Monthly Archives: December 2021

HOLIDAYS, Should we say “Happy Holidays?”

Should we say “Happy Holidays?”

SHOULD WE SAY “HAPPY HOLIDAYS?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

Lest they “sound religious” (or, Scriptural truth convict them!), secularists try their hardest to avoid saying “Merry Christmas.” The mere mention of “Christ” is most repulsive to them. Unfortunately, silly superstitions and vain works-religion—parading as “Christianity”—have “burned” or gravely disappointed these souls and their contempt could not be more apparent. Moreover, when they declare “Happy Holidays” for fear of using the “religious” phrase “Merry Christmas,” they have not helped their cause, for “holiday” is actually derived from “holy day” (another religious term!). In recent years, “Happy Holidays” has become increasingly prevalent, for it is also more favorable to those who wish to accommodate other December holidays (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve, et cetera). “Season’s Greetings” is another phrase employed not to “exclude” or offend non-Christians. What should we say as Bible-believing Christians?

Personally, this writer has never used “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings”—and he has no intention of ever articulating such sentiments. To him, these words sound craven or weak, like we believers in Christ have compromised, too afraid to express our beliefs because we might be labeled “narrow-minded,” “intolerant,” “ethnocentric,” “racist,” “xenophobic.” (Such ad hominem or personal attacks bypass an actual, intelligent discussion of the convictions to which we hold. We should always be open to meaningful dialog, not cheap confrontations.) Due to political correctness, we have been accustomed to refrain from common phrases just because they offend people (who enjoy playing the victim because it feeds their egotism). The media—the so-called “news” (read that, propaganda) organizations—are most blameworthy for disseminating those ideas. In addition, those who mindlessly absorb that information proceed to carelessly repeat it, incorporating it into our culture.

If this writer could be blunt, we in the United States have allowed pagan religions to infiltrate our society. Plus, we have not held on to the truths of Scripture, so there is no sound Bible doctrine to counterbalance the error. With every passing generation, we are being indoctrinated with the ideas that “all belief systems should be accepted” and “we should ‘coexist’ with everyone no matter what they believe.” Such multiculturalism and religious pluralism have caused us to throw away the truths of the Christian Bible just so we can please those who disagree with us. (And we wonder why non-Christians have such a low estimation of the Bible?!) Strangely, while anti-Christians are militant in their views, unwilling to concede and most relentless in ramrodding their agenda through our culture, we believers in Christ are urged to relax our “intolerant” Bible-based worldview. Nonsense!

Although the United States has never been a truly Christian country (just nominal), the Holy Bible has influenced it probably more than any other nation except Israel. Over these last several decades, anti-Christian sentiment was hidden under the guise of “Christian” church tradition. Now that people have grown tired of the hypocrisy, they have simply moved to a new type of anti-Christianity—outright secularism, totally distinct and even worse than Christendom. In the name of “religious tolerance,” our ungrateful culture has become intolerant toward Christianity. However, we Christians are admonished to be tolerant toward every other group. Anything and everything is acceptable today, for we have normalized wickedness just a little more with each passing year. There are no absolutes anymore. Truth is relative, varying from person to person. Sin is just an “alternative lifestyle.” As ancient Israel of the Old Testament shows, no nation can survive these reversals. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).

It stands to reason we Christians should look and sound different from the world around them. As the unbelief of Bible haters is plain to see, so our faith should be obvious to everyone we meet. We are not aggressive or despicable, but we as Bible believers should say “Merry Christmas.” In doing so, please understand, we are not endorsing all the commercialization and paganism associated with this time of year. We are rather remembering sound Bible doctrine, the conception (not birth!) of the Lord Jesus Christ. (See our related study at the end of this article.) By using the name of “Christ” in “Merry Christmas,” we can smoothly transition into a Gospel message, a wonderful witnessing opportunity we would have not otherwise had.

Christmastime is a wonderful opportunity to tell everyone about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Christ of Christmas, thereby causing them to forget about all the silliness they heard in their “Christian” churches that caused them to discard the Scriptures in the first place. We can tell them about the Creator God, the Word, who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14); they can learn about the one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5); we can share with them the Gospel of Grace, “Christ died for sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4); finally, they can “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and… be saved” (Acts 16:31).

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:22-28).

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Indeed, the greatest Christmas gift is the gift of salvation and eternal life, which God had graciously given us by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Merry Christmas!

Saints, as we close 8 full years of grace-oriented Bible studies, this is our final Q&A article for 2021. Lord willing, we will be back next year with another 115 studies!

Also see:
» Why do people use “Xmas” instead of “Christmas?”
» Was Jesus Christ born on the 25th of December?
» Were there really three wise men?
» What is the “Immaculate Conception?”
» Should I display a Christmas tree?
» What was the Star of Bethlehem?
» Does doctrine really matter?
» What is the greatest threat facing the Grace Movement?

ESCHATOLOGY (END TIMES) / PROPHECY, JUST ASKING / CURIOUS QUESTIONS, What does “pernicious” mean?

What does “pernicious” mean?

WHAT DOES “PERNICIOUS” MEAN?

by Shawn Brasseaux

The Authorized Version uses “pernicious” only one time, in 2 Peter 2:2: “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” What does this word mean? By learning it, how can we better grasp end-times prophecy?

Whatever its definition, “pernicious” is definitely situated in a bad context: “[1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. [3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned [faked, pretend!] words make merchandise of you [take advantage of you for purposes of gain]: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

Although we could study all 22 chapters of the Revelation, or all 12 chapters of Daniel, or all 14 chapters of Zechariah, to gain a great deal of insight into what lies ahead for our planet; a quicker method would be to study the Olivet Discourse, the Lord Jesus’ end-times sermon delivered just prior to His crucifixion. It is recorded in Matthew chapters 24–25, Mark chapter 13, and Luke chapter 21.

Of particular interest to us in this study is what the Lord said about deception during the recommencement of the prophetic program (after our mystery program has ended):

  • Matthew chapter 24: “[4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. [5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many…. [11] And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many…. [23] Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. [24] For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. [25] Behold, I have told you before.”
  • Mark 13: “[5] And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: [6] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many…. [21] And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: [22] For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. [23] But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.”
  • Luke 21:8: “And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.”

This deception is also featured in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, particularly verses 9-12. While Jesus Christ is away at His Father’s right hand in Heaven—the period between His First Coming and Second Coming (but excluding our 2,000-year-long Age of Grace!)—“many” imposters will arise. All these men will claim to be Messiah or Christ, allowing apostate or unbelieving Israel a multiplicity of opportunities to follow someone other than Jesus the genuine Christ (cf. John 5:43). This mounting deception allows one ultimate Antichrist (fake Messiah) to take over Israel’s government.

“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (1 John 2:18). “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist” (2 John 1:7). “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:1-4).

Having run through cross-references, we return to 2 Peter 2:1-3 and better understand the passage: “[1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. [3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” Basically, all these false prophets have one message: someone other than Jesus is Christ! Not only will many preach this blasphemy, many will be misled because of it. Such deception will cement the Antichrist’s power in Israel and his influence over the nation. His satanic religion will ensnare the multitudes, influencing even the nations (Revelation 13:3,7,14). It is here in 2 Peter that we come across that interesting term “pernicious.”

“Pernicious” is based on a Latin word that means “destructive,” itself derived from a term for “ruin,” itself related to a word meaning “death.” In English, it is defined as: “destructive or harmful, especially in a subtle or gradual way.” In the Greek New Testament, it is “apoleia,” 8 times rendered “perdition” (John 17:12; Philippians 1:28; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 6:9; Hebrews 10:39; 2 Peter 3:7; Revelation 17:8,11); five times “destruction” (Matthew 7:13; Romans 9:22; Philippians 3:19; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 3:16); two times “waste” (Matthew 26:8; Mark 14:4); once “damnable” (2 Peter 2:1); once “damnation” (2 Peter 2:1); once “die” (Acts 25:16); and once “perish” (Acts 8:20).

In fact, as you might have just noticed, “apoleia” is found four times in the three verses with which we opened our study: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable [“apoleia”] heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction [“apoleia”]. And many shall follow their pernicious [“apoleia”] ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation [“apoleia”] slumbereth not.” This is quite strong language! God does not appear to be happy with these people, does He?

The “pernicious ways” of unbelievers during the end times can be seen in Matthew 7:13, Acts 8:20, 1 Timothy 6:9, and Hebrews 10:39; their result is in 2 Peter 3:7,16; their doom, meeting the Lord Jesus Christ face-to-face as He returns in flaming fire to take vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)!

Also see:
» “In your patience possess ye your souls?”
» Does doctrine really matter?
» How do we identify false teachers?
» How many Bible teachers should someone have?
» What does “Anathema Maranatha” mean in 1 Corinthians 16:22?

“In your patience possess ye your souls?”, ESCHATOLOGY (END TIMES) / PROPHECY

“In your patience possess ye your souls?”

“IN YOUR PATIENCE POSSESS YE YOUR SOULS?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

The Lord, in His renowned Olivet Discourse about end-times prophecy, announced in Luke 21:19: “In your patience possess ye your souls” (King James Bible). Various interpretations have been offered as touching this allegedly “obscure” declaration. Unfortunately, modern English translators, equally puzzled concerning how to properly render this verse, have not actually enlightened the average English reader either. As always, provided we handle it dispensationally, we have no problem.

We start by reading the context: “[7] And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? [8] And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. [9] But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. [10] Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: [11] And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”

The Olivet Discourse describes what will happen while the Lord Jesus Christ is away in Heaven (between His First Coming and His Second Coming), what occurs at His Second Coming, and what follows His Second Coming. Matthew chapters 24–25, Mark chapter 13, and Luke chapter 21 should all be examined to see the big picture. As the curses of the Law of Moses are meted out on sinful Israel (Leviticus chapter 26; Deuteronomy chapter 28), there is also the persecution and martyrdom of the Little Flock or Messianic Church (see Revelation 6:1-17, especially verses 9-11). Unbelieving Jews mistreat their believing Jewish brethren. The Antichrist oppresses, tortures, and beheads those in Israel who trust and support Jesus as Christ (see Revelation 12:11; Revelation 13:15; Revelation 20:4). Keep reading the Olivet Discourse:

“[12] But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. [13] And it shall turn to you for a testimony. [14] Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: [15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. [16] And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. [17] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. [18] But there shall not an hair of your head perish. [19] In your patience possess ye your souls.”

Again, how do they “possess [their] souls?” The statement is quite challenging to “scholars” of modern English versions—and even their readers. For example, the following re-translations have been offered: “You will win life,” “Save yourselves,” “Win your souls,” “You will live forever,” or “Gain your lives.” Here is one of the many places where the so-called “easier-to-read” contemporary versions do nothing but introduce additional confusion. Of course, individuals will then use such perversions to promote a works-oriented “Gospel:” “You need to strive to be saved, you should keep trying to merit God’s favor, you must persevere to be saved,” and so on. (The Calvinists and the Arminians particularly lean toward that idea of perseverance.)

Provided we are mindful of the context—Daniel’s 70th Week, not our Dispensation of Grace!—we will not have any difficulty leaving the verse as is: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” To amplify it, let us consider some contrasting passages also related to end-times events. Read Matthew 16:26: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36-37 has it this way: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Finally, Luke 9:25 reads: “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” If you read the contexts of these verses—Matthew 16:27, Mark 8:38, and Luke 9:26—you will see how they are connected to Christ’s Second Coming. Therefore, they are cross-references to the Olivet Discourse. Obviously, to “possess” your soul would be the opposite of “lose” your soul. If we can establish exactly what it means to lose the soul, then we could deduce the meaning of possess the soul.

In the above verses, Christ taught His audience not to become so focused on this temporary world that they lost sight of eternal matters. To “lose the soul” is the idea of one’s soul permanently damned in the afterlife. Those who die in their trespasses and sins are fully given over to their everlasting effects—the soul decaying, deteriorating, breaking down. As the curse of sin decomposes our physical body into a horrid form, so it decays our spiritual body to irreversibly render it a monstrosity. Unless we are justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone as our personal Saviour, our eventual lot is to be cast into the Lake of Fire where we are fully given over to sin and its eternal punishment.

Satan’s evil world system—active on Earth since Genesis chapter 3 when Adam relinquished to Satan his God-given power over creation—will take on a special arrangement during the end-times. It will be personified in one man, the Antichrist, the counterfeit Messiah or fake Christ, one who claims to be God and seeks worship as such (see 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Since Israel refused the genuine Messiah (Jesus) and nailed Him to Calvary’s cross in unbelief, she is punished with a false Messiah, a devious man she will be deceived into supporting (John 5:43; 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12). There will be great economic rewards for following the Antichrist—and, conversely, severe economic penalties for declining him (Revelation 13:15-18). Psalm 37 should be consulted here.

In light of what we have read from the Bible thus far, 1 John 2:15-17 was penned: “[15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. [17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Believing Israel, the Antichrist’s rejecters, are in verse 17. Draw your attention to verse 15 now. Those who “love the world” are the Antichrist’s followers (yet future from us, remember). Sin has conquered them. Once they worship the Antichrist, worship his image (idol), or receive his mark, they are damned. Revelation 14:9-11: “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Here is the loss of the soul about which we learned earlier!

Now, let us continue into verse 12, Israel’s believing remnant: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Did you notice the clue to answering our original question? This “patience” is that of Luke 21:19!! Read the Luke passage again: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” That is, by the Little Flock patiently awaiting their true Messiah (Jesus’ Second Coming), thereby refusing to give in to the immense pressure to follow the Antichrist (worship him or be executed!), they are spared the loss of their souls in Hell and the Lake of Fire (places they will avoid entirely). If we want to see the opposite attitude, the materialistic or worldly outlook, we can study Matthew 6:19-24, Matthew 16:24-26, Mark 8:34-37, Luke 9:23-25, Luke 12:13-21, Luke 19:18-23, and Luke 21:34-36. All these verses furnish Jesus’ audience in Israel with information they need to survive Daniel’s 70th Week in faith. Any unbelievers in Israel are thereby warned about their eternal outcome, losing their souls in Hell and the Lake of Fire, if they fail to believe God’s Word to them (particularly Matthew through John, and Hebrews through Revelation).

Also see:
» What does “pernicious” mean?
» What is the “mark of the Beast?”
» Why is “666” the number of the Beast?
» “My kingdom is not of this world?”
» Is the Antichrist alive right now?
» “We are in the world, but not of the world?”

How do we “pray without ceasing?”, PRAYER

How do we “pray without ceasing?”

HOW DO WE “PRAY WITHOUT CEASING?”

by Shawn Brasseaux

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) is a short, simple instruction. Yet, as with the majority of other Bible teachings, it has been complicated because of “natural-man” thinking. How is it possible to “pray without ceasing?”

For a great number of people, it is not considered “prayer” unless we are kneeling, or closing eyes, or raising hands, or bowing, or entering a prayer closet, or going to a church building, or reciting audible words, or speaking in some “unknown tongue” (gibberish!). Again, this is because we—for centuries—have blindly followed denominational systems (religious tradition) instead of standing entirely on the pure Holy Bible (King James Bible in English!). Therefore, when we encounter a passage such as “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), we have great difficulty understanding just what God the Holy Spirit teaches us here. Our questions, highlighting our ignorance, are overwhelming. How can we always kneel? Does God expect us to permanently close our eyes? How could we forever be in a prayer closet? When are we supposed to go about eating, sleeping, working? See, as the verse indicates, prayer extends beyond physical posture—and that is what religion has failed to tell all of us.

“Pray without ceasing” has absolutely nothing to do with keeping our eyes closed forever, staying on our knees incessantly, always lifting our hands, or any of that other aforementioned formalistic and legalistic nonsense. While often manifested outwardly, prayer, at its most basic level, is actually internal—and here is where it should not stop. At this point, we need a good definition of “prayer:” it is speaking to God in light of His Word to us. “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah” (Psalm 62:8). Whenever we find people praying in the Bible, they are “pour[ing] out [their] heart before him,” speaking to God concerning His will for them. Having received God’s revelation to them, they quote it back to Him, reminding themselves (or reinforcing in their minds) what He has told them.

According to the Bible, we are more than physical beings. The inner man, our soul and spirit, is invisible—but just as real as our skin, bones, and blood. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). On the inside, we commune with ourselves, remembering the past events in our lives, recalling our goals or wishes, recollecting the names and faces of people we know, and so on. Here, we connect with our innermost feelings and thoughts. Likewise, we do not have to speak to God in an audible voice to pray. In His omniscient, “all-knowledge,” He can read our thoughts! Psalm 139:2: “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.” When we merely think about Bible verses, we are really praying, for we are conversing with the Lord who lives within us by the indwelling Holy Spirit!

Everything we do should depend on what we know from the rightly divided Scripture. Obviously, unless we are actually familiar with the Holy Bible, we have no chance of knowing anything about God’s will for us. Friend, listening to someone read the Bible for you, reading someone’s comments about the Scriptures, and having a shallow grasp of the Bible, may be helpful to some degree but they are absolutely not substitutes for personal Bible study and personal faith. Friend, you must read the Scriptures on your own, humbly allowing the Holy Spirit to teach you, willing to relinquish any and all preconceived notions and denominational biases. “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13). As we pay attention to reading the Holy Bible, encouraging each other in it, and upholding sound Bible doctrine; we are doing exactly what the Lord left us here to do.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:14-21).

Better acquainting ourselves with the principles of grace (Romans through Philemon), we begin to spiritually mature and master God’s will for our life: “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. 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” (Romans 12:1-2).

Here is a simple illustration. Suppose a Christian man desires to know how God expects him to treat his wife and children. Religion would have him cry out for enlightenment—begging for answers, looking for “signs,” attending marriage and parenting seminars, and so on. Instead, he should read (!) 1 Corinthians chapter 7, Ephesians chapters 5 and 6, and Colossians chapter 3. We do not ask God for information because He has already put it in His Book. Are we grateful and interested enough to actually look inside it to see what He wrote on the subject 2,000 years ago? That man is to take that doctrine he reads in his Bible and believe and consider it. By thinking about it, he mulls what he has read and he prevents himself from being ignorant (uninformed) of the topic. What would God have him do in his situation? He just read it! Now, he needs to, by faith, apply those verses to his life! He is already on his way to praying without ceasing, continually going over in his mind those verses he has believed in his heart. The cycle continues, whether about marriage and parenting, or any other aspect of life (work, finances, friendships, local churches, goals, and so on).

If we could broaden our answer now. How do we “pray without ceasing?” Well, as we appreciate our circumstances, we recall the pertinent Bible verses we read. The Holy Spirit brings them to our mind, we believe them in our heart, and we apply them in our life. What would God want me to do here? I do not have to wonder or guess. This verse already told me how to think about the issue, how God Himself views the matter. Let me apply that verse here. Here is how I am to conduct myself as a Christian in this situation. We tell the Lord (prayer!!! prayer!!! prayer!!!), “Father, You want me to believe this, You want me to do that.” Then, we believe and do what the Holy Bible told us. This should be our habit as Christians during every waking moment—whoever we are, wherever we are. The Word of Christ should dwell in us so richly, so thoroughly, it becomes as natural to us to conduct ourselves in that manner as it is normal for a lost person to live without the Word of Christ.

Also see:
» How should I pray?
» How can I have an “effectual” prayer life?
» Exactly what is eternal life?
» What is the Lord’s will for my Christian life?
» To whom should I pray?
» What are “instant” Christians?
» How should we pray for people enduring natural catastrophes and other tragedies?
» Must one be a “King James Bible Pauline dispensationalist” to have eternal life?
» Does God intervene in my life? If so, how?
» What about hindered and unanswered prayer?
» Should I recite “The Lord’s Prayer?”

GRACE (CHRISTIAN) LIVING, How many Bible teachers should someone have?

How many Bible teachers should someone have?

HOW MANY BIBLE TEACHERS SHOULD SOMEONE HAVE?

by Shawn Brasseaux

How many Bible teachers should a person listen to? For the majority of people, it is best to abide by the guideline of “two, or at most, three, Bible teachers.” This writer derived that advice from a trusted pastor friend who answered this same question posed to him long ago. All these years later, this writer can affirm it is a wise rule by which to live—and it is most regrettable more people do not follow it.

Dear friend, if you follow a variety of teachers, of course, you will learn a wide range of beliefs. Eventually, all these contradictory views will accumulate in your heart and mind, ultimately inflicting irreparable damage. Why? Questions will multiply, and you will not know what to believe anymore. Maybe you have already learned this firsthand, and can vouch for its truthfulness. If you are spiritually immature, lacking even a basic dispensational understanding of the Holy Bible, this author would strongly (!)—yea, vehemently (!)—urge (!) you not to have more than three teachers.

Indeed, it is tempting to get stirred up on social media with this “fad” idea or that “trending” belief. For many years now, conspiracy theories, heresies, and apostasies of all kinds have gotten strangleholds on millions upon millions of Christian minds because curiosity has bested them. They have dabbled in this group, that system, a third group, a fourth camp, and so on. Consequently, they are grieved tremendously, either in the short-term or the long-term. Ephesians 4:14 comes to pass: “…children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Regardless, whether now or later, Satan’s policy of evil wins, and the Lord’s ministry suffers!

Now, friend, if you are grounded in the rightly divided Scriptures, you may listen to more than three teachers. However, to be skilled in the Bible to that degree is quite rare, and should not be considered applicable to the majority. Even if we are grounded in sound Bible doctrine, we still must be careful when exceeding three teachers. No one—absolutely no one (not even this writer!)—is immune from falling away from the truth. On that note, let us consider the pitiful case of the Corinthians as laid out in 1 Corinthians chapter 4: “[14] I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. [15] For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. [16] Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.”

Unfortunately, although the Apostle Paul had preached the Gospel of Grace to the heathen Corinthians and won them to Jesus Christ (see Acts chapter 18), they did not stay with his doctrine (principles of grace). Actually, when later writing them here in 1 Corinthians, Paul delineated all the spiritual problems in their assembly. The reason for these many quandaries and questions or conundrums and confusions is they were listening to multitudes of spiritual teachers—who were often nothing but “Judaizers” or modern denominationalists with all their worthless rules and regulations (see 2 Corinthians 11:12-23). False apostles and other false teachers had drawn the Corinthian saints away from Pauline doctrine (Romans through Philemon). Greek philosophy was corrupting them, the traditions of men were polluting them, and they were totally distracted from the Holy Spirit’s teaching ministry through Paul. The vast majority of “Christian” church members are in the same dire predicament today 20 centuries later. Again, had they limited the number of their spiritual teachers, they would be far better off spiritually than they are. Yet, since they were learning so little from their church or preacher, they sought “more and more” in this group, that sect, this denomination, that cult. It was one disappointment after another—all because they did not start off with and maintain sound Bible doctrine from the very beginning!

Friend, here is something else upon which we must reflect. As in the physical world, so also in the spiritual realm. We each develop at a different rate, and that applies to both student and teacher. Since one teacher grows faster or slower than the others, it naturally follows that the chance of mutual exclusivity increases with the addition of teachers. At some point, one teacher’s theology will conflict with another’s. Whatever progress in understanding you make with one will be reset or diminished with another. It is not to say anyone is willfully teaching error (although that may be the case—and often is in the realm of denominational circles); what we are referring to here is various levels of maturity. One teacher with a basic view of the Scriptures will definitely be incongruous with a teacher more advanced in sound Bible doctrine.

Let us think about a real-life application. Years ago, this writer had a discouraged Christian friend. He did not know what to be believe, as one preacher he heard had taught a passage one way and another preacher had exposited those verses an entirely different way. The matter was related to prophecy, so this writer reminded him of that fact, and told him we could disagree regarding the uncertainties of prophecy. To be sure he would overcome this hindrance, this writer told him which pastor he believed was more mature (and thus, the closest to agreeing with the context), and how his view was more plausible. This writer was able to help his friend with his dilemma, and advised him to be more careful regarding such matters. Friend, he is issuing the same counsel to you now. Instead of listening to a dozen teachers and hearing a dozen views, two or three interpretations are much easier to handle and sort by process of elimination.

Yet, since we have mentioned it, we might as well add this too: a great many “Bible teachers” should not be teaching. It is apparent from their words and speeches they have not been Bible students long enough to be Bible teachers. Until they learn sound Bible doctrine, they have no aptitude to teach it, and should not be allowed to address local assemblies in regular church services or conferences. We should avoid these types of “ministries!”

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Also see:
» Should we read denominational literature?
» How do we identify false teachers?
» What are some tips for faster spiritual growth?
» How do I know if I am growing in the Word of God?
» Should we as Bible believers investigate and promulgate conspiracy theories?
» Are we immune to heresy and apostasy?