Acknowledging the Truth is More than Recognition

Acknowledging the Truth is More than Recognition

It’s no coincidence that in Paul’s final three epistles—2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon—he repeatedly stresses the importance of acknowledging the truth rather than merely recognizing it. As his ministry neared its conclusion, he wasn’t just leaving theological reflections—he was calling believers to active faith. This repeated emphasis suggests an urgency: doctrine was never meant to be a passive collection of beliefs, but a lived reality. By specifically using the word “acknowledge,” Paul drives home the point that truth must be embraced, applied, and experienced. His final words weren’t just about understanding the faith; they were a call to step into it boldly, yielding to God’s grace and allowing it to shape every aspect of life. It’s as if Paul, knowing his time was short, wanted to leave believers with one last crucial instruction—don’t just recognize God’s truth, live it.

Many people recognize truth. They see it, understand it intellectually, and even admire it. But Paul is calling us to much more than just a mental exercise. He calls us beyond passive recognition into an active acknowledgment—a faith-driven response that transforms how we live, believe, and interact with God’s grace.

What Does It Mean to 'Not Be Under the Law?'

What Does It Mean to 'Not Be Under the Law?'

Paul’s teaching that believers are “not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14) has often been misunderstood, sometimes leading people to believe they have no moral obligations or restrictions whatsoever. But the reality is far richer. To truly grasp this concept, we must explore four key aspects: freedom from the Mosaic Law as a means of justification, walking in the Spirit through the Word of God, avoiding legalism and condemnation, and understanding the common misconceptions about the law.

Righteousness by faith, not by law

First, being free from the law means grace believers are no longer required to follow the Mosaic Law to attain righteousness. Paul explains this beautifully in Galatians 3:24-25: “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Before Christ, the law served as a guide, teaching people about sin and their need for salvation. Its purpose was not to save, but to point them to Christ. However, now that Christ has come, believers now live under grace through faith in Him, not under a rigid law system for righteousness. Romans 6:14 clearly states: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” This doesn’t mean that sin is now acceptable, but rather that righteousness is a result of faith, not legal adherence. Through His death and resurrection, Christ fulfilled the law so that believers could be declared righteous through His finished work, not through personal effort.

Paul’s Example in Faithfulness and Commitment to God

Paul’s Example in Faithfulness and Commitment to God

In times of uncertainty, fear, or opposition, our faith is tested. The Apostle Paul stands as a powerful example of unwavering commitment to the Lord, walking by faith and not by sight. As he prepared to journey to Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary trip, fellow believers warned him of the hardships he would face—persecution, imprisonment, and possibly death. Yet, his heart was set on fulfilling his calling, not deterred by fear but strengthened by his deep conviction in God’s purpose for his life.

Warnings Before Jerusalem

Paul was no stranger to suffering for the sake of the gospel. In Acts 20:22-23, he declares to the Ephesian elders that he is "bound in the spirit" to go to Jerusalem, fully aware that bonds and afflictions awaited him. Despite this knowledge, he remains steadfast, saying, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 20:24). His determination was not reckless but rooted in a profound trust in God’s plan.

The Journey of Faith, Love, and Hope

The Journey of Faith, Love, and Hope

Upon hearing of the faith and love among the Ephesians, Paul begins to pray for them and writes these profound truths to them. He would not have written the contents of Ephesians to the Corinthians, nor to the Galatians in the state they were in. The Corinthians were babes in Christ, incapable of perceiving and understanding spiritual truths. Paul addresses the Corinthians saying, 

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."  1 Corinthians 3:1-2. 

The Galatians had lost their footing—their faith was overthrown, and had returned to the law, striving to establish their own righteousness and salvation rather than placing their faith in Christ. Paul warned them, 

"Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." Galatians 5:2.

Those seeking justification through the law had fallen from grace. Likewise, the Corinthians exhibited signs of immaturity—envy, strife, and division among them.

To truly grasp the deep spiritual truths contained in Ephesians, one must reach a certain level of maturity. Until then, these great depths of God's eternal plan and purpose remain beyond full comprehension. Paul highlights this progression in several of his letters. In the opening of Romans, he declares:

May God Have Mercy on Your Soul: An Expression of Ignorance

May God Have Mercy on Your Soul: An Expression of Ignorance

As I watched a funeral on TV, I heard the minister say the following, "Rest in peace <person's name>, may God have mercy on your soul." Those words stuck with me and the more I thought about them, the more I was struck by the absolute ignorance embedded in this statement—an ignorance that disregards the foundational truth of the gospel and the finished work of the cross of Christ. It revealed how tradition and empty expressions continue to be spoken without thought, maintaining a cycle of religious negligence rather than biblical accuracy. This phrase, like others that I list at the end of the post**, have become a customary utterance, mindlessly repeated without questioning its meaning or validity in light of God’s revealed truth. Seeing this, I felt it necessary to bring attention to not only this statement but others also, that persist as vain customs, promoting human imagination rather than biblical reality. Words carry weight, and when they contradict the truth of Scripture, they must be identified and dismissed as meaningless rhetoric—mere traditions of men that veil the absolute authority of God’s Word. 

This article serves as a call to recognize such errors and return to the certainty of sound doctrine, particularly the gospel of God's grace as taught in Paul’s epistles.

The Hollow Tradition of a Fruitless Expression

"May God have mercy on your soul."

Dying to self so that Christ may be magnified

Dying to self so that Christ may be magnified

When discussing sanctification in my Bible study groups, I often emphasize a fundamental truth: our flesh is unsalvageable. Nothing can be done to redeem it—it is lost, corrupt, and, as Scripture declares, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

Even God Himself did not choose to sanctify the flesh; instead, He gave us something entirely new. In Christ, we are regenerated within our spirit and made part of a brand new creation. We are not rehabilitated versions of ourselves. Romans 6:6 affirms this: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

Therefore, we must stop striving to train the flesh or make it better. Instead, we must acknowledge what Romans 6 and 7 reveal—that our flesh is crucified with Christ, dead to sin, and delivered from the law, confirmed expressly in Galatians 2:20.

Sanctification is a daily process, a continuous dying to self so that Christ may be magnified within us, 1 Corinthians 15:31. But how do we die to the flesh? By filling ourselves with the Word of God, renewing our minds, and yielding in obedience to its influence. Romans 12:2 instructs us: “And 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.”

Each time we surrender to God’s Word, our flesh dies a bit more. Each time we yield to the working of the word within our minds and hearts, Christ in us is magnified a little more. This is an increasing process that should occupy our lives daily. This increase ensures that the good works resulting from this process of transformation are not of our own works or efforts, but God working in us. Philippians 2:13 assures us: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” His Word, alive and active within us, is what produces righteousness—not our own striving or strength.

This is our reasonable service—our gratitude and love for the One who redeemed us. As we yield to His Spirit and live by His Word, we walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1).

Thanks be to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who has given us new life in Him.

Understanding the Gap: The Mystery Period in God’s Plan

Understanding the Gap: The Mystery Period in God’s Plan

Throughout history, biblical prophecy has painted a clear picture of God’s plan for Israel. From the coming of the Messiah to the promised kingdom, prophecy repeatedly highlighted the sequence of events that were expected to unfold. However, what was never foreseen or mentioned by the prophets was an intervening period—a hidden mystery revealed only through the Apostle Paul. This period, often referred to as the "gap," marks a unique dispensation in which the body of Christ operates under grace, distinct from Israel’s prophetic timeline.

The Gap: A Mystery Kept Secret

One of the most remarkable aspects of the gap period is its complete absence from Old Testament prophecy. If one studies scripture from Adam through the life of Jesus and even into the early chapters of Acts, there is no mention of this time period. The prophetic writings consistently detail Israel’s future, outlining the coming of their Messiah, a time of tribulation, and the eventual establishment of the millennial kingdom.

Had Israel accepted their Messiah, Jesus would have returned, the tribulation would have taken place, and the kingdom would have been established as prophesied (Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 9:26). In such a scenario, the grace period—the gap—would never have existed. Yet, because Israel rejected their Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy was delayed (John 1:11; Luke 19:14). Because of Israel’s unbelief, God ushered in a completely unforeseen era: the mystery period, during which the body of Christ operates under grace (Romans 11:11; Acts 13:46). This grace dispensation was never revealed in prophecy but was kept secret by God (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:3-5; Colossians 1:25-26). In this new dispensation, salvation was extended to the Gentiles apart from Israel’s prophetic program (Romans 11:25; Colossians 1:26).