “There is no God” (or, its softened variation, “There is probably no God!”).

Doubtless, God exists. Firstly, today’s Scripture says a physical creation demands a Creator be behind it: observing the universe allows us to see He is intelligent and orderly. Secondly, Romans 2:14,15: “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)….” Every person possesses a conscience—a system of standards and norms that evaluate (good / bad) and regulate behavior (do / do not do). We also see that the Creator has established right and wrong; we naturally have some sense of truth and error (although sin and our unique cultural upbringing modify it).

Alas, maybe we blatantly reject this most basic knowledge. Ungrateful of the Creator God and His provisions given us, we do not worship Him. Entertaining empty thoughts, our foolish heart becomes darkened. Despite our claims, we have no interest in discovering and knowing God. But, then again, what if we do?

Sound!

Thursday, March 22, 2018

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy 6:3-5 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be sound in the faith.

The Greek word rendered “wholesome” in today’s Scripture is hygiano (“hygiene”). A father received his prodigal son “safe and sound” (Luke 15:27). Luke 7:10 mentioned Jesus healing the once-sick, now “whole,” servant. Christ Jesus spoke of the sick, not the “whole,” as needing a doctor (Luke 5:31). The lame man, now miraculously healed, enjoys “perfect soundness” (Acts 3:16). These “whole” or “sound” people lack physical illness and injury; they are healthy. Similarly, in Titus 1:13 and Titus 2:2, Christians are to be “sound in the faith.” How do we become spiritually healthy?

Whenever someone downplays doctrine, the equivalent phrase in the physical world is, “Consume all the junk food you want! In the end, it makes no difference what you eat!” (Oh, really?!) Unless quality physical food is consumed, your physical body will become frail, ill, and helpless. Likewise, without valuable spiritual food, your spiritual body will grow weak, sick, and impotent. The Bible rightly divided, sound Bible doctrine, is key. If the doctrine is nourishing, then obviously the spiritual body will be fed and strengthened. Hence, Scripture speaks of “sound doctrine” as essential (1 Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9; Titus 2:1).

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13). These are “the wholesome words of Jesus Christ” of today’s Scripture: they are the words Jesus Christ spoke through the Apostle Paul. “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me,….” My dear friend, if you want to be a strong, spiritually fit Christian, you must read, believe, and heed the Pauline doctrine, Romans through Philemon. Otherwise, spiritual incapacity is your fate!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Did Judas Iscariot have to betray Christ?”

Separate!

Thursday, March 15, 2018

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be separate from the religious system.

It is often lamented, “Doctrine divides. Let us rather gather around the love of Jesus Christ.” The Holy Spirit disagrees: sound Bible doctrine matters! Romans 16:17,18: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

First Timothy 6:3-5: “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

Second Timothy 3:1-5: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Beloved, if there is no sound Bible doctrine—King James Bible, Pauline dispensationalism—we have no reason to get involved with it!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “How can God be ‘jealous’ and not be guilty of sin?”

Studious!

Friday, March 9, 2018

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be studious concerning Holy Scripture.

Christian friend, if you attend services at the average “Christian” church, you will discover that “Bible study” is a set of “dirty words.” (You can almost hear gasps when you declare such words in their midst!) They do not care to study the Bible. They will read it and quote it, but they do not want to carefully examine and prayerfully consider it. Comparing verses is “too much work,” “too much thinking,” “too much boredom!” Why? They have been led to believe that spirituality is gauged by how many pews you jump, how quickly your feet move to the music, how loudly you sing, how large your “tithe” is, how often you visit the sick and help the poor, how many “holy books” you collect, how much you pray, how often you raise your hands in “praise and worship,” et cetera.

Usually, whatever “Christian” teaching the assembly upholds, it is basic and shallow. The average Sunday School child could stand in the pulpit and deliver the material. Not surprisingly, the everyday church member is totally destroyed in troubling times. The doctrine provides no spiritual safety, for the doctrine itself is hazardous. What Satan absolutely hates is a Bible-believing student—not a “Bible reader,” not a “Bible toter,” not a “Bible quoter,” and not a “Bible collector.” Someone estimated that the average American home has seven (!!!) Bibles. Considering today’s ignorant and depraved society, probably not even one is ever read (let alone studied and believed)!

We are living in perilous times, dear friends, dangerous times—especially regarding spiritual matters. We cannot—absolutely cannot!—afford to be lackadaisical about Bible study. There is an Adversary, a master spiritual enemy, out there. Satan will not quit until God ultimately stops him. Until then, beloved, our only hope at not being swept away in the error is to study and believe the Bible rightly divided! The Pauline epistles, Romans through Philemon, are absolutely critical to our spiritual survival. Grab yourself a King James Bible and study and believe it rightly divided. This cannot be emphasized enough!

Our latest Bible Q&As: “Neither round the corners of your heads nor mar the corners of your beard?” and “Neither make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead nor print any marks on you?”

See!

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to see that which is not seen.

Since we are flesh-and-blood creatures, we quite naturally focus on—and unhealthily emphasize—everything we can see, taste, smell, hear, and touch. Basically, we adopt the (secular/unsaved) worldview of, “Empirical evidence is the only reality!” “If it cannot be seen, it cannot be real” is an extremely shallow understanding of reality in and of itself. For example, can we smell love? Do we see air? Can we touch a thought? Do we hear the color green? Can we taste light? Certainly not! These are all fallacious premises. Those concepts must be approached in special ways, or they will not be perceived. Green is not heard but seen. Thoughts are not touched but heard.

Similarly, to experience what God tells and offers us, we do not exercise our five senses. There is something beyond our physical eyes, physical ears, physical noses, physical hands, and physical tongues. This is where the spiritual world lies. Now, just as we understand every creature in the physical world is not benevolent, so we understand that malevolent creatures exist in the spirit world. Whatever they are though, good and bad, we can perceive them if we exercise our spiritual senses.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Through the eyes of faith, we see that there is more to our existence than this life. Whatever we are facing, good or bad, this world is “temporal” (today’s Scripture). Our “light affliction,” our “minor difficulty,” is limited; it is subject to time constraints, temporary. If you keep reading into chapter 5, the verses immediately following today’s Scripture, you will see through the eyes of faith a small glimpse of the “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” awaiting us!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What is the ‘Apocalypse?’”

Stabilized!

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15,16 KJV).

Without further delay, we need to be stabilized by sound Bible doctrine.

Today’s Scripture mentions those who are “unlearned.” It here represents the Greek word amathes, literally “without understanding.” The adjective “unstable” also describes them: the Greek term is asteriktos, or “not fixed.” Ephesians 4:14 strikingly illustrates: “…children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Think of a ship rocking back and forth as each breeze and wave push it here and there, zigzagging, with no certain course. Imagine a tower swaying in the wind, leaning, ready to topple. Destruction is approaching!

The Holy Spirit spoke through the Apostle Peter about individuals “wresting” the Bible. They distort the meaning of verses to force the Scriptures to agree with their theological system. There is particular emphasis on these “Bible butchers” attacking the Pauline epistles, Romans through Philemon. Destruction is imminent!

Notice the example in 2 Timothy chapter 2, particularly verses 16 and 18: “[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [16] But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. [17] And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; [18] Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” Those who refuse to “rightly divide the word of truth” are in fact those condemned in today’s Scripture.

Unless we understand the Bible dispensationally, dear friends, we will lack internal (spiritual) stability. Our Christian lives will not function properly. When tragedy strikes, we will be unstable… unable to handle it as Father God intended. Right division is not an option!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Does God see us Christians as sinners?”