It’s Not Acts 2:38 Today

Acts 2:38 won’t get anyone saved today!!

Acts 2:38 is\n not the Gospel that saves today – it’s the kingdom GOSPEL that saves in times past and will again when Christ sets foot back on the earth at the end of the 70th week of Daniel or Time of Jacob’s trouble.

Acts 2:38 KJV — “Then Peter said unto them, 👉Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the 👉remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Note the word remission – remission is a temporary stop, a pause of indefinite length, that’s not forgiven. Forgiven is permanent, complete. Here is the follow up verse to 2:38 that explains when their sins are actually forgiven:

Acts 3:19 KJV — “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the 👉times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”

Repent and be baptized is a work, and the times of refreshing is the 2nd coming to the earth not the air of Christ at the start of the Millennial Kingdom on earth. But that’s not what Gods doing today, today salvation is by grace through faith alone as the gospel for today shows:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV — “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that 👉Christ died for our sins 👈according to the scriptures; And that he 👉was buried, and that he rose again👈 the third day according to the scriptures:”

Salvation right now is not about what we can do but what Christ already did on the cross almost 2000 years ago.

Ephesians 1:13 KJV — “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also🙂 after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise👈,”

Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV — “👉For by grace are ye saved through faith👈; and that not of yourselves: 👉it is the gift of God: Not of works👈, lest any man should boast.”

Sharing that will please God and you can’t find the death burial and resurrection for the full payment of sins and instant, eternal, permanent Salvation of sinners for eternity in Acts 2:38, 3:19 or Matthew, Mark, Luke John or any of the books of scripture outside Paul’s Epistles Romans through Philemon.

That’s our mail and instructions by the risen glorified Christ for today and the part of scripture our doctrine comes from. All of scripture is for us, for our learning about and understanding of God’s two-fold plan and purpose to restore heaven and Earth back under His government, but it’s not all to or about us. God is reconciling earth through Israel in the future and heaven with the Body of Christ being formed today, that’s why our conversation is in heaven where in God’s eyes we are already seated with Christ our head. One day we will be caught up where He is and Israel’s program will be back in force.

I ask anyone who says that the gospel is found anywhere other than Paul’s Epistles do you understand the difference between justification obtained by the cross which is our position in Christ the instant we believe and our sanctification which is our walk where we work out our salvation not earn it but God’s word works in us and through us to perfect the new creature we are in His Son?

Romans 8:38-39 KJV — “For I am persuaded, 👉that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God👈, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 KJV — “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;👉 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.👈”. (Can God unseal you?)

2 Corinthians 5:5-8 KJV — “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is 👉God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.👈 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

Ephesians 1:13-15 KJV — “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:👉 in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 👈Which is the earnest of our inheritance 👉until the redemption of the purchased possession👈, unto the praise of his glory. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,”. (According to this verse your sealed at belief until the catching up of the Body of Christ)

Ephesians 4:30 KJV — “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby👉 ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”( Again sealed until redemption and what’s more you can grieve not loose the spirit)

Philippians 1:6 KJV — “Being confident of this very thing, that he which 👉hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:👈”.

Colossians 3:3 KJV — “For ye are dead, and👉 your life is hid with Christ in God👈.”. (Can your life be removed from Christ?)

Titus 1:2 KJV — “In hope of eternal life, 👉which God, that cannot lie, promised👈 before the world began;”

Titus 3:7 KJV — “That 👉being justified by his grace👈, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

It’s not me you’re arguing with if you try to say that a believer can loose their salvation but God as the above verses show.

You’re actually calling Him a liar, but the verses prove He can not lie so what’s that make you?

God says what He means, means what He says and He says that saints in the body of Christ can not loose their salvation, however Israel could in the past and will be able to in the future, but not us in this dispensation of God’s grace.

Throw Out That Trash

THROW OUT YOUR DENOMINATIONAL TRASH

LEARN ABOUT GOD’S TWO PROGRAMS, TWO AGENCIES, AND TWO METHODS OF REVEALING HIS WORD

God designed His word to be studied dispensationally. God gave Paul to give to us the KEY to understanding His word (2Tim 2:15 KJV).

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been studying your KJV Bible, nor how long you’ve been a ‘pastor’ or a ‘Bible teacher’, if you AREN’T rightly dividing the word of truth, you ARE NOT understanding God’s word correctly. Period.

It is impossible to be a mature saint IN Christ, without an understanding of God’s TWO programs, TWO agencies, and TWO methods of God revealing His word.

God’s TWO different & separate PROGRAMS: Law vs. the dispensation of Grace.

God’s TWO different & separate AGENCIES: Nation of Israel vs. the church the Body of Christ.

God’s TWO different & separate METHODS of revealing His word: Prophecy vs. Mystery.

Nation of Israel under the Law guided by God through PROPHECY.

Body of Christ under Grace guided by God through the MYSTERY.

God gave Jesus’ 12 disciples the “gospel of Jesus Christ” according to PROPHECY. (Mark 1:1-2 KJV)

God gave apostle Paul the “gospel of Christ” according to the MYSTERY. (Romans 16:25 KJV)

The gospel according to PROPHECY required water baptism.

Whereas, the gospel according to the MYSTERY doesn’t include water baptism.

The gospel according to PROPHECY was for ISRAEL only.

The gospel according to the MYSTERY is for us today during this current dispensation of GRACE.
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Learn more …

GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PROPHECY vs. GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE MYSTERY – (POST – You’re Not A Bible Believer If … ) – https://goo.gl/Zl2Geq

JESUS WAS A DISPENSATIONALIST – (POST with Paul’s sound doctrine) and 48-min Video – by Ray Keable – https://goo.gl/qUXIdX

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH – (POST with a Timeline Chart of the Bible and some great resource links) – https://goo.gl/3lkrTy

PAUL’S GOSPEL IS SO RADICAL THAT MOST CAN’T BELIEVE IT – (POST with a dramatic summary leading up to Paul) – https://goo.gl/hKqeBu
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Master the basics of rightly dividing the word of truth…

VIDEO – 30 min – Why Rightly Divide God’s Word? – Richard Jordan – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlBRmPEMcWI&app=desktop

VIDEOS – Through The Bible in Seven Hours! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDEA911E1C967B8C3

VIDEO – Dispel Confusion of the Bible in only ONE HOUR – Guaranteed! – Rodney Beaulieu -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py6jR_CEjlM

BIBLE TIMELINE (28 min Video ) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od8A5Ldc8T4

HOW TO STUDY THE WORD OF TRUTH – (PDF) – http://www.grace-harbor-church.org/…/How_To_Study-English.p…

THE BIBLE: THE BIG PICTURE – (PDF) – http://helpersofyourjoy.com/…/u…/2011/12/The-Big-Picture.pdf

KEY TO UNDERSTANDING YOUR BIBLE – (ONLINE) – http://www.av-1611.com/Key_Understanding_Bible.htm

THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE by Richard Jordan (PDF) – http://www.graceindiaministry.org/…/019%20The%20key%20to%20…

MOSES AND PAUL: THE DISPENSORS OF LAW AND GRACE – by C.R. Stam – (PM me with a request to email this PDF to you)

VIDEO SERIES – RIGHT DIVISION – ( Part 1 of 22 ) – by Pastor Tom Bruscha – https://www.youtube.com/watch…

VIDEO – GOD’S GREAT MYSTERY – ( 80-min ) – Pastor David Reid – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flBuUbHmRZ8&%3Frel=0

VIDEO SERIES – RIGHT DIVISION 101 – ( Part 1 of 30 ) – by Pastor Bryan Ross – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrMH6DXU7Vs

DEFENDING ANY DENOMINATION IS VAIN – 1-hr VIDEO Bible Study by Pastor Rodney Beaulieu —> 10 25 15 The Winds of Change – https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10205944322981299&id=1056404279
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Catholism Is Not Biblical

I know that many of you have been born into it, believe it, and practice it. I also know you say you love Jesus Christ and want to do what He would have you to do. Well this is what Christ says to do today:

1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV — “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

1 Timothy 1:16 KJV — “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”

Check out just a few of the historical facts about the “Church” you are claiming is what Christ would have you follow today and then go read Romans through Philemon in a KJV Bible. I know you probably have the corrupt versions pushed by the Vatican so go to BibleGateway.com and read them there, then get a real Bible one that actually contains the very words of God written by down and preserved for us today in the English language in the KJV. Don’t read the NKJV either as it’s just as corrupt as the rest.

ROMAN CATHOLIC MAN MADE DOCTRINES.

THESE WEIRD NON BIBLICAL DOCTRINES DO NOT COME FROM THE WORD OF GOD FRIENDS. THE ROMAN CULT HAS ALWAYS PRACTICED THE HIGHEST FORMS OF IDOLATRY AND DECEPTION. THEY DO NOT SERVE THE Jesus OF THE BIBLE. DON’T BE DECEIVED.

1 . Prayers for the dead . ……….. ……. 300 A.D.
2. Making the sign of the cross ………………300 A.D.
3. Veneration of angels & dead saints ……. 375 A.D.
4. Use of images in Worship…………..……375 A.D.
5. The Mass as a daily celebration……. 394 A.D.
6 Beginning of the exaltation of Mary; the term, “Mother of God” applied a Council of Ephesus ………………………………..431 A.D.
7 Extreme Unction (Last Rites of the Dead).526 A.D.
8. Doctrine of Purgatory-Gregory ……………..593 A.D..
9. Prayers to Mary & dead saints …….……..600 A.D.
10. Worship of cross, images & relics ……… 786 A.D
11 Canonization of dead saints .………………995 A.D.
12. Celibacy of priesthood ………………..…1079 A.D.
13. The Rosary …………………………………1090 A.D.
14. Indulgences .………………………..……1190 A.D.
15. Transubstantiation-Innocent III …..…….1215 A.D.
16. Auricular Confession of sins to priest …1215 A.D.
17. Adoration of the wafer Host)……………. 1220 A.D.
18. Cup forbidden to the people at communion 1414 A.D.
19. Purgatory proclaimed as a dogma..…….1439 A.D.
20. The doctrine of the Seven
Sacraments confirmed ………………………. .1439 A.D.
21 Tradition declared of equal authority
with Bible by Council of Trent……………… ..1545 A.D.
22. Apocryphal books added to Bibl…..……1546 A.D.
23. Immaculate Conception of Mary………..1854 A.D.
24, Infallibility of the pope in matters of
faith and morals, proclaimed by the
Vatican Council ……………………………….. 1870 A.D.
25. Assumption of the Virgin Mary (bodily
ascension into heaven shortly after
her death) ………………………………………….1950 A.D.
26. Mary proclaimed Mother of Church…….1965 A.D

— Compiled by Marc Roy

Check out those dates. Even if Peter the Apostle founded he church for today as the RCC claims there is no possible way he could have started these rituals. And by the way, Peter didn’t start anything, he just carried on adding to what God had already started. Paul started the church the Body of Christ the only church for today beginning in Acts 9 when Christ from heaven shined down and saved him as our pattern for today. Romans through Philemon friends. Read it, learn it, believe and obey Christ Jesus.

No, Not All Bibles Are the Same

They just aren’t.  The KJV is the  preserved translation in the English language. I know I post often about this topic but quite honestly the versions since the King James Bible take Satan’s plan to corrupt and pervert God’s word and run with it to degrees that must thrill that deceiver. It breaks my heart to see him gaining ground by the second as people turn away from the sound, solid, and simple truth of the KJV instead allowing their ears to be tickled by modern versions that question God’s aword; remove key verses and words  showing the deity of Christ, the blood of Christ, the Trinity, the sin nature of mankind, etc.; add allegory and footnotes that undermine what God actually said and meant; and are all based on the corrupt minority manuscripts rather than the Textus Receptus or Majority Text.  Reading one of these translations such as the ASB, CEB, ESV, NIV, NKJV, NIRV, NRSV, RSV, etc will mislead and confuse a believer making them unfruitful members of the Body of Christ at best and lead them straight to hell as unsaved at worst!

I know that’s preachers, priests, theologians all say it doesn’t matter, they are all the same, yada yada yada yada, but when where you will spend eternity is at stake I say it is a matter of grave importance.  So please take a few moments to read the information below as well as compare some of the additional verses from multiple translations and see for yourself why reading any version other than the KJV is playing right into Satan’s hands.

Since we know Satan has been attacking God’s word from the beginning “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Gen. 3:1). We also know God has promised to preserve His word “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalms 12:6,7).

I used the ESV for years before I understood the problems with it.  I was reading ESV and KJV study Bible commentaries one day several years ago and realized that there were some major differences, so I began researching it more.  The verse that really got me was 1 John 5:7 – in the ESV it is butchered to become pointless while the KJV is the clearest verse on the Trinity.   Go on, go check your Bible if you don’t believe me.  If you aren’t reading a KJV it will say something like “There are three that bear witness” then go to verse 8 or have been removed all together.

The word “blood”  is omitted 23 times; “Lord” 66 times; “God” 51 times; “heaven” 50 times; “repent” 44 times; “hell” 22 times; the following words are completely omitted “new testament, damnation, devils, JEHOVAH” in the modern NKJV. They ignores the KJB Textus Receptus over 1,200 times. This information is taken from the website: Messiah Congregation oneinmessiah.net/njkv.htm.

Please notice how a very important verse for right division is changed in the New King James Version (NKJV) compare the following:

Rom. 15:8 (KJB) Now I say that Jesus Christ 👉was a minister of👈 the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.

Rom. 15:8 (NKJV) Now I say that Jesus Christ 👉 has become a servant to👈 the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers.

Christ was a minister to the circumcision (Israel) when He was on earth, as Paul explained, He did not become a servant as the NKJV states.

2 Timothy 2:15 is changed from 👉”study and rightly divide”👈 in the KJV to 👉”trying or doing your best and rightly handling or interpretting”👈 in most modern translations.  Now folks that does not mean the same thing.  To divide something is to make a separation, to cut straightly. However that water downed mess in the modern translations really makes little sense in that context.

Here is an example of a doctrinal change in the New King James Version:

1 Cor. 1:18 (NKJV) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are 👉BEING SAVED 👈it is the power of God.

1 Cor. 1:18 (KJB) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which 👉are SAVED👈 it is the power of God.

Notice how the NKJV changed the doctrine of salvation to a progressive salvation, rather than a one-time instantaneous event by saying we “are BEING SAVED” in 1 Cor. 1:18.  This is true of most of the post KJV translations.

No one can be secure if they are “being saved,” instead of “are saved.” The NKJV is a counterfeit bible, not the KJV.

The New International Version (NIV) is missing 17 entire verses. Try finding Acts 8:37 in the NIV. Here is the list of missing verses (some newer NIV bibles have these verses in the footnotes, but they belong in the text):
Matthew 17:21; 18:11; 23:14.
Mark 7:16; 9:44; 9:46; 11:26; 15:28.
Luke 17:36; 23:17; John 5:4.
Acts 8:37; 15:34; 24:7; 28:29.
Romans 16:24.

Philo (25 BC–50 AD), a Jewish man, tried to unite Greek philosophy (Plato) with the Jewish Old Testament. Origen (185-254 AD) did much damage to God’s word by changing it in Alexandria, Egypt. The true line of Bibles came from the Antioch line. Paul says 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” (Acts 20:29, 30a). Paul also writes “For we are not as many which corrupt the word of God” (2 Cor. 2:17). See if this verse is quoted correctly in your Bible 👉 “God was manifest in the flesh” 1 Tim. 3:16👈 many translations leave out “God”.  Satan is taking the true word of God away from Christians and many are unaware of what is happening.

The KJB translators primarily used the Greek texts of Stephanus 1550 and Beza 1598. I believe the King James Bible is the true word of God in the English language, perfectly based on the true Greek and Hebrew texts which God has preserved. There are really only two Bibles in the world today those based on God’s preserved texts like the KJB, and all the others based on corrupt texts. “How firm a foundation He has laid for us all in His excellent word.”

God does not want His word changed in any way, NOT added or subtracted to: “. . . If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18,19).

Satan used the Catholic church to keep the Bible from the common people. The false Alexandrian text (the Vulgate) was kept in a dead language which few could read (Latin) shut up for the 1,000-year Dark Ages (500-1500 AD).

But Martin Luther hatched the egg that Erasmus had laid by translating the Textus Receptus which Erasmus had collected so that people could read it.

William Tyndale (1494-1536) was the first to translate the Greek (TR) and Hebrew Bible into English. It has been estimated that as much as 90 percent of the King James Bible was the work of Tyndale (Bere, Michael Bible Doctrines for Today, A Beka Book, Pensacola, FL 1996, page 79).

Remember, the modern bible versions hide (obscure) the revelation of the “mystery” given to Paul. But the mystery is evident in the King James Bible for those who study the Bible rightly divided.

Proving the superiority of the King James Bible is simple and easy: the KJV exalts the Lord Jesus Christ more than any other Bible on the planet. The true scriptures testify of Jesus Christ and exalt Him.

The KJB (also known as the KJV) is a masterpiece inspired and preserved by God the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Word (John 1:1-4) said that His words are eternal “heaven and earth shall pass away, but MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY” (Matt. 24:35).

Now I only use the King James Bible, and fully believe it is God’s perfectly preserved word just as He promised that I hold in my hands.   We need to use the most accurate text in our Bible study. For all these reasons I believe that I would be wasting your time and mine if I use any other Bible version, and worse I would be leading us all astray through the spreading and upholding of Satan’s false doctrines and lies.  Just look into it and see.  Let God’s pure word speak to you!

Effective Prayer in the Age of Grace

I hear people getting so frustrated, hurt and even rejecting God because they hear some believers swear that they had miraculous prayers answered basically on demand as if God is a vending machine we can just put a prayer in and get our number.  And it is true that during the prophetic program it will work in a similar manner for believing Israel, basically they ask in Jesus name and believe they will get and bada bing bada boom it’s done.  Healing, no problem.  Raise the dead, it’s done.  Tongues, they each speak at least 10.  When it comes to working physical earthly miracles Jesus and the twelve did it back in the Gospels continuing through most of the Acts period for Israel.  But after the stoning of Stephen and Israel’s fall when Paul was saved and given the revelation of the mystery of the grace of God those miracles and signs including the order an answered prayer slowly stopped.  By the end of Paul’s ministry healings along with the other signs and miracles for Israel have ceased as seen by the fact that Paul does not heal Timothy or ask that he be healed.  We also see the poor Jewish saints in Jerusalem basically starving which is why Paul is taking up a collection for them.  Now this is a temporary hold on the plan while the age of grace is the program today, while the body of Christ is being formed and all saved are blessed with all spiritual not earthly blessings until the day the Body is caught up to the air with it;s head and God picks back up on the prophetic program.  Well, just watch this video by Brother Richard Jordan, he walks you through the Scriptures showing us what God is doing with man today.  My prayer is that any believers out there who may be trying to lay hold on and claim a program today that isn’t for us and won’t work will realize they are already blessed with all spiritual blessings seated in heavenly places in Christ and we don’t need to ficus on the cares and worries of this world but lift our eyes homeward and count the sufferings here as nothing compared to what we have waiting there.   I do know there are people who claim it does but I beg to differ as it’s not what God’s Word promises for us, I do believe however that just as Janis and Jambrees were able to counterfeit Moses sign so too might Satan still work false miracles to deceive those weaker members of the body who are seeking for earthly signs and miracles instead of resting securely in the spiritual and heavenly blessings they already have.  

Rightly Dividing: 16 What Part’s Ours?

Since we now understand that not all of the Bible was written to or about us let’s look at the parts which are. First, let me stress that the entire Bible was written for our benefit and is the word of God. However, not all the information contained in the Bible is given for our obedience today. For example the command God gave to Adam about not eating of that one specific tree doesn’t apply to us today cause he done ate from it and jacked everything all up and the situation he had in Eden doesn’t even exist today. Same with Noah, God told him that in order to be saved he had to build an ark, guess what, that command won’t help us much today and it sure won’t save us. We need instead to be concerned with the particular information God tells us today to follow during the dispensation of the age of grace.

Since the dispensation of grace was given to the Apostle Paul alone, the whole mystery I talked about last night. We already noted how Peter had a very different message to proclaim as did Christ himself, they preached Israel’s kingdom of heaven gospel that was a world based salvation. But we aren’t under the law and it’s works, today it’s all about grace and we find the information spoken by and written by our apostle to us and for us in the Pauline epistles.

That’s the books of Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. That’s where we go for all our doctrine, correction and reproof.

But what about the rest of the books in the New Testament after Philemon you ask. Those books are written for a time when there is once again a difference between Jew and Gentile. That’s not today as we have already established using verses like this one from Galatians.

Under the Old Testament though there was a major very clear distinction between Jew and Gentile, and there will be again in the future when God once again treats Jews and Gentiles differently. The book of Hebrews for instance is written to the Hebrews but there is no group of people whom God is dealing with today known as Hebrews. The same with the book of James, just look at how it starts out.

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”  (James 1:1)

It’s written to the twelve tribes of Israel. Folks that ain’t us! Right now God just sees people, no Jew no Gentiles, he deals with us all the same way, so James can’t apply dispensationally to us today. It will apply in the future when God changes programs again and deals with the Jews in a special way.

All the books after Philemon (Hebrews through Revelation) are addressed to a time period when there is once again a distinction between Jew and Gentile and faith and salvation will once again be demonstrated by performing certain required works as expressions of faith in order to obtain salvation. Thank God that we live in the age of grace and salvation is a free gift through Christ all we need do is accept it by believing in his death, burial and resurrection. It can’t be any easier.

And just in case you really want to think the books after Philemon are to you read them carefully and remember that when God starts dealing with Israel as a chosen nation again they are going to pick back up on their kingdom program and plunge headfirst into Daniels 70th week, otherwise referred to as the Great Tribulation, spoken of by the prophets and detailed in full in the final book the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Folks trust me it is great to be under grace, cause I’ve read the prophecies and that is some jacked up crazy worst nightmare kinda stuff. The disasters, the Antichrist, the beheadings, the locusts (ugh, those locusts man they are like spiders from hell, actually they are locust from hell) you do not want to be here when God begins to give a rebellious and rejecting world exactly what it’s been asking for.

Spiritual Arsenal pt. 2

Tonight I want to share some of my favorite verses about the one in whom our hope lies, our sweet Lord and Savior, Jesus.  These are verses and passages that assure me of who he is, what he has done for me and what he is still doing for me.   Verses that point my eyes and heart heavenward, lifting my fainting soul to revive in the security of the hand’s of my Lord.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ – he never changes, ever.  Never has, never will and that assurance is a glorious comfort, a comfort we can trust fully in.

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: Job 19:25

It’s mostly the first half of this that truly strengthens me “For I know that my redeemer liveth!”  Praise God he liveth and because he does so too do we!  That is  a promise, a hope, a joy that thrills my heart, and convicts those who do not yet know it.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

He has overcome the world, we have peace, perfect peace,

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

That’s a peace no one or no thing other than the Lord Jesus Christ can ever offer us.  His peace is an eternal peace that will never fail us no matter what we may face in this world.

for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5b

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. John 12:46

He is the Light of the world; one of my toddlers at work loves to turn the light off and on each Sunday.  I could scold him or not allow him to ‘play’ with the switch but then it allows such teachable moments.  Whether I remind him gently that God said “let there be light”, or John 12:46 that when we abide in Him we are never in darkness simply flipping a light off and on a few times is a perfect opportunity to sow these seeds deep in a little tender heart where I pray they will take root and grow one day to bloom into a well rooted, deep seated faith that is unshakable.  It also waters those seeds in my own heart.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.    John 10:11-18

I want to start with the first verse of this passage He is the GOOD SHEPHERD!  He is our shepherd, our safety, security, savior, hope, promise, joy, peace, our great and glorious, righteous and mighty King!  Emanuel, the Prince of Peace, the Son of God who became the Son of man to take our place, swallowed the cup of our sin and bore the judgement due us for our sin upon his own body, shed his blood to wash us clean; bought our hearts and souls out of the tender pure depths and mercy of his love.  He is our Sweet Savior, our Good Shepherd, our Salvation and that is the greatest truth we will ever know.  When that truth of just who Jesus is and what He did for us, why He did it and what it means to us is rooted in our hearts and souls then we have a weapon so powerful, so mighty and strong that the very gates of hell tremble and fall before it.  We have His Blood poured out for us in pure love!

 

As always my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ may the Father bless, keep and strengthen you as you continue to:

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12
knowing that you can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth you. Philippians 4:13

The Great Affirmation

I want to encourage each of you with this study of the precious promise of our Savior by George H. Morrison.

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In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  John 14:2

Christ Knew about Death; Socrates Only Speculated
It is not by any amplified detail that these words so appeal to human hearts. It is rather by the quiet, assured confidence with which the Savior speaks of the beyond. In the whole of literature there is but one scene worthy to be compared with this. It is where Plato tells of the last hours of Socrates in prison before he drank the poison. I know few things more admirably fitted to reveal the preeminence of Christ than a comparison of these two incidents. Like Christ, Socrates is going to die. Like Christ, his thoughts run on immortality. He discusses it with the friends who come to visit him; he speculates, he argues, and he wonders. What a perfect and stupendous contrast between that and the attitude of Christ. Socrates speculates about a life unknown. Christ speaks of a life that He has known, a realm as real and familiar to Him as my study is to me. It is not what He says so much; rather it is the tone in which He says it that has reached the heart and comforted humanity and given it an anchor for the soul. Where others speculate, the Savior knows. Where others question, He is quietly sure. Where others see but dimly in the shadows, He sees with the certainty of God. And all this on the night of His betrayal, when all that He had lived for seemed in ruins, and nothing seemed to lie before Him but a grave.

Man’s Instinct for Immortality
These great words of Jesus corroborate the longings of the heart. All that we crave and hope for in the deeps here is countersigned by the Lord Jesus. Deep and ineradicable is the instinct of man for immortality, witnessed in every age, in every country, in every religion. Even when men deny it with their lips, still do they confess it with their lives, for life has its arguments no less than intellect. By the powerlessness of the whole world to satisfy the poorest heart; by the cargoes we all have on board of things that are not wanted for the voyage; by the passion for truth, the craving for perfection, the glimmering of ideals we never reach, man stretches out his hands to immortality. Whoever loved without longing for forever? Deep affection postulates eternity. Love does not want a year or a millennium. Love cries for immortality. And now comes Christ and looks upon mankind and sees the secret hunger of their souls and says, “If it were not so, I would have told you.”
There are beliefs that influence life but little, like the old belief that the sun went round the earth. We may cling to them, or we may give them up, with little difference to conduct. But there are other beliefs that touch and mold and color every action of the common day, and among these is the belief in immortality. In the light of it everything is altered. Altered is our outlook on the world. Altered is the discipline of life, and the import of the chastisements of heaven. Love is different, and hope is different; duty gains august and awful sanction if that instinct of immortality be true. Changed is the face of suffering, of infirmity, of weakness, and of pain. Changed is the loneliness of dying; changed the horrid darkness of the grave. And Christ says, “Children, do you think one instant that if that were an error I would let you keep it? If it were not so, I would have told you. Believe if you like that the sun goes round the earth. That does not matter. I shall not interfere. You may be Mine; you may be washed and sanctified though you believe that the sun goes round the earth. But that deep instinct for immortal life affects profoundly everything you do, and if it were a deception I would have told you.”

“I Would Have Told You So”
He would have told us because He loves us and cannot bear to see His own deceived. He would have told us though it almost broke His heart to see the vanishing of hopes and dreams. He would have told us because He was the Truth and refused to let His people live and die under a hope that was the devil’s falsehood. Christ corroborates our deepest longing for an immortal life that shall be personal. And He does it in His own quiet way, confidently, with perfect, full assurance. No wonder, then, that this is the favorite chapter with millions of the human race. No wonder that when Lockhart read it to Sir Walter, his big heart was rested and was comforted. No wonder that in Margaret Ogilvy’s Bible the pages would fall open at this place, and when she could not read, she stooped and kissed it.

As always may the Father bless and keep you.

 

By Grace Through Faith

By grace thru faith what a glorious blessing and promise from our Father expounded on briefly here by Bob Hoekstra in Day By Day By Grace.  This is a previously scheduled post from early August 2017.

 

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Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did. (Romans 4:16-17)

We can have great certainty concerning the fulfillment of God’s promises, because grace and faith are the foundation of our assurance. “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed.” Grace is the heavenly resource behind all of God’s promises. Faith is the simple means of accessing that grace. These realities make God’s promises certain to all who believe them, whether Jew (“not only to those who are of the law“) or Gentile (“but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham“). This is how Abraham related to God’s promises. Thereby, he became the spiritual leader for all who would follow His example: “who is the father of us all (as it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’) in the presence of Him whom he believed.”
The true and living God, whom Abraham believed, is given here two ascriptions that also strengthen our assurance in His promises. First, He is a God “who gives life to the dead.” Consider the impact this attribute has on our confidence in God’s promises. Often, the promises of God must overcome death (or deadening circumstances) in order to be fulfilled. The promise that Lazarus would live again was given while his dead body was lying in a tomb. “He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). Often, the deadness of our own circumstances wants to challenge the certitude of God’s promises. Yet, the God who has made to us a multitude of promises is the God “who gives life to the dead.”
Second, our God of promises is one who “calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” We are not yet personally righteous (in any intrinsic sense). Yet, God calls us righteous (justified, declared righteous in Christ). “Whom He called, these He also justified” (Romans 8:30). We are not yet glorified (experientially). Yet, God speaks of our glorification as already accomplished. “Whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:30). What a joy to know that our God of promises will bring to pass actually that which He promises prophetically.

Lord, my heart is comforted, and my faith is strengthened by the undeniable certainty of Your promises. Death or deadness cannot prevent Your keeping of Your promises. The lack of existence cannot keep You from bringing forth what You declare as real. What blessed assurance is available through Your promises – – by grace through faith!

An “Unpopular” Prophetic Promise of Apostasy

Pay attention folks, this talking about the days we live in.

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Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. (1Titus 4:1-2)

As we continue to alternate between “precious promises” and “unpopular” promises, we come to a prophetic promise of apostasy. Among those who are actually drifting into apostasy, this promise is certainly “unpopular.” Additionally, in a church world that wrongly accepts what sounds positive and rejects what sounds negative (instead of rejecting error and accepting truth), this promise is often met with disinterest or, worse, disdain.
“The faith” is the message of the word of God. It is the divine truth in which we are to place our faith, our trust. It especially includes the good news of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our present promise forewarns that there will be those who fall away from “the faith” as the days press closer and closer to the end of the church era. “In latter times some will depart from the faith.” Since this is a departure, they seemed to adhere to the word of God for a season. Then, they turned away from it. If they remain active in the church world, their message will no longer reflect the true content of the scriptures. Peter gave a similar warning. “There were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them” (2Peter 2:1). As sure as Israel had false prophets, the church would have false teachers.
Paul provided some insights into their path of apostasy. They would be ” giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” Their errors would result from paying attention to concepts that were perpetrated by demonic deception. The devil and his army of evil spirits are intent on confusing and distorting the teaching of the word of God. Typically, such errors feed man’s fleshly desires to glorify self.
These apostates would also be “speaking lies in hypocrisy.” Not only would their teaching be erroneous, their lives would be marked by falsehoods related to pretense. They would add untrue testimony to their inaccurate message. Perhaps, the reports of their ministerial prowess would be grossly exaggerated.
They would also be “having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.” They would teach errors and live lies until their consciences were no longer convicted of sin. Be forewarned. Such apostates undoubtedly abound in these last days.

Lord God of truth, thank You for lovingly warning me of the danger of apostasy. Enlarge my appreciation of such “unpopular” promises. Please help me to cherish the truth of Your word. Give me a heart to know Your word. Sharpen my discernment concerning error. Keep my heart and my message anchored in the truth of scripture, Amen.