Category: Jesus Christ

You Builders! #5

Saturday, August 30, 2025

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner” (Acts 4:11 KJV).

Who are these “builders?” What have they done—and not done?

“But he [Jesus Christ] answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). God as Creator wants to fill humans with His life. He gives those people His Word, that they might believe it. Yet, as Adam and Eve did not fill their soul with His Word in Genesis chapter 3, neither did the ancient nation Israel.

Nearing the end of his earthly life, Moses counseled Israel in Deuteronomy chapter 4, verses 1 and 2: “Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” To wit, “Do not abandon or alter the LORD’S words to you! Believe and obey them as they are!”

Influenced by corrupt religious leaders (“builders”) for many centuries thereafter, Israel slowly but surely drifted from the pure Word of God. These spiritual leaders were nothing but “blind leaders of the blind” (Matthew 15:14). They “built” garbage doctrine into God’s nation, worthless teaching, manmade religious traditions substituting the living words of the living God. Basically, there was no edification (building up) of sound Bible doctrine, just a 1,500-year-long accumulation of spiritual trash (false information).

Accordingly, when it came time for Israel to function as God’s kingdom of priests to the Gentiles, there was no unadulterated Word of God in their national soul or individual souls. Thus, in rank unbelief, they rejected Messiah-King Jesus who corresponded to the sound Bible doctrine they had refused, thereby rendering them unable to be His kingdom of priests. This was the basic theme of those early Acts sermons, including today’s Scripture.

We summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

You Builders! #4

Friday, August 29, 2025

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner” (Acts 4:11 KJV).

Who are these “builders?” What have they done—and not done?

After Peter healed the lame man who had laid helplessly at the Jerusalem Temple’s “Beautiful Gate” for years (Acts 3:1-11), a Jewish crowd gathers and Peter preaches Jesus Christ to them (verses 12-26). The lame man represents incapacitated national Israel, whose sin problem prevents her from entering into God’s blessings (Millennial Kingdom). In his sermon of chapter 4 (the context of today’s Scripture), Peter refers to that same impotent man (verses 9,10; cf. verses 14,22).

Read Peter’s words in verses 9 and 10, just before he spoke today’s Scripture: “If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole [healthy].” Here are the facts. The resurrected Jesus Christ, whom Israel rejected and crucified weeks or months earlier, is really responsible for the lame man’s healing, which insinuates Jesus Christ alone can save and bring Israel into a position of kingdom blessings. They must therefore stop resisting Him and trust Him as their Messiah-King!

Today’s Scripture and its next verse: “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” As the Holy Spirit speaks to Israel through Peter, the Apostle declares how the Lord Jesus Christ is “the stone, the head of the corner,” the very same individual whom the “builders” rejected (“set at nought” means “made nothing of, despised, considered worthless”). Israel’s religious leaders whom Peter now addresses, are these very “builders!”

How are these religious leaders “builders” though? Along with the terms “stone” and “the head of the corner,” we recognize the metaphor is taken from a construction site….

You Builders! #3

Thursday, August 28, 2025

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner” (Acts 4:11 KJV).

Who are these “builders?” What have they done—and not done?

Re-read the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (Matthew 21:33-45; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19). As the Lord Jesus knows, Israel’s religious leaders are making arrangements to kill Him so as to retain possession of the nation that is rightfully His! It would do us well to observe what was said at the conclusion of this parable. “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Matthew 21:42). “And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Mark 12:10,11). “And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?” (Luke 20:17).

Our understanding is further enhanced once we note how Christ’s listeners responded to the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. “And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet” (Matthew 21:45,46). “And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way” (Mark 12:12). “And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them” (Luke 20:19).

As prophesied centuries before in Psalm 118:22, so came it to pass: “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” Christ took this verse and applied it to Himself. Peter in today’s Scripture also points out how Christ fulfilled it as the “builders” rejected Him….

You Builders! #2

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner” (Acts 4:11 KJV).

Who are these “builders?” What have they done—and not done?

Read verses 5,6,8 that identify the “builders” of today’s Scripture: “And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem…. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,….”

The “builders” are Israel’s spiritual leaders—including “elders” (old men) and “scribes” (literate men, Bible copyists and teachers of the Law). Among them are Pharisees (strict, hypocritical, self-righteous followers of manmade traditions—for example, see Luke 12:1, Matthew 15:1-9, Mark 7:1-13, and Luke 18:11,12). Also present are Sadducees (skeptics of the supernatural, who deny the existence of spirits and angels and bodily resurrection—for instance, see Matthew 22:23, Mark 12:18, Luke 20:37, and Acts 23:6,8). These leaders detested how “unlearned and ignorant” Peter and John preaching Jesus and resurrection were distracting the Jewish people from their “authority,” especially since the Sadducees did not believe in resurrection (Acts 4:1,2). Consequently, these two Apostles had been jailed for night and now stand trial before Israel’s leading religious body the following day (Acts 4:3,4).

It was these same Israeli spiritual leaders whom the Lord Jesus confronted back in Matthew to John during His last week alive. Leading up to His crucifixion on Calvary, He issued in the Jerusalem Temple “The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen.” It is recorded thrice—Matthew 21:33-45, Mark 12:1-12, and Luke 20:9-19. Basically, the story involves a man planting a vineyard and hiring farmers to work in it so it will produce fruit for him. He sends servants to collect the fruit at harvest, but the farmers mistreat and kill the servants. Finally, he sends his son to the farmers, but the farmers conspire against him and slay this heir of the vineyard. The imagery is striking. As in centuries before, so Israel’s unbelieving religious leaders fight against JEHOVAH God. Now, they will murder God’s Son, Jesus Christ….

You Builders! #1

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner” (Acts 4:11 KJV).

Who are these “builders?” What have they done—and not done?

Today’s Scripture is an excerpt from the third of four sermons the Apostle Peter addressed to unbelieving Israel during early Acts (Acts 2:14-40; Acts 3:12-26; Acts 4:8-12; Acts 5:29-32). Read Acts chapter 4 now: “[1] And as they [Apostles Peter and John] spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, [2] Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. [3] And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. [4] Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

“[5] And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, [6] And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. [7] And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? [8] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, [9] If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole [healed in chapter 3]; [10] Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. [11] This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. [12] Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Let us search for verses to identify these “builders” of verse 11, what they did, and what they did not do….

The “Friends” of Jesus #7

Sunday, August 24, 2025

“And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself” (Mark 3:21 KJV).

With “friends” such as these, did Jesus need enemies? (NO!)

Indeed, people can attend Bible studies or church services for many years before they finally quit pretending. The flesh can fake it for only so long before it gives up. Regardless of what those “friends” of Christ in today’s Scripture professed to believe, we know the malicious words they said about Him will be preserved in God’s Book throughout the endless ages to come. The very existence of that record that testifies against them is far worse than they ever anticipated. How did Jesus’ earthly ministry end? Once His most trusted Apostle (Judas Iscariot) betrayed Him, “Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled” (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). Finally, His chief Apostle of Israel (Peter) denied Him three times (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-18,25-27).

Unfortunately, brethren in Christ, there is no guarantee our friends will always stay with us or treat us fairly. In the end, not even our beloved pastors or dear Bible teachers will necessarily be standing with us to maintain sound doctrine. They might wind up becoming Christ’s enemies instead, like His so-called “friends” of today’s Scripture. We hope and pray we ourselves will never be found in that predicament, that snare of the Devil, that apostasy (falling away from the truth)—adopting the very principles and practices we once resisted and condemned.

Paul’s final inspired words of God written in this life included, “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes” (2 Timothy 1:15). These were his grace converts of western Turkey, his “friends” whom he had known for as much as two decades, now having abandoned him. Furthermore, he pens later, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica…. Only Luke is with me” (2 Timothy 4:10,11).

May we not build our Christian life on other people, for they, like we, are unfaithful. The only true friend we have is the Lord Jesus Christ—and, though we fail Him, He will never let us down. 🙂

The “Friends” of Jesus #6

Saturday, August 23, 2025

“And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself” (Mark 3:21 KJV).

With “friends” such as these, did Jesus need enemies? (NO!)

John 1:10,11: “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” The Word (verse 1), God in human flesh (verse 14), Jesus Christ, entered His creation. A Jew by blood (Hebrews 2:14,16), His own nation refused Him!

“But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified” (Matthew 27:20-23). “And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he [Pontius Pilate] saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:14,15).

Long before His crucifixion, Christ commissioned His 12 Apostles in Matthew 10:25: “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub [‘Satan’], how much more shall they call them of his household?” If they spoke such negative words about the Lord, their words about His followers would be equally nasty. Whether it is Jesus Christ in the Little Flock, or Jesus Christ in us, the lost world is naturally inclined to dislike Him. Interestingly, a “friend” in ministry (who, for 15 years, was allegedly our side!) once told me, “The Devil does not need to bash the name of Christ because ‘Christians’ do that already!” Incidentally, he fell away from the truth some time ago. He hurried off after I greeted him at a local store.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

arC Ministries Is 18!

Thursday, July 31, 2025

“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 18th anniversary today!!!

Eighteen 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 18 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 14 years now. For the last 13 years, we have focused on developing and drafting a grace study Bible (now in its fourteenth 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. Nine years ago, we launched our new main ministry website and now have a line of printed Bible study booklets available for sale there. Six 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. Eighteen 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 19! 🙂

 

The Kingdom of God is Within You #14

Thursday, July 24, 2025

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21 KJV).

Is there really a “mis-translation” in the King James Bible here? (NO!)

Re-read today’s Scripture in context one final time: “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Christ was not implying an invisible, spiritual reign in the hearts of men. Instead, He explained how a literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic, Israeli kingdom would not arrive so late in His earthly ministry. National Israel had already scorned Him for three years, so He was now heading to Calvary’s cross. One day, He would return in power and great glory to reign literally and physically and visibly in the Earth (Luke 17:24; Luke 19:11-15), “But first must he suffer many things [crucifixion], and be rejected of this generation” (Luke 17:25).

Contrary to what Amillennialists declare, today’s Scripture and its context is not an invisible, spiritual kingdom (“Jesus reigns in the hearts of men”). As touching the prophetic program, “the kingdom of God” is His literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic, Israeli kingdom. Otherwise, the LORD’s promise to King David is a lie, for the Davidic Covenant cannot be fulfilled (Isaiah 9:6,7; Jeremiah 23:5,6; Daniel 2:44,45; Luke 1:31-33; Acts 1:6; Acts 2:29,30). Contrary to what textual critics tell us, “The kingdom of God is within you” is not a mis-translation of our King James scholars. Its wording underscores Israel’s need to have faith in God’s words first. Lost Israel such as the Pharisees had to accept Christ by faith (“within you” meaning “within your souls”) before they could see and enter His literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic, Israeli kingdom (check John 3:1-8). Yet, the unbelieving Pharisees had reduced Christ’s role to mere political deliverance, seeing no need for their spiritual salvation (forgiveness of sins).

Finally, to believe our Dispensation of Grace fulfills Luke 17:20,21—“Jesus reigns invisibly in men’s hearts today”—is to destroy the dispensational distinctions in Scripture. It is also why modern “scholars” tend to “re-translate” the Authorized Version here. Lacking dispensational eyes, they tell spiritual lies. Avoid them!

The Kingdom of God is Within You #13

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21 KJV).

Is there really a “mis-translation” in the King James Bible here?

The Bible opens, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Sin corrupted both realms: Satan contaminated the Heaven using his fallen angels and polluted the Earth utilizing sinful man. Creation is in rebellion. The Holy Scriptures are the record of God restoring both Heaven and Earth to Himself, that He fill each sphere of influence with His life, thereby achieving His eternal purpose.

“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” (Colossians 1:16-20).

Father God will use Christ’s shed blood to redeem two groups. One is His earthly people, the nation Israel, whom He will fill with His life and then install in the offices of Earth’s governments. (If Amillennialists are correct—if there is no literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic, Israeli kingdom—God will never be able to recover Earth from Satan’s influence!) The other is His heavenly people, the Church the Body of Christ, whom He will fill with His life and then install in the offices of Heaven’s governments.

As touching the ages to come, see Matthew 25:34: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:….” God had that kingdom in mind going all the way back to when He placed Adam on the Earth, proving Christ’s kingdom in prophecy is literal, physical, visible, earthly.

We summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….