Category: inspiration of the Bible

No Red-Marker Bible for Us!

Saturday, June 14, 2014

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV).

Let us reject the red-marker “Bible,” just as its promoters castoff the Bible!

Years ago, a friend expressed his discouragement for receiving a “C” grade on a school paper he had diligently wrote. He said how he had spent so much time on it, and yet it was still not good enough. To cheer him up, I shared with him a brief history of the English Bible, how God spent so much time on faithfully transmitting His pure, preserved Word to us, and educated man gave Him an “F!” (My friend did not feel so bad after that!) 🙂

Through the centuries, textual critics have assaulted Bible manuscripts and other copies of the preserved, inspired Word of God. Like Satan encouraged Eve to do in Genesis 3:1-5, they questioned it, added to it, subtracted from it, watered it down, and finally, denied it. What do we expect? God’s Word is “foolishness” to people who are not God’s children anyway (today’s Scripture).

Textual critics have especially taken their “scholarly scalpels” to the Divine Words since 1881, when the greatest change in Bible “scholarship” ever occurred. In Great Britain, the Protestant Bible text (the King James Bible, its previous English versions, and the Greek Textus Receptus upon which their New Testament rested) was questioned by “educated,” lost men, and replaced with a so-called “older, better” Greek manuscript tradition that the Church the Body of Christ avoided—and had endured the death penalty for rejecting! Even today, the average church member of every denomination has no idea of the switch! Protestants have no idea they carry under their arms Roman Catholic manuscripts in the form of their modern Bible versions—manuscripts their Protestant forefathers died for avoiding!

Dear friends, when anyone encourages you to “red line” words, verses, or even passages from your King James Bible, you would do well to “write them off,” giving them an “A” when it has come to them encouraging your doubt in God’s Word, and an “F” regarding encouraging your faith!

333 Turns 3!

Sunday, June 1, 2014

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8 KJV).

To the praise of the glory of the riches of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, “333 Words of Grace” commemorates its third anniversary today!

Dear readers and saints, it has been a delight to be your Bible teacher here these last three years. Indeed, time always “flies” when God’s Word is studied! Our purpose has been to help you understand and enjoy your Bible. We have demonstrated that you do not have to throw away God’s Word simply because people misuse it and abuse it. You can understand the Holy Scriptures without seminary degrees and college diplomas. During these last three years, we have simply taken the King James Bible and let the text speak for itself, comparing Scripture with Scripture, and let God’s Word amplify itself. Our Christian lives have never been the same since!

The Holy Bible is the world’s most valuable Book—and still the bestselling! Countless saints of old shed their blood in service to their Lord Jesus Christ, to furnish the common man with His Book in the English vernacular. Just as they were diligent in translating the Bible for us, may we be just as attentive in acquainting ourselves with it—reading it (1 Timothy 4:13), studying it rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15), and believing it (1 Thessalonians 2:13). As Jesus Christ Himself said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Once “locked up” in ancient languages, we have the world’s most marvelous Book in our own tongue. God’s Book “for ever settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89), now brought down to puny planet earth, now translated into the languages of the world, and yet, it is all too often unappreciated even in “Christian” circles. We trust that our daily Bible studies have renewed and maintained your interest in this most important Book. Almighty God took great lengths to get it to us, and it is only logical that we treasure it above all else. The Holy Bible will literally last forever (today’s Scripture), so let us enjoy it now… every day!

Saints, thank you for your prayer and encouragement these last three years. By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, onward we go! 🙂

P.S. All of our devotionals, all the way back to “day 1,” are archived here.

Fishers of Men #1

Saturday, April 5, 2014

“And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes” (John 21:6 KJV).

Today’s Scripture foretells the greatest fishing trip Israel’s apostles will ever enjoy!

The Bible book we call “The Gospel According to John” is the fourth and final record of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. John is starkly different from the so-called “Synoptic Gospels” (Matthew, Mark, and Luke): the Apostle John emphasizes aspects and events of Christ’s earthly ministry that Matthew, Mark, and Luke usually entirely disregard.

John 1:11-13 introduces the theme of the Book of John: “He [Jesus Christ] came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 20:30,31 elaborate: “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

When moving the Apostle John to write his Gospel record, the Holy Ghost selected specific events of Christ’s earthly ministry, eight unique miraculous demonstrations through which Jesus taught Israel various doctrines (our King James Bible calls these miracles “signs”). These signs communicated to Israel that Jesus Christ was their Messiah/Christ, the Son of God, and that He had the ability, the power, to equip them to function as “the sons of God,” men and women who could work with God and delight in accomplishing His earthly purpose and program.

In our next few studies, we want to focus on the eighth and final sign of Jesus as recorded in John’s Gospel record. This sign, noted in today’s Scripture, is the key to understanding God’s purpose and plan in forming the nation Israel….

Bible Study 102 #15

Thursday, March 20, 2014

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

The only verse that tells you to study the Bible also tells you how to understand the Bible!

Cognizant of His will, God inspired His Word, that we too may meditate on it. Consequently, Scripture discloses God’s will (Ephesians 1:9,10; 1 Timothy 2:4-8) and provides His power so that we may joyfully fulfill His will with Him as the indwelling Holy Spirit works in us who believe that grace doctrine (Hebrews 4:12; cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18; Ephesians 3:16-21; Colossians 1:29; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 4:6-8). God’s Word leads us to salvation from our sins and, “rightly divided” (today’s Scripture), saves us from false teaching—God’s two-fold will for mankind (1 Timothy 2:4).

Sound Bible doctrine for us Gentiles is not what God told Israel, but what He spoke through our apostle, Paul, “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13). We magnify Jesus Christ today, not by emphasizing His earthly ministry to Israel (Matthew 15:24; Romans 15:8), but by exalting the office He gave Paul. Jesus said, “He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me” (John 13:20). Jesus said if you do not receive Paul whom He sent to you, then you reject Him! We do not emphasize Paul the man, but the Lord Jesus Christ who sent Paul to tell us His grace doctrines (2 Corinthians 4:5; Ephesians 3:1-11).

Paul exhorted the Ephesian elders, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up [edify], and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). Satan knows Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, are God’s inspired Word to us Gentiles, that those grace doctrines align us with God’s present will. Consequently, Satan’s religious system draws us away from Paul’s apostleship and ministry (although Satan’s scriptural religion follows Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, Hebrews through Revelation, the “Old Testament,” anything and everything but the Scriptures that describe what God is currently doing in the Dispensation of Grace!).

Indeed, dispensational Bible study—“right division” (today’s Scripture)—is the key to unlocking the Bible and producing mature saints!

NOTE: At least three increasingly advanced 15-day companion devotional arcs—“Bible Study 103,” “Bible Study 104,” and “Bible Study 105”—are in development, and will be posted in the future. Stay tuned! 🙂

Bible Study 102 #12

Monday, March 17, 2014

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

The only verse that tells you to study the Bible also tells you how to understand the Bible!

From Genesis through Revelation, God the Holy Ghost reveals, inspires, preserves, translates, and teaches God’s Word. Genesis 1:2,3 say, “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Jesus declared, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). The Apostle Peter penned: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20,21).

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16) really means that the Spirit of God spoke those words. First, notice the root –spir (as in “spirit”) in “inspiration.” Now, consider that “spirit” and “air” (as in “breathe” or “Spirit”) are actually the same word—pneuma—in Greek (the original language of the New Testament Scriptures). Interestingly, theopneustos is the word translated “inspiration of God”—notice the prefix pneu– (as in the Holy Spirit). Finally, recall Jesus Christ’s declaration, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). In summation, the words of Scripture are the words that God the Holy Ghost breathed out/spoke (“given by inspiration of God”).

The Holy Bible is “given by inspiration of God,” meaning His Holy Spirit initially gave it to mankind. If we are to understand the words that God the Holy Spirit has revealed, inspired, preserved, and translated, we must allow the Holy Spirit to teach us to “rightly divide the word of truth” (today’s Scripture), to recognize Paul as God’s spokesman to us (1 Corinthians 14:37; Ephesians 3:1-11)….

Bible Study 101 #13

Friday, January 17, 2014

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

The only verse that tells you to study the Bible also tells you how to study the Bible!

Religious tradition has completely destroyed the clarity of the rightly divided Word of God. Hence, many apostasies and heresies (denominations, sects, cults, et cetera) afflict Christendom. By following what God did in the past, we are not doing what God is doing today, and if we are not doing God’s will today, then Satan’s work is accomplished. Thus, dispensational Bible study is critical to understanding God’s plan of salvation for today as well as recognizing his plan for the Christian today.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). All of the Bible is God’s Word, so we study all 66 books of the King James Bible (Genesis to Revelation). But, unlike most churches and professing Christians, we study the entire Bible according to the “revelation of the mystery” (in light of Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon; Romans 16:25,26).

We must stop grabbing and claiming Israel’s verses (Genesis through Malachi, Matthew through John, early Acts, and Hebrews through Revelation), and we must get into the meat of the Scriptures written to us (Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon). All of the Bible is for us, but not all of the Bible is to us or about us (remember, most of Scripture is written to and is about the nation Israel, not us). We follow God’s design for Christian edification, and we seek God’s approval, not man’s approval (today’s Scripture).

When studying a particular Bible passage, you first need to establish the following, in this order:

  1. who is writing/speaking,
  2. to whom are they writing, and
  3. what are they writing.

Again, remember that Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, are what God has to say to you, and the rest of the Bible deals with another program, Israel’s program. If Paul does not instruct you to do it, then God does not expect you to practice it in your life. This is the key to doing God’s will for you….

Bible Study 101 #9

Monday, January 13, 2014

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

The only verse that tells you to study the Bible also tells you how to study the Bible!

Many vehemently oppose dispensational Bible study. “Paul is just a man. I go by what Jesus said.” “So, you believe Paul’s epistles alone are inspired of God?” “Dispensational Bible study was invented in the 1800s.” “You only study Paul’s epistles.” How should we answer these objections?

Firstly, the Holy Spirit said Paul’s writings are “the commandments of the Lord.” God the Holy Spirit believed that Paul’s Bible books were “the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37)—Paul’s words are Jesus’ words! Paul’s writings are not inferior to Jesus’ words in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Jesus Himself said, during His earthly ministry, He was not speaking to us Gentiles anyway (Matthew 10:5-7; Matthew 15:24; Romans 15:8). Paul is our apostle (Romans 11:13); Jesus is Israel’s Apostle (Hebrews 3:1).

Secondly, Paul himself wrote, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16,17). We agree with the Holy Spirit here too—every Bible book, not just Paul’s epistles, came from God’s mouth, so we study all of the Bible.

Thirdly, Paul mentioned the term “dispensation” four times (1 Corinthians 9:17; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:2; Colossians 1:25). Dispensational Bible study existed with the Apostle Paul 2,000 years ago. Actually, it was necessary even in Moses’ day (Genesis 9:1-4 and Leviticus chapter 11 could not be followed simultaneously; these two dispensations had to be “rightly divided”). God Himself invented dispensational Bible study.

Following God’s Word to Israel (the non-Pauline books) is not faith—it is doubting what the Holy Spirit through Paul wrote to us. The “words in red” are not the only words of Jesus, for after His ascension, Jesus Christ also spoke to the Apostle Paul (Acts 26:16-18; 2 Corinthians 12:1; Galatians 1:11,12). The same Lord Jesus Christ who spoke to Israel on earth (Four Gospels) also spoke to Paul from heaven to speak to us. Sadly, many ignore what God is doing and saying today and follow what He did and said in the past….

Bethlehem of Judaea

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2 KJV).

Today’s Scripture, written about 700 B.C., prophesies the exact birthplace of Israel’s Messiah.

Notice the Bible is very specific: “Bethlehem Ephratah” pinpoints the Bethlehem in southern Israel (there was another Bethlehem, in Galilee, northern Israel). Bethlehem of Judaea, as today’s Scripture teaches, is “little among the thousands of Judah” (a little-known village).

The Bible tells us that Bethlehem Ephratah was the birthplace of King David (1 Samuel 16:1-18). John 7:42 reads: “Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” Jesus Christ will inherit His father David’s throne, and David is a type/preview/shadow of Christ (Isaiah 9:6,7; Luke 1:31-33). Thus, they share Bethlehem Ephratah as their birthplace (cf. Luke 2:4).

“Bethlehem” is an interesting term. Jesus Christ likened Himself to the manna of the Old Testament. He claimed, “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world…. I am that bread of life: I am the bread which came down from heaven…. I am that bread of life” (John 6:33,35,41,48). Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1,5,6): “Bethlehem” is Hebrew for “house of bread.” Thus, the “Bread of Life,” Jesus Christ, was born in the “House of Bread,” Bethlehem. Fascinating!

Furthermore, Joseph (Jesus’ legal father) lived in Nazareth. When Roman emperor Caesar Augustus sent out a decree for taxing the people of the empire (conducting a census), Joseph had to leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem of Judaea, taking pregnant Mary with him (Luke 2:1-5). Christ was born there in Bethlehem. Some 700 years beforehand, the Bible knew Joseph and Mary would not be in Nazareth for Christ’s birth, but in Bethlehem, thereby fulfilling the prophecy of today’s Scripture. Amazing!

These are evidences that the Bible is a supernatural Book—indeed, it is God’s Book.

The Word of the LORD is Right

Sunday, November 3, 2013

“For the word of the LORD is right, and all his works are done in truth” (Psalm 33:4 KJV).

How honest is God’s Word. How upright are all His works!

Some argue that young children should not read the Bible because of its graphic language. Indeed, the Scriptures provide many detailed accounts of murder, conspiracy, fornication, violence, theft, wrath, adultery, death, lying, war, homosexual behavior, blasphemy, betrayal, and torture. Nevertheless, we cannot and should not blame God for speaking the truth about the human race. Sinful man is at fault: these atrocities and abominations are not part of God’s will for man!

Interestingly, in this day and age, the so-called “graphic language” in the Bible is rated “G” when compared to the graphic language on “highly-acclaimed” television and radio programs, in “bestselling” books, and on the “most popular” websites! Are the people who dislike Bible reading for children decrying these worldly media from polluting those same minds?

Why do people criticize the Bible for using “graphic language” when there are plenty of non-biblical sources of information that portray these activities as something as worthy of acceptance and praise? Dear readers, the fact is, the truth is, the Bible is not pro-man, and man knows it. God’s Word tells the truth about man, but man refuses to hear its testimony against him in order to avoid accountability. Our King James Bible tells it like it is, and it is quite offensive to many (no wonder the modern “bible” [per]versions are so popular!).

The psalmist in today’s Scripture testified that everything that God does is completely fair. Every judgment He pours out is justified, and every decree He issues is right. The Bible, “given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21), is equally upright.

God is very honest in His Word, even regarding His servants’ failures. If His Word were a “feel-good” book, then He would be dishonest about us. By documenting man’s failures in His Word, God demonstrates man’s complete inability to save himself, and his need for soul salvation only found in and through Jesus Christ. That too is “right” and “done in truth.” 🙂

333’s 800th – Alive with the Living Word of Christ

Thursday, August 8, 2013

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16 KJV).

Dearly beloved, only by God’s grace, we mark yet another ministry milestone!

The many competing voices and opposing views further complicate an already problem-laden world. Exactly whom are we to believe? Jesus Christ, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, told Satan: “That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4; cf. Matthew 4:4). Our King James Bible says, “but by every word of God”—this is the most important part of the verse, so why is it absent from the modern “bible” versions?!

Just as our physical bodies need nourishment to become physically mature, our spiritual bodies must also have food if we are to become spiritually mature adults. “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 [mature], throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

All of the Bible is for us, but not all of the Bible is to us or about us. It is not simply enough to be scriptural; we must also be dispensational. Our daily studies over the last 800 days were designed to teach you how to approach God’s Word, God’s way, so you can be “godly edified,” strengthened for God’s glory, rather than confused by false doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3,4). Saints grounded in God’s Word rightly divided will not be “children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14,15).

Our King James Bible has served English-speaking people well for over 400 years—it demonstrates itself to be trustworthy, authoritative, and the perfect words of God. We can entrust our earthly lives—and more importantly, our eternal souls!—to it. Yea, its doctrine gives us life, both now and forever.

Thank you for praying for this ministry endeavor. Lord willing, onward to #900! 🙂

Note: Our latest home Bible study video, “Bible Authority & The Four Revelations of Jesus Christ” (80 minutes), has been uploaded to YouTube. You can watch it here.