The BIG Picture (Shorts)

The thought that God may be displeased with us can be frightening, but it is also the greatest joy when we know He is pleased with us. However, we cannot please God by doing things we think He wants. We must give Him what He says He desires, which is faith. Thankfully, God tells us in His Word that faith is what He desires the most. He wants us to trust Him and believe what He says. The Bible tells us how much God loves us, despite our sins, and how He sent His Son to die for us on the cross so that we can be saved. But sadly, many people don't believe Him and instead, turn away from His gracious offer, “going about to establish their own righteousness”, Rom.10:3. They think that God will accept their efforts and ignore their sins. But this is presumption, not faith. How can a just God ignore sin? We should be grateful that God, by His incredible love, paid for our sins Himself so that we can be free. Salvation is "the gift of God" that we can only receive through fait...

Men's wisdom is based on knowledge of physical reality which is temporary and opinionated, and this is why there are so many variations of it and why ultimately it becomes complicated and bloated. If we spend too much time gaining knowledge from too many different sources, we run the risk of stacking too much detail over the simplicity of the truth. It is advisable at times to stop and take stock of what we currently believe, —really! Evaluate what you have collected mentally and determine what info you may have hoarded up over time and if it has started to influence your thoughts, your views, and your stance on faith. Like the Galatians, have you knowingly or unknowingly added things to the pure uncomplicated grace gospel and to our 'mystery' doctrine of faith without works? Are we living ambassadors of the grace gospel and of simple obedience to the Holy Spirit, or have we become the advocates of a complicated and philosophical message and a lifestyle bloated with the ima...

The majority of Christians seem content in knowing just the basics of the Bible. Most of their knowledge is gained from listening to preachers, not reading the Bible for themselves. Interestingly, Bible skeptics are willing to read the Bible because their true motive is to “catch [God] in His words” Mk.12:13, “that they might accuse Him” Matt.12:10. Yet, compared to the minority of committed Bible students who find the deep truths of the Bible, these “self-confident” skeptics are ultimately blind to the truth and ignorant in spiritual understanding, 1Cor.2:14! Why is the Bible difficult to read? Why do Christians rarely read it? Why do skeptics hate the pure words of God? The problem is not with the King James Bible. The problem is with the heart of man. The Bible discerns his heart and motives, Heb.4:12. Reading scripture is like a mirror that reflects back his true image! Its only when 'self' dies, and Christ lives in us that the Bible makes sense and becomes a joy to stud...

It is important to note that the Spirit mentioned in Gal.5:22-23 is not referring to the human spirit, but rather the Holy Spirit within believers. It is the presence of God's Spirit within them that produces the "fruit of the Spirit", seen as virtues that are evident in those who “walk in the Spirit.” These virtues are not achieved through human effort but are behaviors that develop naturally in a believer as they release themselves in obedience to the Spirit. The "fruit of the Spirit" are qualities that are not typically valued by society. While the world may admire traits like self-confidence and authority, the Spirit encourages qualities such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Consider the difference. These spiritual qualities create a harmonious environment for those around them, in contrast to the isolating traits of self-reliance and power that the world admires. As Paul says concerning spiritual...

Every day thousands of images bombard us, whether through TV, radio, social media, newspaper, or personal experience. In the light of this assault, Paul encourages us to oppose these images with pure content. It is not enough to cast out wrong thinking from our minds. If we reject a thought by sheer will, it will come back when we stop exercising our will. The mind cannot stand a vacuum. It will always draw something into it, good or evil. If we do not structure God’s thoughts into our thinking, thoughts opposed to God will direct our thinking. If we displace the world’s thoughts with God’s thoughts, we take on a new orientation, or attitude. We form God’s frame of reference or bearing about things. Learn to think the Word. Things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report and virtue, and praiseworthy. Psa 119:9,11 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. ... (11) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin aga...

In 2Tim.3:16, Paul encourages Timothy to use the scriptures as a powerful tool in his ministry. Teaching (what you need to know): Impartation of knowledge and understanding of God's Word. Teaching guides one in the principles and doctrines of the truth, enabling learning and growth in the faith. Reproof (behaviour; does it match the doctrine?): The act of correcting or pointing out errors in belief or behaviour according to the Word. It's about moral and spiritual discipline aiming to bring one back to the right path when one has strayed. Correction (amendment to match doctrine): It implies rectifying mistakes or misconceptions. It is associated with adjustment to align with one's doctrine. Training in Righteousness (conduct and discipline): Instruction that develops a character that's in accordance with God's standards of righteousness. It involves the pursuit of virtue as defined by the Word. These 4 elements together comprehensively equip believers for every ...

Sadly, most modern churches today do not rightly divide the word of truth between the mystery doctrine for the Body of Christ and the prophetic scriptures for Israel. If one does not keep these doctrines apart, one corrupts its contents and skews the doctrines. Using your analogy, they are mixing old and new wines together, creating a blended version that is distasteful. All scripture is God’s inspired words that we can learn from and grow to understand God’s great redemption plan for all of creation, but we have to study the scriptures correctly and apply it in the right context. What is the doctrine we apply? It is not prophecy, nor is it the Kingdom doctrine. It is that which our apostle Paul has written to us concerning the cross work of Christ and the spiritual ‘new’ man that God is creating, the Body of Christ. Unless the church recognizes this, they will continue to mix old wine in new wineskins. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive these quick Bible lessons on you...

I’ll fervently teach the Bible rightly divided till the Lord comes. It is an inevitable result of studying the Word according to Paul, 2Tim.2:15. When one studies the Bible, line by line and precept upon precept, one comes to this inevitable conclusion that one must rightly divide prophecy from mystery, law from grace, and Israel from the Body of Christ. Consider this. How can one mix prophecy , which is something spoken since the world began, with mystery , which is something kept secret since the world began? The two are mutually exclusive. Blending them creates a false doctrine because one must twist scriptures to make them fit a different narrative that is imagined in the mind of man. For many years I tried to make sense of the Bible, until I decided to actually study the Bible — and came to the conclusion by my own discernment — that one must rightly divide. When I did, the Bible truly opened up to me for the first time. I’ll never go back to the blended confusions of the past. ...

In the dispensation of prophecy, God showed Himself to Israel by mighty miracles. This dispensation is earthly as its end is to redeem an earthly people to restore the earth,  thus God showed Himself by mighty physical works. Up until Paul, God did signs and wonders by His prophets and apostles so that Israel could see the hand of God and get saved. But Israel did not believe in their Messiah, so God put them aside, and through Paul, He turned to the Gentiles under a completely new dispensation, the dispensation of mystery. In this dispensation of mystery, Rom.16:25-26, God operates under different stipulations; not by mighty works, but by faith through His written Word and in the heart of man,  2Cor.5:7. God has provided us His written Word and we need to believe God’s message given through Paul, 1Cor.14:37, the words of God for us, and trust that God is saving us and readying us for the purpose of restoring the heavens. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive the...

Among Christians, there are those who aren't too concerned with what they read in the Bible, as long as it touches their hearts. For them, the Bible is like a 'pick your favourite verse collection', choosing only parts that appeal to them and ignoring the rest. This is not how the Bible should be read or treated. Although the Bible teaches many truths that we can readily accept, we cannot truly comprehend its message unless we study it as a whole. True faith seeks to continually deepen its understanding of God's Word. A person who isn't seeking to understand God's Word isn't truly interested in what God has to say. Such a person's faith is founded on personal preference rather than on truth, choosing any scripture that appeals to them and interpreting it as they please. Such "spirituality" is not authentic, and such "faith" can be considered blind, superstitious, and even dangerous. God desires that we intelligently believe what we...

Paul divides people, by the Spirit, into four classes: the natural man, the babe in Christ, the carnal believer, and the spiritual believer. All four of these are referred to in 1Cor.2:14-3:4 and they are classified by their ability to appreciate and assimilate “the things of God” as revealed in His Word. THE NATURAL MAN is unsaved and spiritual things are foolishness to him. THE SPIRITUAL MAN through diligent study of the Word, and with a sincere desire to obey it, has come to know God and Jesus Christ more and more intimately. BABES IN CHRIST and CARNAL BELIEVERS are saved, but cannot “discern” him, not being able to bear the milk, thus, they seek to know him through temporal things; through works, emotions, traditions, and ordinances. But he, having grown to spiritual maturity, is among those of whom it is written:  Heb. 5:14 “But strong meat [deeper doctrine] belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good...

As grace believers, our lives should be separate from the world-system, yet today, godliness seems unfashionable. Increasingly, religious leaders suggest that to engage the world, we must integrate ourselves into it and partake in its activities to get close to the lost. However, believers cannot truly influence the world by blending in. Such conformity is opposed to God's will, as stated in Romans 12:2: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, ..." True godliness involves a deliberate separation from worldly influences, which stands out and can profoundly impact those we aim to reach. It embodies spiritual strength, sacrifice, and yes, even persecution for Christ's sake. This concept is echoed in 2 Timothy 3:12: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." This verse serves as a reminder and a challenge to those who exhibit only the appearance of godliness, lacking its true po...

QUESTION:  How can we keep the law to please God? ANSWER: We can't! People have tried for millennia and failed. Contrariwise, Paul tells us that the law was giving to increase sin and expose our wretchedness, Rom.7:10-13; 7:24. The commandments of God, which are holy, are actually death unto me because all they can do is condemn me, Rom. 6:23. However, in 1Tim.1:9, Paul declares that there are righteous men. So, how did they become righteous if God's commandments condemn them? Well, it's because righteousness (no condemnation, Rom.8:1) comes through the faith of Jesus Christ, not our adherence to the law, Rom.3:22. Once we are righteous, we grow in godliness by obedience to the knowledge of the written Word, Rom.6:16; 2Co.10:5. By obedience we start to walk by the Spirit, mortifying the flesh, Rom.8:13, and we come to produce the fruit of the Spirit, which, as Paul says, “… against such there is no law”, Gal.5:23. Thus, we keep the law by obedience to the Word, through a...

It is interesting to note that the Apostle Paul rarely talks about his own love for Christ. Instead, he often talks about Christ's deep love for him. He doesn't tell us to love Christ, but he highlights how much Christ loves us. This is in line with the special message committed to him: "The Gospel of the Grace of God" (Act.20:24). The Law commands, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God" (Matt.22:37), which is its core principle. Indeed, we should love God, but the law cannot make us love Him. Therefore, in grace, God tells us, "I love you." It is for this reason that Paul's letters are full of mentions of "the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus" (Rom.8:39). Just because God interacts with us through grace doesn't mean that believers shouldn't or don't love Him. In fact, love begets, or leads to more love. It is through learning and growing in understanding of Christ's love (through the written Word) that people...

The Church, even the true Church of believers in Christ, is undoubtedly more extensive now than ever before. However, it is weak and sick, confused, and divided. Many attribute the Church's low spiritual state to factors such as not breaking from worldly living, a deficiency in prayer, and apathy towards the unsaved. However, these are merely symptoms. The true cause is the Church's deviation from the divine message and plan for our times, as disclosed in Paul's mystery doctrine. This is the fundamental issue, yet it remains largely unrecognized or admitted. In Israel's case, trouble arose from straying from the Law of Moses; similarly, our issues stem from deviating from the truths taught by Paul. Just as the dispensation of the Law was entrusted to Moses, the dispensation of Grace was entrusted to Paul (Eph. 3:1-3). Those who have fallen away since Paul's time have done so not by abandoning God's Word as a whole, but specifically by veering from 'the faith...

1Pet.1:23-25 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. If you are looking for something eternal, the only place where you will find it is in the words of the Bible. If you want to participate in the eternal, you need to partake of the words of the Bible. Your flesh is going to wither, your glory is going to fade away, your mansion, your stocks, your retirement, and everything else, will all come to vanity, Ps.144:4. Only the words in the Bible will endure forever, and it comes to you by the preaching of the gospel of Christ, the words of eternal value, Jn.6:68. Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of ete...

Every Pauline epistle opens with “grace and peace” (Rom.1:7; 1Cor.1:3; 2Cor.1:2; Gal.1:3; Eph.1:2; Phil.1:2; Col.1:2; 1Thess.1:1; 2Thess.1:2; 1Tim.1:2; 2Tim.1:2; Tit.1:4; Phm.3). Rather than wrath and judgment, God's attitude towards the whole world—all nations—in the Dispensation of Grace is characterized by grace and peace. This message is unique to Paul's apostleship, as searching through the Scriptures will reveal no similar proclamation before it. The question then arises: how did such a dramatic shift in God's attitude towards the Gentiles occur? The key is the cross of Jesus Christ! In 2Cor.5:19, it states that God does not count the world's trespasses against it. The cross work of Jesus Christ serves as the means for God to extend grace and peace towards this present evil world. Such doctrine was completely unknown in the Bible before the ministry of Paul. It was a unique revelation given directly to Paul by the Lord Jesus Christ, Gal.1:1-4. ______________ Join...

Rom.4:8 Blessed is the man [the person] to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Paul employs the term "impute" for addressing both sin and righteousness. God does not "impute" sin to our account before Him. Our sins will never be held against us when we believe in the gospel message that Christ died for our sins and rose for our justification. ‘The man’, is a description of anyone to whom God does not reckon a sinner. This holds for anyone who believes that God justifies through faith. The principle is that God has declared that sin will not be held against the man who has chosen to believe in the redeeming work of His Son, because through that work, sin is nailed to the cross and the righteousness of Christ is imputed in its place. This is the blessedness that David proclaims upon such fortunate ‘men’. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive these quick Bible lessons on your phone: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaGag8iJP212QPSMmx2W

Our faithful King James never lets us down! EVERY 'word' is pure. The difference between TESTAMENT and COVENANT : A testament refers to a legal document that outlines a person’s wishes AFTER THEIR DEATH. Testaments specifically address post-death matters. As the Body of Christ, we have no covenant agreements with God in this life. His grace is sufficient for us. In the 'next' life, however, we come into every spiritual blessing in Christ and an inheritance too great to comprehend. A covenant refers to a binding agreement between two parties. It typically involves mutual commitments, promises, obligations, and rituals which involve promises DURING LIFE, though in cases can also extend into the eternal. For example, the old Mosaic law covenant applied to Israel during their life. A new covenant is necessary for the Millennial Kingdom. Once again, the trusty KJV has it spot on correct. 🙌 ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive these quick Bible lessons on your ...

1900 years ago, most of Israel “disallowed” Christ as the cornerstone for their building, and that when He became the “Head of the corner,” according to Psa.118:22, it was for them an occasion for stumbling and embarrassment. But Christ is a “stone of stumbling” to all who reject Him. In Rom.9:33 Paul quotes from several Old Testament passages: “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence; and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” In Peter’s day and in Paul’s, those who looked upon Christ as their cornerstone were never given cause to be ashamed. It was those who disallowed and refused Him who kept stumbling over Him and were constantly embarrassed by Him. So today, those who put their trust in the crucified, risen Christ are eternally secure and will never be put to shame for having done so. But those who reject Christ keep forever stumbling over Him.  Moral: Trust Him now as your personal Savior, for “whosoever believeth on Him shall...

From a ‘positional’ (heavenly) standing, we are freed from the law by the cross of Christ. Rom.7:4-6 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. (5) For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. (6) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. From a ‘practical’ (earthly) standing, the law will always apply, but as we grow in obedience to the Word of God, through walking in the spirit, we learn to mortify the deeds of the flesh, Rom.8:13, and thus the law diminishes in proportion to obedience because the law is made for the transgressor, as Paul says, 1Tim.1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for ...

The difference is clear to see in these verses: POSITIONAL:  God’s righteousness imputed to us through faith in Christ and received the instant we are saved. Rom_3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: Rom_4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Rom_8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. See also: Rom_5:17-18; Rom_5:21; Rom_8:10. PRACTICAL:  Righteousness produced out of us by obedience to the Word (See Rom_8:13). Rom_6:13  ...but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Rom_8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. See also: Rom_6:16; Rom_6:18...

The two administrations are vastly different. In Adam's, sin, condemnation, and death reigns. In Christ's, justification, grace, and life reigns. When we are transferred into Christ’s administration, our spiritual position with God is utterly changed. We might still be in the flesh, but our spiritual standing with God is one of grace, peace, and atonement, because of Christ’s cross work, and His righteousness imputed to us. This new standing with God is grounded upon our spiritual identity in Christ and is not dependent on our current state in the flesh. Consequently, even though we still live in the flesh, it explains why Paul can confidently write that we are declared to be dead to sin, meaning that the effects and penalty of sin, is not sentenced to us. In addition, Paul can declare that we are dead to the law because of the death of Christ, allowing us to be joined, by His resurrection, to a new ‘contract’ of justification, grace, and life, Rom 7:4-6. HALLELUJAH!! 🙌 ___...

Israel is under prophecy and law whereas the Body of Christ is under Paul’s mystery doctrine and grace. That is the divide in scripture. But, as grace believers, we do not ignore prophecy just because it is not our doctrine; all scripture is inspired and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and training in righteousness, 2Ti.3:16. Thus, we can learn of prophecy and gain understanding in it, because it helps us to better understand God’s purpose for mystery. Prophecy provides context to mystery and vice versa. We need knowledge of both to fully understand God's redemption plan. Thus, we STUDY all of scripture, but when it comes to PRACTICE, or APPLICATION of scripture, then we specifically focus on Paul’s mystery doctrine, and any trans-dispensational passages that agree with, or compliment Paul's mystery doctrine. See Rom.16:25-26, (1) "according to the revelation of the mystery", ... (2) "and by the scriptures of the prophets ..." . ______________ ...

Confession is not a requirement for the eternal salvation of our souls (Col.2:13; Eph.4:32; Col.3:13), but it is a natural result within the context of our relationship with God, to be humble and contrite when those moments of weakness plague the flesh. On the other hand, it is our responsibility within our relationship with God, to grow in the knowledge of His Word, 1Tim.2:4, to have it renew our minds, Rom.12:1–2, and to exercise obedience to the working of the Word within us, 2Cor.10:5, so that we might increasingly mortify the deeds of the flesh, Rom.8:13, in our faith walk with Him. ______________ Join my WhatsApp channel to receive these quick Bible lessons on your phone: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaGag8iJP212QPSMmx2W

Rom 3:19-20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. The Ten Commandments, given to Moses, define God's standard of righteousness and provide a moral framework for human behaviour. However, no one can follow them perfectly, highlighting our inherent sinfulness and failure to meet God's standards. The commandments were not given with the expectation of perfect compliance; rather, they were intended to reveal our inability to keep them, affirming our need for a Savior. Salvation does not hinge on flawless observance of these laws, but on God's grace and faith in Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law. The purpose of the Ten Commandments is to prove our need for Jesus Christ, who provides forgiveness, grace, and eternal life to t...

In Romans, Paul tells of the "abundance of grace" and "the gift of righteousness" (Rom.5:17) bestowed by God to those who believe in His Son for salvation. The Bible tells us that no one is blameless before God without this gift of grace. Paul writes, "There is none righteous, not even one," showing his empathy for those trying to establish their own righteousness (Rom.10:3), which is futile without saving grace. He points to Abraham, who "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness" (Rom.4:3). This foreshadowed Christ's atoning death, through which righteousness is now declared and offered to all. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom.5:8), and "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2Cor.5:21). This righteousness, however, is a gift accessed through faith, for "the one who does not work but believes in Him w...

In the verses in the image, Paul speaks of the faith of Christ, not merely faith in Christ. This concept refers to Christ's own faithfulness and trustworthiness, not His personal beliefs. Faith has two aspects: the objective, which is trust in another, and the subjective, which is being trustworthy oneself. If I have faith in you, you should keep faith with me; you should be trustworthy. Paul mentions "the faith of Christ" 7-times in his letters to highlight Christ's worthiness of our trust. For instance, in Gal.3:22 and Phil.3:9, the emphasis is on believing because Christ is worthy of trust. Christ's faithfulness, proven by His death and resurrection, precedes and underpins our faith in Him. It's this trustworthiness that assures us He can "save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him" (Heb.7:25), just as Paul reassured the jailor in Philippi, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Act.16:31). __________...