Category: lost souls

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #12

Sunday, September 21, 2025

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10 KJV).

Will sinners “get away” from accountability before God?

Turn your attention to Romans 9:30–10:4: “[9:30] What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. [9:31] But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. [9:32] Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone [Jesus Christ]; [9:33] As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

“[10:1] Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. [10:2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [10:3] For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. [10:4] For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

The above excerpt describes unbelieving (Christ-rejecting) Israel during Matthew to John and early Acts—which lack of faith led to Calvary’s cross. Here would have been Saul of Tarsus, seeking to establish his own righteousness (recall Philippians 3:3-9). That lost Saul is now the Apostle Paul writing this very Romans passage during latter Acts, with Gentiles turning to Christ under his ministry while national Israel still languishes in unbelief. Paul at that time was visiting (Jewish) synagogues throughout the Roman Empire and preaching the Lord Jesus to them.

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38,39). Paul’s sermon here maintained how Israel needed to have faith in Jesus Christ, true righteousness (right standing before God) being not by religious works (Judaism) but by trusting the Gospel of the Grace of God….

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #11

Saturday, September 20, 2025

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10 KJV).

Will sinners “get away” from accountability before God?

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

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

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

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #10

Friday, September 19, 2025

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10 KJV).

Will sinners “get away” from accountability before God?

Romans 3:4 forms part of God’s case against sinful man as presented in the opening three chapters of Romans: “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.” Although Paul alludes to Psalms, the Holy Spirit through him changed the original quote slightly so as to view the same situation from a different angle. In Psalm 51:4, it was: “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” Psalms has God judging the sinner (“when thou judgest”), whereas Romans has the sinner judging God (“when thou art judged”).

When God accuses the sinner of wrongdoing, the sinner seeks to question/challenge/discredit God by judging Him. That is, as God judges the sinner, God is righteous or fair and thus cleared of all wrongdoing. The sinner, not God, has the problem. God has not falsely indicted the sinner, or made a big deal out of nothing—yet the sinner falsely accuses God of inappropriate conduct (“You are a liar!”). This clever reversal is nothing but a repeat of Genesis 3:12… blame-shifting so God appears to be at fault!

Go to Romans 3:19,20, where guilty man shuts his mouth (for he likes to prattle on and on about his “goodness”): “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The Law of Moses serves as an indisputable standard of the glory of God: everything that He is, we are not. Here is man’s fundamental flaw. What the Law says not to do, we do… and what the Law says to do, we do not do. Here is sin….

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #9

Thursday, September 18, 2025

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10 KJV).

Will sinners “get away” from accountability before God?

Although unbelievers immediately go to Hell upon physical death, Hell (even with all its suffering) is but a holding cell before formal sentencing to an even worse fate (the Lake of Fire). Their sin debt accumulates long after they have left this world because they still negatively influence human society—the books they wrote, the recordings they made, and the religions they started all continue to lead others astray, thereby increasing their sentence’s severity. At the Great White Throne Judgment, the final tally will be staggering for all. They had more of an effect on people than they ever realized!

For example, those who lived in earlier points of history will share the blame in accounting for the lies all subsequent generations believed. The religious leaders and spiritual teachers will experience some of the harshest penalties of eternal judgment. “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” (James 3:1). Those who had the most exposure to Bible truth will be handed some of the worst sentences too.

“Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable [bearable] for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city” (Matthew 10:15). “But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you…. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee” (Matthew 11:22,24). “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city” (Mark 6:11). “But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city…. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you” (Luke 10:12,14).

Indeed, they will not get away….

I Just Wanted to Get Away! #8

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

“And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:10 KJV).

Will sinners “get away” from accountability before God?

Yea, in our world of unchecked injustice and corrupt human judicial systems, we can rest assured there is a court higher than man’s. The God of the Bible will not be silenced, intimidated, bribed, or assassinated. He keeps immaculate, meticulous records and untainted evidence for millennia. The strength of the Christian worldview is that there is an immutable (absolute) standard of right and wrong—the Holy Bible. Sinful man so dreads that answerability!

As it was written 2,000 years in Koine (Common) Greek, so we read in our English Bible: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). The Lord Jesus Christ knew what it was to preach to sinners so desperately trying to “get away” from accountability before God. Doubtless, they worshipped their works-religion centered in their beautiful Jerusalem Temple. It was a dead theological system. There was no life of God in ancient Judaism… just sinful sons and daughters of Adam attempting to compensate for their shortcomings by praying, giving, fasting, and so on, as well as pointing sanctimonious fingers at “heathen dogs” in Gentile religions.

The score is settled forever in Revelation 20:11-15: “And I saw a great white throne, and him [Christ Himself!] that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Behold, the future day of which sinful man is terrified….

The “Friends” of Jesus #5

Friday, August 22, 2025

“And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself” (Mark 3:21 KJV).

With “friends” such as these, did Jesus need enemies? (NO!)

In today’s Scripture, the “friends” of the Lord expressed their negative opinion about Him. They alleged He was insane. Another one of these so-called “friends” is also found in the context: “And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him:…” (verse 19).

“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;…. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me…. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me” (John 13:1,2,18,21). Psalm 41:9 is indeed Messiah Jesus talking about Judas Iscariot, “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”

The “friends” of Jesus in today’s Scripture disappear from the record just as suddenly as they surfaced. Who they were and whatever became of them are unknown. Down through the 2,000 years of church history since their time though, many such “friends” of Christ have come and gone, also speaking inflammatory or incendiary words about Him. Usually, these so-called “friends” of Jesus—the people serving in “Christian” churches and at “Christian” schools—have ridiculed Him, lied about Him, and contradicted Him. Such individuals have filled our hearts and minds with so much error that it would take many earthly lifetimes just to begin fathoming it. They pillaged and killed in His name, led billions of people in their religious smugness to an eternal Devil’s Hell, imprisoned hundreds of millions in spiritual kindergarten, and on and on and on. It is they who oppose the truth in us, who seek our elimination, these purported “friends” of ours….

The “Friends” of Jesus #4

Thursday, August 21, 2025

“And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself” (Mark 3:21 KJV).

With “friends” such as these, did Jesus need enemies? (NO!)

Read 1 Corinthians 2:9-14: “[9] But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. [11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

The Greek word for “foolishness” in verse 14 is “moria” (as in “moronic”). Unless a person accepts the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry, God’s words (the Bible) are nonsense to that individual. That man or woman has no natural capacity to know the truths of God because such information is “spiritually discerned [judged, evaluated, perceived].” As Spanish is unintelligible to a French speaker, and Arabic is unknown to a Mandarin reader, so the Scriptures are written in a language foreign to the natural man.

Bewildered and intimidated, all the lost person can do at this point is make fun of the Bible—when the problem lies with the person rather than with the Book. Hence, Jesus’ “friends” believed He was “beside himself [crazy]” in today’s Scripture! Whatever words they heard from Him were irrational or ridiculous to them. Like children struggling to understand adults, they (spiritual children) simply could not figure out what He (a spiritual adult) was saying or doing….

Reaping and Sowing #11

Saturday, May 31, 2025

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7 KJV).

Let us not be ignorant brethren concerning the concept of “reaping and sowing!”

What we do now will literally make a difference in eternity, one way or the other. Not only will we reap what we sow, others will reap what we sow too. For instance, when we believers arrive in Heaven, we will see all the people we influenced for the Lord’s glory (as in 2 Corinthians 1:13,14 and 1 Thessalonians 2:19,20)—it will even be souls we never heard of or expected! Whether missionary work funded, Gospel tracts distributed, Bible sermons preached, or Christian literature written, our ministry labors according to sound doctrine will reach far beyond this lifetime and out into forever.

Similarly, once unbelievers wake up in Hell, they will see all the people they influenced for the Devil’s glory. Their books, religions, lectures, television and radio broadcasts, schools, and so on, all contributed to the damnation of the souls they now meet suffering torments with them. Some of the most diabolical, heretical, and apostate teachers of church history existed during the first few centuries after Christ. Their theological systems are still with us today—especially in many of our “Christian” schools which yield graduates who fill our pulpits, classrooms, and bookshelves with utter worthlessness.

“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting [overturning, overthrowing] of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker [disease]: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some” (2 Timothy 2:14-18). False teaching invented hundreds of years ago still traps people in spiritual kindergarten and still leads people to Hell—“increase unto more ungodliness.” Let us be aware of and avoid sowing this bad seed. Also, let us mark and plant the good seed, that we receive a good harvest as opposed to a bad reaping.

Saints, we now close 14 full years of “333 Words of Grace!” 🙂

The Greatest War Hero

Monday, May 26, 2025

“For God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 KJV).

In the United States, today is Memorial Day, when we remember those who sacrificed their time and lives to provide our physical freedom. Likewise, as Christians, we have spiritual freedom, which was more costly. Someone had to die to give us the eternal life we now enjoy….

Scripture describes a spiritual warfare between good and evil, God’s truth program versus Satan’s lie program: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles [schemes] of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:11,12; see also verses 13-20).

Satan distracts mankind from God’s pure Word, the Bible, keeping unbelievers lost (dead in their sins), and preventing unbelievers and Christians from knowing God’s will. The devil draws them away (seduces them) from God’s Word by using religious tradition and human “wisdom” (1 Timothy 4:1-3; cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Galatians 3:1-3).

God loves us, so at Calvary’s cross, Christ fought for us sinners, died in battle (today’s Scripture), shed His divine sinless blood, and eternally rescued us from Satan and sin: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:14,15).

Hebrews 9:12 says Jesus Christ has “obtained eternal redemption for us.”

If we have trusted Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13). Now, God can use us for His glory for all eternity.

Beloved, let us rejoice in our victory over sin, death, and hell that Jesus Christ secured for us by going to Calvary’s rugged cross! Jesus Christ is now alive forevermore—He is our Hero, the Greatest Hero!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study “The Greatest Hero,” which can be read here or watched here.

The “Terrible” God #7

Thursday, May 8, 2025

“Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible” (Deuteronomy 7:21 KJV).

The Authorized Version features eight references to the LORD God being “terrible.” Why?

“Terrible” in today’s Scripture means “inspiring reverence, godly fear, or awe.” The LORD God’s character and actions should prompt respect and add solemnity! When writing to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul advised in 2 Corinthians 5:11: “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” This word “terror” is, obviously, etymologically related to “terrible.” Two events terrified the Apostle.

Firstly, Paul feared for Christians (such as the Corinthians!) going to the Judgment Seat of Christ to face a loss of reward for building into their inner man an edifice of junk doctrine instead of sound Bible doctrine (verses 9,10; cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9-15). Secondly, the Apostle shuddered to think of non-Christians winding up at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15. These unbelievers, lacking God’s righteousness in Christ, would be destined for the Lake of Fire, where God would deal with their sin by sacrificing their very souls in endless torment!

Whether Christians losing reward of the Judgment Seat of Christ and thereby suffering limited reign in Heaven’s government, or non-Christians losing their souls to the Lake of Fire at the Great White Throne Judgment, Paul kept both classes of people in mind as he conducted his ministry to “persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11). Like God Himself, he wanted every non-Christian to believe his Gospel of Grace (“Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he rose again the third day;” 1 Corinthians 15:3,4)—thereby avoiding Hell and the Lake of Fire altogether. As God Himself wished, Paul desired every Christian to believe sound Bible doctrine, the principles of grace, Pauline revelation, the Word of God “rightly divided” (2 Timothy 2:15)—thus having a reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

This two-fold mission of our Apostle Paul agrees with God’s will of this current dispensation: “Who will have all men to be saved [unbelievers made believers], and to come unto the knowledge of the truth [believers maturing in sound Bible doctrine]” (1 Timothy 2:4).

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. 🙂