Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. In both... Continue Reading →
Understanding More in Titus 2
Who are the “aged women” referred to in Titus 2? The most obvious answer is those who are older physically and have had a lifetime of opportunities to experience the stages of life: a child, youth, adolescence, middle age, and the older years. This gives occasion to apply sound doctrine in various roles, exper-iences, and... Continue Reading →
7 Points about the Riches of God
"Riches" is an interesting Bible study. Let’s first consider the definition from Webster’s 1828: RICH'ES, noun 1. Wealth; opulence; affluence; possessions of land, good or money in abundance. Riches do not consist in having more gold and silver, but in having more in proportion than our neighbors. 2. Splendid sumptuous appearance. The riches of heav'n's... Continue Reading →
Who First Trusted in Christ?
"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ." (Eph 1:12 ) Who is Paul talking about when he wrote, “who first trusted in Christ”? Some commentaries would argue that Paul must’ve been talking about the Jews in the OT. Or maybe the members of the Little Flock were... Continue Reading →
7 Points About Your Inheritance
Paul covers seven basic points about your inheritance from God. 1) Inheritance was always by faith. I guess you could say that faith got your name written into the will. Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law,... Continue Reading →
Dispensation of the Fulness of Times
How do you exegete the expression, “dispensation of the fulness of times”? What does this mean word-for-word? You know what verse I’m talking about: Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;... Continue Reading →
Thinking Out of the Box to Encourage Others
Sometimes, a saint may think to themselves, How can I encourage others, when I live far away or am homebound? We are to be God's representatives while we are here on earth: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (II... Continue Reading →
Calvinists are Wrong about Matthew 18
My prayer for all Calvinists is that they come into the knowledge of the truth and understand the Word rightly divided (2 Tim. 2:15), that they recognize Paul as their apostle today, and quit perverting verses in the Gospels to be all about them when they aren’t. Make no mistake. Matthew 18 has nothing whatsoever... Continue Reading →
All Spiritual Blessings
[This is an excerpt from my Sunday message and new series on Ephesians. PTL! -Joel] Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Notice that we have in this one verse, blessed, blessed, and blessings, all variations... Continue Reading →
Work Out Your Own Salvation
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. The first word Paul says is Wherefore. This means “for this reason.” Therefore also means “for this reason.” Same Greek word. The translators... Continue Reading →
“Greater Love Hath No Man Than This” Part 1
John 15:13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Rom. 13:14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. By the doctrine which is according to godliness, we are taught that our love... Continue Reading →
7 Insights into Spiritual Purity
There is a monumental shift in your thinking and how you live your life when you have reckoned that you have a perfect standing in His grace, when you know who you are in Christ. From that moment onward, you rest in those truths. You don’t worry about upsetting God because, say, you ate something... Continue Reading →
7 Principles for Biblical Perseverance
[These are some of the notes from my recent message at the 2025 Florida Regional Grace Conference. -Joel] Eph 6:18. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” This is the one and only time Paul mentions perseverance. Paul never really defines... Continue Reading →
Service Privilege with Newbies
A new believer can have many challenges. First, he needs to grow to understand sound doctrine. Ideally, a stronger believer will walk beside this new saint to help. Many new believers believe that since they’re forgiven and saved from the wrath by the blood of Christ, that they’ve arrived and then, just kick their feet... Continue Reading →
Confess with Thy Mouth?
How about we start the new year with some controversial passages! Woo hoo! Rom 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. Rom 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who... Continue Reading →
‘Not Wrath But Rapture’ By Floyd O. Baker
[I discovered in our Pastor’s Office this vintage booklet by Pastor Floyd Baker called “Not Wrath but Rapture.” Inside was a transcribed message he had delivered on June 28, 1973, at the 5th Annual Bible Conference of the Berean Bible Fellowship. I loved it! So I scanned the booklet and converted it into an article!... Continue Reading →
My Top 10 Most Viewed Articles
7 Principles of Forgiveness “When we consider Eph. 4:32 and Col. 3:13 about forgiveness, we usually take away from those verses that our motivation to forgive is because God forgave us, which is true. But consider the fact that in Eph. 4:32, God the Father didn’t forgive you for your sake. He forgave you for... Continue Reading →
Shew Thyself Approved?
2 Timothy 2:15 Study – why? – to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. What does that mean to shew thyself approved unto God? Study Webster would tell us that study is a setting of the mind or thoughts upon a subject.... Continue Reading →
In Christ Before Me
We MAD BAD believers teach that when a person gets saved, he or she becomes a member of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). We also teach that the phrase in Christ encapsulates all the rich positional and spiritual blessings we have as members of the Body of Christ. What we have in Christ... Continue Reading →
Think On These Things
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. – Philippians 4:8 In the closing of the Book of Philippians is... Continue Reading →
