Category: Satan and Policy of Evil

Penance in Eden

Sunday, July 10, 2016

“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:7,8 KJV).

Itchy, itchy, itchy!

Friend, have you ever picked figs? Their leaves are prickly, and can make you itch! As I recently picked figs, I constantly thought on Genesis chapter 3, when the parents of the human race sinned against a holy God and attempted to cover their nakedness. What did they use to clothe their bare skin? According to today’s Scripture, they grabbed prickly fig leaves! They preferred this—suffering in uncomfortable clothes—to coming to God and admit their failure. Human nature is prideful; it has never changed in all these years.

While not explicitly stated in the Bible, perhaps Adam and Eve used fig leaves to make themselves suffer, possibly attempting to make God feel sorry for them. After all, some religious people make themselves suffer so as to appease some deity. They have the twisted idea that they can suffer enough for their sin and “God” will be happy with them. It is called “penance.” They are to give up pleasures and recite complicated prayers. They wear various torture bracelets on their fingers or arms and torture rings around their legs. They may don itchy hair shirts or pants. They whip themselves with leather straps. Every drop of blood they make themselves shed is assumed to make God just a tad happier with them. Allegedly, the more they suffer, the “holier” they become, and that much closer to heaven!

Beloved, on Calvary’s cross, the Lord Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). We have no reason to suffer for our sins because Jesus already did. Still, if we want to suffer for our sins, God will grant us our wish. He has prepared a lake of fire and brimstone in which unredeemed souls will suffer forever. Something far worse than itchy fig leaves and hair shirts!

Remember, the online grace Bible conference runs until Thursday! http://understandgrace.com/2016-summer-family-bible-conference/

Do Not Lose It All!

Saturday, July 9, 2016

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 KJV).

In this world, you can lose most. In the next, please do not lose all.

I recently saw a documentary about one of the world’s most famous couples of the 20th century. Despite wealth and royalty, they were no exception regarding the curse of sin. While they appeared happy on the surface, their marriage gradually disintegrated—insecurity, exorbitant spending, extramarital affairs, health problems, depression, and eventually separation and divorce. Near the close of this last century, the lady died in a tragic automobile accident. Her two young sons grew up in luxury, albeit without their mother. Her husband married his extramarital lover.

See, dear friends, money is not everything. While it is not a sin to be rich, it is not easy either. If you are trying to fill your heart’s “God-shaped hole” with money, sex, fame, drugs and alcohol, education, religion, and the like, let me just tell you right now you will never be satisfied. Apart from Jesus Christ, you will always struggle to find purpose, meaning, acceptance, and love. It makes no difference whether you are poor or rich, sexually active or celibate, famous or unknown, inebriated and high on drugs or not, educated or non-educated, religious or nonreligious!

The ground is level at the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Friend, you can have all the wealth of this world, all the fame, all the education, but you die without a personal relationship with the God of the Bible through Jesus Christ, you will live all of eternity without Him. Your conscious soul will burn alive forever in the righteous fury of a holy, offended God. Oh, but do not go there! You do not have to go to hell! God sent Jesus Christ to die for your sins. The Prince of Heaven came to give His life a ransom for the spiritual paupers of Earth!

Trust exclusively Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for your sins. You will become a child of God—true royalty, love, acceptance, security, and spiritually rich beyond your wildest dreams!

ATTENTION: The 2016 Grace School of the Bible Summer Family Bible Conference will begin streaming online tonight live beginning at 7PM Central U.S. Time. It will continue through Thursday, July 14. Please see the following link for the schedule and video feed: http://understandgrace.com/2016-summer-family-bible-conference/.

Freed from Sin

Friday, July 8, 2016

“For he that is dead is freed from sin” (Romans 6:7 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us?

Friend, notice the Bible does not say we are free from sin, as in sinlessness. It says we are “freed from sin,” “sin” (singular) being the nature rather than the actions the nature causes (“sins”). As verse 6 says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him [Christ], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Our Adamic sin nature does not have to control us anymore because God crucified it with Christ on Calvary. Certainly, it is a supernatural event. When we trusted Christ Jesus as our personal Savior, God credited Christ’s death (which happened 20 centuries ago) as our death to sin. He also credited Christ’s resurrection as our resurrection unto eternal life (verses 1-5,8-23).

In stark contrast, the natural man, a person outside of Jesus Christ, one who is dead in trespasses and sins, he or she has no choice but to sin. We read in Ephesians 2:1-3: “[1] And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked 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: [3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

There is no power for lost people to do righteousness because the flesh is weak. They need God’s power if they are to walk in righteousness. They need to be liberated from the power of Adam and Satan. Today’s Scripture says that we have been freed from the power of sin, “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:21).

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Why did Jesus say, ‘My God, my God?’”

Created for God’s Glory

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

“Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee” (Ezekiel 28:15 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us?

Scanning “Christian” television, I saw one preacher answering viewer-submitted questions. One inquiry concerned the origin of Satan’s great power. The warped preacher responded, “Satan worked his way up to the powerful role he has. God never gives anything free!” Of course, he never actually took his Bible and/or gave verse references—there are no such Bible verses! He was merely speculating and had no business talking about such matters.

Dear friends, Lucifer was created “perfect” from the moment of his creation (today’s Scripture). As the anointed cherub that covered, decorated, and protected God’s throne, he was “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (verses 11-19). Lucifer did not have to “work his way up.” Rather than lead all of creation in worship of the Lord Jesus Christ, he wanted praise and worship all to himself. Lucifer loved himself: pride was his downfall (1 Timothy 3:6). Actually, Lucifer worked his way down and became Satan (meaning Adversary)! Lucifer was not content in functioning in the capacity God had given him, so he fell “as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18). Adam too was given a job, to rule Earth for God’s glory (Genesis 1:26,27). Yet, Adam abandoned that position and followed Satan’s policy of evil. Thus, mankind has no relationship with God today.

The preacher who said God gives nothing free, what a liar. He knows nothing about the riches of God’s grace to us in Christ, nothing of “being justified freely [without cost to us] by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Just as Lucifer did not work his way into functioning for God’s glory, we cannot work our way into heaven. God offers us soul salvation unto eternal life (justification) apart from any works of any kind (water baptism, confession of sins, commandment keeping, church membership, et cetera). We need to come to Jesus Christ by simple faith in Him alone, relying entirely upon Him exclusively (and not upon Him and our religious works). We will be thus created for God’s glory! 🙂

Liberated to Serve

Monday, July 4, 2016

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

Today, as we in the United States celebrate the 240th anniversary of our nation’s independence, we invite our Christian brethren worldwide to rejoice with us concerning our freedom in Jesus Christ.

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

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

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

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

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

For the Ungodly and For Sinners

Sunday, July 3, 2016

“For when were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8 KJV).

Did Christ die for the godly? No. Did Christ die for the righteous? No.

How human nature is stubborn! Pride operated first in Lucifer, and so he became Satan. Likewise, pride operated in Adam and mankind fell into sin. Friend, you stay in the ministry just a short time, and you will meet some very prideful people. The most prideful people in all the world are those in religion. Regardless of religion and/or denomination, you will always find someone who is “good enough,” “diligent enough,” “faithful enough.” In their minds, they “never sin” and they “do enough good.”

You can have numerous pieces of evidence to the contrary, and some people will deny all wrongdoing whatsoever. They will shield themselves and others from blame. They will blame-shift, and point out other people’s sins before their own. In short, they are in denial. People who do not realize they are lost and going to hell, will not be saved and go to heaven. They are ungodly. They are sinners. That is why Christ died for them! They needed Him!

Why, oh why, would God ever want anything to do with us, the human race, when we are so willfully unbelieving and disobedient to Him? We will never fully understand it, but God’s grace can plummet the depths that sin reaches. “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20b). While mankind was sinning and rubbing his sin in God’s face, God sent His Son to die for those sins (today’s Scripture). Would you die for your enemy? Jesus Christ did (for all 10 billion-plus!). Again, this truth just completely goes over our heads. Our minds are too small to fathom it.

They can continue to deny, ridicule, and laugh at it, but the finished crosswork of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only reason why God still tolerates this world!

Ungracious “Grace” Leaders

Saturday, July 2, 2016

“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them” (Acts 20:29,30 KJV).

Beware of the Devil’s advocates lurking within the Grace Movement!

Recently, I had an enjoyable phone conversation with a new pastor friend. During our three hours of long-distance fellowship, we gave each other our testimonies and a brief background of our ministries. He explained to me how some of our Bible resources (written studies and videos) had recently helped him avoid a most erroneous and confusing “cell group” within the Grace Movement. Being new to the Message of Grace, he was eager to hear from us God’s pure Word rightly divided. Thankfully, he was rescued from a corrupt system we know all too well ourselves!!! (He has now rescued others!!)

He explained to me how some “grace pastor” had tried to force him to accept his warped version of so-called “grace teaching.” My pastor friend expressed how uncomfortable he was as this pastor “lorded” over him. The perverted pastor, during this time of “instruction,” would never let my pastor friend interject more than a few words. My pastor friend, without having time to read the verse for himself, would be asked quickly, “Understand…? Good. Next verse!” That pastor “lording” over him had an agenda. It was not to teach Bible but to teach theology. The will of the pastor disagreeing with the theology, was overlooked. He was being trained to—without question—believe what the “grace preacher” said the verses said rather than believe what the verses said.

Dear friends, I have issued warnings here about various subtle (sneaky) heresies floating amongst and within “grace” circles. It is not grievous to me to remind you again. Teachings that claim to be “dispensational teachings” but, when closely examined, are anything but—unapologetically avoid them (Romans 16:17,18)! These Bible corrupters are marked by their very haughty and aggressive—certainly un-Christian—attitude. Furthermore, please be vigilant about how pastors and teachers handle Paul’s “Acts” ministry and “Acts” epistles. Especially within the Grace Movement, there are “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (today’s Scripture). Not all “grace ministries” are created equal—not all are really “grace ministries” either!

Brethren, if you value our grace ministry, you may always donate to us securely at: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Thanks!

Spiritualize to Tell Spiritual Lies

Friday, July 1, 2016

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt” (Amos 9:13 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture apply to us today?

Recently, I watched “Christian” (?) television to see many of today’s “Christian” charlatans. They talk about “Jesus” and Scripture, but they are seriously deficient of any clear Gospel message and greatly wanting of any solid Bible understanding.

Two men—one a well-known “faith healer” (still aging) and the other a self-proclaimed “apostle”—sat around a table of prayer requests. The “apostle” told people to give to the faith healer’s ministry so God could bless them. They were to “claim their debt-free BMW in Jesus’ name” as a young lady had recently (allegedly) done using his ministry.

This “apostle” outright told his viewers Amos 9:13 was “written to them.” They needed to claim their prosperity and demand God give them material wealth. “You will reap so many blessings you will not be able to harvest them before the sower will sow more seeds of blessings!” This is utter abuse of God’s precious words. Like so many, he spiritualized the Bible and lied about the Bible. To him, it did not mean literal plowing, literal crops, and literal harvesting. Yet, that is exactly what the Prophet Amos meant… and he was not writing to or about us in the Dispensation of Grace!

Amos 9:11-15 clearly declares today’s Scripture is about the nation Israel. When Jesus Christ returns (cf. Acts 15:14-18), He will rejuvenate Israel’s agrarian lifestyle. In God’s earthly kingdom, there will be so many literal crops harvested in Israel’s land they will not get it all harvested before planting the next crop!

Amos 9:14,15 supplements today’s Scripture: “And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.”

Bible Q&A #280: “Are 2 Thessalonians 1:9 and Revelation 14:10 contradictory?”

God Was Turned to Be Their Enemy

Saturday, June 25, 2016

“But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them” (Isaiah 63:10 KJV).

Every nation today would do well to take note of today’s Scripture!

Friends, we all have stories of how ungrateful people stabbed us in the back. After we did so much for them, they treated us most horribly. We tried to be kind, patient, and loving, but they would have none of it. They were only interested in serving themselves and getting their needs met. When we ceased doing what they wanted, they had nothing else to do with us or say to us. This parallels today’s Scripture.

Verse 9 says, “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” JEHOVAH God had been so generous in what He had done for the nation Israel. He had given them so much. Most importantly, He had pity on their souls and had given them a way to fellowship with Him and escape hell! He was so loving in picking them up and carrying them along when they were too weak to help themselves.

Now, the opposite: “But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.” As any group of sinners would be, the nation Israel was unappreciative. As they (sinners) could never do anything to please God, so God could never do enough to please them. They provoked His Holy Spirit, constantly murmuring and complaining, always forgetting just how good He had been to them for so many centuries. Finally, He was “turned to be their enemy.” That is, He was no longer on Israel’s side. The nation would face military defeats, economic hardships, sicknesses, and so on. “And he fought against them.” Oh, what a travesty! Thousands of years later, Israel has yet to recover.

After 2,000 years of God’s longsuffering, and their ungratefulness, the world’s nations should never forget that that same holy, righteous God will be coming after them once our Dispensation of Grace closes!

Ye Would Not!

Friday, June 24, 2016

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37 KJV).

As in Christ’s earthly ministry, so today—God never takes free will away!

Recently, a brother in Christ shared his heavy burden with me. One of his relatives is in dire health, suffering 99 percent brain damage. His doctors say, even if he survives, he will be in a vegetative state. The brother explained to me that he shared the Gospel with this man years ago, but had not heard from him since. He is still worried the now-dying man never did anything with the Gospel—especially sad now that he is holding to life by a thread and maybe drawing closer to hell.

This brother had to understand it is beyond his control. He has shared the Gospel most faithfully, and there is nothing he can do for his relative but pray for him now. His brain is not functioning properly anymore, but he still may be aware in his soul. We cannot be sure just how alert such people are spiritually. If they so desire, God can always bring His Word to memory in those who have heard it years before.

Beloved, we should never beat ourselves up wondering if we shared the Gospel enough with someone who is dying or who has since died. If they only heard us share the Gospel with them once, that one time was all that we were able to do. While we care for them deeply, we cannot force people to trust Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. The God of the Bible is all about freedom. If people do not want Him, He will not force them to accept Him. After three years of ministry, with a heavy heart, Jesus looked at Jerusalem and wept. They had no interest in Him or anything He had to say to them (today’s Scripture).

God has done everything to keep people out of hell by sending Jesus Christ to die for their sins. If they want to ignore that, that is their choice. Let it not be ours!

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Can you explain Jude 9?”