The BIG Picture (Shorts)

Scripture provides a comprehensive timeline of time and events. Prophecies provide clues that can be added to a timeline. For instance, the prophecies of Daniel provide details on the exact timing of specific future events. Studying the book of Acts allows for accurate plotting of Paul's missionary journeys, determining when he wrote which epistles and where he was. Have a look at this link to see a good example of this: https://thebigpicturelink.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-timeline-of-pauls-ministry-study-aid.html We can learn of future events through study and cross-referencing, such as the Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom. Combining prophecies and the book of Revelation can help plot the Tribulation and the beginning and governance of the Millennial Kingdom. So, assuming you mean a timeline (as opposed to calendar), then, yes, scripture certainly gives us a very good and accurate understanding of time, events, and the future. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive...

No. Fellowship is not restored when we confess our sins. What will restore an immediate and secure fellowship with God is to believe in Jesus Christ; to believe that He died for your sins and that He was raised for your justification. The instant that you choose to trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation is the instant your sins are forgiven, and you are immersed into the Body of Christ, and sealed unto the day of salvation. Thus, it is not a matter of confessing your sins. There is no power in that. Paul says, Rom.1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The power to restore fellowship with God immediately, lies with your faith in the gospel of Christ. Fellowship is not dependent on confession of sin, nor doing good works, nor joining a church, etc. Nothing else but the grace gospel restores fellowship. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive these qui...

COMMENT: In Act 2:37-38, the Jews asked Peter after the were pricked in their heart, "What must we do?" Peter answered them “Repent every one of you and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." That is the salvation and destiny of Jews today. REPLY: In correction, that is the salvation of the Jews in Peter’s day, and also during the Tribulation. Today, Jews are saved by only one gospel, Paul’s gospel of the grace of God; that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and that he was raised again for our justification. Thus, it is not to repent, be water baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit, but rather, Jews, just like Gentiles today, must believe in the cross work of Jesus Christ. Both Jews and Gentiles are saved in exactly the same way today according to Acts 15:11 and Gal 3:28. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive these quick Bible lessons on your phone: https://whatsapp.com/chan...

COMMENT: Jesus and the apostles never espoused the idea of the Trinity REPLY: I am aware that the word ‘Trinity' is not in scripture, but I have become convicted by scripture that alludes to the triune God. God is one, but there is clear evidence of three identities. A great example of this is at the baptism of Jesus Christ. Jesus was in a physical state, being baptized by John. When he came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit descended upon him as like a dove, and then a voice from heaven spoke saying, “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” So, from this one event, we see three different instances of God present at one time and in one event. There are many other examples that indicate God's triune nature. See also these verses: 2 Cor 13:14; Gen 1:26; John 1:1-18; Matt 28:18-20. Each mention clear evidence of the three persons of God. For me, this is sufficient evidence to believe that God manifests Himself in three identities, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ____...

Titus 2:1  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: The word “speak” is a command. Paul encouraged Titus not to deviate from teaching sound doctrine. It was urgent that he speak out because of rising false teaching in the churches of Crete. Titus was to teach practical living that aligned with sound doctrine. His congregation was to live out their faith according to rightly divided truth. They were to make their doctrine visible by living it.  Sound doctrine and resulting ethics are inseparable. When God's word is taught correctly, it shapes the lifestyle and outworking of our lives. The Word of God never divorces doctrine from duty or truth from conduct. This pattern is clearly evident in Paul's epistles; doctrine first, then conduct. Rom 1-11 is doctrine, 12-16 is conduct. Eph 1-3 is doctrine, 4-6 behavior. Col 1-2 is creed, 3-4 conduct, etc. Sound doctrine produces strong believers who will naturally influence others by their ethical lifestyle. ______________ ...

It is my absolute conviction that the Authorized KJV (1611) is the seven-times purified Word of God in the English language. Its words are inerrant, infallible, and God-inspired. It is unmatched and unrivalled in literary history and cannot be compared to the tainted modern versions of today, influenced by the imagination of men and their greed. So, consider this. Every time a preacher stands up and concerning the word of God, says, “now a better way of saying this is …”, he is acknowledging that he does not hold the Word of God. Isn’t that true? If he thinks that what he holds is corrupt, and that he should change the way it says things, then he confesses that he doesn't believe the truth and perfection of the Word of God. Friends, we truly need to respect the words in this book. They are already pure! We cannot improve or change them. They are a record of God’s righteousness, justice, truth, and power. These words contain the Spirit of His Son and are either our salvation or con...

COMMENT: “Salvation is conditional!” ANSWER: I do not argue that salvation is conditional. It certainly is, but that is in respect to the prophetic Kingdom program. As for the Grace program under mystery, all the conditions which were necessary for our salvation were accomplished through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So, in essence, there were conditions for our salvation, but those conditions are not upon us to fulfil, because they have already been fulfilled by Christ. This is why our salvation is a FREE GIFT by the grace of God through Christ. In contrast, the currently suspended Kingdom program required conditions to be fulfilled by those believers as part of the works they need to prove their faith, Jam 2:17. All the above scriptures you quote, to prove conditional salvation, speak of conditions to do because all these scriptures refer to the prophetic Kingdom program. We do not belong to this program, so these scriptures do not apply to us. ______________ Joi...

According to Old Testament references, regarding kings and priests, and those in Acts, regarding the kingdom believers, the Holy Spirit can UPON them, to empower them for their purpose or function at that time. The Holy Spirit did not reside permanently WITHIN them. David wrote in Ps 51:11-12 that the Lord take not His Spirit from David. In 1Sa 16:14 the Spirit of the Lord left king Saul. In Act 1:8 it is written that the Holy Spirit came upon them, for the ‘short work’ that the Lord would do at that time, Rom 9:28. Also, in Act 4:31, the believers prayed for boldness and were again filled with the Holy Spirit. It is only when the promise of the New Covenant blessing comes, at the second coming of Jesus, when the Spirit will be placed WITHIN the Kingdom believer as prophesied in Ezekiel.  Eze 36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put WITHIN you:  ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive these quick Bible lessons on your phone: https://...

The Bible’s first verse says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen 1:1). God needed angels and mankind to carry out His plans in both realms. However, when Lucifer/Satan polluted the heavens and Adam corrupted the earth with sin, God devised a two-fold plan to restore both. While much of the Bible focuses on God's creation of the nation Israel as His earthly people, His plan for the heavenly places remained a secret until the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Through Paul's teachings, we learn that God is forming the Church, known as the Body of Christ, to fulfill His will in heaven, Eph 3:1-11. God already had the nation Israel’s believing remnant as His people, but that was just part of His will. Why is God forming the Church the Body of Christ? In Paul’s epistles alone, Romans to Philemon, we learn that God is currently creating a body that will fulfill His will in heaven (as Israel will fulfill His will in earth; Matt 6:10). ______________ Join my WhatsA...

QUESTION: For clarity sake, are you saying that the gospel Jesus presented to the Jews was different from the gospel Paul presented to the Gentiles? ANSWER: Yes. Very much so. Jesus and the 12 proclaimed the Kingdom gospel. Some of the conditions of this gospel, preached ONLY to Jews, was, to repent, confess Jesus as the Son of God, get water baptized and be filled with the Spirit. Matt.16:16; Acts 2:38. On the other hand, Paul preached the grace gospel which was the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  Note that the Kingdom gospel never even mentions the cross. The Kingdom gospel involves faith and works, whereas the grace gospel is faith alone in the cross. From the references in Galatians 2:7-9, we clearly have 2 different gospels; the gospel OF the uncircumcision versus the gospel OF the circumcision. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive these quick Bible lessons on your phone: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaGag8iJP212QPSMmx2W

God still has work to do concerning our outward man, and we still have work to do concerning our inward man. While He has yet to redeem our physical bodies, which are falling apart, we should focus on our inward man, which should be growing.  The key to Christian living is letting Jesus Christ teach you how He wants to live His life in and through you. It is not something you struggle to do, but something you daily learn from His Word rightly divided. Faith causes the Holy Spirit to take that Word and change your thinking processes, and that will change your conduct to fit God’s grace. Colossians 3:10 adds: “And [ye] have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him….” See also:  Rom 12:1-2 ...be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind Eph 4:20-23 ...and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; We are to be daily building up the inner man through knowledge and obedience to God's Word, preparing for the day when God relocates it to...

For many people, the choice of minister or church they attend is not important. They typically say that all preachers and denominations share similar beliefs and teachings. This channel is not convinced! Some individuals opt to ignore doctrinal differences and focus solely on fellowship around the love of Jesus (whatever that means!). It is crucial for such people to recognize that they have failed to distinguish between sound doctrine and corrupt communication, as well as spiritual health and spiritual danger. No one taking the Bible at face value should ever be so casual and tolerant about what they believe. “Wholesome” is translated “sound” (healthy—1 Tim 1:10; 2 Tim 1:13; 2 Tim 4:3; Tit 1:9,13; Tit 2:1,2). These “wholesome words” are the words of Jesus Christ through our Apostle Paul. Anyone who does not submit to these words has a corrupt mind and doctrine—and we're instructed to withdraw from them (see v5), else their deceived communication could be detrimental to our spiritu...

Do you want to know how to go to Heaven, stop reading tracts and books written by men and start to read what God has written and preserved for you in the Bible, especially the Book of Romans. The first two chapters of this book starts with a hard truth as it tells us about how all people, whether Jew or Gentile, are condemned because of their sins. However, the next three chapters then proceed to explain the grace of God, and how He imputes righteousness to those who choose to have faith in Jesus Christ and believe that He died for their sins, was buried, and rose again, cf. 1 Cor 15:31-4. We don't go to Heaven by trying to follow rules and regulations, which we break constantly anyway because we can never do it perfectly. It is all about God's grace and what He has already done for us through the cross work of Christ. If we are unsure about our eternal destiny, we should read Romans chapters 1-5, and believe them as the words spoken by God Himself. ______________ Join my Whats...

Even if someone owns a Bible and reads it daily, they may still be out of God's will and lack His power. Personal faith is the most important thing to God.  “But without faith it is impossible to please [God]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6). “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). “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” (1 Thess 2:13).  Faith activates God's Word in our lives. When we believe the verses we read or hear, the Holy Spirit works these words out of us, “…To be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Eph 3:16). He makes the verses a reality in our lives, allowing us to reflect the grace doctrine we believe and so, hono...

Deut 23:15, "Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:" While Paul was imprisoned at Rome, he shared the gospel with a runaway slave called Onesimus, leading him to trust in Christ. Paul sent Onesimus back to his owner, with a letter, the epistle of Philemon, explaining the spiritual transformation that had taken place in Onesimus. But the Law was clear: Escaped servants could not be returned to their master. Yet, Paul sent runaway slave Onesimus back to Philemon. Why did Paul not follow Moses? As a former Pharisee and Jewish Law scholar (Act 22:3; Phil 3:5), Paul was aware of what Moses commanded. But, the law was no longer applicable. The Body of Christ is under a whole new dispensation (set of divine laws). Grace could enable Philemon to accept Onesimus back as a “brother beloved” in Christ. So, through this reunion, Paul afforded them both an opportunity to experience just how forgiving, and unifying, God’s grace truly ...

Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. During the Gospels and Acts, Jews had to sell all they had and give the proceeds to the church. This demonstrated faith; that they would have ALL things when the Millennial Kingdom came. In the Kingdom they would be blessed and receive the wealth of the Gentile nations. Selling all they had was a small price for what they'd receive in the Kingdom. This verse can also apply to us, but in a different way. We don't have the promise of an earthly kingdom and physical blessings, but we can receive it spiritually. It is good to seek the things of God, spend time in the Word and be led by the Spirit. We have confidence in all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, but we don't inherit Israel's kingdom promises where all physical things will be added to us. Our inheritance is spiritual. Matt 6:33 must be understood from Israel's Kingdom program. We seek our ...

The passage becomes clear, understanding that v11-16 involve Peter and Paul only, while v17-21 are the words of Paul to all the Galatians. Thus, no. The Little Flock were still under the Law. Remember, Jesus taught that if Jews did not follow the Mosaic Law, and teach others to do so, they would be "least in the kingdom of heaven." James instructs Jews to continue Law-keeping, and in Acts 21, years after this incident, the Jews still adhere to the Law and Temple worship.  Peter's actions contradicted the decisions of the Council meeting in Acts 15 and confused Paul's converts, thus the rebuke of Paul. In day-to-day living, the Little Flock were to follow Moses, as per James' and John's epistles of Law-keeping, Acts 21, and Jesus' commands, but for the sake of the Gentile converts in Paul's ministry, Israel's Little Flock were to act according to Rom 13 and be the stronger in faith, not making their brothers stumble. ______________ Join my WhatsApp ...

In the Old Testament, God separated Israel from the nations to distinguished them as a great nation through law and ordinances, but all Israel wanted was to be like the Gentiles. Then, in the New Testament, God finally came to us Gentiles with a new grace doctrine and salvation, and all we want is to be like Israel. Isn't that so typical of humans! They always want and do the exact opposite of whatever God says! Why? Due to sin, our carnal mind, by nature, is at enmity with God, Rom 8:7-8. Enmity with God is not merely passive disagreement; it involves active opposition and a heart set against God's will. We don't try to be like this. We are born like this! But thankfully, God has made a way. The gospel invites us to reconcile with God through faith in Jesus Christ, breaking the enmity and completely restoring our relationship with Him. See the image above and be encouraged and edified by this incredible passage from Paul epistle, Rom 5:8-11. ______________ Join my WhatsAp...

The ‘body’ you refer to  (in the post title)  is NOT the Body of Christ, but rather the fellowship of believing Jews. Cornelius would have proselyted and adopted the Jewish customs after his conversion because he knew nothing of Paul's unique ministry. Remember, the ministry of Paul had not yet started. Paul was still in Arabia and had not yet preached the new mystery doctrine of the Body of Christ. So, there is no way that Cornelius was added to the Body of Christ. Members of the Body of Christ are identified through believing in the grace gospel which Peter did not preach. What Peter preached was the Kingdom gospel that had nothing to do with the cross of Christ but rather with the identity of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, and with repentance and baptisms. One must be careful not to blend these two ministries into one. They are to be kept apart as they are designed for different people groups and for different purposes, 2Tim.2:15. God bless. ______________ Join my Wh...

Read Joshua 1:7 and 2Pet 2:1-3 To have spiritual prosperity, it is important for us to follow the doctrine that God intended for us. After Joshua died, the Jews became worse and worse and suffered greatly when they strayed from the Law of Moses. The Old Testament is filled with tragedies that occurred when Israel failed to uphold their doctrine, such as civil wars, family breakdowns, famines, Gentile oppression, plagues, diseases, poverty, and death. As believers today, we must heed this warning. There are people who will use false teachings to divide local churches and cause believers to stumble. Their main perversion is stressing Law and ignoring Grace, Rom 6:14,15. It is crucial that we do not mix God's instructions for us with His instructions for Israel, as this will lead to spiritual ruin. Instead, we should focus on studying Paul's epistles, from Romans to Philemon. Let us remain steadfast in rightly dividing and applying the Word of Truth, 2Tim 2:15. ______________ Join...

All other materials are interpretations of that truth. Some interpretations might be accurate, some might not, some might be biased and become false teachings. It becomes important to weigh up the material with the Bible and eliminate content that disregards scripture or that clearly misinterprets scripture.  A rule of thumb is that "scripture must interpret scripture"; in other words, a fact must be accurately confirmed by multiple other scriptures. If a fact is based on only one verse and clearly disregards or violates other scriptures, that fact is probably an opinion or a false (or biased) interpretation by the author. It is imperative that one keeps this in mind as you read, study, and apply what you've learned into your life or writings or teachings. Grace and peace ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel for more of these quick Bible lessons: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaGag8iJP212QPSMmx2W

Paul was indeed a Jew and devout Pharisee, but when God converted him on the Damascus road, God gave him a completely new gospel and doctrine. Have you ever considered why Paul never references anything of Jesus in his epistles? No teachings, no parables, no miracles. This is often a surprise to people! The ONLY thing Paul brings across into his epistles and into the grace gospel is the CROSS, which for the Kingdom gospel was a contentious issue according to Peter. Gal 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 2Co 5:16-17 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel for more of these quick Bible lessons: https://w...

Read the Parable of the Sower in Matt 13:3-9, 18-23. Overall, four classes of people heard the Word of God, but only the last group (1/4) actually received by faith that sound Bible doctrine. The other 3 groups represented lost souls —but who all heard the Word! Furthermore, after concluding the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus cautioned Israel not only to “hear” His words but “do” them, Matt 7:24-26. Now, also read this remarkable passage is Acts 24:24-27. Governor Felix heard the Gospel of Grace from Paul —and literally shuddered when he realized he was a lost, Hell-bound sinner! But, Felix procrastinated in receiving the gospel. For 2-years, he had more "Bible discussions" with Paul, but he remained undecided and lost, keeping Paul in chains.  Like so many people, it was far better had Felix heard nothing, than to have heard so much from God and yet believed none of it! So, to recap thus; hearing the Word of God is insufficient. We must respond to it in faith! ______________ Joi...

In Gal 1:11-12 Paul wrote, "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Then in Gal 1:15-17 he added, "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen (the Gentiles); immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia,...".  Paul makes it very clear that his gospel came to him through direct revelation from the ascended Christ. It did not come from the other Apostles or any other person. I often hear people say, "I go by what Jesus said, not by what Paul said." The problem with this reasoning is that Paul's doctrine DID come from Jesus, after He ascended to heaven. So, if they are not going by Paul's doc...

  Just like Zechariah's prophecy in the image, there are dozens of other Old Testament prophecies that combine Christ’s two comings without any gap between them for our dispensation. Prophecy foretells two great events, (1) the meek and lowly advent of the Messiah as the Son of man, and (2) the defeat of Israel's enemies and the Millennial kingdom on the earth in which Israel would be preeminent. The Old Testament prophets didn't know of two additional comings of Christ to divide the two prophesied comings —one coming to start our grace dispensation (saving Saul) and one to end it (the rapture). These are the two comings according to mystery, that “which was kept secret since the world began” (Rom 16:25-26). Nothing in the Old Testament indicated God would delay the prophetic program for 2,000 years, but God delayed His judgment and extended His grace so Jews and Gentiles can be saved by faith alone in believing Paul's gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). This is grace! ____...

Faith is not emotions or feelings. Faith is knowledge of the truth. In other words, if the Bible says, "God is near you" (Eph.2:13), then faith believes that, irrespective of emotions and feelings. If your emotions rule you, then your life will be like a roller coaster, constantly tossed between the highs and the lows. Emotions cannot provide you any stability in your relationship with God. However, if you stand on faith, then no matter what your emotional state, you have a firm grounding, and God will be near, because truth says so, not because you think you feel Him. How do you learn to have faith? Well, remember that your whole being, your flesh (or human reasoning), defaults to emotions and feelings. Your default response to everything is feelings since you are conditioned on these since you were born. But faith comes by the Word. You grow in faith by learning the Word, studying the Word, gaining knowledge in the Word. As the Word starts to fill your thoughts, you will st...

If Judas was a disciple of Jesus but lost his salvation as prophesied when he betrayed Jesus, what is the chances that I can lose my salvation? Salvation under the Kingdom gospel was not secure because their salvation was based on their own faith and endurance. Jesus preached that kingdom believers had to pick up their cross and follow Him, and the one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is not fit for the kingdom, and they had to endure to the end in their faith, Matt 24:13; Mk 13:13. In this regard, Judas lost his salvation. In the Tribulation, if one turned from faith in God, it meant that one was turning in allegiance to the Antichrist, and to eternal damnation! Thus, in this time one's salvation is also not secure. Our salvation in this dispensation of grace is eternally secure! Why? Because our salvation is not based on our own works and endurance, but it is based on the perfect faith and work OF Christ. It's because of Christ that we are sealed into the Body u...

  In 2 Cor.5:16, Paul says an incredible statement! "Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer" . You might think that Paul is blaspheming! How could Paul say this? Well, it's not that we forget Christ. Never! Paul means that we do not know him in his earthly ministry, which was under prophecy and to the Jews only (Gal.4:4; Matt.10:6; Matt.15:24). Today, we recognize Jesus "according to the revelation of the mystery", Rom.16:25. Jesus' earthly ministry, teachings, and signs, were for the Jews, to prove His identity and prepare them for their earthly inheritance. We can read the 4-gospels today and receive nuggets of truth, but none of it is directed to us. Our instructions are written in Paul's 13-epistles, and these are the commands addressed and directed to us today. Paul's epistles help us to know Jesus according to the revelation of the mysteries. We must study the Bible dividing prophecy and mys...

Did you know that Matt.5-7 is the inside scoop on how the Millennial Kingdom will be governed. Read it with this context and note its uncompromising laws. It is clear that righteousness is on a WHOLE new level.  Now, if you wonder how in the world one can abide by those laws; know that the Jews will be perfect examples of this righteousness, having the laws written on their hearts and empowered by the Spirit to walk in these ways, Jer 31:31-34. Second, Satan is imprisoned in the bottomless pit, Rev 20:3, thus temptation and deceit in the Gentile nations will not be prevalent and education in the law will keep them in the ways of righteousness, truth, and peace. We are not in this Kingdom today and we are still subject to temptation and deceit, but we have the Grace doctrine. As we grow in knowledge of God's Word and submit to obedience to it, 2Co 10:5, we can mortify the deeds of the body, walk in the spirit, and learn to please God, Rom 8:1-17.

In Rom.16:25-26, Paul refers to the gospel as 'his gospel', by saying, "...according to my gospel...". Paul differentiates the gospel he received from the Lord, the Grace Gospel, from the Gospel of the Kingdom, proclaimed by the 12-apostles. These two gospels were both valid during the Acts period, but the Kingdom gospel was suspended by Peter at the Jerusalem council in Acts 15:11 when he said, "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even [in like manner] as they." This is why Paul was able to explicitly proclaim that there was NO OTHER VALID GOSPEL but his grace gospel in Gal.1:8-9. Based on this clarification, Rom.2:15 follows on nicely when Paul proclaims boldly, "in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel". Since Paul's gospel is the only gospel in operation during this grace dispensation, it stands to reason that men would be subject to faith in its ...

When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he praised them for their strong growth in faith, (2Thes.1:3). How did he know they were growing spiritually? Because of 3 important things: Paul commended them for their love and kindness to one another (2Thes.1:3). They displayed patience, They had unwavering faith in persecution and tribulations they faced for the sake of Christ (2Thes.1:4).  Without true love, there can be no real spiritual growth, (1Co.13:1-8). Also, staying positive in tribulation is a clear sign of spiritual growth. These attributes demonstrated their spiritual maturity and their reliance on Christ's indwelling life.  So, what caused them grow spiritually? Only one thing! They received the Word of God as the truth, not just the words of men (1Thes.2:13). They had genuine interest in the scriptures and allowed the truths they learned to transform their lives. From the above we can learn, 'What is true spiritual growth', and also, 'How does it come about'.

Paul's Credibility #2 1Co 4:15  For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. In our first reference on this topic, 1Cor 3:10, Paul mentions that he, as a wise master builder, has laid the foundation. Now, let's continue investigating some more incredible claims Paul made in his writings that proves his validity as the apostle to the Gentiles and the one who received the mystery doctrine for the Body of Christ. The above verse ties in with our key verse today, 1Cor 4:15, and validates why Paul could say that he had begotten us (or 'fathered' us) as converted grace believers, through the gospel (of grace). As Abraham was the first man to become a Jew, and from him came the Jewish nation in the flesh, so Paul became the first member into the Body of Christ (1Tim 1:16) and from the gospel message given to him by the glorified Lord, he begot, (or fathered, in spirit), all grac...