Category: The Church the Body of Christ

No Corrupt Communication #7

Thursday, March 7, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

To a great many people, it makes no difference where they go to church or under whose ministry they sit. “All preachers and denominations basically believe and teach the same thing,” they reassure us time and time again. However, we are not—and never will be—convinced. Others, recognizing those insurmountable doctrinal disparities, have chosen simply to ignore doctrine altogether and assert they “just fellowship around the love of Jesus” (whatever that means!). They need to understand they have failed miserably to make a distinction between sound doctrine and corrupt communication, spiritual wellbeing and spiritual hazard. No one taking the Holy Bible at face value—literally and historically—could ever be so casual and tolerant about what they believe.

Observe 1 Timothy 6:3-5: “[3] If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; [4] He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, [5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

Remember this adjective “wholesome” (verse 3) was also translated “sound” (healthy—1 Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9,13; Titus 2:1,2). These “wholesome words” are the Lord Jesus Christ’s words through His spokesman to us, our Apostle Paul—the Bible Books of Romans through Philemon. Anyone who does not submit to these words has a corrupt mind—and we must get away from them (“from such withdraw thyself”), or their equally rotten communication will be detrimental (harmful) to our spiritual health.

Go back to Matthew chapter 7, verse 15: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” The Sermon on the Mount is quite popular, except here (for obvious reasons). This verse denominationalists could do without! Nevertheless, we have chosen to beware of false teachers, those who utter “corrupt communication….”

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. 🙂

No Corrupt Communication #6

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

Edification is the opposite of destruction, as seen here: “For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:…” (2 Corinthians 10:8). Furthermore, 1 Timothy 1:4 reveals one of our goals in ministry: “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.” This “godly edifying” is a construction of sound doctrine which exalts God—whatever He is, believes, and does.

Construction is that which brings growth and development, resulting in an edifice (building) of sound doctrine erected in the Christian’s soul: “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:20-22). Observe how the Holy Spirit is raising a structure of doctrine so as for Father God to have a house, a vessel through which He can live (display His life). Corrupt communication destroys this process, whereas sound doctrine accomplishes it. Father God’s goal is to form Christ in us (Galatians 4:19)—not some denominational doctrine, philosophical speculations of lost people, and so on.

Overall, God’s work of this present dispensation involves the formation of one Church the Body of Christ, a group of saints equipped with God’s grace revelation so as to take it into and display it in the heavenly places in the ages to come. “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:… From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:12,16).

Hence, we should have no corrupt communication in our lives….

Redeem the Year!

Monday, January 1, 2024

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17 KJV).

What great advice for 2024!

Despite 2,000 years of Bible schools and seminaries, 2,000 years of a completed Bible canon, 2,000 years of Bible reading in churches, several decades of “Christian” television and radio, and a decade-plus of widespread use of “Christian” websites, how sad that Bible ignorance is still quite extensive (it is as if God never gave His Word to start with!).

Frankly, the Church the Body of Christ needs to wake up! The verse previous to today’s Scripture says, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (verse 14). Paul, loosely quoting Isaiah 60:1, reminded us that the spiritual ignorance that gripped Israel in Isaiah’s day seized Christians in his day—and it still grips Christians 20 centuries later. Feel-good sermons, enjoyable “worship” services, and rites, rituals, and ceremonies will NOT solve this problem—they exacerbate it!

“[God] will have all men to be saved…” (1 Timothy 2:4a). Do you want this New Year to count for God’s glory? First, you need to get saved from sins and hell! You need to become a Christian by trusting in and relying on Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for your sins (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). That is only part of God’s will for you, for 1 Timothy 2:4b continues, “[God] will have all men… to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Now, God’s will for your Christian life is daily, personal Bible study to renew your mind, so your faith in those verses can cause God to work in your life—it will be His life, thus making you “perfect [spiritually mature], throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

Today’s Scripture urges us to buy back the time Satan has robbed from God (time created for God’s glory). By faith, we need to make that time glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by applying His Word, particularly Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon, to our lives. Have a good year in Christ! 🙂

You can download our free “One-Year Bible Reading Schedule.”

See our archived Bible Q&A: “What Scriptural advice can you give me for the New Year?”

‘Twas the Sunday Night Before Christmas

Sunday, December 24, 2023

“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15 KJV).

Let us not be so sidetracked by religion and commercialization that we miss the reason for the Christmas Season….

During the Christmas Season, we wonder how many people are visiting church for the second time this year (the other being Easter Sunday). How many will be going to church today—the Sunday before Christmas—just to feel “religious” or “holy?” How many really know Jesus Christ? For many, visiting a church building is just an obligation; they do not have faith in God’s Word and have no interest in God’s Word.

We do not go to church to “feel closer to God,” for if we have trusted in Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, we cannot be any closer to God than we already are in Christ! “[Before salvation, we were] without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh [close to God] by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12,13).

Furthermore, we do not go to church in order to get God’s blessings, for God has already given us “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). We go to church, not because we are keeping Israel’s Sabbath day, since we are not obligated to observe Israel’s religious days (Colossians 2:16). We go to church to fellowship with like-minded believers and hear sound doctrine… more than twice a year, by the way.

In today’s Scripture, the Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy that whenever he would assemble with fellow Christians, certain behavior was acceptable and other types of behavior were not (described throughout the epistle of 1 Timothy). Recall that when the Bible refers to “the church,” it refers to the body of believers, not the physical building in which they meet.

As we get opportunities, let us make an effort to reach these dear souls misled by all the vain religious tradition and Christmas commercialization, and may we tell them of the wonderful Christ Jesus whose name is found in Christmas!

*Based on the poem “‘Twas the Sunday Night Before Christmas.”

Joy to the World! #4

Thursday, December 14, 2023

“Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (Psalm 45:6,7 KJV).

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

“He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.”

When Satan’s reign on Earth and in Heaven concludes, voices in heaven cry out, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). Hebrews 1:8,9 quoted today’s Scripture as true of Jesus Christ’s righteous reign. Notice how Father God addressed Jesus as “God.” Human history has never experienced a global, benevolent, theocratic monarchy. For the first time ever, all power in Heaven and Earth will be consolidated forever in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:8-10). All governments in Heaven and Earth will be cleansed of evil. By faith in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork, we will participate in that operation of God (Colossians 1:16-22). We will reign with Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6,7)!

Zechariah 14:9: “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” Daniel 2:44: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” And, Jeremiah chapter 23: “[5] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. [6] In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Indeed, there will be such joy! Jesus Christ glorified forever, in Heaven and Earth! 🙂

Joy to the World! #3

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

“For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody” (Isaiah 51:3 KJV).

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

“No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.”

God’s Word to Adam just after he sinned included the following pronouncement, “…[C]ursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee” (Genesis 3:17,18). This is part of the “bondage of corruption” of which Romans 8:21 speaks. Sin tainted creation. Thorns and thistles began to grow, making Adam’s labor in the field even more grueling. Paradise was indeed lost… but not forever!

When God created the heaven and the earth, He selected a special location on Earth as His home. Exodus 15:17,18 say: “Thou shalt bring them [Israel] in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O LORD, which thy hands have established. The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.” Isaiah 40:22 says God “stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.” While Adam’s sinful actions delayed God’s earthly kingdom, God would take care of those mistakes and still accomplish His original intention.

Israel’s mistakes further delayed God’s earthly kingdom. However, God will restore Earth’s ecology to its original, pre-Fall (pre-sin) conditions. This is true especially of Zion, Jerusalem, which will be the global and universal capital city. There will be joy and gladness, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. All believers in heaven (Body of Christ) and earth (redeemed Israel) will join the angels in song. The curse has been lifted, and Jesus Christ has been exalted (Isaiah 11:1-9)!

Deceptions and Distractions #5

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

“Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law” (Romans 2:17-20 KJV).

May we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe a lesson from Israel’s ancient history….

Like the phony pregnant female beggar distracting us from helping people who truly are underprivileged, so the fakers in religion use “sleight of men and cunning craftiness” (Ephesians 4:14) to divert our attention from what is really going on, what actually matters, what in fact is valuable. Counterfeits captivate our concentration.

There are multiplied alleged “aids to worship”—prayer beads, prayer wheels, icons, images, statues, and the like. There are so many “mediators to God”—intercessory saints and angels, a sinless perpetual virgin, and so on. There are multiplied supposed “teachers”—priests, “scholars,” church fathers, professors, and authors. Is it any wonder why the professing church is so greatly disoriented, deceived, and disabled? The primary factor is willful ignorance. We need to quit depending on people and start reading our King James Bible ourselves. We should start rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15) and stop making everything in Scripture the same.

Saints, let us be careful not to merely possess the rightly divided Scriptures, but to study them, and most importantly, believe them in our heart (not just our head). If we truly and consistently walk by faith in Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, we will be right in the center of God’s will. The indwelling Holy Spirit will take those principles of grace and put them on display in our life. It will be the very life of the Lord Jesus Christ. We will be neither deceived nor distracted! 🙂

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1,2).

NOTE: Brethren, this is our final original devotional for 2023, as our classic Christmas studies will now run the rest of the year.

Deceptions and Distractions #4

Monday, November 27, 2023

“Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law” (Romans 2:17-20 KJV).

May we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe a lesson from Israel’s ancient history….

Any serious Bible student is aware of the disaster in Genesis chapter 3: “[1] Now the serpent was more subtil [sneaky, crafty] than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? [2] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: [3] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. [4] And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: [5] For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. [6] And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

Satan convinced Eve to be dissatisfied with the identity that God gave her (and be ungrateful for His words in Genesis 2:16,17). She was led to believe she and her husband could be more than what they were, that “generous” Satan knew and would share the secret to true fulfillment and happiness (what “unfriendly” God had allegedly deprived them of!). Again, such deceptions and distractions are all around us now….

Deceptions and Distractions #3

Sunday, November 26, 2023

“Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law” (Romans 2:17-20 KJV).

May we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe a lesson from Israel’s ancient history….

Satan exploited sin and peer pressure from the neighboring Gentiles to lead Israel away from the LORD God (for example, see 2 Kings 17:6-23, Jeremiah 3:1-25, Daniel 9:3-20, and Acts 7:37-43). Instead of learning the lesson of the Law—that they were sinners like everyone else—Israel paid attention to all kinds of foreign, wrong ideas. As opposed to reaching the point where they could share the Word of God with the nations, Israel grew haughty and self-righteous—“We have the Bible but you do not!” True, the Jews possessed the Old Testament Scriptures and knew the will of God. Still, did they esteem and do the will of God? Of course not! Read today’s Scripture, plus the rest of Romans chapter 2.

Regrettably, today’s professing church finds itself in Israel’s spiritual trap. Church members everywhere are at least partly familiar with Scripture—although tending to value religious tradition above the Word of God, waste large amounts of time learning the ways of the world, promote fear and ignorance because of their spiritual immaturity, and countless other tragedies. By means of his evil world system, Satan has been “waving his hand,” and nearly everyone has whiplash from looking from side to side. They are not concentrating on the Word of God rightly divided!

Our minds and hearts are designed to think about and value something. If we fail to ponder what is good, then what is bad will become the center of our attention and affection. Satan knows precisely how to use this to his advantage; he has had thousands of years of practice (!). If we can major on the minors, and minor on the majors, then he has us fighting his battles for him….

Deceptions and Distractions #2

Saturday, November 25, 2023

“Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law” (Romans 2:17-20 KJV).

May we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to believe a lesson from Israel’s ancient history….

Consider Deuteronomy chapter 4: “[5] Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. [6] Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. [7] For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? [8] And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?”

As the Gentiles watched, Israel was to demonstrate the values and life of the one true God (see today’s Scripture). The Jews held the codified record of what the LORD believed and did. If they walked by faith in that Divine revelation, Satan’s policy of evil in the Earth would be limited. Satan is no dummy. While he could not eliminate the Hebrew Bible, he could—and did!—use assorted methods to sidetrack Israel from it.

Go to a student listening to a teacher. Wave your hand so he or she looks toward your direction. No longer focused on the teacher, the person stares at you, and you exclaim, “Made you look!” This is Satan’s primary tactic: using distractions or counterfeits to get our eyes and minds off God’s words to us. This led to the downfall of Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter 3, the spiritual destruction of Israel, and the debilitation of the Church the Body of Christ….