Category: religious bondage

Arrayed in Hypocrisy

Saturday, October 31, 2026

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matthew 23:27,28 KJV).

“Looks can be deceiving” is not only true during Halloweentime, but confirmed year-round within Christendom.

Today is Halloween, when children dress up and feign themselves to be creatures they are not. Likewise, many church leaders today wear “Christian” garbs, but their ministries do not bring the Lord Jesus Christ glory and honor. They promote their denomination, and seek to perpetuate it, rather than serve and exalt the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. The Bible manifests these who appear to be good, as “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

In today’s Scripture, Jesus Christ exposed Israel’s corrupt religious leaders who misled the nation in His day. In His Parable of the Tares, Matthew 13:24-30,37-43, Christ explained how just as He had sown good seed (wheat, believing Jews) in Israel, Satan had also sown tares/weeds (unbelieving Jews). Tares resemble wheat; unbelieving Jews resemble believing Jews. The unbelieving Pharisees and scribes, for instance, looked like God’s people (believing Israel). Judas Iscariot was another example of Satan’s tares—the apostles never realized who Judas really was until it was too late!

But Satan’s counterfeit believers are not confined to Israel’s program. Today, within local assemblies of the Body of Christ, there are people feigning themselves to be Christians: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

Beloved, beware of the church leaders who are arrayed in hypocrisy, “and avoid them” (Romans 16:17b). If their teaching does not agree with the rightly divided King James Bible, you have no business as a child of God to be listening to them.

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

You may also see our special study, “Should Christians celebrate Halloween?” In addition, “What does the Bible say about ghosts?”

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #149

Thursday, October 22, 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 Christian songs should “teach [instruct]” and “admonish [warn]” (Colossians 3:16), the quality of the doctrine their lyrics communicate determine their spiritual value. Indeed, just as preaching about Christ can be iniquity (see Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15), so singing about Him can be sinful too. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23,24). To worship God “in spirit” is internal (not external); “in truth” is correctness (not error). “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3).

As with prayer, Christendom wrongly greatly emphasizes physical posture concerning music. Unless you are kneeling, closing your eyes, and folding your hands, they do not regard your praying as “most spiritual.” Similarly, so as to fit in, you must raise your hands, shake or dance, and sing for extended periods of time during a “worship service”—the louder the music, the longer the singing, the more praise God allegedly receives. Certainly, ancient Israel outwardly appeared to worship God (Isaiah 1:10-20; Amos 5:21-27) by offering animal sacrifices, burning incense, keeping a religious calendar with feasts, spreading their hands, and making many prayers. Yet, all of it was fakery, external (formalism, showiness) instead of internal (faith, truth). None of it appealed to the LORD; it actually made Him so nauseous He even refused to look on it!

Physical positions are inconsequential when one’s heart is still in unbelief: “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias [Isaiah 29:13] prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:7-9; cf. Mark 7:6,7). Whether Christ’s earthly ministry or 700 years before, the Jews sang and talked about “the LORD” without simultaneously having faith in Him. Likewise, Christendom has done it for two millennia….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #140

Tuesday, October 13, 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?

Doubtless, it is human nature to desire entertainment, a marked emotional experience that relieves us of the monotony of daily affairs. We yearn to escape the “same old, same old,” so we read or write romance novels, watch or produce horror movies, and tell jokes or listen to humorous stories. Whether bliss, fright, or hilarity, these immaterial or intangible reactions in us can be easily confused with the invisible working of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Those who frequent church services that feature boring rites, rituals, and ceremonies, can take only so much before fleeing in disgust. Dead, uninteresting, cold religion is enough to make anyone launch a lifelong crusade railing against God for the foolishness of man witnessed! It had been a “sin” to so much as whisper in the “sanctuary”—unless, of course, you whispered a prayer. The atmosphere was subdued to the point that several closed eyes could be seen and countless snores could be heard. Yet, for the souls desiring to stay in church, they simply move to the other extreme—lively “worship” services of loud music, prolonged singing, dancing, jumping, swaying, raising hands, and so on. Here, they hold weekly “concerts for the Lord,” and just as many attend these as if they were a secular venue where the Lord’s name is never mentioned even once.

We now reflect on thought-provoking questions. Could singing about Jesus ever really be evil? Is it possible to praise the Devil with our musical instruments? What about in a church setting? How can we measure the propriety or impropriety of such conduct? So as to prompt further critical thinking, we offer this verse: “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:26). As Corinth could (and did) teach us much about the real Lord’s Supper and the fake one, so it can (and will) alert us to diabolical counterfeits in the world of music….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #139

Monday, October 12, 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 countless millions, “holy communion” is a time of excessive use of manmade prayers, ringing of bells, bowing of heads and knees, eating of wafers, drinking of wine/juice, playing of music, burning of incense, crossing of one’s heart, folding of hands, wearing of costly apparel, pacing to and fro, looking up to Heaven, using special utensils, alleviating guilt, and on and on and on. There is more showmanship than spirituality, more ritualism than righteousness, more ignorance than knowledge, more formalism than truth, and more unbelief than faith. Yet, it makes these spectators feel good, closer to God, and superior to those without. If ever they were to trust the pure Gospel of Grace—Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day—all these grounds for their boasting would be thrown out and permanently shut out. It would start being about what He did once for all, rather than what they do over and over again (trying to perform better each time, but failing miserably). Therefore, they would rather spend eternity in the Lake of Fire than part ways with what appeals to their sin nature and strokes their egos.

God the Holy Spirit set forth general guidelines about the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:20-34 rather than specifics. He did not want us to get caught up in meticulous adherence to insignificant details and external/body rather than internal/heart (religionists become obsessed with outward form—see Matthew 23:23-33). Unlike the annual feasts of the LORD under the Law of Moses (Leviticus chapter 23), the frequency of the Lord’s Supper is not stipulated. Scripture never sets a schedule—whether daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or whatever, for that is not important. “As oft as” and “as often as” (1 Corinthians 11:25,26) are as close to any prescribed timetable as the Bible gets. We should use our renewed mind to figure out the rest. Above all, what matters is that we think about the Lord Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins—how it binds us to God, to each other (members of the Body of Christ), and even to believing Israel (Messianic Church, Little Flock).

We now pass on to yet another realm of misunderstanding….

The Greatest War Hero

Monday, May 25, 2026

“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.

To Kneel or Not to Kneel in Prayer? #6

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,…” (Ephesians 3:14 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture insinuate the “proper posture of prayer” is kneeling?

Friend, if you want to kneel to pray, raise your hands to pray, bow your head to pray, or close your eyes to pray, that is your business, but do not expect God to smile upon you more or give you what you want simply because of such positions or movements. Also, keep this in mind: it does not make you “more spiritual” or “better” than someone who does not kneel to pray, who does not raise their hands to pray, who does not bow their head to pray, and who does not close their eyes to pray. Do not be sucked into the trap of formalism. Posture can be—and has been—faked in religion for thousands of years. Kneeling does not automatically equate to humility or spirituality, just as standing does not necessarily mean arrogance or worldliness.

Whether you get down on your knees, or lift your hands, or bow your head, or close your eyes… it makes no difference to God when you pray. We should pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)—so that means prayer is far more than physical posture, for it is absolutely impossible to always have eyes closed, always have heads bowed, always have hands up, and always have knees down. How your outward body is positioned in prayer is totally irrelevant. What matters is the inner man. Is faith or unbelief guiding you? Is it done in Bible understanding or Bible ignorance?

Pour out your soul before the LORD, as Hannah did in 1 Samuel 1:15, talk to Him in light of what He told you in His rightly divided Word. If the Word of Christ dwells in us richly in all wisdom (Colossians 3:16), then pouring out our heart before the LORD will reinforce in our minds what He has said to us. This is what is pleasing to Him. If we do not know His words to us, then we had better get over to Romans to Philemon and start reading and believing, so we can drive out the superstition, foolishness, carnality, childishness, and darkness that so easily beset us during prayer-time!

To Kneel or Not to Kneel in Prayer? #5

Monday, April 27, 2026

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,…” (Ephesians 3:14 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture insinuate the “proper posture of prayer” is kneeling?

A seminary-educated preacher and teacher/professor once proposed that more Christian people needed to get down on their knees while they prayed. What that poor brother did not learn from his so-called “Christian institution of high learning” was edification in sound Bible doctrine and admonition about formalism (making a big deal about outward appearance, form, ceremony, rite, ritual).

“Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias [Isaiah 29:13] prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:7-9; cf. Mark 7:6,7). If you carefully read these contexts, you will notice substantial religious busyness in Judaism—especially assorted washings of hands, cups, pots, brazen vessels, and tables (Mark 7:3,4,8). It was a stunning spectacle that seemed to foster wholesomeness or purity. However, they were neglecting their filthy, sinful hearts of unbelief, recognizing no need to seek God so He could clean these (Matthew 23:25-33). Whether Isaiah’s time, or Christ’s earthly ministry 700 years later, lost Jews sang psalms and talked about “God” (“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips”), but there was no corresponding heart of faith (“but their heart is far from me”). Undoubtedly, countless Christ-rejecting Jews were on their knees too, praying this and praying that. Mere form means nothing, but underlying doctrine does!

It is not arrogant to pray while standing, just as it is not necessarily humble to pray while kneeling. Moreover, we should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It is impossible to kneel constantly. After all, we do have to sleep, walk, drive vehicles, and work a job! To reduce prayer to a mere physical position, to assert “the proper posture of prayer is kneeling,” is to advertise Bible ignorance. Prayer is simply talking to God in light of His words to us (and this we should always do), and we do not have to speak audibly either. There is no requirement to kneel, close our eyes, or lift up our hands….

Something in Which to Glory!

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:12-14 KJV).

In what shall we glory? About what shall we boast? In what shall we find value?

Religion produces people who enjoy bragging all about their “dedication to God.” “Look what I did—the ceremonies in which I have participated, the many prayers I faithfully recited daily, how much I put in the collection plate, see how many pleasures I gave up to please God! Come, see how much I love Him!” Dear friends, the Apostle Paul found great value in something—but that something was not what he did. All that human flesh can accomplish pales in comparison to the work in today’s Scripture.

As Lent begins, the time when religionists temporarily (a mere 40 days) relinquish some pleasant food or activity, let us remember that our performance is often non-performance. Once we place ourselves on that treadmill of “do, do, do,” we are guaranteed to fail at some point. Human flesh is simply too weak to maintain 100 percent—that is sin! Even concerning one rule, we cannot keep it perfectly. We mess up eventually.

If ever we believe that our puny works are worth bragging about, let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul in today’s Scripture. While some boast in their religiosity (in the passage, the Judaizers applauding their rite of physical circumcision), and such denominationalists today urge us to obey their church’s instructions so they too may boast in our ability, let us eschew such foolishness. Being imperfect, all their works do not measure up to Christ’s finished crosswork. At Calvary, we find the only sacrifice that will ever please the God of the Bible. If we must boast, let us brag that He did what we could never, ever do!

See our archived Bible Q&A: “Should Christians observe Lent?”

A Life That Will Please

Sunday, January 4, 2026

“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 KJV).

Today’s Scripture tells us who alone can live a life pleasing in God’s sight!

Everyone does “good” deeds. Yet, doing “good” is not necessarily good. For instance, people often do “good” just to receive praise/reward, make up for their wrongs, feel good, et cetera. Furthermore, despite our “good” deeds, we have plenty more bad ones! Pride, lying, evil thoughts, being a false witness, and being contentious are some of the things the LORD hates (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Mankind cannot even keep 10 simple rules from God. However, religion continues to urge us to keep seven sacraments, utter various prayers, give assorted offerings and “tithes,” attend numerous feasts and festivals, and perform sundry other tasks to “hopefully” please God and avoid hellfire. Whether we attempt to keep a church’s laws, our laws, or God’s laws, our flesh is far too weak to ever measure up. Just look at what God’s religion did to Israel—how much worse some man-made religion does to us!

As Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul was a Pharisee, a religious leader of Israel. He was a nitpicker concerning Law-keeping, and yet, after his soul salvation, he admitted that all of his religion was “but dung” compared to Jesus Christ’s righteousness (Philippians 3:3-11). Even for the Christian, to live a perfect life is impossible (read of Paul’s miserable existence in Romans chapter 7). Paul had to forsake his vain religion and learn today’s Scripture: the Christian life is NOT the performance of the Christian, but the Lord Jesus Christ living and working in the Christian, as the Christian walks in an intelligent understanding of God’s Word to him or her!

If we trust a Saviour who will save—the Lord Jesus Christ—and trust a Book that will teach—the King James Bible—we can redeem the year for the great God and our Saviour, “who loved [us], and gave himself for [us]!” 🙂

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. 🙂

Redeem the Year!

Thursday, January 1, 2026

“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” (Ephesians 5:15-17 KJV).

What great advice for 2026!

Despite 2,000 years of Bible schools and seminaries, 2,000 years of a completed Bible canon, 2,000 years of Bible reading in churches, several decades of “Christian” television and radio, and a decade-plus of widespread use of “Christian” websites, how sad that Bible ignorance is still quite extensive (it is as if God never gave His Word to start with!).

Frankly, the Church the Body of Christ needs to wake up! The verse previous to today’s Scripture says, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (verse 14). Paul, loosely quoting Isaiah 60:1, reminded us that the spiritual ignorance that gripped Israel in Isaiah’s day seized Christians in his day—and it still grips Christians 20 centuries later. Feel-good sermons, enjoyable “worship” services, and rites, rituals, and ceremonies will NOT solve this problem—they exacerbate it!

“[God] will have all men to be saved…” (1 Timothy 2:4a). Do you want this New Year to count for God’s glory? First, you need to get saved from sins and hell! You need to become a Christian by trusting in and relying on Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for your sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). That is only part of God’s will for you, for 1 Timothy 2:4b continues, “[God] will have all men… to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Now, God’s will for your Christian life is daily, personal Bible study to renew your mind, so your faith in those verses can cause God to work in your life—it will be His life, thus making you “perfect [spiritually mature], throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

Today’s Scripture urges us to buy back the time Satan has robbed from God (time created for God’s glory). By faith, we need to make that time glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by applying His Word, particularly Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon, to our lives. Have a good year in Christ! 🙂

You can download our free “One-Year Bible Reading Schedule.”

See our archived Bible Q&A: “What Scriptural advice can you give me for the New Year?”