Category: Original 7 Expanded Seventh (3504-3510)

Knowledge of Grace Living

Friday, January 8, 2021

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11-14 KJV).

Friend, would you like to have knowledge of grace living?

While God does not save us because of our works, that does not mean He does not care how we live. He wants our lives to be filled with good works. However, He is not interested in us working in the energy of our flesh—religious rites, rituals, ceremonies, et cetera. He will do good works in and through us as we listen to and believe sound Bible doctrine.

Ephesians 2:8-10: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” It is “in Christ”—our identity in the Lord Jesus—that we walk in good works. As our Adamic nature produces sins (evil deeds), so our Christian nature produces good works. God’s grace, what He has done for us through Christ’s finished crosswork on Calvary, allows Him to continue working. As we walk by faith in the grace principles outlined in Paul’s epistles (Romans through Philemon), the Holy Spirit enlivens us accordingly. God’s will for us is two-fold: “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

While we wait for the Lord’s return, to take us the Church the Body of Christ to live in the heavenly places, we walk by faith in an intelligent understanding of God’s words to us. The life of Christ is on display in us. Similarly, in the ages to come, the Lord will live His life in and through Israel as she functions as His earthly people. Overall, His eternal purpose is accomplished in creation in Heaven (us) and Earth (Israel)!

Dear brethren, with our “Original 7” studies expanded the seventh time, we open another 500-study unit!

Saints, please remember us in your monthly giving—these websites do cost money to run! 🙂 You can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux, or email me at arcministries@gmail.com. Do not forget about Bible Q&A booklets for sale at https://arcgraceministries.org/in-print/booklets-bible-q-a/. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! By the way, ministry emails have really been backed up this year. I am handling them as much as humanly possible. Thanks for your patience. 🙂

Knowledge of Your Apostle

Thursday, January 7, 2021

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office” (Romans 11:13 KJV).

Friend, would you like to have knowledge of your apostle?

John 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Verse 14 adds, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us….” The triune Godhead is composed of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. It is the Son, however, who functions as the Spokesman, the “Word,” the Communicator. He is Jesus Christ, the God-Man.

In Acts 26:16-18, Jesus Christ told Saul of Tarsus: “[16] But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; [17] Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, [18] To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

The word “apostle,” from the Greek, means “sent one” (cf. verse 17 above). Consequently, Paul wrote of his special ministry in Romans 11:13: “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:….” Christ commissioned Paul as His spokesman to us non-Jews. Ephesians chapter 3 amplifies: “[1] For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, [2] If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:….” God’s instructions to us are “the Dispensation of Grace,” Paul’s writings of Romans through Philemon.

We study the entire Bible, since all the Bible is for us, for our learning (Romans 15:4). However, not all the Bible is to us or about us. All 66 Books of the Bible are inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16), but, if we are to understand His present dealings with man, we must especially heed the inspired words the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to the Apostle Paul.

Knowledge of Dispensational Bible Study

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

“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).

Friend, would you like to have knowledge of dispensational Bible study?

The only verse in the Bible—and it has to be a King James Bible—that tells us to “study” Scripture instructs us how to study it. If we desire God’s approval, we must study “rightly dividing the word of truth.” How do we do it? Let us examine two passages from the Bible.

Firstly, Acts 3:20,21: “And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Secondly, Romans 16:25,26: “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:….”

“That which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” is obviously different from “the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest.” Something God revealed can in no way be the same as something He has kept hidden. When He placed man (Adam) on the Earth, He was unfolding a body of information—His earthly program. At that time, God was also withholding a body of information—His heavenly program.

Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, are the revelation of the mystery. We turn to these Bible Books to discover hidden information not known to people in previous ages. Here is the mystery program, God’s heavenly program. In the rest of the Scriptures, we find His prophetic program. Those non-Pauline Bible Books describe God’s earthly program. If we can make this simple differentiation, then we avoid most of the hopeless confusion that plagues Christendom. Provided we are receptive, the Holy Spirit will lead us to “rightly divide the word of truth!”

Knowledge of God’s Preserved Words

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Mark 13:31 KJV).

Friend, would you like to have knowledge of God’s preserved words?

If we examine all evidence with an open mind, we will conclude the Holy Bible is above all other books of the world. No volume has been translated, published, and printed to the degree it has. Thousands upon thousands of ancient documents represent it in some form in a variety of languages. Such extensive documentation cannot be found for Shakespeare, Plato, Socrates, the Qur’an, and so on. The Bible has inspired tens of thousands of songs and millions of books. No other piece of literature has been the focus of such intense discussion, bitter argument, extreme censorship, and blatant corruption. Of all the “holy books,” the Judeo-Christian Scriptures have undoubtedly impacted the human race the most. If the Creator God has written something, this is definitely it!

Alas, “…when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,…” (Romans 1:21,22). Man in his sinfulness does not want revelation from God. “No, I am doing just fine without that ‘old book of myths and superstitions!’” The Creator surely reached out to us, and tried to educate us concerning our sin problem; however, we are not thankful because we are too prideful to admit our faults. All that remains is empty imaginations and foolish hearts—entertaining any and every silly thought that comes to mind. Hands on eyes and fingers in ears, sinful man cries out, “Where is the proof of God’s existence?! I cannot see or hear anything!!”

Millennia ago, God the Holy Spirit used holy men to write His words. He then preserved those inspired words, and He finally translated those words that we might have them today in English. When we take a King James Bible, and read it, God Himself is speaking to us. Again, are we paying attention to those Divine words, or whining in our ignorance? Friend, be quite careful to do the former and not the latter, lest you find yourself in Romans chapter 1 as well!

Knowledge of Jesus Christ

Monday, January 4, 2021

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23 KJV).

Friend, would you like to have knowledge of Jesus Christ?

Do you see the evil everywhere? The Bible calls it sin. A nasty word indeed, it is what it is. What will you do with your sin, all the evils you have committed? Are you worthy of eternal life, entrance into God’s presence? If you are honest, you will reply in the negative. No one is perfect. Romans 3:23 says: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Thankfully, the Bible also tells us in 1 Timothy chapter 2: “[5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. [7] Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not; ) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” Christ shed His blood to pay for our sins, to give His life as a payment.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Peter understood this in Acts chapter 4: “[10] Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole…. [12] Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

While sin destines us for Hell and the Lake of Fire, we can trust Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, and pass from eternal death to eternal life. Read these words of Paul: “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Finally, “…Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30,31).

Knowledge of Your Purpose

Sunday, January 3, 2021

“For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:18 KJV).

Friend, would you like to have knowledge of your purpose?

People often spend decades wondering and speculating about the meaning of life. Why am I here? What is my purpose? They pursue happiness, fulfillment, security, and prosperity… usually in the wrong places, too. As the Bible says, this evil world system captivates them and distracts them from the knowledge of God. Read 1 John 2:15-17: “[15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. [17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

Life is ever so much more than making money, gaining fame, marrying a half-dozen times, vacationing frequently, being entertained, shopping often, being religious, acquiring numerous advanced educational degrees, and so on. We are here for a Divine purpose. Contrary to scientific consensus, life on Earth is not the result of mindless natural processes randomly operating for billions of years. According to Scripture, the heaven and the earth are products of the imagination of the Creator God. He designed them, for the express purpose of populating them with creatures He made. Life in this universe is not an accident, but rather the consequences of the LORD God’s plan, so we should be careful to search for His will. Where is it? Our limitations force us to look beyond ourselves. “Soul searching,” “intuition,” “empiricism,” and “tradition” are useless!

Since there is a Creator God, would He not have already attempted to contact us? Why, yes, He would have… and did. There is a more important question, though. Are we listening? Remember, there is no man as deaf as he who refuses to hear!

Knowledge of God

Saturday, January 2, 2021

“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;…” (Acts 17:24 KJV).

Friend, would you like to have knowledge of God?

Turning in the Holy Bible to chapter 17 of Acts, we read: “[22] Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. [23] For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. [24] God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; [25] Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; [26] And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;….

“[27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: [28] For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. [29] Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. [30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: [31] Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

There is abundant evidence that a Creator God exists. Are we willing to see it? Do we desire to know Him intimately? Remember, there is no man as blind as he who refuses to see!