Category: God’s grace

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #93

Monday, August 24, 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?

Confession (admission) of sins in 1 John 1:9 is required for forgiveness, “cleansed from all unrighteousness” under the Law of Moses. However, we are under Grace (Romans 6:14,15; Galatians 5:18). As our Apostle Paul writes, God has already forgiven us in Christ of all sins, free and forever, without such confession. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;…” (Ephesians 1:7). “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:…” (Colossians 1:14). “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;…” (Colossians 2:13). “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:13). We admitted our sin problem when we placed our faith in Jesus Christ to save us from those sins!

First John 1:9 mentions cleansing from “all unrighteousness.” How many times can we be cleansed from all unrighteousness? Someone would say, “You are forgiven up until you trust Christ, then you must keep ‘short accounts,’ asking God for forgiveness daily.” This is not what 1 John 1:9 teaches, and whatever it does teach is not to or about us! Paul wrote, “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:6-8). Either we have forgiveness (believers), or we do not (unbelievers). There is no partial forgiveness here! If God holds even one sin against us, Romans 4:6-8 becomes a lie, and we are headed for Hell! God cannot “impute” (apply, reckon) sin to us in Christ. Confessing sins directly to God, to a priest, or to anyone else, is completely unnecessary today. It is shocking, but it is true.

Now, we tackle another “hot topic”….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #80

Tuesday, August 11, 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?

A Gentile in “time past” accessed the God of the Bible via two routes. Firstly, he could become a convert (proselyte) to Judaism by undergoing the (painful!) rite of physical circumcision (Exodus 12:48; cf. Genesis 17:23-27). Esther 8:17 explains, “…And many of the people of the land became Jews….” (By the way, sincere but sincerely wrong people—[religious, Law-keeping] Pharisees who did not rightly divide the word of truth—attempted to convince Paul’s converts to do likewise in Acts 15:1,5,24 [cf. Galatians 6:12,13]!) Secondly, a Gentile of “time past” could place himself under Israel to receive God’s blessings (Genesis 12:3). Observe how the Roman centurion loved Israel, built them a synagogue, and sent Jewish messengers to Christ (Luke 7:1-10; note verses 3-5). Also, remember the devil-possessed girl whose Gentile mother acknowledged Israel’s preeminence in the Earth and requested a “spillover” of God’s blessings/miracles reserved for Israel (Mark 7:24-30; note verses 27,28 [Gentiles are “dogs,” opposite of the “children” of Israel]).

Under Paul’s ministry (“but now”), no physical circumcision, no blessing Israel, and no Law-keeping are required for Gentiles (Galatians 3:1-15; Galatians 5:1-6; Galatians 6:15). Hence, a major controversy arose to produce the Jerusalem Conference of Acts chapter 15 and Galatians chapter 2! Paul’s Gospel is: “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe [whether Jew or Gentile, by faith without works of any and every kind]: for there is no difference: For all [all Jews and all Gentiles] have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:22-26).

With Israel’s signs temporarily carrying over into Paul’s Gentile ministry during Acts, lost Jews were thus roused to behave like his Gentile converts (that is, believe on Christ without Law/works)….

arC Ministries Is 19!

Friday, July 31, 2026

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV).

To our Lord Jesus Christ’s glory, arC Ministries celebrates its 19th anniversary today!!!

Nineteen years ago, as a 19-year-old college student, I endeavored to use Facebook to create a Bible study group for teens and college students. Thus, “ambassadors for the risen Christ ministries” was born. As I grew more in God’s Word rightly divided, I grew increasingly aware of the need for additional ministry projects. The more I had been learning drove me to share those precious truths with others. That eventually led me to look for supplementary avenues of ministry.

During these past 19 years, God’s grace has enabled us to continue the original group on Facebook. In addition, we have branched out quite a bit in other areas. This devotionals blog has been operating for over 15 years now. For the last 14 years, we have focused on developing and drafting a grace study Bible (now in its fifteenth year). Other ministry projects include a 22-week newspaper ministry column (this devotionals blog’s predecessor), a YouTube channel with home Bible study videos, a Twitter feed, a full-length Bible studies blog, a college campus ministry, a nursing-home ministry, and our Bible-question-and-answer blog. Ten years ago, we launched our new main ministry website and now have a line of printed Bible study booklets available for sale there. Seven years ago, we recorded and distributed our Old Testament Survey video series. Later that year, we launched our New Testament Survey video series (which will last a few years). We hear from people all over the world!

Our name says it all: we serve the risen Lord Jesus Christ, not some “dead Jew” and not ourselves. The original motto of our ministry was, “To equip ambassadors, and to encourage others to become ambassadors.” Our primary goal is to teach Christians, and our secondary goal is to evangelize the lost world. Nineteen years later, we still endeavor to uphold God’s Word (King James Bible) rightly divided, whether it be in edifying the Christian brethren or preaching the clear Gospel of the Grace of God to this lost and dying world. For those of you who have been with us from day 1, thank you for your prayer and encouragement. We pray for you upon every remembrance! There is still plenty more for the Lord Jesus Christ to do in and through us, so let us give Him all the praise and glory as we enter Year 20! 🙂

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #62

Tuesday, July 21, 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?

To begin the formidable task of sorting through the innumerable denominational arguments so we can isolate truth from error, it would do us well to remember the following: the nation Israel is God’s literal, physical, visible, earthly people, and their identity has literal, physical, visible, earthly components.

For example, the LORD God demonstrated how the nation Israel itself would spring forth from His own efforts rather than man’s. Wherefore, after Abram “did his best to help God” by producing a son in the energy of his flesh (Genesis 16:1-16)—which son (Ishmael) God rejected (!)—the LORD changed his name to “Abraham” and instituted the rite of physical circumcision (Genesis 17:1-14). After Abraham’s foreskin was cut off, there was literal and physical proof he had been permanently severed from his Adamic or sin nature. The LORD God then used Abraham to father a son (Isaac)… and there is no question that it was God’s power working in Abraham (Genesis 17:15-22; Genesis 21:1-5). As Galatians 4:21-31 affirms, what ultimately matters is what God does for Abraham (Isaac/Grace) rather than what Abraham does for God (Ishmael/Law).

Genesis 17:11 states how physical circumcision is “a token [sign] of the covenant betwixt [between] me [God] and you [Abraham and his seed].” Consequently, the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12:1-3 is titled “the covenant of circumcision” (Acts 7:8). Romans 4:11 explains: “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:….” While physically uncircumcised, Abraham simply trusted God’s words to be justified (given righteousness) in God’s sight back in Genesis chapter 11 (cf. Genesis 12:1-3; Hebrews 11:8). However, this does not enter the record of Scripture until Genesis 15:6. Moreover, years later (Genesis 17:24), Abraham is physically circumcised to prove he had already been declared righteous by faith.

Let it now be distinctly understood that signs play an integral role in God’s relations with Israel….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #55

Tuesday, July 14, 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?

As pleasant as the Dispensation of the Grace of God is, and as lovely as the Gospel of the Grace of God is, neither will go on forever. They are but fleeting elements of God’s relations with man. Remember, we are 2,000 years into the mystery program—20 centuries closer to Christ’s coming in flaming fire and vengeance than those who were expecting it during the Acts period!

Paul penned: “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10). As prophecy gave way to mystery long ago, so mystery will give way to prophecy in the future—for the Bible becomes a lie unless prophecy returns to the forefront and is wholly fulfilled.

Why does prophecy not run without interruption? What is the significance of mystery situated between “time past” prophecy and “ages to come” prophecy? Mystery was part of God’s wise plan to outmaneuver or outsmart Satan! “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8).

Let us not interpret the dispensational change connected to Paul’s ministry as God abandoning His original plan. Nay, Paul’s ministry was part of God’s scheme all along….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #54

Monday, July 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?

Long before Paul’s ministry, the LORD God of the Bible was gracious or favorable toward man—giving man what he could never obtain by his own efforts, and working to do for man what man was powerless to do for himself. For example, He in His grace provided Adam and Eve with food: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16,17). Or, once they sinned, He gave them physical and spiritual clothes: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). Lastly, grace or unmerited favor spared Noah from perishing in the Great Flood with the rest of the sinful world: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8).

When we come to Paul’s ministry though, God exhibits His grace in an unprecedented way: the Gospel of Grace (and the Dispensation of Grace) is unmerited favor Father God gives to man in spite of man just murdering His Son (Jesus Christ)! This had never happened before in human history. Moreover, that grace extends to every nation without distinction, for Israel (His nation in rebellion) now reckoned amongst the Gentiles can also receive grace and peace instead of wrath and war. Plus, faith alone—and not membership in a special religion (Judaism)—is necessary to be in good standing before Him.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:23-26). This is the Good News which God kept secret until Paul….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #52

Saturday, July 11, 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?

Victorious Christian living and fruitful Christian ministry in this the Dispensation of the Grace of God are Paul’s “Grace Commission” of 2 Corinthians 5:14-21: “For the love of Christ constraineth [drives, compels, motivates] us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Since Calvary, Father God is willing to be friends with the world’s people—“reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing [applying, crediting] their trespasses unto them.” Remember, sinners have no relationship with God because their sin is a barrier. However, by offering Christ’s own soul to be sin for us—to be punished in our place—God has taken the first step in bringing people back into favor with Him. What He expects from them to complete the transaction is for them to place their faith in that Message of His Grace (Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for their sins; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Upon trusting that Gospel of Grace, individuals are forever reconciled to God, and now (as believers) they can live unto Him which died for them and rose again….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #50

Thursday, July 9, 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?

After holding the clothes of Stephen’s murderers as they stoned him to death, unbelieving Saul of Tarsus kept on mercilessly abusing and torturing those members of Israel’s Little Flock (Jewish believers in Jesus Christ): “And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock [turmoil] of the church, entering into every house, and haling [dragging] men and women committed them to prison” (Acts 8:1-3). Without any compunction, Saul was committing genocide!

Heading to Damascus to continue his rampage of religious fanaticism, this self-righteous snob was totally surprised to learn how the resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ had arranged an appointment with him: “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:1-6).

Saul expected to die in his sins right there, God’s flaming fire burning him alive and Divine vengeance crushing him without delay. Yet, amazingly, un-prophesied grace and peace from God allowed Saul to convert to Christ and end up being in His ministry that very day….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #49

Wednesday, July 8, 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?

Recall how, in the opening chapters of the Book of Acts, the Little Flock (Israel’s believing remnant, the Messianic Church) preached sermons that anticipated the imminent wrath and judgment of God on unbelievers. As per Psalm 2:1-8, the order of prophecy was: (1) Jesus Christ’s rejection and crucifixion by unbelieving Jews and unbelieving Gentiles united in satanic conspiracy (verses 1-3), (2) God’s response of wrath and war against those Jews and Gentiles (verses 4,5), and (3) Jesus Christ’s reign over the nations in the Earth (verses 6-8). (Remember, Acts 4:25-28 sheds some light here.) Anyone familiar with the Hebrew Bible during that time expected nothing but an uninterrupted unfolding of successive prophetic events, one coming right after the other.

Therefore, what startled the world was this. As Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven and sat at His Father’s right hand (Acts chapter 1), and then stood to prepare to make His enemies His footstool (defeat them) in Acts chapter 7 (cf. Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:34-36), He never actually came back in that flaming fire and vengeance. While unbelieving Israel blasphemed against the Holy Ghost and silenced Spirit-filled Stephen via stoning (Acts 7:54-60; cf. Matthew 12:31,32; Mark 3:28-30), one of those unbelievers present was Saul… who later became the Apostle Paul!

Years afterward, Paul wrote: “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 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 1:12-16).

In Acts chapter 9, Christ indeed came back—but in an un-prophesied (secret) return of “grace and peace” to save and commission Saul/Paul, His chief enemy in the Earth….

Liberated to Serve

Saturday, July 4, 2026 🇺🇸

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13 KJV).

Today, as we in the United States celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence, we invite our Christian brethren worldwide to rejoice with us concerning our freedom in Jesus Christ.

When we proclaim Romans 6:14—“Ye are not under the law, but under grace”—people tend to assume “loose living.” Does “grace living” really mean we can now live any way we want? Lest anyone be misled in that regard, God the Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to write in the next verse, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid [May God never let that happen!]” (Romans 6:15). Grace living is not Law-keeping, but it certainly is not Law-breaking either.

God still cares how we live, albeit He is not operating the “weak and beggarly” system of “bondage” (Law) that He once did with Israel (Galatians 4:9). God proved to the entire world that since Israel could not keep His commandments perfectly, no other sons of Adam (the Gentiles) could either: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them [Israel] who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world [Gentiles] may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19).

We sinners cannot keep the Law. However, God in His grace provided us a way to escape that condemnation by sending Jesus Christ to offer Himself on Calvary’s cruel cross to pay for our sins. By simple faith in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as the fully-satisfying payment for our sins, we can now be “made the righteousness of God in [Christ]” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We can be delivered from the penalty of sin (hell and the lake of fire) and the power of sin (flesh-walking).

Why are we Christians free? To selfishly live any way we want? NO! Today’s Scripture says we are liberated to now serve others, especially our Christian brethren, just as Jesus Christ selflessly served His Father and selflessly died on our behalf. That is grace living!!!!

Please see our 2011 Fourth of July Bible study “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land,” which can be watched here or read here.