Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

Don’t Be Ignorant, Brethren

July 20, 2009

by Shawn Brasseaux

Six times, the Apostle Paul wrote, “I would not have you to be ignorant brethren.” The Lord wants us Christians to have an intelligent understanding of His Word. The greater your understanding of God’s Word rightly divided, the less likely you will be misled by false teachers, and the more you can teach others so they will not be misled either.

The sad reality is that so many professing Christians cannot discern truth from error, men’s ideas from God’s Word, so they are trapped in religion. False teaching and apostasy have been growing more and more widespread, and very few people are skilled in God’s Word to realize how often they are being deceived. As one brother put it, “Most Christians do not know enough Scripture to take a stand against anything.” In this Bible study, we will look at those six verses of which God does not want us to be “ignorant.” He wants us to clearly understand these six critical doctrines.

1. ROMANS 1:13 KJV

“Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.”

We can clearly see that Paul was hindered from visiting the believers in Rome, just like in 1 Thessalonians 2:18. Do not be ignorant of the fact that Satan wants to keep God’s Word from spreading, so he will hinder us Christians. Paul knew what it was to feel lonely for Christian fellowship, according to Romans 1:12. We should be longing for fellowship with other believers; after all, they are our spiritual family. When confronted with the option of going out in the lost world or assembling with fellow believers, you will almost automatically choose to meet with the believers.

2. ROMANS 11:25 KJV

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Now, this verse is important because it shows us that God is not completely through with the nation Israel. He has set them aside nationally as He deals with Gentiles and the Body of Christ; however, after the rapture, when “the fulness of the Gentiles be come in,” God will once again deal with His covenant the nation Israel. According to this verse, the Body of Christ has not replaced Israel.

3. 1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-5 KJV

“1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.”

To make application here, we actually have to continue reading until verse 11 (which is the key verse to the passage): “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” God does not want us to be ignorant of the outcome of those who were of faith, but He also does not want us to be ignorant of the end of those who had no faith. It is a warning to all those who want to remain in unbelief. Hence the instructions not to be like those ungrateful Israelites who started out right, but were guilty of idolatry and fornication, and thus, died in the wilderness (cf. Numbers chapter 14; Hebrews 3:7-19). For us Christians, it is an admonition and exhortation to continue serving the Lord, and not to fall prey to pagan idolatry. For the unbelieving, it is a warning that God hates unbelief.

4. 1 CORINTHIANS 12:1 KJV

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”

Here, we learn that one of the greatest areas of ignorance (lack of teaching and understanding) in spiritual matters regards spiritual gifts. The Corinthians were carnal and worldly. They sought fun-filled experiences and emotional highs rather than behaving themselves in an orderly fashion and properly representing the Lord. The Corinthians were too focused on themselves, and not on the edification (building up) of the brethren. Because of this, chapters 12, 13, and 14 address the believers in Corinth in love, instructing them to do everything “decently and in order.” Almost all of Christendom needs to study these three chapters, for they are so totally ignorant regarding spiritual gifts (especially tongues!).

5. 2 CORINTHIANS 1:8-11 KJV

“8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.”

Again, this is to warn us and comfort us that we will be persecuted for serving the Lord. Contrary to most modern-day preaching of “peace, good health, and wealth,” the Christian life is oftentimes not trouble-free and peaceful. Our fellow humans lost and blinded by the god of this world (Satan) will hate us, criticize us, and maybe even torture or kill us for the Gospel’s sake. This “trouble in Asia [modern-day Turkey]” to which Paul is referring is accounted in Acts 19:22–20:1 (in Ephesus). The pagan Gentiles were angry that Paul was preaching against their idols, particularly the goddess Diana. Whatever we face as Christians, our brethren endured it, so we will be able to get through it too (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). The Lord will see us through whatever we suffer—we need to rely on God’s strength and resources, not our own, to endure those tough times!!

6. 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13 KJV

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [that is, believers who have died physically], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”

What happens to the saints who have died? Will we see our deceased Christian brethren again? This verse is the first in the passage dealing with the rapture of the Church, the out-calling of the Body of Christ. Every believer in the Gospel of Grace will be resurrected bodily one day, and we will see them again if we are also believers. The pagan people outside of Christianity will never see their loved ones again. We have assurance in Christ that we will see our loved ones again (provided that we and they are believers). Sadly, the rapture is oftentimes ignored or refuted by today’s Christendom. The Apostle Paul tells us not to be ignorant of the rapture, Christendom!!!

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“The Care of All the Churches”

July 13, 2009

by Shawn Brasseaux

Human nature is selfish. Even every Christian experiences periods of selfishness. We have all been born with that Adamic sin nature, so everyone occasionally feels selfish. When God went to Calvary’s cross on our behalf, He did not exhibit selfishness. Despite the fact that He foreknew every little detail of His future suffering and death, He still went through with it. He thought of us: He displayed selflessness. It was the only way to provide the salvation that we now enjoy as Christians. His crucifixion on Calvary’s cross brought our Lord Jesus so much pain and suffering, but it truly was the only way to provide the free gift of salvation to mankind.

After listing his own sufferings for the sake of the Gospel of the Grace of God, the Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to write (2 Corinthians 11:28 KJV): “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” In the verses above, Paul gives us the accounts of his shipwrecks, his beatings, his scourgings, his canings, his near deaths, and his imprisonments. But, the physical pain the poor apostle felt did not compare to the heartache inside him as he wondered whether or not the small early churches were surviving. When he was in prison during his latter years on earth, Paul longed to visit those little congregations in Greece, Italy, and Turkey.

Were the Corinthians living as they should? How were the Thessalonians handling their own intense persecution? Did the Galatians refuse the legalistic false teaching that was beginning to slip into their midst? Poor Paul was just as weak and frail as we are. He was an ordinary man, and he could only do so much. He worried, he fretted, and he cried wondering what was happening to his once-pagan Gentile converts… if they were turning back to paganism or if they remained steadfast in the faith. Were they growing in the Lord, or were they slipping back into their former pagan idolatry? How sad!

The Christian life is a life of selflessness: members of the Church the Body of Christ should be caring for one another, praying for one another, and helping one another. All Christians have the same indwelling Holy Spirit. All Christians have the same hope, the same faith, the same Lord, the same baptism, and the same Father in heaven. All Christians are members of the same Body of Christ. All Christians are intricately connected with one another and our caring for one another should reflect this fact. If we mistreat a fellow Christian, it is as if we are mistreating the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!

God’s Word says in Philippians 2:3,4 KJV: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Now, God is not telling us to be in other people’s business. This is a simple instruction to be concerned with the lives of other Christians (cf. Romans 12:9-16; 1 Corinthians 10:24). Do they need financial help, do they need advice and encouragement, or do they need shelter or clothing? As Christians, we should be exhorting one another because we certainly will not get encouragement from the lost world.

Read Romans 15:1-3 KJV:

“1We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”

Many times the Apostle Paul prayed for his fellow Christians, and encouraged them to pray for other Christians (for example, Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:4; Colossians 1:3; and 1 Thessalonians 5:25). Let us be continually mindful of the Lord’s instructions to us. Put your own needs aside, and consider the Christian brethren. They feel discouraged at times just like you do, so be sure to remind them what the Bible says in Romans 8:18, or 1 Corinthians 15:57,58, or Titus 2:13. After all, the Christians here on earth are your family, and you will be spending all eternity with them in the Lord’s presence!

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10 KJV).

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Posted by Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

The Grace Lifers

July 11, 2009

The Grace Lifers
by Shawn Brasseaux
[11 July 2009]

As most of you know, I was a small child when I came to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour (circa 1994-1995). For the next decade, my family and I did not have a stable local church. I grew up in religious denominational doctrine; my parents were saved in 1980, but they were not being taught correctly either. At the denominational churches where we went, we were fed men’s ideas instead of God’s Word. Upon my finding Les Feldick, an Oklahoman Bible teacher on television in early 2007, and Richard Jordan’s “Forgotten Truths” television program in late 2007, the Lord opened our eyes to “right division,” or dispensational Bible study. “Rightly dividing the Word of Truth” is the key to unlocking the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15).

For well over the past two years, I have learned how to rightly divide the Scriptures: to understand the distinctions that God has made in His Word. The Bible makes so much sense in light of dispensational Bible study—I finally know how to use my Bible!!! The sad reality is that so many poor church members are not being taught the Bible God’s way. Consequently, they are so confused, like my family and I once were. If you have never seen it before, please memorize 2 Timothy 2:15 as found in the King James Bible: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” But, why the King James Bible, you ask?

This verse is one of the most important Bible verses, so the devil has seen to it that it has been watered-down and diluted in most modern English Bibles like the NIV, NASB, NKJV, ESV, NRSV, et cetera. Most church members use these modern versions instead of the 1611 King James Bible, and they have been robbed of that important verse—no wonder most church members in America are so confused when it comes to the Bible. Pitiful! We have discussed this before in past articles, but if you are new to dispensational Bible study, or want more information, contact me.

Anyways, this past week, I had the pleasure of traveling to Oklahoma and personally meeting Brother Les for the third time (we have gone these past two summers). We went to the television studio where his programs are taped, and in a few weeks, those programs will be aired on national television (I will be seen with my parents in the studio audience!).

Les is just an ordinary man whom the Lord has used to teach nondenominational Bible classes. What great fellowship my parents and I had with Brother Les and his wife Iris at their home with two other believers! It feels good to be in the presence of Christians. It is even better to fellowship with grace believers who know about the importance of dispensational Bible study. They will not try to feed you something their church (or denomination) wants you to learn.

It is quite sad to know that right now, I have so many Christian brethren seeking to serve a denomination: I thought the Christian was to serve the Lord? These confused people have lost sight of the “revelation of the mystery,” and the only “Bible” they know is what their weekly Sunday School material says. How it breaks my heart that even when you confront these denominational Christians about dispensational Bible study, they call you a “troublemaker” or a “heretic.” But, again, how many times have I asked: “Since when does a heretic use God’s Word God’s way?” Are not those who refuse to use the Bible God’s way the heretics?

Why do you suppose denominational leaders do not want you to study your Bible dispensationally (“rightly divided”)? If you study and believe the Bible rightly divided, you begin to see that denominations are practicing and believing vain religious tradition—denominations are men’s ideas disguised as God’s Word. Once you learn about right division, you are a threat to denominations! They do not want you in their churches, for they fear you might expose them as hypocrites.

Now, I may step on some toes, and ruffle feathers, but I am not ashamed to admit that arC Ministries does not agree with the religious baloney that is being promoted today as God’s Truth. Denominationalism abuses and twists the Bible. We will humbly yet firmly stand on that premise. When we rightly divide the Scriptures as God instructed us, this is what we learn:

Just as God sent Moses to Israel, He sent Paul to us Gentiles. Paul is the man that the ascended Lord Jesus Christ personally sent to the Gentile, non-Jewish world (Romans 11:13; Romans 15:16; 2 Timothy 1:11). We study and use the entire Bible, Genesis through Revelation, but our Gospel of Grace and our doctrine, duty, walk, and destiny as members of the Church the Body of Christ are only found in the Pauline epistles of Romans through Philemon.
The Apostle Paul is God’s Word to us: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37). The Holy Spirit wrote through Paul: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). If we reject Paul’s epistles—and follow the Four Gospels, for instance—we reject God’s Word to us, and thus, we will be out of God’s will. Dispensational Bible study is that important, so ignoring the Bible’s dispensational layout and design is serious!!!!
When we understand that Paul is our apostle, we begin to understand the Bible. For instance, rather than believing that we must tithe in order to get God’s blessings (as Malachi 3:8-11), we understand that we are not under an obligatory giving (tithing) system. The tithe was Old Testament Law to Jews, and Paul writes that in our dispensation, “ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14,15). We give money “willingly,” and rather than giving 10 percent tithes, we give the amount the Lord leads us to give (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
There is one baptism today (Ephesians 4:5), but it is not water baptism (as religion teaches). Paul, our apostle, writes, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel…” (1 Corinthians 1:17). In 1 Corinthians 12:13, we learn: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” This is a supernatural baptism performed by the Holy Spirit, not some priest or preacher: the baptism of 1 Corinthians 12:13 is “the operation of God” (Colossians 2:12), not the operation of a preacher or priest.
The King James Bible is the inspired and preserved Word of God in the English language. This author has researched that God’s pure Word cannot be found in most modern English Bible versions such as NIV, NASB, NRSV, NKJV, ESV, CEV, TEV/GNB, NEB, Living, Message, et cetera.
The rapture is pre-Tribulation: it will occur before the seven-year Tribulation because the Church the Body of Christ has not replaced Israel. Israel is spiritually blinded today, fallen, and cast away (Romans 11:11,15,25). The Body of Christ will not go through the Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:10). We cannot mix Israel’s prophetic program (Acts 3:21) with our mystery program (Romans 16:25,26).
Signs, miracles, and wonders belong to the nation Israel (1 Corinthians 1:22). Today, in the Dispensation of Grace, there are no “speaking in tongues,” miracle healings, visions, dreams, or angelic appearances because we have the completed and written Word of God (1 Corinthians 13:8-13). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
Repentance is not necessary for salvation, as found in Acts 2:38—that was God’s message to Israel (see verse 36). Repentance (change in mind) is a RESULT of salvation. Repentance was necessary in Israel’s Gospel of the kingdom (see Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:15), but this is not Paul’s Gospel of Grace of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. SALVATION IS BY FAITH WITHOUT WORKS (Romans 4:1-5; Ephesians 2:8,9)! Paul did not say, “Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

If you refuse to rightly divide the Scriptures, you will never get any of those doctrines straight, and your Christian life will not function efficiently. We will continue this Bible study next week.

The Grace Lifers II: Mirrors of God’s Grace
by Shawn Brasseaux
[18 July 2009]

As we discussed last week, God does not want “religious lifers,” He wants “grace lifers.” We Christians need to have a firm, intelligent understanding in His Word and a knowledge of “the revelation of the mystery,” the special ministry that He gave to the Apostle Paul. God wants Christians who are so ingrained in His truth that they are not easily led astray with false teaching. The Lord does not want us to be ignorant and untaught: we need to be firmly grounded in solid Pauline Bible truth so that we can then be able to teach others. Because of a lack thereof, the Church Body of Christ is greatly suffering. Spiritual confusion is everywhere, even in most “Bible-believing” churches! It is my responsibility as a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ to see to it that this never happens here. This week we will continue looking at the issue of the “grace lifers.”

* * *

Again, how does one become a Christian? Simply stated, rest exclusively in Paul’s Gospel of Grace as found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV: “…how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” After God sees your faith in that Gospel alone, He seals you with His Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), and you are an instant member of the Church the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13)! Faith in what God said is all that He is asking. Good works, repentance, and water baptism are not necessary for salvation in this the Dispensation of Grace.

Okay, now let us consider Titus 2:11,12 KJV: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” By God’s grace, He saved us; God’s grace will now teach us to live differently (to put away sin and walk in newness of life). We may not get to verbally tell everyone about Christ, but you have that testimony. Please do not live life carelessly; we have enough people bringing reproach to Christ’s name. You as a grace lifer are one of the few people God has to reach our lost world! Your lifestyle is the way that the lost world sees Christ.

As long as we “rightly divide” the Scriptures like we mentioned last week, we can see what God expects from us as “grace lifers.” Everything outside of Paul’s epistles is legalistic, associated with the nation Israel, the Mosaic Law, and Judaism. Thus, trying to practice the Mosaic Law will not be following the grace life. Following the prophetic program God has for the nation Israel will not cause you to lead the grace life. God sent Paul to us, so if we are to accept God, we are to accept God’s apostle to us (Matthew 10:40; John 13:20; Acts 9:15-16; Romans 11:13; Romans 15:16). Paul is the only apostle who gives us the instructions to living the grace life because God gave Paul the Dispensation of Grace. To ignore those Pauline epistles like most people have and replace them man’s ideas (or replace them with Old Testament Law-keeping) is to ignore God’s message to you.

As you study the whole Bible, but place more emphasis on the Pauline epistles, something awesome will happen when you believe (have faith in what you read). Your faith will prompt the Holy Spirit to take His Word and use it to transform your inner man, which will also affect your outer man (outward activity). The power that is in God’s Word will be unleashed, and His Word will “effectually worketh in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). This is Christ living His life in you. Galatians 2:20 says: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

God’s grace, not the Mosaic Law, is the way God teaches us what is right and what is wrong with behavior. Let us read Romans 6:4-11 KJV:

“4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

As you believe God’s Word, the Holy Spirit transforms you day by day, from the inside outward: you think differently, you have different desires, and you act differently. How exciting! Look at Ephesians 4:22-24 KJV:

“22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteous and true holiness.”

Our old sin nature has been put to death with Christ (cf. Romans 6:6). We are living in the power imparted to us by the Holy Spirit now: this is the grace life God has purposed for us! We are not striving to please God anymore; God has now accepted us “in the beloved” (Christ Jesus) (Ephesians 1:6). Now that God has already accepted us, we should be willing to let Him work in and through us for His glory, and that will cause our lives to bring glory and honor to Him!

Now, understand that you cannot see the Holy Spirit working, so do not expect visible proof in your emotions or your experiences. The proof that God the Holy Spirit is working in you that believe is because the Bible says so, and this proof is sufficient. When the Holy Spirit is working in us, our lives will manifest the “fruit of the Spirit.” Let us examine Galatians 5:16-26 KJV:

“16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

When we Christians do good works, we are simply walking in our new identity in Christ Jesus: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Your neighbors, friends, and family will all notice the change in your behavior—after they make a lot of snide comments, you will hear very little from most of them. You have stopped the wild living: no more drugs, no more bars, no more walking the streets. You have seen the light of God’s grace, you have stepped into it by faith, and your old thinking patterns and lifestyle are gone. Hallelujah! 🙂 You have come into the grace life!!!

As a Christian, you have that indwelling Holy Spirit who convicts you when you sin. You love God’s Word; you recognize it as no ordinary book because you are now a new person after discovering its Truth! You look forward to assembling and fellowshipping with other Christians. You are not tied to any one group or denomination. You have no desire to adhere to some rigid set of legalistic guidelines that someone has laid out in religion. You experience the liberty of the Christian grace life—as Paul said in Galatians 5:1-6, free from the wages of sin and hellfire indeed, but free from religious bondage too! 🙂 As the Bible says in Galatians 6:14, be excited and “glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!” As members of the Church the Body of Christ, we are freed forever from sin, hell, and Satan!

Despite the tremendous amount of false teaching out there, we do not have to duped and misled. We can study God’s Word God’s way (dispensationally) and then tell others about these glorious Bible truths! Tell the lost world about that Gospel of Grace of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. Share with the Christian brethren that “rightly dividing” (dispensational Bible study) is the key to unlocking the Scriptures as 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV says. God’s instructions to us are found in Romans through Philemon, but we also need the remaining 53 books of the Bible for background. Lead that grace life as laid out in the Pauline epistles by letting Christ Jesus live His life in and through you. Go contrary to the world’s culture. Be a mirror of God’s grace. Let the world see Christ living in you! Bring honor and glory to the Lord, and avoid that vile, careless lifestyle the world leads. You are an “ambassador for the risen Christ;” now, represent Him as His Word instructs. It is your reasonable service to serve the One who died for you, and gave Himself you. Read Romans 12:1,2 KJV: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Serving the Lord by letting Him live the grace life in you is the most rewarding life one can have. However, your fellow man will persecute you (inside, they respect you because you practice the lifestyle you tell them that God has for them!). They never liked Christ in the flesh, so they will not like Him living in you now. People will discourage you from living the grace life. They want you to live the carnal (worldly) and/or religious life of trying to “measure up” to God using religious duties. You just remember, you serve the Lord, not man, so you follow that grace life as God instructed, and let the denominations criticize you. Stand firm in your Pauline theology!

You will lose “friends” and you will lose popularity, but that is okay because Paul served the Lord and lost all his material possessions and family in the process! Peter and the eleven also left their former trades and lifestyles to follow Christ. WHO CARES IF WE LOSE EVERYTHING IN THIS LIFE FOR FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST!!!! We have something far better in the heavenly places, so do not be caught up in losing anything here. Focus on the eternal, not the temporal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). You can also see Ephesians 1:16-23, Philippians 1:9-11, and Colossians 1:9-15.

Become a grace lifer, and I can promise you from experience, that you will never, EVER regret it! ;D

The Grace Lifers III: The Pneuma Hagion (Holy Spirit)
by Shawn Brasseaux
[25 July 2009]

As we open up our third and final installment of “The Grace Lifers,” maybe you are a new believer whose faith is resting completely and solely in Paul’s Gospel. Or, maybe you are a believer who had simply never been aware of the grace life you have been promised in Christ. In this final study about the grace lifer, we look at the Person of the Godhead Who is most often misunderstood and ignored: the Holy Spirit, or in the Greek the Pneuma Hagion (pneuma meaning “air/spirit;” hagion is the Greek word for “holy”).

The Holy Spirit opens a lost person’s understanding so they can come to salvation. But, to the Christian, the Holy Spirit becomes the Navigator: He leads us to God’s Truth, and turns us from error. The Holy Spirit is doing a number of things inside every believer, and He will carry out that work until “the day of redemption,” the day when the rapture happens and our physical bodies are redeemed (Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 1:6).

THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLS AND SEALS THE BELIEVER. Once a person has genuine salvation by believing Paul’s Gospel, the Holy Spirit will instantaneously indwell that person; believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9, 11; Ephesians 1:13). “Christ [is] in us” in the Person of the Holy Spirit (Colossians 1:27; 2 Timothy 1:14). In the event of the believer’s death, the Holy Spirit will immediately usher the believer’s soul and spirit into the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).
THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTIZES US INTO ONE BODY. Genuine, Holy Spirit-indwelt believers have been “baptized” (this is not water baptism) into the Church the Body of Christ the moment they trust Jesus Christ as their Saviour (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Holy Spirit unifies all Christians because He has placed us into this one Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:3-6).
THE HOLY SPIRIT ENABLES US TO LEAD THE GRACE LIFE. The Holy Spirit leads believers to live righteously in God’s sight. In time past, Israel had the Mosaic Law; today, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us in the ways of God, and we are becoming more like Christ and less like ourselves (Romans 7:6; Romans 8:4,14,15; 2 Corinthians 3:6, 17,18; Galatians 2:20-21; Galatians 5:17,18; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 5:8,9,18; Titus 2:11-15).
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE “EARNEST” OF OUR INHERITANCE. The Holy Spirit is a witness to the Christian’s salvation: He confirms our salvation, “that we are the sons of God” (Romans 8:16-17). The Holy Spirit is the “earnest”—the King James’ word for “down payment” or “guarantee”—of our inheritance with Christ in the heavenly places (2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:3,14).
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GRIEVED AND QUENCHED WHEN WE SIN. The Holy Spirit is saddened/grieved when we sin and go contrary to God’s working with us (Ephesians 4:30). As Paul wrote, “quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)—do not be rebellious but rather submit to His working in you. We will make mistakes when we follow our old sin nature, but we cannot let that discourage us from getting back up and trying to learn from those mistakes!
THE HOLY SPIRIT CONNECTS US TO GOD THE FATHER. Through Christ, both Jews and Gentiles have access by the Holy Spirit unto God the Father (Ephesians 2:18; cf. Romans 8:26,27). The Holy Spirit is God, but by means of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can go through Jesus Christ the Mediator, to reach God the Father.
THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS GOD’S TRUTH TO US.The Holy Spirit, through Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon, has revealed to us God’s Dispensation of Grace, and the “revelation of the mystery” (Ephesians 3:1-5). Had God the Holy Spirit not revealed these “mysteries”/secrets to us through His Word, we would have never known them in our otherwise natural, unsaved state (1 Corinthians 2:9-16).
THE HOLY SPIRIT STRENGTHENS OUR INNER MAN. As we read, study, and have faith in God’s Word, the Holy Spirit will take His Word and strengthen our inner man (Ephesians 3:16). This promotes spiritual maturity—the more we grow spiritually, the stronger we grow in knowledge of the Scriptures. “The word of God… which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). This serves as a safeguard against false teaching, too (cf. Ephesians 4:11-16).
THE HOLY SPIRIT PRAYS FOR US. As members of the Church the Body of Christ, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, praying for our needs that we cannot adequately express in words (Romans 8:26,27). We have both God the Son and God the Holy Spirit making intercession for us to God the Father.

*(Portions of this article have been excerpted from the original “Pneuma Hagion” study).

CONCLUSION

In closing the series, we cannot live the grace life “in the flesh,” in our own strength. We need “the power from on high,” the strength God imparts to us through His indwelling Holy Spirit. The Lord has equipped us as members of the Church, the Body of Christ, to handle life and all its accompanying troubles (Philippians 4:13). Certainly, we will have the struggles and burdens, but the Holy Spirit is with us. Remember, the entire Godhead is “for us, so who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

The Holy Spirit goes to work in our lives as we rest our faith in His Word to us. The Holy Spirit, not some church or denomination, has to guide our thinking. He has to transform our minds, so we can have an intelligent understanding of how God wants us to live. As “ambassadors for the risen Christ” having a good foundation in the Pauline epistles, we are capable of leading the grace life. Let the world scoff, ridicule, and scorn; you serve the Lord, and you only have to please Him! We live in the Dispensation of Grace, so let your life confirm it: FOLLOW THE GRACE LIFE!! … And if necessary, be willing to give up your physical life for the sake of living the grace life, too….

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Posted by Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

Has Responsible Journalism Died? (by Nolan Guilbeau)

July 9, 2009

by Nolan Guilbeau – Published in The (Opelousas, Louisiana) Daily World
℅ Shawn Brasseaux

One of the cornerstones of our democracy is the maintaining of a free press for freedom of expression for all its citizens. Honest, unbiased journalists, reporters, and editors should stand firmly against the many “forces” that seek to suppress freedom and ultimately enslave its citizens. Likewise, citizens should applaud and salute those few remaining courageous individuals and editors who refuse to bow down before those who impose their authority on a free press. Freedoms of personal expression are fundamental “rights” guaranteed by our national Constitution. Subtly and surely, we the American citizens are being stripped of valuable freedoms.

Society itself is an indicator of an alarming increase of physical violence, destruction and also a clear pattern of continued departure from sound Biblical doctrines to the embracing of false religious theologies. So often when a clarion call with documentation is presented to the public in warning, a supposedly “responsible” media circumvents the efforts.

Granted, responsible journalism should make an effort to evaluate and verify the credibility of any statements presented before publication is authorized and, in fairness, should not be just summarily dismissed. However, the reality of journalism is that many reporters or editors are usually obvious supporters of the class of the powerful and influential and serving these interests. That may explain why recently local submitted letters to the editor are not published.

An example of self-censorship in the media takes place when editors modify opinions and fail to report the whole content or theme submitted, distorting the text. All these practices are demeaning, and they sometimes deprive the public of beneficial, valuable information.

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Posted by Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

Paul’s Epistle to Philemon

July 5, 2009

by Shawn Brasseaux

Sandwiched between the books of Titus and Hebrews is the Apostle Paul’s brief epistle to Philemon. In the canon of Scripture, this 25-verse long epistle is the last of Paul’s letters to Gentiles (chronologically, the last book Paul wrote was 2 Timothy). The epistle to Philemon is Paul’s shortest book, so it may seem insignificant at first glance. However, this is just as God-breathed as the rest of the Holy Scriptures, so Philemon serves a purpose.

Because Philemon is so short, we have reproduced it here in its entirety. Please read Philemon now, and then we will discuss why God Almighty placed Paul’s little epistle to Philemon in His Word.

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO PHILEMON
(KING JAMES BIBLE)

“1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
9 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

In verse 9, Paul refers to himself as “Paul the aged;” he is in the last decade of his ministry and life. Actually, Paul is writing to Philemon from a Roman prison in approximately A.D. 64-65. Philemon—as well as Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians—were all written about the same time, so they are all aptly referred to as “Paul’s prison epistles.”

Philemon is a slave-owner and a Christian. Now, here, we need to stop and clarify the definition of “slave.” Slavery during these times was nothing like the slavery that our world has seen these past few centuries. Keep in mind that slavery was a social status for those who were uneducated and needed shelter. Slaves were to be treated humanely, given quarters to sleep, and they were to be paid their wages (in other words, slavery at this time was a job; a slave-owner was the employer, and slaves were the employees).

We learn that Philemon’s house was home to a church, a small assembly of Christian believers (verses 1,2). Philemon had a slave (servant, employer) named Onesimus who stole from him and escaped. We first see Onesimus in Colossians 4:9, and from this verse we conclude that Philemon and Onesimus live in Colosse.

After Onesimus escaped, he encountered the Apostle Paul, who is in prison (verses 9,10). Onesimus has now trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the whole thrust of Paul’s epistle to Philemon is to plead with Philemon to accept Onesimus again, this time as a Christian brother rather than a mere servant.

“15 For perhaps he [Onesimus] therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?”

Receive Onesimus in brotherly love, Philemon! Verse 12 is indicative that Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon with this very epistle, and evidently Philemon gave Onesimus a second chance.

Verse 11 says that Onesimus was “unprofitable” to Philemon—after all, Onesimus stole from Philemon! Interestingly, the name “Onesimus” means “profitable, useful.” Paul is now sending Onesimus back to Philemon, as someone who is helpful to both he and Philemon: “which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:” Paul wants Philemon to receive Onesimus “for ever.”

Three verses in particular seem to “jump out” in the book of Philemon, so it behooves us to pay close attention to them.

“17 If thou [Philemon] count me [Paul] therefore a partner, receive him [Onesimus] as myself.
18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught [anything], put that on mine account;
19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to them how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.”

(By the way, did you notice what Paul told Philemon in that last verse? “Philemon, need I remind you of what you owe me?”)

“If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account!” Can you think of anyone else who said those words? Is that not a reference to Jesus Christ going to Calvary’s cross? We were in God’s debt because of our sin. We were destitute of wealth, so we could not pay God back for all the wrong things we did.

Remember what the Bible says in Romans 3:25 KJV: “God hath set forth [Christ] to be a propitiation….” This word “propitiation” is a “fully-sufficient payment,” a “substitute,” a “satisfaction.” The Lord Jesus Christ paid off our debt with His shed blood! Can you just imagine God the Son crying out on behalf of mankind, “Whatever they did, Father, I will take the blame! Punish me for their sin! Let me be their Mercy Seat and their Redeemer and I will take the punishment they deserve! Let me suffer their second death! I love them and I love you; I want to die for them!” “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV). What an awesome parallel, no doubt that this was one reason why God placed the epistle to Philemon in the Bible.

We can even draw a few other points from that small epistle. How it must have encouraged the poor Apostle Paul to see Onesimus saved! Had God not allowed Paul to become imprisoned, he would have never met Onesimus. Just before Paul closes the letter, he writes in verse 22 that he was anxious to one day see Philemon again. We are not sure if he ever did… in this life anyway….

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Posted by Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

Blessings and Chastisements

July 3, 2009

by Shawn Brasseaux

In time past, when God dealt with His covenant people, the nation Israel, He ruled them with a very strict set of rules (the Mosaic Law). Israel had to follow God’s instructions by faith. God promised to bless them if they listened to Him, and He promised to curse them if they went contrary to His instructions (Deuteronomy 28:1,15). That was in Israel’s program under strict, severe Mosaic Law. It is highly, highly important not to mix God’s dealings with Israel and His dealings with the Church the Body of Christ. Today, we live under grace, not law (Romans 6:14,15). God is doing something different with us today (which we will discuss later). For now, let us get a better understanding of how God dealt with the Circumcision, the nation Israel, in time past.

First, let us look at Leviticus 26:3-13 KJV. If Israel kept JEHOVAH’S commandments, He would bless them with bountiful harvests, peaceful lives, victory over their enemies, and He would “be their God” (verse 12). Now, on the other hand, the LORD would bring curses upon Israel for their disobedience and unbelief. In verses 14-41, the LORD would chastise Israel by sending plagues, wild beasts, war, and other righteous judgments.

Now, compare this with Deuteronomy 11:26-28 KJV (which is the LORD speaking to Israel):

“28 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.”

With that for background, we come to a topic that is quite controversial today. What about tithing? Malachi 3:8-11 is the most common passage that religions and denominations use to coerce people into giving money. In Old Testament Israel, you had to give the tithe: by the way, the tithe involved giving grain and livestock to the Levites. The tithe has nothing to do with us today—nothing! If Israel tithed obediently, God promised to “open the windows of heaven to pour out on them a blessing” (Malachi 3:10). People are using that same verse today, saying if you will give their ministry or church a tithe, God will “pour out a blessing.” This is ridiculous because this was spoken to Israel under strict Law, long before Calvary. Paul tells us today to give willingly, apart from demands or laws (2 Corinthians 9:6,7). Whether we give money or not, God has already poured out His blessings on us in Christ (Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 4:19).

There is one verse that is often misquoted and taken out of context, whether ignorantly or deliberately. That verse is Jeremiah 29:11 KJV: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” It sounds like a good verse, and it is, but it was not spoken to us. (Read the context [verse 10]! This is spoken to Israel after she is dispersed by the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon; God is promising to reunite the nation Israel.) Again, take notice that this is a blessing verse promised to Israel, not to us.

People love Jeremiah 29:11, but you will never hear anyone promising Jeremiah chapter 44 for obvious reasons: this chapter is filled with God promising to curse and judge Israel for their wickedness. (When I pointed that out to someone who loved to steal God’s promises to Israel, she told me she wanted nothing to do with those curses because they were “too negative.” Listen, you cannot pick and choose like that in the Bible; that is dishonest. Neither the curses nor the promises were given to us.)

In Jeremiah chapter 44, the LORD will righteously judge Israel, punishing them for their wickedness, including pagan idolatry. But, God also promised to never completely destroy Israel: remember that this was about 600 B.C. The devil’s plan was to cause Israel to stumble so much, God would have enough and destroy them completely. If the Jewish lineage would have ceased to exist, the promised Jewish Messiah could never come. For the sakes of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God would not destroy Israel (Leviticus 26:42-46).

Another passage people often like to quote is Numbers 6:24-27 KJV:

“24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Again, this was to Israel, not to us today—people often like to leave off verse 27 because it gives away the meaning (that it is not for us, but for Israel)!

The book of Judges is filled with the account of Israel slipping into pagan idolatry, and God judging them for their unbelief and disobedience. Over and over, God would send invading armies to defeat Israel. Israel would straighten up for a while, but then go back into idolatry like before. Look at what Judges 2:20 KJV says: “And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice.”

The LORD instructed Israel to farm their lands for six years, but let the land rest the seventh (sabbatical) year. Read Leviticus 26:34,35 KJV: “Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies’ land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.” Because Israel was not hearkening unto the LORD and not letting the land rest that seventh year, God would now drive them out of the land with foreign armies, and then the land would get its rest. Today, the Jews have been dispersed over 2,000 years!

By glancing back into time past with God’s dealing with Israel, we have a greater appreciation of God’s grace. Today, as we live in the Dispensation of Grace, we have been given an opportunity of forgiveness and grace through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. We do not have to do anything but take it by faith: we have received the blessing, even when we not deserve it!

Even atheists still have a chance at getting right with God today. Instead of God dealing with our unbelieving world in wrath, judgment, and anger, He has given them over 2,000 years to straighten up in this Dispensation of Grace.

Consider 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 KJV:

“19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

God’s wrath is being postponed, but it is coming soon, after the Church the Body of Christ is taken up at the rapture. God will not tolerate this unbelieving world for much longer. Our world better take a lesson from history: God’s justice will be brought about one day, and the lost world will be brought down in God’s righteous indignation.

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Posted by Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

Long Live Israel’s King!

July 3, 2009

by Shawn Brasseaux – arcministries@gmail.com

For three years, the Lord Jesus Christ ministered throughout Israel’s borders. He appointed twelve Jewish men to accompany Him in His ministry. He foreknew His own death, but His apostles had no idea of His coming crucifixion (Mark 8:31-33; Luke 18:31-34). These Jewish believers knew was that this Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, the Christ, the Creator God manifested in human flesh. Israel’s Messiah-King was finally in their midst! Christ Jesus would fulfill the Old Testament promises by bringing in Israel’s kingdom. He would deliver them from their enemies, especially the Romans. This was the crux of the Gospel of the Kingdom, the message John the Baptist preached in Matthew 3:1-6.

This humble Jesus of Nazareth healed the blind, the crippled, the deaf, the mute, and those possessed by devils. He never mistreated anyone. He was a compassionate, gentle man: yet He was the righteous Almighty God! He hushed storms, He walked on water, and He fed the multitudes. He sat with the sinners, the immoral, and the crooks. There was nothing special about His appearance, but when He chose, His whole body would radiate brighter than the sun! Imagine what Peter, James, and John felt and saw on the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew chapter 17!

Remember, Peter and the ten were ordinary people like us (we have excluded Judas Iscariot). They loved the Lord, and He loved them with a love they could never understand. They spent more time with the Lord than anyone else ever did: these eleven men talked and ate with the Lord Jesus on a daily basis. They saw His miracles, and were amazed beyond comprehension. They abandoned their former lives, but they did not care because He promised that when He would rule Israel, they would be ruling alongside Him in His kingdom (Matthew 19:27,28).

On numerous occasions, Jesus told the twelve of His upcoming sufferings and death, but God hid it from them (for one instance, Luke 18:31-34). The eleven apostles were with Jesus Christ on that night in the Garden of Gethsemane—just imagine their shock to see crowds of people coming to arrest Him. Soon, the situation escalated. The apostles’ minds raced in disbelief as Judas betrayed Him with the kiss. In the panic, Peter cut off the ear of one of the high priest’s servant as they grabbed Jesus. In fear of the Romans and Israeli religious leaders who were arresting Christ, the eleven fled and forsook Him (Matthew 26:55,56; Mark 14:50). Peter denied knowing Christ three times. What heartbreak these eleven apostles felt… the pain even God Himself felt.

As Israel’s Messiah carried His old rugged cross to Golgotha, the apostles must have stared in awe. Here was Jesus, Israel’s mighty King, His body beaten to a pulp, and His blood dripping with every step. The crowds heard His heavy breathing as they pressed in to see Him. They spat on Him, they mocked, they scorned, and they laughed. His apostles stood there thinking: He is God, why does He not do anything? Why is He letting them mistreat Him? Why does He not fight back? Why is so quiet, not speaking out against their railings and blasphemy?

While the soldiers nailed Him to the cross, the apostles were still looking on in unbelief. They probably cried like little kids as they wondered what was going to happen next. Surely, He would destroy all these hateful people, come down from the cross, and be Israel’s King like He promised. Instead, for the next six hours, our Lord Jesus Christ was immobile on that cross. The unbelievers laughed and smirked. When He was finally ready, He let Himself die. The apostles wondered: Why did He allow them to kill Him? What about all those promises He made to us? What will happen to us now? Now, the apostles’ minds were spinning wildly out of control. Our King and Messiah is dead?!?! What about that kingdom promised in the Old Testament?!?! Their hopes and dreams seemed to have vanished now. Jesus Christ was dead. Maybe they felt foolish. Perhaps they were so heartbroken that they did not know what to think anymore. They turned away with hearts saturated with grief. What to do now? They did not know.

But… Imagine on resurrection morning, as Christ Jesus arose in power and great glory. The apostles were amazed to see Him alive and well. His scars were visible, but He looked the same as He did in His earthly ministry. They loved hearing His gentle, yet authoritative, voice again. They touched Him, and hugged Him, and wept and shouted for joy that He was alive! He would still be able to bring in that kingdom! But Jesus Christ had a different plan: He would not tell them, but that kingdom would be postponed over 2,000 years. For the next forty days, He spoke to His apostles regarding the kingdom of God. On His last day on earth, the eleven apostles asked Him, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6)? Instead, He told them that it was not for them to know when He would establish Israel’s kingdom.

As we look back, it has been 2,000 years since the Lord left earth. After telling them to wait for the Holy Spirit, who came ten days later on Pentecost, His body literally lifted off of the ground, and they watched Him going up to presence of God His Father in heaven! They lost Him once in death, and were excited to see Him alive again; but He left them again at the ascension. It was bittersweet time for them. How they wanted Him to stay, but He had to fulfill Psalm 110:1, and sit at His Father’s right hand.

Certainly, Jesus Christ did not completely leave them. As promised, He came to them ten days later on the day of Pentecost when they were baptized with the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18; Acts 2:1-4). Although we believers have never seen Jesus Christ in the flesh, we have Him indwelling us in the Person of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13,14; Ephesians 4:30). The same Holy Spirit that moved men to write God’s Word in print is the Spirit which is now inside us members of the Church the Body of Christ. Wow! Here we are in 2009, and creation is still waiting for that coming King and kingdom. Christ Jesus will be returning after the horrible Tribulation, to establish His eternal rule and reign. He died, He was buried, but He rose again. Long live Israel’s King… for once His kingdom is established, it shall have no end (Isaiah 9:6,7; Daniel 2:44)!!!!

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Posted by Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

Why Was Jesus Water Baptized?

July 1, 2009

by Shawn Brasseaux

Arguments quickly arise among denominations regarding water baptism because no two groups can agree as to how water baptism should be performed. Who should do it: a priest, a pope, or a pastor? Where should it be done: a river, a lake, a bathtub, a baptismal, or a swimming pool? Who needs it: babies or adults, or both? How should it be done: effusion (pouring), aspersion (sprinkling), or immersion (submerging)? How many times forward? Backward? How long? What type of water? All of this confusion, so little Bible understanding!

Every professing Christian today wants to be water baptized in order to “follow Jesus in ‘believer’s baptism.’” Yet, Jesus was also physically circumcised (Luke 2:21)—what Christian today wants to “follow Jesus in ‘believer’s circumcision?’” Surely, just because Jesus did something does not necessarily mean we must do it too. Jesus was water baptized and He told His disciples to water baptize, but does that we should be water baptized and water baptize others? Do we really need “believer’s baptism” today like most preachers claim? In order to answer this question, we ignore denominational doctrine and church tradition. Let us look to the rightly divided Word of God for the answer, for the Bible alone is the final authority.

Whenever people see the word “baptize” or “baptism” in the Bible, they automatically assume it must be water baptism. Contrariwise, there are several types of “baptism” in the Scriptures—many have nothing to do with water. For instance, read Matthew 3:11: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” Undoubtedly, there are three baptisms in this one verse—(1) water baptism, (2) the baptism with fire (the judgment at the Second Coming of Christ, at the end of the seven-year Tribulation), and (3) the baptism with the Holy Spirit (this was the day of Pentecost, Acts chapter 2). Moreover, there is the baptism by the Holy Spirit into the Church the Body of Christ. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13)—“baptized into one body,” not “baptized into water!” As you can see, some “baptisms” in Scripture have absolutely nothing to do with water.

The word “baptize” first appears in the Bible in Matthew chapter 3 when John the Baptist is preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 3:2). If a Jew had placed his or her faith in Jesus of Nazareth as Israel’s Messiah-King, this water baptism was “the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” and it was an outward profession of their faith in Jesus as the Messiah (Mark 1:4; John 7:29-30; Acts 13:23-25). However, John the Baptist’s water baptism was nothing new to Israel. In the Old Testament, Israel’s priests would wash with water before entering into the priesthood (Exodus 29:1,4; Leviticus 8:6); they had to wash prior to dressing in the ephod (priestly garments), and had to wash before entering the Tabernacle and Holy of Holies (Exodus 30:17-21).

At this point, we have established two critical points. Firstly, water baptism can be traced back to Old Testament Law. Water baptism is an Old Testament ritual; it is not a “New Testament ordinance” like preachers claim today. Jesus’s earthly ministry and His water baptism are still Old Testament ground, because He had not died yet (Hebrews 9:16,17). Thus, the New Testament cannot begin until after Jesus’s death. In fact, this “New Covenant” with Israel will be brought about at His Second Coming, over 2000 years after His water baptism and death.

Secondly, water baptism was for the Jewish believers of the Gospel of the Kingdom. What is the connection between water baptism and the kingdom that Jesus was going to establish on the earth? In Exodus 19:5-6, God promised to make Israel “a kingdom of priests” (1 Peter 2:9: Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:6). If every Jew was to be a priest, who would every Jew need to do? Wash with water, just like in the Old Testament! Turn to Mark 1:4 KJV: “John [the Baptist] did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” These Jewish believers of the Kingdom Gospel were sinners, and as we disucssed earlier earlier, the water baptism was an outward sign of their faith (Luke 7:29-30).

Jesus needed to fulfill the Old Testament priesthood law. Matthew 3:15 KJV: “And Jesus answering said unto him [that is, John the Baptist], Suffer [Allow] it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered [allowed] him.” Jesus Christ needed to fulfill all the righteousness of the Law, the Old Testament. Remember, the priests would wash themselves (see Exodus 29:4; Exodus 30:20; Leviticus chapter 1; Leviticus 8:6; Leviticus 16:24; 2 Chronicles 4:6).

The Lord Jesus also needed to identify Himself with His Jewish believers. The small remnant of believers in Israel at the time of Christ’s earthly ministry was called “the little flock” (Luke 12:32). Remember, the analogy here is Jesus Christ being the Shepherd, and these Jewish believers are sheep, like Psalm chapter 23 said. In order to identify Himself with those Jewish believers, Jesus was water baptized; as Isaiah 53:12 said, Christ would be “numbered with the transgressors.” John the Baptist water baptized Jesus Christ in order to manifest Him as Israel’s Messiah (Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-33). Anyone who refused the baptism of John was publicly admitting their unbelief; the fourth reason Jesus was baptized was to separate the Jewish believers from the Jewish unbelievers (Luke 7:29-30).

So, these are the four reasons why Jesus was baptized: (1) to fulfill the Old Testament ceremony of the priesthood washing, (2) to manifest Himself as Israel’s Messiah, (3) to identify Himself with the “little flock,” the remnant of Jewish believers who were also being water baptized, and (4) to thereby sort the believers from the unbelievers.

However, when Israel rejected their Messiah and demanded His crucifixion, and refused to repent and trust Him (Jesus) as Messiah in the early Acts period, the promise of Israel’s kingdom would be postponed. In Acts chapter 7, after the Jews stone the prophet Stephen (who was filled with the Holy Spirit), the Lord set Israel aside nationally for their unbelief. As Romans 11:11-13 says, Israel’s prophetic program has been temporarily stopped while God is dealing with the non-Jews (Gentiles) today through the ministry of the Apostle Paul.

With all that said, we have no reason to be water baptized today for any reason. Israel’s water baptism has nothing to do with us today because we are not the nation Israel. We are the Church the Body of Christ, who have a waterless baptism. We are under the Gospel of the Grace of God, not the Gospel of the Kingdom (as was preached in Israel). We are in the Dispensation of Grace, not the Dispensation of Law.

We have the one baptism of 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Ephesians 4:5. The moment we place our faith in Christ Jesus alone as our personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit “baptizes” us into the one Body of Christ. This is why Paul said Christ did not send him to water baptize in 1 Corinthians 1:17. Contrary to religious tradition, God’s Word tells us that we do not need water baptism for any reason in the Dispensation of Grace. Water baptism is for Israel’s program, so leave it there, where it belongs!

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The Pneuma Hagion (Holy Spirit)

June 30, 2009

by Shawn Brasseaux

*By the way, pneuma is Greek for “air/spirit;” hagion is Greek for “holy.”

When most people think of the Holy Spirit, they probably think of the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2, when the Holy Spirit came down and filled the apostles and believers in Jerusalem. While this is scriptural—it is found in the Bible—our purpose in this Bible study is to demonstrate that there is much more to the Holy Spirit than just giving people the ability to “speak in tongues” or perform miracles. Do not be so denominationally-minded that you can only think of speaking in “angelic languages” and bodily “healings” when you see or hear the words “Holy Spirit.”

Other people think of the Holy Spirit as some spooky spirit that is out to get them, something that floats around from church to church. How ridiculous!

Some groups (cults) teach that the Holy Spirit is just “God’s active force,” and they claim that He is not a Person of the Godhead. This is clearly wrong! In Acts 5:3,4 KJV, Peter tells Ananias that he has “lied to the Holy Ghost,… thou hast lied… unto God.” The Holy Spirit is not God’s active force; the Holy Spirit is God! Also, if the Holy Spirit can be “grieved” or saddened as Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:30, that means that the Holy Spirit is a Person, because “forces” never grow sad—it would be utterly silly if a force could be sad!

In this Bible study, let us see what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit and the various roles that He plays in Scripture.

THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: The Holy Spirit appears in the Bible long before Acts chapter 2. The first reference to the Holy Spirit is in the second verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:2 KJV: “And the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” The Holy Spirit has existed from eternity past, just like God the Father and God the Son (Jesus Christ): all three were present at creation.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND GOD’S WORD: The Holy Spirit also moved holy men to preach God’s Word before it was written down, as well as caused them to write down God’s Word. Look at 2 Peter 1:20,21 KJV: “but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Not only has the Holy Spirit inspired God’s Word and words, the Holy Bible, but He has also preserved God’s Word down through the ages through the line of the King James Bible and its underlying Antiochian New Testament texts, the Majority Text, or Textus Receptus / Received Text (fulfilling the promise of Psalm 12:6,7, Psalm 33:11, Isaiah 40:6-8, Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33, and 1 Peter 1:25). The role of the Holy Spirit concerning the Bible is evident from many verses. The doctrine of Bible inspiration is best described by Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:4 KJV: “It is written [Deuteronomy 8:3], Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (cf. Luke 4:4 KJV). In Acts 1:16 KJV, the Apostle Peter says about the Old Testament Scripture he is quoting, “which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake….” The Apostle Paul, also quoting the Old Testament, says in Acts 28:25 KJV, “Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers….” Jesus Christ Himself, when He quoted the Old Testament, commented: “For David himself said by the Holy Ghost…” (Mark 12:36 KJV). Our Lord Jesus asked, “Have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God…?” (Matthew 22:31 KJV). Thus, the Bible says of itself in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” Interestingly enough, the root spir in inspiration means “breath, air.” The Greek word translated “inspiration of God” in 2 Timothy 3:16 is theopneustos. The root pneu forms the Greek word pneuma, meaning “spirit, air.” Pneuma is paired with hagion (“holy”), thus becoming pneuma hagion, translated as “Holy Spirit” or “Holy Ghost.” When we say the Holy Bible is “inspired of God,” did you know we are actually emphasizing the Person (the Holy Ghost) who gave it to us? Wow!

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND JESUS CHRIST: The Holy Spirit, not Joseph, was the father of Jesus Christ’s physical body. Read Matthew 1:20,21: “But while he [Joseph] thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Luke 1:35 affirms: “And the angel answered and said unto her [Mary], The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Because Jesus had no earthly, biological father, He had no sin nature. Immediately after John the Baptist water baptized the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit came down and manifested Jesus as the Son of God, Israel’s Messiah (Matthew 3:16,17; Mark 1:10,11; Luke 3:21-23; John 1:32-34).

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE NATION ISRAEL: In the Old Testament, King David said, “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2 KJV). The Apostle Peter wrote of the Old Testament prophets: “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:10,11 KJV). Peter elaborates in 2 Peter 1:20,21 KJV: “Knowing this first, that no scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” In Bible days, there were both preaching prophets and writing prophets. Some would speak forth God’s Word (Elijah, Elisha, et al.), others wrote it (David, Joel, et al.), and some prophets spoke it and wrote it (Daniel, Jeremiah, et cetera). Regardless of their ministry, it was the same Holy Spirit working in all of God’s prophets. This is true in both the Old and New Testament Scriptures. When speaking of the spiritual gifts, 1 Corinthians 12:4,8,9,11 KJV say: “Now there are many diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;… But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally [individually] as he will.” The Holy Spirit empowered Israel’s apostles and believing remnant in the early Acts period to accomplish His will, as prophesied by Joel 2:28-32 (cf. Acts 2:16-21; Luke 24:49). The Holy Spirit taught Israel’s apostles and prophets what to say. John 14:16,17,26 KJV: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you…. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” And John 15:26 KJV: “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” Finally, John 16:7, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” Acts 2:4 KJV is the reality of Jesus’ earlier statements: “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” In the future, after our dispensation is over, God will fill Israel with His Holy Spirit, and cause them to walk in His ways with the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-36; Hebrews 8:8-13).

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST: If you are a believer today in the Gospel of the Grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)—someone who has trusted Jesus Christ alone as your personal Saviour, a member of the Church the Body of Christ—the Holy Spirit is actively playing a role in your life today, and He will continue that work until you are raptured with the rest of the Body of Christ (Philippians 1:6). So, what exactly is the Holy Spirit doing in our lives today as believers? Plenty! 🙂

The Holy Spirit indwells all members of the Church the Body of Christ; that is, after someone places his or her faith in the Gospel of Grace of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, the Holy Spirit comes to live within that Christian (Romans 8:9, 11; Ephesians 1:13). Read 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 KJV: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” And 2 Timothy 1:14 KJV: “That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.” Hence, Colossians 1:27 says “Christ in us, the hope of glory.” The Holy Spirit will indwell us until the rapture, when our physical bodies are redeemed: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30 KJV).
The Holy Spirit “baptizes” (not water baptism!) the believers into the Body of Christ the moment they trust the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished crosswork: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV). The Holy Spirit has also unified all believers in Christ by placing them all into the Church the Body of Christ: “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;” (Ephesians 4:3,4 KJV).
The Holy Spirit fulfills God’s laws in the Christian (Romans 7:6; Romans 8:4): “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is the Person by whom Jesus Christ lives in and through us (Romans 8:14,15; Galatians 2:20,21; Galatians 5:17,18; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 5:8,9, 18; Titus 2:11-15). For instance, read Romans 8:14,15 KJV: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” The Holy Spirit is saddened/grieved when we sin and hinder God’s Word working with us. “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30 KJV). “Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19 KJV).
The Holy Spirit is a witness to the Christian’s salvation. He confirms our salvation: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16 KJV). All believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit as soon as they trust Jesus Christ alone as their personal Saviour, and the Holy Spirit is the “earnest”—the KJV’s word for “down payment”, or “guarantee”—of our inheritance with Christ in the heavenly places (2 Corinthians 1:21,22; Ephesians 1:3,14).
Through the blood of Christ Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles have access by the Holy Spirit unto God the Father: “For through him [Jesus Christ] we both [Jew and Gentile] have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Ephesians 2:18 KJV).
The Holy Spirit, through Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon, has revealed to us God’s Dispensation of Grace, and the “revelation of the mystery.” “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles; if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (Ephesians 3:1-5 KJV).
As we read, study, and believe God’s Word rightly divided, the Holy Spirit will take His Word and strengthen our inner man. Ephesians 3:16,17 KJV: “[I pray] That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ would dwell in your hearts by faith….” And 1 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”
The Holy Spirit teaches us using the words of the Bible, so we can understand what God wants us to know and do: “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; then we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:10-16 KJV). Once we understand what God has to say in His Word to us, and we believe what we read, the result is spiritual maturity—the more Scripture we understand and believe, the more spiritually mature we become. The Holy Spirit takes the Bible verses we study and believe, and He brings them into our lives on a daily basis, thereby bringing the Lord Jesus Christ glory!
The Holy Spirit enables us to pray effectually as members of the Body of Christ: He intercedes for us, and He brings the verses that we have memorized to memory, which verses relate to those life issues, those issues we cannot adequately express in words: “Likewise the Spirit itself also helpeth our infirmities: for we know what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26,27 KJV).

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“Behold, I Come Quickly”

June 27, 2009

by Shawn Brasseaux

Recently, I was watching the news on television, which I seldom do anymore because there is nothing but death and violence. The world is falling apart; look at all the violence and crime around the world. Ever since Adam’s sin and mankind’s fall, the world has become progressively worse. While that news is depressing and confusing to the lost world, it is exciting for the Bible student because he or she knows that this world is rushing closer to the end times, farther down the spiral that leads right up the appearance of the antichrist, and his promise to bring about world peace! This provides a background for this Bible study.

In Revelation chapter 22, the last chapter of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ promises three times that He is “coming quickly” (verses 7,12,20). The book of the Revelation and the entire Bible were completed almost 20 centuries ago, but here in 2009, the Lord has yet to return to earth. Is the Lord Jesus ever coming back, or is the Second Coming of Christ just a myth, a lie, a fairytale to keep the Christians from getting discouraged? Did God’s Word make a mistake when it claimed that Jesus Christ would “come quickly?”

As the Apostle Peter wrote in his second letter, 2 Peter 3:3-7, the scoffers are asking the same question they posed ever since Jesus Christ left our planet: “Where is the promise of his coming?” Well, we ask in faith, desiring a biblical answer to the question, “Where is the promise of Christ’s coming?”

The Apostles James, Peter, and John—writing their last epistles in the mid to the latter part of the first century A.D.—all thought that the Lord’s return would be in their lifetimes (James 5:8-9; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 Peter 3:3; 1 John 2:18). James writing to Jews, penned, “for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” and “the judge standeth before the door.” The Apostle Peter wrote to his Jewish brethren about “the end of all things is at hand” and “the last days.” The Apostle John wrote in the first of his little epistles to Israel, “little children, it is the last time” and “whereby we know that it is the last time.”

Now, these believing Jews of Christ’s earthly ministry were looking for the Second Coming of Christ in their lifetimes, as recorded in Zechariah 14:1-4 (cf. Acts 1:9-11). After the seven-year Tribulation, Jesus Christ at His Second Coming would destroy the unbelieving survivors. He would bind the devil in the bottomless pit, He would get rid of Israel’s enemies, He would deliver creation from the curse, and He would dominate the universe by setting up His glorious kingdom on earth and in heaven.

The promise of the earthly kingdom that the Lord made to Israel still holds true today. Indeed, that kingdom promised to Israel over 4,000 years ago will be established one day, and you can bet everything you own that Jesus Christ will assume David’s throne on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Jesus Christ is going to return, and nothing will hold Him back. Praise God that no one—not even Satan himself—will be able to stop Him because God’s Word will never be broken! But, before we go any further, let me interject a few lines about our role in all this.

Today, as members of the Church the Body of Christ living in the Dispensation of the Grace of God, we are looking for that “blessed hope,” the rapture of the Church the Body of Christ, which will happen seven years prior to the Second Coming. If we were looking for the Second Coming, that means we would be in the Tribulation period right now—which is impossible because the Church the Body of Christ cannot go into the Tribulation. Jesus Christ has “delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9).

Just as Israel’s apostles thought they would be alive to witness the Second Coming of Christ, the Apostle Paul thought he would be alive when the rapture occurred. We read in Philippians 4:5: “The Lord is at hand.” Paul also wrote “then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up…” (1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV). Paul died in the Lord, but even though he is dead in Christ, Paul will be resurrected at the rapture one day, with all the other members of the Church the Body of Christ. But, the only thing is, Paul will not be living in a physical body when the rapture occurs.

With that addressed, we can return to our main discussion. Why did the Lord Jesus say He was “coming quickly,” when it has already been 2,000 years, and He still has not come? Of course, there is a reason and we just have to search the Scriptures to find the answer. Read 2 Peter 3:8 KJV: “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” Compare that with Psalm 90:4 KJV: “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.”

Now, notice that the Bible is not saying one day is exactly 1,000 years with the Lord, or vice versa; we know that because the word “watch” in Psalm chapter 90 is a three-hour period of time in the Old Testament Jewish calendar. These two verses are simply demonstrating God’s “timelessness.” One thousand years is nothing in God’s sight, so God is still fair and truthful in promising to be “coming quickly.” According to God, He only made that promise recently; in human time, it was 20 centuries ago. Wow! Of course, remember that God is not limited by time and space, so He could even view all of the 6,000 years of human history in just a blink of an eye. That ought to humble you in reverence at the mighty God we serve. 😉

So, “Where is the promise of Christ’s coming?” Jesus Christ is deliberately tarrying. Why? He is giving mankind ample time to believe the Gospel of Grace, and escape the impending wrath. Let us go back to 2 Peter 3 KJV where we learn the following:

“9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance….
10 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;…
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

The Lord is “not slack” (not lazy or unreliable): He will fulfill His promise to return to earth, but He is “longsuffering.” God, in His grace, tolerates wicked, ungrateful mankind. His grace is withholding the impending wrath, yet our world finds it amusing to mock Him by abusing His grace. God does not want anyone to go to hell (“perish”), so “the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.” But, we also notice Peter’s next words: “…even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood,”

Peter is explaining to His Jewish audience that their program is on hold, “according to the wisdom given unto [Paul].” God is delaying the Second Coming of Christ because He has interrupted Israel’s program with our Dispensation of Grace! In order to give more people time to be saved in our present dispensation (and before the rapture occurs), God must push the seven years of wrath (the Tribulation) and the Second Coming of Christ out into the future. Paul discussed the temporary suspension of Israel’s program in Romans chapters 9, 10, and 11 (this is the information to which Peter referred). Once our dispensation ends (at the rapture), then God will return to Israel’s program and pour out His wrath on unbelieving mankind.

Maranatha! “Our Lord cometh!”… and He cometh quickly. If you are saved by grace through faith plus nothing, continue your labor in the Lord, and keep watching for Christ’s glorious appearing at the rapture to take us the Church the Body of Christ home to heave. As Paul wrote in Titus 2:13 KJV, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” After the Lord comes for us at the rapture, then He will come for Israel at His Second Coming. The Lord cometh quickly!

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Posted by Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)