One Mediator #3

Monday, April 15, 2024

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5 KJV).

According to Sacred Scripture, the Holy Bible, how many mediators are there between God and men?

Let us read today’s Scripture in context: “[1] I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; [2] For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. [3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. [7] Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not; ) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”

“God… our Saviour” desires all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (verses 3,4). Verse 5, today’s Scripture, is a further explanation: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;….” The details are in verse 6: “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Paul’s apostleship, how we learn this information, is provided in verse 7: “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not; ) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”

Concentrate on verse 5, today’s Scripture: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;….” The word “mediator” comes to us from the Latin term (identical spelling) that means “go-between, intermediary.” Someone is attempting to settle disputes, reconcile, or bring about an agreement between two warring parties. You might have even recognized its Latin root “medius” as the origin of “median” (“middle”). Someone is mediating between the one (Father) God and men (humans), His name is Christ Jesus, and He gave Himself as a ransom for all people so they could commune with Father God….

One Mediator #2

Sunday, April 14, 2024

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5 KJV).

According to Sacred Scripture, the Holy Bible, how many mediators are there between God and men?

Feelings or emotions can be extremely deceptive, particularly because they cannot think for themselves. Additionally, they fluctuate or change with the passage of time. As proof of their untrustworthiness, we can all recall times when someone did us wrong. Reliving that moment, it feels like that person mistreated us only seconds before. We feel gloom or fury. Though the incident might have taken place decades ago, we want to strike back at them now!

Moreover, it is no secret that a great many senseless crimes from time immemorial have been committed because someone hastily acted on impulses and emotions. Emotions are not grounded in reality, so they prompt us to behave irrationally: we cry during tragic scenes of videos, and jump for joy with delightful images. Although these films are pretend, our emotions influence and convince us the events are real!

What we need to recognize is that a large number of people are of a particular persuasion (belief system) or pursuing a course of action (conduct) not because it is truth or appropriate, but merely because they have an emotional attachment to it. Their parents raised them in it, their religious leader recommended it to them, so to abandon it is to (as they see it) desecrate their memory or betray them. When you try to reason with them and show them how they are going down the wrong path, they decline to hear because they were never depending on reason anyway. It makes them that much more difficult to reach with the truth (which does require logic).

It is highly critical that we base our lives on objective truth (sound Bible doctrine—Bible verses rightly divided) as opposed to subjective or personal things (emotions/feelings, speculations, hunches, and so on). If we have founded our life on emotions, we need to call ourselves “emotion-believers.” If we have established our life on tradition, we should label ourselves “tradition-believers.” If we claim we are Bible believers, then we will believe the Bible, especially today’s Scripture….

One Mediator #1

Saturday, April 13, 2024

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5 KJV).

According to Sacred Scripture, the Holy Bible, how many mediators are there between God and men?

Lately, I was watching a video about a young man who was killed while saving his father’s life. The father was spared, but sustained multiple injuries. It was really a sad case, for the suspect was hard-to-find—but he was finally brought to justice. One of the young man’s teachers stated in an interview that, since the young man died a hero, he was now praying TO that deceased young man!!!!

In a similar case, a ministry coworker was just explaining to me how his friend is a member of a works-religion cult. This group teaches God can be reached through various means including dead saints, angels, church leaders, and holy meals. She argued these are “vehicles” or ways to God, and, like that of the aforementioned teacher, her view can be found in multimillions of hearts and minds.

Let us be frank, dear friends. Our emotions cannot (!!!) be trusted because sin has corrupted our internal makeup. They will definitely lead us astray if we are not vigilant. If you talk to people going through challenging circumstances (the death of a loved one, financial troubles, health problems, and so on), they will tell you some truly strange things they believe and/or are considering. It is these types of individuals who will fall victim to scams—willing to do or pay whatever they can to have the loved one back or communicate with that loved one, to have economic relief, to be healed of the disease, and the like. Con artists prey on such desperate people by giving them false hope, cheating or tricking them into supposing all kinds of wild and farfetched ideas.

Actually, I will never forget one when I spoke with a trusted Christian friend whose wife had died. Never in a million years would I have ever guessed the absurdities, the false doctrine, he would share with me shortly after she departed. Someone had conned him… and he refused to be moved away from that position. If we can deny emotions’ power from running our lives, we can be enabled to live in reality instead of fantasy….

333’s 4700th – It is High Time!

Friday, April 12, 2024

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering [sexual carelessness] and wantonness [shamelessness], not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:11-14 KJV).

Only by God’s grace, “333 Words of Grace” celebrates its 4,700th devotional!

Dear saints and readers, over the course of these last 4,700 days, we have striven to provide you with clear and concise daily studies from the King James Bible rightly divided. We trust that they have enabled you to either learn how to be saved from your sins by trusting Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for your sins, or come to the knowledge of the truth (dispensational Bible study) (1 Timothy 2:4).

We need to grow up in the Holy Scriptures—eliminating the childish thinking, throwing away our spiritual baby bottles and bibs and diapers. Indeed, we ought to walk by faith as spiritually mature sons of God who can do the work of the ministry. Denominations are intended to produce robots, people who do not really think for themselves but blindly follow “scholars” and participate in programs and “worship” sessions. As today’s Scripture states, it is “high time”—almost too late to act—we wake up from our spiritual lethargy/juvenility and reach the point of spiritual maturity. Whether philosophy, traditions of men, lasciviousness, asceticism, “scholarship,” or some other sin of the flesh or sin of the spirit, the Church the Body of Christ has wasted nearly 2,000 years on all kinds of “dead ends.” We ought to wake up and grow up!

Having come quite far in this ministry project, we have the renewed mind of Romans 12:1,2 and thus can function as grace believers—people who not only talk about “grace” but exhibit it in their thoughts and actions. Please be sure to share with others what you have learned, that they can enjoy grace living too.

Onward, dear saints, to devotional #4800!

Please note all our studies are archived here: https://333wordsofgrace.org/master-list-of-devotionals-chronological/.

The LORD Seeth Not? #3

Thursday, April 11, 2024

“Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth” (Ezekiel 8:12 KJV).

Is it valid to say, “The LORD seeth us not?” and “The LORD hath forsaken the earth?”

If a college professor who could read, write, and teach advanced English also lived in the United States (a country filled with English Bibles), why was he seeking “truth” by experimenting with countless foreign religions? Joining a cult is not accidental, but the fatal end of a series of poor choices. Eventually, we all realize we are heading down the wrong path, yet only a few of us ever humbly turn to Jesus Christ in faith (the correct path). We know we are fallible creatures—faulty minds, deceptive hearts, ailing bodies. How can we possibly worship beings like ourselves, depending on our own righteousness or theirs, blindly following cult leaders when even they also have weaknesses and problems?

In the context of today’s Scripture, the LORD has supernaturally transported the Prophet Ezekiel from Babylon to Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem (verses 3,4). Here in JEHOVAH God’s house, the Jews have installed and worshipped numerous idols (verses 5-16). Today’s Scripture: “Then said he [the LORD] unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth” (cf. Ezekiel 9:9). They assumed God was unaware of their sins, and they had escaped justice! Of course, judgment did eventually come!

“Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?” (Psalm 94:7-9). Let us rest assured, friends, the LORD will take vengeance—and no evildoers will escape His justice. May we come by faith in Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as sufficient payment for our sins, before it is too late for us too!

The LORD Seeth Not? #2

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

“Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth” (Ezekiel 8:12 KJV).

Is it valid to say, “The LORD seeth us not?” and “The LORD hath forsaken the earth?”

Read Genesis 3:9-13. Human nature is to blame someone else. When Adam was asked if he committed wrongdoing, he accused God of giving him “the woman!” When Eve was questioned if she did wrong, she accused Satan! There was no personal accountability in Eden… and there is still none on Earth. To this day, excuses are either “God made me this way” or “The Devil made me do it!”

Firstly (mark it well!), the LORD God did not create robots or machines, people who automatically follow His will and do right. If He did, the cry would surely be heard, “God is such a tyrant for not letting me do or believe what I want!” Therefore, He gave us liberty to choose right or choose wrong. If we choose wrong, then we portray the situation as follows: “I did nothing wrong, so it is God’s fault for letting me face the consequences of my poor choices.”

Secondly (and we dare not forget this either!), JEHOVAH God did not leave Himself without witness (Acts 14:15-17; Acts 17:24-31; Romans 1:18-25; Romans 2:14,15). If we choose right, we realize Bibles are everywhere: we do have access to the Word of God and can know the will of God. We recognize the fact everyone has some sense of right and wrong (conscience). Even the most primitive cultures in the most remote regions have a code of conduct. The very existence of a creation demands a Creator—so if we question if God is there, we are only showing we have not been honest with the evidence. If we are grateful for the light we have, responding positively to the evidence we can identify, God will give us more light and we will see more evidence. If we are unthankful for what evidence we have, however, our vulnerability to a darkened heart is guaranteed (Romans 1:19-32).

We must ultimately bear responsibility for ourselves….

The LORD Seeth Not? #1

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

“Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth” (Ezekiel 8:12 KJV).

Is it valid to say, “The LORD seeth us not?” and “The LORD hath forsaken the earth?”

Decades ago, a college professor on a “spiritual quest” to find “peace, enlightenment, and harmony” joined a religious group. Shortly after linking with this crowd, he was promoted to be one of its teachers. A former member testified to its strange beliefs and practices, also recalling having seen that professor at one meeting. Little did the professor know the woman who founded this group had had husbands who died under mysterious circumstances. At least 10 members of her cult had perished in similar, violent situations (deemed “suicides” and “murders”). Most conveniently, they all had legally declared her the sole beneficiary of their estates!

One day, the college professor suddenly vanished while supposedly going on an international trip. His family never saw him again. When his house was searched, they located his handwritten last will and testament: he had named the cult leader as the sole executor of all his possessions. His body has never been found. Other than later indictment on fraud, the cult leader (who denied knowing the professor’s whereabouts) was never charged with anyone’s murder. Several years back, she died in old age… and took her secrets to the grave.

It is tempting for people to look at the above scenario (or many like it) and cry out for justice and closure. “Where is God?” “How could He let this happen?” In fact, someone might pose a question such as, “Is He on vacation?” Or, maybe, “Is He sleeping in His rocking chair on high?” Generally, the “Christian” church member has not been taught anything of real substance, so he or she is totally unequipped to answer these types of challenges. Actually, he or she might eventually wind up aligning with skeptics to echo these inquiries!

Saints, let us contemplate this as mature Bible students, going through much trouble in search for answers….

#Eclipse2024

Monday, April 8, 2024

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalm 19:1 KJV).

Today—weather permitting, of course!—a total solar eclipse will be visible here in North America (Canada, United States, and Mexico)!

As someone who has been interested in science ever since his junior-high school days over 20 years ago—and even graduated university with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology (Earth science)—I think it only appropriate to dedicate one devotional to this unique celestial phenomenon. We as Bible believers can study the natural world through the eyes of faith, and have a much greater appreciation of its beauty and functionality than those who prefer to be “non-religious.”

In a spectacular display of literally astronomical proportions, today, the Moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun in a special way. The Moon will temporarily cover the Sun, the Moon’s shadow casting upon our continent a brief “nighttime” followed by a return of daylight. As long as we use special equipment (uniquely designed eyeglasses or lenses), or watch a livestream video of it, we can safely observe one of these wonders of the LORD God’s natural world. The next event like this that will be seen from our geographical position is scheduled for 2044, so be sure to take advantage of today’s opportunity… if possible!

The mathematical precision necessary for the occurrence of a solar eclipse—or even lunar eclipse (Earth’s shadow thrown onto the Moon)—is mindboggling. Angles, sizes, and distances must be just right; hence, these events are quite rare. Our Creator designed these heavenly bodies with incomprehensible skill, and, even in their fallen state, the systems of our natural world and their respective movements are truly stunning.

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 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” (Romans 1:20,21). By the way, let us be sure to walk in the spiritual light we have, lest come to pass a more severe (and eternal) eclipse than that of the Sun—the darkening of our foolish heart!

Heap Coals of Fire on His Head #3

Sunday, April 7, 2024

“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head” (Romans 12:20 KJV).

What is this, “heap coals of fire on his head?”

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:15: “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” This pairs nicely with the context of today’s Scripture: “[17] Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. [18] If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. [19] Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

As for the “heaping coals of fire” on the enemy’s head (today’s Scripture), this is somewhat obscure, but may allude to the ancient Egyptian custom of carrying a hot container of coals on the head as a public expression of guilt or shame for misconduct. The fire represented burning disgrace and remorse. In the situation of Christians doing good to those who treated them wrongly, the point is so simple. Such friendliness will generate mental misery or torture as in shame or guilt—perhaps even repentance (a change in mind) and possible conversion to Christ!

Paul closes Romans chapter 12 with verse 21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” By submitting to verses 17-20 (having the renewed mind), we will conquer evil and thereby prevent evil from dominating us. We can let evil “overcome” (defeat) us (grudges, bitterness, et cetera), or we can overthrow evil by doing good to those who have harmed us (especially Christians). “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—see 2 Corinthians 2:10,11). Beloved, “Heap coals of fire on his head!” 🙂

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂

Heap Coals of Fire on His Head #2

Saturday, April 6, 2024

“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head” (Romans 12:20 KJV).

What is this, “heap coals of fire on his head?”

In the context of today’s Scripture (verses 14-21), the Holy Spirit through our Apostle Paul clarifies how we as grace believers should respond to our enemies (those who wrong us, whether unbelievers or even fellow Christians!). Highlights include: “[14] Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not…. [17] Recompense [Repay, return] to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. [18] If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

We should not malign or insult those who persecute, injure, or mistreat us (see Christ’s example in 1 Peter 2:21-23). Instead, we should speak well of them. If they do us evil, we do not take personal vengeance. (In serious cases, obviously, we would appeal to human government, as in Romans 13:1-7. On a national level, we would have a strong military for defense—exactly as ancient Israel had.)

By not “striking back” on a personal level, we are attempting to live amiably with all people. The Holy Spirit in us the members of the Body of Christ leads us to think like this. When we have done all we can to get along with others, but they still seek our harm or death, we must move away from them. “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, quoting Deuteronomy 32:35, Christ’s Second Coming in fiery wrath to pay His enemies back).

Today’s Scripture echoes Proverbs 25:21,22: “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.” Whether King Solomon (Proverbs), Christ Jesus (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27,28), or the Apostle Paul, all agree we ought to be humane or cordial to our opponents—supplying them with food, drink, and so on. Let us ponder how “heaping coals of fire upon his head” relates to the situation….