Category: God’s grace

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #9

Tuesday, January 13, 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!

To the Apostle Paul were committed both the Dispensation of the Grace of God (Ephesians 3:1,2) and the Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:24). Note the Gospel of Grace: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;…. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:…” (1 Corinthians 15:1,3,4). “Gospel” in Greek means “good news, glad tidings.” We have a sin problem due to our biological connection to Adam (the bad news of Ephesians 2:1-3), but the God of the Bible has intervened with a solution to save us from our sins and fill us Christians with His life (the good news of Ephesians 2:4-10). Now, by faith, in order to have victorious Christian living, we make use of Christ’s merits on Calvary’s cross.

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge [conclude], 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…. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:14,15,17). This is the Christian’s new identity (“in Christ”) and the Christian’s new purpose (“should not henceforth live unto themselves”). Also, read of the Christian’s resources—his or her spiritual riches—in Christ: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:…” (Ephesians 1:3).

Let us now see precisely what it means to live as a spiritual pauper….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #8

Monday, January 12, 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!

Another distinction to be made in “right division” (2 Timothy 2:15) is that of Law versus Grace—a difference the Galatians had failed to recognize. Christendom’s thousands of warring denominations today are either based entirely on Law (“legalism”) or various blends of Law and Grace (“Galatianism”). They have no clear concept of pure (!) Grace (!), what the God of the Bible is doing today: they know not what program He currently has in force or who is His present spokesman. God’s relations with mankind change through time because man changes, and the dispensational change that affects us is that which took place in Acts chapter 9 with the salvation and commissioning of Saul of Tarsus to make him Paul the Apostle (“apostle” is from Greek, and means “sent one [messenger]”).

Here are the resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ’s words to Paul in Acts chapter 9 historically: “Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee [‘I make thee an apostle’],…” (Acts 26:17). Years later, Paul wrote: “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:…” (Romans 11:13). Some years after that, he added: “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:…” (Ephesians 3:1,2). Understanding Paul’s apostleship is key to ascertaining God’s will for us, His words to and about us. If we know what the Lord is doing today, then we can do that by faith and thereby do His will for our lives!

God’s current “economy,” “house-rules,” or “governing principles” are titled “the Dispensation of the Grace of God.” This encompasses Paul’s epistles, Romans to Philemon. At the core of the Dispensation of the Grace of God is the Gospel of the Grace of God….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #7

Sunday, January 11, 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!

Romans is the standard of grace/Christian living. As is made clear in its first eight chapters, it is entirely grace (God’s work) and not law (man’s work). “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. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:23-28).

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid” (Romans 6:14,15). “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to [separated from] the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” (Romans 7:4). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1-4).

As the Christian life begins by faith in Christ alone, so it operates on the same basis—God’s work, not ours….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #6

Saturday, January 10, 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!

Go back to Ephesians 2:1-3, and read it now with verses 4-10: “[1] And you hath he [God] quickened [given life], who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: [3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. [4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; ) [6] And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: [7] That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The individual Christian’s past identity and conduct as a lost person (verses 1-3) stand in contrast to God intervening and introducing changes to move the person from “in Adam” to “in Christ” (verses 4-10). Here is God’s grace factory, His procedure of creating a people for His glory and filling them with His life. Nevertheless, if these people are not thinking according to this sound Bible doctrine, they will keep living according to the lusts of their sinful flesh, and such Christian service will be unacceptable to God….

A Saviour Who Will Save

Friday, January 2, 2026

“…Jesus Christ of Nazareth… Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:10,12 KJV).

Today’s Scripture tells us who alone can save man from the everlasting hellfire he deserves!

A frequent objection made against Christianity is that every religion has “good” members, and to ignore them and limit heaven to a few Christians is unfair. This is a defected notion. How does one arrive at a definite conclusion when there is no one standard to gauge everyone’s “goodness?” They are “good” according to whom, according to what standard? Remember, relative morality actually does not help the sinner—he may be a “better” sinner than another, but he is also a “worse” sinner than yet another, and whether “better” or “worse,” he is still a sinner!

The God of the Bible has a simple method for determining righteousness. Today, He sees two types of people—saints and lost people. While both groups were born in sins (Ephesians 2:1-3), “shapen in iniquity [in the womb]” (Psalm 51:5), and “condemned already” (John 3:18), only the saints have come to realize their lost state. Job asked in Job 9:2, “How should a man be just [righteous, acceptable] with God?” Saints have come to the acknowledgement that they needed God’s righteousness, that they had a massive sin debt that they could never satisfy, that their “righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6), that they could never possibly make themselves right before a holy God (He is the standard; Romans 3:23). The lost people, however, do not realize they are lost, for they believe their religious works “score points” with God and make up for their sinful deeds (2 Corinthians 4:3,4). They ignore the finished crosswork of Jesus Christ as sufficient payment for their sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

Saints have come by faith to Jesus Christ, whose name literally means, “Anointed Saviour” (cf. Psalm 2:2; Matthew 1:21). As the writer of the book of Hebrews said, “[Jesus] is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” (7:25). Literally, no world religion has such a “Saviour” as Jesus Christ!

The Misunderstood Messiah #5

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

“Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God” (John 8:41 KJV).

Did you ever notice the magnitude of the insult put forth toward Jesus Christ in today’s Scripture?

Once Christ replied with sound doctrine (verses 42-47), Israel’s religious leaders simply resorted to name-calling again (verse 48): “Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?” A Samaritan was half-Jew/half-Gentile, and “the Jews [had] no dealings with the Samaritans” (John 4:9). Notice Jesus was insulted twice more—they called Him a “Samaritan” and “devil possessed.” Throughout the rest of John chapter 8, Israel’s religious leaders continue arguing with Jesus and nearly stone Him to death (verse 59)!

Why did Jesus not simply “zap” these religionists and instantly throw them into hellfire? They belittled and blasphemed Him several times in this one account, and then attempted to murder Him, but rather than Jesus killing them with His spoken word (which would have been justified), He only conversed with them. Why?

Remember, when the Apostles James and John saw how the Samaritans refused to accommodate Jesus, they asked Him if He wanted them to call down fire from heaven and consume those sinners, He replied, “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:55,56). This First Coming of Christ was His “meek and lowly” coming: He did not come to judge man’s sins, but to die for them!

Even today, God is still not pouring out His wrath on wicked mankind (2 Corinthians 5:19), creatures who still snicker at Jesus Christ, deceive others in His name, persecute His saints, ignore His Word, and “rub His nose” in their sins. Lost mankind is wasting God’s grace and mercy that He is offering so freely. When His grace is finally exhausted, the undiluted wrath that has accumulated will finally be poured out (His Second Coming). May we trust Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour now so we have our sins forgiven now, lest we face that angry, righteous God in judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)!

For more information, you may also see our archived Bible Q&A: “Did God ‘rape’ Mary?”

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing #5

Sunday, December 7, 2025

“For the love of Christ constraineth 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” (2 Corinthians 5:14-17 KJV).

The final verse of the classic Christmas carol highlights today’s Scripture.

“Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!”

Religion has done an excellent job (wrongly) teaching us that God likes to rehabilitate humans—that He wants to make us quit doing certain things (“fleshly”) and make us start doing other things (“churchy”). What a very shallow, and actually a false, perception. God wants to do much more than what we could ever do by ourselves.

For good works to reign in our lives, God has to kill us! As sinners, in Adam, we are dead in our trespasses and sins, no life in ourselves (see today’s Scripture). Nothing we can do in our own strength will ever change our (sinful) nature in Adam. However, God offers us death to Adam and a new identity through Christ at Calvary. When we trust that Jesus Christ died for our sins, in God’s mind, we died to sin, too. Christ did not simply die for us but as us. Romans chapters 5 through 8 describe the victory is in Christ, not in Adam or in ourselves. Success is by the power of the Holy Ghost working with the grace doctrines we study and believe, not in our struggles to do right. And so, “Christ [is] formed in [us]” (Galatians 4:19).

Something about which the angels cannot sing, but we can, should, and do! 🙂

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing #4

Saturday, December 6, 2025

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:8-11 KJV).

The fourth verse of the classic Christmas carol highlights today’s Scripture.

“Come, Desire of nations come
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Oh, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart!
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”

Angels can sing about God’s operations, but, unlike us humans, they cannot sing about salvation in Jesus Christ. When we read today’s Scripture, there should be leaping for joy! The God of creation, the God of the Holy Bible, the God of Christianity, has attempted to mend the broken relationship between Him and us. He has done everything to save us from our sinful selves and our utter foolishness. He can do no more than Calvary. Those merits of Christ’s finished crosswork cannot benefit us individually unless we individually appropriate them by faith. There is no merit in our faith, but there is immeasurable merit in what Jesus Christ did. We either agree with God by faith that Calvary’s finished crosswork is enough, or we ignore it and continue on our way to eternal hellfire. Simple indeed!

Reading from 2 Corinthians chapter 5: “[19] 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. [20] 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. [21] 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.” Do we agree with God by faith?

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂

The Clever Axe #6

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15 KJV).

Observe the following: “The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe cleverly convinced the trees that his wooden handle made him one of them.” While written about duplicitous politicians, it is also practical instruction for religious leaders and about religious leaders.

A deacon board was considering a pastoral candidate for their local church. Hearing his responses to questions, one solitary deacon doubted the man’s spiritual reliability, but, outnumbered, he ultimately joined his colleagues in unanimously endorsing and installing the pastor. Within three years, that “minister” permanently destroyed the assembly with his false doctrine. Though three decades have passed, my community and my family have never been the same; yes, that was our church (!). By the way, when I was much older, I interviewed that lone deacon. Looking back on those events, he realized his reluctance to accept the self-serving candidate was justified. The other deacons were Bible babies, having no real spiritual sense and totally unqualified to judge men for the ministry.

“Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22). This refers to ordaining men to serve in the ministry (cf. 1 Timothy 4:14). We should not be swift in aligning ourselves with pastors and teachers, hurriedly appointing people as our spiritual leaders and/or supporting them before we know what they really believe and are really doing. Remember, the child focuses on the axe’s harmless wooden handle, but the adult notices its sharp iron head. We must have a mature view about hazards, physical and spiritual.

Wolves wearing sheep’s clothing also involved false pastors, false prophets, and false shepherds in Jeremiah 23:1-40 and John 10:1-18. Israel’s false teachers failed in their job to guard the nation against Satan’s errors. Likewise, most of our pastors and teachers have failed us miserably in this regard for the last 20 centuries. Paul wrote, “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). In the midst of error (Acts 20:28-31), grace principles, Romans to Philemon, are the key to spirituality and safety (Acts 20:32).

The Clever Axe #5

Monday, November 24, 2025

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15 KJV).

Observe the following: “The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe, for the axe cleverly convinced the trees that his wooden handle made him one of them.” While written about duplicitous politicians, it is also practical instruction for religious leaders and about religious leaders.

Remember the “grievous wolves” of Acts 20:28-32 are the “ravening wolves in sheep’s clothing” in today’s Scripture. Philippians 3:2 has something similar: “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.” These Jewish false teachers (cf. Titus 1:10,11) have mutilated their physical bodies with a circumcision that has no corresponding faith (spiritual circumcision). It is empty religion. They bragged about how, for example, God originally gave the Scriptures to Israel, so only Jews (who knew Hebrew) could properly interpret the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament); they also preached Law, not Grace.

Furthermore, in the context of today’s Scripture, the Lord warned preaching in His name was not necessarily good. Matthew 7:21-23: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

We see more “clever axes” in 2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him…. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….