Category: The Gospel of the Grace of God / Paul’s Gospel

Emulation #4

Saturday, November 4, 2023

“If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them” (Romans 11:14 KJV).

What is “emulation?”

Romans chapter 11 once again, today’s Scripture in context: “[11] I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.”

“Provoke them to jealousy” (verse 11) is actually the same Greek word as “provoke to emulation” (verse 14). “Paradzeloo” is from “para–” (“with”) and “dzeloo” (“zeal, envy”). Paul magnifying his apostolic office (verse 13)—which included miracle-working (see Romans 15:15-19; 2 Corinthians 12:12)—was aimed at attracting lost Israelites to come to the God of the Bible via Paul’s ministry and message. They would see non-Jews or Gentiles fellowshipping with Israel’s God through Paul’s Gospel, and they would notice the Gentiles exercising their spiritual gifts, but they (the lost Jews) were without that God.

To “emulate” means “to attempt to match or tie.” If the Gentiles were believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour (Paul’s Gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:3,4), then Paul in any way drawing attention to his apostolic office would entice unsaved Jews (“them which are my flesh;” see Romans 11:14 and Romans 9:3,4) to believe the same message. That is, “Lost Israel, become like the Gentiles in faith, for in doing so you will deliver yourselves from the darkness and blindness of your Christ-rejecting nation.” This was the basic message to Israel in Romans 10:9-13, with emphasis on verse 12 (no difference between Jew and Greek/Gentile). As in time past, Paul knew only a Jewish remnant would believe (“[that I] might save some [not ‘many,’ ‘most,’ or ‘all’] of them;” Romans 11:14; cf. 1 Corinthians 9:22).

This was Paul’s ministry during Acts….

Emulation #3

Friday, November 3, 2023

“If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them” (Romans 11:14 KJV).

What is “emulation?”

The primary role of the Apostle Paul was to preach the Gospel of the Grace of God to the whole world: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). His secondary purpose was a provoking ministry to Israel during the Acts period (see Romans 11:11-14, the context of today’s Scripture). With national Israel temporarily losing her status before God in Acts chapter 7, lost Jews needed to hear updated information concerning what the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was doing.

Therefore, as Paul traveled around the Roman Empire, he visited synagogues (Jewish places of worship) or preached to any lost Jews to announce the change in program (Acts 9:20-22; 13:5,14-52; 14:1-3; 17:1-4,10-11; 18:4-8,19-21; 19:8-9; 28:17-31). “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you [Israel]: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). “And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles” (Acts 18:6). “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it” (Acts 28:28).

In speaking these words, Paul was indicting Israel for unbelief, for if they refused to trust his Gospel, then they were just as rebellious as their brethren in the land of Palestine who had rejected the Gospel of the Kingdom under Jesus’ earthly ministry and Peter’s ministry in early Acts. If they were to have a relationship with the God of the Bible, they must approach God the way Gentiles are coming, and this is most unflattering to these Jewish people….

When This Life Is Over

Saturday, October 21, 2023

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV).

Indeed, earthly life can change—and end—in an instant’s notice.

Not long ago, a man (the coworker of one of my family members) was returning home from his job via a taxi. The man got into an argument with his driver, demanded the driver stop the vehicle, and the man quickly exited. As he was walking across a roadway, a drunk driver struck him and killed him! That was the end of that man’s earthly life, and he definitely never imagined those would be his final moments. His poor family and friends are still in shock. Not yet age 50, he left behind a wife and two children.

Dear friends, life abounds with uncertainties and tragedies because sin greatly complicates it. What we need to do is come to the Holy Scriptures now, before we wind up in those difficult circumstances and situations without any spiritual resources or insight. There are far too many people dying without the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. They simply are not prepared to leave this life. Unfortunately, where death finds them, eternity keeps them.

In today’s Scripture, the Apostle Paul was well aware of the fact he was soon to depart this world and he was ready because his soul was secure in Christ. He knew he had believed in his heart how Christ died for his sins, He was buried, and He rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Furthermore, Paul was at peace, though knew he would die as a martyr: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Dear reader, when this life is over, may you be in Christ.

Know the Grace Life

Monday, October 2, 2023

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:11-14 KJV).

Dear friend, would you like to know the grace life?

The God of the Bible is currently performing a mighty work, but we cannot participate unless we identify and apply His blueprints or instructions. Our goal in Christian living and ministry should be according to God’s will, not man’s will. The Holy Spirit is not interested in promoting man’s unending theological speculations, starting denominational systems, or creating slaves for religious leaders.

Christ should be formed in us (Galatians 4:19). We should be strengthened with might by God’s Spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16). The Pauline design for the edification of the believer is how we exit spiritual kindergarten and enter grace university and beyond. Godly edifying (see 1 Timothy 1:3,4)—being built up by the Word of God’s Grace—is our emphasis. Doctrine matters! “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). Here are the Books of Romans through Philemon.

“In whom [Christ] all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21,22). “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, 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” (2 Corinthians 5:14,15). “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).

Having presented advanced studies of the “Original 7” devotionals, we can progress toward #5000!

Know Your Apostle

Sunday, October 1, 2023

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:…” (Romans 11:13 KJV).

Dear friend, would you like to know your Apostle?

Read Hebrews 5:11-14. Though they possessed the Hebrew Scriptures for over 1,500 years (Romans 3:1,2), ancient Israel did not reach spiritual maturity because they did not follow God’s pattern for development. They should have progressed from a diet of spiritual “milk” to “strong meat,” growing from spiritual “babes” to “them that are of full age” (adults). The writer of Hebrews laments how although Israel should be able to teach the Word of God to the world, stunted growth requires Israel must first be taught again the very basics. They had not listened to God’s spokesman to them (especially Moses’ ministry)!

As concerning us, Paul is our apostle (today’s Scripture), the Lord Jesus Christ’s “sent one” or spokesman to us (Acts 26:16-18). If we reject Christ’s messenger to us, we refuse Christ Himself, and we thus refuse Father God who sent Christ as His messenger (see Matthew 10:40; Luke 10:16; John 13:20). Also consider the Holy Spirit’s instructions through Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1 and 1 Corinthians 14:37,38.

Paul is the “wise masterbuilder” (1 Corinthians 3:9-11) for this “the Dispensation of the Grace of God” (Ephesians 3:1,2). His inspired writings of Romans through Philemon are the blueprints for God’s current building project. The foundation is Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (1 Corinthians 3:10,11; cf. Romans 16:25), which is Christ as presented in the Pauline epistles, Romans through Philemon. Unless we build on Christ according to mystery, it is not what God is doing today—and it is “wood, hay, stubble” (worthless). Returning to the Jesus Christ of prophecy (outside of Paul’s ministry) is to preach and use “another Jesus,” “another spirit,” and “another gospel” (see 2 Corinthians 11:3,4).

Read Romans 16:25,26. Father God will “stablish” (stabilize) us spiritually according to: (1) Paul’s Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3,4), (2) the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon), and (3) the Scriptures of the prophets (all of the Bible in light of Pauline revelation). Knowing God’s messenger to us, we know His will for us. Knowing God’s will for us, we can now have faith in it, and accomplish it with Him!

Know Right Division

Saturday, September 30, 2023

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

Dear friend, would you like to know right division?

It truly is a sad state of affairs when most people who possess a Bible have no idea how to use it. They appeal to “scholars” and manmade systems for light, but often receive nothing but further darkness because the blind lead the blind (see Matthew 15:12-14). If we have even the slightest hope of extracting the spiritual profit God the Holy Spirit placed in His inspired and preserved words, we must pay attention to His words instead of the words of man’s “wisdom” (1 Corinthians 2:10-16).

The key to understanding and enjoying the Bible is 2 Timothy 2:15. We are not told to merely study Scripture, but rightly divide it. The Apostle Paul explains how he rightly divided the Word of Truth in Ephesians chapter 2. “Time past” (verses 11,12) is the period on the Bible timeline when God dealt with mankind on the basis of circumcision (Israel, Jews) and uncircumcision (nations, Gentiles). This is Genesis all the way into early Acts. “But now (verses 13-18) is Paul’s ministry (Acts chapter 9 onward, including Romans through Philemon), when God does not distinguish between Jew and Gentile because He has broken down this “middle wall of partition.” In “the ages to come” (verses 6,7), we the Church the Body of Christ will rule and reign in the heavenly places.

It is not enough to divide truth from error, or Old Testament from New Testament, or Israel from “the church,” or Judaism from Christianity. We must rightly divide Israel from the Church the Body of Christ, Peter from Paul, law from grace, Earth from Heaven, prophecy from mystery. Prophecy, what God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:21) cannot be the same as mystery, what God kept secret since the world began but has now revealed through Paul’s ministry (Romans 16:25,26). If we do not recognize these dispensational distinctions, then we will stumble over Bible “contradictions” and have no idea where we are on the Bible timeline or what God’s will for us even is. Right division will grow us up!

Know the Right Bible

Friday, September 29, 2023

“And when he [Barnabas] had found him [Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul], he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26 KJV).

Dear friend, would you like to know the right Bible?

Human nature rebels at authority. This spirit of autonomy—“I will be my own god!”—has created our fallen, broken world. Concerning Bible manuscripts, there is a preserved text (God’s Word) and there is a counterfeit text (Satan’s word). For thousands of years, “scholars” have used human “wisdom” to adjust the Bible text to say what they feel constitutes the closest approximation to its original wording. The general public knows practically nothing about this, so they assume the plethora of modern English versions are noble attempts to update the Bible. Alas, they have not done research—and people who know the truth generally do not care to admit that God’s Scriptures have been mutilated in the name of “scholarship.” Strangely, there are people who actually believe Hebrew and Greek dictionaries, commentaries, and theology textbooks long before they believe Bible verses!

As English-speaking people, we use the King James Bible. Every verse that should be in the Bible, is in the King James Bible—and these competent men following the text of the Protestant Reformation rendered God’s Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words into our language. We need to be thankful for our English Bible, and not let today’s “scholars” employ their supposed “wisdom” to convince us their worthless textual speculations are superior to the eternal words of the eternal God.

The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch, Syria (see today’s Scripture), which is the origin of our King James Bible’s underlying manuscripts. On the other hand, modern scholars blindly worship the manuscripts from Alexandria, Egypt—advertising the fact they are ignorant of the Bible’s negative view of Alexandria (see Acts 18:24-26). According to Scripture, no local church was ever founded in Alexandria. Egypt is a type of the world, Satan, and sin. God rescued Israel from Egypt (the “house of bondage”) and even told Israel not so much as to buy horses from Egypt (Deuteronomy 17:16). Scholars would have us buy Bibles from Egypt—and it is their right to be wrong.

Know the Lord Jesus Christ

Thursday, September 28, 2023

“For he [Father God] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV).

Dear friend, would you like to know the Lord Jesus Christ?

When Adam and Eve sinned and lost the light of God’s righteousness covering their physical bodies, they resorted to sewing together itchy fig leaves to make themselves clothing (Genesis 3:1-7). These leaves were not enough to conceal their nakedness, for they subsequently hid amongst the trees when they heard God approaching. When He questioned them to bring them to accountability, they blame-shifted (see verses 8-13). Genesis is literal—and its basic narrative is played out every day everywhere. People are still not coming to God to be delivered from their sin problem. In their pride, they attempt to rectify themselves. Deceived, they assume they are “not that bad,” and that they can compensate for their sins by doing good deeds (like their/our parents Adam and Eve sewing fig-leaf clothing and then hiding!).

Countless people know of Jesus Christ, but very few know Him (personally, intimately). To most, He is “just another religious figure,” “one of the many ways to God,” a “good man,” and so on. There is intellectual knowledge, but no heart faith. They know He died, but have they trusted in their heart the fact He died and shed His blood for their sins personally, that His finished crosswork can never be enhanced, repeated, or substituted? Sure, like Cain in Genesis 4:1-8, they can offer their own sacrifice (religious works)—but God will reject them just the same because it was their efforts instead of His work. Remember, Genesis 3:21: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skin, and [GOD!] clothed them.”

Until we come by faith alone in sinless Jesus Christ dying for our sins, being buried, being raised again (1 Corinthians 15:3,4); we lack God’s righteousness in Christ (see today’s Scripture; cf. Philippians 3:1-9). We know our righteousness is not perfect—and that is what sin is. Only Calvary can adequately deal with our sin problem. Only the God-Man, the “Anointed Saviour” (“Christ Jesus”), can save! “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

He Was One of The World’s Richest! #9

Thursday, September 14, 2023

“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20 KJV).

He was “one of the world’s richest,” but now he is among its poorest!

Whether a costly bronze casket or a cheap cardboard coffin, whether a Mercedes-Benz hearse or a horse-drawn buggy, whether wearing a three-piece suit or tattered rags, billionaire and beggar alike carry nothing away after death. Both corpses go into the same earth, for neither is spared decomposition. The beggar lost what little he had, and the billionaire lost everything he had!

Hence, in the grand scheme of things, it is definitely more prudent to concentrate on acquiring a sizable spiritual bank account than a massive physical bank account. For example, “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 1:30,31). Once we trust Christ as our personal Saviour—that He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3,4)—we get “in Christ.” We share His identity! Father God has made Jesus Christ our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption.

The ability to properly apply knowledge to life—we have it in Christ because He is our wisdom. A right standing before God—we have it in Christ because He is our righteousness. Holiness or being set apart for God’s purposes—we have it in Christ because He is our sanctification. Our being bought out of sin’s slave market—we have it in Christ because He is our redemption. If there is to be any pleasure, if there is to be any boasting, let it be that we are pleased in the Lord and see the worth only in Him. Instead of, “Look at what I did or look at what I have!” (works-religion!), true Christianity is, “Look at what Jesus Christ has been made for me and look at what He is to me!”

Here is wealth far, far beyond every scrap of precious metal and every specimen of precious stone….

The Blessedness of Forgiveness #5

Sunday, August 6, 2023

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Romans 4:6-8 KJV).

What is this “blessedness?” How can we have it?

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man [the Lord Jesus Christ] 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). As Paul preached in the synagogue of Antioch of Pisidia so long ago, God is currently offering forgiveness of sins by faith in Christ without religious works of any kind.

Through Paul’s Gospel, we can receive “forgiveness of sins” (see his grace commission of Acts 26:18). To “forgive” means “to clear the debt or send away the offense.” In fact, the Greek word translated “forgiveness” is related to that which is rendered “sent away” in Matthew 13:36 and Mark 4:36. What is Paul’s Gospel, the 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). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Dear friends, as long as we attempt to fill the God-shaped void in our heart and life with someone or something other than the God of the Bible, the blessedness of forgiveness will ever elude us. No water baptism, no tithing, no rites, no prayers, no theological studies, no ceremonies, no promises, no pilgrimages, no confessions, no rituals, no commandment-keeping, no turning over a new leaf, no traditions, no experiences, no distribution of denominational literature, no lucrative business deals, no drugs, no alcoholic beverages, no illicit sexual activities, no followers on social media, no education, no partying, no foreign trips, and no job promotions can ever replace the joy of total, permanent forgiveness of all our sins through Jesus Christ’s perfect shed blood. Please see Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 1:14, Colossians 2:13, and Colossians 3:13 for more information!

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. 🙂