The BIG Picture (Q&A)

Social Media Question: What must we do to live according to Christ? My Reply: Let us take the biblical advice from Romans 5–8 to answer this question. To live according to Christ, one must first be justified through faith in Him, Romans 5:1. This justification marks the beginning of a journey, where one grows in the knowledge of God’s Word. It becomes essential to understand that living according to Christ cannot be achieved through personal effort. Our flesh is at enmity with God, and our natural mind is corrupt. The starting point is immersing oneself in the Word of God (specifically the epistle of Romans) and allowing it to renew the mind, for it is the carnal and corrupted mind that prevents us from living in alignment with Christ. It is crucial to recognize that one cannot live both according to Christ and according to sin. By nature, we yield to sin, for it is all we know, Rom.6. As the Word begins to reveal the nature of sin and exposes how living in sin is displeasing to God, w...

Knowledge:  Knowledge is the accumulation of facts, information, and data. It's the starting point, the raw material of learning. Whether it's general knowledge or deep expertise in a subject, knowledge equips us with the "what." However, knowledge on its own can be superficial. A person may recite endless facts yet lack the ability to grasp their deeper implications or applications. Think of knowledge as the bricks with which you intend to build a house—necessary, but not the complete structure. Understanding:  Understanding connects the dots and takes knowledge a step further. It is the process of organizing and interpreting information, uncovering relationships between facts, and seeing patterns and connections. Understanding is the "how" and "why" behind the "what." It brings clarity and coherence, transforming isolated bits of information into a meaningful tapestry. For example, knowing the symptoms of a disease is knowledge; underst...

SOCIAL MEDIA STATEMENT AND QUESTION: John 3:7 paraphrased - “… I said unto you that everyone must be born again”. Everyone is everyone - not just Jews being born again. Remember what Jesus said in John 3:3? “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Here Jesus is talking about the “kingdom of God”. So, is this a Jewish kingdom or a heavenly and eternal kingdom of God message? MY REPLY: Everyone must be saved, yes. But we must understand the different plans of salvation in the Bible. The earthly ministry of Jesus was only to the Jews. In the KJV the word “Ye” is not a reference to 'everyone' (as you suggest), but a reference to Israel exclusively. Jesus never addressed Gentiles , Matt.15:24. Prophecy even dictates that it is Israel first that must be saved so that they would be a light unto the Gentiles. This is the reason why Jesus said to that woman, Matt.15:26 “But he answered and said, it...

STATEMENT: The important thing about the Kingdom of God is that we allow it to be manifested in our lives. The big lack among Christians is not showing forth the Kingdom. We are to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, and cleanse the lepers. Plus, the 9 gifts of the Spirit. The New Testament says, ‘The Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.’ Information and theory Christianity can be a deception. RESPONSE: The values you list are from the Kingdom dispensation.  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, and cleanse the lepers, plus the 9 gifts of the Spirit,  are primarily signs that were required for the Jews in the Acts church, 1Cor.1:22-24. In this dispensation of Grace in which we live, it is the fruit of the Spirit that counts, Gal.5:22-23. The fruit is produced when we give ourselves over to obedience to the knowledge of the Word that is within us through studying it and having it renew our minds. Rom.6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the se...

STATEMENT: If we are saved by grace alone excluding works, I can sit here like a dummy for the rest of my life, and when I die, I'm in the hands of God our Creator. How absurd! What Bible are you reading? ANSWER: Your comment suggests childish thinking and ignorance of the knowledge of the written Word. God’s will for you after you get saved is to come to a knowledge of the truth, 1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. In addition, the scripture below tells us that it is our reasonable service to present ourselves to God for His purpose and through the written Word, to become increasingly transformed by the renewing of our mind, to know God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will. Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of y...

What does the "spirit of your mind" mean in Ephesians 4:23? All humans are made up of spirit, soul, and body, 1Th 5:23. The 3 circles represent the default template of the 3 parts of a human being. Spirit is the breath of God that fills a person with life, Gen 2:7. Soul is the essence of the person, their persona (mind, will and emotions), and the body is the outer shell of flesh. Though you might be familiar with these 3 circles, these are NOT the parts that Paul is referring to when he speaks of the ‘inner man’ (or new man) and the ‘outer man’ (or old man) in Eph.4:17–24. If you look at the image below, the grey hexagonal is the ‘outer man’ (or old man) and the blue hexagonal is the ‘inner man’ (or new man). These are the two parts that Paul refers to in most of his writings. The grey outer man connects the soul (or persona) of a person to the flesh. In other words, the thick red oval is the part of a human that functions in the world, ie: the carnal man with his 5-...

Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified , them he also glorified . Paul tells us that if we truly believe in Jesus Christ by hearing and responding to the grace gospel, we are freely justified by the ‘decree’ of God, and we can have peace with God, and access to the grace that He provides, Rom 5:1-2. Through faith in the gospel of grace, we are transferred from the administration of death, which is in Adam, into the administration of life, which is in Christ. When we belong to Christ’s administration, we are now identified with righteousness, peace, and life, as Paul continues to tell us, Rom 5:17-19 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) (18) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the...

QUESTION: What do you make about tattoos? Should a Christian have it since it was condemned in the Old Testament but not in the New Testament? ANSWER: Entertaining thoughts like this is a consequence of not rightly dividing the Word of truth. These confusions come into the mind when people are taught that they are spiritual Israel, or when people are ignorant of the two separate and distinct programs that occupy the written Word. Let me briefly clarify what I mean. We have TWO programs in the Bible. The prophetic program and the mystery program. The prophetic program concerns Israel who were the people of God, a special nation, set apart by God, via the law, in order to be a light to the world, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. On the other hand, there is the mystery program, that concerns the Body of Christ, who are under grace. Where Israel is a physical people who would inherit the physical earth, the Body of Christ is a spiritual creature [body] which will inherit the heaven...

Comments from an anonymous party based on the following scripture: 1Cor.13:8-12 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. Dear reader, what I wrote afore becomes clearly evident when you understand and apply the requirement of right division in the Word, according to 2Tim.2:15. Israel is to be merged into or blended with the doctrine of Grace. They are separate programs and doctrines altogether. Let me point to some things that you write: COMMENT: Acts 2:39...

QUESTION: Let's say a person hears and responds to the gospel of grace and believes in Jesus. Justification takes place the moment the get saved. However, the remain a babe in Christ as they never renew their mind to the will and ways of God. They remain weak in spirit and their flesh continues to control their thoughts and actions. What will happen to people like this when they die or when the rapture happens? ANSWER: You need to understand that justification is not something that occurs in the flesh. It is a positional status that God declares over you when you believe in Christ, Rom.7. Your flesh is not justified. That is why your flesh will be dissolved (in death or the rapture). Your flesh is unsalvageable. It is corrupt and vile, and it must be done away with. Your spirit is justified at salvation, and this verdict cannot be changed irrespective of your choices on earth, Rom.8:1. What should happen on earth is the following: If you chose to follow God’s word, you will mortify...

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 s...