Category: God’s wisdom

Living Defensively #2

Monday, August 26, 2024

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,…” (Ephesians 5:15 KJV).

What is the sense of “walk circumspectly” here?

In the Book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 5, we learn of one of the chief spiritual scandals in the capital city of southern Greece. The Corinthian believers were tolerating such sinfulness, totally unaware they were exposing themselves to spiritual contamination. It was a serious problem, yet they lacked discernment to know any better. Let us read about it.

“[1] It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. [2] And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.” A Christian brother was having sexual relations with his father’s wife (assumed to be his stepmother, not his biological mother). Whereas such incest was punishable by death or exile in heathen Roman courts, Christians in Corinth were unembarrassed and actually boasting or finding the situation amusing (!).

“[3] For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, [4] In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, [5] To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” As an Apostle and mature saint, Paul had already judged the matter. That fornicating brother was destroying his edification process by filling his spirit and soul with bad doctrine instead of sound doctrine. He should be excommunicated, removed, from their local church for three reasons: he should reap the consequences of his sin, he should be discouraged from any future misconduct, and he should be encouraged to reform.

In short, the fornicating brother was not walking circumspectly but walking foolishly. His brethren in Corinth, by tolerating his sin, were also not walking circumspectly but walking foolishly. Like the thoughtless driver of a vehicle, neither party was living defensively….

Living Defensively #1

Sunday, August 25, 2024

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,…” (Ephesians 5:15 KJV).

What is the sense of “walk circumspectly” here?

Once, a family member surprised me when she declared how, even though she was greatly advanced in years, she was still able to drive her car! She complained to me how, in all the decades she had been driving, people operating vehicles on the road today were more reckless than ever. I told her, “Indeed, we are to drive defensively.” We have to watch not only what we are doing, but also be on the lookout for others (who may not be watching what they are doing)—what types of vehicles are near us or approaching us (bicycles, 18-wheelers, sedans, pickup trucks, et cetera), their distance from us, their speeds and braking habits, and any hazardous conditions that could possibly develop with them or our other surroundings.

More recently, I was instructing my 16-year-nephew how to drive his new car. As he got into the driver’s seat, and I sat on the passenger’s side, we began our trip into town. With that aforementioned lady in mind, I cautioned him to drive defensively, to not be distracted but be aware of his environment—watching out for any children or animals wandering out into the roadway, slow drivers in front of him, oncoming traffic zooming around curves and crossing into his lane, stop signs, narrow roads, speed-limit signs, puddles of water, potholes, and other potential challenges. Sure enough, we encountered perils along the way, but he managed to get us safely back home. (If you must know, I would give him a score of 95%!)

In today’s Scripture and its context, we read: “[14] Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. [15] See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, [16] Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. [17] Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. [18] And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;….”

We now explore how driving defensively and walking circumspectly operate according to the same fundamental principles….

A Father’s Gift #8

Thursday, August 22, 2024

“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 KJV).

Let us learn about Father’s gift….

Read Colossians 2:3-9: “[3] In whom [Christ, verse 2] are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. [4] And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. [5] For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. [6] As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: [7] Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. [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. [9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

In Christ, we find all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (verse 3). However, someone can trick us with nice-sounding words, offering us counterfeit wisdom and knowledge to replace God’s wisdom and knowledge (verse 4). Paul recognizes the Colossian saints, mature believers, need to continue with their stedfastness (stability) of their faith in Christ (verse 5). Having received Christ Jesus the Lord by faith, they are to walk in Him similarly—by faith (verse 6). They should be rooted and built up in Him, growing and being edified or strengthened in sound Bible doctrine, Christians who have been taught, filled with gratitude to God (verse 7). How they should guard against love of human wisdom, empty lies, manmade religious tradition, legalism and works-religion—which do not align with Christ (verse 8)! In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead physically—God in human flesh (verse 9).

Now, Colossians 2:10: “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:….” We lack nothing in Christ (today’s Scripture)—but Satan’s evil world system would have us believe we need something outside of Christ (and His words to us, preserved in Scripture). Maybe it is an experience, a feeling, a ritual, a rite, a ceremony… a distraction….

A Father’s Gift #7

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

“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 KJV).

Let us learn about Father’s gift….

Reading through Paul’s 13 epistles, Romans to Philemon, we can assemble a list of at least 120 spiritual blessings that we have in the Lord Jesus Christ (yes, I counted!). These are free to us by God’s grace, all that He can do (and is willing to do) for us through Christ’s finished crosswork.

For example, we need our sins sent away—and that is our “forgiveness” through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 1:14; Colossians 2:13; Colossians 3:13). Yet, we are frequently taught in religion that God will not forgive sins unless we confess them directly to Him in prayer or to some religious leader. First John 1:9 has been ripped from its dispensational, Israeli context! Or, we need acceptance—what we have in God’s beloved Son (Ephesians 1:6). Still, religious tradition dictates we had better endure (persevere!) in holy living and good works or God will not let us into Heaven because we have “lost our salvation.” Legalistic, or Law-based, verses are isolated from their Jewish contexts (Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:26-31; James 2:14-26; et cetera). As another example, we need eternal life—and in Christ we have God’s life, communion with Him, thereby avoiding spiritual death and second death in Hell and the Lake of Fire. Nevertheless, religion pressures us to eat holy meals, join denominations, participate in water baptisms, to receive eternal life. Statements are carelessly pulled from John 6:52-58, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38… more failure to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

These are just three of the hundreds of ingenious ways Satan deceives people with false doctrine in “church” (not penitentiaries, skeptics’ conventions, science classrooms, or nightclubs!). We dare not forget Colossians 2:8: “Beware [Watch out!!!] lest any man spoil [rob, steal from!] you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” There is no more lethal weapon of the Devil than spiritual error—doctrinal perversion, works-religion, man’s wisdom, and the like.

Let us now contemplate Paul’s communication to Colosse….

A Father’s Gift #6

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

“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 KJV).

Let us learn about Father’s gift….

What is generally passed off as “biblical Christianity” is actually a clever blend of endless speculations, faulty assumptions, extensive Bible re-translations, and insidious traditions, with a hint of pure Bible (of course, for even the worst of lies contains some truth!). This widespread ignorance and unbelief—masquerading as “spirituality” and “progress”—has been circulating our planet for many, many, many centuries. Our Christian schools, churches, and homes are rife with it. Talk with people. Read books. Listen to sermons. It is obvious why our church members have few convictions, many doubts, and infinite questions! We have not learned about Father’s gift to us, and not been thankful in having it in the first place.

Friends, if we are not mindful of God’s current dealings with man, and simply “name and claim” (or, better, “take and fake!”) whatever Bible verses that appeal to us, then we are only making it that much harder for ourselves to know and do God’s will. If we are more skilled in the commandments of men than the Word of God rightly divided, then we have not submitted to the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry, and we are just as useful to God as the Devil’s ministers. It is true. Believe it.

Definitely, it is no secret that religion makes robots. These church members are servants to men, slaves to denominational programs. They are not thinking for themselves or questioning anything—they are simply repeating what they have heard for years and years. We cannot expect to serve the Lord by sitting under such teaching and mastering such a curriculum. Their ignorance is the means whereby they (and we) are indoctrinated not to be thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork and the spiritual benefits we thereby have received. They have been robbed of such clarity that it is mind-boggling. Many of us have come from such backgrounds and assemblies, and we would be utter fools to return there and continue as if nothing were wrong with their theology.

Again, let us learn about Father’s gift….

A Father’s Gift #5

Monday, August 19, 2024

“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 KJV).

Let us learn about Father’s gift….

Observe some primary cross-references to today’s Scripture. “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). “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom [spiritual sense to apply God’s knowledge to life], and righteousness [right standing before God], and sanctification [setting apart unto God’s purposes], and redemption [purchase out of sin’s slave-market]: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:30,31).

When Father God gave His Son to be offered or sacrificed for our sins on Calvary’s cruel cross, He made a way to bless us so as to reverse the spiritual curses we naturally inherited from Adam. Romans 5:12-21 should be read, carefully noting the comparisons and contrasts between Adam and Christ. In Adam, there are death (physical and spiritual), judgment, and condemnation. This is the category of non-Christians—sinners. However, in Christ, there are life (resurrection and spiritual), righteousness, and justification. This is the group of believers—saints. We either have Adam as our federal head, or Christ as our federal head. What is true of Adam is true of all in Adam, and what is true of Christ is true of all in Christ.

“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 5:17). The “old things” are the traits we had in Adam, whereas the “new things” are the qualities we have in Christ. As “new creature[s] in Christ,” we should have a corresponding mindset and lifestyle, thinking and conducting ourselves with Father’s gift in view….

333’s 4800th – Wise Fools or Wise Fools

Sunday, July 21, 2024

“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God…” (1 Corinthians 3:18,19a KJV).

Dear Saints and readers, only by God’s grace, we have reached devotional #4800!

In the Bible, we can be either wise fools or wise fools. For example, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,…” (Romans 1:20-22).

These wise fools are knowledgeable, intelligent, and clever in their own eyes, but they have forsaken God’s wisdom (true wisdom). To Him, they are but fools. Here is much of the world. “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:20,21).

In today’s Scripture, there are some other wise fools: “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” Any Christian who believes he can live the Christian life by using worldly wisdom (recall Romans 1:20-22) is but a fool in God’s eyes. That is most of Christendom. Yet, we can reject secular wisdom, adopt God’s wisdom, and become wise in God’s sight—though the world sees us as fools.

With each passing day of our sound Bible doctrine studies, we are moving away from wise fools (relying on our wisdom, thus wise in man’s sight but fools in God’s sight) and over to wise fools (relying on God’s wisdom, thus wise in God’s sight but fools in the world’s sight). May we seek God’s approval above all (2 Timothy 2:15)!

Onward we go to #4900! 🙂

Please remember that all studies have been archived here.

The Roller-Coaster of Life #8

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV).

In this roller coaster called “life,” who is truly “faithful?”

When the disciples learned how they would desert Jesus, they disputed it and called Him a liar! “And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all” (Mark 14:27-31). Of course, it came to pass exactly as Christ foretold: “And they all forsook him, and fled” (verse 50), including boastful Peter denying Him three times (verses 66-72)!

It contradicts humanism (“man is his final authority!”), is at variance with “feel-good” Christendom, and offends our ego. Yet, the fact remains that, because of sin, none (!) of us are faithful. Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul, was raised in Judaism (works-religion). Such “Judaizers” or denominationalists constantly promoted “the goodness of men” amongst his grace believers. Now, as a Christian, he composed these words: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:…” (Philippians 3:3,4). Indeed, Saul had “trusted in the flesh”—his religious performance—yet that was “but dung” (verses 5-8). “And be found in him [Christ], not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:…” (verse 9).

Never forget: Father God does not trust us, but He does trust Christ in us, so we may we trust Christ in us too! 🙂

The Roller-Coaster of Life #7

Monday, July 1, 2024

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV).

In this roller coaster called “life,” who is truly “faithful?”

Chapter 10: “[1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; [2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; [3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat; [4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. [5] But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

“[6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. [7] Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. [8] Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. [9] Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. [10] Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

“[11] Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. [12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. [13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

As ancient Israel forsook Moses (God’s spokesman to them), so the Corinthians had abandoned Paul (God’s spokesman to them). Yet, again, “God is faithful” (verse 13), offering the Corinthians the spiritual power to overcome their apostasy and return to His words of grace to them by faith (Romans through Philemon). Even now, this holds true of us.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

The Roller-Coaster of Life #6

Sunday, June 30, 2024

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV).

In this roller coaster called “life,” who is truly “faithful?”

A bygone preacher once observed: “the flesh wants to do something, be something, live something.” This claim can be easily proven by visiting a denominational church—or anywhere else the Message of God’s Grace is absent. In fact, the works of the flesh can be (and have been) frequently passed off as (supposedly) “the works of the Spirit of God.” Only a mature, discerning spiritual eye can differentiate them.

Man has to come to a very uncomfortable, unflattering conclusion: his works, no matter their quantity, are not perfect righteousness or sinlessness. In no way can he save (deliver) or reform (change) himself. Those who cannot (or will not) admit that then intensely refute the idea of “once saved, always saved.” To them, you can and should trust Christ as your personal Saviour, but then, say they, you must continue in holy living to maintain that salvation or you will lose it. This is extremely convoluted, for it assumes our works play some role in perpetuating a relationship with God that we could never (and will never) obtain by our works anyway!

The Corinthians actually started off right: “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized” (Acts 18:8). In that brief moment of clarity, they recognized their Greek philosophy was void of any eternal value. It could not give them a right standing before the one true God any more than the Law of Moses could justify Israel! There was no doubt whatsoever they became members of the Church the Body of Christ right here, believing in their heart how Christ died for their sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Alas, Satan’s evil world system (false teachers) later drew them away from that simple truth, which generated the innumerable problems/sins in the Corinthian assembly Paul is now addressing in 1 Corinthians.

In today’s Scripture, he thus did not emphasize their faithfulness (for, they were unfaithful!) but rather God’s faithfulness….