Category: The Nation Israel

To Sell a Bill of Goods

Sunday, August 14, 2016

“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” (2 Peter 2:3 KJV).

What does “make merchandise of [someone]” mean?

Scams abound everywhere—especially in the name of “Jesus Christ.” For example, take one minister’s modern-day television show. It markets provisions that will supposedly help people survive the end-times. The guy advertises a water filter and barrel to catch and store potable rainwater. For thousands of dollars (!), he sells buckets of food that will (allegedly) last his viewers through the seven years of the Tribulation! (Years ago, he threw in a “free” “marble” statue of “Jesus” with every order placed!) Cleverly, he even invited a guest speaker who was selling his anti-Rapture book. (After all, if you are misled to believe the Body of Christ is not going to be caught up into heaven before the seven years, then you will buy those “helpful supplies” to endure those years of hardship!)

In the context of today’s Scripture, the Apostle Peter mentioned holy men of God who spoke as the Holy Ghost moved them (chapter 1, verse 21). Contrast that with the false prophets of chapter 2 (today’s Scripture). Verses 1-3: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” God’s wrath will come upon them in due time!

To “make merchandise” means to “buy and sell as a peddler.” Using various trinkets and gimmicks, (covetous) religion always aims to cheat people out of their trust and money. They use “feigned” (insincere, fake) words—lies that sound so convincing. Remember, Jesus condemned the “thieves” who were operating a dishonest business in the Jerusalem Temple (Matthew 21:12,13). Friends, beware of the false teachers… they have a “bill of goods” to sell you!

333’s 1900th – The Greatness of God’s Grace

Friday, August 12, 2016

“[The word of the truth of the gospel] Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth” (Colossians 1:6 KJV).

Dear friends, solely by God’s grace, devotional #1900 is here! Here is a “behind-the-scenes” look at “333 Words of Grace.”

The most common question received these past five years concerns the number “333.” (One fearful person inquired if it was related to “666!”) Actually, “333” is the approximate word limit for each study, excluding the words in the main Scripture text. This safeguards me from rambling, and it protects you the readers from being overwhelmed. From day 1, we have always aimed to communicate the dispensational truths of God’s Word (King James Bible) as clearly and concisely as possible!

Inspiration for studies comes from various sources—events in my life, Bible questions people recently asked, snippets from counseling sessions with others, questions raised in my own personal Bible study, news stories, science articles, et cetera. Each study is described as: topical (particular theme), and/or expository (specific verse, passage, or book), and/or exhortation (encouragement). Some devotionals were written in a matter of minutes. Others literally involved years of study and writing before you read them! (I still have dozens of unfinished ones from five years ago when we first started this blog!) At least 1500 new devotionals are planned.

Our studies are designed not only to explain how the Christian life operates, but also clarify how God’s other people in the Bible—the nation Israel—functions. We study all of the Bible, for it is all God’s Word. However, we always recognize and respect its dispensational layout, lest we wind up confused like the rest of professing “Christianity!”

When the Gospel of God’s Grace is preached to the lost, and the Message of God’s Grace is preached to the Christians, it brings forth fruit (today’s Scripture). Lost souls will be saved from hell, and Christian souls will be saved from religious bondage! These last 1900 days have demonstrated that in all our lives. Onward in Christ we go to devotional #2000! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What were the ‘stones’ of Matthew 3:9?”

Not a Bother to Satan! #3

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14 KJV).

A wise Christian brother observed long ago: “There are some believers whom Satan seldom bothers because they do not cause him too much worry, they do not threaten his program; but strong Christians are always his targets and he puts countless snares and pitfalls in their way.” How appropriate, even today!

Satan does not like God’s truth reaching the masses. So, his evil world system will entice God’s messenger to change the message. If the Christian refuses to apostatize, but rather faithfully continues sharing God’s pure Word with others, then Satan will move from attacking the message to attacking the messenger. The Christian will be persecuted, discouraged, or even killed!

Today’s Scripture describes how Satan had neutralized Israel. Confused and weakened, she was no bother to him anymore. Spiritual ignorance would continue among the Gentiles! But, individual Jews had accepted Jesus as Messiah-King and had separated themselves from their apostate nation. Satan turned his attention to these believers. The Devil and his allies persecuted those believing Jews into the early Acts period. Refusing to change God’s message, those Jewish kingdom believers were thus attacked literally and physically. Israel’s corrupt religious leaders arrested, imprisoned, and even killed Jesus’ followers! That believing remnant in Israel had certainly caused Satan much grief, and God permitted him to take their lives. Nevertheless, they were true to God’s Word to the end.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). As the wise Christian brother wrote decades ago, friend, you attempt to let Christ Jesus live His life in you, and you will learn that Satan will not like it! Still, may you be a bother to Satan! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Do Isaiah 2:4 and Joel 3:10 contradict each other?”

Not a Bother to Satan! #2

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14 KJV).

A wise Christian brother observed long ago: “There are some believers whom Satan seldom bothers because they do not cause him too much worry, they do not threaten his program; but strong Christians are always his targets and he puts countless snares and pitfalls in their way.” How appropriate, even today!

The writer of today’s Scripture, penning it during the Acts period, rebuked Israel of her corporate negligence to learn the lessons of the Old Testament Scriptures. Ignoring the hundreds of prophecies she had heard and read for centuries, Israel had recently and publicly rejected her Messiah and demanded the Roman government crucify Him. Israel had utterly failed to learn God’s Word! Since the Jews did not know God’s Word, they would be unable to teach it to the Gentiles as God intended (cf. Isaiah 60:1-3; Zechariah 8:20-23). God had called Israel to be separate, so Israel could be a light to the nations. Yet, Israel allowed Satan to deceive her with religious tradition, pagan idolatry, et cetera. Down she went!

Sadly, the professing church finds itself in the same awful predicament today. It too has not learned the lessons of the Old Testament. It has not learned from Israel’s mistakes. It too has abandoned God’s Word to it. Like national Israel, most church members today can only handle spiritual milk, Bible basics. They ask the same old questions they have asked for centuries. Since they never approach God’s Word rightly divided, they will keep asking those same childish questions and never get meaningful answers. Instead of being mature adults in Scripture, able to stomach spiritual meat, they must be taught rather than teach! As Israel will become one day, may they also become a bother to Satan!

To Serve My Own Generation

Sunday, August 7, 2016

“For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:” (Acts 13:36 KJV).

Today, to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, I mark Milestone #28!

Weeks shy of age seven, a little boy asked his mother how to be saved and go to heaven. She told him he needed to trust Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour—He died for his sins, He was buried, and He was raised again the third day. That little boy trusted Christ right there. That was 21 years ago this summer, and that little boy… was I!

Now, 21 years old in Christ and 28 years old in the flesh, I still have a lot more to learn about life. There is still much more growing to do! Hopefully, I have grown a tad wiser and a bit more knowledgeable in these nearly three decades living. It has been (mostly) fun thus far. I cannot wait to see what else life has in store (on Earth and in Heaven)!

Today’s Scripture says David “served his own generation by the will of God.” A king of Israel, and a mighty military commander, most people do not know David was also a prophet (Acts 2:29,30). He wrote over 70 divinely-inspired psalms—half of the book of Psalms! Throughout his life, David guided God’s people into His ways. While certainly not sinless, the Bible says David was “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). David was a man of faith. He honored and believed God’s Word to him. Second Samuel chapter 23 summarizes David’s life: “[1] Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, [2] The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.”

Friends, at the end of our lives, may God say of us what He said of King David. “He had served his own generation by the will of God.” No matter our age, let us not waste our remaining time on Earth!

A Baptism You Cannot Fake

Sunday, July 31, 2016

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV).

Water baptism can be feigned; today’s Scripture cannot!

Once, a lady was looking through some old documents she had stored at home. She came across the water baptism certificate of her then eight-year-old son. Yet, as it turned out, he never actually trusted Christ Jesus as his personal Saviour until age 21! Friends, we can only wonder how people leading the church allowed a lost person to get water baptized. They evidently never asked him what the Gospel was, or even if he knew why he was getting water baptized in the first place!

Many people in religion have gotten wet at some point. Whether immersion, sprinkling, or pouring; whether as an infant or an adult; almost every professing Christian has experienced some water ceremony—some several! While people, preachers, and denominations continue their centuries-old arguments about which mode is correct, which words should be said, and who should be baptized, they ignore a major fact. Most of the people getting water baptized have not got a clue concerning the biblical meaning of water baptism. They have gotten so hung up on water baptism that 99.999% of the time they never realize the “baptism” in today’s Scripture is the ONLY baptism that really counts for eternity (Ephesians 4:5). Oftentimes, they refuse to see it!

Friends, our “one baptism” does not come by a preacher or priest, but by the power of the Holy Spirit placing the believer into the Church the Body of Christ. The exact moment a person trusts exclusively the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit takes that person and makes him or her one with Jesus Christ forever. That individual is united not only with Father God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit—but with other believers as well.

Unlike water baptism, this baptism by the Spirit of God into the Body of Christ can never be faked! Only God Himself sees it, and He is the only witness necessary to make it valid forever and ever! 🙂

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Are Matthew 17:1, Mark 9:2, and Luke 9:28 contradictory?”

Eyes on Christ, Not on Me(n)!

Saturday, July 30, 2016

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV).

A lady with whom I recently dealt just learned that one of her former pastors has lately turned himself in to the police. He did some inappropriate things many years ago, and he has finally admitted his guilt. Understandably, she was heartbroken. My words to her were loud and clear, “Keep your eyes on Christ, not on men!”

It is not uncommon for church members to exalt the apostles, or even today’s church leaders, as though they were/are super-humans or even gods. (Friend, I certainly hope that you do not worship me or consider me as anything special! I give all praise and glory to my Lord Jesus Christ! He alone is to be worshipped and considered special!)

Today’s Scripture summarizes the warnings previously listed in verses 1-12. Just as Israel started off well but later abandoned God’s promises to her and ended up deceived, so we can start off well in Christ and end up deceived by that same evil world system. Do not say it will not happen to you; it just may!

Verse 14 follows today’s Scripture: “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” The Corinthians had already fallen into the trap of idolatry (false religion). Paul instructed them to return to the truth. Lest anyone think they cannot repeat Israel’s apostasy and the Corinthians’ apostasy (departure from the truth), verse 12 sternly warns: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

Brethren, we should certainly not look down upon Christians who have fallen into sin. Pray for them and help them if you can (Galatians 6:1-5). Today’s Scripture says we may fall into those same sins ourselves. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, who will never fail us, who is always, always, always faithful. Let us not focus on men—they have failed us before and will doubtless fail us again and again!

Revealed Unto Babes

Saturday, July 23, 2016

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight” (Luke 10:21 KJV).

What unflattering words for Bible “scholars” everywhere!

Once, I attended a funeral where a religious leader—educated in seminary—read today’s Scripture before all the mourners. I was amazed! After the service, I politely repeated it to him (implying the verse fit him perfectly!).

Notice these phrases I extracted from a theology book: “Great Bible scholars who have spent their lives in the study of the Greek language tell us that this phrase should read….” “Again we look to the Greek scholars, men who have spent their lives in studying the language in which the New Testament was written. One of the greatest Greek scholars of all time declares that the context here demands… the phrase should read….”

The above author, educated in Bible College, was trained to quote the “scholars.” Unfortunately, Scripture means nothing to them unless the other “scholars” approve. If the King James Bible and its underlying Greek Textus Receptus does not fit their pro-Roman-Catholic agenda, they replace it with some inferior “Minority Reading” (very few New Testament Greek manuscripts in agreement). Furthermore, Greek literacy alone does not mean one is qualified for discerning Bible truths! One particular Greek “scholar” dominated New Testament thinking during the latter half of the 20th century—he never once claimed personal faith in Jesus Christ! His damnable “contributions” remain today in the modern Greek New Testaments and dozens upon dozens of modern English versions that shallow Christians tote everywhere!

When the Lord Jesus selected apostles, He did not visit the synagogues—worldly education (unbelief) was worshipped there. Rather, He went to the shores to find uneducated fishermen. “Education” later called those dear fishermen “unlearned and ignorant men” (Acts 4:13). Indeed, dear friends, God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom never agree. Today, read the first three chapters of First Corinthians. Man in his own wisdom will never understand God’s wisdom. However, those who submit to the Holy Spirit will see exciting truths unparalleled! 🙂

When the Land Vomited (Thrice)

Thursday, July 21, 2016

“Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants” (Leviticus 18:24,25 KJV).

The land has vomited twice; it will again!

Leviticus chapter 18 is JEHOVAH God commanding Israel through Moses not to participate in the various graphic activities of the heathen in the Promised Land. He is bringing the Jews into the land that the Gentiles have defiled with child sacrifices, incest, homosexuality, bestiality (sex with animals), adultery, and so on. God is evicting the evil Canaanites so that His people inherit the land that belongs to Him. The Jews are to value and obey His Word, lest the land “vomit” them out as well!

Verses 26-30: “[26] Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: [27] (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) [28] That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. [29] For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. [30] Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.”

Unfortunately, Israel never heeded the warnings. She became increasingly idolatrous in the following centuries. With the deaths of Moses and Joshua, Israel sank spiritually and morally. As God promised, the Promised Land did eventually “vomit” out Israel. The Assyrian and Babylonian armies came and took the Jews into foreign lands as prisoners of war; the Gentiles took over the land of Palestine again. One day, however, the Promised Land will “vomit” out the Gentiles, and God will bring Israel back into it forever!

Bible Q&A #285: “Ephesians 3:15—Who are God’s family in heaven and on earth?”

Busy with Idols

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

“Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32 KJV).

Why did Israel forget about JEHOVAH God?

A minister wrote many decades ago: “The only way to stay alive today is to run—even in the supermarket. If you’re not careful, someone will run a grocery-cart right over you if you stop moving!” Friends, we live in a much busier world. What would that dear brother say about today’s world if he were not enjoying heaven right now?

Our highways and interstates abound with people in quite a hurry. With speeds exceeding high, so are tempers! Road rage is a common problem; people just cannot get out of the way quickly enough, and they cannot travel quickly enough even if they manage to get from behind those travelling reasonable speeds! Just how many of these busy people give God even one minute of their time? He has given them so much—oxygen, food, water, shelter, life, and so on. What have they given Him? Only when they need Him to do something for them, when they are in a tight spot and need help, then they think about Him, call on Him, and ask Him for deliverance. Sound familiar?

The context of today’s Scripture says of preoccupied, idolatrous Israel: “[27] Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. [28] But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah…. [32]… my people have forgotten me days without number.”

Frankly, even people today are too busy with idols—self, money, education, religion, work, sex, entertainment, and so on—to think about the Lord Jesus Christ. What a sad reality, friends, what a sad reality indeed! As ancient Israel did, so many people today have forgotten all about the one true God. May we not be among them!