Category: Calvary’s cross

A Father’s Gift #3

Saturday, August 17, 2024

“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 KJV).

Let us learn about Father’s gift….

There are some 4,200 religions worldwide. In “Christianity” alone, anywhere from 33,000 to 38,000 denominations exist. These conflicting groups surfaced for a variety of reasons—following the theological speculations of a single man or woman, holding to a specific rite or ritual or ceremony, emphasizing one obscure or misapplied Bible verse or another, blending this system with that system (repeat, repeat, and repeat). Even though “scholarship” and amusement abound, there is very little spiritual knowledge, spiritual wisdom, and spiritual understanding. Instead of victory over sin, maturity and light have been defeated!

It is really an unfortunate fact that some genuine Christian people in ministry will keep polluting the Church the Body of Christ with false doctrine until their physical death. They know their traditions of men are not the pure Word of God, but they will not forsake them because that means becoming an outcast of the denominational system (social club!) and being subsequently labeled “divisive,” “troublemaker,” or “church-splitter” (see John 9:20-23). They fully recognize they are doing the Devil’s work, but, for fear of losing the praise of men, they have elected not to stop (John 12:42,43). Since the flesh reigns supreme in their minds and hearts, they have quenched or hindered the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Their conscience is seared with a hot iron, so their doctrines of devils do not bother them in even the slightest way (1 Timothy 4:1,2).

However, as soon as physical death relocates these saints to Heaven, God with great force straightens them out and their denominational confusion and secularism (worldliness) disappear. For the first time ever, they finally understand and enjoy the Bible—the very understanding and enjoyment they could have had on Earth going back decades, if only they had swallowed their pride and did more Bible study than theology study! In today’s Scripture, Father God in our behalf has wrought a mighty work at Calvary, but, unless we take the time to see it, we will not truly appreciate Father’s gift as we should….

arC Ministries Is 17!

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV).

To our Lord Jesus Christ’s glory, arC Ministries celebrates its 17th anniversary today!!!

Seventeen years ago, as a 19-year-old college student, I endeavored to use Facebook to create a Bible study group for teens and college students. Thus, “ambassadors for the risen Christ ministries” was born. As I grew more in God’s Word rightly divided, I grew increasingly aware of the need for additional ministry projects. The more I had been learning drove me to share those precious truths with others. That eventually led me to look for supplementary avenues of ministry.

During these past 17 years, God’s grace has enabled us to continue the original group on Facebook. In addition, we have branched out quite a bit in other areas. This devotionals blog has been operating for over 13 years now. For the last 12 years, we have focused on developing and drafting a grace study Bible (now in its thirteenth year). Other ministry projects include a 22-week newspaper ministry column (this devotionals blog’s predecessor), a YouTube channel with home Bible study videos, a Twitter feed, a full-length Bible studies blog, a college campus ministry, a nursing-home ministry, and our Bible-question-and-answer blog. Eight years ago, we launched our new main ministry website and now have a line of printed Bible study booklets available for sale there. Five years ago, we recorded and distributed our Old Testament Survey video series. Later that year, we launched our New Testament Survey video series (which will last a few years). We hear from people all over the world!

Our name says it all: we serve the risen Lord Jesus Christ, not some “dead Jew” and not ourselves. The original motto of our ministry was, “To equip ambassadors, and to encourage others to become ambassadors.” Our primary goal is to teach Christians, and our secondary goal is to evangelize the lost world. Seventeen years later, we still endeavor to uphold God’s Word (King James Bible) rightly divided, whether it be in edifying the Christian brethren or preaching the clear Gospel of the Grace of God to this lost and dying world. For those of you who have been with us from day 1, thank you for your prayer and encouragement. We pray for you upon every remembrance! There is still plenty more for the Lord Jesus Christ to do in and through us, so let us give Him all the praise and glory as we enter Year 18! 🙂

 

No Shepherd for Israel! #9

Saturday, July 20, 2024

“Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace” (2 Chronicles 18:16 KJV).

Why does Israel have no shepherd?

Like every nation of the world, Israel’s history abounds with leaders who were spiritual losers. That is the heavy price of sin—and it is a heavy price indeed. All nations could have been spared an incomprehensible amount of pain, suffering, ignorance, and turmoil. Yet, the LORD God created us as free moral agents, not robots, and that means letting man do what he wants. Still, we can be thankful that is not the way things will always be in creation. Before situations and circumstances improve on Earth, though, they will have to deteriorate even more than what we see now.

With each passing day, the world grows closer to the Antichrist’s appearance. This last self-serving, diabolical shepherd—the worst of them all—must operate in Israel’s government before the Lord Jesus Christ comes back to destroy him, sit on David’s throne, and appoint His righteous shepherds (the 12 Apostles). Jesus Christ the “Good Shepherd” is in stark contrast to those shepherds who scatter the sheep, those who do not care about the wellbeing of the sheep (John 10:11-14). Ultimately, Christ will give up His life to save the sheep—a clear reference to Calvary (see John 10:15,17-18). In addition to being the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life at the cross (John 10:11 corresponding to Psalm 22); Jesus Christ is also the “Great Shepherd” who cares for and blesses the sheep (Hebrews 13:20 matching Psalm 23); Christ is also the “Chief Shepherd” who brings the sheep into His Millennial Kingdom (1 Peter 5:4 corresponding to Psalm 24).

The Lord Jesus will lead the lost sheep of Israel back to Himself, as in 1 Peter 2:25: “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” Psalm 79:13, Psalm 95:7, and Psalm 100:3 all look to that Millennial Reign of Christ as well. In that day, “no shepherd for Israel” will never be true again!

Liberated to Serve

Thursday, July 4, 2024 🇺🇸

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13 KJV).

Today, as we in the United States celebrate the 248th anniversary of our nation’s independence, we invite our Christian brethren worldwide to rejoice with us concerning our freedom in Jesus Christ.

When we proclaim Romans 6:14—“Ye are not under the law, but under grace”—people tend to assume “loose living.” Does “grace living” really mean we can now live any way we want? Lest anyone be misled in that regard, God the Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to write in the next verse, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid [May God never let that happen!]” (Romans 6:15). Grace living is not Law-keeping, but it certainly is not Law-breaking either.

God still cares how we live, albeit He is not operating the “weak and beggarly” system of “bondage” (Law) that He once did with Israel (Galatians 4:9). God proved to the entire world that since Israel could not keep His commandments perfectly, no other sons of Adam (the Gentiles) could either: “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them [Israel] who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world [Gentiles] may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19).

We sinners cannot keep the Law. However, God in His grace provided us a way to escape that condemnation by sending Jesus Christ to offer Himself on Calvary’s cruel cross to pay for our sins. By simple faith in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as the fully-satisfying payment for our sins, we can now be “made the righteousness of God in [Christ]” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We can be delivered from the penalty of sin (hell and the lake of fire) and the power of sin (flesh-walking).

Why are we Christians free? To selfishly live any way we want? NO! Today’s Scripture says we are liberated to now serve others, especially our Christian brethren, just as Jesus Christ selflessly served His Father and selflessly died on our behalf. That is grace living!!!!

Please see our 2011 Fourth of July Bible study “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land,” which can be watched here or read here.

Tokens #9

Sunday, June 23, 2024

“And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:…” (Genesis 9:12 KJV).

What are “tokens” in Scripture?

Apparently, Paul signed his name to each epistle (formal doctrinal letter): “The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write” (2 Thessalonians 3:17). That signature indicated, signified, or symbolized authenticity and apostolic authority.

Sometimes, tokens are hidden in the Bible, since their corresponding Hebrew or Greek words were translated as other English terms. For example, though the Greek “endeixis” was rendered “evident token” in Philippians 1:28, it was translated “proof” in 2 Corinthians 8:24: “Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.” The sign or indication of our love for the Lord and fellow believers is when we help them in their time of financial need. That Greek word was twice rendered “declare” (show, signify, demonstrate) in Romans 3:25,26 with respect to God manifesting His righteousness (rightness or justness) at Calvary: “[Christ Jesus] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

In the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible), the word “’ot” was translated “token” in Genesis 9:12,13,17 (the rainbow signifying God’s promise never to flood the world again), in Genesis 17:11 (physical circumcision representing Abraham’s death to the flesh), and in the many other references we covered earlier (Exodus 3:12; Exodus 12:13; Exodus 13:16; Numbers 17:10; Joshua 2:12; Job 21:29; Psalm 65:8; Psalm 86:17; Psalm 135:9; Isaiah 44:25). That Hebrew term was also rendered “sign/s” some 77 times (for examples, see Genesis 1:14, Exodus 4:9, Exodus 10:1, Exodus 31:13, Deuteronomy 6:22, Joshua 24:17, Psalm 78:43, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 8:18, Jeremiah 10:2, and Ezekiel 20:20). It was also translated “miracles” in Numbers 14:22, Deuteronomy 11:3, and Deuteronomy 29:3. Additionally, it is the “mark” of Genesis 4:15. On one occasion, it is “ensign” (Numbers 2:2).

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #12

Thursday, June 13, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Someone will surely inquire, “Where is Jesus? Is He coming back or not? When? Does not God care about justice? Why are crime and evil still unpunished?” The Bible already answered these questions centuries ago—but gross ignorance prevails because people spend more time studying theology, denominational commentaries, and other distractions than actually reading pages of rightly divided Scripture. It is not God’s fault!

The pause in prophecy and the commencement of mystery allowed the resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ to come back to save His chief enemy in the Earth. This is the salvation of Saul of Tarsus and the commissioning of the Apostle Paul (Acts chapter 9), whose ministry has lasted 2,000 years. Never should we confuse “prophecy” (“[that] which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began;” Acts 3:21) with “mystery” (“[that] which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest;” Romans 16:25,26). To believe prophecy is still in effect now is to fail to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

If God could and did save wicked Saul of Tarsus (His chief enemy!), and place him into the Church the Body of Christ, He can and still is saving sinners and putting them into the Body of Christ. This Christ-rejecting world has never deserved grace and will never deserve it—but, through Calvary, God has temporarily granted all people a chance to come by faith in Christ before His wrath does fall. Maybe, just maybe, like Saul so long ago, some of those self-righteous sinners will realize their lost estate and trust Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour too (see 1 Timothy 1:12-16). Surely, this “Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24)—Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3,4)—is beyond human comprehension. Yet, as long as it is preached, as long as Paul’s apostleship continues, there is a pause of prophecy. In God’s own timing, He will stop mystery altogether and resume prophecy.

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #11

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Responding to the Thessalonians who were suffering great persecution for their faith, the Holy Spirit through Paul composed these words in 2 Thessalonians chapter 1: “[3] We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; [4] So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: [5] 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:

“[6] Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; [7] And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; [10] When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”

It is just, fair, or right that God “take vengeance on” or “pay back” those who harm His children, the believers in Christ. He has reserved that judgment for the final years leading up to and at Christ’s Second Coming, but those days cannot be fulfilled while He is doing something else. He is currently dispensing grace to an undeserving world… and this has been true for some 2,000 years now. However, we must remember this message of “grace and peace” is only temporary. Prophecy has been paused, not cancelled—postponed or delayed, not abolished or nullified. Mystery is for now, not forever.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #10

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Turn now to 2 Corinthians 5:14-16: “[14] For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: [15] 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. [16] Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” Not only is this the Lord Jesus’ finished crosswork, but it is His finished crosswork seen from the Pauline perspective. Whereas the crucifixion was bad news in early Acts (Israel murdered Messiah in unbelief! [Acts 2:22-24; Acts 3:13-15; Acts 4:10-12; Acts 5:30,31; Acts 7:51-53]), it became good news starting with Paul’s ministry.

Keep reading 2 Corinthians chapter 5: “[17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Through Calvary as revealed in Paul’s Gospel, God has changed the status of the nations from being His enemies to being His friends (“reconciliation”). For 20 centuries now, He has been offering sinners the chance to place their faith in Christ alone as the fully-satisfying payment for their sins. This is the method whereby the God of the Bible postpones the wrath and war, and extends grace and peace to the world….

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #6

Thursday, June 7, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Read Psalm 2: “[1] Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? [2] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, [3] Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. [4] He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. [5] Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. [6] Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” The order of the prophetic program was: (1) the Lord Jesus Christ’s First Coming with consequent rejection and crucifixion (verses 1-3; cf. Acts 4:24-28), (2) Father God responding in wrath and war during Daniel’s 70th Week and Christ’s Second Coming (verses 4,5), and (3) Christ’s Millennial Kingdom Reign in the Earth (verse 6).

Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, knew the outpouring of wrath and war were to follow the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:16-21,34-36; cf. Joel 2:28-32). Stephen, also filled with the Holy Ghost, finally saw the wrath just moments away, with the one-year extension of mercy on Israel of Acts chapters 1–7 now expired (cf. Luke 13:6-9; cf. Matthew 12:31,32)! See Acts chapter 7: “[51] Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. [52] Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:…. [55] But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, [56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”

Unlike Psalm 110:1 (cf. Acts 2:34-36), Christ was no longer “sitting,” but “standing” in preparation to return and destroy His enemies! Yet, no wrath came….

NOTE: Concerning our New Testament Survey Project, we have now begun studying 1 Corinthians verse-by-verse. Those videos will be archived here.

Paul and The Pause of Prophecy #5

Thursday, June 6, 2024

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him” (Acts 13:9 KJV).

How is the Apostle Paul connected to the pause of prophecy?

Interestingly, the Holy Spirit through Paul addressed Elymas/Barjesus: “O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” (Acts 13:10, the verse following today’s Scripture). This was definitely not immature or petty name-calling, but God’s reminder that national (apostate, unbelieving) Israel had Satan as their spiritual father (see Christ’s words to Israel’s religious leaders in John 8:44). Instead of serving in the LORD’S ministry, they labored tirelessly for the Devil! They had their self-righteousness, their watered-down version of God’s religion (Judaism), but they did not have God’s righteousness. Here is what led to Calvary (Christ’s rejection), and their persistent unbelief even into Acts.

Read Paul’s inspired commentary in 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; [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.”

This satanic trap continued to ensnare lost Jews even during Paul’s ministry. Moreover, although God’s wrath should have fallen on Israel, it was Paul’s very ministry and message holding that judgment in abeyance. God’s mercy and grace of mystery have paused the wrath and war of prophecy….