Category: God’s grace

arC Ministries Turns 8!

Friday, July 31, 2015

“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 eighth anniversary today!

Eight years ago, as an 18-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 eight 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 four years now. For the last three years, we have focused on developing and drafting a grace study Bible (entering its fourth year tomorrow). 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. 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. Eight 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 9! 🙂

Knowing Your Christian Life

Thursday, July 16, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Liberated to Serve

Saturday, July 4, 2015

“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 239th 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.

Christ’s Calvary Crucifixion Covers Christians

Monday, June 29, 2015

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7 KJV).

Certainly, Christ’s Calvary crucifixion covers Christians!

In and of ourselves, there is nothing special about us Christians. Who we are in Jesus Christ, now there is something special!! We have the privilege of standing before Father God in the manner Adam did before the Fall! In Christ, we have the same standing before Father God as Jesus Christ Himself! A very exciting truth, one that precious, precious, precious few believers are ever taught (sadly).

Denominations always instruct them to strain and strive to have a right standing before God. They fail to realize that God places them in Christ at the very top of the ladder. Instead, they become busy in religion, desperately trying to reach the top rung Jesus Christ already gave to them! When you consider it, it makes your head spin how far off religious tradition brings one from the Holy Bible rightly divided.

What Israel has to wait for at Jesus Christ’s Second Coming (Acts 3:19-21), we have now received the atonement (Romans 5:11). When we trust the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished crosswork, the Holy Spirit places us into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). We then share Jesus Christ’s identity (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are just as close to Father God as Jesus Christ is—unconditional acceptance (grace).

It is when we come to the Apostle Paul in the Bible that we learn that God’s salvation is available as a free gift to all men (1 Timothy 2:3-7; Titus 1:1-3). What was once reserved for Israel is now being offered to every person in every nation under heaven today. Rich or poor, black or white, male or female, Jesus Christ’s merits are available to all. Jesus Christ is “the Saviour of all men, specially those that believe” (1 Timothy 4:10). While it is unto all, salvation is only upon all them who believe (Romans 3:21-28). Lost people can come to Calvary’s cross by faith, and Father God will welcome them with open arms, no matter what they have done. There is nothing that Jesus Christ’s blood cannot cover.

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Is there ‘healing in the Atonement?’”

Noteworthy Ninth

Sunday, June 28, 2015

“I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word” (Psalm 119:16 KJV).

To God’s glory alone, it was nine years ago today that I entered the writing ministry!

Dear friends, it has been quite an exciting journey these last nine years in the Holy Bible. Long before we had these daily devotionals, decuple-monthly Bible Q&A articles, weekly newspaper columns, scores of tweets, and thousands of Facebook posts, there were brief notes and reflections on Bible passages. (Those writings have never been released.) Drafting them for many months “primed” me to get to where we are today. I had no idea what I was getting into!

When I entered the writing (teaching) ministry, I thought I had some Bible knowledge. Looking back on it all these years later, I now realize that I knew nothing! My writing style was crude, my theology was denominational, but in time that all straightened out. Over 2,000 completed written Bible studies later, and over 2,000 incomplete written Bible studies later, only by God’s grace we have come quite a long way. A handful of you have been with us from the very beginning. You have grown with us all these years. With each passing day, the Holy Bible is becoming more and more thrilling, is it not? What glorious Bible truths we have uncovered in these last nine years overall!

Being a Bible teacher, one learns more while teaching than those he teaches. Teaching the Bible is a constant reminder of what it says, and being taught the Bible is a constant reminder of what it says. We can delight in God’s Word because we are mindful of it and we understand it (today’s Scripture). It is not the burden or the mess that religion makes it out to be. The Holy Bible is the world’s most marvelous Book. Yes, our King James Bible is the greatest Book, and may we continue to read, study, believe, delight in, and teach it. There is still much more growing to be accomplished. There is still much more treasure to mine from God’s precious Word. It is with great delight that we thus begin our tenth year in the writing ministry! 🙂

Sinners Should Stop Snubbing Salvation

Saturday, June 27, 2015

“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:32 KJV).

Such sinners should stop snubbing soul salvation!

When the nation once known for leading worldwide Christian missions becomes the leader in the legalization of homosexual unions, the world’s spirituality has reached its lowest point in centuries. When its president can sing hymns about “grace” after applauding such perversion, and not see God’s consuming fire come down from heaven, God’s grace is thus evidenced to be greater than any and all of man’s sin (Romans 5:20).

We read in Philippians 2:15,16: “[15] That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; [16] Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

Hold forth the word of life, dear brethren, to this lost and dying world. The “word of reconciliation” has been committed to our trust. We are to share with all the world the good news that God is not imputing their trespasses unto them today (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). They can be right with Him today by simple faith in Calvary’s finished crosswork. They have God’s grace, His friendly attitude, and His love now, but that will instantly change at the Rapture.

As we Christians leave for heaven, unbelievers will remain on earth to experience the undiluted wrath of a holy God. Sin will be dealt with either at Calvary or in eternal hellfire. People can rely exclusively on the Lord Jesus Christ’s shed blood, having Him suffer for their sins, or they can ignore Christ’s sacrifice and go to hell to pay for their sins forever and ever and ever and ever. Remember, God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He does not want people to go to hell. He sent His only begotten Son to die for those sins. May they delay no longer trusting Him and Him alone!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Should women serve in the ministry?”

God’s Grace Grants Great Gain

Friday, June 26, 2015

“And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:3,4 KJV).

God’s goodness and grace grant us great gain!

Chapters 1 through 3 of the book of Romans are God’s controversies with mankind. It is like a court setting, where the accused (mankind) is indicted and convicted of being wretched sinners, worthy of eternal damnation, the everlasting lake of fire. After discussing the sins of the Gentiles (nations) in chapter 1, God moves on in chapter 2 to review the actions of the “goody-goody” Jews, people who say they are “not as bad as the Gentiles.” As today’s Scripture says, just as divine judgment would come on the unbelieving Gentiles, the unbelieving Jews would experience that wrath, too!

The verses after today’s Scripture say: “[5] But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; [6] Who will render to every man according to his deeds: … [8] But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, [9] Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; [11] For there is no respect of persons with God.”

There are many today who have failed to realize that God’s goodness is temporarily keeping them from dying and going to hell. They enjoy His oxygen, His food, His water, His provisions, but they spout their ignorance about how “God does not exist!” They despise His goodness, His unmerited favor. They haughtily forget that He, if He so chose, could swat them and mash them as one would do a pesky fly. Grace delays the wrath! Oh, dear friends, may we turn from such silliness, foolishness, before it is eternally too late. Let us humbly come by faith alone in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork, the epitome of God’s grace, that we one day not see God’s angry face.

Persistence of Resistance for Maintenance of Coexistence

Thursday, June 25, 2015

“Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel” (Amos 4:12b KJV).

As divine judgment found rebellious Israel, mankind today will not escape either!

Genesis documents the four divine institutions that govern man’s existence. In chapters 1 and 2, we read about free will, marriage, and family/parenting. Chapters 9-11 discuss nationalism (human government). Satan, the sneaky Devil, has attacked all four. May we not wonder why society is in such pitiful shape today.

God designed FREE WILL to be the means whereby man could exercise faith or doubt, believing or rejecting God’s Word. Today, Calvinists (in pagan circles, “Fatalists”) deny man’s free will by saying that God has already determined every little detail beforehand—who does what, what they do, who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, et cetera. Instead of blaming sinners, just blame God! MARRIAGE, the most intimate human relationship, was designed by God for the bearing of children. Homosexual activity in no way produces children. Period. Even if we knew not a single Bible verse, nature teaches us that humans were never created to be homosexuals. Heterosexual marriages are necessary, lest the human race die out. FAMILY/CHILDBEARING was intended by God to be the means whereby society would expand and mankind would multiply worldwide. Abortion attacks this intention of God. Even if we were, like most, Bible ignorant, nature teaches us that no species will survive if it kills its offspring. God created NATIONALISM as a means to convey order and justice. Due to political corruption, God’s purpose in governments is not being fulfilled today. Hence, Jesus Christ will have to come back one day, and straighten it out!

Despite the constant plea/demand today for “tolerance” of others’ beliefs, hypocritically, not one of these “coexisters” is “tolerant” of the Creator God’s designs! Everyone is entitled to “free speech” but the God of the universe! Let them enjoy God’s grace today. Let them blame God today. Let them laugh and mock Jesus Christ today. Let them act however, marry whomever, kill whomever, oppress whomever today. Jesus Christ may just return tomorrow in wrath, finding them doing “however and “whatever!” Friends, God will not allow such “intolerance” of His will, to go unpunished forever (Romans 2:1-11; Ephesians 5:3-6).

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What is the difference between ‘the Kingdom of God’ and ‘the Kingdom of Heaven?’”

When Reality Catches Up

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:22,23 KJV).

Paul reaffirms that the Christian is not promised good health in this the Dispensation of Grace!

Scanning a newspaper sometime ago, I read the “obituaries” page and noticed a rather peculiar item—the death notice of the wife of a local “faith healing” pastor! (Her cause of death unknown.) Or, consider the well-known “faith healer” who was recently suffering cardiopulmonary issues and had to be hospitalized. More lately, a “faith healer” preaching on the internet recounted the time when he experienced influenza (and there was no instant healing for him!). All the “healing” claims aside, even the “faith healers” purchase medical insurance, grow sick, seek medical help, and, yes, they eventually die, too.

Dearly beloved, we can deceive ourselves into believing “healing” testimonies and attending “healing” crusades, or we can just believe today’s Scripture. As long as our Dispensation of Grace is operating, there can be no divine intervention regarding physical healing: “The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Someone may object and say that this verse does not apply to us Christians. The next verse of today’s Scripture answers them: “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

Our physical bodies have not yet been redeemed. They are still subject to sin, sickness, and death (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Thankfully, by God’s grace, we have immune systems, medical professionals, and prescription drugs. Even when these are not enough, and we must succumb to physical death, in Christ, we could not be headed to a better place! Above all, no matter what type of sickness or trouble, God’s grace is truly sufficient, surely enough, for us to bear it, that it not destroy us spiritually (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Spiritual fortitude—may we have it when we have bodily illness, that misery not have us (Romans 5:1-5)! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Was Saul a pastor, a prophet, or an evangelist?”

Give Yourself to the Lord

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

“Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 8:4,5 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is the key to giving under grace.

Giving to churches is justifiably a very sensitive matter. Especially when preachers demand $65-million personal jets! There is much abuse when it comes to religion and money. Ironically, when Jesus condemned “thieves,” He did not castigate publicans (tax collectors who amassed exorbitant amounts from the Jews to give the Roman government). Rather, Jesus entered the Temple—Israel’s religious center—and declared thieves had overrun His house. He drove these religious people from God’s house (Matthew 21:12,13; Luke 19:45,46; John 2:13-17). Paul confessed that, before salvation, he, a Pharisee, “profited in the Jews’ religion above many [his] equals in [his] own nation” (Galatians 1:14).

We read today’s Scripture in context: “[1] Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; [2] How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. [3] For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; [4] Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. [5] And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”

When Paul collected from his converts various goods to assist the poor believing Jews in Jerusalem, the Macedonian Christians, though poor, wanted to give more and more (beyond their means). The believers in Macedonia (Thessalonica and Berea) were motivated by God’s grace. We first give ourselves to the Lord. Then, we give to sound grace Bible ministries—NOT out of fear of God’s curse (tithing), but out of thanksgiving for God’s blessings (giving under grace). Let us give “cheerfully” (2 Corinthians 9:6,7)! 🙂