Category: reproof

Spellbound! #5

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

Read Acts 24:1-27. Tertullus’ feel-good, inspirational, positive-thinking speech had its intended effect. Governor Felix was mesmerized to the point he cast aside all reason—forsaking whatever Roman ethics and jurisprudence he had learned. He was willing to—and did—continue to hold Paul as a prisoner, though lack of evidence of wrongdoing. Felix sought to please lost Israel, so he mistreated Paul (see Acts 24:27). The trial dragged on and on for two years, unresolved by the time Felix was removed from office (Roman Emperor Nero called him back to Rome on corruption charges!). Governor Porcius Festus, Felix’ successor, had to wrestle with the case, ultimately keeping Paul in bonds to appease lost Israel too (see Acts 25:9). If “good words” and “fair speeches” could and did pervert political/legal matters, it is no wonder today’s Scripture points to such errors as being utterly destructive in religious/spiritual cases.

Think of the term “spellbound.” Someone is figuratively bound (chained, shackled, trapped) by means of a dominating or irresistible influence. Another way of stating it is “fascinated,” “captivated,” or “charmed.” One prime example of this unfortunate state is found in Paul’s epistle to the Galatians, saints who started off in God’s grace but then listened to and believed the “convincing” legalists (Judaizers, denominationalists, works-religionists): “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? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3).

Such “bewitching” flourishes in Christendom even to this present moment, and most church members are totally ignorant of the warning God the Holy Spirit issued in today’s Scripture….

Spellbound! #4

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

When lost Israel persecuted the Apostle Paul in latter Acts, these unsaved Jewish religious leaders hired a professional speechmaker, Tertullus, to represent them and misrepresent Paul in a Roman court of law! Observe Acts chapter 24: “[1] And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. [2] And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, [3] We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. [4] Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.”

Tertullus’ oration or speech before the Roman Governor of Judaea, Antonius Felix, was designed to flatter this politician, to make him feel good about himself. With lost Israel’s representative praising the judge, the judge would be more inclined to conduct Paul’s trial in lost Israel’s favor. Tertullus’ opening argument was not against Paul but rather in support of Felix. Basically, Felix was commended for the peace and prosperity he gave Israel in the land of Palestine, how Israel was so appreciative of his efforts, and how they did not want to waste his precious time with trivial matters (what irony!!!). Tertullus declared how he could go on and on and on worshipping Felix, but he would not try his patience and rather asked for just a few more moments so he could blame Paul (see verses 5-8).

It is significant, however, that historians report that Felix was cruel, oppressive, and corrupt (cf. the bribe he wanted from Paul in verse 26). Tertullus’ compliments of Felix were overwhelmingly baseless—utter fabrications or downright lies (not including his extensive false testimony against Paul!). These “good words” and this “fair speech” manipulated Felix to mistreat Paul….

Spellbound! #3

Monday, August 21, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

Dear friends, we must come to terms with a dreadful fact. False teachers do not announce how their ministries lead to destruction. Not one of them will preface their remarks with, “I am about to lie to you,” or “I am soon to lead you to eternal ruin,” or “I will ensure you stay in spiritual kindergarten,” or anything close to that effect. No, rather, they sound lovely, pleasant, or wonderful. In fact, four common elements forming the heart of their message are peace, prosperity, healing, and knowledge. Admirers by the millions—seeking tranquility, wealth, health, and “wisdom”—come to sit at their feet, shake their hands, fall to their knees, and kiss their toes!

Look at today’s Scripture. The two techniques false teachers employ are “good words” and “fair speeches.” In our Greek New Testament, “good words” is “chrestologia.” The term “chrestos” was translated in our King James Bible as follows: “easy” (Matthew 11:30), “better” (Luke 5:39), “kind” (Luke 6:35; Ephesians 4:32), “goodness” (Romans 2:4), “good” (1 Corinthians 15:33), and “gracious” (1 Peter 2:3). Believe it or not, a false teacher’s communications can be described as any or all of these!

“Fair speeches” is “eulogia” (literally, “good thoughts/words”), from which we get “eulogy.” A eulogy is a message intended to praise someone, particularly at the person’s funeral. Admirable traits, inspiring accomplishments, and other enjoyable comments are expressed before a crowd. “Fair” means “beautiful, soothing, reassuring, or complimentary.” As someone once put it, “Fair speeches are language artfully adapted to captivate the hearer.” The “good words” are the substance, but the “fair speeches” are the means whereby the orator influences the audience to believe those words.

This does not mean everyone who speaks kindly or beautifully is automatically a false teacher. Nonetheless, we do need to realize threats to our spiritual wellbeing typically lurk in the most unexpected places….

Spellbound! #2

Sunday, August 20, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

A Christian lady once related to me her innumerable ridiculous experiences in religion. One such particular disappointment involved her bedridden husband who had a terminal illness. This dear woman hated seeing him suffer, so she desperately sought the “services” of someone who took advantage of her. She asked a certain local preacher to come and minister to him. Standing by the dying man, the pastor pronounced that God would heal him, that he would recover and leave his sickbed. It took her some time before she finally realized just what a charlatan this so-called “man of God” really was. Her husband’s condition worsened, and he soon died and moved to Heaven!

Many years later, I talked with that “healing” pastor (he works at a nearby funeral home!), and though he was friendly, he had no interest in sound Bible doctrine. After being a professional denominationalist for several decades, he was too comfortable with his delusions and staunchly refused to forsake his traditions! Our only conclusion is that this man in ministry is one of countless people who have no business being in ministry at all. False religious hope leads to wallets, purses, and souls taken!

Re-read today’s Scripture: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Paul the Apostle here describes individuals who split up believers (local grace churches) by introducing false teaching. Instead of all Christians united around the truth, they now go their separate ways because each has found someone who promotes a special view that appeals to them but not to others. The result is just another cult, sect, or denomination. It all starts with something that sounds pleasant, lovely, wonderful….

Spellbound! #1

Saturday, August 19, 2023

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18 KJV).

Let us analyze these “good words and fair speeches.”

A few years ago, a Christian friend faithfully listened to a “Christian prophetess” (?) share her “wisdom” through online sermon videos. He would tell me what she discussed, and, since I was skeptical of her, I would strongly caution him not to bother with her. However, he kept following her “ministry,” watching her videos daily. Yet, here is a startling development. Recently, he finally admitted to me that she had indeed tricked him—like so many others. He had just happened upon a website that exposed her as false. (Of course, that was no surprise to me because I already knew she was a fraud and told him so many times before!) She would set numerous dates for certain events to materialize, but nothing she said ever came to pass. Her frequent failed predictions were well-documented on the website my friend noticed. He had been fooled, but it took a stranger (rather than me, his friend) to convince him!

My dear friend told me exactly how this “Christian prophetess” (?) had manipulated him into adopting all kinds of weird views. She did it by foretelling things he really wanted to happen. For example, she habitually started off by reporting a particular negative or depressing news event. Then, she would claim “God” would intervene and correct the problem at a specific time (she would pinpoint the month and the day). This constant dose of wishful thinking kept luring my friend to tune in to her broadcasts for several months. Unfortunately, the dates would come and go, with the sinful event continuing unresolved. Where was the “God” she said would “intercede?” My friend finally admitted he had been scammed.

Today’s Scripture is the Holy Spirit giving us a firsthand glimpse of what a false teacher is really like, and what we should do when we discover one….

For Students This is Safe

Friday, August 18, 2023

“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:128 KJV).

As a new school year dawns, let us awake unto spiritual truth!

Although the autumnal equinox is still over a month away here in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is finally beginning to wind down for most of us. Students—with long faces and deep sighs—have returned or are beginning to return to school. As students return to the classroom, they need to be particularly mindful of the following.

Firstly, learning in and of itself is not a sin. Moses was “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22). Luke was a medical doctor (Colossians 4:14). Daniel and his companions were skilled in science (Daniel 1:4). Adam was the first taxonomist (Genesis 2:19,20). The God of the Bible is never against learning new things—remember, He gave us His Holy Bible so we can have plenty to learn for all of eternity!

Secondly, what the God of the Bible opposes is when we believe/trust ideas that do not seek our best interests, that contradict the way He designed our lives to function. Certainly, we Christians should never go around believing anything and everything heard and seen. Just because the professor, preacher, pope, or president says it is true, that does not make it so. Scientific consensus has been wrong before, religion has been wrong before, politicians have been wrong before. Much of the ideas that permeate our world today are wrong.

Lastly, there are many wonderful, exciting ideas and concepts out there—medical advancements, technological breakthroughs, and so on—but there are equally detrimental ideas that will mess up your life—religious traditions, secular humanism, and other philosophies. Daily intake of the King James Bible rightly divided will cleanse our souls of the filth and foolishness that we hear and see day in and day out in this evil world system. We highly exalt God’s Word, we know it is right “concerning all things,” and we hate and ignore the error.

Have a wonderful school year in our Lord Jesus Christ! 🙂

Liberated to Serve

Tuesday, July 4, 2023 🇺🇸

“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 247th 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.

Living With Others in Mind #8

Monday, July 3, 2023

“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:23,24 KJV).

In what way was Paul self-centered—in what way was he self-sacrificing?

It was by the Lord’s design that Paul stayed on planet Earth as long as he did, for Paul’s earthly sojourn would not conclude until he had written his last epistle, preached his last sermon, and visited his last city. Paul would be a living, breathing example of Christ’s grace life manifested in human flesh… for the advantage of the Philippians and other saints. Therefore, Paul resolved to seek their wellbeing instead of his own. Essentially, it would be summed up as: “Yes, to be with Christ is far better with myself in mind, but it is more needful to stay here with you in mind.”

How sad it is that, despite the Bible’s clear explanation, ignorance flourishes! Christians will ask, “Why has the Lord not yet come? Why are we still here? What is God’s will for me?” While we want to be gentle, we must be frank too: these are truly dumb questions. If we are still in doubt about such basic matters, it is a testament that our pastors, teachers, and churches have failed us miserably. We really have no idea what the Christian life is all about. It is just as unknown to us as if we had no Bible at all.

Dear friend in Christ, if you have not already been in the predicament of today’s Scripture, you will surely be in it one day. You need to have that right answer before you face the question and wonder how to handle it. Read Philippians 1:21-26. Instead of having a pity party for ourselves, whining, “I want to go on to Heaven and leave this wretched place!,” we can remember, “But God wants me here to manifest Christ’s life here, to reach others for His glory here, so any attendant afflictions are light and momentary in the grand scheme of things.” (See 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.) It really is that simple, and we do not need to complicate it with endless speculations and worthless denominations. Mature grace living is living with others in mind! 🙂

Living With Others in Mind #7

Sunday, July 2, 2023

“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:23,24 KJV).

In what way was Paul self-centered—in what way was he self-sacrificing?

“Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Corinthians 10:24). Such an admonition was particularly useful in Corinth, where spiritual childishness and selfishness were running ever so rampant. Instead of “What can I get out of the Christian life to profit and please myself?,” the mature saint inquires, “How can Christ’s life in and through me benefit others?”

When addressing the believers in Philippi, Paul offered the same spiritual counsel: “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4). He then mentioned the Lord Jesus Christ’s example of self-sacrifice in verses 5-8, which you should re-read. If someone were to object, “But Brother Paul, Jesus Christ was the perfect God-Man who had no sin problem whereas we still struggle with sinful flesh, so for us to ‘put others before self’ is easier said than done!” The Holy Spirit through Paul had anticipated and already countered that complaint in the opening chapter of Philippi.

The two verses subsequent to today’s Scripture are as follows: “[25] And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; [26] That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.” Putting others ahead of self is exactly what Paul himself decided to do—and did—with the Philippians! When faced with the choice of going to be with the Lord in Heaven and escaping his dire circumstances on Earth, or staying and ministering to the Philippians (whom he had hoped to see in-person once released from Rome); the preference of sinful flesh gave way to the renewed mind! “I shall abide and continue with you all for your [!] furtherance [!] and [!] joy [!] of [!] faith [!].” Paul sought their spiritual profit, their spiritual wellbeing, for like their Lord, he also was living with others in mind….

Living With Others in Mind #6

Saturday, July 1, 2023

“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:23,24 KJV).

In what way was Paul self-centered—in what way was he self-sacrificing?

Re-read today’s Scripture in context: “[19] For I know that this shall turn to my salvation [from hopelessness, discouragement] through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, [20] According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. [21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [22] But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. [23] For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: [24] Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”

Instead of traveling abroad and preaching the Gospel of Grace in foreign lands, Paul was now under house arrest, possibly facing death. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot [apply wisdom/wits] not” (verses 21,22). To continue in his physical body was to remain restricted in Rome. Now, today’s Scripture: “For I am in a strait betwixt two [compressed, in a quandary or dilemma], having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better….” Paul knew being with Christ in Heaven was infinitesimally more enjoyable than a Roman confinement. This was self-centeredness because he wanted to escape his earthly problems. Still, he recognized the better option was self-sacrifice, for, “…Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” Paul’s stay on Earth would be more profitable for these saints. Let us see what he ultimately chose….