The BIG Picture (Shorts)

  REMARK: Mark also taught a secret that was hidden. Therefore, the mystery doctrine of Paul and the mysteries of the Kingdom are not different but the same. You're picking and choosing your own verses to promote your views. REPLY: In Mark 4:11, the word ‘mystery’ is not the same as Paul’s mystery. Why? Paul’s mystery doctrine was different because it was never entered into the prophetic scriptures.  It was unsearchable in the scriptures, Eph 3:8.  It was hidden in God and kept secret from humanity and even from Satan, 1Cor 2:8. It pertains to the overall redemption plan of God to save Gentiles outside of prophecy for a heavenly program, 2Tim 4:18.  This is very different to the meaning of the secrets of the Kingdom that Jesus hid in parables. This information was always in the scriptures, having been prophesied and made known to Israel. The information was revealed in prophecy but unknown to Jews because their priesthood failed to interpret the scriptures. Thus, ev...

  It is common for modern Charismatic denominations to call upon the fire of God, connecting this with the power of the Holy Spirit in Matt.3 and Acts.2. But, this a gross misinterpretation of scripture. Being baptized with fire is not a ‘good’ thing! It is in actual fact a reference to the horrific judgements of the tribulation, leading up to the second coming of Christ.  Notice we have fire 3-times in Matt.3:10–12. In v10 it is negative and regarding fruitless trees being burned up in the fire. In v12 it is negative referring to the chaff being burned with unquenchable fire. So, why would v11 be any different? Its context remains the same as the verses that surround it, interpreting the fire as judgement at His second coming. That’s not a fire I want to call down upon myself!! Can you see how misinterpreting verses like this can cause a false narrative of scripture and lead to doctrines that are skewed and confusing. It is vital to understand right division! ______________ J...

People often perform "good" deeds, but the motives behind these deeds may not always be noble. For example, some do "good" for praise, compensation, or self-improvement. However, they also commit many wrongs, like pride, lying, and harboring evil thoughts, —things that the LORD hates, Prov 6:16-19. Humans struggle to adhere even to God's 10 simple rules, but our religious practices urge adherence to sacraments, prayers, offerings, tithes, and festivals to please God and avoid damnation. Whether it's church laws, personal laws, or God's laws, our flesh is too weak to measure up, and religion can literally kill our soul, 2Cor 3:6. Paul, once a Pharisee who practiced the Law, admitted that his religion was "but dung" compared to Jesus Christ's righteousness, Phil 3:3-11. Living a perfect life is impossible, thus we must understand that our lives are NOT about our performance but about Jesus Christ living and working in us, as we walk in an int...

According to Paul’s writings we are to obey the living Word within us. You see, when we read the Word and fill ourselves with it, then it starts to renew our mind. It starts to influence our thoughts and actions. Giving ourselves over to obey the knowledge that the Word stablishes within us is what we obey unto righteousness. So, for clarity, we obey that form of doctrine that is inside us. As we do, we walk by the Spirit and mortify the deeds of the flesh. We obey the living Word by allowing it to work itself out of us. This is liberty and freedom in grace. Can you see that walking in the Spirit is not some ultra-spiritual force that moves you left and right, or brings you visions or voices in your head! There is no mysticism or deep spiritual senses involved. It is simply a matter of knowing and applying God's Word in situations with the desire to please God through simple but committed obedience to Paul's grace doctrine. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive th...

Consider the verse in the image in light of Matt 16:28 and Mk 9:1. These verses preview the glorious Second Coming of Jesus. Reading Matt 16:28–17:8, Mk 9:1-8, and Lk 9:27-36, we know how that Jesus was transformed in glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. Essentially, Peter, John, and James saw a preview of Christ coming in His glory at His Second Coming to set up His kingdom on earth. The Lord’s appearance was glowing white, and His clothes were whiter than bleached garments! Matt 25:31 says: “The Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:” Paul, in 2 Thess 2:8, refers to “the brightness of [Christ’s] coming.” Peter, describing Christ’s kingdom, writes in 1Pet 1:11, “the glory that should follow.” Many years after Christ’s earthly ministry, John later saw some of that glory when he wrote the book of the Revelation: “and [Christ’s] countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (1:16). ______________ J...

When pure Grace is proclaimed, objections will invariably arise: “Grace is a license to sin, and I can live any way I want!” If you say that, you really have no idea what Grace is. Moreover, others will complain, “But do I not have to do something to make God happy with me?” If you say that, you have not paid attention to what these verses teach. Your flesh can do nothing to please God! The Law system, once it shows a lost person their sinful state, has no further place in their life. “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient…” (1 Tim 1:8-9). God added the Law “because of transgressions” (Gal 3:19) —to point out what sin is. “For by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom 3:20). How senseless it is for a believer to live under the Law, to try to please God, continually vexed by sin that the law reveals, when they have already confronted it the moment they came to Chris...

As result of the Acts 15 Council Meeting, Peter used the keys of the kingdom, Matt.16:19, to “bind” or limit the ministry of the 12-apostles to the already saved, circumcised ‘Jews only’, while ‘loosing’ Paul, with his pure “Grace gospel,” to go to 'All men', meaning to both the unbelieving Jews and unbelieving Gentiles. Peter first used the keys to open the door to salvation for Jews under “the Kingdom Gospel” at Pentecost (Acts 2), and to the Samaritans through Philip (Acts 8:14-17). Now Peter was ‘binding’ or ‘limiting’ this ministry. Thus, after Acts 15:11, the 12 did not ‘go into all the world’ preaching ‘the Kingdom gospel,’ according to the ‘Great Commission.’ In fact, Jesus prophesied of this short work, saying, “Ye will not have gone over the cities of Israel until the Son of Man be come” at the end of the Tribulation (Matt. 10:23). The ‘Great Commission’ for Israel will one day be fulfilled after the Tribulation, in Millennial Kingdom, when the believing Jews will se...

Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. Paul says that we ‘should’ be married to another. Many believers never get to ‘marrying’ the Word. They remain widowed in their spiritual life. Some might marry laws, observances, and traditions, but this fails to join them to the Word. To marry the Word, in the context of this analogy, is to increase in knowledge and understanding of Paul’s doctrine and allow it to renew your mind and influence your life. The evidence of this marriage is bearing fruit unto God, by the effects of Christ being formed within you. Friends, the ring on your finger is not in your efforts or in being good. No! The ring on your finger is the knowledge of the Word of God in you and your obedience to its authority. It is ALL about the written Word! ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive thes...

The Mosaic law was for Israel. Today, we are under grace. Thus, if Jews under the Mosaic law did tithes and offerings, they were blessed, and if they did not, they were cursed. If we choose to tithe (which is not an observance under grace) and offer, or if we choose not to, we suffer no curse as we are not under that law. We ought to give as we purpose in our heart. See 2 Cor.9:7 for instructions about grace giving. One must be careful not to mix content from different dispensations together. If you do this you skew your doctrine, and it causes all manner of confusion and contradiction. One must rightly divide the word of truth according to 2Tim 2:15. Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive these quick Bible lessons on your phone: https://whatsapp.com/c...

Our gospel in not fully explained in John, neither can it be found in any of the other gospels, because they contain the gospel of the Kingdom which is for Israel. It is in the ministry of Paul, directed to the Gentiles, that contains our grace gospel today. This gospel is explained in its entirety in Romans chapters 1–8, but for a summary of the gospel, see 1 Cor.15:1–4. Our grace gospel is not to repent and be baptized in water or Spirit. It does not contain additional works that prove our faith (according to James). Our gospel is simply to believe in Jesus Christ, that His death on the cross was for the forgiveness of our sins and His resurrection was for our justification, Rom.4:25. Why are there no works of faith? Because these works have aready been fulfilled by Jesus. His life and faithfulness, even unto death, are the works that satisfy our salvation, Eph.2:8–9. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive these quick Bible lessons on your phone: https://whatsapp.com/chan...

COMMENT: According to Rom 1:16, “to the Jew first…”, would it be right to reach the Jewish community before going to Gentiles, or is this a misunderstanding of what this verse teaches? Jesus also promoted the Jerusalem-Judea-Samaria order of the Great Commission. But if it doesn’t apply to the Gospel of Grace, what did Paul mean in Rom. 1:16? ANSWER: For sound interpretation we must always note when and to whom the Scripture was written. Romans was written during the Acts period. In Acts, Paul went to Jews first. When they rejected his message, he turned to Gentiles. This occurred three times (Acts 13, 18, 28). Acts closes with the rejection of Paul’s message by the Jews in Rome. Imprisoned in Rome, note Paul’s words in Ephesians 3:1: "For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles." The Lord had told Paul the Jews would not believe him (Acts 22.18). From this point onward, we see Paul focusing on Gentiles, not Jews first. ______________ J...

Romans , Paul’s first epistle in the canon of Scripture, describes the Gospel of Grace by which we receive forgiveness, justification, sanctification, and redemption. His next three epistles— 1 and 2 Corinthians plus Galatians —expand on Romans and correct any misconceptions or confusions. Most church members, if they ever (!) grasp Romans through Galatians, never get beyond here. Remember, the Corinthians and Galatians failed to learn and apply Romans truth! Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians are a higher plane of understanding. Very few gain this maturity, “the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery” being the second step to establishment as per Romans 16:25,26. Finally, 1 and 2 Thessalonians are the ensample of established believers, operating in faith, love and hope. Paul’s last four epistles— 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon —are handbooks for running the local church efficiently, also rarely mastered. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel...

Many do not. However, let me take the opportunity to rectify this. There is nothing wrong in asking for forgiveness if you know you have fallen into sin or had a moment of weakness. It is completely natural to want to apologize for your wrongdoings, but, realize that this NEVER affects your positional stance with God. Through a faith response to the grace gospel of Jesus Christ, you are once and forever cleansed from sin. As grace believers, our sins have been nailed to the cross of Christ, and we have, by the grace of God, received in its place, the imputed righteousness of Christ. Nothing can change our position in Christ and before the Father, so asking forgiveness, or not asking forgiveness, does not change or affect our standing before God. The grace believer's salvation is forever secure and they are "sealed with the Spirit unto the day of salvation." (Rom 5:1-2, 8:29-39, 6-8; Eph 1:13-14, 4:30; Phil 1:6; 2Tim 1:12). ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receiv...

Within the Body of Christ (which is NOT spiritual Israel, nor Israel in any way!) and during this mystery program there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile. We are all one in Christ. Jews and saved in the same way as Gentiles, by the grace gospel. Furthermore, Israel is not currently God’s special, called out nation. Israel is as Gentile-a-nation as all other nations on earth. They are Loammi, according to Hosea 1:9. However, when this mystery program ends at the rapture of the Body of Christ, the suspended prophetic program is reactivated by the Antichrist’s signing of the peace covenant with Israel. They will go into a 7-year period of testing and purging, and a remnant will come out and inhabit the Millennial Kingdom to once again be the special nation of God, the royal priesthood and holy nation, Exodus 19:5-6. Then they are again distinguished highly above the rest of the nations who will flock to Israel for light and salvation. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to rec...

The following is a simple post, but the message is crucial. Please read the following short post and take note of the importance of  reading, understanding, and interpreting  the Bible with 'progressive revelation' in mind.  One can so easily skew scripture without applying this valued concept. SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENT: In Lev 5:11, the Word reveals either animal offering or grain offering was acceptable to God. If the poor could not afford a lamb, they could offer two turtledoves or young pigeons; if they could not afford the birds, they could offer fine flour with no oil nor frankincense as a sin offering. This tells me that God rejected Cain’s produce offering because Cain offered without faith. Vital is the matter of faith, not a bloody animal nor fruit from the ground. ANSWER: It is vitally important to interpret scripture taking ‘progressive revelation’ into account. Cain was not under the Mosaic Law, so it can't be applied to him. For Cain, a blood offering was the bas...

The grace life does not merely teach us to stop doing bad things, but it also instructs us to start doing good things, Titus 2:11,12. If a thief is convicted by the grace gospel, then God expects that thief to stop stealing and find a job so he can provide for his needs and others! God calls work “the thing which is good” . Work is not something to be avoided; it is something to be embraced for the Lord’s glory! When the Lord Jesus Christ put the first man, Adam, on earth, that man had a divine commission. Adam was not to simply loaf around and do nothing: “And the LORD God took the man, and put him in the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it”, Gen 2:15 . Adam was to protect that garden, to till its ground, to prepare it for Jesus Christ to come and dwell in it with him and Eve. Friends, may we work to provide for our families, 1Tim 5:8, and may we work to help those who truly are needy. In the words of God, the Holy Spirit, that is, “the thing which is good!” ______________ Join ...

A "dispensation" is not a period of time, but an administration, or stewardship of time. It's more associated to a way of life than a length of time. The Greek word itself means to manage a household. It describes the role of a steward and a system or a way of doing things. Before Paul's mystery dispensation, Israel lived under the economy of law. God dealt with Israel differently to how He deals with us today. Thus, the mystery dispensation, which started at Paul's conversion, has more to do with God dispensing a new lifestyle of grace to replace Israel's law, than calculating the duration in ages or years on a timeline. A dispensation ends when God declares a new set of rules that changes the pattern or behaviour (1 Tim.1:16) of living from the previous dispensation. In summary, an age deals with time, whereas a dispensation relates to a way of life. So, when studying the Bible rightly divided, the focus should be on the way of living, and not on the duratio...

COMMENT: I wonder how Christianity would look today if we based it on Jesus’ teachings in the synoptic gospels? ANSWER: How Christianity would look if we based it upon the synoptics is largely how it looks today. For 90% of the churches, 90% of the time, the message is from the Gospels. If teaching from the gospels was consistent, salvation would be based upon keeping the Mosaic Law, the two baptisms, and faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus also declared if one did not forgive, He would not forgive. Preaching would also be entirely to Jews with only a few exceptions. The teachings from the gospels are DO and live. The teachings Paul received from the Lord are LIVE and do. Without Paul there is no grace gospel, no identification with Christ, no rapture, no church, the body of Christ, no salvation by faith alone, etc. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive these quick Bible lessons on your phone: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaGag8iJP212QPSMmx2W

COMMENT: You said the New Covenant was a promise God gave to Jews. So then, why was Paul, a minister to the uncircumcision, a minister of the New Covenant? ANSWER: With the Abrahamic Covenant, it meant that all Gentile blessing must come through Israel. Israel was supposed to fulfill this (Isa 42:6, 49.6; Zech 8:20-23), but this required the entire nation to repent, which Peter preached at Pentecost. But they refused and later stoned Stephen. Right after this, God saved Paul to be the apostle of the Gentiles. The 12, therefore, never had a ministry to Gentiles. Paul thus became proxy Israel and served in the three roles Israel was supposed to occupy. Paul became the light to the Gentiles (Act 13), the minister of the New Covenant (2 Cor 3), and the priest of the Gentiles (Rom 15:16). We become partakers of the New Covenant; the indwelling Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins through Paul’s gospel. Thus, all blessing and doctrine for us comes through the revelation that the risen Lor...

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:” Rom 11:13. Upon inquiring the average church member, “Who is your apostle?,” we will receive one of three answers: (1) the 12 apostles, (2) Jesus, or (3) “apostle” so-and-so who leads a local church or ministry. Unfortunately, none of these common replies are correct; yet church tradition perpetuates such ignorance. Paul is God’s apostle (sent one) to us Gentiles (Rom 15:16; 2 Tim 1:11). If we want to learn what God is doing and saying to us today, we go not to Israel’s apostles and prophets, for they speak of what God did in time past and what He will do in the ages to come. Only Paul’s epistles, discuss what God is doing today in the Dispensation of Grace. We study all the Bible, but only Paul’s epistles speak of us. Jesus Christ said if we are to accept Him, we must accept whom He sent to us (Jn 13:20). If we are to honour this, we must accept the Apostle Paul, or we reject Christ (1C...