Category: religious tradition

For Students This is Safe

Friday, August 8, 2025

“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:128 KJV).

As a new school year dawns, let us awake unto spiritual truth!

Although the autumnal equinox is still over a month away here in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is finally beginning to wind down for most of us. Students—with long faces and deep sighs—have returned or are beginning to return to school. As students return to the classroom, they need to be particularly mindful of the following.

Firstly, learning in and of itself is not a sin. Moses was “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22). Luke was a medical doctor (Colossians 4:14). Daniel and his companions were skilled in science (Daniel 1:4). Adam was the first taxonomist (Genesis 2:19,20). The God of the Bible is never against learning new things—remember, He gave us His Holy Bible so we can have plenty to learn for all of eternity!

Secondly, what the God of the Bible opposes is when we believe/trust ideas that do not seek our best interests, that contradict the way He designed our lives to function. Certainly, we Christians should never go around believing anything and everything heard and seen. Just because the professor, preacher, pope, or president says it is true, that does not make it so. Scientific consensus has been wrong before, religion has been wrong before, politicians have been wrong before. Much of the ideas that permeate our world today are wrong.

Lastly, there are many wonderful, exciting ideas and concepts out there—medical advancements, technological breakthroughs, and so on—but there are equally detrimental ideas that will mess up your life—religious traditions, secular humanism, and other philosophies. Daily intake of the King James Bible rightly divided will cleanse our souls of the filth and foolishness that we hear and see day in and day out in this evil world system. We highly exalt God’s Word, we know it is right “concerning all things,” and we hate and ignore the error.

Have a wonderful school year in our Lord Jesus Christ! 🙂

A Grace Study Bible

Friday, August 1, 2025

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2 KJV).

Today, we reflect on 13 full years of the arC Ministries’ Grace Study Bible Project!

Some 100 years ago, the Scofield Study Bible was published. It was a work that popularized—not invented—dispensational Bible study. For a century, the Church the Body of Christ has used this monumental aid to edify itself. It was (and still is) useful in recovering precious Bible truths that had been lost for centuries, doctrines still pushed aside by denominational hierarchies that prefer to be the “authority” with their “tradition of men.”

Thirteen years ago today, after much prayer and consideration, I began the formation of a new grace study Bible. Using the King James Bible, my goal in this project is to build on Dr. Scofield’s foundation laid long ago. We are (and will always be) indebted to that brother for his faithful service, his submission to the Holy Spirit to produce a profitable study Bible. (Incidentally, Dr. Scofield led a missionary to Christ, that missionary led a preacher to Christ, that preacher led a woman to Christ, that woman led Mom to Christ, and Mom led me to Christ.) What took Dr. Scofield decades to learn, we can acquire in a fraction of that time. Brother Scofield did not live long enough to progress any further in Bible understanding, but in the century since he has gone to heaven, a faithful remnant within the Body of Christ has expanded upon Dr. Scofield’s insightful notes. We recognize where he was wrong in certain areas, and we can improve those areas in our understanding and study.

In brief, some stats about our grace study Bible. We seem to be over 80 percent completed with it. How many more years it will take remains to be seen, but rest assured, what cannot be condensed into marginal notes or footnotes, will be, Lord willing, expanded into a full-Bible commentary book series! Stay tuned in the coming years and thank you for your prayer in this regard! 🙂

* You can read more about our Grace Study Bible Project here.

Reaping and Sowing #11

Saturday, May 31, 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!”

What we do now will literally make a difference in eternity, one way or the other. Not only will we reap what we sow, others will reap what we sow too. For instance, when we believers arrive in Heaven, we will see all the people we influenced for the Lord’s glory (as in 2 Corinthians 1:13,14 and 1 Thessalonians 2:19,20)—it will even be souls we never heard of or expected! Whether missionary work funded, Gospel tracts distributed, Bible sermons preached, or Christian literature written, our ministry labors according to sound doctrine will reach far beyond this lifetime and out into forever.

Similarly, once unbelievers wake up in Hell, they will see all the people they influenced for the Devil’s glory. Their books, religions, lectures, television and radio broadcasts, schools, and so on, all contributed to the damnation of the souls they now meet suffering torments with them. Some of the most diabolical, heretical, and apostate teachers of church history existed during the first few centuries after Christ. Their theological systems are still with us today—especially in many of our “Christian” schools which yield graduates who fill our pulpits, classrooms, and bookshelves with utter worthlessness.

“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting [overturning, overthrowing] of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker [disease]: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some” (2 Timothy 2:14-18). False teaching invented hundreds of years ago still traps people in spiritual kindergarten and still leads people to Hell—“increase unto more ungodliness.” Let us be aware of and avoid sowing this bad seed. Also, let us mark and plant the good seed, that we receive a good harvest as opposed to a bad reaping.

Saints, we now close 14 full years of “333 Words of Grace!” 🙂

Reaping and Sowing #10

Friday, May 30, 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!”

Two more excellent cross-references to today’s Scripture (or, better yet, Galatians 6:7-9) are as follows. As before, these point to the Judgment Seat of Christ of Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 3:9-15, and 2 Corinthians 5:9,10—reward (stemming from good—gold, silver, precious stones) versus loss of reward (originating from bad—wood, hay, stubble).

“Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free” (Ephesians 6:5-8). “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons” (Colossians 3:22-25).

These passages are directed to and are about servants (employees) in the secular world, indeed, but they are just as applicable to all of us Christians because we in the spiritual world are God’s servants (Romans 6:22) or the Lord’s servants (2 Timothy 2:24). It is the same grace living, the same fundamental grace principles. Again, we can sow to the flesh or sow to the Spirit, and the reaping will be proportional to it (check Galatians 6:7-9 again, plus Galatians 5:13-26 and Romans 8:1-15). There is a short-term result (victorious Christian living or death of the Christian life) as well as a long-term harvest (reward or loss of reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ).

We now summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Reaping and Sowing #9

Thursday, May 29, 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!”

Again, the old farmers’ words of wisdom are, “We reap what we sow, we reap more than we sow, and we reap later than we sow.” Our works lead to specific ends, those ends are more multiplied than we originally supposed, and those results might not arise for a long time. This third point will be most evident at one of two judgments in the ages to come.

The first judgment on the Bible timeline will be the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:9-15; 2 Corinthians 5:9,10). At that time, the earthly service of the members of the Church the Body of Christ will be evaluated. What was the sort (quality, type) of the doctrine we put into our inner man? Was it gold, silver, precious stones—rightly divided Scripture? Or, was it wood, hay, stubble—empiricism/scientific method, church tradition, intuition? What men found “scholarly,” impressive, or “godly” on earth might be worth nothing at the Judgment Seat of Christ! If it was not grace teaching and grace living, it will indeed be burned up! Based on our maturity level, Christ will determine what governmental ranks we will fill in Heaven as individuals.

The other judgment is the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). At that time, all the lost souls of the ages stand before Jesus Christ—the very Christ they refused—to be sentenced to the Lake of Fire. Doubtless, there will be degrees of punishment, the severity of their penalty dependent on two factors—how much spiritual light the individual rejected (Matthew 10:15; Matthew 11:22,24; Mark 6:11; Luke 10:12,14) and how much influence that person had in the world (Matthew 23:14; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:46,47; James 3:1).

In the natural realm, seeds planted in the ground might take many years to sprout (and this is because environmental conditions have to be just right to maximize survival). Likewise, the outcomes of our stupid choices are not readily apparent—it might take days, weeks, months, decades, or centuries. Above all, they will be fully realized either at the Judgment Seat of Christ (believers) or the Great White Throne Judgment (unbelievers)….

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.

To Be Seen and Heard #7

Monday, March 24, 2025

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV).

Should we be in attendance at the “Desperate-for-Attention-and-Relevance Conference?”

In case we assume “to be seen of men” is confined to the prophetic program, we can and should refer to Paul’s epistle to Galatia. Even in the mystery program, we are vulnerable to boasting or “advertising self” by means of works-religion: “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).

“To make a fair shew” in Greek is “euprosopeo,” as in “beautiful/good countenance/face.” An attraction is on display, and such an eye-catching sight is sure to draw attention and admiration. In the case of Galatians, it is the observance of physical circumcision in Judaism (law/Moses and grace/Paul mixed). Yet, it can also apply to any other rite, ritual, or ceremony that underscores the flesh doing something in an attempt to merit God’s favor—being water baptized, partaking of holy meals, lighting candles, confessing sins, walking aisles, attending church services, fasting, giving money, making religious gestures, and the like. Such works-religion activities become grounds for boasting, or “glorying in the flesh” (“look at what I did in religion,” or “see our new church member’s faithful performance!”). More weight is placed on men-pleasing and outward appearance (formalism) than on God’s approval and sound Bible doctrine motivating this conduct or that behavior.

When Christ saw crowds gathering around Himself, He withdrew, for He wanted His Heavenly Father to receive the praise rather than Himself (see Matthew 8:18; Mark 1:45; Luke 5:15,16). The Lord Jesus would not let Satan use even the slightest opportunity to turn something good (Father’s ministry) into something bad (Son’s praise). Perhaps we had better take notice….

To Be Seen and Heard #6

Sunday, March 23, 2025

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV).

Should we be in attendance at the “Desperate-for-Attention-and-Relevance Conference?”

According to the Sermon on the Mount, both almsgiving (Matthew 6:1-4) and prayer (Matthew 6:5,6) were useful for followers of ancient Judaism to be “seen of men” and have “glory [praise, compliments] of men.” The third realm of their pageantry was fasting, as Matthew 6:16-18 makes clear: “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”

In distressful or sorrowful times, a Jew wore special grieving attire (sackcloth), abstained from anointing with oil, applied ashes to his face, and even refrained from eating flesh and drinking wine. Instead of behaving like the hypocrites who sought the praise of men, the Lord Jesus ordered His followers to not publicize their fasting. They were to anoint their head and wash their face (ashes removed): His disciples were to maintain a normal, everyday appearance, never indicating they were actually fasting.

Jesus regularly mentioned “hypocrites” during His earthly ministry (Matthew 6:2,5,16; Matthew 7:5; Matthew 15:7; Matthew 16:3; Matthew 22:18; Matthew 23:13-15,23,25,27,29; Matthew 24:51; Mark 7:6; Luke 6:42; Luke 11:44; Luke 12:56; Luke 13:15). “Hypocrite” is from Greek, and literally means “under-judge.” It is someone who appears to be someone else: spectators are unable to recognize what is going on because a disguise conceals the true identity. In fact, the ancient Greeks applied the term “hupokrites” to stage actors who wore facemasks to pretend to be characters they were not in real life!

As Christ taught (Matthew 6:1-6,16-18), far better it is to be seen and heard of God, and praised of Him, than to be seen and heard of men, and be praised of them….

To Be Seen and Heard #5

Saturday, March 22, 2025

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV).

Should we be in attendance at the “Desperate-for-Attention-and-Relevance Conference?”

Christendom is obsessed with the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5–7)—though they have no sense of its dispensational context and care not to understand it anyway because it would disprove much of what they are doing with it. At the heart of that sermon is chapter 6, which pinpoints three areas of hypocrisy in Judaism during Christ’s day.

Read verses 1-4: “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Almsgiving (donating money and/or goods to help the poor and destitute) was a means whereby they could boast of their “good deeds” and make people applaud!

Now, verses 5 and 6: “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Similarly, in the context of today’s Scripture, the Lord Jesus referred to religious leaders in Judaism who “devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer” (Matthew 23:14). The “pretence” (cf. Mark 12:40) was nothing but “an outward showing, alleged reason, pretended cause.” Luke 20:47 calls it a “shew.” They prayed for hours in public, making sure to stand in synagogues and at street corners to maximize the amount of attention they received!

There is still more….

To Be Seen and Heard #4

Friday, March 21, 2025

“But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV).

Should we be in attendance at the “Desperate-for-Attention-and-Relevance Conference?”

Take up the context of today’s Scripture again: “[7] And [they love] greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. [8] But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. [9] And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. [10] Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. [11] But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. [12] And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

You can also refer to Mark 12:38 and Luke 20:46. Israel’s apostate spiritual leaders aimed to be flattered in public. The “markets” (marketplaces, town squares) were places where crowds could utter and hear those salutations, “Rabbi, Rabbi” (“My Master/Teacher, My Master/Teacher”). Countless heads were sure to turn and offer additional admiration. (I am reminded of noticing a religious leader arriving at a funeral home and him soaking up the praise he received from the gullible “faithful.”) Also, priests in Judaism were being called “father,” a carryover from heathen idolatry (Judges 17:10; Judges 18:19). These titles led to swollen egos, which prompted Jesus to warn His audience to have humility instead of exalting self (re-read Matthew 23:11,12). Also see Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45, and Luke 22:24-28.

If you thought Matthew 23:1-12 was severe, read the rest of the chapter. This diatribe features eight “woes” or rebukes and condemnations of the Perverts of the Kingdom (verses 13-16,23,25,27,29). Jesus calls them “blind” on five occasions (verses 16-17,19,24,26), “hypocrites” seven times (verses 13-15,23,25,27,29), “fools” twice (verses 17,19), “white sepulchres [tombs]” once (verse 27), and “serpents… generation of vipers” once (verse 33). Jesus is in the Jerusalem Temple, condemning its “ministers” for thoroughly perverting His nation with a manmade and man-centered religion—which religionists will ultimately insist on His crucifixion in literally just two days.

Sinful man is doing what he wants in Israel, he is at the center of attention, and he will swiftly eliminate the “competition” (the Lord Jesus Christ)….