Category: Pauline Dispensationalism / Dispensational Bible Study

Heart Service #3

Sunday, April 27, 2014

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Romans 6:17 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is the key to being delivered from and guarded against today’s apostate Christendom.

Dearly beloved, we avoid today’s apostate Christendom by hearkening unto today’s Scripture, a verse that, had Christendom followed, could have prevented them from winding up in the mess in which they are today! They rejected “that form of doctrine which was delivered [them]” through the Apostle Paul. Like Israel in Jesus’ day, Christendom still prefers to follow the traditions of men (Mark 7:1-13). Sinful man never improves anything God does; he only spoils it.

The Romans were pagan Gentiles, lost and going to hell. The, they heard Paul’s Gospel of Grace—Jesus Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3,4)—and they believed it with their heart (today’s Scripture; Romans 10:10). They were no longer slaves to sin and Satan, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:11)! It was not their efforts, their struggles, that saved them from their sins, so it would never be their performance, their struggles, that caused their Christian lives to operate. Religious rites, rituals, ceremonies, program-building, organization-forming, denomination-starting, that was not the Christian life, the grace life, the life of Christ living in and through those who believed His grace doctrines revealed in and through Paul. Nay, those were counterfeit good works.

“With the heart man believeth unto righteousness” (Romans 10:10a). Just as we were saved unto eternal life by trusting Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork at sufficient payment for our sins (today’s Scripture), so we trust Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork (His resurrection life) as our means for victory over daily sins. Only God Almighty can see into our hearts (2 Chronicles 6:30; Psalm 26:2; Romans 8:27; Hebrews 4:12; et al.)—He is most certainly capable of seeing who has faith in His Word to them, and who is merely religious (fleshly, living in their own strength). He can see if it is truly “Christ liveth in us” (Galatians 2:20), or just vain religious tradition….

Heart Service #2

Saturday, April 26, 2014

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Romans 6:17 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is the key to being delivered from and guarded against today’s apostate Christendom.

Religious people appear and sound very godly. However, dear friends, even Satan himself talks about Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:3,4). Remember, “Everyone who sings about heaven ain’t going there!” We can sing every hymn in the songbook, give 100 percent of our income to a ministry, attend every prayer meeting, help the poor and homeless, and even join every local church of every denomination. Nevertheless, the Lord Jesus Christ sees beyond all that. The famous Scripture, 1 Samuel 16:7, synopsizes: “The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

One can perform many rites, rituals, and ceremonies, and can fool everyone into thinking he or she is God’s child. The individual looks so pious he or she has to be going to heaven, right? WRONG! Study Matthew 7:21-23, where some people stand before Jesus Christ and brag about how they preached in His name, how they cast out devils in His name, and how they did “many wondrous works” in His name. Jesus replies, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity!” If it is not Jesus Christ doing the good works in and through a person, the Bible says it is iniquity, wickedness, no matter how good the work appears! God is not looking for good works per se; God wants Christians who let Him do good works in and through them!

Again, Christian service is an issue of faith in God’s Word rightly divided, not blind religious activity. We obey God’s Word to us through Paul by trusting with our heart the pattern of doctrine, his epistles, Romans through Philemon (today’s Scripture). Being well versed in Paul’s epistles protects us from Satan’s deception (the devil wants us to follow Israel’s program, that which is Scripture but outside of God’s will for today). This is the key to serving the God of the Bible….

Heart Service #1

Friday, April 25, 2014

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Romans 6:17 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is the key to being delivered from and guarded against today’s apostate Christendom.

Many have noted that the Christians of the first century A.D. were much better off than we are today. How so? They did not have 38,000 denominations all claiming to be “Christianity,” all teaching different doctrines, all using extra-biblical literature, all perplexing them! Today, the professing Body of Christ is so far removed from the truth once committed to us through the Apostle Paul, no wonder there is widespread confusion even about something as basic as the Gospel that saves us today. No wonder precious few Christians have a firm grasp of the Bible, an understanding of how their Christian life has been designed to function, what they are to believe, and what they are to do (how to pray, how to give, how to love, and so on).

Jesus Christ reprimanded the religious leaders of His day who had mostly discarded God’s Word—the Old Testament Scriptures—and used a book of Jewish religious tradition—the “Talmud”—as their final authority: “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:7-9). Christ was quoting the Prophet Isaiah who wrote, “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men” (29:13).

It is one thing to say, “I love Jesus” or “I am a Christian,” but it is quite another to know Jesus Christ, to trust Him alone as Saviour. Let us be sure that we are not merely Christians “in name only,” but that we are Christians in the heart, that we are not merely professing Christians, but possessing Christians….

Ear Service

Thursday, April 24, 2014

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3,4 KJV).

Jesus Christ rebukes apostate Christendom with these same words even today.

Today’s Scripture is particularly important at such a late date in this the Dispensation of the Grace of God. These verses are not only true today, but they have been true ever since this dispensation began with the Apostle Paul nearly 2,000 years ago. Beloved, what a sad commentary. The professing Body of Christ had already abandoned the grace doctrines committed to them through Paul—while the Apostle was still living (1 Corinthians 3:16-20; Galatians 1:6-11; 1 Timothy 1:3-11,18-20; 2 Timothy 1:15; 2 Timothy 2:14-18; et al.)!! How much more today?!

The Holy Bible is a very offensive book. Written to us sinners about us sinners to point us sinners to the Saviour of sinners (Jesus Christ), it is thus hated, rejected, avoided, and ridiculed. Thus, the professing church has largely fallen into the trap of making the Bible, especially the Gospel of the Grace of God, palatable, more “acceptable.”

Consider today’s “social gospel,” “health and wealth gospel,” and “lordship gospel.” For example, “Make Jesus the Lord of your life, and He will bless with you material riches and remove all your sicknesses and problems.” Or, “Jesus came to help you to get to heaven, so you just give your heart to Him, follow Him as best as you can, and He will welcome you into His heaven.” Dear readers, these adages are pleasing to the ear, but they have no saving power whatsoever!!

The “preaching of the cross” is “the power of God” to us who believe and are saved (1 Corinthians 1:18). Jesus Christ’s crosswork to fully pay for our sins—His death to put away our sins, and His literal, physical resurrection to give us sinners new life—is offensive to humanists and macabre to liberals, but what wonderful news to us Christians, whose sin debt is paid in full, whose ears are tuned to God’s truth, and whose hearts believe it!

Holy Land to Go

Monday, April 21, 2014

“And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD” (2 Kings 5:17 KJV).

What valuable lesson did Naaman learn before he desired to have some Holy Land “to go?”

Captain of the Syrian army, Naaman (a Gentile, non-Jew), is “a mighty man in valour [courage, heroism]” and “a leper” (suffering from a skin disease) (verse 1). When Naaman hears of a prophet (Elisha) in Israel who can heal him of his disease, the king of Syria permits Naaman to visit the land of Israel (verses 2-9). Naaman arrives at Elisha’s home to hear some rather strange advice: he is to wash in the (filthy) Jordan River seven times and be healed of JEHOVAH (verses 10,11). Naaman questions, “Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage” (verse 12). Upset and disappointed, Naaman refuses to go to Jordan.

A servant of Naaman reasons with him, encouraging him to obey God’s Word through Elisha (verse 13). Naaman finally goes to the Jordan River, still thinking Israel’s God is quite bizarre. “Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (verse 14).

Naaman, utterly shocked, returns to give Elisha a gift, but the prophet refuses (verses 15,16). Representative of the few Gentiles who have faith in Israel’s God, Naaman confesses, “Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel.” Earlier, recall that Naaman said Syria’s rivers were better than all of Israel’s bodies of waters (verse 12). After his healing, Naaman recognized JEHOVAH, Israel’s God, was the one true God (today’s Scripture). He learned that the land of Israel was unique because the God of Israel was incomparable. In fact, he asked if he could take two loads of Israel’s holy soil back home to Syria!

Christ Liveth in Me

Sunday, April 20, 2014

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which 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 KJV).

“He is risen” is not a simple blasé cliché!

When Jesus’ disciples came to His tomb on that glorious Sunday morning nearly 2,000 years ago, they were startled to find it empty! Angels inform them that He has resurrected, but they are still in shock (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-8). Jesus Christ Himself must later explain the Scriptures to them regarding what happened those last few days (Luke 24:44-46).

However, until Paul’s ministry, Christ’s finished crosswork is not preached as good news for salvation. Peter and Israel’s other apostles simply preach that Jesus Christ is now resurrected to “sit on [David’s] throne” (Acts 2:30)—that is bad news for much of Israel, for they still reject Him, weeks and months after His resurrection and ascension. Throughout early Acts, Israel’s apostles warn her that Jesus Christ is coming back to judge them.

When we come to the Apostle Paul’s ministry, we learn that we Gentiles can benefit from Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork. Israel’s rejected Messiah is now our way to heaven! Yes, Israel hated Him, and demanded that He experience the most awful method of execution devised, but God allowed it in order to accomplish His will. Satan attempted to hinder God’s will by having Christ killed, but all that did was provide the method whereby God could save us pagan Gentiles. Calvary’s finished crosswork frees us from Satan’s evil system and gives us a chance to be God’s people (Acts 26:17,18)!

As people who have trusted Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for our sins, that crucifixion is our death to self and sin, and that resurrection is our raising to walk in newness of life—His life (today’s Scripture; cf. Romans 6:1-11)!

Indeed, Jesus Christ is alive, and He lives in and through those who walk by faith in God’s Word to them, Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon! 🙂

HAPPY EASTER!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study by the same name. That study can be read here or watched here.

Fishers of Men #7

Friday, April 11, 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!

When Christ first commissioned His 12 apostles, Scripture says, “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” (Matthew 10:5,6). Most church members are never taught that Israel’s apostles had no ministry to Gentiles.

Jesus told these apostles post-resurrection: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). He repeated in Acts 1:8: “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.”

The 12 apostles were to convert all of Israel first. Then, and only then, redeemed Israel was to evangelize all nations (Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15). In the prophetic program, Gentiles would be blessed through Israel’s rise to kingdom glory: Israel had to be saved first so Gentiles could be saved next (Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 59:20–60:3; Isaiah 61:6; Zechariah 8:20-23; Acts 3:25-26; Romans 15:8-12; et al.). But, (unbelieving, rebellious) Israel was never fully converted. Through Paul’s ministry, we Gentiles learn that salvation is currently coming to us through Israel’s temporary fall, the mystery program (Romans 11:11-13).

When Jesus Christ returns to establish His earthly kingdom through Israel, Isaiah 2:1-3 says that all the nations shall flow unto it. When the apostles caught 153 fishes in today’s Scripture (John 21:11), this evidently symbolizes how many Gentile nations Israel will “catch” (evangelize). The net broke in Luke chapter 5 but it did not break in John chapter 21—Israel’s apostles will be prepared and equipped to catch all the fish, and none will be lost.

Rest assured, Israel’s apostles will be resurrected one day, and their greatest fishing trip will be underway! 🙂

Fishers of Men #6

Thursday, April 10, 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!

As the apostles drag to shore the nets of fish that Jesus Christ told them to catch in His power, He invites them to eat with Him—He has already cooked fish and bread for them! “Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise” (verses 12,13).

Remember, as fishers of men, Israel’s apostles still have more “catching” to do. After our dispensation, after the seven-year Tribulation, and just before Christ’s earthly kingdom is established, Israel’s apostles will be bodily resurrected (see Matthew 19:27-30 and Luke 22:28-30, for example), and they will fulfill Matthew 28:19,20. They—yea, all of believing Israel—will evangelize the nations. (This is why the Gentile name for the Sea of Galilee was used in John 21:1).

Why did Jesus tell them to throw their net on the right side (today’s Scripture)? Matthew 25:31-46 says when Christ returns to earth (His Second Coming), He will set on his right hand believing Gentiles who blessed Israel during the seven-year Tribulation and He will set unbelieving Gentiles on his left hand (verses 32,33). Only believing Gentiles—those on His right hand—will be allowed to enter His earthly kingdom (verses 34,46); all of redeemed Israel will then minister to them. The unbelieving Gentiles—those on His left hand—are cast into everlasting hellfire (verses 41,46).

In accordance with John’s theme, Christ’s final miracle is Him empowering Israel’s believing remnant, particularly her apostles, to catch the souls of Gentiles. They will “bring them to shore to Him” so that they too dine with Him (see Isaiah 2:1-5; Zechariah 8:20-23; Matthew 8:11; cf. Matthew 26:29), and enjoy the salvation that He offers them through Israel! The miracle of today’s Scripture symbolizes the climax of God’s prophetic program, when Israel’s believing remnant becomes fishers of men….

Religion, Riches, and Robbery

Friday, April 4, 2014

“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (2 Peter 2:3 KJV).

Do not let religion “take you for a ride,” for you will end up paying for the trip!

In recent years, news stories involving “filthy rich” bishops, priests, and ministers seem to have become more prevalent. Only after they are caught, they “apologize” for their multimillion-dollar mansions, exotic trips and vehicles, and other lavish expenditures using “church money.” The “peon-parishioners” are forced to contribute to “God’s work” by giving, and, in return, they are reassured that their “merit” will reap “eternal benefits.” Religion is the world’s most profitable business indeed!

Dearly beloved, we must, must, MUST exercise great caution when giving to any ministry or local church. Remember, Jesus sternly rebuked the “thieves” who defiled His Father’s house, the Temple (Matthew 21:12,13; Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-48; John 2:13-17). Our Lord Jesus said these religious leaders “devoured widows’ houses” (Matthew 23:14; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47). They did not think twice about taking everything they possibly could from the common Jews! Before the Apostle Paul was saved, as one of these religious leaders, he (as Saul of Tarsus) confessed that he “profited in the Jews’ religion above many [his] equals in [his] own nation” (Galatians 1:14). We read about false religious leaders swindling the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:13-20).

In the context of today’s Scripture, the Apostle Peter reminds his Jewish audience that just as the Holy Spirit operated through holy prophets, Satan operated through false prophets (2 Peter 1:19–2:3). These teachers of “damnable heresies” fell into the trap of materialism (1 Timothy 6:6-10) and coveted their converts’ possessions—they preached “feigned” (worthless/fake, but nice-sounding) words. The Prophet Micah, writing circa 750 B.C., reported, “The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money” (3:11).

God’s grace is not against giving (2 Corinthians chapters 8-10); God’s grace is against tithing (forceful giving). We give “cheerfully” (happily; 2 Corinthians 9:6,7) to sound grace Bible churches and ministries, but, most importantly, we give carefully!

Are You Counted Worthy?

Thursday, April 3, 2014

“Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:” (2 Thessalonians 1:5 KJV).

How much do you value God’s ministry and message to mankind? Enough to suffer for it?

On four occasions, the Apostle Paul discusses Christians “worthy” of various nouns (you are strongly encouraged to read them with their contexts):

  • In today’s Scripture, we read about being “counted worthy of the kingdom of God.”
  • Paul prayed for Christians, “That [they] might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).
  • Paul, Silas, and Timotheus (Timothy) encouraged the believers in Thessalonica, “That [they] would walk worthy of God, who hath called [them] unto his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12).
  • In his second epistle to these saints, Paul wrote: “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power” (1:11).

When we trusted Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork alone as the fully satisfying payment for our sins, Father God saved us unto eternal life. God will never reject us Christians—He has fully dealt with all of our sins at Calvary (Romans 5:9-11; Romans 8:31,32; Colossians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:13; et al.). What a concept!

God has saved us forever, not simply to keep us out of everlasting hellfire, but to use us as His vessels through which His life should be manifested (2 Corinthians 4:5-11)—here on earth until we die or the rapture occurs (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21-23), and in the heavens in eternity (Ephesians 2:6,7). But, how much do we value His work, His doctrine, His life?

In Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon, alone, we find our doctrine, duty, walk, and destiny as members of the Church the Body of Christ. In our Christian walk, to “be counted worthy of God [or His calling or kingdom]” is not us striving to merit Him or heaven (we are accepted of God in Christ; Ephesians 1:6). It means we “value/esteem—find worth in—God’s doctrine and will.” Saint, does God count you worthy?