Category: sound doctrine

Whom Doth Thou Really Follow? #2

Saturday, January 14, 2012

“Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is” (John 9:28,29 KJV).

In Jesus’ day, many Jews claimed to follow Moses (claimed to follow JEHOVAH). Yet, when JEHOVAH came in the flesh, Jesus Christ, their hypocrisy was exposed. By rejecting Jesus Christ, they openly admitted to not following Moses—ultimately, to never having followed JEHOVAH.

Today, there are over two billion professing Christians. Are they really following Jesus Christ as they claim? According to the Bible, most are not! The Pharisees rejected Moses’ words regarding Jesus to keep their tradition. Likewise, religionists today fully ignore when Jesus claimed He spoke to Israel only in the Four Gospel Records (Matthew 10:5-7; Matthew 15:24; John 4:22; Romans 15:8). Why? That they may keep their tradition!

Christendom today pledges its allegiance, not to Bible’s authority alone, but to the Bible and church tradition. Can you just hear these “Christians in name only?” They echo the Pharisees’ religious hypocrisy (see today’s Scripture):  “The Bible says Paul is our pattern, but we prefer our religious tradition that mandates we follow Jesus’ earthly ministry! Thou art Paul’s disciple, but we are Jesus’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Jesus: as for this fellow [Paul], we know not from whence he is.” Sad!

If you want to follow Jesus Christ today, you must, must, must follow the Apostle Paul as he follows Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul is our apostle (Romans 11:13) and our “pattern” (1 Timothy 1:15,16). Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, wrote, “Be ye followers of me” (1 Corinthians 4:16; cf. Philippians 3:17). We do not follow Jesus Christ after His earthly ministry (2 Corinthians 5:16). Rather, we follow Jesus Christ after His heavenly ministry, as He reveals Himself in Paul’s 13 epistles, Romans through Philemon.

By not following Paul, the members of Christendom’s 38,000+ denominations are exposing their unbelief—they are not following Christ! They follow the “tradition of men,” not Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:8; cf. Mark 7:9).

So, whom doth thou really follow?

Should We Be Loyal to a Bible Translation?

Thursday, January 12, 2012

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest” (Exodus 34:1 KJV).

No autographs (original Bible manuscripts) exist today: these documents penned by God’s holy apostles and prophets are long gone (disintegrated through continued usage, deliberately destroyed, et cetera). Our link to the God-inspired autographs is apographs (manuscript copies). The Bibles we have today are based on manuscript copies (not the originals). Does that mean we do not have God’s Word today? NOT AT ALL.

Misinformed people (misled by “educated” seminarians) profess, “I owe my loyalty to the original Bible manuscripts, not to any one particular translation.” Utterly ridiculous—they owe loyalty to a non-entity (something that does not exist!)?!?

Indeed, the autographs were important (they contained the very words of God, first transcribed by God’s holy men; 2 Timothy 3:16). The problem is—the autographs do not exist anymore. Does that mean God’s Word is lost? GOD FORBID! Before the autographs were destroyed, God had saints copy them. God’s intention was to preserve the text of the autographs, not the autographs themselves.

Today’s Scripture provides an illustration of Bible preservation through copies. Moses had spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai, communing with the LORD and receiving His commandments (Exodus 24:18). As Moses descended the mount, carrying the two stone tablets (the Ten Commandments), he observed Israel dancing naked around a golden calf idol (Exodus 32:19-25). In anger, Moses literally broke the tablets upon which the Ten Commandments were written.

What does today’s Scripture say? God would rewrite the stone tablets. According to God, the originals that Moses broke were not important. It was their text—their “words”—that was important.

One day, God will judge us using something we can read—an English Bible (specifically, the King James Bible). We can neither access nor read the original Greek and Hebrew Bibles (autographs). While we understand the autographs’ significance, we owe our loyalty to a copy of God’s Word that we can read and hold—the (English) King James Bible.

Cunningly Devised Fables

Sunday, January 8, 2012

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16 KJV).

Satan has been working for thousands of years. Spiritual warfare between good and evil begins in the denominational leadership. Ungodly, lost church leaders with religious clout entice the masses to follow them… to hell! Jesus explained, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14).

Religious authorities concoct nonsensical stories that play on gullible people’s emotions in order to gain followers and their savings. Last May, Harold Camping was the latest “date setter” for the end of the world. For years individuals have been calculating elaborate timelines that document the end of world, only to be mocked when the dates fail to come to pass. How people ridicule God because of these fools, too! But, the “cunningly devised fables” grow more and more far-fetched.

Tales of tumors miraculously falling from infirm bodies, Mary appearing in treetops, stigmata seen on hands and feet, weeping statues, “Holy Ghost” encounters, relics, and grotto shrines are but a few of religion’s “cunningly devised fables” used to deceive sincere souls. These “doctrines of devils” distract people from the truth of God’s Word, and because these stories are so preposterous, they cause people to doubt the Bible’s testimony (1 Timothy 4:1-3; cf. Ephesians 4:14; 2 Peter 2:1-3).

Beloved, the Bible warns us about people “beguiling [tricking] us with enticing [nice-sounding] words” (Colossians 2:4). The story appears to be godly, but do not be fooled. Compare it with the Bible rightly divided.

In today’s Scripture, the Apostle Peter reassures his Jewish readers that he did not fabricate the account of Jesus Christ appearing in all His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). Unlike the “signs, miracles, and wonders” of religion, it really did happen—visibly, physically, and literally.

As long as we believe the King James Bible rightly divided, we too “have not followed cunningly devised fables.”

Hast Thou Chosen the Way of Truth? #2

Thursday, January 5, 2012

“I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me” (Psalm 119:30 KJV)

Today’s Scripture reminds me of a conversation I had with Brother “G,” one of my ministry co-laborers. Over 40 years ago, Brother G abandoned paganism and chose to trust in Jesus Christ. A few years ago, I first explained dispensational Bible study to him. Although he initially rejected it, he has since abandoned vain religious tradition and chosen right division. Praise the Lord!

Although Brother G’s soul was saved from hellfire 40 years ago, his soul was just recently saved from false teaching/religious tradition (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 2:24-26). Lately, Brother G asked me, “Why do we know the treasures of dispensational Bible study, while the Bible ‘scholars’ do not?” My response was simple, “Because we want to know!”

In today’s Scripture, the psalmist declared, “I have chosen the way of truth.” The psalmist rejected vain religious tradition and philosophy. He wanted truth, not error. He cried to God, “Thy judgments have I laid before me!” He preferred God’s “judgments,” God’s conclusions, God’s doctrine, God’s Word (the theme of all 176 verses of Psalm 119).

Lost people today are lost because they choose to remain lost. Christians who embrace religious tradition and reject sound dispensational Bible doctrine choose to remain ignorant. “If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:38). Some want to know God’s truth, but most are content in religion. God does not send anyone to hell: those who go to hell chose to go there (they willfully rejected the salvation in Christ).

Why are Brother G and I eternally saved from hellfire? We chose to be saved from hellfire by trusting Christ. Why do we know God’s rightly divided Word? We chose to be saved from religious tradition by believing the Bible dispensationally. We exercised free will—God did not force us. We chose “the way of truth”… twice!

Hast thou trusted in Jesus Christ as thy personal Saviour? Hast thou studied and believed the rightly divided King James Bible? Hast thou chosen “the way of truth?” I hope thou hast… twice!

Hast Thou Chosen the Way of Truth? #1

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

“I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me” (Psalm 119:30 KJV).

When God created mankind, He sought not to make robots. God granted mankind free will—mankind could believe and obey God’s Word, or he could reject it in unbelief and “do his own thing.”

For instance, in the beginning, God gave mankind only two commandments:

  1. “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:28).
  2. “Of every tree of the garden [of Eden] thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16,17).

Adam and Eve obeyed commandment #1… sort of. They did procreate, but they did not “subdue the earth” because they utterly broke commandment #2. Instead of ruling earth for God’s glory, mankind willfully sided with Satan, and disobeyed God by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thus, mankind lost its God-given dominion, and Satan—“the god of this world”—still rules earth today (Matthew 4:8,9; Luke 4:5-7; 2 Corinthians 4:4).

God strictly charged Adam, who then relayed those commandments to Eve. The Bible says Eve ate the forbidden fruit because she was “deceived;” Adam, however, was “not deceived” (1 Timothy 2:12-15). When Satan confronted Eve in Genesis 3:1-5, Eve could have refused the devil’s enticement. She could have sought Adam’s help, but she preferred Satan’s lies, and ate the forbidden fruit. Adam, who knew better but willfully rejected “the way of truth,” he gave in and ate to please his wife (Genesis 3:6)!

God wants faithful servants, not mindless robots. Hast thou chosen “the way of truth,” as the psalmist in today’s Scripture declares he has done? Have you followed and believed God’s Word “rightly divided?” Or, like Adam and Eve, have you embraced “the way of error,” Satan’s lies?

He Shall Know of the Doctrine

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17 KJV).

One of the Bible’s prevailing teachings is mankind’s free will. God is God, whether or not mankind wants to acknowledge it. Man can choose to cooperate with God, or he can decide to work against Him. Either way, God’s will—His “eternal purpose” (Ephesians 3:11)—will still be accomplished.

In today’s Scripture, the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of individuals who “will do [God’s] will.” If someone truly desires to do God’s will, the Bible says that God will give him or her the capacity to first know His will. All will be without excuse because everyone has a chance to know God’s will. Those who do not want to know the will of God will remain in spiritual ignorance (Romans 1:18-32).

There were many ignorant Jews during Christ’s earthly ministry. These Jews viewed Jesus Christ as a devil-possessed, mentally disturbed imposter (Matthew 9:34; Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:21-23; John 9:16; et al.). In their sinfulness, they refused to acknowledge the truth (that He was their Messiah), so they remained spiritually blind. But, those who wanted to see God’s truth saw and believed it (Jesus’ apostles and disciples).

The context of today’s Scripture explains that as Jesus taught in temple (verses 14,15), “the Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” Rather than focusing on the doctrine Jesus taught, His audience was sidetracked, bewildered by His theological literacy! (Ridiculous!)

If you want to know if what you are reading here is true, ask God (that is, refer to His written Word, the Bible). Jesus told His audience that if they wanted to know if He was telling the truth (speaking on behalf of God), or lying (speaking of Himself), they could find out. They were to compare His doctrine to what they knew from the Old Testament (there was no New Testament written at that time).

So, do you will to know God’s doctrine? You have the Bible, so you are without excuse.

Another Year for Grace Living

Sunday, January 1, 2012

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6,7 KJV)

Dear saints, having just exited 2011 we have crossed into 2012, another year for grace living! This is not another year for us to live our lives for Christ, but rather another year to let Christ live His life in and through us as we apply by faith the grace doctrines in Paul’s 13 epistles, Romans through Philemon. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Our Father God saved us, dearly beloved brethren, so we could, in eternity, be His vessels in the heavenly places. For now, however, He has left us here on earth so we can be His vessels of grace to the lost, hopeless, dying people of this “present evil world” (Galatians 1:4). (This ministry on earth is preparing us for our ministry to come in heaven’s glory!)

Today’s Scripture is one of the key verses of grace living. How did we receive Christ Jesus? By faith, according to Galatians 3:2,24,26 and Ephesians 2:8,9. Our Christian lives will operate in the same way it started—faith in Christ’s performance, not our performance. As we place our faith in sound Bible doctrine, especially the doctrine in Paul’s epistles (God’s Word to us), the indwelling Holy Spirit will transform our lives for His glory (Romans 12:1,2; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). God will use that sound doctrine working in us to forever impact our world (1 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Beloved, this year, study sound (dispensational) Bible doctrine and by faith in that doctrine, allow God to work in you, to change you and impact those around you for His glory. Praise the Lord—we have been given another year for grace living!

*You may read our 2011/2012 Bible study here or watch the Bible study video here.

Your Spiritual Bank Account

Friday, December 30, 2011

“For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account” (Philippians 4:16,17 KJV).

In the Dispensation of Grace, as members of the Church, the Body of Christ, God has not guaranteed us material riches. Actually, believers in Macedonia (northern Greece, perhaps Thessalonica and Berea) experienced “deep poverty” (2 Corinthians 8:1,2). Paul sometimes lacked certain material goods including food and shelter (2 Corinthians 11:27; Philippians 4:11,12). Material riches are “uncertain riches” (1 Timothy 6:17). Instead, God has promised us spiritual wealth in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 8:9).

We who have trusted exclusively in the Lord Jesus Christ—His blood shed for our sins, His death, His burial, and His resurrection—have eternally gained “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). As “children of God,” we are “then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:16,17). Imagine that—we are “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ!”

In addition to those spiritual blessings we already have, we are accumulating further spiritual wealth by daily studying and believing sound (dispensational) Bible doctrine. That sound Bible doctrine is likened to “gold, silver, and precious stones”—everything else (philosophy, religious tradition, et cetera) is the worthless “wood, hay, and stubble” that should be avoided (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

Furthermore, today’s Scripture speaks of “fruit abounding to our account”—our spiritual bank account. The indwelling Holy Ghost will take the aforementioned sound doctrine and empower us to invest time, money, and energy in Christian service (like assisting other Christians, as in today’s Scripture). This will yield eternal benefits—spiritual growth/maturity, salvation of others, et cetera (2 Corinthians 9:6,7).

Once we Christians leave this life, we leave behind material wealth (1 Timothy 6:7). “Godliness,” or “doctrine according to godliness” (sound Bible teaching), is all we will be taking to heaven (1 Timothy 6:3-6). This sound doctrine and spiritual wealth is everlasting, never to be lost to recession or depression. Rejoice! 🙂

A Brief Ministry

Thursday, December 29, 2011

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15,16 KJV).

In my nearly six years of ministry, one thing I have learned is not to waste time with contentious fools. We have better things to do than argue with those comfortable in ignorance (1 Corinthians 14:37,38). Saints, God has given us “the ministry of reconciliation” to proclaim to the world “the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). What a grand ministry that is, albeit brief!

The seconds of life are fleeting, beloved. Ask yourself, have you been wasting those seconds? The outward man is growing older, weaker, and closer to going home to be with the Lord. “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). Even the life of a centenarian is brief… a milestone most never reach.

Today’s Scripture exhorts the saint whose mind has strayed from God and whose Christian service is unacceptable. That child of God piddles about, wasting precious time that could be spent for God’s glory. How many more precious souls could be saved and edified if Christians spent less time in front of the television, and more time studying God’s Word? While there is nothing wrong with watching television, our priority is souls, both saved and lost!

As we study God’s Word, God’s way, using dispensational Bible study, understanding that God’s Word to us is Paul’s 13 epistles of Romans through Philemon, the sound doctrine contained therein will transform our lives for God’s glory. This is “walking circumspectly [cautiously].” The lost world is watching: what do they see in your life? Carelessness, or wisdom?

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without [lost, unsaved], redeeming the time” (Colossians 4:5). “The days are evil,” so “redeem the time:” buy back the time for God’s glory by letting His doctrine transform you for His glory. Remember, your ministry is brief, for once this life ends, your “Christian ambassadorship” here is over, and your heavenly ministry begins. Will you be ready?

They Were Wise Men

Friday, December 23, 2011

“…There came wise men from the east… And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:1,11 KJV).

When we see the Nativity Scene, we observe three wise men assembled around Baby Jesus’ manger. Actually, the Bible never indicates how many wise men there were, and the Bible never says they visited Christ as a baby.

According to the Bible, an indeterminate number of wise men from the east (Gentiles) saw the star of Christ in the east, so they travel to Jerusalem, inquiring where to find Christ, the King of Jews (verses 1,2). King Herod and Jerusalem are troubled, and Herod summons Israel’s religious leaders to tell him where the Messiah will be born. They tell him, according to Micah 5:2, “Bethlehem of Judaea” (verses 3-6). Herod then sends the wise men to seek Jesus, hoping to find and destroy Him (lest He become king and end Herod’s reign).

The star leads the wise men to Nazareth, where Joseph and Mary live in a “house”—notice this is not the manger scene. Also, take note that Jesus is not a baby here, but a “young child” (verses 9,11). In fact, he is as much as two years old (verse 16). By the way, according to Numbers 24:17, that star that the wise men saw signified the Messiah-King of Israel… they were wise in that they recognized and followed it!

Interestingly, the wise men worship Jesus and bring Him gifts of “gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (today’s Scripture). Gold is for a King, frankincense is for a Priest, and myrrh is for a Prophet—Jesus is all three (Isaiah 9:6,7; Hebrews 5:6; Deuteronomy 18:15,18). Amazingly, Isaiah 60:6, written some 700 years beforehand, even prophesied Gentiles would bring God gifts of gold and frankincense. The Bible is an amazing Book!

Sadly, these Gentiles had more respect for Israel’s King than Israel. These wise men recognized fulfilled prophecy… they were wise men indeed!