Category: Salvation

Zealously Affected #4

Sunday, February 22, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Today’s Scripture expresses how the believers in Christ of central Turkey were vacillating, having no grounding in sound Bible doctrine (despite having access to it). Though the Apostle Paul referred to them as “brethren” several times in his epistle to them, their thinking and conduct were those of unbelievers because they never continued with the principles of grace that they had learned from him. It was almost like they were not saints at all… which was also the pitiful description of the Corinthians! At least they heard and believed a pure Gospel of Grace at first (“Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day;” 1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

Having had 2,000 years of denominational doctrine, the modern professing church is in an even worse predicament. It is still typical to find “religious people” wailing, weeping, kneeling, groveling, “making deals with God,” leaping, singing, dancing, and praying—but they have no change in heart because there is no faith. For the few who are members of the Body of Christ, very little progress is ever made because their emotions take over them instead of God the Holy Spirit. Whether saved or lost, almost every soul has been “zealously affected, but not well” (being obsessed with denominations, man’s wisdom, and personages—which emotional attachments make them subject to further deception and render them more hostile to the truth).

Since the Galatians had been “hot” for his grace doctrine initially, then had hot feelings for false teachers and their bad doctrine, Paul expected the emotional Galatians to be bitter or unfriendly to him for exposing their apostasy (their standing away from sound doctrine). See Galatians 4:16, the verse preceding today’s Scripture: “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” Emotions have no logic, so we too should expect emotional people to be unreasonable. It is better to depend upon the sound Bible doctrine to transform our mind (and let emotions follow), than rely upon emotions and then look for verses to confirm what we saw, heard, or felt….

Something in Which to Glory!

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:12-14 KJV).

In what shall we glory? About what shall we boast? In what shall we find value?

Religion produces people who enjoy bragging all about their “dedication to God.” “Look what I did—the ceremonies in which I have participated, the many prayers I faithfully recited daily, how much I put in the collection plate, see how many pleasures I gave up to please God! Come, see how much I love Him!” Dear friends, the Apostle Paul found great value in something—but that something was not what he did. All that human flesh can accomplish pales in comparison to the work in today’s Scripture.

As Lent begins, the time when religionists temporarily (a mere 40 days) relinquish some pleasant food or activity, let us remember that our performance is often non-performance. Once we place ourselves on that treadmill of “do, do, do,” we are guaranteed to fail at some point. Human flesh is simply too weak to maintain 100 percent—that is sin! Even concerning one rule, we cannot keep it perfectly. We mess up eventually.

If ever we believe that our puny works are worth bragging about, let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul in today’s Scripture. While some boast in their religiosity (in the passage, the Judaizers applauding their rite of physical circumcision), and such denominationalists today urge us to obey their church’s instructions so they too may boast in our ability, let us eschew such foolishness. Being imperfect, all their works do not measure up to Christ’s finished crosswork. At Calvary, we find the only sacrifice that will ever please the God of the Bible. If we must boast, let us brag that He did what we could never, ever do!

See our archived Bible Q&A: “Should Christians observe Lent?”

God’s Grace on Parade

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

“…But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20 KJV).

Today, especially here in southern Louisiana, the Catholic festival of Mardi Gras takes advantage of God’s grace. God’s grace abounds even when drunkenness, lasciviousness, and gluttony are committed overtly on our streets for religion. Because we live in the Dispensation of the Grace of God, they can flaunt their sin without being consumed by fire from heaven!

“Mardi Gras,” French for “Fat Tuesday,” is a day when religious people—professing “Christians”—lose self-control (excess alcohol, food, and partying). The following day, Ash Wednesday, they promise to live “holy” for the next 40 days (Lent). A priest will then place ashes on their foreheads proving that God forgave them for that riotous living. Blasphemy!

Regardless of all its biblical allusions (illusions!), Mardi Gras is still evil and anti-God. It was never Christian, originating from pagan Roman festivals, Saturnalia and Lupercalia (interestingly known for riots, drunkenness, gluttony, and fornication, and subsequent repentance).

The Holy Spirit, speaking through the Apostles Peter and Paul, was clearly against Mardi Gras reveling and drunkenness (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:3). So why do professing Christians engage in the very activities that God the Holy Spirit condemned?! As Christians, we should “deny” the activities of Mardi Gras (Romans 6:11-15; Titus 2:11-15).

If I appear offended, I am. Mardi Gras, despite its godly façade, is offensive to the great God and my Saviour Jesus Christ! God’s grace continues to tolerate such foolishness from mankind. Man parades his sin, and God parades His grace, holding back wrath.

Are you a Mardi Gras reveler? I declare unto you the wonderful Gospel of the Grace of God. God did for you at Calvary what you could never do: “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Jesus Christ shed His sinless blood and died to put away all of your sins, Mardi Gras revelry included.

If you rest in Christ Jesus alone as your Saviour, God will save you forever, make a trophy of His grace, and then YOUR life will be God’s grace on parade!

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

You may also see our archived Bible study Q&A, “Should Christians celebrate Mardi Gras?”

Eternal Insurance

Sunday, February 15, 2026

“…Christ died for our sins… he was buried, and… he rose again the third day…” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4 KJV).

Earthly life is fraught with difficulties, evils, and tragedies, so it should never be taken for granted; it can be easily lost. Above all, eternal life is what matters most… for that is certain.

Many years ago, when I was ministering in nursing homes, I happened upon an elderly man who was wheelchair-bound and sitting by himself in a hallway. Once I asked him if he had “eternal assurance of going to Heaven,” he replied, “Yes, I have insurance.” The poor soul was either hard-of-hearing or deaf, so he misunderstood. I had to explain to him I was referring to the Gospel of Grace. In a sense, however, eternal assurance of going to Heaven is insurance—eternal insurance, means of guaranteeing against loss or harm to the soul in Hell and the Lake of Fire. We have a sin problem, which is why the Lord Jesus Christ had to die and shed His sinless blood. There simply was no other way… not rites, not rituals, not ceremonies, not rules, and not regulations. We were—and still are—totally helpless.

Frankly, just a few hours ago before midnight, a tornado ripped through my neighborhood and over my house. I heard sounds and saw sights I will never, ever forget; no hurricane I have experienced even compares. Extremely strong winds and heavy rain tore across my backyard as I was on my back porch trying to hurry inside. Floodlights were shining while I watched trees and tree limbs be violently tossed back and forth. I heard the distinct noise of wood splitting and breaking. The majority of two tall pine trees in my yard came crashing down literally just steps away from my house! No one was injured or killed, but both front and back yards resemble a warzone. There is some structural damage to the house and major damage to surrounding sheds. All can be replaced, as we have insurance. Our souls cannot be replaced, of course, which is why they are eternally insured by faith alone in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for our sins (cf. today’s Scripture).

Dear friend, I strongly encourage you to have this eternal insurance—this eternal life—by placing your faith in Christ alone today while there is still time to apply for coverage.

Something Not Worth Losing

Sunday, February 8, 2026

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 KJV).

Super Bowl Sunday comes annually in the United States. Teams fuel the intense passions in the athletic world by vying for a corruptible trophy. Howbeit, the competition in today’s Scripture is spiritual, is worldwide, never has a halftime, and involves the eternal souls of men!

The human soul is most zealous about religion, politics, and sports. These areas are most personal, so they generate many heated debates and conflicts. However, believe it or not, there are worse outcomes than losing a church member, losing an election, and losing a game. Losing your eternal soul is the greatest of all losses!

In the context of today’s Scripture, Jesus Christ told His Jewish disciples to “take up [their] cross, and follow [him]” (verse 24). “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (verse 25). They should not fear losing their earthly lives for His sake. What is most important is that they not lose their souls!

Jesus Christ declared there is more to life than this physical world and its temporal possessions. There is a spiritual world—an afterlife—to consider. In today’s Scripture, He asks them, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Does it make sense to emphasize this temporary world and its corruptible goods, to the point of ignoring your eternal soul, and wind up losing it in hellfire forever and ever?

Dear reader, there is more to you than just your physical body. Your inner man—your soul, your spiritual body—is everlasting. To ignore Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for your sins, is to remain dead in those sins, resulting in you spending eternity suffering God’s wrath in the lake of fire literally as a nameless, hopeless, disfigured creature.

Your soul is not worth losing! Trust Christ as your personal Saviour today!

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #24

Wednesday, January 28, 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!

It truly is a pity—a real shame—that billions of church members, pastors, and teachers actually have no clue concerning God’s will for them. This is not God’s fault! Rather, they have decided to squander their time with nonsense and ignorance instead of opening the Holy Bible to “study… rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). It is not God’s problem when they overlook the answers He has already written in response to anticipated questions.

Here is God’s will! First Timothy 2:4-7: “[God our Saviour] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 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.” God wants lost people to be “saved” (place their faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for their sins). His will for Christians is they “come unto the knowledge of the truth” (learn why He delivered them from those sins and kept them out of Hell and the Lake of Fire): He purposes to fill them with His Son’s life (not rehabilitate the Adamic life). “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith…” (Ephesians 3:17).

Our inheritance from Father God encompasses not only this temporary earthly life, but reaches into the endless ages to come and all the way into the heavenly places (our eternal destiny, our ultimate inheritance [Ephesians 1:9-11; Ephesians 2:6,7]). As we learn via dispensational Bible study, how marvelous it is that He is forming the Church the Body of Christ with believing Jews and believing Gentiles of Paul’s ministry (Ephesians 2:11-22), a group of former bitter enemies who were hopeless and helpless and Hell-bound, an entity He kept secret until Paul’s salvation and commissioning (Ephesians 3:1-11). We are not sinners, but saints, so let us think and walk according to that.

We (finally!) summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #21

Sunday, January 25, 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!

Instead of resorting to the lame excuse, “This verse does not mean what it says,” we can simply leave it in its dispensational context. Just because we do not see a passage fulfilled today does not prove it to be false; it merely means the verses are not to or about us. We need to be scriptural and dispensational, especially keeping Law/Moses and Grace/Paul separate!

The Devil labors in religion because it is all about self—“I have done this, I have done that” (cf. Exodus 19:5,8). Church members seldom differentiate between this and Christianity, and such bragging demonstrates and reinforces those misunderstandings. “That no flesh should glory in his [God’s] presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:29-31). If we boast, let us brag about what the Lord Jesus Christ is for us and what HE did for us!

Romans is the standard of grace/Christian living. We have total forgiveness of all sins in Christ by grace (Romans 4:6-9 cf. Colossians 2:13) and therefore have joy (Romans 5:11), but religion questions this. Guilt weighs us down, and we stumble over 1 John 1:9 and Israel’s Law system (cf. Galatians 4:15,21)! We hesitate to believe we have complete, permanent, unconditional fellowship with Father God through Christ (1 Corinthians 1:8,9). Forgetting our victory in Christ in Romans chapters 6 and 8, we suppose we must keep laws to make God happy with us! Under the Law, we do not have liberty to do right but bondage to keep doing wrong: self-pity and misery consume us! We believe we cannot help but sin, so sin conquers us just as it did poor, hopelessly defeated Paul in Romans 7:7-25! We wonder if God loves us, doubting He has actually made us accepted in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:6). We are not only paupers in religion, but also prisoners….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #17

Wednesday, January 21, 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!

Despite the (hopefully) underlying sincerity, it is vain church tradition to urge unbelievers and new believers to begin reading the Holy Bible in the Book of John. Yea, it is more preferable for them to start in the Book of Romans. After all, Paul’s epistle (formal doctrinal letter) to the Romans is actually divided into four “grace pillars” which constitute the foundation of the Christian life. How does the Christian life commence? Read Romans! How does the Christian life work? Read Romans!

Romans chapters 1–5 is justification, having a right standing before God by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Chapters 6–8 is sanctification, being set apart unto God’s purposes (chapter 6 is how we are dead to sin, chapter 7 is how we are dead to the Law, and chapter 8 is how we are alive unto God by the indwelling Holy Spirit). Romans chapters 9–11 is dispensation, how we are not Israel and how we have not replaced Israel (chapter 9 is Israel’s past, chapter 10 is Israel’s present, and chapter 11 is Israel’s future). Chapters 12–16 is application of grace principles to specific daily situations and circumstances (renewed mind, living with fellow Christians and unbelievers, human government, weaker brethren, unity among members of the local church, et cetera).

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6,7). Our “walk” is our Christian conduct or service—and it works by faith in Christ just as we received Him by faith (see verse 5). “Rooted in Him” suggests life (like a plant), whereas “built up in Him” implies firmness (like a structure). “Stablished in the faith” is stabilized according to sound/healthy Bible doctrine which we must first be “taught,” for our Christian life will not operate on the basis of Bible ignorance. We should be immensely grateful to God for what He has done for us. Yet, Colossians 2:8 issues a warning….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #12

Friday, January 16, 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!

Read Genesis 2:16,17 and Genesis 3:1-13. Adam and Eve, our first parents, operated outside of the sphere of life their Creator God had planned for them. Instead of living according to His work (Grace), they made their own life with their works (Law). They ate the forbidden fruit, lost fellowship with Him and with each other, and then tried to cover up their sin with feeble religious efforts and blame shifting. Read Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:1-6, Genesis 16:1-16, Genesis 17:1-27, and Genesis 21:1-5. Abraham and Sarah connived to produce a son (Ishmael, flesh) as opposed to depending on God’s work (miracle son, Isaac, and the resulting nation Israel). Hundreds of years later, Israel at Mount Sinai believed they could make themselves God people by obeying 613 rules and regulations (the Law of Moses): “All that the LORD hath spoken we will do” (Exodus 19:8). Here are three examples in prophecy of sinners preferring Law to Grace. Move over to mystery (God’s current program). Recall how we have the grace standard of Romans ignored and legalistic Galatianism entering.

Whether Adam and Eve at the Fall, or Abraham with Ishmael, or Israel at Sinai, or the Galatians (or even the Corinthians), man is using the energy of his flesh to try to live Christ’s life for Him. Though God in His goodness offers them spiritual riches (forgiveness, sanctification, eternal life, redemption, and so on), they keep leaning on spiritual poverty (resources in Adam) to make themselves contrary to God’s will for them. Mark it well: God can fully use us only if He renders us dead to, or separated from, Adam (thereby making us spiritual winners and heirs by position in Christ). We become spiritual losers and paupers by practice when we draw on Adamic resources instead of walking by faith in our new identity in Christ. The way we have the clearest understanding of whom we are in Christ is to see whom we are not….

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #11

Thursday, January 15, 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!

Keep reading about the Galatian Christians: “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?” (Galatians 4:19-21). Like the vast majority of today’s church members, these Galatians were “spiritual kindergartners” or “Bible babies.” Instead of Christ being formed in them—being able to function as vessels of His life (under Grace)—they were demonstrations of Adamic living (under Law). Yea, their chief blunder was to crave the Law system (work/perform to gain the blessing), when God had already blessed them in Christ because of Christ’s finished crosswork (grace)!

Here are examples of spiritual losers and paupers by practice, wallowing in self-righteousness and languishing in darkness. “I can be just as good as Jesus. Give me rules and regulations and I will stop doing this evil work and start doing that good work. God will let me into Heaven if I just do my best.” “The Lord will forgive me if I confess sins according to a ‘short-account system,’ He will give me fellowship with Him if I am water baptized, He will reward me with physical wealth if I ‘tithe’ money to a church or denomination, He will favor me if I observe a religious calendar and fast and pray and cry out for mercy.” “I need to ‘hold out,’ ‘hold on,’ ‘pray through’ so God will answer my prayers as I want and spare me the curses.” Unfortunately, the so-called “Christian” sermons and commentaries of the last 20 centuries are replete with such teachings. (Without these practices, all those groups, cults, sects, and denominations would collapse because members would leave and funding would vanish!)

It is no secret that the old heresies of Galatians from 2,000 years ago have never left us….