Without Blemish and Without Spot #3

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:…” (1 Peter 1:19 KJV).

How was Israel to see Jesus Christ was “without blemish and without spot?”

Passover/Calvary is two days away (Matthew 26:1,2). Israel’s chief priests, scribes, and elders connive to deceitfully arrest and murder Jesus. At Simon the leper’s house in nearby Bethany, Mary pours ointment on Jesus’ head (unknowingly preparing Him for burial). Judas Iscariot schemes with the chief priests to betray Christ for 30 silver pieces (verses 14-16). Jesus eats an early Passover with His 12 Apostles (verses 17ff.). On the Mount of Olives, He prays, before being betrayed and apprehended. His unjust, nighttime trial concludes late the next morning. Sentenced to death (!), He is crucified at 9 A.M.; He lets Himself die by 3 P.M. (Mark 15:25-38).

Israel could have verified Jesus as Messiah-Redeemer during those four days between Palm Sunday and Calvary. Rather than wrongdoing, He cleansed the defiled Temple, demonstrated God’s power, preached the truth, upheld the pure Mosaic Law, defended and expounded the Hebrew Bible, and exposed Israel’s perverted religious leaders. Scripture testifies of Christ Jesus during His last days: “the innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4), “just [righteous]” (Matthew 27:19), “I find no fault in this man” (Luke 23:4), “I… have found no fault in this man… No, nor yet Herod…” (Luke 23:14,15), “I have found no cause of death in him” (Luke 23:22), “this man hath done nothing amiss [no wrong]” (Luke 23:41), “I find in him no fault at all” (John 18:38), “I find no fault in him” (John 19:4). (Cf. Matthew 27:23; Mark 15:14; Luke 23:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:26; 1 Peter 2:22; cf. today’s Scripture)

Matthew 27:24,25: “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the [Jewish] people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.” Israel knew Pilate was correct; however, they could not care less that Jesus was innocent. Like all other sinful (deceived) children of Adam, they refused God’s sinless Son as their King: they demanded He be crucified as an imposter (John 19:15)!

Without Blemish and Without Spot #2

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:…” (1 Peter 1:19 KJV).

How was Israel to see Jesus Christ was “without blemish and without spot?”

Christ rides the donkey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1-11). (Passover, His death, is about four days away [cf. John 12:1,12-16].) Entering the Temple, He cleanses it of the thieves who had been utilizing “God’s religion” to deceive and rob His people; there, He heals the blind and lame (Matthew 21:12-14). Israel’s religious leaders grow envious when children praise Him (verses 15,16).

Sleeping in nearby Bethany for the night, Jesus returns to Jerusalem in the morning to curse the barren fig tree (verses 17-22). God will never reinstitute the Mosaic Law, for it has produced no spiritual fruit in Israel. In the Temple, Israel’s religious leaders demand of Christ where He received His authority, and slyly dodge His subsequent question about John the Baptist (verses 23-27). He then issues three stinging parables: they do not follow God as they claim (verses 28-32), they willfully reject and scheme to murder His Christ—yes, He knows!! (verses 33-46), and they further refuse to believe on Him (22:1-14).

The Pharisees collaborate to get Jesus to say something incriminating before the Temple crowds (verse 15): they send delegates to ask Him about paying taxes (verses 16-22). The Sadducees then attempt to trick Him with a resurrection riddle (verses 23-33). A lawyer of the Pharisees finally asks Him about the great Law commandment (verses 34-40). Christ answers all three issues wisely! He asks them a question now, which they cannot answer; they are silenced (verses 41-46). Matthew chapter 23 follows—His severest censure of these false religious leaders (cf. John chapter 8)! He finally curses unbelieving Jerusalem, declaring that God’s house has become her house. Exiting the Temple, He walks to the Mount of Olives; in Matthew chapters 24 and 25, He delivers His magnificent end-time “Olivet Discourse.” Calvary is soon!

Indeed, when Israel was appraising the Passover lamb for slaughtering, sinless Jesus entered Jerusalem. He was the true Passover lamb, “a lamb without blemish and without spot” (today’s Scripture), to be sacrificed for us sinners (1 Corinthians 5:7). Would Israel sacrifice Him in faith? Or, in unbelief? Let us see….

Without Blemish and Without Spot #1

Monday, March 25, 2024

“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:…” (1 Peter 1:19 KJV).

How was Israel to see Jesus Christ was “without blemish and without spot?”

In Exodus chapter 12, JEHOVAH God through Moses commanded the Jews to observe Passover, the perpetual memorial to Him delivering them from Egyptian bondage: “[3] Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: [4] And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

“[5] Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: [6] And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. [7] And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. [8] And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.”

On Abib 10th (roughly April), each Israeli house selected a young male lamb, sheep or goat, “without blemish.” After confining it to scrutinize it for any disability or illness, they killed it in the evening of the 14th. At the time, no one realized that Father God had laid this out as a template for Jesus Christ’s final days. With the so-called “triumphal entry” of early Matthew chapter 21, Christ enters Jerusalem. He will remain in (or near) Jerusalem until His arrest and crucifixion. In these three or four days leading up to Calvary’s cross, He can be examined, tested to see if He fits the type laid out in the Passover-lamb prophecy. We now contemplate His activities during His last week alive….

The “Triumphal” Entry

Sunday, March 24, 2024

“All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass” (Matthew 21:4,5 KJV).

Do you ever wonder why Jesus Christ rode on a donkey the Sunday before His crucifixion?

In today’s Scripture (cf. Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19), Jesus’s crucifixion on Calvary’s cross is just five days away. Leaving Bethany, He travels to Jerusalem (a mile to the northwest). Israel’s believing remnant in Jerusalem is excited to hear that Messiah is returning to “the city of the great King” (Psalm 48:2; Matthew 5:35); in anticipation, the great multitude throws their garments and palm branches on the ground. As Jesus enters the city, they cry out, “Hosanna [“O save!”]: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9,10; Luke 19:38; John 12:13; cf. Psalm 118:26).

While often called the “Triumphal Entry,” there really was no victory being celebrated in today’s Scripture—the victory was to come later! What we need to realize is that Jesus Christ was humble (“meek”) here: as a King riding on a donkey into Israel’s capital city, He demonstrated He desired peace with Israel (a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9). He had not come to destroy her, though He would have been just in doing so; He had come to save her from her sins, her enemies, and her satanic bondage (Matthew 1:21; Mark 2:17; Mark 3:22-30; Luke 1:68-75; Luke 9:55,56; Luke 19:9,10; Acts 3:24-26; et cetera).

Just a few days later, Jesus Christ appeared weak and defeated. He never fought back as the Roman soldiers mercilessly abused Him; He allowed Himself to be crucified on Calvary. It was His meek and lowly coming; now was not the time to pour out His wrath. He resurrected and ascended into heaven as a royal exile. Revelation 19:11 says Jesus Christ will return to Jerusalem on a white horse, a sign of war and wrath (Zechariah 14:1-4)—that will be His true triumphal entry, for He will conquer Satan’s world system forever!

No Corrupt Communication #22

Saturday, March 23, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

One spiteful critic stated he rejected our position because we King James Bible users claim to have knowledge with certainty. Echoing a classic humanist (a pagan, in fact), he contended “we can know nothing for certain” (then, Luke 1:4 is untrue?). Strangely, this seminary graduate has a ministry as a “Christian apologist,” someone who allegedly defends Jesus’ teachings against cults (he knows something for certain, apparently)! He is also cognizant his “scholarly” modern-version friends would disown him in a heartbeat if he dare support the King James Bible! “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42,43). It is these kinds of people “in ministry” we had better watch out for and totally avoid!

If anyone questions your exclusive use of the King James Bible, or complains it has mistakes, then ask them to show you a Bible you can trust 100 percent. They will not present it to you. All they will offer you is another Bible they find fault with as well. This is the corrupt fruit of textual criticism, and we are certain it has poisoned almost every Bible college, minister, local church, “Christian” book, “Christian” sermon, and Christian soul through the centuries. People who have been robbed of an authoritative, perfect Bible now attempt to take it away from us, so we no longer pose a threat to their church, theological system, or seminary indoctrination.

Dear friends, here is the subtlest form of “corrupt communication,” the deadliest type of misinformation, and the costliest kind of education—stunting the growth of billions of church members, producing more heresy and apostasy than atheism, agnosticism, and free-thinking combined. The position of faith is to believe God’s perfectly preserved Word and words in English are the King James Bible. Any other conclusion is doubtful, subject to change, and rank unbelief. Mark it well, and never forget it!

-FINIS!-

No Corrupt Communication #21

Friday, March 22, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

Our 400-year-old King James Bible’s “archaic” (old-fashioned) terminology is criticized ad nauseam. English is indeed a living language: words and definitions are being added and deleted as time passes. It is also a diverse language, borrowing from various other tongues. Hence, English is deteriorating, especially as slang becomes more commonplace. The King James Bible’s English is quite precise, far more representative of the original Bible languages than today’s English, and thus vastly superior to modern English.

Not only was the King James Bible translated when English was at its purest (seventeenth century), study of the original Bible languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek) was exploding like never before. The Protestant Reformation a century prior had generated much spiritual enlightenment (which the Roman Catholic Church hithertofore had stifled via superstitions and blind reliance on literate priests who misled the illiterate masses). Yea, no man or group of men assembled today could ever come close to producing another King James Bible. What we need to do is be thankful for what those 1611 scholars left us, and stop the petulant whining and juvenile emendations (“poor translation,” “mistranslation,” “the original Greek or Hebrew says…”—such baseless grievances equating to “corrupt communication”).

The professing church, and even the genuine church, finds itself in an unenviable position. Having been so brainwashed to question the King James Bible, it does not give a second thought to retranslation or replacement with a modern version. The Authorized Version is so distrusted in countless minds that they are now vulnerable to teachers, preachers, and professors who have been educated (willingly or inadvertently) by Roman Catholic scholarship that wishes to reverse the Reformation. With Protestants lacking firm faith in their Bible, the traditionalists who worship “scholarship” or manmade systems can then “help.” Allegedly, “Holy Mother Church” and her “informed” servants will give us the real Word of God—not only what it means, but what it is (Codices Vaticanus and Sinaiticus!). This is what Protestant leaders have stimulated by relentlessly attacking their King James Bible, so we dare not dismiss the Bible versions issue as unimportant!

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

No Corrupt Communication #20

Thursday, March 21, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

Counselling the elders (church leaders) of Ephesus, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul advised: “Take heed [watch out, be careful!] therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 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 away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:28-32).

Not only would the threat be outside the church—it would be inside it too. People in ministry, who once held to the truth, would fall away from it. These are the false teachers of whom we should be especially vigilant. What better way to infiltrate, divide, and thoroughly destroy Christians with heresies than by “Christian” (HA!) leaders adjusting their Bible (what they trust!)?

Some years back, I followed a Bible teacher who habitually corrected the King James Bible. Eventually, I wrote a letter to him explaining his inconsistency: he always said, “Follow the Bible, not what I say,” but he constantly offered a “better translation” when he disliked what the Bible said. He agreed with me that “modern versions were of the Devil,” but he had the right to change Bible verses for the purposes of teaching. Wow! (The modern versions are of the Devil for the same reason his treatment of the King James Bible was of the Devil: both positions take the authority from God’s words and place it on people’s opinions, thus fracturing what the unadulterated truth would have united.)

“Perverse things”—corrupt communication—were spoken and written….

No Corrupt Communication #19

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

As Bible believers, we recognize a chief malevolent (evil) spirit exists: Satan is not merely an idea, but a spirit-being just as real as God is. “Satan” (Hebrew) means “adversary.” (See it translated “adversary/adversaries” in Numbers 22:22; 1 Samuel 29:4; 2 Samuel 19:22; 1 Kings 5:5; 1 Kings 11:14,23,25. It is rendered “withstand” in Numbers 22:32.)

The first time Satan appears in Scripture is Genesis chapter 3: “[1] Now the serpent was more subtil [sneaky, underhanded] 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? [2] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: [3] 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. [4] And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: [5] 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.”

In Genesis 3:1, Satan opened by questioning God’s words—“Did God really say this…?” Eve was too confused to know the truth, so she accepted his “enlightenment!” Read God’s original words in Genesis 2:16,17: “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.” However, in Genesis chapter 3, Eve omitted “freely” from God’s words, added “neither shall ye touch it” to God’s words, and watered down “thou shalt surely die” to become “lest ye die.” Only then did Satan finally deny God’s words altogether: “Ye shall not surely die….”

Satan’s evil world system and its participants, boasting “scholarship” and “expertise,” still incite us to treat God’s words so shamefully, disrespectfully, corruptly….

No Corrupt Communication #18

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

Read Daniel 7:25: “And he shall speak great words against the most High,….” Go back to Daniel 11:36: “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods,….” Re-read Revelation 13:5,6: “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”

As indicated above, the Antichrist (counterfeit Christ or false Messiah) in the ages to come will use his tongue to utter lies. Basically, he will claim to be God in human flesh—and he will command people to worship him as God or face the death penalty (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4; Revelation 13:7-18). The creature is now being worshipped and served as the Creator, the climax of Satan’s policy of evil (Romans 1:25).

People respond to the Antichrist (“the beast”) in Revelation 13:3,4: “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” So thoroughly deceived, they praise the Antichrist, loving and adoring this satanic man who embodies all the Devil purposed (“I will be like the most High;” Isaiah 14:14). Doubtless, as James chapter 3 elucidated, here is man utilizing his tongue most wickedly. An imitation is assumed to be the genuine, and the phony is esteemed in place of the legitimate.

If there will be a counterfeit living Word of God (Antichrist mimicking Jesus Christ), with that sham (Antichrist) receiving Jesus’ rightful glory, it is not inconceivable the written Word of God (Holy Bible) has been imitated and forgeries have been exalted in its place….

No Corrupt Communication #17

Monday, March 18, 2024

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 KJV).

What is this “corrupt communication?”

In James chapter 3, we read the following: “[1] My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. [2] For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. [3] Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. [4] Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

“[5] Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! [6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. [7] For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: [8] But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

The tongue is indeed small—certainly not the size of a limb or torso—yet it exercises a disproportionate amount of power. Tongues throughout history have been used to inflict great damage (gossip, sassing, slander, blasphemy, insults, and so on). In the ages to come, James will be especially appropriate concerning the Antichrist, the man who will “speak marvellous [disrespectful, extraordinary, outrageous] things against the God of gods” (Daniel 11:36). Revelation 13:5,6 amplifies: “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”

Let us see what people say about this Antichrist….