Category: Gentiles

Convenient Season #7

Friday, November 7, 2025

“And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25 KJV).

According to the Bible, when is the “convenient season?”

Foolish Felix had a “convenient season” to believe the precise moment he heard and understood Paul’s sermon. There was no legitimate reason to seek another “convenient season.” Here was an Apostle of Jesus Christ standing right before him to answer any questions, but the Governor “lingered in Adam” and dismissed that preacher from the meeting until they could rendezvous at some later date. Such is reminiscent of Paul’s visit to “intellectual” Athens years prior.

The Athenians at first listened to this “itinerant speechmaker” or “amateur philosopher,” but these lovers of man’s wisdom could tolerate God’s wisdom for only so long. Hearing about bodily resurrection—which Greek philosophy denied—some proceeded to “mock” while others told Paul, “We will hear thee again of this matter” (Acts 17:32). In contrast to the ridiculers (“no, thanks!”) as well as the procrastinators (“maybe later!”), praise the Lord there were some immediate believers in verse 34 (“we believe now!”)!

Earthly life is fragile, as there are myriads of ways to end it. It is “wind,” fleeting away (Job 7:7). “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah” (Psalm 39:5). “For my days are consumed like smoke…” (Psalm 102:3). “Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away” (Psalm 144:4). “Go to [James challenges them to ‘come’] now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13-15).

To have life as the Dispensation of Grace is in effect, is truly our “convenient season” to believe God’s words to and about us….

Convenient Season #6

Thursday, November 6, 2025

“And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25 KJV).

According to the Bible, when is the “convenient season?”

One religious teenager, a member of a “Christian” denomination, heard the Gospel of Grace—but did not believe it. For six months, he tarried… worrying about dying and going to Hell (fearing he would “fry like a sausage,” he later recounted). Finally, he trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. He later became a pastor, whom I met!

A 21-year-old lady once heard a few words of spiritual value from a mostly-ignorant preacher: he warned about God’s judgment coming on this evil world. Yet, he never actually gave her a clear Gospel message she could trust. She was left to dread the future! Recently, she told me how it took four more years before a Christian soul-winner would lead her to put her faith exclusively in the Lord Jesus’ finished crosswork (and stop depending on her water baptism!).

Only age six, a schoolboy asked a works-religion leader of the community (and clergyman of his denomination) what he had to do to go to Heaven. “Keep the commandments!,” that priest thundered. The young man spent another 27 years unsaved and confused in denominationalism until he heard a pure Gospel message (salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, without works). Speaking to me now as an 88-year-old man (55 years in Christ), he expressed concern as to how risky his life was, how close to Hell he came—nearly going the way his relatives had for centuries in the “family religion.”

True, as the old saying states, “Better late than never.” However, when dealing with soul salvation, we never really know precisely when “late” will turn into “too late!” Unfortunately, the vast majority of church members worldwide are still not hearing a clear Gospel message from the pulpits. They are leaving this world by as many as 100,000 to 150,000 every single day—religious, but as lost as lost can be. Where death finds them (in Adam), eternity shall keep them (in Adam); Hell and the Lake of Fire are their only fate, but it did not have to be this way. That was their choice….

Convenient Season #5

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

“And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25 KJV).

According to the Bible, when is the “convenient season?”

God and man never agree on definitions. Felix assumed his “convenient season” to believe the Gospel would come once he dawdled some more in his fellowshipping with this present evil world system. The Governor had no spiritual insight into the fact physical death might come upon him at any moment—and he as a lost man most definitely would face an holy, offended, angry God unprepared. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:…” (Hebrews 9:27).

We can be certain countless people have put off trusting Christ as their personal Saviour. They hung on to their sin a bit more, promising, “I will believe the Gospel tomorrow.” For some, tomorrow never came—they died in an accident, lost in their sins, and now, “tomorrow” will never come. For others, they delayed to trust Christ on multiple occasions. Life became busier and busier, and they were distracted by this or that for years and years until it was too late. Time passed by faster than they ever anticipated.

“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:1,2). Originally, Isaiah (49:8) was writing about how God the Father had heard Messiah Jesus (God the Son), particularly how Messiah would send salvation and blessing to the world through redeemed Israel rising to kingdom glory. The “accepted time” and “the day of salvation” of Isaiah point to the Millennial Reign of Christ on Earth.

However, Paul sees a parallel in our mystery program. With his ministry in effect, now is the day of salvation and now is the accepted time for Gentiles; the Age of Grace is the “convenient [suitable] season.” Furthermore, the exact moment we realize this, we should believe the Gospel of Grace valid during that Age of Grace….

Possessed with Devils #15

Monday, October 20, 2025

“And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:24 KJV).

What does the Bible say about devil possession?

During Christ’s earthly ministry, not only did Israel have a devil problem, the Gentiles or nations were under Satan’s power too. This “without God” status of these Gentiles in time past is found in Acts 14:16; Acts 17:30; Romans 1:18-32; Ephesians 2:11,12; and Ephesians 4:17-19.

Notice Matthew 15:22-28, the Gentile lady whose daughter was possessed with an evil spirit: “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” (Read also Mark 7:25-30, the analogous passage.)

Jews are the “children,” Gentiles are the “dogs,” and that non-Jewish woman knew how Messiah Jesus was sent to bless the children of Israel “first” (check Mark 7:27). She recognized her unworthiness, and how Christ had a ministry to Israel only. Therefore, she humbly placed herself in a position to receive the “overflow” spilling off Israel’s table of blessing. Imagine: this Gentile woman was a believer, in stark contrast to unbelieving (“lost”) Israel! The exorcism of that non-Jewish woman’s daughter pictures the salvation and blessing of God going to the world through Israel’s rise to kingdom glory (cf. Isaiah 60:1-3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Matthew 28:18-20)….

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #12

Sunday, September 21, 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?

Turn your attention to Romans 9:30–10:4: “[9:30] What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. [9:31] But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. [9:32] Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone [Jesus Christ]; [9:33] As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

“[10:1] Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. [10:2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [10:3] For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. [10:4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

The above excerpt describes unbelieving (Christ-rejecting) Israel during Matthew to John and early Acts—which lack of faith led to Calvary’s cross. Here would have been Saul of Tarsus, seeking to establish his own righteousness (recall Philippians 3:3-9). That lost Saul is now the Apostle Paul writing this very Romans passage during latter Acts, with Gentiles turning to Christ under his ministry while national Israel still languishes in unbelief. Paul at that time was visiting (Jewish) synagogues throughout the Roman Empire and preaching the Lord Jesus to them.

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38,39). Paul’s sermon here maintained how Israel needed to have faith in Jesus Christ, true righteousness (right standing before God) being not by religious works (Judaism) but by trusting the Gospel of the Grace of God….

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #9

Sunday, August 17, 2025

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).

What can we really learn from this Bible passage?

Before Peter went to the Gentiles in Acts chapter 10, God had already broken down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile with Paul’s salvation and commissioning in chapter 9 (check Acts 9:15,16; Acts 22:13-15; Acts 26:17,18). Israel had already fallen in chapter 7 and was now diminishing for the rest of Acts (Romans 11:11-14). With the Lord sending Peter to witness a drastic change in program at Cornelius’ house, Peter can now come to Paul’s defense 10 years later at the Jerusalem Conference.

Acts chapter 15: “[7] And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. [8] And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; [9] And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. [10] Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? [11] But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”

Peter recognized Cornelius and those other Gentiles were saved without keeping the Law of Moses and without submitting to physical circumcision. This knowledge allowed Peter to defend Paul’s Gentile believers as not required to be physically circumcised or keep the Law of Moses to be saved (check Acts 15:1-5). The unusual words heard and unexpected events associated with Peter’s visit with Cornelius and other Gentiles at Caesarea, demonstrate how there has been a change in prophecy—and this makes it easier for the Little Flock to see how mystery now works with Paul’s ministry. Using dispensational eyes, we appreciate how this was God’s design in arranging the meeting between Peter and Cornelius all along.

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #8

Saturday, August 16, 2025

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).

What can we really learn from this Bible passage?

Read Acts 11:1-3: “And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.” Once Peter left Cornelius’ house in Caesarea and returned to Jerusalem, the other Jewish Apostles and the rest of the Little Flock castigated or fussed him. They knew their commission about Israel first (Acts 1:8) and they understood how they were not to reach Gentiles until Christ came back to reign (Matthew 28:18-20). How dare Peter minister to those uncircumcised non-Jews!!

In Acts 11:4-17, Peter narrates the account in great detail—starting all the way back with the “unclean animals” vision he received in Joppa, to the words of God he heard about not calling anything “unclean,” to the visitation of the three men Cornelius had sent from Caesarea to him, to what he learned from Cornelius face-to-face about what Cornelius saw and heard from the angel, to what confirmation Peter and the other believing Jews witnessed in Caesarea (the Gentiles being baptized with the Holy Ghost).

On the defensive, all Peter can say in conclusion is (verse 17): “Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand [prevent, hinder] God?” Now, verse 18: “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Like Peter, the Little Flock cannot make sense of what happened—but they cannot deny it either. They rejoice. Indeed, though national Israel is unbelieving, Gentiles have believed under Peter’s ministry.

Several years will pass before it is clear to all of them….

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #7

Friday, August 15, 2025

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).

What can we really learn from this Bible passage?

Cornelius was an uncircumcised Gentile who did not observe the Law of Moses, but he walked in the spiritual light he had by blessing Israel (verses 2,4,22,31). Based on what Peter heard about him from the trio and from Cornelius himself, Peter responded: “…Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (verses 34,35). (Cornelius parallels the Gentiles who will bless Israel during Daniel’s 70th Week; Matthew 25:31-40.) Yet, good works are insufficient, so Peter preaches to those Gentiles with Cornelius all about the Lord Jesus Christ and His earthly ministry to Israel (verses 36-43), closing with, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

As if Peter has not been perplexed enough, something else unexpected takes place! Verses 44-48: “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed [six Jewish saints; Acts 10:23; Acts 11:12] were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”

In Acts 11:15-17, Peter recounts how those Gentiles were baptized with the Holy Ghost and spoke in intelligent human languages never formally learned—reminding him of what happened with believing Israel on Pentecost (chapter 2). Once more, the Gentiles have faith, but Israel is in unbelief. Peter sees more confirmation God is working with Cornelius and these other Gentiles in Caesarea, though he does not fully comprehend the scope of these events until several years later….

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #6

Thursday, August 14, 2025

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).

What can we really learn from this Bible passage?

Acts 10:28 is Peter’s first words to all the Gentiles assembled with Cornelius: “…Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” In what sense is it “unlawful” (forbidden, illicit, prohibited; Greek translated “abominable” in 1 Peter 4:3) for Peter to be with these non-Jews?

Gentile salvation was not a secret in prophecy. God would save and bless Gentiles through Israel as per the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3). Redeemed national Israel would subsequently rise to kingdom glory, a kingdom of priests preaching God’s words to Gentiles (Isaiah 60:1-3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Matthew 28:18-20). Peter knew the order in prophecy was Israel converted first, as in his original apostolic commission: “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:5-7).

In early Acts, post-resurrection, Christ expands that commission: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). By the time of chapter 10 though, Jerusalem has not been fully converted, neither is Judaea (southern Israel) nor Samaria (northern Israel). Thus, Peter recognizes it is too early for him to go to Gentiles (“uttermost part of the earth”)… yet, strangely, there he was ministering to them (Cornelius and company) in Caesarea!

Peter is coming to greater awareness about a striking dispensational change that has already transpired….

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #5

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,…” (Acts 10:9,10 KJV).

What can we really learn from this Bible passage?

Did you notice how Peter hungered for physical food in today’s Scripture? There is some interesting symbolism a great many fail to see here. Considering how Israel refused to hear and believe God’s preachers in Matthew to John as well as Acts chapters 1–7, Peter is also hungry for spiritual fruit—that is, a positive Jewish response to God’s words. Recall the parallel in Matthew 21:17-19 and Mark 11:12-14, the fruitless fig tree representing Israel’s unproductive religious system!

It was just prior to Peter’s vision that a Roman centurion (commander of 100 soldiers), Cornelius, wanted more spiritual light. The Holy Spirit rebukes unbelieving Israel by placing into the record of Scripture a heathen idolater who wishes to hear from Peter! Once the three-man delegation from Cornelius reaches the house where Peter is staying, they recount for the Apostle their reason for coming, confirming to Peter what God had told him (verses 21,22). They spend the night in Joppa, and Peter goes back with them to Caesarea the following morning, taking six Jewish saints with him to serve as witnesses (verse 23; cf. Acts 11:12).

When he reaches Caesarea, Peter is absolutely stunned to see a large crowd of interested Gentiles (Cornelius’ relatives and neighbors). “…And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends…. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together” (Acts 10:24,27). “Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God” (verse 33). Here, we have a multitude of idolatrous Gentiles ready to hear and believe God’s words through Peter, with national Israel still in unbelief!!!!!!

There it is. It is remarkable, scathing, and factual….