Category: spiritual growth and maturity

For What Saith the Scriptures?

Monday, December 15, 2025

“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3 KJV).

Today, our Bible Q&A website, “For What Saith the Scriptures?,” celebrates its 12th anniversary!

A question rarely asked in Christian circles, “What saith the scripture?” is found twice in the Bible—today’s Scripture, and Galatians 4:30, “Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”

God’s will for our lives is summed up in 1 Timothy 2:4, “[God our Saviour] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” There are two issues here—soul salvation from sins and everlasting hellfire, and soul salvation from false teaching unto sound Bible doctrine. Firstly, God wants everyone to become Christians by trusting in and relying exclusively on His Son Jesus Christ and His finished crosswork at Calvary as sufficient payment for their sins. Secondly, God wants Christians to trust in and rely on the grace doctrines found in Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon.

Amazingly, both occurrences of “What saith the scripture?” have a special application to us—each instance correlates to one of the issues in 1 Timothy 2:4! The question “What saith the scripture?” in today’s Scripture uses the Bible to answer the question of soul salvation from sins and everlasting hellfire (faith instead of works, “all men to be saved;” 1 Timothy 2:4). The question “What saith the scripture?” in Galatians 4:30 uses the Bible to answer the question of soul salvation from false teaching unto sound Bible doctrine (grace instead of legalism, “come unto the knowledge of the truth;” 1 Timothy 2:4).

For these past 12 years, we desired you to have a clear understanding of how to have forgiveness of sins and justification unto eternal life, and for you to have a clear understanding of what God’s Word has to say about issues in your Christian life. We were honored to serve you in this additional capacity; thank you for the prayer and support this past year. As always, we welcome your Bible questions, and hope to serve you in that way for years to come! 🙂

NOTE: Though no new articles are currently being added, there are 1,000 studies still archived at https://ForWhatSaithTheScriptures.org/.

 

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing #5

Sunday, December 7, 2025

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 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 5:14-17 KJV).

The final verse of the classic Christmas carol highlights today’s Scripture.

“Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!”

Religion has done an excellent job (wrongly) teaching us that God likes to rehabilitate humans—that He wants to make us quit doing certain things (“fleshly”) and make us start doing other things (“churchy”). What a very shallow, and actually a false, perception. God wants to do much more than what we could ever do by ourselves.

For good works to reign in our lives, God has to kill us! As sinners, in Adam, we are dead in our trespasses and sins, no life in ourselves (see today’s Scripture). Nothing we can do in our own strength will ever change our (sinful) nature in Adam. However, God offers us death to Adam and a new identity through Christ at Calvary. When we trust that Jesus Christ died for our sins, in God’s mind, we died to sin, too. Christ did not simply die for us but as us. Romans chapters 5 through 8 describe the victory is in Christ, not in Adam or in ourselves. Success is by the power of the Holy Ghost working with the grace doctrines we study and believe, not in our struggles to do right. And so, “Christ [is] formed in [us]” (Galatians 4:19).

Something about which the angels cannot sing, but we can, should, and do! 🙂

In Every Thing Give Thanks

Thursday, November 27, 2025

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV).

Dear saints, take a moment this Thanksgiving to learn a valuable lesson from the Holy Scriptures!

God wants “all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3,4). To be “saved” here means you have been rescued from the penalty of sin (hell and the lake of fire), and that you have a home in heaven, because you have trusted the death, shed blood, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as sufficient payment for your sins. To “come unto the knowledge of the truth” is when a person who has trusted Christ, begins to understand why God saved him or her, and how God will use him or her for His glory. Although soul salvation is instantaneous, spiritual maturity is a life-long process (that is especially true regarding handling difficulties, the grace way!).

It is human nature to avoid difficulties and stress, to flee them, rather than confront them. This self-preservation is advantageous, particularly in “life or death” situations. However, running from troubling circumstances is not the way God has designed our life in Christ to function. Today’s Scripture says, “In every thing give thanks,” not “For every thing give thanks.” We do not thank God for our troubles; we thank God while we are enduring those troubles. This is tough, I know, but it takes time for us to learn it. Even the Apostle Paul had to learn this.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:11-13).

Be thankful in every thing. God’s grace is sufficient for you, dear saint, in all of life’s circumstances. When you learn this, you are “[coming] unto the knowledge of the truth.”

*Excerpted from our Thanksgiving 2012 Bible study with the same name. That study can be read here or watched here.

You may also see, “What are our spiritual blessings in Christ?”

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #22

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10 KJV).

Will sinners “get away” from accountability before God?

Since Christ’s merits on Calvary have been imputed (reckoned) to their accounts, believers should not fear the penalty of sin (Hell and the Lake of Fire). Yet, if they fail to apply by faith the resources Father God gave them in Christ, they will be under the power of sin (not enjoying victorious Christian living). Such disruption of Christian growth and development is courtesy of false teachers, whose doctrine is worthless in God’s sight. The classic example of this is throwing away Grace and returning to the Law—as the Galatians.

Remember, the Law is an “all-or-nothing” system. “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written [Deuteronomy 27:26], Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:10,11). “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). To introduce the Law system into the Grace life is to destroy the Grace life: “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. I do not frustrate [hinder] the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain [to no purpose]” (Galatians 2:20,21).

Teachers who place believers under Law today (when they are under Grace) emphasis human works (self-righteousness) at the expense of God’s righteousness: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 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” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Such false teachers, “whose end shall be according to their works,” will not “get away” from accountability before God….

333’s 5200th – We Still Have Time!

Monday, August 25, 2025

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11 KJV).

Many, many years ago, as a university graduate student, I spoke with a works-religion man also attending classes there. Although he was an unbeliever, I strongly encouraged him to access our online devotionals blog, where he could find 500 daily Bible studies to read and consider. He was surprised as to how someone could have time to write so many devotionals. Well, by God’s grace, we have multiplied that over 10 times now!

There is still much, much, much to read, learn, and teach. While one particular ungrateful “believer” whined how she “could not keep up with us” (and she referred to basic topics!), mastering sound Bible doctrine is the only way to survive the deception of Satan’s evil world system. Instead of griping how “difficult” and “slow” spiritual growth is, it is important that we find the right teachers and right preachers and steadily mature with them. Even if it is so gradual it is barely perceptible, a believing heart resting in sound doctrine will assuredly develop spiritually.

Brethren, the Dispensation of the Grace of God is still in effect. For now, God’s attitude toward the world is “grace and peace.” Therefore, we need to get on with studying the Dispensation of Grace as described in Paul’s 13 epistles, Romans to Philemon. Contrary to the false accusations of the denominational preachers and “natural-man” teachers, we do not discard a single Bible verse. We study the Scriptures of Genesis through Revelation, for each and every verse is inspired of God. Howbeit, we “rightly divide” (2 Timothy 2:15), knowing what is for our learning (outside of Pauline revelation) versus what is to and about us (Pauline revelation). If our spiritual leaders have not taught us this, they have failed us miserably. They need to do less talking and more studying themselves, lest they continue to be “blind leaders of the blind.”

We hope our daily studies here have helped and blessed you in some measure these last 14.25 years. No, we do not know everything, for we are not God, but we know a little more than we did yesterday, last year, a decade ago. Praise our Lord Jesus Christ, and onward to #5300!

Note: All our previous devotionals, going back to “day 1,” are archived chronologically here.

Asset or Liability to the Establishment? #11

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

“[Our Lord Jesus Christ] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:…” (Galatians 1:4 KJV).

Are we assets or liabilities to Satan’s Establishment?

God bestowed spiritual gifts upon the early Body of Christ, that believers grow up into strong spiritual adults (not remain Bible babies!), for only spiritual adults can do the work of the ministry: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:…” (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Now, with the completed Bible canon, the temporary spiritual gifts are unnecessary. All revelation from God has been given, written down in the Bible, preserved through history via a multiplicity of reliable manuscript copies, and translated for us into our language English (the King James Bible). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

Doctrine is information or teaching worthy of our faith/trust, reproof is criticism for wrong conduct, correction is for improving poor thinking—all three are instruction in righteousness (the right path to walk!). Satan wants us to be ignorant, to not know what God wants us to know, for, if we knew what God wished we knew, we would be “perfect [spiritually mature], throughly furnished unto all good works [the very good works that are liabilities to Satan’s lie program!!!].”

We study all the Bible, Genesis to Revelation, for it is all God’s Word. Yet, we know Paul is our Apostle, Christ’s spokesman to us (Acts 26:17,18; Romans 11:13). Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, describe God’s current dealings with man. If we fail to see what God is doing in the “but now,” and/or try to go back to “time past” (Scripture prior to Paul), that is a heavenly way to do the Devil’s work (serve as his assets)!

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂

Asset or Liability to the Establishment? #10

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

“[Our Lord Jesus Christ] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:…” (Galatians 1:4 KJV).

Are we assets or liabilities to Satan’s Establishment?

One Pauline “pastoral epistle” describes the work of the ministry as follows: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26). “Those that oppose themselves” are people living contrary to whom they are in Christ—that is, believers who never abandoned what they thought (doctrine) and did (conduct) as lost people. They are “in the snare [trap!] of the devil… taken captive by him at his will.” Until they believe sound Bible doctrine to recover themselves, they will be no bother to Satan because they are functioning as his assets!

Paul prayed saints would be “strengthened with might by [God’s] Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;…” (Ephesians 5:18). To be “filled with the Spirit” is to “let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly in all wisdom.” That Word of God’s Grace will “build [us] up [edify us], and… give [us] an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

In short, the indwelling Holy Spirit takes that sound Bible doctrine and works in us as we trust it: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Here is spiritual growth and development, maturing in the faith, Christ’s life being revealed in and through our life. This is how we are liabilities to Satan.

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! 🙂

 

Asset or Liability to the Establishment? #6

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

“[Our Lord Jesus Christ] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:…” (Galatians 1:4 KJV).

Are we assets or liabilities to Satan’s Establishment?

God the Father justified us by faith in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork without our works (read Romans 3:19–4:8), redeeming us from sin’s dominion positionally. Since He has taken us out of Adam and placed us into Christ, that sanctified (set-apart) identity should affect our lives every day (Romans chapters 6–8).

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin…. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Romans 6:1-7,11-13).

Before they trusted Christ, the Corinthians and the Galatians had been assets to Satan’s Establishment. After they trusted Christ, they never made use of their identity in Him, so they continued to be Satan’s assets. Neither group was useful to God, though both were in God’s family and should have thus been functioning in God’s ministry. Even now, believers tend to be Corinthians (man-oriented, philosophy, entertainment-oriented, carnal, wild/loose) or Galatians (Moses-oriented, commandments, ceremonies, rites, rituals, strict). They thereby are liabilities to God’s work.

Note: In order to bring you two special studies, we will temporarily break away from this devotionals arc….

Asset or Liability to the Establishment? #5

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

“[Our Lord Jesus Christ] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:…” (Galatians 1:4 KJV).

Are we assets or liabilities to Satan’s Establishment?

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith” (Galatians 5:1-5).

Whereas the Galatians inclined toward the bondage and strictness of works-religion, the Corinthians wanted the other extreme of human nature—wild, crazy, loose living. If asceticism (giving up worldly pleasures), self-righteousness, and human “goodness” characterized the Galatians; then lasciviousness (unbridled conduct), entertainment, and human evil described the Corinthians. Like the Galatians, the Corinthians assumed they could live the Christian life—and, like the Galatians, the Corinthians failed miserably. Supposing they were “free,” the Corinthians were slaves to sin practically.

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal [fleshly, governed by sin or the Adamic nature], even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal [fleshly]: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal [fleshly], and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal [fleshly]?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). As the Galatian saints needed Christ to be formed in them (Galatians 4:19), so the Corinthian believers were also Bible babies or spiritually immature. Both had failed to walk in grace as in Romans chapter 6, thereby becoming spiritual prisoners practically (the failure, disappointment, and misery of Romans chapter 7), thereby needing to be re-taught Romans chapter 8….