Approving What Is Excellent by Walking in Truth

Approving What Is Excellent by Walking in Truth

Walking in the light is not merely about avoiding sin—it is about actively discerning truth, judging God's will, and making decisions that reflect a heart devoted to Him. This process of judgment is not cold or mechanical; it is deeply rooted in love for God and His Word. When you love God, you desire to walk in His ways, and that desire compels you to search the Scriptures, seeking what pleases Him. It is in this pursuit that true spiritual maturity is cultivated.

Paul speaks of this transformation in Romans 12:2, urging believers: "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." The renewal of the mind is not a passive experience—it is an intentional, daily engagement with truth. To prove what is acceptable unto God means to test, discern, and judge rightly. This is the essence of walking in the Spirit: a life where every thought, every action, and every decision is weighed against the truth of God's Word.

This is not a burdensome task but a joyful pursuit. Philippians 1:9-10 reveals that our love for God should abound in knowledge and judgment, enabling us to approve things that are excellent. Love is not blind—it is discerning. A believer who truly loves God does not merely follow rules but seeks to understand His heart, to know His will, and to walk accordingly. This is the difference between legalism and a life led by the Spirit. The former obeys out of obligation; the latter obeys out of love and maturity.

Paul’s Writing Style and Punctuation in the KJV

Paul’s Writing Style and Punctuation in the KJV

Take a close look at the opening four verses of Paul’s letter to Titus below. We are about to analyse his writing style and by the end of this little lesson, you will understand why Paul wrote like this, and the significance of the specific way the King James Bible uses punctuation to help us understand what Paul is saying, as well as provide us with much deeper insight and interpretation of the scriptures. This is an important lesson.

Titus 1:1-4  Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Immediately upon starting to read Titus, one encounters a long, flowing sentence (Titus 1:1-4) that is characteristic of Paul's writing style. Before delving into an in-depth analysis of the letter to Titus, it is important to understand this specific format or style in which Paul writes and also how the King James Bible punctuates these extended, sweeping sentences. This foundational understanding will help you to interpret similar sweeping passages in Paul's other epistles and comprehend how the King James Bible applies punctuation to divide and structure his writing.  

The Power of Transforming Grace Seen Through Our Doctrine

The Power of Transforming Grace Seen Through Our Doctrine

In Paul’s short but profound letter to Philemon, we see a real-life application of the gospel’s transformative power. It is a letter that does not merely teach doctrine but demonstrates how doctrine must be lived. Through the example of Onesimus, Philemon, and Paul, we are called to elevate truth above self, allowing Christ within us to reign above every carnal impulse—above grudges, revenge, ownership, greed, lusts, and the pride of life.

Onesimus: A Life Transformed

Onesimus was once unprofitable—both spiritually and practically. A runaway slave who likely stole from his master, he embodied the fallen nature of man: seeking self-will above truth, circumstance above faith. But when he encountered Paul in prison, everything changed. By the grace of God, he was begotten in bonds—he got saved and regenerated anew in Christ. His transformation wasn’t just a personal improvement; it redefined his entire identity. He was no longer just Philemon’s servant; he became a brother in the Lord.

This is the reality of salvation. We are not just improved versions of our former selves—we are made new. Onesimus, once a thief and a fugitive, became “profitable” through Christ, Phm.1:11; Tit.3:8. Not because he gained worldly wealth or influence, but because the gospel infused him with purpose. Like Onesimus, we must recognise that transformation in Christ is not about external change but about internal renewal.

Philemon: A Call to Forgiveness

Philemon had every legal right to punish Onesimus. The world would say that justice demands retribution. Carnal nature whispers: Let him suffer. Teach him a lesson. Own your rights. But Paul makes a different appeal—not based on law, but on grace.

Our Bodies are to be Vessels for the Glory of God, Not Instruments of Sin

Our Bodies are to be Vessels for the Glory of God, Not Instruments of Sin

The moment we believe the gospel—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again—we are placed into the Body of Christ. We are no longer just individuals navigating life on our own terms; we are now members of His Body, united with Him in purpose and destiny. This profound truth transforms not only our identity but also the way we view and use our physical bodies. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6:15: 

"Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?"

Our bodies are not our own. They have been purchased with the precious blood of Christ and now serve a divine purpose. Though we still inhabit mortal flesh, the purpose of these earthly vessels has changed—we are no longer bound to sin but called to manifest the life of Christ in us. Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 4:7: 

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."

This "treasure" is the glorious truth of Christ dwelling within us. Our weak and imperfect bodies have now become instruments through which His power and life shine forth.

Is Dispensational Truth Heresy? Or Is It the Key to Biblical Understanding?

Is Dispensational Truth Heresy? Or Is It the Key to Biblical Understanding?

For generations, those who rightly divide the Word have been accused of heresy. The moment we assert that the Apostle Paul was given a distinct revelation—the mystery hidden from past ages—alarm bells sound, and accusations fly. We are labelled a cult, a fringe group that negates the words of Jesus Christ. But what is the truth? Why does dispensational teaching cause such controversy? More importantly, why is it necessary to approach the Bible this way?

Why Do People Think It’s Heresy?

When someone hears a doctrine they have never encountered before, their first reaction is to question it. If their pastor or teacher has never presented the dispensational distinctions found in Scripture, it naturally sounds foreign, even suspect. The accusation often follows: “You are negating the words of Jesus!” But nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus Himself declared: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matthew 15:24) "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not." (Matthew 10:5)

Every word spoken by Jesus in His earthly ministry was in accordance with God’s prophetic plan for Israel. To recognise that Paul was later given the revelation of the mystery does not diminish Christ’s words; rather, it confirms them.

Paul—The Chosen Vessel

The first disconnect many people face is an unwillingness to accept that God gave a distinct commission to Paul. He was not one of the twelve, yet Scripture declares:

Search Me, O Lord—A Spiritual Evaluation of Growth and Conformity

Search Me, O Lord—A Spiritual Evaluation of Growth and Conformity

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Self-examination is not merely an act of introspection—it is an act of surrender. We stand before the Lord, asking Him to search our hearts, to test our faith, to refine our walk. This is not a fleeting exercise but a continual process of proving ourselves in the faith, as 2 Corinthians 13:5 exhorts: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves..."

The fruitfulness of our labour, our obedience to the Word, and our connection to God must be evaluated. Galatians 6:4 reminds us: "But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another." But let this evaluation not be grounded in external results—our works, our efforts—but rather in our growth and commitment to studying God’s Word.