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

Paul in the Synagogues #10

Saturday, March 15, 2025

“…Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God” (Acts 9:19b,20 KJV).

What are the three reasons the Apostle Paul went to the synagogues?

As Romans 11:11-14 specifies, Paul’s Acts provoking ministry was designed to attract some unbelieving Jews from the prophetic program (who had rejected the Gospel of the Kingdom) to now believe his Gospel and thereby join the Church the Body of Christ (mystery preaching of Jesus Christ; Romans 16:25,26). Before they could see and believe how the Lord Jesus Christ died for their sins, was buried, and rose again (Paul’s Gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:3,4), lost Jews had to receive the historical facts of how Jesus was Christ (God’s Son, God’s anointed) and had risen from the dead. Therefore, Paul made sure to preach in those synagogues both Jesus as Christ and His resurrection (see Romans 10:9,10; cf. Matthew 28:11-15). Re-read today’s Scripture, Acts 13:23-37, Acts 17:1-3, and Acts 18:4-6.

Like the Lord Jesus in His earthly ministry, Paul targeted synagogues because this was where Jews assembled for religious purposes. It would be here that they would be most receptive to spiritual truth. However, going to the synagogues outside of the land of Palestine, Paul could not, and thus did not, offer those lost Jews God’s literal, physical, visible, earthly, Davidic, Israeli kingdom (the Gospel of the Kingdom; see Peter’s sermon in Acts 3:19-21). Nevertheless, Paul could and did offer them immediate justification and forgiveness through Jesus Christ by means of his Gospel (Acts 13:38,39).

As unbelief abounded in synagogues during Christ’s earthly ministry, so unbelief dominated in synagogues during Christ’s heavenly ministry (Paul’s ministry). See Acts 9:23-25,29; Acts 13:45-48; Acts 14:2-5; Acts 17:5-9,13; Acts 18:6; and Acts 19:9. Such lost individual Jews proved they were just as ignorant of their Old Testament and worthy of God’s displeasure as Israel who had put Christ on the cross years before in the first place! Whether under Peter’s ministry of early Acts or under Paul’s ministry of latter Acts, Jewish unbelief prevailed because of a preference for works-religion (Romans 9:30–10:4; especially see Romans 10:14-21).

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

God’s Grace on Parade

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

“…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?”

Not a Waste—and Not Too Late, Either

Saturday, February 22, 2025

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7 KJV).

One Sunday night long ago, a pastor was delivering a sermon he had written about temptation. Departing from his notes, he became more personal and cried out to the people, “Maybe there is someone here who is thinking about throwing himself off that bridge out over there, so hopeless because he believes it is too late for him not to enter into temptation! Stop! Stop! There is hope in Christ! He will forgive and save even you!”

Some weeks later, one of his church members informed him of a woman who had contemplated throwing herself off that very bridge. She almost did it too, but there was much sunlight outside. Fearing someone might notice and stop her from ending her life, she had moved into the crowd of a nearby church building to await nightfall. It had been that pastor’s church building… and it had been the night of his sermon on temptation. She had heard his Gospel invitation, assumed God was talking to her through him, decided not to jump after all, and trusted the Lord Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for her sins!

Brethren, the lesson is simple: we give God’s words, and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. We might not see results for weeks, years, decades, or in this life at all. That makes no difference whatsoever! What matters is God gives the increase; we who plant and water are unimportant. Remember today’s Scripture, and never forget it! Perhaps, dear friend, you are not even a Christian. Maybe you are planning to jump off a bridge, too. Stop! Stop! There is hope in Christ for you also, and He can save even you as well. You have come to the right place, to read this Gospel of Grace: “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).

The Worst Human Invention

Saturday, February 8, 2025

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17-19 KJV).

Sinners are “inventors of evil things” (Romans 1:30), including this….

What is the worst human invention? Nuclear weapons, taxes, money, television, and advertisements are some answers given. Yet, biblically speaking, the worst human invention is the idea that man is his own authority, his own creator (an absurdity indeed!). “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 1:25).

Read Jeremiah 17:5-10: “[5] Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. [6] For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. [7] Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. [8] For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. [9] The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? [10] I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Furthermore, man in his own deluded mind, in his own wicked heart, is obsessed with his own righteousness—which is but “as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) and “dung” (Philippians 3:8). How much better it would be to, “Believe [Rely, trust, depend] on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).












































@font-face
{font-family:”Cambria Math”;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face
{font-family:”Bookman Old Style”;
panose-1:2 5 6 4 5 5 5 2 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Humanist521BT-Light;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;
mso-font-alt:Cambria;
mso-font-charset:77;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:auto;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:””;
margin:0in;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:”Cambria”,serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;}.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:”Cambria”,serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-font-kerning:0pt;
mso-ligatures:none;}div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}

The Worst Human Invention “This I say therefore, and testify in
the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of
their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of
God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their
heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness,
to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Ephesians
4:17-19 KJV). Sinners are “inventors of evil
things” (Romans 1:30), including this…. What is the worst human invention?
Nuclear weapons, taxes, money, television, and advertisements are some answers
given. Yet, biblically speaking, the worst human invention is the idea
that man is his own authority, his own creator (an absurdity indeed!). “Who
changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 1:25). Read Jeremiah 17:5-10: “[5] Thus
saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his
arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. [6] For he shall be like the
heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the
parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
[7] Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD
is. [8] For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that
spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but
her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought,
neither shall cease from yielding fruit. [9] The heart is deceitful above
all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? [10] I the LORD
search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his
ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Furthermore, man in his own deluded
mind, in his own wicked heart, is obsessed with his own righteousness—which is
but “as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) and “dung” (Philippians 3:8).
How much better it would be to, “Believe [Rely, trust, depend] on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). “Christ
died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1
Corinthians 15:3,4).

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #23

Monday, January 27, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

Read Romans chapter 2: “[3] And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? [4] Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? [5] But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;….” This is God’s “longsuffering” of 2 Peter 3:9,15,16. It was first extended to Saul of Tarsus in Acts chapter 9, and Saul/Paul receiving God’s grace and mercy and peace is the “pattern” for how God deals with this undeserving, Christ-rejecting world now. As God tolerated Saul when he deserved wrath and judgment, so God “long time” puts up with sinners, rebels, unbelievers!

First Timothy chapter 1 is Saul/Paul writing about himself: “[13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. [14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. [15] 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. [16] 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.”

God’s wrath is coming, but it is delayed—and has been postponed for 2,000 years. Why? As Saul was given opportunity to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour (“Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day;” 1 Corinthians 15:3,4), so anyone and everyone can do likewise and also join the Church the Body of Christ before the wrath falls….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #14

Saturday, January 18, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

While God was speaking prophecy (unfolding His purpose and plan for Earth’s restoration; see Acts 3:19-21, Matthew 25:34, and Luke 1:70), He was withholding mystery (keeping secret His purpose and plan for Heaven’s restoration until He revealed it to and through the Apostle Paul; see Romans 16:25,26, Ephesians 3:1-11, and Colossians 1:24-27). God is currently forming the Church the Body of Christ, using anyone and everyone who will trust exclusively Paul’s Gospel: “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). This is His heavenly people, who will one day occupy Heaven’s governmental offices in accordance with Colossians 1:16-20.

“And [Father God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together [in seats of authority] in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6,7) “Which [mighty power] he [Father God] wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:20-23).

Here is how God deals with the pollution of sin in the heavenly places referenced in Ephesians 6:12. When no one else wishes to trust Paul’s Gospel, the Dispensation of Grace will close, and Christ will return to take the Church which is His Body back to Heaven to reign (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). As long as the Church the Body of Christ is not ruling in Heaven, conditions in the heavenly places will not improve….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #11

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” Leviticus 17:11 explains how “life… is in the blood.” Although sin results in spiritual death (our separation from God—Romans 6:23), blood makes atonement (the condition of being “at one”). The centuries of Old Testament animals’ blood sacrifices were but types, shadows, or previews of Jesus Christ’s sinless shed blood on Calvary (see Hebrews 10:1-22).

When JEHOVAH God, Jesus Christ, took on human flesh so as to reign over the nation Israel, He was overwhelmingly rejected for 33 years before finally being crucified in unbelief. The leaders of that apostate nation exclaimed, “We have no king but Caesar!” (John 19:15). Father God in His wisdom then took Christ’s shed blood to redeem (buy back or purchase from sin) an earthly people—the very people, Israel, who had slain Him (see Hebrews 9:1-28)!

Through Pauline revelation, we discover Father God can also redeem another people—His heavenly people, us, the Church the Body of Christ. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in 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;…” (Romans 3:23-25). “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;…” (Ephesians 1:7). “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:…” (Colossians 1:14).

It is the redemption of these two groups or entities (the nation Israel and the Church the Body of Christ) that forms the heart of Father God reconciling Earth and Heaven to Himself in Colossians 1:16-20….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #10

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Our present universe is quite far from that original perfect system its Creator intended. Even if we knew no Bible verses whatsoever, we could easily see and conclude that something is just not quite right! With the passage of time from Genesis chapter 3 onward, scientific experiments corroborate how conditions are indeed worsening. Chaos, confusion, blindness, ignorance, darkness, disintegration, decay, decomposition, and death have become more widespread. Man has struggled for millennia to reverse this downward spiral—relying on his flawed intellect in an attempt to solve his endless problems—but he has failed so miserably. Yet, this exercise in futility does not deter him from trying and trying again using his long-time methods (the definition of “insanity!”).

Colossians chapter 1 expands upon Genesis 1:1: “[16] For by him [God’s dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ—verse 13] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: [17] And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. [19] For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; [20] And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

Here is what lies at the heart of Father God’s plan to restore this fallen creation to Himself. Though sin currently runs rampant throughout the heaven and the earth, it is a temporary situation. His plan of reconciliation starts with “the blood of [Christ’s] cross” (verse 20). We must go back to Calvary, the worst tragedy of all time….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #9

Monday, January 13, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

Just as Adam and Eve decided to “play the blame game” in Genesis chapter 3—“God made me this way!” and “The Devil made me do it!”—so sinners lash out against these two entities today. The blame actually falls upon Adam, as both Romans and 1 Corinthians affirm. “Wherefore, as by one man [Adam!] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21,22); please note how this context is physical death (Adam) versus physical resurrection (Christ).

Someone is sure to cry out in objection, “But is it not ‘unfair’ for God to punish us because of Adam’s sin?!” We are much swifter in our reply: “Romans 5:12-21 teaches that, though we suffer because of Adam’s disobedience, there is a balance because God is equally ‘unfair’ in blessing us because of Christ’s obedience! He reckons what is true of Adam as naturally applicable to us, yet, when we believe on Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins [Romans 5:1-11; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:3,4], He considers what is true of Christ as naturally true of us.”

If God really does seek our best interest, if He actually does care about His creation, then what are we to make of this fallen world? Will such conditions ever get better? When? What is taking so long for improvements? Though these seem like profound questions, they actually have ridiculously simple answers. Alas, people tend to “darken counsel by words without knowledge” (Job 38:2), relying on man’s “wisdom” to incessantly move their lips and mouths when they have no spiritual capacity whatsoever to comment on the things of God. They need to do far less talking and far more Bible study!!!

For creation’s problems to be solved, four parties must take their rightful places….

A Life That Will Please

Saturday, January 4, 2025

“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]!” 🙂