Category: Paul’s salvation

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #10

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

Grace is all that Father God is able and willing to do for us sinners through Christ’s finished crosswork. Our spiritual riches or blessings in Christ resulting from grace include: forgiveness (sin-debt cleared or sent away), justification (imputed righteousness, given a right standing before God), sanctification (being set apart unto God’s purposes), eternal life (given God’s very life), and redemption (purchased, or bought back, and freed).

A “pauper” is a very poor person, one lacking sufficient money to live normally and comfortably. Though the flesh (Adam) attempts to live the Christian life, it does not, cannot, and never will. Religious works can never substitute Christ’s life: only Christ can live His life. Living in the energy of the flesh is spiritual pauperism, for no spiritual riches can be derived from it. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3). Can we in our own strength improve the Holy Spirit’s work in us? No! Do our feeble efforts “perfect” (complete, finish) the Christian life? No!

Read the verses following today’s Scripture: “Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” (Galatians 4:8,9). Like we, the Galatians before they came to faith in Christ were slaves to sin (Satan, idols, et cetera). Yet, as believers, they were still opposed to God’s work, ignoring Grace to receive the “weak and beggarly” Law system (like heathenism, a system of spiritual immaturity, spiritual poverty, and spiritual inability). Though members of the Body of Christ, they had confused themselves with the nation Israel….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #9

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

To the Apostle Paul were committed both the Dispensation of the Grace of God (Ephesians 3:1,2) and the Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:24). Note the Gospel of Grace: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;…. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that 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 15:1,3,4). “Gospel” in Greek means “good news, glad tidings.” We have a sin problem due to our biological connection to Adam (the bad news of Ephesians 2:1-3), but the God of the Bible has intervened with a solution to save us from our sins and fill us Christians with His life (the good news of Ephesians 2:4-10). Now, by faith, in order to have victorious Christian living, we make use of Christ’s merits on Calvary’s cross.

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge [conclude], that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again…. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:14,15,17). This is the Christian’s new identity (“in Christ”) and the Christian’s new purpose (“should not henceforth live unto themselves”). Also, read of the Christian’s resources—his or her spiritual riches—in Christ: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:…” (Ephesians 1:3).

Let us now see precisely what it means to live as a spiritual pauper….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #8

Monday, January 12, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

Another distinction to be made in “right division” (2 Timothy 2:15) is that of Law versus Grace—a difference the Galatians had failed to recognize. Christendom’s thousands of warring denominations today are either based entirely on Law (“legalism”) or various blends of Law and Grace (“Galatianism”). They have no clear concept of pure (!) Grace (!), what the God of the Bible is doing today: they know not what program He currently has in force or who is His present spokesman. God’s relations with mankind change through time because man changes, and the dispensational change that affects us is that which took place in Acts chapter 9 with the salvation and commissioning of Saul of Tarsus to make him Paul the Apostle (“apostle” is from Greek, and means “sent one [messenger]”).

Here are the resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ’s words to Paul in Acts chapter 9 historically: “Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee [‘I make thee an apostle’],…” (Acts 26:17). Years later, Paul wrote: “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:…” (Romans 11:13). Some years after that, he added: “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:…” (Ephesians 3:1,2). Understanding Paul’s apostleship is key to ascertaining God’s will for us, His words to and about us. If we know what the Lord is doing today, then we can do that by faith and thereby do His will for our lives!

God’s current “economy,” “house-rules,” or “governing principles” are titled “the Dispensation of the Grace of God.” This encompasses Paul’s epistles, Romans to Philemon. At the core of the Dispensation of the Grace of God is the Gospel of the Grace of God….

A Life That Will Please

Sunday, January 4, 2026

“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).

Today’s Scripture tells us who alone can live a life pleasing in God’s sight!

Everyone does “good” deeds. Yet, doing “good” is not necessarily good. For instance, people often do “good” just to receive praise/reward, make up for their wrongs, feel good, et cetera. Furthermore, despite our “good” deeds, we have plenty more bad ones! Pride, lying, evil thoughts, being a false witness, and being contentious are some of the things the LORD hates (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Mankind cannot even keep 10 simple rules from God. However, religion continues to urge us to keep seven sacraments, utter various prayers, give assorted offerings and “tithes,” attend numerous feasts and festivals, and perform sundry other tasks to “hopefully” please God and avoid hellfire. Whether we attempt to keep a church’s laws, our laws, or God’s laws, our flesh is far too weak to ever measure up. Just look at what God’s religion did to Israel—how much worse some man-made religion does to us!

As Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul was a Pharisee, a religious leader of Israel. He was a nitpicker concerning Law-keeping, and yet, after his soul salvation, he admitted that all of his religion was “but dung” compared to Jesus Christ’s righteousness (Philippians 3:3-11). Even for the Christian, to live a perfect life is impossible (read of Paul’s miserable existence in Romans chapter 7). Paul had to forsake his vain religion and learn today’s Scripture: the Christian life is NOT the performance of the Christian, but the Lord Jesus Christ living and working in the Christian, as the Christian walks in an intelligent understanding of God’s Word to him or her!

If we trust a Saviour who will save—the Lord Jesus Christ—and trust a Book that will teach—the King James Bible—we can redeem the year for the great God and our Saviour, “who loved [us], and gave himself for [us]!” 🙂

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #20

Monday, September 29, 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?

In Acts chapters 7–9, religious leader Saul of Tarsus was a Pharisee who hated Jesus’ name and tirelessly hunted believing Jews. Yet, Saul gave up depending on his “goodness” and trusted Christ’s righteousness (Philippians 3:3-9). As Paul the Apostle decades later, he writes of himself: “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting” (1 Timothy 1:13-16).

The salvation or justification of Saul/Paul is a “pattern” of how God has dealt with Christ-rejecting sinners for 2,000 years now. Firstly, He has been “merciful” or compassionate, holding back the wrath we sinners deserve. Secondly, He has been “gracious” or generous, giving us the favor we sinners do not deserve. Thirdly, He has been “peaceful” or friendly, pausing the war we sinners deserve. For a moment, He has interrupted the prophetic program, “[that] which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21), that He may operate the mystery program, “[that] which was kept since the world began, but now is manifest [through the Pauline epistles, Romans to Philemon]” (Romans 16:25,26).

God has caused the nation Israel to temporarily fall, concluded all Jews and all Gentiles in unbelief, that He might have mercy on all nations without distinction (see Romans 11:11-14,30-32). What we need to do is the only thing we can do without doing anything: we need to believe on Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins. Since the Lord Jesus was our substitute on Calvary so long ago, we now enjoy God’s blessings….

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….

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #11

Saturday, September 20, 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?

Observe 2 Corinthians 4:3,4: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Generally, non-Christians do not believe they are “lost” (gone aside from God’s path, doomed to eternal death or everlasting judgment). They suppose that, as long as they participate in some religious system, they will somehow “slip into Heaven.” Similarly, Saul of Tarsus “had confidence in the flesh [human performance].” After all, he belonged to God’s religion (Judaism). He was a Pharisee too—a strict man obsessed with rites, rituals, ceremonies, and commandments. Saul eventually became a believer in Jesus Christ… and was commissioned as His Apostle Paul!

Read his testimony in Philippians 3:3-9: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:….”

Religious people today need to follow Paul’s example and quit trying to “get away” from God’s standard of rightness….

Peter’s Vision of the Unclean Animals #2

Sunday, August 10, 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?

Once unbelieving national Israel’s temporary fall before God occurred in Acts chapter 7, the apostate nation not being forgiven of its blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matthew 12:31,32; Mark 3:28-30), there is a radical departure from the order of 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 Little Flock, Israel’s believing remnant, understood the sequence. With Christ gone back to Heaven, they had to convert Jerusalem first, before branching out to the Gentiles: “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). Nevertheless, Jerusalem was content to be in unbelief, rejecting Jesus Christ as He was preached during the opening chapters of Acts. It was here in Jerusalem, Acts chapter 7, that the Holy Spirit in Stephen condemned Israel’s religious leaders (Sanhedrin) for their unbelief. By the time of chapter 8, Stephen is dead by stoning and Philip goes to preach in Samaria to the north (with the Samaritans trusting the very Jesus Christ that Jerusalem had not!).

It is in chapter 9 that the Lord saves, raises up, and commissions the Apostle Paul to go to Gentiles. Jerusalem and Judaea (Jerusalem’s neighborhood) are not entirely converted, but Samaria is somewhat converted, and now salvation and blessing are going to the world or Gentiles through Paul with an entirely different commission. This is not the order of prophecy. Indeed, there has been a drastic change in program, and these various clues in Acts demonstrate it. Then, there is the bizarre case of Roman centurion Cornelius and the Apostle Peter’s ministry to him in the context of today’s Scripture….

Training Replacements #9

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

“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 KJV).

One of the lesser-known purposes of Christ’s earthly ministry was that He trained 12 men to continue His work once He returned to His Heavenly Father!

Christendom believes Paul’s ministry is an extension of that of the 12. His being such a “supplement” is patently false. After all, he did not train under the 12 Apostles. Furthermore, though they had spent three years learning from Christ, Paul did not meet them until a few years after his salvation or justification. Paul’s delayed meeting clearly demonstrates they had nothing to teach him, but that he had already been taught—by Christ Himself too!

“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it [by other men], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ…. To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:11,12,16-19).

“But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person: ) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles: ) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision” (Galatians 2:6-9).

The distinction between the Apostle Paul and the 12 Apostles is obvious, but only if we want to see it….

Training Replacements #8

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

“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 KJV).

One of the lesser-known purposes of Christ’s earthly ministry was that He trained 12 men to continue His work once He returned to His Heavenly Father!

With national Israel failing to repent and believe the Gospel of the Kingdom during the three years of Matthew to John, God granted them a one-year extension—a renewed opportunity for repentance (Luke 13:6-9). That year encompassed the first seven chapters of the Book of Acts, the Holy Spirit’s ministry to Israel through the Little Flock led by the 12 Apostles.

Expanding on Christ’s sermons from His earthly ministry, Peter preached the Lord Jesus Christ would still return and establish God’s literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic, Israeli kingdom: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. 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” (Acts 3:19-21).

By the time of Acts chapter 7, Stephen’s sermon to lost Israel’s religious leaders, Christ is standing (no longer sitting) at the Father’s right hand—preparing to make His enemies His footstool at His Second Coming (verses 55,56). In chapter 9, Saul of Tarsus, the religious leader heading Israel’s rebellion against Jesus Christ, is saved and commissioned by that same resurrected, ascended, and glorified Son of God! God kept a secret, finally revealing it to Paul and, through Paul, to us.

“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:…” (Romans 16:25,26). With prophecy paused and mystery operating, God in “but now” shows a new set of principles completely separate and distinct from His “time past” information….