The BIG Picture (Q&A)

ONLINE ARTICLE (OF FALSE) ADVICE You can express your desire to follow the Holy Spirit’s control through prayer. Here is a prayer that has often been helpful to me: “Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have been directing my own life and that, as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit.”1 If you prayed that prayer, desiring the Spirit’s control, then the Holy Spirit fills you now—even if you don’t feel like it. It is a decision of faith: a response to what God says in His Word, His desire to fill you with His Spirit. SCRIPTURAL ANSWER: There is absolute...

Paul's epistles should be understood spiritually. Thus, 'vanity of mind' is not natural futility but rather spiritual futility. So, to provide life examples is not to list useless things men do in their mortality, or man’s inept activities or knowledge in his natural state, but to perceive it in view of his eternal existence. For an example of Paul's spiritual context, notice his attitude towards natural things and their futility, compared to the worth and significance of knowing Christ, here: Php 3:7-11  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  (8)  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  (9)  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  (10)...

Much pressure is placed on Christians the moment they get saved. They join an assembly, and everyone expects them to immediately change and start showing typical Christian conduct, performing in activities and exhibiting spiritual gifts. This is what religion expects! It's not what the Bible teaches.  From the moment you get saved, God wills only two things for that person. (1) to be thankful (1 Thess.5:18) and (2) to know His Word (1 Tim.2:4) .  1. 1Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  2. 1Tim 2:4  [God] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Both these attributes come from studying the written Word and getting it into you. The more you feed your spirit with God’s word, the more you become thankful for what He has done for you, and the more you learn —about Him, —about who you are in Christ, —and about where you fit into His redemption plan. Studying the Word, ...

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...

Justification is the FIRST step in being saved. It starts by hearing the grace gospel. What is the gospel? It is to come to the understanding that without Christ, you have no hope and you have fallen short of God's righteousness because you are a sinner and at enmity with God. It is then to know that because of God's love for you, Christ died for you and through His death, burial, and resurrection, you have a way to come into right standing with God. Having heard these things, it is a matter of choosing to believe in Christ, and trust that His cross work has the power to save you. It is to understand that because of your decision to trust in God's Son, He will justify you and seal you unto that day of redemption. Understand that your choice to trust in Christ sets in motion a transaction in heaven that permanently and utterly saves you. All this is God's work, that once done, due to your decision to trust Jesus Christ, is irreversible and sealed. God cannot go against...

In this dispensation of grace, a person is not baptized WITH the Holy Spirit (Act.1:5) as what happened on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. In this grace age, a person is baptized BY the Holy Spirit, (1Cor.12:13), thus sealing them into the Body of Christ the instant they are saved. I mention this because the Holy Spirit does not come upon us to empower us like in Pentecost. Today, we are filled with Christ (Gal.2:20) by taking in (receiving into us) the written Word of God. The true spiritual ‘fruit-bearing’ capacity we have is in direct relationship to the capacity of the Word in us. In other words, the fruit of the Spirit is the outward manifestation of our obedience to the living Word of God working inside us. If a saved person does not have the Word of God within them, then they are not walking by the Spirit. In actual fact they cannot. Thus, the fruit they will produce is of the flesh, which is emotional, fickle and selfish. If a saved person spends time in the Word, allowing ...

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...

COMMENT: You say, “Repentance and water baptism is part of the salvation requirements in the Kingdom gospel for Israel. They [Israel] are commanded to repent for their unbelief and crucifying their Messiah. Water baptism is required to fulfil the priestly calling they have according to Exo.19:5–6, which they will fulfill in the Millennial Kingdom.” So, you call obedience to repentance and water baptism, works? How sad. You haven’t obeyed Jesus and Peter. MY RESPONSE: According to Paul’s writings we are to obey the living Word within us. You see, when we read the Word and fill ourselves with it, then it starts to renew our mind. It starts to influence our thoughts and actions. Giving ourselves over to obey that which the Word works out of us is what we obey unto righteousness. See what Paul writes in connection with this, Rom 6:16-17 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedien...

The Word of God is the only way to mortify the flesh. Romans chapter 6 is Paul’s advice on how to overcome sin. The chapter in essence tells you to “know a few things”. Paul says. “Know ye that…” , and “Know ye not…” . The idea here is that we have things to learn. We need to get into the Word so that the Word can get into us. We need to study it and saturate ourselves with it. Basically, the more Word you have inside you and allow to influence you; your thoughts, behaviours, actions, and speech, the more that Word will subdue the flesh. You cannot kill sins by your own power, because sin is within you. The only way to mortify the flesh is to live by the spirit. How does one do that? Well, in John 6:63, Jesus says, “My words are spirit and they are life” . So, by getting the Word (which is the Spirit and life of Christ) into you, and allowing it to influence your living, then you will be living by the spirit of Christ in you. If sin is in your flesh, but you choose to live by the Spiri...

  Statement All these negative statements promoting the flesh is not good for Christians who wants to be overcomers on Christ Jesus. It's not that I am saying anyone can be sin free, but we should tend to be like Christ. Instead of yielding to sin simply because grace is available. Your pattern of thinking is why some pastors drink, fornicate, cheat, hate, embittered, murder, smoke, exhibit pride and greed because they feel, after all, they cannot beat sin. It's not the number of years as a Christian but your authority in Christ as His soldier. Do you believe in prayers and warfare? Do you believe in binding and casting? You cannot be able to pray battle prayers when you believe carnality is part of a Christian. Answer God’s grace is there for you because of the exceeding love and power of the cross. However, it shows that you still have a way to grow in the knowledge and understanding of God’s foundational truths in the letter of Romans. If you read Romans 6 you will see that...

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...

QUESTION: I struggle with the fact that God forgives.  How can I have faith to know I’m forgiven? ANSWER: EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD IS BY FAITH . Why? Simply because we cannot see God, or touch Him, or feel Him. The only thing we have that makes God real is the Bible. If we believe that the words in the Bible are real, then God becomes real. It’s as simple as that! The key is to believe that the Bible is REALLY the words of God spoken to you. When you believe this, then God becomes real, and what He said becomes real. So then, why do I say everything about God is by faith . It is because you have to believe what He says in His Word . Faith is easy if you truly trust the words in the Bible. You will personally experience your faith grow stronger when you get deeper and deeper into the Word. This is because the Word generates faith. In Romans 10:17 it says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”. Notice, faith comes (automatically), or is generated within you (au...

The Believers Curriculum for Maturing in Spirit and having Christ formed within them. Romans to Galatians is focused predominantly on believer growing up and learning of God while here on earth. Ephesians to Thessalonians is focused on sonship and sets sights on life in the heavenly position and for eternity. Romans: A general outline of the Romans foundation of salvation, justification and sanctification. Of critical note it the lessons of walking by grace and faith, avoiding the flesh and the law. Romans 5, 8 and 12 are key chapters that conclude valuable foundational leassons learned in the chapters that precede them. 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. Rom.3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Rom.4-5 Justified by faith without works (by Gods work and grace) Rom.5 Cannot live by faith in the flesh Rom.6-7 Cannot live by f...

In order to answer if Jesus Himself was infallible in His earthly ministry, we simply have to look at what the Word says of itself. Why? Well, the Word repeatedly speaks of its own inspiration and authority, and if the Word itself is infallible, then we can prove that Jesus, who is the Word, is infallible too.  In John chapter 1 the Word says, John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... 14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. So, this confirms that Jesus is the Word. Now, what does the Word say of itself? The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18, “Not a letter or a part of a letter will pass away until all of it is fulfilled.” He said in John 10:35, “The Scriptures cannot be broken.” He said in John 17:17 in His high-priestly prayer to His Father, “Your Word is truth.” And then you move to the apostle P...