Category: Satan and Policy of Evil

A Lost Generation! #6

Sunday, June 7, 2020

“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” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

What this “lost” generation needs is to be found!

Our King James Bible scholars handled the Greek word rendered “lost” in today’s Scripture—“apollymi”—various other ways. For example, they used it to describe King Herod the Great as he “destroyed” the young children of Bethlehem Judaea (Matthew 2:13). Similarly, the Great Flood “destroyed” the unbelievers (Luke 17:27). Or, the old world overflowed with water “perished” in Noah’s day (2 Peter 3:6). Also, the Pharisees and Herodians plotted to “destroy” the Lord Jesus (Mark 3:6). Thus, “lost” can refer to a person who “loseth” physical life (Matthew 10:39).

The Greek word can also carry a spiritual meaning—namely, eternal damnation in Hell and the Lake of Fire. For instance, Christ said those who have eternal life will never “perish” (John 10:28). Surely, this goes beyond physical death—for Christians do experience physical death. The opposite of someone “lost” is someone “saved,” and this is in the spiritual realm. Notice the two contrasting ideas in the following three verses. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish” (2 Corinthians 2:15). “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

Whether they know it or not, those souls without salvation in Christ—spiritual healing through Calvary’s finished crosswork—are headed to their spiritual doom, spiritual ruin, or spiritual destruction. They are not on the path of eternal life because they are in unbelief, separated from God’s life and righteousness. Until they recognize their sin problem—their lack of righteousness—and fully trust Jesus Christ as the sole Remedy, they will remain a “lost” generation….

A Lost Generation! #5

Saturday, June 6, 2020

“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” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

What this “lost” generation needs is to be found!

Today’s Scripture says the “gospel,” or good news, the Apostle Paul preached was “hid” to “lost” people. It is concealed because “the god of this world”—the ruler of this evil world system, Satan—has hidden it. Read verses 1 and 2 to see how he obscures it: “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

Satan is a master deceiver, so he is usually underestimated. The most effectual way he works is through perverted Bible verses (an appearance of truth). Paul thus referred to the fact “[we] have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty.” As an apostate Jewish religious leader long ago, Saul of Tarsus was a Bible corrupter. He was entangled with works-religion, a watered-down version of the Mosaic Law, and steeped in self-righteousness. Now, as an apostle of Jesus Christ, he had abandoned that nonsense. He was “handling the word of God deceitfully” no more!

However, 2 Corinthians chapter 11 says: “[13] For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. [14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. [15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” As long as the Devil can keep souls focused on their works in religion—their “goodness” (self-righteousness)—then they cannot appreciate just how sinful they really are and how they need God’s righteousness (Romans 10:1-3). Having no idea they are “lost,” they see no need to be saved through faith in Christ!

Once we deal with our sin at Calvary—where God dealt with it—then we become a “found” generation….

A Lost Generation! #4

Friday, June 5, 2020

“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” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

What this “lost” generation needs is to be found!

The key to solving society’s problems is not enticing warm bodies to occupy cold pews and listen to ear-tickling messages. We should not be told how “good” we are, and we should not be convincing others “they” can improve themselves, feel good about themselves, and go on living for “self.” Almighty God has no faith in us, so we should have no faith in ourselves either. He is not interested in our self-righteous works. What He wants is our faith—our reliance upon His grace, what He can do for us rather than what we can do for Him. He understands we are but weak, sinful beings, never able to be perfect on our own.

If righteousness is to prevail in the Earth, it will be accomplished only by having Jesus Christ living in each and every human heart. This comes by hearing and believing a clear Gospel message—one that Christendom has never actually given to the masses. It is always a convoluted, confusing message of works, works, and more works. For 20 centuries, church membership, water baptism, tithing, confession, Sabbath-observance, and commandment-keeping have all been stressed ad nauseum. Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins, however, is but a supplemental memo tacked on the end. It is not at the head of the message, so it never impacts the audience like it should!

We can pass a million pieces of legislation, and imprison criminals, but evils will still be rampant in society. Again, the key to solving racism, inequality, war, injustice, and so on, is to have Jesus Christ in every heart. If Christians can then understand their new identity in Christ, it will manifest itself in their lives. The Lord Jesus Christ is compatible with Himself, so if He is in one person and He is in another person, both people by faith can live in harmony. It all starts by having a clear Gospel message….

Saints, please remember us in your monthly giving—these websites do cost money to run! 🙂 You can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux, or email me at arcministries@gmail.com. Do not forget about Bible Q&A booklets for sale at https://arcgraceministries.org/in-print/booklets-bible-q-a/. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! By the way, ministry emails have really been backed up this year. I am handling them as much as humanly possible. Thanks for your patience. 🙂

A Lost Generation! #3

Thursday, June 4, 2020

“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” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

What this “lost” generation needs is to be found!

Dear friends, it is sad to say it, but the professing Church has utterly and miserably failed in maintaining sound Bible doctrine these last 2,000 years. We simply have to read church history—what went after the Bible but before us—and then look at the spiritual conditions today. Preachers and teachers even now have replaced sound Bible doctrine with “pop psychology.” Instead of teaching about the grace life—how we can have victorious Christian living through faith in Jesus Christ—they have substituted it with feel-good sermons. “Choose your best life now! God wants you to be happy, healthy, and wealthy! You can become a better person if you try! Come have a good time at our church!”

The fact of the matter is that even when we avoid the “inconvenient” topic of sin, it dThe fact of the matter is that even when we avoid the “inconvenient” topic of sin, it does not make it less of a reality. Instead of attempting to appease the world by speaking like it, Christendom should have told the world the truth. We have not been called to compromise, or make lost people feel “at home” when they attend our church services. However, we have overwhelmingly done both for years innumerable. Our church buildings host potluck suppers, concerts, blood drives, golf courses, food drives, and various other philanthropic and social gatherings, but we are neglecting our ultimate purpose. Where is the sound Bible doctrine? The in-depth Bible study? The yearning for spiritual understanding? The hunger for lost souls to come to faith in Christ? Furthermore, so as not to be “controversial” or “offensive,” we will send packages of food and clothes to hungry and destitute people overseas—but we will not bother to include Bibles or Gospel tracts!

Dear friends, it is sad to say it, but the professing Church has played its own integral part in causing this world to be a “lost” generation….

A Lost Generation! #2

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

“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” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

What this “lost” generation needs is to be found!

Acts chapter 14: “[15] And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities [idols] unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: [16] Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.”

Chapter 17: “[27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: [28] For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. [29] Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. [30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: [31] Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

At the Tower of Babel (Genesis chapter 11), the Creator gave the nations over to their preference—pagan idols. Romans chapter 1: “[21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”

Such is the world even now, far from God’s original intention….

A Lost Generation! #1

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

“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” (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 KJV).

What this “lost” generation needs is to be found!

Recently, I passed by a church building that had a sign out on the front lawn: “a caring church for a hurting generation.” Indeed, we are a “hurting generation”—sin has caused grief and misery literally the world over. However, it is shallow to say we need someone to “care” for us. Such a motto fails to capture the real needs of society. Our greatest need is to hear and believe the truth, for we are a deceived generation, a lost generation!

Notice how Ephesians 4:17-19 describes the evil world system currently in operation: “[17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, [18] 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: [19] Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

The Bible says the nations “walk… in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened.” In other words, as they go about their daily life, under the impression they are getting along just fine, their thoughts are truly empty and useless. Their state is further defined as “being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” Instead of being alive with the life of the Creator God, they are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and thus “walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (verse 2).

If we are to get out of this mess the Scriptures call “sin,” we need more than positive thinking or “words of encouragement.” We need to be given a new mind entirely….

Rotten Society!

Saturday, May 30, 2020

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers [cannot be pleased], false accusers [slanderers], incontinent [no self-control], fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady [rash, reckless], highminded [conceited], lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV).

Saints, our world is in trouble—and, frankly, it will not improve. While not yet in the Tribulation, it is indeed headed for it!

Civil unrest has been building for years, and war will eventually break out. We are battling unprecedented disease and economic hardship. The political arena abounds with bureaucracy and duplicity. News organizations are often endeavoring to further mislead and divide. Greed and other forms of materialism are flourishing. Families are dissolving due to betrayals and abuse. Younger generations are so ignorant of the truth. Entertainment and error are smothering and crippling the professing Church. In short, we understand that this world is not reforming. There is surely no global revival to precede Christ’s return. He is not waiting for us to make ourselves better so He can then come and reign over us. The way the Bible presents it is that societal conditions will wax worse and worse until Almighty God ultimately interrupts to make all right!

It has been rightly stated that God does not have to judge man in order for man to suffer. He simply has to give man over to his own devices—his own fallen heart and mind—and man will create his own problems and self-destruct! Just look at the horrible circumstances defined in today’s Scripture. Would you care to live in a world like that? Well, whether you like it or not, you already do live in such a world!

As Christians, we are called not to reform the evil world system but rather recover souls from it. We do this by teaching and preaching sound Bible doctrine, the Message of God’s Grace, the only hope man truly has in escaping the dreadful civilization he himself has caused!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Who were the ‘Epicureans’ and the ‘Stoicks?’”

The Greatest War Hero

Monday, May 25, 2020

“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.

He Put No Trust in Man

Thursday, May 21, 2020

“Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it” (Job 4:18-20 KJV).

Recently, a Christian of many decades was telling me how, considering all the horrific news stories of recent months, God has evidently “lost faith in humanity.” He has had enough of sin and now He is angrily judging the world! The dear brother simply did not know his Bible. God cannot “lose faith in humanity” because God never had faith in humanity anyway!

Let us read today’s Scripture in context: “[17] Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? [18] Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: [19] How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? [20] They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. [21] Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.”

Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job’s “friends,” is assessing his tragedies. Job is experiencing tremendous distress that originated due to Satan’s direct working, but Eliphaz concludes Job must be suffering because he has sinned. Firstly, Eliphaz reminds Job that angels sinned against God. Secondly, he asks Job a question. If God did not have faith in those spiritual beings greater and mightier than we, would He have faith in little, fragile humans who are merely inhabitants of “houses of clay?” Certainly not!

Never did God have faith in humanity. Like the fallen angels, mankind is just a group of sinners, unreliable and prone to rebellion and failure. Rather than He having faith in us, perhaps it would be wiser for us to have faith in Him? “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Our latest Bible Q&As: “Are Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, and Luke 18:35-43 the same miracle?”, “Are Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-19, and Luke 8:26-39 the same miracle?”, and “Is ‘Gergesenes’ a mistake in Matthew 8:28 in the King James Bible?”

Death! #8

Monday, May 18, 2020

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19 KJV).

It is a morbid topic, but a reality we know all too well….

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Sin has “wages” (payments): physical death (soul and spirit separated from physical body), spiritual death (soul and spirit separated from God on Earth—can be remedied by faith in Christ!), functional death (believer separated from Christian living), and second death (soul and spirit separated from God in the Lake of Fire—permanent!).

We enter this world “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [resurrected us, given us life and energy] together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; )…” (verse 4). Thus, God through Christ overcomes spiritual death. The “eternal life” of Romans 6:23 especially emphasizes subsequent Christian living. If we as believers want deliverance from daily sinful conduct, we read and trust chapters 6–8. Thus, God through Christ conquers functional death.

Some of the Church the Body of Christ will physically die, but not all. Those believers alive at the Lord’s return—the Rapture, the resurrection, “the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:18-25)—will never experience physical death. “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed…” (1 Corinthians 15:50-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Living or dead, all Christians will receive a new body. Thus, God through Christ overcomes physical death. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile [sinful, corrupt, subject to death] body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:20,21).

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25,26).