Category: False Teaching

The Greatest War Hero

Monday, May 26, 2025

“For God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 KJV).

In the United States, today is Memorial Day, when we remember those who sacrificed their time and lives to provide our physical freedom. Likewise, as Christians, we have spiritual freedom, which was more costly. Someone had to die to give us the eternal life we now enjoy….

Scripture describes a spiritual warfare between good and evil, God’s truth program versus Satan’s lie program: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles [schemes] of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11,12; see also verses 13-20).

Satan distracts mankind from God’s pure Word, the Bible, keeping unbelievers lost (dead in their sins), and preventing unbelievers and Christians from knowing God’s will. The devil draws them away (seduces them) from God’s Word by using religious tradition and human “wisdom” (1 Timothy 4:1-3; cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Galatians 3:1-3).

God loves us, so at Calvary’s cross, Christ fought for us sinners, died in battle (today’s Scripture), shed His divine sinless blood, and eternally rescued us from Satan and sin: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:14,15).

Hebrews 9:12 says Jesus Christ has “obtained eternal redemption for us.”

If we have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). Now, God can use us for His glory for all eternity.

Beloved, let us rejoice in our victory over sin, death, and hell that Jesus Christ secured for us by going to Calvary’s rugged cross! Jesus Christ is now alive forevermore—He is our Hero, the Greatest Hero!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study “The Greatest Hero,” which can be read here or watched here.

Reaping and Sowing #4

Friday, May 23, 2025

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7 KJV).

Let us not be ignorant brethren concerning the concept of “reaping and sowing!”

During the centuries before Christ, Israel worshipped Gentile idols. Consequently, Satan’s lie program distracted the Jewish people from John the Baptist’s preaching, Jesus Christ’s preaching, and even Peter’s preaching in early Acts. Israel sowed unbelief and will reap the horrors of (the future) Daniel’s 70th Week!

The LORD speaks in Proverbs 1:20-33: “[20] Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: [21] She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, [22] How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? [23] Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. [24] Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; [25] But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: [26] I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; [27] When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

“[28] Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: [29] For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: [30] They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. [31] Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. [32] For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. [33] But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.”

There is an old farmers’ adage, “You reap what you sow, you reap more than you sow, and you reap later than you sow.” In short, our actions have consequences—the outcome reflects the decision, the outcome will be more extreme than we thought when we made the decision, and the outcome does not immediately follow the decision. Let us now see today’s Scripture in context….

Reaping and Sowing #3

Thursday, May 22, 2025

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7 KJV).

Let us not be ignorant brethren concerning the concept of “reaping and sowing!”

Moses publicly disrespected the LORD by smiting the rock in a fit of rage when he should have spoken to it, so he and brother Aaron were forbidden to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land (Numbers 20:7-13). Throughout the Book of Joshua, the Jewish people failed to destroy the pagan Gentiles in the land of Canaan, so those heathen eventually influenced Israel to be idolatrous. In the Book of Judges, these sins of idolatry brought on God’s punishment in the form of invading Gentile troops, though God had mercy on and delivered Israel when they cried out in repentance (Judges 2:1-23). Judge Samson got romantically involved with a pagan Philistine woman and that finally contributed to his death by Israel’s enemies (Judges 16:4-31).

Believing Gentile Ruth chose to follow the God of Israel, thereby inadvertently becoming the ancestor of Messiah Jesus (Ruth 1:15-18; cf. Matthew 1:5,6,16; Luke 3:23,32). Young David, her great-grandson, trusted the LORD and defeated the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-58), going on to be one of Israel’s most famous monarchs. King David failed to be a good father to his children, growing angry with son Amnon for sexually assaulting sister Tamar but carrying out no punishment, forcing son Absalom to kill Amnon in the pursuit of justice (2 Samuel 13:1-39). Absalom later dies in an uprising against David (2 Samuel 15:1-13; 2 Samuel 18:1-17). Brother Adonijah perishes for treason against brother King Solomon (1 Kings 1:1-10; 1 Kings 2:19-25). “Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house” (Proverbs 17:13).

“Your sin will find you out,” Moses advised Israel in Numbers 32:23. Indeed, King Solomon learned this after he had intimate relations with almost 1,000 female Satan worshippers (1 Kings 11:1-8)—and that destroyed his nation Israel politically and spiritually for the next thousand years, all the way up to Christ’s earthly ministry! These are just a few of the countless examples of “reaping and sowing” throughout the Old Testament Bible canon, some good but most bad.

We can come to an even better understanding….

333’s 5100th – To Perfect Holiness

Saturday, May 17, 2025

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV).

Saints, by God’s grace, special-edition devotional #5100 is here!

Assembling around the King James Bible rightly divided every day all these years (two weeks shy of 14 years, actually!) has been quite the learning experience, has it not? It is only appropriate—yea, exceedingly critical—that we thank Father God for our growth. We ought to keep walking in this spiritual light we have, lest we return to the darkness of spiritual kindergarten where we have been.

We “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit” (today’s Scripture) by receiving our Apostle Paul (verse 2). All evil conduct (Corinth) and all evil doctrine (Galatia) should be put out of our lives—this is not sinlessness but purity according to grace thinking and living. Unfortunately, the Corinthians had been foolish enough to accept false apostles and false teachers, so those Christians had no room for Paul in their heart: “O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged” (2 Corinthians 6:11-13).

Multitudes of professing Christians find themselves in that very passage. They have little to no time for Paul, Jesus Christ’s messenger or spokesman to them, because false teachers have distracted them! This is definitely not God’s fault. If we are unthankful for the spiritual understanding we have, we will inevitably end up where they are. This is not fun and games—entertainment. It is a matter of having victory over sin versus being conquered by sin. This is important. It does matter. It absolutely should concern us. We should take this seriously.

We have yet to “perfect [complete, see to the end] holiness in the sight of God” (today’s Scripture). Our sanctified, or set-apart, position in Christ has not taken over our thoughts and lives completely. Wherefore, until we reach Heaven, there is always opportunity for more growth and development, that our thinking better match sound Bible doctrine and our walk better match our wealth. Therefore, we continue these daily dispensational Bible studies.

Onward by God’s grace to devotional #5200! Praise our Lord Jesus Christ!

Note: All our previous devotionals are archived here.

Neither Length Nor Fervor, But Clarity #7

Friday, May 16, 2025

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11,12 KJV).

Let ministers depend on the Spirit of God as they deliver their sermons, and not rely on the (limited, weak) energy of the flesh!

Observe: “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).

The Word of Christ must dwell in us richly if we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit of God never operates apart from the Word of God. If the Word of Christ does not dwell in us richly, we are automatically not under the control of the Spirit of God—meaning we are under the control of our flesh. The flesh is man’s efforts, man’s resources in Adam, and the flesh of man and the Spirit of God always oppose one another. Carefully read Galatians 5:16-26 and Romans 8:1-14.

As he himself confessed in Philippians 3:6, Saul of Tarsus was a “zealous” man in Acts chapters 7–9. He ruthlessly persecuted the Messianic Church, Israel’s believing remnant. Like his apostate nation, he had a “zeal toward God” (Acts 22:3; Romans 10:2), but it was all done in the energy of the flesh—ignorance. No amount of Adamic struggles and strivings can ever even begin to replace God’s mighty power working in the inner man (as Paul himself came to understand in Romans chapter 7 and Philippians chapter 3).

Our faith should be resting in an intelligent understanding of God’s “rightly divided” Word (2 Timothy 2:15), especially a mastering of Paul’s epistles of Romans to Philemon, God’s words to and about us in this the Dispensation of Grace (Ephesians 3:1,2). Such clarity will carry far more weight in eternity than verbosity and fervency!

Neither Length Nor Fervor, But Clarity #6

Thursday, May 15, 2025

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11,12 KJV).

Let ministers depend on the Spirit of God as they deliver their sermons, and not rely on the (limited, weak) energy of the flesh!

Upon hearing Apollos’ incomplete and inaccurate spiritual information, Aquila and Priscilla did not overlook it: “And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly” (Acts 18:26). They took Apollos aside and taught him privately, instead of embarrassing him in public.

That which was lacking in Apollos’ Bible understanding, they filled it with the Bible teaching they received from Paul himself earlier in the chapter (verses 1-3). Apollos learned about the events which had followed the baptism of John the Baptist—Christ’s earthly ministry (including His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension), the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2, the fall of Israel in Acts chapter 7, and the salvation and commissioning of the Apostle Paul in Acts 9. Apollos subsequently became a Bible teacher who communicated with great clarity, becoming an asset to Paul’s ministry (Acts 18:27,28; Acts 19:1; 1 Corinthians 3:5,6; 1 Corinthians 16:12; Titus 3:13).

Unfortunately, unlike Apollos, too many ministers are unwilling to be taught “the way of God more perfectly.” Over all these years, I have met them. They are smug in, and comfortable with, their religious tradition, ignorance, and lies. “Scholarship,” man’s wisdom, man’s praise, and entertainment mean more to them than truth, God’s wisdom, God’s praise, and sound doctrine ever will! Lacking any care to know, they have no interest in being confused by facts. If so, they are preaching and teaching in the energy of the flesh. It is not the Holy Spirit working in and through them, but another spirit, so they are better off saying nothing in “the Lord’s name.”

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Neither Length Nor Fervor, But Clarity #5

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11,12 KJV).

Let ministers depend on the Spirit of God as they deliver their sermons, and not rely on the (limited, weak) energy of the flesh!

The vast majority of professing Christians—leaders and congregants alike—are affiliated with at least one denomination, cult, sect, or theological system. Either they are on the membership rolls, or they frequent the services, or they have read the books, or they have graduated the religious schools. These groups are the product of non-dispensational Bible study. They are all failed attempts to understand and enjoy the Bible—some have a little more light than others, but all languish in extensive ignorance and darkness.

A classic example of non-dispensational ignorance in ministry is Apollos, featured in Acts chapter 18: “[24] And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. [25] This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. [26] And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”

This Bible teacher or preacher, Apollos, was “eloquent”—precise, persuasive, and beautiful words poured from his lips. He was “mighty in the scriptures”—powerful in his Hebrew Bible education. “Instructed in the way of the Lord,” he “spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord….” Bold Apollos was “fervent in the spirit”—excited, passionate, enthusiastic. The bad news is, “…knowing only the baptism of John.” Apollos’ understanding of the Bible timeline was outdated, for the latest information he had was a 20-year-old message from John the Baptist!

Indeed, Apollos was fervent and long-speaking, but clarity was lacking….

Neither Length Nor Fervor, But Clarity #4

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11,12 KJV).

Let ministers depend on the Spirit of God as they deliver their sermons, and not rely on the (limited, weak) energy of the flesh!

Verbose (wordy) discourses and homilies are not necessarily spiritual or godly. Prolific writing does not automatically glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. Preachers, priests, pastors, teachers, and professors can speak with such eloquence, magnificence, or intelligence, and their spirit can become so excited that their voices boom—but is that the Spirit of God… or the flesh of man?

“Ramble” means “talk or write at length in a confusing or inconsequential way.” Nothing of any real meaning is communicated. Additionally, people are even more ignorant (unknowing) having listened to or read it—and they would have been better off hearing complete silence or looking at a blank page. This precisely describes much of the supposed “Christian” teaching, preaching, and writing these last 20 centuries. We need only glance at the tens of thousands of pitifully-ignorant little groups—cults, sects, denominations, social-clubs, and theological systems all under the banner of “Christendom”—to realize how monumentally great the disconnect is between man’s spirit and God’s Spirit!

Verses 4 and 5, the context of today’s Scripture: “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” When Paul arrived at Corinth in Acts chapter 18, he made sure he did not employ the wisdom of men when he preached to these Corinthians. Such philosophy was central to Greek culture, and orators (professional speech-makers) stated their position in such a clever way that their good words and fair speeches persuaded their audience to adopt their views. Paul was mindful that this wisdom of men was not the wisdom of God, and faith can rest only in the wisdom and power of God….

Neither Length Nor Fervor, But Clarity #3

Monday, May 12, 2025

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11,12 KJV).

Let ministers depend on the Spirit of God as they deliver their sermons, and not rely on the (limited, weak) energy of the flesh!

An old cliché goes, “The Bible sheds a lot of light on commentaries!” This is said in jest, of course, since commentaries ought to shed light on the Bible. Just why do commentaries frequently make the Bible more confusing and complicated? They are the product of the “natural” (lost) man and/or the “carnal” (fleshly Christian) man! Very rarely is the “spiritual” man (a Christian led by the Spirit of God) writing or speaking about the words of God. It is this spiritual man who is connected to the same Holy Spirit who moved holy men of God to write the Holy Bible (1 Corinthians 2:15,16 cf. 2 Peter 1:20,21).

If someone is struggling to teach the Bible, or struggling to comprehend it, the following factors must be considered. Firstly, the teacher might be thinking in the energy of the flesh. Secondly, the student may be thinking in the energy of the flesh. It could even be a combination of both teacher and student leaning toward the flesh instead of toward the Spirit. Check today’s Scripture again, then read the verses immediately following: “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (verses 13,14).

For example, take any book about the Bible—a commentary—and read it. Where you see sound Bible doctrine, that was where the author had yielded to the Holy Spirit. Where you see false doctrine, that was where the writer was under the influence of the flesh….

Neither Length Nor Fervor, But Clarity #2

Saturday, May 10, 2025

“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11,12 KJV).

Let ministers depend on the Spirit of God as they deliver their sermons, and not rely on the (limited, weak) energy of the flesh!

Generally, both unbelievers and Christians are inclined to depend on their own resources in Adam in an attempt to pursue and identify truth. If they study enough “scholarly” journals, attend plenty of religious seminars, enroll in an abundance of philosophical classes, and/or think long and hard by themselves for a sufficient time, they assume they will eventually “see the light” and arrive at some sense of meaning or purpose, and finally get peace. This is to be expected of unbelievers, but not of Christians.

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:…” (Ephesians 4:17-21).

When Christians adopt the “vain” (empty, worthless, profitless) and “darkened” (dimmed, obscured) and “blind” (sightless) position of unbelievers, they have rendered themselves pagans practically because they are isolated from the words of the Holy Bible that the Holy Spirit uses to teach (1 Corinthians 2:13). They know about the Bible, they are aware of what others say about it, but they do not have any personal faith in it. Amazingly, this is even where many seminary professors are—yea, the very people “training” the majority of our preachers, teachers, and missionaries, who will then go out upon graduation and add to the confusion….

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