When Truth is Error

Saturday, May 26, 2012

“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:16 KJV).

Did you know that you can quote Scripture and be outside of God’s will? Unfortunately, people have been doing it for millennia. Many “name and claim” Bible verses, only to end up confused and disappointed, sometimes spiritually destroyed, or even in hell. If “God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33), how is this possible?

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” If you refuse to obey this verse (like most of Christendom), you will automatically disobey today’s Scripture. When you do not rightly divide, separating Israel’s program from our program, you will not “shun profane and vain babblings.” This phony, empty chatter describes much of today’s “Christian” teaching and preaching!

All the Bible is true: “thy word is truth” (John 17:17). When we rightly divide the Word of Truth, we are separating truth from truth, not truth from error. For example, animal sacrifices were true for Israel, but they are not true for us. God’s instructions to build an ark were true for Noah; they are not true for us. When we steal Israel’s covenant promises and blessings and claim them for ourselves, we are not shunning profane and vain babblings as God instructed.

Trying to make God do something He is not doing today will only bring you misery. God promised Israel certain things that He has not promised us in this the Dispensation of Grace. We study the whole Bible, but we can only claim the promises found in Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon.

If we fail to rightly divide the Bible, truth becomes error. We quote verses that are not for us to practice, and today’s Scripture says, “they [the profane and vain babblings] will increase unto more ungodliness.” Being scriptural, but not dispensational, is “ungodly!”

Beware! Be not like most of Christendom. Failure to study the Bible dispensationally will cause you great confusion and heartache that will only grow worse and worse.

His Word Was With Power

Friday, May 25, 2012

“And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power” (Luke 4:32 KJV).

As today’s Scripture indicates, the Jews were amazed by the doctrine that our Lord Jesus Christ taught. They had never heard a Man speak with such wisdom and authority.

When Jesus Christ spoke, “his word was with power.” He never presented feel-good messages, nor did He teach “sermonettes for Christianettes,” as lukewarm Christendom does today. No, His very words reached down to the souls of His audience, exposing them to truth, and convicting them of their error: “For the word of God is quick [living, and life-giving], and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

As Jesus Christ taught, He sounded unique. His voice and doctrine was authoritative, just as God’s voice should be. Psalm 29:4 says: “The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.” Today’s Scripture becomes apparently clear! These Jews knew that when Jesus spoke, it was the voice of their Creator God. It was the great I AM, Almighty JEHOVAH, speaking!

The King James Bible is unique in that linguists and literary scholars testify to its beautiful and majestic literary style. After all, it was translated when the English language was at its zenith (purest form), unlike modern versions, which are written during the period of the English language’s deterioration! Although many “Christians” criticize it, even lost (hell-bound) people recognize its excellence!

When you read your King James Bible, or hear it read, it sounds powerful and supreme. Contrariwise, modern English “bibles,” translated using varying degrees of dynamic equivalence (man’s interpretation), read like ordinary literature (unsurprisingly, for they all have man’s “wisdom”). This alone should cause us to doubt the veracity of modern “bibles.” Would God’s Word really sound like a newspaper or novel?

Our King James Bible is unparalleled: its language is authoritative and majestic. What do we expect? After all, God’s Word is “with power.”

Vengeance Belongeth Unto the Lord #4

Thursday, May 24, 2012

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19 KJV).

Injustices abound. The wicked are applauded and often go unpunished while the righteous (God’s people) are despised and penalized. As the cliché goes, “God never sleeps.” All wrongs will be righted one day (today’s Scripture).

When the Lord Jesus Christ went to Calvary’s cross, He purchased our salvation. There, He suffered God’s eternal wrath against our sin: “He became sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21; cf. Isaiah 53:10; Matthew 26:46; Galatians 3:13). Once we trust Christ Jesus alone as our personal Saviour, Christ’s finished crosswork for our sins is applied (imputed) to us, and we will never suffer God’s wrath (Christ suffered that wrath for us).

However, those who physically die without having trusted Christ will remain forever dead in their trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23): physical and spiritual death. Thus, they must pay for those sins by suffering the eternal wrath of God against sin (the everlasting lake of fire; the “second [or spiritual] death” [Revelation 21:8]).

For the past 2,000 years, God has been offering the world His grace and peace. But, when this the Dispensation of Grace ends (at the rapture), God “shall speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure” (Psalm 2:5). During that seven-year Tribulation—“the day of the LORD’s vengeance” (Isaiah 34:8), “the day of vengeance of our God” (Isaiah 61:2), and “the days of vengeance” (Luke 21:22)—our wicked world will finally experience God’s righteous wrath. According to 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, Christ’s Second Coming will conclude those seven years, and fire will further execute vengeance on God’s enemies (Christ-rejecters).

“God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked…” (Nahum 1:2,3).

Indeed, “vengeance belongeth unto the Lord….”

Vengeance Belongeth Unto the Lord #3

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19 KJV).

In the biblical words of a bygone preacher, “Payday, someday!”

Today’s Scripture and its context (verses 17-21) explain that whenever God’s righteousness is offended (sinned against), His justice enforces appropriate punishment (His wrath). Thus, we need not retaliate when people mistreat us. Those sins will either be dealt with at Christ’s cross (if these people trust Christ or have trusted Christ), or if they do not trust Christ, they will suffer for those deeds forever in the lake of fire.

According to 2 Thessalonians 1:4-9, the believers in Thessalonica endured persecutions and tribulations (sound familiar?). Notice the comfort the Apostle Paul gave them: “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;” (verses 6-9).

To “recompense” means, “to pay back in kind.” When Jesus Christ returns to earth at His Second Coming, He will pay back His (and thus, our) enemies. A literal fire will precede Him, and it will consume them. This is the wrath mentioned in today’s Scripture (cf. Matthew 3:7-12; Luke 3:16,17; Psalm 2:4,5).

But, notice that fire will then give way to “everlasting destruction” (this is when these people die, and go to hell and, ultimately, the lake of fire). The lake of fire is where God’s wrath against sin is eternally poured out on those who chose to reject Christ and remain dead in their sins (“them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”).

For sinners, “Payday someday.” Either at Christ’s cross… or the lake of fire….

Vengeance Belongeth Unto the Lord #2

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19 KJV).

Today’s Scripture explains that God Himself will ultimately take vengeance on those who harm us. Its context explains how it is our responsibility as Christians to let God’s grace teach us how to handle that mistreatment.

“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men” (verse 17). When people do us wrong, our flesh wants to retaliate, to get even, but God’s Word exhorts us to “recompense to no man evil for evil.” (Note: Please understand that God instituted government, and He encourages us to seek legal intervention in severe cases of wrongdoing [Romans 13:1-5]).

As Christians living in a fallen (corrupted) creation, we will suffer abuse and injustice. “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (verse 18). Because of sin, unity and peace are not always possible. But, it is our responsibility to get along with others as best as we can (without compromising God’s Word, of course).

When someone does offend us, grace teaches us that God will ultimately exact vengeance on the guilty (today’s Scripture). “Therefore [consequently] if thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink: for in doing so thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (verses 20,21; cf. Proverbs 25:21,22; Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27,28).

We can let evil “overcome” (defeat) us (grudges, bitterness, et cetera), or we can defeat evil by doing good to those who have harmed us (especially if they are Christians; Galatians 6:10). “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). We need not repay evil for evil: by faith, we send that mistreatment to Christ’s cross, we forgive it, and we move on (lest it be a hindrance).

Beloved, we need not avenge ourselves, for “vengeance belongeth unto the Lord.”

Vengeance Belongeth Unto the Lord #1

Monday, May 21, 2012

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19 KJV).

When people do us wrong, human nature wants to retaliate, to devise a plan to get even. Today’s Scripture causes us to think otherwise… literally.

Paul is quoting the LORD’s words in Deuteronomy 32:35: “To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” This phrase originally described God chastising Israel for their wickedness. (He will do this during the seven-year Tribulation too; Hebrews 10:26-31.)

God’s wrath, Daniel’s 70th week, the seven-year Tribulation, is still postponed. God has not yet poured out His wrath on wicked man (Psalm 2:4,5). For nearly 2,000 years, our sinful world has enjoyed the riches of God’s grace. God is extending our Dispensation of Grace so that more people can get saved before His wrath is poured out on earth. Scoffers mock God, having deceived themselves into thinking that they will never face His righteous wrath. What foolishness!

“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men” (1 Thessalonians 5:15). We need not “pay back” those who hurt us, for that sin will either be dealt with at Christ’s cross (if these people trust Christ), or they will have to pay for that sin by enduring God’s wrath during the Tribulation and finally, suffering in the everlasting lake of fire.

“O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud” (Psalm 94:1,2). “…The righteous judgment of God… [He] will render to every man according to his deeds… to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish…” (Romans 2:5-9).

Rest assured, no injustice will ever go unpunished…. for “vengeance belongeth unto the Lord.”

Four Small, Yet Exceeding Wise, Creatures

Sunday, May 20, 2012

“There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:” (Proverbs 30:24 KJV).

What are these four creatures? The context names them: ants, conies, locusts, and spiders. Let us learn from these “exceeding wise” creatures.

  • ANTS (verse 25): “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;” Ant societies are extremely complex. In the colony millions of ants cooperate with one another to forage for and store food. Although ants are mere specks to us, these “weakly creatures” teach us to adequately prepare for the future (in their case, lack of food in winter). Prepare for eternity by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ today for salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).
  • CONIES (verse 26): “The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;” Conies? They are a type of rock-hare or rabbit (rock-hyrax?). Other than biting, their defense is retreating to their houses… in the rocks (Psalm 104:18). Never be ashamed to admit you need God’s protection: you are weak without Christ (2 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; Philippians 4:13).
  • LOCUSTS (verse 27): “The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;” If locusts (swarming grasshoppers) can organize themselves into bands without a king (leader), then how much more unity can we have with a leader? We need to follow the Apostle Paul as he follows the Head of the Body, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1; Colossians 1:18).
  • SPIDERS (verse 28): “The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.” While a spider may live in a king’s palace, a luxurious mansion, she does not loaf or mooch. The diligent spider catches her own prey, binding it in her webbing. Your Christian life should not consist of sitting around and doing nothing. We have been ordained to good works, so let Christ do His good work in and through you (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:8).

These puny creatures have more sense than us humans! Indeed, they are four small, yet exceeding wise, creatures. 🙂

A Higher Education: It Is Up to You

Saturday, May 19, 2012

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 KJV).

Six years ago today, I graduated high school. Consequently, we dedicate this devotional to high school students who are nearing graduation.

Are you about to graduate high school? What would God have you do afterward? Go to college? Trade school? Something else? What career should you pursue? If you do plan on education after high school, where should you attend school? These are tough questions, and while God’s Word does not answer them, you can make decisions that conform to sound Bible doctrine—that is God’s will.

In today’s Scripture, Paul encourages downcast Timothy. Timothy was considerably younger than the Apostle Paul. Older people who are teaching false doctrine are intimidating young Timothy: “Tim, you are too young to teach God’s Word. Let us handle it.” Young Timothy conceded, became silent, and allowed the (“older and wiser”) false teachers to continue teaching their damnable heresies (cf. 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 1:5-8). Paul replied, “Timothy, Speak up! Let no man despise thy youth!”

Christian youth can be just as effectual in their station in life as Christian adults. The lost world is watching us Christians, and we need to be sure that our actions are in accordance with the sound Bible doctrine we claim to believe (lest we be guilty of confusing the already-puzzled unbelievers). Whether “young or old,” our speech, our lifestyle, our acts of love, our determination, our belief in sound Bible doctrine, and our separation from that which God hates, is the way we communicate to the lost world God’s Word and its preeminence in our lives and hearts (today’s Scripture).

Above all, dear graduates, whatever you do post-graduation, “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). After all, it really is not your life—it is Christ’s life in you (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:4), so He alone deserves the glory!

*Based on a Bible study by the same name, which can be read here. Also, see the study “The Spirit-Filled Student.”

A Den of Thieves #3

Friday, May 18, 2012

“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:12,13 KJV).

Notice in today’s Scripture how Jesus Christ rooted out thieves masquerading in a “godly” garb (religion). Beloved, we must exercise great caution when making financial contributions to churches… many are dens of thieves.

Giving is often a sensitive topic, for there is much abuse (the extortion in today’s Scripture). Even today, many church leaders are using God’s Word (usually Malachi 3:8-11) to coerce—extort!—billions from their followers. The poor Corinthian believers were “gladly” (!) allowing “fools” to “take of [them]” (steal from them) via religion (2 Corinthians 11:19,20).

One of the most lucrative devices of religion is to convince you that your King James Bible has errors, so you need to buy a “more scholarly” version (eventually, yet another “updated” “bible” is marketed, and you are encouraged this is the “bible” you need to buy). Be not deceived!

Another ploy preachers use to swindle is the reassurance, “Send us $1000, and God will bless you one-hundred fold!” (These preachers should “practice what they preach,” and then their begging would be unnecessary!) Be not deceived!

Understand that we give of our resources to further God’s Word, but we must carefully choose what church or ministry we support. If the church/ministry does not exalt our Lord Jesus Christ as He is presented in Paul’s epistles, and it does not hold to the authority of the King James Bible, it is opposing God’s work, and therefore does not deserve our time or our money.

Above all, we give willingly, as God’s Word working in us leads us to give (2 Corinthians 8:1-12; 2 Corinthians 9:6,7). That is not tithing (tithing was mandatory); that is giving under grace. Quite frankly, anyone who forces you to tithe is a thief.

Thus, beware of the dens of thieves….

A Den of Thieves #2

Thursday, May 17, 2012

“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:12,13 KJV).

As today’s Scripture teaches, religion robbed people in Christ’s day… and it is still “the world’s most profitable business!”

The world is dotted with millions of ornate, massive cathedrals, structures built with exquisite materials, housing trillions of works of art and gold and silver vessels. Unfortunately, many were (and are) financed by poor, naïve souls who paid clergy in hopes of escaping hellfire. Christ’s words echoing, “Dens of thieves!”

One Christian author wrote that religion’s price list reads: “High money = high mass; low money = low mass; no money = no mass.” Pay the church and the church will pray! Church organizations possess large sums of real estate, and are always looking to expand… into your soul, yard, and home! BEWARE!

Beloved, if God required church leaders not to be greedy of material wealth (1 Timothy 3:3,8; Titus 1:7), this is a warning that many will be money-hungry. These individuals, seeking to support their lavish lifestyles, demand, “If you want God’s blessing, sow your seed of faith into our ministry.” These “donations” are often pricey, but when threatened with “God’s curse,” people have no choice but to give. Malachi 3:8-11 was written to Israel (1:1), not to us; we are under grace, not law (Romans 6:14,15). Grace is against tithing (obligatory giving).

We give of our resources to sound Pauline dispensational (grace) ministries and local churches, but we do not give to get God’s blessings (that was for Israel). Today, in the Dispensation of Grace, God has already blessed us in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Now, we give out of gratitude to God, and we willingly give an amount “as [we] purpose in [our] heart” (2 Corinthians 9:6,7). The amount is not the issue; the heart attitude is!