The Destinies of a Man

The Destinies of a Man

At the very moment you believed the grace gospel, you were regenerated in spirit, and you were placed into Christ, becoming an adopted son, seated with Christ in the heavenlies. What a contrast to what you were before this! Before salvation by God's grace, you were a dead sinner, living out a vain existence that would end with the wrath of God. You were of no value to anything going on in this earth. Paul said,

Ephesians 2:1-3 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others [who are outside of Christ].

Fundamental Concepts of ‘Rightly Dividing’ the Truth

Fundamental Concepts of ‘Rightly Dividing’ the Truth

It always saddens me why so many people resist the dispensational interpretation of scripture. In addition, most of these people reject the idea BEFORE they have even understood what dispensations are. I’m not being judgmental, …just realistic, as I’m speaking from experience! They are influenced by someone who dismisses it, or their church resists it, and then they build barriers against it, all without even investigating what it is really about.

What are our ambassadorial duties in this broken world?

What are our ambassadorial duties in this broken world?

The world is in a mess, right! So, what are we to be doing about it? I hear so many ‘Christians’ saying that we need to resist the changes happening in this age and make our mark on society. I don’t know about you, but I think this is the wrong mindset! If you know Bible prophecy, you will know that what is happening in the world today is part of God’s plan. I like to say that things are not falling apart (as so many think), rather things are starting to fall into place! This gives me such hope for our Lord’s soon return.

Does God expect us to halt the immorality of man? Does God expect us to stop the rise of evil? Does God expect us to disarm the Antichrist and spoil his plans? Of course not! Again, these things MUST take place. Judgement is coming upon the world. So, what then does God expect of us?

THE FAITH: A Form of Sound Doctrine

What is "THE FAITH "

Col.2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in THE FAITH, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you [corrupting THE FAITH] through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Paul uses the phrase, "THE FAITH", to identify the working of an independent, living truth, existing as a foundation, in the heart of the believer. THE FAITH is in simple terms, the Bible, the Word of God, embedded in the heart of the believer. However, in a more accurate definition, THE FAITH is not all the Bible, but rather, a "specific set of doctrine" from within the Bible. What is more, the "specific set of doctrine", as foundational truth in the heart, is determined by the dispensation in which one lives. Let me explain.

Not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect

Not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect

The vain babblings of unregenerated men

How many philosophers, teachers, students of scripture, so-called wise men, debaters, and counselors are out there, speaking the things of the Bible, judging and arguing the deep things of the Word, correcting, advising, and reprimanding others, all the while thinking that they understand the oracles of God, that they have the credentials to speak truth, and that they have their theology grounded because of research, study, and experience. To these individuals, I address the fact that if you have not been regenerated by the gospel of grace and received the Spirit of Christ within you, then your theological wisdom is foolishness, and your biblical teachings are vain jangling's and rife with lies.

Ask yourself truthfully, what is the origin of your theology? From what fountain of knowledge has your wisdom been syphoned from? Are you glorying in an invented truth? Has it not by chance been handed down to you from the vain imaginations of others who came before you? Could it be that you are gloating in reused fabrications of theology that others have once blended together for their own glory or purpose?

The apostle Paul arrived at one time in Athens and encountered a city fraught with idols. In the center of all this deception sat wise men who daily spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing. 

Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. ... 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? ... 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) ... 23 For as I [Paul] passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, "To the Unknown God". Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

What Does the Fulness of the Gentiles Mean?

Fulness of the Gentiles vs. Times of the Gentiles

As indicated by the post title, I will focus on what Paul meant when he said, "the fulness of the Gentiles". However, there is often confusion when one considers another phrase that Jesus mentioned in Luke 21, namely, "the times of the Gentiles", which I will also clarify in this post. Before we analyze these phrases, lets read the scripture passages to get the proper setting and context.

Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Romans 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.