Category: Jesus Christ

An Ambassador Turns 38!

Friday, August 7, 2026 🎂

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 KJV).

Only by God’s grace, I celebrate 38 years of earthly life today!

At my nephew’s high-school graduation a few months ago, I was surprised to notice my old high-school English teacher (who had attended my graduation 20 years before—almost to the very day). With a chuckle, I told him how he now had two decades’ worth of teaching experience. Also, I commented that time was passing quite rapidly, with us (my classmates and I) now almost middle age. (He is 10 years older, so he is already well into it!) I shook his hand and thanked him for the work he did so long ago.

I have been a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ for 31 years now, and a dispensational Bible student for just under 20. There is still much more for me to learn, and much more for me to teach others. If I could share one life lesson that I have ascertained, it is this. Not only is the Christian life difficult for me to live, it is impossible for me to live. I do not live for God, for I cannot live for God. Also, I cannot give Him my life. The only thing I can give Him is my sin. It is He who must give His life to me. Only Jesus Christ can live His life. This is what I have learned firsthand, and what I have learned secondhand from others. It is unwise to trust myself or anyone like me. I do not build my Christian life on preachers and teachers, theological/denominational/philosophical systems, or any other such faulty foundations. These are nothing but distractions and disappointments.

As the Holy Spirit led Paul our Apostle to see it in today’s Scripture, so we agree. We have no life without Christ, so the life we have in Him is all about Him and not about us. Therefore, whatever age we are, may He alone be “magnified [lifted up]” in our physical body (Philippians 1:20). “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

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 #67

Sunday, July 26, 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?

God promised Abraham would be the father of “kings” (Genesis 17:6,16; cf. Genesis 35:11, reconfirmation to grandson and heir Jacob). Born about a millennium later, David was the most famous of these historical kings, with whom the LORD made this covenant: “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David” (2 Samuel 7:12-17).

Remember, the LORD purposed to make Israel “a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;…” (1 Peter 2:9). One of David’s sons will permanently occupy his throne—and this is Jesus Christ, JEHOVAH God who takes on human flesh and receives the legal right to the throne through Joseph and the biological right to the throne through Mary. “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:31-33; cf. Matthew 1:1,6,20; cf. Isaiah 9:6,7).

This is the kingdom of the Gospel of the Kingdom….

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.

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #35

Tuesday, June 23, 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?

Remember, the God of the Bible purposes to build a house (“oikos”) of doctrine in our inner man (soul and spirit) as members of the Church the Body of Christ. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord [by faith; verse 5], so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up [‘epoikodomeo’] in him, and stablished [stabilized] in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6,7). Such edification, building up of a structure/edifice, will lead to us becoming, in practice, “the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

“In whom all the building [‘oikodome’] fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together [‘sunoikodomeisthe’] for an habitation [dwellingplace, house] of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21,22). “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16,17). “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19,20).

Mark this well. Take whatever religious/philosophical/theological system you want, and you can live according to that system’s values without their founders (Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Socrates, Buddha, Plato, Confucius, et cetera) living in and through you. HOWEVER, you cannot enjoy Christian living (grace principles) without Jesus Christ living in you! Hence, the goal of sound Bible doctrine is to have “Christ formed in you” (Galatians 4:19), the indwelling Holy Spirit working to make Jesus Christ’s life real in our lives. Therefore, it is so (!) extremely (!) critical (!) that we build the correct doctrine in ourselves and in those who hear us….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #30

Wednesday, June 17, 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?

Theologians, philosophers, and other supposed “intellectuals” have discussed and debated for centuries the purpose of our existence—and they still have more questions than answers because no amount of man’s “wisdom” is sufficient to comprehend the mind of Almighty God. Howbeit, as Bible believers, it is no enigma to us. Let us therefore be appreciative of the spiritual light Colossians 1:16-20 furnishes us in this regard.

“For by him [Jesus Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

Remember, as we discover in Ephesians 1:8-10 (higher doctrine than Romans), God saving us from Hell is but a minute addendum in His overall plan for the ages. Colossians is a supplement to, or sister epistle of, Ephesians. Although creation—Heaven (Job 15:15; Job 25:5; Ephesians 6:12) and Earth (Matthew 4:8,9; Luke 4:5-7; 2 Corinthians 4:3,4)—is in rebellion because of Satan and Adam, this is only temporary. Father God’s original plan for creation, that His Son Jesus Christ’s life be displayed for all to see, is momentarily delayed. That eternal purpose will still be achieved in the ages to come, when Christ fills us (the Church the Body of Christ) with His life and then fills the heavenly places with us, and when He fills redeemed Israel with His life and then fills the earth with Israel.

This is how we find meaning in life….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #29

Tuesday, June 16, 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?

From cover to cover, Genesis to Revelation, the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God. It has been preserved for us in English as the King James Bible. All of the Bible is for us, for our learning (Romans 15:4), but not all of the Bible is to us or about us. We should not be selfish (“all of the promises in the Book are mine!”), as the nation Israel also needs Scriptures written to and about her. Here is the basic premise of dispensational Bible study, and necessary to maintain the Bible’s integrity. Otherwise, we have to adjust or change verses to match what we see and hear today, or outright deny verses (“they do not mean what they say,” “these were not in the original manuscripts,” and so on).

Avoiding Hell is something for which we in Christ should always be grateful to God, but our being kept out of Hell is just a small footnote in His overall dealings with man. Why has He kept us from those flames of Hell and the Lake of Fire, and destined us for Heaven? Almost no one—even a lot of Christians—can answer it. Here it is! Father God has a plan to exalt His Son (Jesus Christ) in two realms, Heaven and Earth: “Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:…” (Ephesians 1:8-10).

When we “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), we identify the differences God has made in His Word. Grace is the operating system for mystery, but Law is the operating system for prophecy. Father God’s glorification of Christ in Heaven using us the Church the Body of Christ is not to be confounded with His glorification of Christ in Earth using the redeemed nation Israel….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #16

Wednesday, June 3, 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?

By satanic design, our society is fascinated with various “conspiracy theories,” the belief that powerful and wealthy individuals or groups are secretly orchestrating events to attain specific nefarious ends. Involving the mysterious events surrounding assassinations, pandemics, natural disasters, massacres, scientific experiments, or the like, someone looks to expose a guilty party or locate incriminating evidence. However, it is an endless pursuit of the so-called “truth.” Nothing is ever really known for certain, except this: here is possible proof that so-and-so is capable of being responsible for this likely happening.

It will sound offensive, but younger generations need to learn of the greatest conspiracy of all. Precious few (even older people) can detect it. It is something that will damn several billion souls to eternal hellfire—ruining more lives, more marriages, more families, and more nations than any other menace our species will ever know. This is the millennia-old conspiracy to rob the Creator God, the Lord Jesus Christ, of the trust, worship, and praise He alone deserves. As long as people think about something or someone else (distractions!), the plot thickens and survives another second… another minute… another hour… another day… another week… another month… another year… another decade… another century… another millennium. How pervasive it is!

Whether the never-ending quest to prove our self-righteousness or “goodness” in religion, or purchasing yet another “latest and greatest” modern English Bible translation, or seeing just how many zeros we can add to our bank account, or how many lovers we can be intimate with, or how many political offices we can occupy, or how many products or services our business can offer and sell, or how many opponents we can overcome, to Satan’s delight, we have lost sight of Philippians 2:9-11: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him [Christ Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Before it is too late, may we identify and escape the greatest conspiracy of all….