Category: religious bondage

Paul and Dispensationalism #10

Monday, August 17, 2015

“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:37,38 KJV).

What else can the Apostle Paul teach us about dispensational Bible study?

Just what is the test for true spirituality? How many hymns we sang? How many large tithes we gave? How many “unknown tongues” we uttered? How many long prayers we recited? How many theology books we read? How many miracles we performed? How well we know Hebrew, Greek, and Latin? How many confessions we made? How many times we attended church? How high we jumped and how well we danced during “worship?” While in religion these are seen as “marks” of true Holy-Spirit-led Christian service, the Holy Spirit Himself has quite a different opinion (today’s Scripture).

In Corinth, carnality and Biblical ignorance abounded among Christians. It broke Paul’s heart to see that assembly in spiritual shambles… the very same saints he had taught personally for 18 months (Acts 18:11)! Pagan philosophy had enticed and deceived them, they were suing each other, they behaved as drunken gluttons at the Lord’s Supper, they abused spiritual gifts for personal gratification, et cetera. The Corinthians thought they were so spiritual and so wise, while in reality they were so fleshly and so silly! (Like today’s professing “church!”)

Today’s Scripture declares that a Spirit-led Christian, one speaking on behalf of God, acknowledged Paul’s apostolic authority over us Gentiles. The Corinthians were not spiritual—they rejected Paul’s apostleship in chapters 10 through 13 of 2 Corinthians. Paul knew, however, some Christians would continue deliberately ignoring his apostleship. His advice? Let them stay “ignorant!”

First Corinthians 2:6-8 says God’s “hidden wisdom” is manifested for all to see in the writings of Paul the Apostle, Romans through Philemon. Sadly, like the Corinthians, most true Christians today are too deceived, too weak, and too immature to appreciate “the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery.” They cannot handle the deeper things of God. May we be as patient with them as possible, but when they persistently resist God’s truth, do not waste time. Friend, move on to others!

Paul and Dispensationalism #8

Saturday, August 15, 2015

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:” (Romans 16:25,26 KJV).

What else can the Apostle Paul teach us about dispensational Bible study?

Indeed, 95 to 99 percent of professing “Christianity” is doctrinally weak. Most alleged “Christians” and most true Christians have an extremely feeble grasp of Scripture. This ignorance applies not only to church members but also to preachers and priests and theologians… the “blind” leading the “blind” (Matthew 15:14)! How did such a spiritual mess arise? Honestly, the “church” has focused on founding religious organizations and defending denominational tenets. There was no sound and proper Bible study. The Bible was merely scanned and appealing verses were chosen—that weak foundation produced the current frail, teetering structure.

More commentaries (further confusing them) have been read than verses in the Holy Bible! More time has been spent recounting worthless stories, telling jokes, singing and jumping, and re-teaching and re-teaching basic verses, than time spent preaching a clear Gospel message and teaching a profitable Bible lesson! More energy has been spent organizing weddings, baby showers, dances, food and clothing drives, and bingo nights than energy expended in planning Bible conferences and Bible camps! The average church almost entirely neglects the Bible, especially Paul’s epistles. No wonder the average local church is not “dying” but dead!

The professing “church” has utterly failed to grasp today’s Scripture. They usually cannot adequately delineate Paul’s Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-4—Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day). They do not understand Paul’s special ministry, “the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery.” They do not know how those Pauline books fit with the overall Bible scheme. Basically, they have not been “stablished” (stabilized) and spiritually matured. Therefore, they are “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). Such ignorance is the result of ignoring Pauline dispensationalism!

Paul and Dispensationalism #6

Thursday, August 13, 2015

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14 KJV).

What else can the Apostle Paul teach us about dispensational Bible study?

A preacher recently described his former days in Bible College. Students were to pick sides in the infamous “Paul-James debate,” better known as the “faith-without-works-versus-faith-plus-works clash.” There were those who would quote verses from Romans chapters 3 and 4 and then there were those who would cite verses from James chapter 2. The loser of the debate would be the one who ran out of verses to quote!

All religious absurdities aside, James chapter 2 is quite a simple passage. However, cults mindlessly quote James chapter 2 out of context. Before James wrote chapter 2, he wrote chapter 1, the key to grasping chapter 2! For example, James wrote, “to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, greeting…. The trying of your faith worketh patience” (1:1,3). Firstly, James is writing to the nation Israel, not us Gentiles! James would know more about his own epistle than today’s theologians and ecclesiastical leaders, yes? Secondly, James is encouraging believing Israel in their “trial of their faith.” They are being tested. Satan’s evil world system (the Antichrist) is tempting believing Israel to follow him. In chapter 2, James tells Israel to follow believing Father Abraham, to have works that demonstrate their salvation (verses 14-26).

Paul, however, writes to us Gentiles (Romans 11:13). We are under grace, not law (today’s Scripture). Fellowship with God today is not dependent on our performance—it is Jesus Christ’s performance at Calvary. Romans through Philemon never tell us we must work to be saved or to prove our salvation. Israel must demonstrate her faith with works, but we are under no such requirements in our Dispensation of Grace. It is important that we get this, for if we place ourselves under law, sin will dominate our lives. However, if we understand how the grace life begins (Romans chapters 3-5), how it operates (Romans chapters 6-8), and what it looks like (Romans chapters 12-16), we will not fall prey to legalism. We will not mix law and grace as the Galatians did. Pauline dispensationalism spares us from misery, frustration, and defeat!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “How did God ‘testify’ of Abel’s gifts?”

Paul and Dispensationalism #3

Monday, August 10, 2015

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:25-27 KJV).

What else can the Apostle Paul teach us about dispensational Bible study?

Romans chapters 9-11 are a special section of Paul’s epistles—they examine Israel’s past (9), present (10), and future (11) from a dispensational perspective.

Chapter 9 outlines Israel’s rebellion against JEHOVAH God from the very beginning, culminating at Christ’s crucifixion on Calvary, but God preserved a believing remnant, the Little Flock, within the nation. Israel’s program (the wrath and kingdom) is still delayed so our mystery program can operate. Chapter 10 describes how Israel is rebelling against God during the Acts period, how they are persecuting Paul and contradicting his preaching. A small remnant of Jews is listening to Paul and believing his Gospel of Grace, thereby escaping apostate Israel and joining the Body of Christ. Chapter 11 predicts after God closes our Dispensation of Grace and cuts off Gentile access to Him apart from Israel, Israel’s program will recommence and Israel’s Little Flock will be restarted. We come to today’s Scripture.

Paul does not want us to be wise in our own conceits. He does not want us to think we are someone we are not. Contrary to church tradition, we are not Israel, we have not replaced Israel, and we are not an extension of Israel’s program! Israel is currently blinded. “The fulness of the Gentiles”—the completion of the Church the Body of Christ—must occur, and until it does, national Israel will not be saved. That Second Coming of Jesus Christ, as well as that New Covenant to cleanse Israel, will continue to be delayed. Israel will be saved one day, just not today. Prophecy will restart, just not today. Wrath will come, just not today. Today is the Dispensation of the Grace of God!

Paul and Dispensationalism #1

Saturday, August 8, 2015

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting” (1 Timothy 1:15,16 KJV).

What can the Apostle Paul teach us about dispensational Bible study?

God’s wrath that was about to fall on Jesus-rejecting Israel in Acts chapter 7 never came. For 2,000 years now, that prophecy has been delayed. Today, sinful mankind continues to rub God’s nose in his sin. They marry whomever they want, worship whatever they want, steal whatever they want, kill whomever they want, oppress whomever they want, say whatever they want, and do whatever else they want. They replace Jesus Christ’s crosswork with their (meager) “righteous deeds.” Haughtily, they ask, “Just what are You going to do about it, God? Not saying or doing anything about what I am doing? You must not exist, then!”

Paul plainly declared in today’s Scripture what happened to the wrath that was literally moments away in early Acts. As Saul of Tarsus, Israel’s leader in arresting, torturing, and executing Messianic Jews, he was the primary character in God’s crosshairs. God’s wrath could have literally crushed Saul of Tarsus! He was “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious” but he “obtained mercy,” because he “did it ignorantly in unbelief” (verse 13). Saul instead experienced “the GRACE of our Lord [that] was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (verse 14).

Saul’s worthless ministry was finished, permanently suspended. Now, he would be the first member of the Body of Christ. Saul would be the prime specimen of God’s longsuffering. Why has God’s wrath not yet fallen on this evil world? Look at Paul the pattern! The program that allowed Paul to escape God’s wrath is now operating today, that others may also escape that impending wrath. Oh, friend, may you not delay another second. Come by simple faith in Jesus Christ’s shed blood, His death, His burial, and His resurrection as sufficient payment for your sins. Follow Paul your pattern!

Peter and Dispensationalism #5

Thursday, August 6, 2015

“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).

What can the Apostle Peter teach us about dispensational Bible study?

Dear friend, to understand your Bible, the Holy Ghost wrote through Peter that you need to consult Paul’s epistles, the Bible books of Romans through Philemon. Paul was just a man, please understand, but he had a very special ministry. If you sincerely desire to exalt Jesus Christ, you will exalt Paul’s apostleship/office.

The Lord Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me” (John 13:20). The Bible says Paul is “the apostle of the Gentiles” and that the Holy Ghost “magnifies” Paul’s office (Romans 11:13). Jesus Christ sent Paul to you and me, so if we honor Jesus Christ, we will accept Paul as his messenger to us! “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37).

Many people in Christendom today greatly dislike—yea, hate—the Apostle Paul. As our emails indicate, they call him a “false teacher” and want his epistles ripped from our Bibles! If Paul was a false teacher and he did not belong in the Bible, then today’s Scripture says Peter was a false teacher also and Peter does not belong in the Bible either! (To get around this, some deny Peter wrote the epistle of 2 Peter. Those who admit Peter wrote 2 Peter then claim he was wrong in calling Paul “our beloved brother.”) See, dear readers, nothing is changed. People are still “wresting” (distorting) the Bible, especially the Pauline books, just as in Peter’s day!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “How could Peter interpret Scripture in Acts 1:16-20?”

Peter and Dispensationalism #4

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

“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).

What can the Apostle Peter teach us about dispensational Bible study?

Today’s Scripture is startling for two reasons. Firstly, most people do not know it is in the Bible. Secondly, when they do read it, it is hard to believe because of what it teaches. Peter, at the end of life, still had difficulty understanding Pauline truths. Dear friends, could the Scriptures be any plainer? Peter and Paul preached different Gospel messages and separate doctrines. Had the same divine information been committed to both Peter and Paul, Peter would not have written about “the wisdom given to [Paul].” What Peter did understand was that the Lord Jesus Christ had revealed special information to Paul, and Peter knew he (Peter) had not received that information.

Peter and Paul had different audiences, so different dispensations were committed to their trust. Peter focused on prophecy, God’s earthly kingdom established via His earthly people, the nation Israel. Paul focused on mystery, God’s heavenly kingdom established via His heavenly people, the Church the Body of Christ. Combining these two programs and agencies causes unanswerable confusion. Sound familiar? Peter said—2,000 years ago—“unlearned” and “unstable” people were “wresting” Paul’s epistles and “the other Scriptures.” They were perverting God’s Word, making it say something it never said, thereby making the Bible fit their opinions, thereby maintaining a religious tradition, thereby hiding Paul’s special ministry and doctrine, thereby “destroying” their spiritual lives. Sound familiar?

Most church leaders today have a great hatred toward dispensational Bible study. Very rarely do they embrace and teach Pauline theology. It is so contrary to what they want people to do in their denominations (follow the Old Testament, the Four Gospels, early Acts, and Hebrews through Revelation), these ecclesiastical leaders do practically anything and everything to suppress the truth of God’s Word rightly divided. Sound familiar?

Feast on Meat!

Saturday, July 18, 2015

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV).

Which is “good”—the bones or the meat?

A few days ago, I read a theology book that I had been interested in reading for sometime. Bearing in mind today’s Scripture, I always approach such a book with extreme caution. The vast majority of the book was a delightful read. It was very informative in its discussion of the history of a certain false religion. However, the last two or three chapters highlighted the author’s downfall. He himself praised (thereby admitting to agreeing with) two other false religious systems… two more deceptive than the one he was critiquing! What a disappointment, but I expected it because there were certain “hints” in his previous chapters. My suspicions were confirmed by book’s end!

It is important to remember not to get bogged down with the “bones” of any book authored by man. Pick the “meat” from the “bones” and benefit from the “meat.” Rather than choking on the “bones,” toss them out and feast on the “meat!” Be a discerning believer. Use the Word of God rightly divided to evaluate what information is good and what information is bad. (Dispensational Bible study would have salvaged that said author’s warped theology!) Use the sound information that the author taught you and then build on it.

Until the glorious day comes when Almighty God confines Satan’s policy of evil to the eternal lake of fire, and until Jesus Christ comes to take us home to heaven, we must live in this “present evil world” (Galatians 1:4), this current evil world system. The Bible talks about “the course of this world” and “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). These are sure references to Satan, “the spirit which now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Satan uses various avenues to corrupt the Church the Body of Christ, so we are thus exhorted to “prove all things.” Most beliefs, most systems, and many activities can do great damage to your soul. Christian friend, you would do well to arm yourself with the armor of God, your provisions He gave you in Christ. Learn and believe Paul’s epistles to wear that armor!

Esteem Them Highly in Love

Friday, July 17, 2015

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace with among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5:12,13 KJV).

Having attended a “virtual” (online) grace Bible conference for the last five days, let me share some wonderful divine insight!

When 26 Christian brothers value God’s Word rightly divided, they are thrilled to teach and preach it. When faithful men teach and preach God’s Word rightly divided, God’s people are edified, encouraged, and enlightened. No, we do not praise men, but we do praise the Lord Jesus Christ who worked in and through them to provide us refreshing insight into the world’s most marvelous Book! Today’s Scripture is the Holy Spirit’s insight. Those who labor among us and are over us—they are members of the Body of Christ like us but they are also leaders within that Body. We should “know” (recognize) them and “esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.”

A Holy Spirit-led man will recognize that the ascended Lord Jesus Christ gave the Apostle Paul a special ministry. He will preach a clear Gospel of Grace—Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins—instead of “social,” “hazy,” “feel good” messages. He will teach from the pure Bible text, the King James Bible—not arguing with its readings, not “re-translating” Greek and Hebrew, not parroting denominational teachings and lauding scholarship.

No, he will not be like most church leaders today. He will not correct the Bible and then say, “I am a ‘Bible believer.’” He will not deny Jesus Christ as recorded in mystery and then tell us, “I am a ‘Bible believer.’” He will not say he is a “Bible believer” and then claim Israel’s passages for himself. He will not say he is a “Bible believer” and then force us under the Mosaic Law. He will not say he is a “Bible believer” and then mix prophecy and mystery. He will simply believe the Bible and encourage us to do the same. We thank God for such faithful men and we love them in Christ! 🙂

Knowing Your Christian Life

Thursday, July 16, 2015

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him” (Colossians 2:6 KJV).

Yea, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (verse 7).

Dear Christian brother or Christian sister, have you ever found it difficult to live the Christian life? You undoubtedly answered, “Yes”—just like all of us! How are you doing with keeping the Ten Commandments? Like all of us, you are not doing so well, right? You do your “best” during the day, but at night you reflect on the previous hours and you feel so rotten. Deep down, you know you are failing miserably. Is this the kind of life Father God wanted to give us in Christ? Were we not miserable enough in our sins before we came to Jesus Christ? Despair no longer!

Frankly, you are not walking in Jesus Christ as you received Him. You came to Him by faith in the Gospel, in His finished crosswork as sufficient payment for your sins, but you have not appropriated that crosswork on a daily basis. Yes, you still live like you are in Adam. You are not thinking clearly. You are walking in your own abilities to manage sin, and we know that we cannot get rid of sin. It requires God’s power to put away sin—He did it at Calvary and you can do it at Calvary too!

Our life and sustenance is found in Jesus Christ and His perfect sacrifice, not in ourselves, religion, intellectualism, et cetera. We must be stabilized in the grace doctrines of Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, lest Satan deceive us and defeat us. We must be taught the King James Bible rightly divided. Once we learn and trust God’s Word, God’s way, it will burst forth from us in song and thanksgiving. The misery from religious futility will vanish! The confusion from false teaching will disappear! Dear saint, do not let Satan rob you of your joy in Christ. Do not let him steal your knowledge of who you are in Jesus. Take your stand by faith in these simple verses and let the indwelling Spirit do the rest! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What is the Lord’s will for my Christian life?”

NOTE: Having expanded upon the “Original 7 studies” for the third time, our fourth foundation (studies #1501-#1507) is now installed. Onward we press in maturity… and to #2000! 🙂