Category: sin

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #31

Thursday, June 18, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

The elementary grace-living Book of Romans, Paul’s first epistle or formal doctrinal letter in the layout of Scripture (Romans to Philemon), opens with, “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me” (Romans 1:11,12). In order to be spiritually “established,” our feet firmly fixed on a sure foundation, being “comforted together” (strengthened) with our Apostle by having “mutual faith” (share his Bible understanding), we should study all 16 chapters of Romans.

Romans chapters 1–5 are justification, the Gospel of the Grace of God (Paul’s Gospel), how to have a right standing before God (forgiveness of sins); chapters 6–8 are sanctification, practical Christian living, how to have victory over sin every day; chapters 9–11 are dispensation, the nation Israel’s past and present and future statuses (we are not Israel, and God is not finished with Israel); chapters 12–16 are application, using grace principles in specific life situations and circumstances.

A doxology (praise of God) forms the conclusion of Romans, how saints are to be “stablished,” stabilized or kept from wavering: “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:…” (Romans 16:25,26). The first step in spiritual stability is trusting Paul’s Gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, the second stage is acknowledging Jesus Christ as Paul uniquely preached or presented Him, and the third step is understanding all of the Bible (“the scriptures of the prophets”) in light of Pauline revelation.

Denominationalism does none of these, so it fosters spiritual immaturity and thereby reinforces darkness, blindness, and ignorance….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #28

Monday, June 15, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

According to Romans chapter 6, Calvary’s cross is the foundation for victorious Christian/grace living. It is where Christ performed and finished His work to pay for our sins—so we could die with Him to sin’s power, be buried with Him, and be raised again with Him to “walk in newness of life.” “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” (verses 11,12). “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (verse 23).

Yet, two groups converted under Paul’s ministry believed they could live the Christian life. Defined in Romans chapter 7, Paul himself had been confused in this way—and how he was such a defeated, disappointed, depressed soul! He did not walk according to the grace truths of chapter 6, and the only way out of the trap was to re-learn them as presented and amplified in chapter 8: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:12-14).

Human nature, the sin nature we have inherited from Adam, has two extremes. One is lasciviousness, as in loose, crazy, wild conduct (humanism/philosophy)—and that would be the Corinthians who lived in the very depths of sin. The other is ascetism, which is strict works-religion or legalism (Law)—and that would be the Galatians who lived in the very depths of self-righteousness. Both groups were stuck in the misery and hopelessness of Romans chapter 7, trying and failing to copy Jesus Christ’s life when only He can live the Christian (His) life!

To repeat, victorious Christian living or grace living is Romans truth, found in Paul’s most basic epistle….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #20

Sunday, June 7, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” When 1 John 2:16 here refers to “the lust of the flesh,” “the lust of the eyes,” and “the pride of life,” it stresses how temptation under Satan’s evil world system falls under three categories. Firstly, the “lust [desire] of the flesh” can be summarized as, “It feels good!” Secondly, the “lust [desire] of the eyes” is described with, “It looks good!” Thirdly, the “pride of life” can be summarized as, “I deserve it!”

Matching the aforementioned pattern, the tree of the forbidden fruit was “good for food,” it was “pleasant to the eyes,” and it was “to be desired to make one wise” (Genesis 3:6). Adam and Eve failed in all three areas of temptation! Thousands of years later, Satan tried to persuade the Lord Jesus to turn stones into bread (“the lust of the flesh”—which would have satisfied fasting Christ in Matthew 4:1-4 and Luke 4:1-4), to throw Himself off the Jerusalem Temple (“the lust of the eyes”—such a performance would have generated quite a spectacle in Matthew 4:5-7 and Luke 4:9-13), and to worship him to gain the kingdoms of this world (“the pride of life”—which would have stirred up egotism in Matthew 4:8-11 and Luke 4:5-8). Christ, however, prevailed in all three spheres!

Our world is replete with people who are thinking and doing whatever they want because it feels good to them. Furthermore, they are thinking and doing whatever they wish because it looks good to them. Lastly, they are thinking and doing whatever they want because it is something they suppose they deserve. Hebrews 11:25 thus mentions how one can “enjoy the pleasures of sin,” and Romans 1:32 speaks of sinners who “have pleasure in them [other sinners] that do them [the sinful deeds listed in verses 18-32].”  

Nevertheless, Father God’s will for us believers is something else entirely….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #19

Saturday, June 6, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Draw your attention to the fig-leaf aprons of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:7—their religious efforts or futile attempts to regain the spiritual light of God (righteousness) that once covered their now-naked bodies. After works-religion proved unsuccessful, they again evaded accountability by hiding from God (Genesis 3:8-10). Finally, after the LORD exposed and confronted them, Adam shifted the blame to Eve (thereby indirectly accusing God who gave him Eve—“God created me this way!”), then Eve shifted the guilt to the serpent (“the Devil made me do it!”) (Genesis 3:11-13).

Here is human psychology 101. Such a scenario has played out trillions of times since then. Firstly, do whatever you can to cover up your sin. Secondly, hide when that cover-up demonstrates itself useless. Finally, dodge the liability altogether by blaming God or Satan. Man goes to great lengths to justify himself, to declare himself righteous, as he in his pride has no use for God’s standard of righteousness that he has failed so miserably to meet. See, the Bible takes a negative view of man, for it tells the truth about him: that Book of God has embarrassed him! Hence, man in his feebleness aspires to ignore the Scriptures, challenge them, discredit them, change them, and so on, to clear himself. In willfully neglecting to admit his inability to save himself, man is further fallen into the snare or trap of the Devil.

The grace of God is the only thing that can deliver man from satanic captivity and spiritual nakedness, so God works to restore man to himself: “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). Such shedding of animals’ blood, innocent beings taking the place of guilty ones, is a type or hint or preview of the cross of Calvary 4,000 years in advance. However, on this side of the cross, where God has dealt with sin once for all, there is still cover-up and denial (works-religion), hiding, and blame-shifting.

May we submit to the righteousness of God by faith….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #18

Friday, June 5, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Re-read Genesis 3:1-5. Satan promised Eve that, if she heeded his advice, she and husband Adam would have a more productive, enjoyable life (thereby insinuating how God had been “villainous” in hiding knowledge from them!). Verses 6 and 7: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 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.”

While there was nothing morally wrong with eating the fruit, it was nevertheless disobedience to the LORD God’s clear command. Eve was deceived/seduced, drawn away by the lie, but Adam knew better and followed her in the rebellion simply because he loved her more than he loved God (cf. 1 Timothy 2:14)! Moving outside of the sphere of life God had established for them, Adam relinquished his God-given dominion on the Earth (Genesis 1:26-28) to Satan.

In Matthew 4:8,9 and Luke 4:5-7, bearing the title “the god [ruler] of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), Satan owns this world’s kingdoms and the glory of them. Yet, thankfully, Galatians 1:4 proclaims, “[our Lord Jesus Christ] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:….” Therefore, “Love [find value in, esteem] not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:15-17).

That we Bible-believers may “cleanse [our] way,” God has equipped us to identify the countless facets of Satan’s lie program….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #17

Thursday, June 4, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

God’s original instructions to humans were: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26-28). Furthermore, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16,17). Adam and Eve, God’s king and queen on Earth, were to live within these particular boundaries.

Deviations from the LORD’S plan would be disastrous, of which Satan was quite aware: “Now the serpent was more subtil [clever, crafty] than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:1-5).

Man’s initial sin was to elevate himself to the status of a “god” (lowercase “g”), to make himself his own authority and create his own path in life….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #16

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

By satanic design, our society is fascinated with various “conspiracy theories,” the belief that powerful and wealthy individuals or groups are secretly orchestrating events to attain specific nefarious ends. Involving the mysterious events surrounding assassinations, pandemics, natural disasters, massacres, scientific experiments, or the like, someone looks to expose a guilty party or locate incriminating evidence. However, it is an endless pursuit of the so-called “truth.” Nothing is ever really known for certain, except this: here is possible proof that so-and-so is capable of being responsible for this likely happening.

It will sound offensive, but younger generations need to learn of the greatest conspiracy of all. Precious few (even older people) can detect it. It is something that will damn several billion souls to eternal hellfire—ruining more lives, more marriages, more families, and more nations than any other menace our species will ever know. This is the millennia-old conspiracy to rob the Creator God, the Lord Jesus Christ, of the trust, worship, and praise He alone deserves. As long as people think about something or someone else (distractions!), the plot thickens and survives another second… another minute… another hour… another day… another week… another month… another year… another decade… another century… another millennium. How pervasive it is!

Whether the never-ending quest to prove our self-righteousness or “goodness” in religion, or purchasing yet another “latest and greatest” modern English Bible translation, or seeing just how many zeros we can add to our bank account, or how many lovers we can be intimate with, or how many political offices we can occupy, or how many products or services our business can offer and sell, or how many opponents we can overcome, to Satan’s delight, we have lost sight of Philippians 2:9-11: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him [Christ Jesus], and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Before it is too late, may we identify and escape the greatest conspiracy of all….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #15

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Perchance, dear friend, you have heard of these four classifications of high-school students and university undergraduates—freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. First-year pupils are “freshmen,” as in “fresh” or “new arrivals.” This entry-level position, of course, takes some time to adjust to. Second-year students bear the title “sophomores,” taken from the Greek (“sophos” and “moros”) and defined as “wise fools.” Allegedly, this title highlights the fact they believe they are “wise” for having survived the first year, but are mere “fools” since they have yet to realize they have much more to learn. Third-year pupils are known as “juniors,” for they rank just below the top (the Latin, “juvenis,” means “young”). Fourth-year students are “seniors,” members of the uppermost class (“sen–” is Latin for “old man”).

We all have to start somewhere, and that means being “freshmen” in life—new material to master, a different environment in which to learn it, the uncertainty and fear of what lies ahead, the mental and physical and emotional changes that arise, and so on. Yet, we eventually move on to the sophomore level, the “wise fool” status, for, having outlasted the initial phase, we now assume we are invincible. Again, though, we are only second-year, implying we still have a long way to go. That period challenges us and matures us to where we become “juniors,” youngsters who have yet to reach the top but have made significant progress since their freshman days. As seniors, we have developed to occupy the maximum rank—though, after graduation, we “old men” could learn more, because our title is relative to the underclassmen; we now face the undergraduate and graduate levels of college/university. Even beyond that, hands-on job experience will give us years of extra insight that was impossible for us to learn in the classroom. Finally, before we leave this life, we will somehow have to figure out ways to teach others what we learned, that the cycle repeat for subsequent generations.

Henceforth, let us expand our discernment to advanced “cleansing of our way….”

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #14

Sunday, May 31, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Dear young reader, abstain from all drugs and alcohol. Cigarettes and vapes contain poisonous, addictive chemicals that increase the risk of various cancers (mouth, throat, tongue, et cetera). Intoxicating beverages shrink the brain, destroy the liver, stress out the heart, and negatively affect the stomach. All these products age the body, people ending up ill in a hospital or prematurely dead in a morgue. Frankly, you can locate millions of individuals today whose bodies are permanently disfigured or ruined because of drugs and alcohol (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:30)—missing limbs, blindness, extensive scarring, cirrhosis, brain damage, and a plethora of additional health complications. Some are even doomed to live with the knowledge of having taken other’s lives. I have a friend who repeatedly overdosed on illegal drugs, almost dying on those occasions. A lady I knew smoked cigarettes for 50 years, nearly perished because of diminished lung capacity, quit smoking, and then spent her last 20 years finding it increasingly harder to breathe!

Since it is human nature to seek entertainment—to be thrilled, frightened, delighted, and so on—drugs and alcoholic beverages are tremendously appealing. Yet, Paul the Apostle reasoned: “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power [mastery, control, domination] of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). Indeed, there is freedom under grace, but the absence of an express prohibition does not necessarily mean an action is “expedient” (profitable, useful, beneficial). Once identified, any and all addictions should be avoided. As opposed to being under the influence of wine (or any other mind-altering substance/addiction), the Holy Spirit should control our thinking and conduct: “See then that ye walk circumspectly [cautiously, looking around], not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;…” (Ephesians 5:15-18).

NOTE: In order to bring you a special study tomorrow (a commemoration of 15 full years of “333 Words of Grace!”), we will temporarily break away from this devotionals arc….

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #13

Saturday, May 30, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Dear young person, Satan’s scheme to topple God’s institutions of marriage and family is clever and multifaceted. Howbeit, even nature teaches us how homosexuality is sinful because it unites sexually-incompatible people, which relationship prevents the reproduction that God-ordained male–female marriage facilitates (Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:18-25; Leviticus 18:22; Matthew 19:3-6; Mark 10:6-9; Romans 1:26,27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:9-11). Popularized by base propaganda, transgenderism is but fickle, unreliable feelings controlling those whose mental and emotional states are immature. Promotion of this fad produces irreversibly-altered, permanently-destroyed bodies!

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest [orderly, of good behavior] apparel, with shamefacedness [reverence] and sobriety [sober-mindedness, self-control]; not with broided [braided] hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh [is suitable for] women professing godliness) with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9,10). A Christian woman’s face should not be beyond feeling shame (embarrassment) if her appearance is indecent or impolite. Her reputation ought to be distinguished far more for exhibiting good works and far less for parading “fashionable” clothes, “stunning” jewelry, and “striking” makeup and hair. Physical form is superficial; I have met many “pretty faces” I would never bother with!

Stay sexually pure until marriage (cf. Proverbs 5:18-20), and marry “only in the Lord [another Bible-believer]” (1 Corinthians 7:39). “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband…. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn” (1 Corinthians 7:2,9). If you offer your secret parts outside of marriage, then what is so special about marriage and what exactly will you reserve for it? Marry someone of the opposite sex ONLY after you get to know them well—their habits, likes/dislikes, employment history, potential criminal background, life goals, and so on. Remember, marriage is a binding commitment, much harder to escape than a “fling” or cohabitation (“chambering;” Romans 13:13).

If such advice is heeded, you will spare yourself an immense amount of emotional and physical pain….