Category: God’s grace

Zealously Affected #3

Saturday, February 21, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Go back to today’s Scripture. Before the legalists or denominationalists showed up in Galatia to “zealously affect” (generate warm or hot feelings in) the Galatian believers, the Holy Spirit through Paul’s ministry had stirred up these saints as they moved from Adam to Christ, from Satan to God. Paul commends them concerning this, for they had the “blessedness” of forgiveness of sins (Galatians 4:15; cf. Romans 4:6-9)… which joy was subsequently lost due to the fear, shame, and guilt that attended their acceptance of the Law. Originally, these Christians were “zealously affected in a good thing,” as Paul’s physical presence and preaching grace produced great enthusiasm in them. However, following Paul’s departure and the false teachers’ arrival, the Galatians went the opposite way! Their fervor for the truth died down while their fanaticism for the lie surged.

Sin causes our emotions to deceive us—and they unquestionably conned the Galatian believers while they adopted legalistic or denominational doctrine. Feelings respond to modifications in our environment; our emotions fluctuate as our surroundings change. Therefore, it is not ideal to base our Christian lives on feelings or emotions: “I do not feel saved,” “I do not feel like God cares or loves me,” and so on. Instead of the subjective (which varies from person to person), we need objective truth (as found in the rightly divided King James Bible). Sin can and does feel good, as in Hebrews 11:25 (“pleasures of sin”), so adrenaline rushes and emotional highs alone are not confirmation that something is appropriate or from God. The Corinthian believers were notorious for their spiritual immaturity and abuse of spiritual gifts (especially the gift of tongues), boasting about what they “saw” and “heard” and “felt” and how they were superior to others because of these “special” experiences (see 1 Corinthians chapters 12–14).

Today’s professing church has failed most miserably in being “zealously affected” in error….

Zealously Affected #2

Friday, February 20, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Re-read today’s Scripture: “They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.” This “they” was already identified in chapter 1 as follows: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed [banned, excommunicated]. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).

Chapter 6, verses 12 and 13, elaborate: “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.” The “they” are false teachers who have mixed Law and Grace. Evidently, there was a primary one leading a group in Galatia, all of them “zealously affecting” the Galatian saints “not well.” In Greek, “zealously affect” is “zeloo,” from “zelos” as in “heat” (“zeo” meaning “to be hot”). Actually, this is the derivation of the English “zeal,” fervent or enthusiastic devotion.

With the Galatians being emotionally manipulated—“zealously affected”—to support the false teachers and their legalistic (Law-based) system, these Christians would then be inclined to turn from Pauline Grace teaching (“exclude you”), which thereby would make them more emotionally attached to the false teachers and their bad doctrine…..

God’s Grace on Parade

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You may also see our archived Bible study Q&A, “Should Christians celebrate Mardi Gras?”

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #21

Sunday, January 25, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

Instead of resorting to the lame excuse, “This verse does not mean what it says,” we can simply leave it in its dispensational context. Just because we do not see a passage fulfilled today does not prove it to be false; it merely means the verses are not to or about us. We need to be scriptural and dispensational, especially keeping Law/Moses and Grace/Paul separate!

The Devil labors in religion because it is all about self—“I have done this, I have done that” (cf. Exodus 19:5,8). Church members seldom differentiate between this and Christianity, and such bragging demonstrates and reinforces those misunderstandings. “That no flesh should glory in his [God’s] presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:29-31). If we boast, let us brag about what the Lord Jesus Christ is for us and what HE did for us!

Romans is the standard of grace/Christian living. We have total forgiveness of all sins in Christ by grace (Romans 4:6-9 cf. Colossians 2:13) and therefore have joy (Romans 5:11), but religion questions this. Guilt weighs us down, and we stumble over 1 John 1:9 and Israel’s Law system (cf. Galatians 4:15,21)! We hesitate to believe we have complete, permanent, unconditional fellowship with Father God through Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8,9). Forgetting our victory in Christ in Romans chapters 6 and 8, we suppose we must keep laws to make God happy with us! Under the Law, we do not have liberty to do right but bondage to keep doing wrong: self-pity and misery consume us! We believe we cannot help but sin, so sin conquers us just as it did poor, hopelessly defeated Paul in Romans 7:7-25! We wonder if God loves us, doubting He has actually made us accepted in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:6). We are not only paupers in religion, but also prisoners….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #18

Thursday, January 22, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

Colossians 2:10 pronounces, “And ye are complete in him [Jesus Christ]….” “Complete” means “lacking nothing, crammed to the full.” Such is our identity in Christ and entirely because of Christ. “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). This is our spiritual wealth in Christ, that of Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:….” One of the dominant themes of Ephesians (advanced form of doctrine, building on elementary Romans) is “riches” (see Ephesians 1:7,18; Ephesians 2:4,7; Ephesians 3:8,16). Therefore, Satan seeks to reduce us to mere paupers!

After laying out Colossians 2:6,7—victorious Christian living—the Holy Spirit inserts a word of caution in verse 8. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” We should “watch out, be careful,” for Satan our adversary (enemy) will use whatever or whomever is necessary to draw us away from Christ (just as booty or treasure is carried off from a plundered building or town). Remember the Galatians’ move from the riches of grace to spiritual pauperism, “weak [inability] and beggarly [poverty]” works-religion (Galatians 4:9)!

Like in New Testament times, the Devil’s program is still extremely (!) lethal (!) in destroying Christian lives via “philosophy” (love of man’s wisdom), “vain deceit” (empty/worthless lies), “the tradition of men” (manmade ideas and practices passed down from generation to generation, which customs compete with and therefore distract from the Bible’s supreme authority), and “the rudiments of the world” (basic/shallow religious/philosophical/speculative systems, world religions). “And this I say, lest any man should beguile [trick, charm] you with enticing [appealing, tempting, attractive] words” (Colossians 2:4).

Such “enticing”—albeit deceptive—words have filled church history for 2,000 years now….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #17

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

Despite the (hopefully) underlying sincerity, it is vain church tradition to urge unbelievers and new believers to begin reading the Holy Bible in the Book of John. Yea, it is more preferable for them to start in the Book of Romans. After all, Paul’s epistle (formal doctrinal letter) to the Romans is actually divided into four “grace pillars” which constitute the foundation of the Christian life. How does the Christian life commence? Read Romans! How does the Christian life work? Read Romans!

Romans chapters 1–5 is justification, having a right standing before God by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Chapters 6–8 is sanctification, being set apart unto God’s purposes (chapter 6 is how we are dead to sin, chapter 7 is how we are dead to the Law, and chapter 8 is how we are alive unto God by the indwelling Holy Spirit). Romans chapters 9–11 is dispensation, how we are not Israel and how we have not replaced Israel (chapter 9 is Israel’s past, chapter 10 is Israel’s present, and chapter 11 is Israel’s future). Chapters 12–16 is application of grace principles to specific daily situations and circumstances (renewed mind, living with fellow Christians and unbelievers, human government, weaker brethren, unity among members of the local church, et cetera).

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6,7). Our “walk” is our Christian conduct or service—and it works by faith in Christ just as we received Him by faith (see verse 5). “Rooted in Him” suggests life (like a plant), whereas “built up in Him” implies firmness (like a structure). “Stablished in the faith” is stabilized according to sound/healthy Bible doctrine which we must first be “taught,” for our Christian life will not operate on the basis of Bible ignorance. We should be immensely grateful to God for what He has done for us. Yet, Colossians 2:8 issues a warning….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #13

Saturday, January 17, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

Observe again the prophetic program: “Whom [Jesus Christ] the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began…. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities” (Acts 3:21,25,26). Peter’s sermon here draws on Genesis 12:1-3, the Abrahamic Covenant, or how God will save and bless the nations (world, Gentiles) through Israel’s rise to kingdom glory (cf. Isaiah 60:1-3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Matthew 28:18-20).

Since we can locate Bible verses that teach national Israel has a privileged position or favored standing before God, it is assumed that they still have that situation and it is thus thought that we need to bless Israel for God to bless us. Such is Bible ignorance, for the prophetic program has now given way to the mystery program: “I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them” (Romans 11:11-14). Currently, the salvation and blessing of God come to the nations/Gentiles or world through Paul’s ministry because of Israel’s temporary fall.

Indeed, we are not Israel, we have not replaced Israel, and we therefore are not under Israel’s Law system….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #12

Friday, January 16, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

Read Genesis 2:16,17 and Genesis 3:1-13. Adam and Eve, our first parents, operated outside of the sphere of life their Creator God had planned for them. Instead of living according to His work (Grace), they made their own life with their works (Law). They ate the forbidden fruit, lost fellowship with Him and with each other, and then tried to cover up their sin with feeble religious efforts and blame shifting. Read Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:1-6, Genesis 16:1-16, Genesis 17:1-27, and Genesis 21:1-5. Abraham and Sarah connived to produce a son (Ishmael, flesh) as opposed to depending on God’s work (miracle son, Isaac, and the resulting nation Israel). Hundreds of years later, Israel at Mount Sinai believed they could make themselves God people by obeying 613 rules and regulations (the Law of Moses): “All that the LORD hath spoken we will do” (Exodus 19:8). Here are three examples in prophecy of sinners preferring Law to Grace. Move over to mystery (God’s current program). Recall how we have the grace standard of Romans ignored and legalistic Galatianism entering.

Whether Adam and Eve at the Fall, or Abraham with Ishmael, or Israel at Sinai, or the Galatians (or even the Corinthians), man is using the energy of his flesh to try to live Christ’s life for Him. Though God in His goodness offers them spiritual riches (forgiveness, sanctification, eternal life, redemption, and so on), they keep leaning on spiritual poverty (resources in Adam) to make themselves contrary to God’s will for them. Mark it well: God can fully use us only if He renders us dead to, or separated from, Adam (thereby making us spiritual winners and heirs by position in Christ). We become spiritual losers and paupers by practice when we draw on Adamic resources instead of walking by faith in our new identity in Christ. The way we have the clearest understanding of whom we are in Christ is to see whom we are not….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #11

Thursday, January 15, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

Keep reading about the Galatian Christians: “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?” (Galatians 4:19-21). Like the vast majority of today’s church members, these Galatians were “spiritual kindergartners” or “Bible babies.” Instead of Christ being formed in them—being able to function as vessels of His life (under Grace)—they were demonstrations of Adamic living (under Law). Yea, their chief blunder was to crave the Law system (work/perform to gain the blessing), when God had already blessed them in Christ because of Christ’s finished crosswork (grace)!

Here are examples of spiritual losers and paupers by practice, wallowing in self-righteousness and languishing in darkness. “I can be just as good as Jesus. Give me rules and regulations and I will stop doing this evil work and start doing that good work. God will let me into Heaven if I just do my best.” “The Lord will forgive me if I confess sins according to a ‘short-account system,’ He will give me fellowship with Him if I am water baptized, He will reward me with physical wealth if I ‘tithe’ money to a church or denomination, He will favor me if I observe a religious calendar and fast and pray and cry out for mercy.” “I need to ‘hold out,’ ‘hold on,’ ‘pray through’ so God will answer my prayers as I want and spare me the curses.” Unfortunately, the so-called “Christian” sermons and commentaries of the last 20 centuries are replete with such teachings. (Without these practices, all those groups, cults, sects, and denominations would collapse because members would leave and funding would vanish!)

It is no secret that the old heresies of Galatians from 2,000 years ago have never left us….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #10

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

Grace is all that Father God is able and willing to do for us sinners through Christ’s finished crosswork. Our spiritual riches or blessings in Christ resulting from grace include: forgiveness (sin-debt cleared or sent away), justification (imputed righteousness, given a right standing before God), sanctification (being set apart unto God’s purposes), eternal life (given God’s very life), and redemption (purchased, or bought back, and freed).

A “pauper” is a very poor person, one lacking sufficient money to live normally and comfortably. Though the flesh (Adam) attempts to live the Christian life, it does not, cannot, and never will. Religious works can never substitute Christ’s life: only Christ can live His life. Living in the energy of the flesh is spiritual pauperism, for no spiritual riches can be derived from it. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3). Can we in our own strength improve the Holy Spirit’s work in us? No! Do our feeble efforts “perfect” (complete, finish) the Christian life? No!

Read the verses following today’s Scripture: “Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” (Galatians 4:8,9). Like we, the Galatians before they came to faith in Christ were slaves to sin (Satan, idols, et cetera). Yet, as believers, they were still opposed to God’s work, ignoring Grace to receive the “weak and beggarly” Law system (like heathenism, a system of spiritual immaturity, spiritual poverty, and spiritual inability). Though members of the Body of Christ, they had confused themselves with the nation Israel….