Category: Grace Living (Christian Life)

Saved or Lost? #7

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you” (Galatians 4:19,20 KJV).

Are these people really saved—or really lost?

Due to the curse of sin, life in a fallen world, we all must deal with medical conditions. Ultimately, one “disease” (whatever it is) will cause our physical life that began in the womb to cease just prior to heading to the tomb. The scientific community is still quite limited in its understanding and treatment of a wide range of physical and mental illnesses. For example, medical literature abounds with countless oddities or shocks:

  • Have you ever heard of Epidermodysplasia verruciformis? Probably not, but you may know it as “Tree Man Syndrome.” Those afflicted have disproportionate warts (resembling tree bark) growing over large sections of their skin. Entire arms, legs, hands, and feet are often unrecognizable. These human bodies look very much like actual tree trunks!
  • People who have the eating disorder called pica can be found consuming all sorts of non-foods—wood, glass, and even feces!
  • As weird as it sounds, sufferers of Cotard Delusion (also called “Walking Corpse Syndrome”) believe they have missing organs, no blood, absent body parts, or even think they are dead! This is not reality, of course, but they do not know otherwise because it is a mental disorder.
  • Hypertrichosis, or Werewolf Syndrome, involves hair growing excessively all over the human body.
  • When one baby does not fully separate from another baby in the womb, the result is bodies joined at the head, or torso, or buttocks, et cetera. These are “conjoined twins.” However, if one baby dies during the pregnancy, but his or her body parts remain attached to the surviving twin, the result is a “parasitic twin.” The living child may have extra legs, arms, or other remains of the parasitic twin.
  • What about the man with Segmental Overgrowth Syndrome, whose massive 200-pound (100-kilogram) leg dwarves the rest of his body?

As sin’s curse make humans not to think or look like humans, so sin’s curse causes Christians not to think or look like Christians….

The Thing Which is Good

Monday, September 5, 2022

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ephesians 4:28 KJV).

On this Labor Day, we talk about work, “the thing which is good.”

In this day and age of increasing “government assistance,” people are becoming less and less aware of our hard work being the Lord Jesus’ preferred method of the source of our incomes. While the physically and mentally disabled are obvious exceptions, the God of the Bible expects all of us to contribute labor in order to provide for ourselves. For children and young adults, even being a student in school is work enough!

Observe the doctrine being communicated in today’s Scripture. The grace life does not merely teach us to quit doing bad things, but it also instructs us to start doing good things (Titus 2:11,12). Once a thief trusts the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished crosswork as sufficient payment for his sins, then God expects that thief to quit stealing and find a job so he can provide for his needs!

The God of creation calls work “the thing which is good” (today’s Scripture). Work is not something to be avoided; it is something to be embraced for the Lord’s glory!

When the Lord Jesus Christ put the first man, Adam, on earth, that man had a divine commission. Adam was not to simply loaf around and do nothing: “And the LORD God took the man, and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Adam was to protect that garden, to till its ground, to prepare it for Jesus Christ to come down and dwell in with he and Eve (because of sin, that earthly kingdom over which Jesus Christ will rule is still awaiting fulfillment!).

Saints, may we work to provide for our families (1 Timothy 5:8), and may we work to help those who truly are needy (today’s Scripture). In the words of God the Holy Spirit, that is “good!” 🙂

Saved or Lost? #6

Sunday, September 4, 2022

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you” (Galatians 4:19,20 KJV).

Are these people really saved—or really lost?

Satan’s evil world system was using religion to mislead the saints of Galatia (Turkey). Moreover, the Holy Spirit through Paul announced the Christians in Corinth (Greece) had also fallen into doctrinal error. Second Corinthians chapter 11: “[1] Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. [2] For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. [3] But I fear, lest by any means [countless techniques can be employed to achieve it!], as the serpent [Satan!] beguiled [fooled] Eve through his subtilty [intelligence, wisdom, sneakiness], so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [4] 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.”

Paul knew the Corinthian believers were not immune from leaving the truth. The threat was quite real, for participants of Satan’s evil world system are skillful enough to actually use the name “Jesus” (albeit, not the Jesus whom Paul preached to the Corinthians), and talk about “the spirit” (however, not the spirit that Paul delivered to the Corinthians), and even preach “the gospel” (but, not the gospel Paul gave to the Corinthians)!

“[13] For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. [15] 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.” As strange as it sounds, Satan’s efforts through sinful men (his “ministers”) are so effectual or successful that even true, justified, saved, forgiven, redeemed Christians can be tricked into thinking and living contrary to their identity in Christ….

NOTE: We temporarily break away from this devotionals arc to bring you a special study, but we will return the following day with more advanced studies on this same theme….

Saved or Lost? #5

Saturday, September 3, 2022

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you” (Galatians 4:19,20 KJV).

Are these people really saved—or really lost?

When we hear of a professing “Christian” who joins a cult, or suddenly “no longer believes in God,” et cetera, what should we conclude? Are they now lost and Hell-bound? Let us ask better questions. Did they trust Christ in their heart, and then become confused? It is highly possible. Or, did they get confused and never trust Christ in their heart? This is equally likely. Frankly, only the Lord knows their heart attitude.

Firstly, authentic (!) Christians can (!) turn from the truth by thinking and/or acting like lost people. The Galatians did—and so did the Ephesians, the Corinthians, et cetera. All these saints heard God’s pure words from the Apostle Paul himself. However, today’s apostates often had extremely little to practically no understanding of the truth anyway. Since they learned superficial or shallow information, not much error was required to move them away from whatever “truth” they had.

Secondly, only God knows their heart—if they were ever actually saved in the first place. Justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone cannot be revoked. God’s righteousness credited to a person’s account is permanent, for human works cannot play any role in gaining eternal life or maintaining it. Romans chapter 4: “[4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. [5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Yet, and we never want to forget it, these verses have, unfortunately, been true of few people anyway because most have never actually had heart faith in Christ.

Let us return to dealing with more deceived saints in Scripture….

Saved or Lost? #4

Friday, September 2, 2022

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you” (Galatians 4:19,20 KJV).

Are these people really saved—or really lost?

The verse immediately after today’s Scripture asks: “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?” Spiritually disoriented, the Galatian saints have discarded God’s grace (His perfect work to justify them) in favor of keeping their works (fumbling, bumbling, stumbling in religion). For the remainder of Galatians chapter 4, Paul appeals to the Hebrew Scriptures to highlight their folly: Abraham’s flesh (and resulting son Ishmael) was completely incompatible with God’s grace (and consequent son Isaac), just as their performance in works-religion nullifies or cancels God’s grace. (Read Galatians 4:22-31 in your own Bible.)

Now, chapter 5: “[1] Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. [2] Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. [3] For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. [4] Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. [5] For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. [6] For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. [7] Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? [8] This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. [9] A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”

The Galatians were religious indeed, for they had been pressured into physical circumcision under the false assumption they would make God happy with them (see Acts 15:1-5). Yet, the Law is an “all-or-nothing” system—and the Mosaic Law encompasses 612 other rules and regulations that are impossible for a sinner to keep perfectly (Romans 3:19,20; Galatians 3:10; James 2:10)! By throwing away grace to take up even part of the Law, the Galatians had, essentially, committed spiritual suicide….

Saved or Lost? #3

Thursday, September 1, 2022

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you” (Galatians 4:19,20 KJV).

Are these people really saved—or really lost?

Today’s Scripture names the Galatians “my little children.” Not a term of endearment, it gently rebukes these people who should be mature believers but are spiritual infants or Bible babies. Christ should have been formed in them. The Apostle Paul had so fervently labored to give them sound Bible doctrine, just as a mother experiences severe birth pangs to bring forth new life: “Of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,….” What happened instead, due to corrupt spiritual leaders, was works-religion had been formed in them. (Multimillions of genuine Christians have likewise been deceived during the 20 centuries since!) That these Galatians were indeed Christians—despite their stunted development and plenteous confusion—is confirmed when we realize Paul addressed them as “brethren” nine times (1:11; 3:15; 4:12,28,31; 5:11,13; 6:1,18).

“I desire to be present with you now.” If only Paul could be there with these Galatians physically, but he is far away. In those days of limited communication (no cellphones or internet videocalls), all he can do is write on a piece of papyrus (plant material) or vellum or parchment (animal skin) and send that message by courier back to Galatia. Had Paul been with them, he would have “change[d] [his] voice.” That is, his tone of voice would reflect the gravity of their situation and his utter disapproval of their apostasy (falling away from the truth). More bluntly, the Holy Spirit would speak through Paul to bring them to their senses. “Wake up and grow up!” (See “sleeping” saints in Ephesians 5:14-17.)

Observe that weighty expression at the end of today’s Scripture: “For I stand in doubt of you.” It is not to be read as “I doubt you ever trusted Christ!” Rather, the Apostle’s reaction to them is something like, “I have no idea what to do with you!” “Doubt” here is the Greek “aporeo” (literally, “no way out”). Paul is “at a loss mentally,” perplexed or uncertain about how to proceed….

Bible Q&As #988, #989, and #990: “What does ‘wont’ mean?,” “What does ‘lusty’ mean?,” and “Can you explain ‘hale?’”

Saved or Lost? #2

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you” (Galatians 4:19,20 KJV).

Are these people really saved—or really lost?

Galatia was an enormous territory stretching through modern central Turkey. The Apostle Paul met Gentile pagan idolaters here in Acts chapters 13–14 during his first apostolic journey. He won them to the Lord Jesus Christ by preaching the Gospel of Grace to them (“Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day;” 1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

After leaving Galatia, Paul learned some unsettling news about them, which he addressed by writing this epistle to Galatia: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6,7). False teachers—commonly called “Judaizers” but better termed “denominationalists!”—had infiltrated Galatia after Paul’s departure. To say the least, the Apostle was astonished at how quickly these Galatians had abandoned the sound Bible doctrine he had taught them!

Chapter 3 is more of the Holy Spirit’s criticism: “[1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? [2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Deceived (!), these Galatians were now “fools.” They were engaging in spiritual insanity or silliness. Forsaking the Message of God’s Grace (Christ-based acceptance system), they had taken up the Law system (performance-based acceptance system, or works-religion as they had before Paul’s visit!).

These people, whom Paul himself saw desert spiritual darkness as they came to the Lord’s light, have (most pitifully!) returned to Satan’s lie program! In other words, they think and act like they have never heard the Lord’s words through Paul at all….

Saved or Lost? #1

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you” (Galatians 4:19,20 KJV).

Are these people really saved—or really lost?

Not too long ago, a dear Christian lady was browsing profiles on social media when she was shocked to discover some extremely depressing news. A young woman she had known from church decades back had just converted to a works-religion cult! That young woman had seemed to “know better than that,” having grown up in a family and a church that supposedly stood for sound Bible doctrine. Consequently, for her to become an official member of a satanic denomination was something the Christian lady never dreamed she would ever read about!

Certain pointed questions invariably arise in these types of situations. Were these professing “Christians” who join cults ever true Christians? Does God still see them as Christians, or as lost people? Have they lost their eternal life? Has God thrown them out of His family? What happened to cause them to drift from the path of righteousness? Is there anything we can do to avoid this spiritual ruin in our own lives?

Indeed, God does not let us into Heaven based on how we perform on a theological—or even a Bible—test. If He did, I am afraid all of us would go to Hell! The fact of the matter is, the spiritual realm abounds with truths, errors, and resulting paradoxes or ironies. If we look at the record of the Holy Scriptures, here is what we see. We can find saints behaving like saints—and lost people behaving like lost people. Furthermore, we can find saints thinking like saints—and lost people thinking like lost people. Yet, here is something strange! We also find saints behaving like lost people—and lost people behaving like saints. Moreover, we find lost people thinking like saints—and saints thinking like lost people.

Dear friend, are you confused after reading this? Well, you should be! Many intricacies are involved, but we can reduce the madness to one simple question….

Our latest Bible Q&As:  “What is a ‘champaign?’” and “Can you explain ‘gaddest thou about?’”

333’s 4100th – Not a Popularity Contest!

Sunday, August 21, 2022

“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42,43 KJV).

Dear saints, only by God’s grace, we have reached devotional #4100 today!

Several decades ago, a Christian evangelist found himself in an unenviable dilemma. His solution was easy (or so he thought): he chose to gloss over or explain away a preacher friend’s major theological errors. To wit, that compromising friend was highly popular (man-pleaser), so, lest the evangelist lose funding and support from mutual associates, he smoothed over the heresies and reassured his audience the preacher’s teachings were still sound and acceptable. Nevertheless, as the years passed, the two men could no longer ignore their mounting doctrinal disagreements. The evangelist’s public break from the (now even more) famous preacher devastated the former’s ministry: the evangelist’s biweekly publication lost nearly one-third of its 100,000 subscribers!

Christian friends, the simplest way to discover just how much we love the Lord Jesus Christ and His words is to ask ourselves a pointed question: Do I seek to please man or the Lord? Now, we imagine ourselves in the situation described in today’s Scripture. “Many” chief rulers amongst the Jews believed on Jesus as Messiah/Christ. Nonetheless, they were “secret believers,” for to publicly admit their faith meant an invitation to permanently leave the synagogue (place of Jewish worship)! (“I will not speak out against my denomination’s errors, lest I be excommunicated!”) The Holy Spirit comments: “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

During these last 4,100 days now, we have disseminated daily Bible studies from the King James Bible rightly divided. Never have we sought to appeal to sinful flesh; therefore, as expected, we have offended innumerable people from day 1. We are not interested in repeating the traditions of men, or perpetuating denominational doctrine. Instead, we have endeavored to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ by teaching His Holy Scriptures dispensationally considered and delivered (2 Timothy 2:15). Our loyalty is solely to Him. Do you agree?

Onward to devotional #4200! 🙂

Remember, you can find all our devotionals archived here.

Keep Your Fork! #12

Saturday, August 20, 2022

“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6,7 KJV).

Will Heaven be a boring place? (It is a resounding “NO!”)

Dear saints, we “keep our fork” because we know “dessert” is coming: Heaven is real, it is organized, it is defiled, and it will be restored (here is our eternal destiny as members of the Church the Body of Christ). Even the “best thrills and chills” that life on Earth has to offer us do not compare to what lies ahead for we who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour. Only the depths of God’s infinite wisdom are the limit!

It has been estimated that there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on all of Earth’s beaches. (Try to wrap your mind around that!) These celestial bodies, where the angels live, are mostly unknown to us because of their extreme distances from us. There are innumerable worlds—planets, bodies of rock, ice, and gas—no human has ever visited. Father God has deemed them our realm of influence in the ages to come. Therefore, we must receive glorified physical bodies that can function in outer space.

“For our conversation [lifestyle reflecting citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things [the offices of government!] unto himself” (Philippians 3:20,21). After reflecting on God’s magnificent plans for us in the ages to come (covered in the first three chapters), the Apostle Paul burst into a doxology or praise of God: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20,21). May we too reply with a hearty, “Amen!”

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What is a ‘sop?’”