The Revelation of the Mystery (part 2)

As we continue this series of postings dedicated to looking at the 6 aspects of the revelation of the mystery, we can agree can we not that there is information in the Bible which everybody had access to, and not only that, there is a body of data that nobody had access to and that according to the mystery information given to one man, one apostle, that being Paul. So as we continue, I would like to keep this at an entry level for those that may not be familiar with this concept of rightly dividing the word of truth and how it effects the way you understand every scripture in the Bible.

Most people, and I was one of that number , see the Bible as having but only two sections or divisions within its pages, the Old and the New Testament. We can all agree that does indeed constitute a division in the scriptures, but the most important detail is almost always overlooked and that being to whom is it written. Let's take a look at to whom the Old Testament is given, and then, let's also look at to whom the New Testament is directed.

The Old Testament begins not in Genesis 1:1, but in Exodus 19 and the giving of the law to Moses as we read in the following....
Exodus 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
Exodus 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Allow the words say what they say to whom they say them. Clearly, according to this passage, the covenant or Old Testament was made solely with one group of people, Israel. This becomes so easy once you grasp the concept of allowing the scripture to identify the audience instead of attempting to fit yourself into that audience. Think of it as a letter written and addressed to a particular person then ask your self, "does this have my address written on it?" Keep that in mind as we continue on to the passage which contains the promise given for a "New Testament" and notice the address on the letter which was written.

Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jeremiah 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Isn't that beautiful? Do you see the dots connecting? Not only does this passage confirm what was previously demonstrated from Exodus 19 as being the beginning of the Old Testament, but we can also see the promise of a New Testament. The point I need you to see is the audience to whom both the Old and the New Testament are directed. The address on these letters read : To The House of Israel. If that isn't enough, we can see this statement repeated almost word for word in Hebrews chapter 8.

Hebrews 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Hebrews 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Now, where are we at in our understanding so far?..Israel received the Old Testament in Exodus 19, Israel received the promise of a New Testament in Jeremiah 31, and now let's see when the New Testament was put in force according to Hebrews 9.

Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Hebrews 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

If the Bible is correct, and it absolutely is, the New Testament could not be in force until after the death of the testator. Do you understand what that means? The New Testament could NOT begin in Mathew 1:1 for as much as it points to the birth of the testator. The New Testament can only be in force after His death and that would be after Mathew 27, Mark 15 Luke 23 and John 19.

In conclusion, we now know when the Old Testament began, when the New Testament was promised and when the New Testament could be available. Not only that, we can see to whom these letters are addressed, and that being the nation Israel. The biggest mistake practically everyone in the church today falls into is that believing in some way or another they are Israel. Either spiritual Israel, replacement Israel, even to the point of believing they are physical Israel. This one mistake makes your Bible impossible to understand, impractical for application and can even result in a shipwrecking of one's faith. The Next post will clear up all the confusion on this matter and allow you to fully understand what is going on in your Bible, will clearly show your position in respect to Israel's position and will deliver to you a Bible you can believe. That would be a good thing. Having a Bible you can believe and the result being a Bible believer. What a concept!!

The Revelation of the Mystery (part 1)

As we come to our Bibles endeavouring to study to shew ourselves approved unto God according to the instructions found in 2nd Timothy 2:15, of necessity we must heed to the admonishment to also "rightly divide the word of truth".

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Most people would be quick to answer to where the divisions are in the word of truth, the Bible, and assume that means to divide the Old Testament from the New Testament. And yes, you could say that is correct on one level, but actually there is another division that just jumps off the page once you have seen "what is the fellowship of the mystery".

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Notice the "mystery" information was hid in God from the beginning of the world. Do you know what that says in the original Greek? it says it was hid in God from the beginning of the world. To help identify the "right division" Paul speaks of in 2nd Timothy 2:15, let's look at some more clues.

In the OT book of Luke, we find the father of John the Baptist giving a prophecy about the Lord Jesus Christ in chapter one.

Luke 1:67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

Luke 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

Luke 1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

Luke 1:70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

Keep in mind the last four words "since the world began" as we take a look at what Peter has to say in Acts chapter three speaking to the children of Israel.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Acts 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Notice again the last four words "since the world began". We can conclude then can we not that there is information everybody had access to as it was spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets "since the world began". Now lets see what the Apostle Paul has to say on this matter of availability of the information that was given to him through revelation from the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Isn't that amazing? there are those same four words again..."since the world began". But according to Paul, his message was NOT spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets "since the world began" but was "kept secret" since the world began. Again, as we already saw in Ephesians 3:9, the mystery information "from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God". Let's slow done now and consider what has been shown through these few scriptures. What Peter spoke was that which was spoken by all the holy prophets "since the world began". What Paul spoke was that which was kept secret "since the world began" That cannot be the same thing. What everybody knew and what nobody knew are mutually exclusive and that constitutes a proper line of separation or right division in the word of truth.

In conclusion, we can see there is more parts to our Bibles than just the Old and New Testaments, but there is also a distinction between the prophetic information and the mystery information found only in the writings of the Apostle Paul. The Lord Jesus Christ chose to give this "mystery" information to the Apostle Paul beginning in the 9th chapter of the book of Acts and no one else before Paul was privy to this revelation.

Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

Once again Paul gives testimony to the fact that the information which was given him by Christ was not made known before given to Paul and we need to take notice of the change in the doctrines associated with this mystery information.

This post should set the groundwork to the next series of posts dealing with the 6 aspects of the "revelation of the mystery".

800 plus!!

After being on Blogger now for a little over two months, I took a look at my profile information thinking about changing the picture and the description at which point I noticed my little blogspot profile has had over 800 hits!! That just amazes me. At this point, I have yet to establish an assembly here in eastern NC and know precious few people who actually know what it means to "rightly divide the word of truth" as stated in 2nd Timothy 2:15 and yet my presence in the blogger community has warranted quite a few people's interest for one reason or another.

Without a doubt, my understanding of the Bible according to Pauline dispensational right division and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery is not understood by the masses as well as most of the visitors to this blogspot. More reason to press on in my attempt to "make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery". If you do not know what I just said or are unclear of the Pauline dispensational right division position, be sure to keep checking back often as my next posts will be dealing with the 6 aspects of the mystery showing the unique details and the importance of understanding the doctrine and how it effects your Biblical understanding. If you ever get a hold of the concept of right division according to Pauline dispensationalism, your Biblical understanding will take a quantum leap. Certainly, knowing the scriptures is an important achievement in itself, but not an end in itself. One major reason for edification is for expansion. Teaching others.

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Therefore, I press on! If I can get a few faithful men to dig in, get busy in study, being fully persuaded in their own mind and capable of teaching others also, I have accomplished a good thing. Our apostle Paul had done the deed at one point, getting the Gospel preached to every creature which is under heaven, and here we are today, playing footsie with the tithers trying no to offend anyone, looking for a gimmick or establishing a relationship with the folks in order to present the Gospel in a watered down ecumenical style. That is a disaster in the making and we can already see the fruits of the investment. Just ask the folks that claim to be Christian what is the Gospel that saves a never dying soul in this present dispensation of the grace of God and you will be stunned at the responses. It is an egregious error to think everybody that claims to be is actually a Christian.

When Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy went to revisit the church which was established in Thessalonica to see how they do, they saw what is absolutely the best representative of a church getting the job done in the entire Bible. Then ask yourself, does this describe your assembly? and why not? and what are we missing?

1 Thessalonians 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

Paul had done the job, since then, we have dropped the ball. Let's get busy doing what we are supposed to be doing as Christ's ambassadors presenting the word of reconciliation, the gospel of the Grace of God with clarity. That would be a good place to say ..Amen!!

Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

It is past time to get serious about the work of the ministry and stop playing childish games engaging in worldly activities in order to fit into this present evil world, but rather, we are to be seeing souls saved and saints edified building the body of Christ to do the work of the ministry so others will be saved and edified. See how it works? Then and only then will you be doing God's will.


1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.


And in doing so, be thankful for every opportunity to present the Gospel of the grace of God.


1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.





Grace and Peace!!

Did Jesus go to Hell?

Now that the pagan celebration of the sun god Tammuz has ceased along with the ritual egg hunts and bunny rabbit junk which only displays a compromising of Biblical truth, let's take a few minutes to actually deal with a subject that without a doubt is the most important event in human history, the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. What happened during those three days mentioned by Jesus Christ in such passages as.........

Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Three days and three nights, let's set the record straight right here. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out you cannot fit three days and three nights between Friday and Sunday morning, actually and Biblically, Christ was crucified Wednesday night and rose from the dead Saturday night. It should be obvious when you read scripture such as John 20 which states Mary Magdalene was at the tomb when it was yet dark on Sunday morning and Christ had already resurrected. So your so called "good Friday" and "easter Sunday" again, so called "holy days" are pagan at worst, Roman Catholic error at best, either choice would constitute error and that isn't a good place to be.

Back to the original topic, In Luke 23, nearing the end of the crucifixion passage, Jesus commended His spirit unto His Father....

Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Jesus Christ, the fulness of the Godhead bodily, God manifest in the flesh, fully God, fully man, commended His spirit to God the Father in heavenly places. All men are composed of three individual elements, the spirit, the soul, and the body,(1 Thessalonians 5:23) and the same was true with Jesus Christ. He has a spirit, a soul, and a body. Luke 23 declares His spirit went to God the Father, but what about His body and soul?...let's take a look.

In the same passage, Luke 23, the scriptures declare the body of the Lord Jesus Christ was placed in the tomb of one of His disciples named Joseph of Arimathaea for three days and three nights.

Luke 23:52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

Luke 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

So far, We have determined Christ's body was in the tomb, His spirit was commended to God the Father in heavenly places, but what about His soul? This one can get folks all bent out of shape, so if you are one that is thin skinned or content with a sippy cup when it comes to Bible doctrine, this might be a good stopping place for you. I know your Pastor probably read from Luke 15 this past weekend and wants you to believe the passage about the "prodigal" son can be applied to your situation in some way. Instead of a literal exegeses, a spiritualization of passages is made in order to promote an agenda or engender some kind of response which does not in any way shape or form present a clear presentation of the Gospel that saves your never dying soul, rather, an emotional response to a fluffy feel good message taught to the preacher boy at seminary. Now if you want to continue to grow in knowledge and be edifyed, let's continue on.

In the book of the Psalms, we see a prophetic passage about Jesus in chapter 16 which declares the soul of Christ will not be left in Hell nor see corruption. Also in Acts, Peter spoke verifying and clarifying the Davidic prophecy concerning Christ's resurrection.

Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

Are you okay with that? Jesus' body was in a tomb for three days and three nights, His spirit went to God the Father, His soul went to Hell. Honestly, I used to fight that position saying no way could Jesus have gone to Hell. Through study, not only did I discover that Christ indeed did enter Hell, but that Jesus was very busy during those three days and three nights. Wait a minute, I thought Jesus told one of the malfactors which was also crucified beside Him, "

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

This is where the I went amiss in my exegeses thinking "paradise" automatically meant up to heaven, but in fact, there was a point in time when "paradise" was down, in the earth. This is confirmed in Luke 16 :20-26 wherein Hell and Paradise are seperated by a great gulf.

Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Luke 16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

The beggar Lazarus was in Abraham's bosom, paradise, the rich man was in Hell. Both were in the earth, and yet seperated by a great gulf. The same place Christ showed up after the crucifixion. At this point, paradise and Hell are litteral places both in the earth, but things are about to change. The apostle Paul, the apostle to the gentiles and the apostle for this dispensation of the Grace of God gives an account of knowing a man being caught up into the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4.

2 Corinthians 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

In Luke 16 we read paradise was down in the earth, in 2 Corinthians 12 we read paradise was up in the third heaven. Now it doesn't take alot of IQ points to know that is different, what we need to determine is why and when that happened. Let's look at the why, in the book written to the Hebrew people so cleverly named "Hebrews" chapter 9, we read the following....

Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

The above passage tells of the absolute necessity for Christ to shed His blood, the very blood of God to redeem them under the first testament and establish the new testament. Christ redeemed them from their transgressions by means of His death. In Exodus, we see The LORD is merciful and forgiving, and yet He did not clear them of their guilt.

Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

Exodus 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

So, what was Jesus doing in Hell? Jesus didn't sin, Jesus wasn't held captive. Jesus had some work to do. In 1st Peter, we see what Jesus was up to.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 Peter 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

Jesus was not just laying in the tomb, nor was He just at the right hand of God the Father, but was busy preaching to those held captive in Abraham's bosom and also in Hell. Did not Jesus proclaim in Luke 4, recounting the prophetic passage about Himself from Isaiah 61, that He would preach deliverance to the "captives"?



Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,



I know, you probably heard your preacher make those captives as being you in some way, your lifestyle, your bad choices, your dead end career, whatever it was, it was wrong. We already saw who the prisoners were in 1st Peter 3, Hebrews 9, and Exodus 34. But when did paradise get moved from in the earth to the third heaven?

Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Ephesians 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Ephesians 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

There it is, when Christ ascended up on high, the third heaven, He, Christ led captivity captive. Paradise had moved, no longer is it in the earth, Christ packed it up and moved it to the third heaven. I don't know about you, but that's a WOW moment for me. Jesus Christ, the head of the church which is His body, was not just laying around in a tomb for three days, yet was accomplishing many things. Not only was He setting the captives free, He was establishing the New Testament for the nation Israel. Not only that, by His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus Christ was establishing the means for everyone alive in this dispensation to be saved. By God's grace through faith in the finished work of Christ, we have the present pocession of salvation, a present pocession of the atonement.

It is so sad and is a disgrace to see and hear Pastors and Preachers turn the reality of what Christ accomplished those three days and three nights into watered down easter sermons which hide the truth of God. Rather than building up believers, they keep the people captive in not knowing, being ignorant to what God would have you understand. If your Pastor or Preacher is engaged in anything other than building up, edifying the people for the work of the ministry according to the revelation of the mystery, the Gospel of the Grace of God, you are in a signs and wonders ministry. I wonder why you would continue to attend and the only sign you should be seeking is the one in back of the building, it says EXIT on it.

The Cross...does it matter?

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

According to that verse, it matters greatly wouldn't you agree? But what if Jesus drowned in a river for our sins, or was run down by a camel for our sins, or let's say Jesus held his breath until He died for our sins, would it matter? Wasn't it absolutely necessary for the shedding of blood for the remission of sins? Well, that would eliminate the goofy suggestions I just made wouldn't it? Of course it would, I was attempting to assume the mindset of a blog I recently read which stated.....

When God sent His Son Jesus to pay for our sins, the cross was a major part of it. But guess what? plenty of people died on cross's. There were two of them at Jesus side during his death. So death on a cross wasn't the gift, Jesus death was the gift, regardless of how he died. It is not the how as much as the why.

The cross in which God manifest in the flesh was placed was unique in many ways because of WHOM it was placed there...God Himself! A transaction was made that day like no other, a purchase was made at the ultimate price, God's own blood.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

The blood bought church of Jesus Christ! God manifest in the flesh, the fullness of the Godhead bodily died for the sins of all men for all time in a manner He determined and no one else.

Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

The crucifixion was determined and prophesied in many passages such as Psalms 22, it didn't just happen willy nilly or in the heat of the moment. God set forth His purpose long before the actual event. Revelation 13:8 refers to Christ as the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the Earth". Our Apostle Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians 2 that the crucifixion was ordained before the world.....

1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Through the crosswork of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been redeemed from the curse of the law being made a curse for us...how was that accomplished?

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

This post could end right here based on the information of the above verse. The death on a cross was indeed an essential part of God's gift for our salvation and can never be parsed out as if it didn't matter . It had to be on a cross , there was no other way! The cross was essential to accomplish Galatians 3:13. The same blogger which made the statement...

"plenty of people died on cross's. There were two of them at Jesus side during his death. So death on a cross wasn't the gift, Jesus death was the gift, regardless of how he died. It is not the how as much as the why"

.....also said the cross has nothing to do with what God did for us. I'll repeat that in case you missed it...the cross has nothing to do with what God did for us. You know, I cannot recall ever hearing anything quite as ridiculous as that. I don't think even Benny Hinn or Oral Roberts could come up with borderline blasphemous statements concerning the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ such as that one.

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus nailed the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,nailing it to his.........CROSS!!! Couldn't there have been another way to get it accomplished without that old cross coming back into the picture? Why would anyone want to knock off the crosswork of Christ from the list of things God has done for us? Where would the ordinances that were contrary to us be nailed if it were not to a particular cross? You certainly couldn't nail them to a baptistry in the back of the church could ya?

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

The cross of Christ and the Gospel are inseparable. You cannot have one without the other. On the other hand, in 1st Corinthians 1:17 we see the separation of water baptism from the Gospel as NOT being a part of the Gospel which saves our never dying soul. The cross is essential to the Gospel, water baptism is an offence. Your church isn't engaged in water baptizing are they? Shame on you for attending a church that promotes a water ministry. Double shame on you if your church or people in a leadership position belittle the efficacy of the cross in which our savior died for our sins and accomplished the reconciliation.

Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Colossians 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Can you take away the efficacy of HIS cross in the above passage? Sure you can, but while you are doing that, take away your reconciliation while you are at it. All of yours and mine sins were imputed to the Lord Jesus Christ on HIS cross....reconciliation by the means of the cross.

2 Corinthians 5:19 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.

2 Corinthians 5:20 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.

Why would an ambassador for Christ want to sweep the cross under the rug? Better yet how could one even dabble in some doctrinal delusions pertaining to the centerpiece of the entire Bible in such a demeaning manner which attacks the cross of Christ? Instead of brushing it off, we can and should glory in the cross!!

Galatians 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.

Comparing Christ's cross with the malefactors on each side during His Crucifixion doesn't lend itself to glorying in any way but rather the opposite.

Speaking of crucified, In Romans 6:3-4, Paul tells us we are baptized into Christ's death (not a tank of water) and as a result of my studies have shown me, that required a cross. So when we are baptized (identified) with Christ's death, we can also say....

Galatians 2:20 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.

The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of all the Bible. Through that one very unique cross, Jesus purchased the New Testament for the nation Israel, and at the same time provided the means in which a soul is saved in this present dispensation of the Grace of God. Of course, Jesus wasn't the only person to ever die on a cross, but Jesus wasn't just anybody. Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, therefore , His cross deserves our utmost respect, attention, focus, and in no way should we ever compare it to another or even consider another method in which God Himself determined before the foundation of the world to accomplish His purpose.

Paul , the apostle for this present dispensation of the Grace of God, the one man Jesus Christ Himself sent to be our apostle, minister, teacher, tells us to follow him, Paul, and mark them that do so, for the ones that do not follow Paul are the enemies of the cross of Christ. It was the cross of Christ, not just any old cross, it was the cross of Christ.

Philippians 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

I say this without fear of contradiction, It is impossible to get your Bible right unless you heed to Paul's instruction in 2nd Timothy 2:15 according to rightly dividing the word of truth. Unless you are Pauline in doctrine, following Paul's instructions from the risen Jesus Christ for us in this present dispensation of the Grace of God, there is absolutely no chance you can understand what God is doing or His purpose for doing them. Even worse, the chance you actually understand how a soul is saved in the dispensation in which we reside diminishes dramatically.

The best thing a person can do today is to immediately go to their sink, wash the Easter egg dye off their fingers, turn off the jitterbug for Jesus Holy Ghost honky tonk rock and roll so called praise music, get out of the red letters in their Bibles, and oh yeah, if you don't have a Bible, get one, it will say KJV on the side, and get engaged in Bible study according to right division following Paul's instruction which he received by revelation from the risen Lord Jesus Christ beginning in the 9th chapter of the book of Acts. Mid Acts Pauline dispensational right division is the answer to the ecumenical covenant confusion being marketed in every church in your phonebook. Mid Acts Pauline right division eliminates the thinking or desiring to hear some new thing as the Athenians in Acts 17 going off the deep end into some doctrinal disaster area defaming the cross ministry of Jesus Christ. If you don't know what I just said, find someone that does and learn from them. You will thank me later.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

We should be obedient as well to the information provided to us through the preserved word of God He supplied to us in His Bible. Maybe we need to humble ourselves a little, admit we are wrong about what we believe or have been so wrongly taught by the novice standing behind the pulpit who have failed to follow God's instruction in rightly dividing the word of truth and get engaged in studying to show ourselves approved unto God. I am sure if you do so, you could not make a statement such as "the death on a cross wasn't the gift" , instead, you would be as Paul and say...

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

This is in no way a presentation of every benefit in which the cross of Christ is so unique and necessary. That would be an enormous post, but I think I have made the point, if not, email me and we can talk, ok? ok.....Grace and Peace!

Tithing? What your Preacher doesn't want you to know.

How to get your people to loosen their purse strings?....guilt and greed! Yep, Malachi 3:8-10., the preacher's favorite scriptures to motivate the people to give to their church.

Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

GUILT MOTIVATION....You have robbed God of tithes and offerings therefore, God has cursed your finances. You heard me, you are cursed with a curse. God will get what belongs to him. Don't be surprised when the car gets a flat tire, or the lawn mower won't crank, maybe the kids will get sick and you have to pay for the doctor and medicine, your money just won't go as far as it did. It's better to live on the blessed 90 percent than that of the cursed 100 percent....so let's take care of business this morning and get that tithe check in the offering plate right after we sing one more chorus of Amazing Grace.

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

GREED MOTIVATION.......God is gonna bless you beyond your wildest dreams. Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over....Your boss will give you a raise, your tax refund will show up in the mailbox, you will get increased gas mileage, prove God and see if He doesn't open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings that there shall not be room enough to receive ....bless God Hallelujah!!!

Sound familiar? I have heard it almost exactly like I presented it, but it can be presented in a more subtle manner such as a "tithing challenge" wherein you test God's faithfulness. Giving to get from God, that is greed motivation plain and simple. I've actually heard of this challenge presented with a money back guarantee. What a hoot!..Who is actually going to go back and ask for a refund? Who is going to blame God for not holding to His word and pouring out those uncontainable blessing? In doing so, wouldn't it actually revert back to the "guilt" factor wherein you must be cursed with a curse? The catch 22.....Slick marketing techniques of a very old scam in which the Preacher has control of the people's purse strings in order to keep the revenue flowing.

Giving is a right thing...Tithing is dead wrong and the scriptures declare it Let's see what real tithing looks like in the scriptures and who was suppose to do it and how we in this present dispensation of the Grace of God are to give and the motivation behind it.

Biblical tithing was given to one group of people in the Bible, that is Israel according to their law program.

Hebrews 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

Uh oh, you teachers of the tithe have a problem right from the start. we aren't under the law, but under grace, also, notice the word is "tithes", plural, more than one....Israel had more than one ten percent tithe according to their law program, in fact, there are several with different functions. Which tithe are you telling YOUR people to obey? I know for a fact it is not the tithe of Deuteronomy 14:22-26.

Deuteronomy 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

Deuteronomy 14:23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

Deuteronomy 14:24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

Deuteronomy 14:25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:

How we doing so far? take the tithe (tenth) of the increase of the seed, flocks, herds, wine, oil, whatever you increased during the year, take it to the place where God places His name. If it is too far too carry, exchange it for money and take that to the place where God has placed His name.....the next verse is what no Preacher will ever tell you........

Deuteronomy 14:26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,

Did you see that? A tithe that you can keep and do with what ever you desire. Is this the tithe your Pastor who "prays for Jesus to show up on Sunday morning in an undeniable way" wants you to follow? This might be a good passage to show your Pastor who has you involved in a "3 month tithing challenge" at the end of which you can proclaim it was your money to start with and you now want it back. Let's look at some others.

The Levites had no inheritance in the land, therefore, the tribes of Israel paid the Levites a tenth (tithe) for their service in the tabernacle.

Numbers 18:21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Okay. let's start keeping track....10% in Deuteronomy 14:22-26, another 10% in Numbers 18:21, we are up to 20 percent so far. Are you a "tither"? Don't write that check yet, there is more.... let's continue!

Back to Deuteronomy 14 we see yet another "tithe" (tenth) in verses 27-29. Here we see a welfare type of ordinance for the strangers, fatherless and widows. This one is in 3 year increments breaking down to 3.3% per year. Okay, let's keep the tab running so now we are up to 23.3% not just 10% .

Deuteronomy 14:27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.

Deuteronomy 14:28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:

Deuteronomy 14:29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

Surely, there can't be anymore than that. Don't forget the one we started with in Malachi 3:8-10. This one is specifically for the storehouse, the tax as you will for the operation of the Temple.

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Okay, have you been keeping up with the math...10+10+3.3+10= 33.3% Are you getting the idea? Tithing is more than merely 10 percent, it is much more and has different functions. There are yet more "tithes" Israel was bound to according to the law but I think the point has been made. If you were to add all the ordinances concerning "tithing" that were given to Israel under the law program, it would top 50% of their income. Now write the check for HALF of your income and you will be a good tither. Would you be correct if you did?..absolutely not!!!

In this present dispensation of the Grace of God, we are NOT under the law in any regards, we are under Grace! We have a different set of directions in regards to giving to the ministry. It is not according to doing the math in your head, it is according to the purpose of your heart.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Not grudgingly,(nobody is forcing you) or of necessity (the law made tithing a necessity). It comes down to your motivation being from the heart.

2 Corinthians 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

Liberality. we are at liberty to give according as we purpose in our heart. Basically, God reads our meter by our giving. What is your heart focused on? When you give, is it what you have purposed in your heart to give?...or is it what you calculated in your head? Have you let your family go without in order to pay that "tithe" every week? Paul tells us if we have done so we are worse than an infidel and have denied the faith.

1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

On the other hand, has a ministry benefited your spiritual well being, maybe even responsible for presenting the Gospel to you by which you are saved and you are not giving at all or you are limiting your giving to 10% when you could easily give more? Put down the calculator and decide what you want to give according as you purpose in your heart!! Give what you are happy to give, God loves a cheerful giver!!! If your church or ministry is teaching tithing, Sabbath keeping, or water baptism, would this be where you should be giving? I don't think so. If they are teaching these things, they are to whom our apostle Paul tells us about in 1st Timothy.

1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

1 Timothy 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

1 Timothy 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

If You Can't Beat Em.....Have an Easter Egg Hunt!

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way......Opps....wrong season. As we enter the spring season of the year, the lid comes off the box for pagan traditions being marketed as what every Christian should be engaged in....phooey! The Bible is clear, there is a God who created all things, Jesus Christ is that God who died for the sins of all mankind, was buried and rose again the third day, and of course the Bible is the very Word of God. At the same time, all the engagement in pagan, worldly, mysticism, and just down right fairytale activities makes Christianity hard to be taken seriously. Who's fault is it? Do you have a mirror nearby? It could be you are taking part. Let's look at some examples.

Mardi Gras...which is French for gross or fat Tuesday. In New Orleans where the carnival is celebrated nearly 1700 people were arrested for public intoxication, nudity, disorderly conduct and other illegal activities. The day is set forth to sin to your hearts content because the next day is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.

The Mardi Gras carnival is the celebration of the abstinence from eating meat. The word carnival literally means "goodbye to meat". Therefore, the eating of fish for the 40 days of Lent. Did you notice all of the fast food joints advertising fish sandwiches lately? Since the word "Lent" does not appear in the Bible, it is clearly a pagan tradition which gives the word meaning. The Bible (KJV) speaks to this in 1st Timothy 4.....

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1 Timothy 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Enter Tammuz. The pagan god of the sun, lived for forty years. When he died, those that were his followers mourned one day for every year he had lived. Are you getting where "Lent" originated from? This mourning for Tammuz evolved into a season of abstinence and penance during the spring season at the time of Tammuz's demise.

How did this pagan sun god die? He was gored to death by the killer pig, a wild boar, you know, the mean ugly ones with the tusks. How did Tammuz followers get revenge? They killed the pig, hence the tradition of Easter ham is born. I didn't think Jews ate ham so clearly eating ham evolved from a pagan tradition. What are the grocery stores in your area promoting in the meat department lately? What will be on your dinner table on the 14th of April? Why?

Here comes Peter Cottontail, running down the bunny trail....Eggs, bunnies, rabbits with eggs, all that junk are all springtime sex symbols. Could this be why Hugh Heffner chose the bunny as the symbol and name for his magazine and trade in the marketing of female sex objects? One plus one still equals two. The sex goddess, Astarte, was honored in the spring season with fertility rites. Her name evolved into Eostre and eventually, Easter. Can anyone please tell me how all of this pagan trash displays Bible believing Christianity? Does all this hogwash make our job easier or harder to convince the gainsayer when it is so obvious none of this modern marketing techniques of warmed over pagan traditions are not even in the same ballpark pertaining to the resurrection of Jesus Christ for our justification?

Good Friday is another case along with the traditional "sunrise services" being observed at so many churches around the world. Have you ever done the math from Friday to Sunday? Is it me or is it just impossible to fit 3 days and 3 nights into that time frame? Jesus declared it to be 3 days and 3 nights in Mathew 12....

Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

I am going to stick with the Biblical account. It was 3 days, 3 nights, not as second more nor a second less. In John chapter 20....

John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Since it was yet dark and Christ had already risen, cleary the sunrise services are another Christianization of pagan worship of the sun god Tammuz. The job of presenting Christianity in it's pure Biblical sense becomes more difficult when the Christian community is jumping head first into the sea of pagan traditionalism. There is no time of the year more than the spring season in which Christians seem to check their brains at the door and run with the course of this world following the traditions which make the Word of God of none effect.

Hippidy hop hop....Hippidy hop hop.....Hippidy hop hop.......