Category: human viewpoint / human wisdom / philosophy

Read the King James Bible on Your Own #3

March, 25, 2012

“How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:3,4 KJV).

God encourages us to read His preserved Word in English, the King James Bible, on our own. Notice how Paul, in today’s Scripture, instructed the Ephesians (and us) to read what the Holy Ghost moved him to write. God gave His written Word, the Bible, to mankind so we could read it and learn His will, especially so we could discover what He is doing today in this the Dispensation of God (“the mystery of Christ”). Alas, wicked man has other plans!

Church hierarchies often restrict pure King James Bible reading. Other times they forbid you from reading any “Bible.” If they do allow you to do any Bible reading on your own, they offer a modern, “more scholastic” (read that “corrupt”) “bible.”

Also, they offer “denominational eyeglasses” which cause you see the Bible according to their view (not according to God’s view; dispensationally). Many churches do not use God’s Word, God’s way. They ignore Paul’s special ministry to us; instead, they instruct you to “follow Jesus” in the Four Gospel Records. They cause you to follow God’s program for Israel—you thereby completely miss the program God is operating today (grace/non-works religion)!

How many billions of sincere church members blindly follow the teachings of their church leaders… leading either to spiritual immaturity or eternal damnation (Matthew 15:14)! Precious lost souls, upon departing this world, finally realize that their church lied to them. By following their church in ignoring the sufficiency of Christ’s crosswork, they now face an eternity of isolation, wrath, and punishment in hellfire. Sadly, instead of relying on God’s Word, they believed their clergy’s admonition, “Rely on the church for your salvation!”

In addition, many Christians will be disappointed when they learn their denomination misled them with religious tradition. Heed the warning! Beloved, read and believe the King James Bible, God’s Word, rightly divided (dispensationally), on your own. NEVER base your eternal destiny (salvation) and spiritual health on the teachings of fallible man.

Read the King James Bible on Your Own #2

Saturday, March 24, 2012

“How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)”  (Ephesians 3:3,4 KJV).

The most dangerous spiritual mistake is to rely on the mere claims of pastors, priests, theologians, and teachers. Many appear “spiritual” and sound “godly,” but did God’s Word really say what they claim it says? Or, did they simply make something up to further their preconceived (denominational) conclusion? Check church leaders against the King James Bible rightly divided. You will find most of them flunk doctrinally!! They are not God’s servants.

Recently, a minister quoted six Bible verses; however, his message was bogus and unscriptural. Despite his allusions (illusions!) to the Scripture, he taught pagan idolatry and superstition. Sadly, most of his readers will never know that because they took his word for it (they will never consult the Bible). “Why should I question him? He attended seminary (Bible cemetery)—he must know his Bible!” Israel’s religious leaders studied the Old Testament, yet Jesus told them: “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures” (Matthew 22:29). These “seminarians” knew nothing about God’s Word.

Ignoring a church’s “interpretation” and reading and believing the Bible as is is not a sin; Paul in today’s Scripture encouraged the Ephesians to read the Bible and learn God’s Word (without a church teaching body or seminary degree!). Isaiah 34:16; John 5:39; Acts 17:10,11; 2 Timothy 2:7,15; 2 Timothy 3:15-17 say people read the Bible.

Eventually, everyone will appear before Jesus Christ. The lost (unsaved) world will stand before Him at the Great White Throne Judgment to receive their punishment for rejecting God’s Word, the everlasting lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). Members of the Church the Body of Christ, however, will stand before Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ to give account of their Christian lives (the quality of the Bible doctrine they believed, practiced, et cetera; Romans 14:10,11; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

In those days, “My pastor/priest told me…” will not be a valid excuse for Bible ignorance.

Read the King James Bible on Your Own #1

Friday, March 23, 2012

“How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:3,4 KJV).

Does your local church forbid you to read the Bible on your own? Some groups (cults) want to keep their members in spiritual darkness, so they forbid them to read the Scriptures. These dear members are told they cannot understand the Bible on their own. They are reassured to rely on the “education” of the pastor/priest/pope and trust in his (or her!!) interpretation of the Bible. My, oh my, this is the most dangerous spiritual mistake of all!!!

The Apostle Paul, led by the Holy Ghost, instructed the Ephesians in today’s Scripture. If they would read God’s Word, the Bible, they would gain just as much knowledge about God and His will for this Dispensation of Grace as much as he (Paul) had: “when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.” They were not to depend on Paul the man; they were to depend on God’s Word. Never, EVER rely on the word of someone—including me—without consulting God’s Word and studying it yourself.

Scripture does not say much about Berea, but it does say this town was the home of saints who “searched the scriptures daily, whether these things [the things Paul preached] were so” (Acts 17:10,11). They were reading and understanding the Bible without a priest or preacher’s “interpretation.”

You need not a decade of seminary (the Bible “cemetery!”) to understand God’s Word. Trust in Christ Jesus alone as your personal Saviour and then allow God the Holy Ghost to teach you His Word (1 Corinthians 2:9-16). Get a King James Bible (God’s preserved Word and words), and study and believe it dispensationally: Paul’s epistles (Romans through Philemon) are God’s Word to us, the rest of the Bible concerns Israel. Never take anyone else’s word or mine regarding the Bible. Take God’s Word and read it on your own to see if what was said or written is so!

God’s Workmanship #2

Saturday, March 3, 2012

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 KJV).

When we Pauline dispensationalists proclaim God’s grace, are we really encouraging people to pursue careless, frivolous lifestyles, as our (legalistic) critics claim? God forbid!

Religion deceives billions through indoctrination: to wit, lies repeated long enough are accepted as truth. Works-religion (legalism) prevails in the professing church today: “Perform so God can save you!” Thus, the average church member, upon hearing the Biblical truth, “God will save you, regardless of your works,” they mistake this as careless living. They are programmed to accept error as truth; consequently, they reject contradictory information (God’s truth!).

When we Pauline dispensationalists declare, “Salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing,” we mean salvation is COMPLETELY independent of our performance (Romans 3:28; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:21; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; et al.). Grace saves us solely because of the merits of Jesus Christ at Calvary; grace does not save us on the basis of our good works—grace is unmerited favor (Romans 11:6).

Grace is what God can do for us because we sinners can do nothing for God. The Greek word translated “workmanship” in today’s Scripture is poiema, meaning “creation,” from which we get “poem.” Interestingly, poiema is used one other time in Scripture: “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” (Romans 1:20).

From salvation and the Christian life to the origin of the universe, the emphasis is not on the creation—(us, the heavens, and the earth), but on the Creator, Jesus Christ (see Romans 1:25). The focus is not on the poem (workmanship), but rather the POET (Creator)!

God the Holy Spirit is doing something amazing in us believers. He is transforming us from the inside out for His glory. “Our” good works are God’s sound doctrine working in us. It is God’s work (1 Corinthians 15:10; Galatians 5:16-26; Philippians 1:9-11). Indeed, we are God’s workmanship!

The Jews, the Greeks, and Paul’s Gospel

Friday, February 24, 2012

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:22-24 KJV).

Jews were fixated on “signs,” miraculous demonstrations that God had long used to teach them and their forefathers, whereas Greeks were obsessed with “wisdom” (philosophy, human viewpoint). These distracted them from focusing on what really mattered—salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ!

  • JEWS AND SIGNS: After Jesus performed miracles before Israel the Bible says “many believed in his name,… but Jesus did not commit himself unto them…” (John 2:23-25). Jesus understood they were just awed by the miracles; they overlooked the doctrine He was teaching through the miracles!! When Paul preached the Gospel of Grace to Jews, they too just wanted miracles, not the salvation that the miracles represented. Also, to Jews, “Christ crucified” was a “stumblingblock,” something offensive, for did they not crucify Christ (today’s Scripture; cf. Isaiah 8:13,14; Romans 9:32,33; 1 Peter 2:6-8)?
  • GREEKS AND WISDOM: In Acts chapter 17, when Paul encountered the Athenian philosophers near Mars’ Hill, they wanted to learn from him “new doctrine… for all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing” (verses 19-21). Notice again how these Greeks focused on learning/philosophy. Yet, once they learned God’s wisdom, Paul’s Gospel, the Gospel of Grace, they considered that “foolishness” (today’s Scripture; cf. Acts 17:18,32; 1 Corinthians 1:18).

Thankfully, today’s Scripture teaches that for Jews who were “called” (members of the Church the Body of Christ), Christ was TRUE POWER, “the power of God”—for God demonstrated His miraculous power by raising Christ from the dead (cf. Romans 1:4; 2 Corinthians 13:4). For Greeks who were “called” (also members of the Body of Christ), Christ was TRUE WISDOM, “the wisdom of God”—for God demonstrated His unrivaled wisdom in saving us using “the foolishness of preaching” (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:21, 25-30; Colossians 2:2,3).

The Greeks Seek After Wisdom

Thursday, February 23, 2012

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:” (1 Corinthians 1:22 KJV).

Having been in college for nearly six years now, I have learned firsthand that most educated people avoid God’s Word. The Bible, say they, is not a credible source because it cannot be proven using the “scientific method” (that is, tested in a lab). Because the Bible is not the “wisdom of this world,” these individuals have little to no respect for it. After all, “the Greeks seek after wisdom” (today’s Scripture).

In the ancient world, Athens was an intellectual hub. So, when the Apostle Paul visited it in Acts 17:15-34, who do you suppose he met? “Certain philosophers, of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection” (verse 18). To these pagan philosophers, Paul was a “babbler,” someone who preached hearsay (unreliable rumors).

“And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them” (verses 32,33). What did some of these philosophers do upon hearing God’s Word? Mock it! Paul preaching the Gospel of the Grace of God was nonsense to them. (Do we not get the same response today?)

Today’s Scripture is an excerpt from Paul’s first epistle to Corinth, which, unfortunately for the Corinthian believers, was only about 45 miles (72 km) due west of Athens. The pagans in Athens obviously worshiped philosophy and science, and this idolatry trickled into nearby Corinth. Not surprisingly, one of the 10 major problems in Corinth was believers were rejecting God’s wisdom and embracing human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:17-31, 2:5, 3:18,19)!

The Greek philosophy spoken of in the above verses is still with us in the sciences, the arts, and politics. Like the aforesaid philosophers, many educated people today are still “too intelligent” to be bothered with learning true wisdom, God’s Word, so they mock and reject it.

God’s Grace on Parade

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

“…But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20 KJV).

Today, especially here in southern Louisiana, the Catholic festival of Mardi Gras takes advantage of God’s grace. God’s grace abounds even when drunkenness, lasciviousness, and gluttony are committed overtly on our streets for religion. Because we live in the Dispensation of the Grace of God, they can flaunt their sin without being consumed by fire from heaven!

“Mardi Gras,” French for “Fat Tuesday,” is a day when religious people—professing “Christians”—lose self-control (excess alcohol, food, and partying). The following day, Ash Wednesday, they promise to live “holy” for the next 40 days (Lent). A priest will then place ashes on their foreheads proving that God forgave them for that riotous living. Blasphemy!

Regardless of all its biblical allusions (illusions!), Mardi Gras is still evil and anti-God. It was never Christian, originating from pagan Roman festivals, Saturnalia and Lupercalia (interestingly known for riots, drunkenness, gluttony, and fornication, and subsequent repentance).

The Holy Spirit, speaking through the Apostles Peter and Paul, was clearly against Mardi Gras reveling and drunkenness (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:3). So why do professing Christians engage in the very activities that God the Holy Spirit condemned?! As Christians, we should “deny” the activities of Mardi Gras (Romans 6:11-15; Titus 2:11-15).

If I appear offended, I am. Mardi Gras, despite its godly façade, is offensive to the great God and my Saviour Jesus Christ! God’s grace continues to tolerate such foolishness from mankind. Man parades his sin, and God parades His grace, holding back wrath.

Are you a Mardi Gras reveler? I declare unto you the wonderful Gospel of the Grace of God. God did for you at Calvary what you could never do: “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Jesus Christ shed His sinless blood and died to put away all of your sins, Mardi Gras revelry included.

If you rest in Christ Jesus alone as your Saviour, God will save you forever, make a trophy of His grace, and then YOUR life will be God’s grace on parade!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study with the same name. The Bible study can be read here or watched here.

Manuscript Copies

Monday, February 20, 2012

“The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments” (2 Timothy 4:13 KJV).

A widespread theological position is, “God’s inspired Word is only found in the autographs/original manuscripts.” But, this is silly because the autographs do not exist anymore. The Bible itself declares that manuscript copies (apographs) are equal to the original manuscripts.

Our Apostle Paul, imprisoned in Rome and living out his final days, urges Timothy to visit him soon. In today’s Scripture, Paul tells Timothy, “Bring the books, but especially the parchments.” What were these “parchments?” We believe them to be copies of Bible manuscripts!

God preserves His words through a multiplicity of manuscript copies, not in the original manuscripts alone (which no longer exist). Note:

  • Paul desired the Thessalonians to read that epistle to all the holy brethren (1 Thessalonians 5:27).
  • James 1:1 says it is written to “the twelve tribes scattered abroad,” implying a large audience occupying foreign lands (dispersed Jews).
  • The Apostle Peter wrote to Jews scattered in present-day Turkey, another vast geographical area (1 Peter 1:1).
  • Revelation 1:11 says that seven churches are to receive “a book” of letters from the Apostle John.
  • Galatians was a circular letter, to many “churches,” for Galatia was a region, not a city (1:2).
  • Colossians 4:16 says Laodicea was to read Paul’s epistle to Colosse.

Surely, it would be foolish to circulate the one original manuscript of each of the above Bible books (if so, the original would have disintegrated through continued usage, and God’s Word would have been lost!). Did God expect all these individuals living in various areas to share one Bible (book) containing the original manuscripts? Of course not. They shared manuscript copies, copies of the originals.

There were (and are) reliable manuscript copies. Jesus and the Ethiopian eunuch did not share the same Isaiah scroll—these too were copies (Luke 4:16-21 cf. Acts 8:28-33). Israel’s king was to study manuscript copies, not the original Bible manuscripts (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).

According to God’s Word, a manuscript copy of an original Bible manuscript shares its authority.

Religious Tradition is Not the Final Authority

Saturday, February 4, 2012

“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye” (Mark 7:13 KJV).

A critic once asked me where the Bible taught “Sola Scriptura” (that the Bible, not religious tradition, was the final authority). Although he attempted to trip me up with this “I gotcha” issue, I showed him the following verses, including today’s Scripture, and he has not been heard from since! 🙂

Just as vain religious tradition abounds today, it did in Christ’s time. The Pharisees and scribes loved being religious, but they vehemently rejected God’s Son Jesus Christ, and they made every attempt to hinder His ministry. In their minds, their vain religious tradition, not God’s Word, had the preeminence (Galatians 1:13,14; 1 Peter 1:18). Sound familiar?

Today, most churches relegate God’s Word to a “good advice” status: the Bible’s testimony is only sought if it agrees with church tradition. Myriads of church members only hear God’s Word via a biased (denominational) viewpoint. This happens in “Christian” churches of all places too!

In Matthew 15:9, Jesus said: “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” He expounded in Mark 7:8,9: “For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”

The focus was not on God’s doctrine and its meaning, but whether or not someone could pacify Israel’s religious body with outward performance (formalism). By cleaving to their tradition, they nullified God’s Word (today’s Scripture). Consider modern-day church members enslaved to a denominational hierarchy, bound to perform religious duty and appease fallible man.

Friends, you either believe religious tradition, or you believe God’s Word. The two cannot and will not mix because they are mutually exclusive: “…Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition” (Matthew 15:6). According to Jesus Christ, the Bible alone has God’s authority, not religious tradition (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16,17).

Whom Doth Thou Really Follow? #3

Sunday, January 15, 2012

“Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is” (John 9:28,29 KJV).

In the context of today’s Scripture, Jesus heals a blind man. After he appears before the unbelieving Pharisees, they summon his parents to confirm his former blindness (verses 18-21). His parents fear being cast out of the synagogue, so they avoid admitting Jesus Christ healed him (verses 21-23). Contrariwise, their son boldly holds to God’s truth, refusing Israel’s vain religion. Thus, the Pharisees “reviled [insulted] him” (today’s Scripture). How we Pauline dispensationalists face the same persecution today!

Most Jews—especially Israel’s religious leaders—refused to trust in Jesus as their Messiah. Any Jew who embraced Jesus as Messiah was alienated by his friends and family, for the Jews who followed Jesus Christ went counter to Israel’s apostate religious system. The parents of the man in today’s Scripture feared losing their popularity, so they did not confess Christ. Eventually, the Pharisees cast out the man for following Jesus (verse 34).

Similarly, if you have trusted exclusively in Christ Jesus, and you are not relying on your good works for salvation, you are going contrary to the prevalent works-religion system of our day. The lost world avoids you because you are God’s child. Moreover, if you study and believe the King James Bible “rightly divided,” as 2 Timothy 2:15 teaches, you become even less popular. The denominationalists and religionists do not want you either!

We follow our Apostle Paul as he follows Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Since most of Christendom abhors dispensational Bible study, they keep their distance from us. The denominationalists and religionists treat us the same way the wicked Pharisees treated the Jewish believers—criticize and ostracize! Like the Pharisees, they reject sound Bible doctrine and keep their tradition. Moreover, the non-religious lost world rejects us too, for we trust in Jesus Christ while they trust in their worthless idols.

Let us continue following Paul as he follows Christ, even as they criticize and ostracize! 🙂