Bible Doctrine

Of course we struggle with the temptation to sin, “But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 9:57). “Now thanks be unto God, which ALWAYS causes us to triumph in Christ” (2 Cor. 2:14). Notice, it doesn’t say “sometimes causes us to triumph,” or “most of the time causes us to triumph.” The Word declares God ALWAYS CAUSES US TO TRIUMPH IN CHRIST! Satan lies to millions of believers saying this is not possible!    Therefore when the temptation to sin presents itself to many believers then, click, just like that they give in to that temptation, thinking, “Well, I am only human. No one can resist temptation on every occasion.    Besides it is all covered by the blood anyway.” HERESY. RANK HERESY!    “There has no temptation taken you (not a one, not a single one), but such as is common to man (we have all been there confronted with a similar temptation), but God is faithful, who will not suffer (or allow) you to be tempted above that (which) ye are able (to bear), but will with the temptation (at that exact same moment in time) also make a way to escape (a God made way, hence a perfect escape route) that you may be able to bear it (without ever sinning – NOT EVEN ONCE!)” (I Corinthians 10:13).

Believe God’s Word, not Satan’s clever lies! You will remain a slave of sin every day of your life if you listen to Satan and the clever arguments of men. “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body that you should obey it in the lusts thereof Neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin!” (See Romans 6:11-13). Stop yielding! JUST SAY “NO!”  God help you to understand is my prayer for you.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).  How few are the Christians who really and truly believe those words!  Ask the average believer, “Can Jesus Christ keep you free from all sin throughout this day and the coming week?”  Their answer will probably be something like, “Well, yes He could do that, but the flesh is weak and the temptations too strong and too many.”  They unwittingly nullify and make void the apostle Paul’s statement. 

And these words penned by this same apostle must really throw them into a tailspin: “Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

There is a distinctive POWER that works in the fully surrendered believer, and that stupendous, mind-boggling power is the Holy Spirit imparted to them by the Lord at the point of their justification.  It is the exact same power God manifested and utilized when He raised Jesus Christ from the dead when all the forces of evil were trying their utmost to keep Jesus Christ from being resurrected!  It is the power that is instrumental and at work “that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.”  (See Ephesians 3:19).  God’s power in the fully surrendered believer can do exceedingly abundantly above ALL that we ask or think.  Do you think God can keep you free from all sin for the rest of the day?  Brethren, He can keep you free from all sin for the rest of your life!!!

Do you know where most believers miss it?  They listen to Satan generally manifesting his faithless unfounded arguments through those he has deceived.  Their chief argument?  So, you think you can keep free from all sin month after month, and year after year for the rest of your life?  But that satanic argument ignores our Lord’s warning: “Take no (anxious) thought for tomorrow… …Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (See Matthew 6:34)  We are to concern ourselves with today only.  We might not have a tomorrow.  Our life is a vapor that can pass away at any moment.  We need only ask ourselves is God powerful enough to keep me free from all sin for ten to fifteen hours as much of each twenty-four hour day is spent in sleep.

Don’t let Satan take out of context scriptures the defeated believer will use to excuse continued sin in their life.  Satan will often use well respected Christian writers and long dead preachers’ erroneous teaching regarding the sanctification of the believer to convince succeeding generations that sin is inevitable in the life of every believer.  “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).  LOOK AT THE CONTEXT.  Jesus was talking about His followers being made free FROM SIN!  “Of a truth, of a truth, I say unto you, whosoever commits sin is the servant (slave) of sin.” (See verse 34, John 8).  Jesus was saying, “I am telling you the truth.  I am telling you the truth, whosoever continues to sin is enslaved by sin!”

Brethren, it’s either believe other men or believe your Lord.  As for me, I am going to believe our Lord, His prophets and His apostles.  That placed me in a rather small group of believers long ago, but it also opened wide the door into the more abundant life, a life full of glory and many added years.  I’ll not look back.

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

I learned long ago that one who has bought into the Sunday observance practice most likely will never abandon the same.  Jesus Himself said that one who will not listen to Moses and the prophets will not listen if one rose from the dead and tried to convince them.  You and I, and every one else born human, will have to someday give account to God for what we now, in this life, believe and practice.  To tell Him, “Well that’s what everybody believed” isn’t going to cut it for scripture demands that we PROVE all things of a spiritual nature, that we employ God’s Word – all of it – to arrive at our conclusions as to what is truth and what is error. 

In April of 1865, following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Lincoln’s vice-president assumed the presidency.  The Civil War had ended.  Now was the time for reconstruction.  Now was the time for the rebuilding of the nation, for binding up the wounds of war, for bringing about a more perfect union.  Come now, and let us reason together.  Let’s say as President Johnson’s first executive order, he had issued the following decree: “All southern states that had seceded from the Union will henceforth be governed by freed slaves.  All white governors of said states shall surrender their offices and powers to presidentially appointed former slaves beginning at midnight, January 1, 1866.”  Now let me ask you a question: Had Andrew Johnson, for whatever reason, issued such a proclamation, do you think it would have assisted and contributed to a rapid assimilation of the southern states back into an integrated Union with the northern states?  Or do you think he would have had a major far-reaching, gangantuan problem on his hands trying to effect such a drastic change with very little, if any, warning that such a change was coming?  I believe the answer is obvious to any thinking person.  

Now let me give you a scenario that is even more ridiculous, absolutely ludicrous, a scenario that if enacted would have instantly created a massive, far-reaching problem for the church that was founded shortly after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  What if God had issued an unwritten, unspoken decree that following the resurrection of His Son His eternal holy Sabbath would be forever abolished and replaced with Sunday observance, a day that had for centuries been the day of the Sun-god, a pagan “holy” day?  And the observance of this new worship day would be inaugurated in the city of Jerusalem without fanfare, without explanation, without decree!  Do you think the church would have had a major far-reaching problem on its hands trying to effect such a drastic change with no advance notice such a change was coming?  Again, I believe the answer is obvious to any thinking person.

Have you ever really sought out the truth regarding the Sabbath issue?  Or have you merely ASSUMED that a reasonable God did change His holy eternal Sabbath, replacing the same with Sunday observance, without even the hint of a suggestion that He was going to do so, knowing it would instantly alienate His chosen people, the Jews, from embracing Christianity and viewing Christ’s apostles as gross deceivers?!!  Ignoring this issue and just going along with the crowd can be quite costly, more costly than you probably have ever imagined. 

Jesus WARNED only a few would enter the narrow gate to eternal life.  Are YOU walking the broad way with plenty of companions?  Think about it!  To be continued…..

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Colossians Chapter 2, verses 1 thru 16, is a text many think sets aside the holiness and honoring of God’s eternal sabbath day.  Many do not have a good understanding of how God viewed and spoke of the sabbath day in the Old Testament and during the ministry of Jesus Christ in the gospels.  If they had a better idea of how God viewed this period of time from the days of creation forward, they would know that this text in Colossians 2 could not possibly be setting aside the sacredness of God’s sabbath.  God does not contradict Himself.  He does not speak out of both sides of His mouth.  He does not have two bodies of believers comprising His church, one a sabbath keeping body and the other a Sunday keeping body of believers. 

God says that someday “from one sabbath to another, shall ALL FLESH (every Jew, every Gentile, every Baptist, every Christian) come to worship before me, saith the Lord” (See Isaiah 66:23).  That is a prophecy, a prophecy that MUST be fulfilled.  But, returning to the text in Colossians 2, a later translation of the original languages, the Revised Berkeley Version, makes this passage much easier to comprehend.  Verse 14 in that version reads: “Christ “cancelled the record of debt (all our sins) that stood against us (claiming our lives), WITH ITS REQUIREMENTS, and took it out of the way when He nailed it to the cross.”  The REQUIREMENTS for sins were “those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually” (Hebrews 10:1) on the holy days, new moons and sabbaths! 

The truth CAN be known, but one will have to be 100% surrendered to the LORDship of Jesus Christ in order for the Holy Spirit to lead and feed them spiritual truth as that person diligently studies God’s Word.  Fail to do that, fail to take that route, do your own thing, go your own way, follow the religious path you were merely reared in from years before, and I guarantee you that you will embrace gross, far reaching error. 

Christianity was corrupted a long, long time ago.  (See 3 John 9-10, I John 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:13; Acts 20:29-30).  Things did NOT get better with each passing century.  They got worse – a lot worse.  Error became deeply entrenched, firmly held, widely believed.  The way of truth has now long been viewed as false Christianity!  God’s holy sabbath has been replaced by Sunday observance.  “The prophets (preachers) prophesy falsely (preach false doctrine)…and my people love to have it so” (See Jeremiah 5:31).  Sunday observance is that “old time religion” for most, and ON THE AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD, I tell you it is without scripture support!  God have mercy on those who neglect to really prove all things, bowing to Jesus’ total LORDship and searching the scriptures daily as they may well live into that era when all who walk contrary to God’s way will pay a terrible price at the hands of God’s avenging army – the terroristic Muslim hordes! 

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

ALL humanity will someday hear the Word of God and be summoned to partake of life eternal in and through Jesus Christ. Our Lord either has, or will yet, enlighten the minds of all born onto planet earth. (See John 1:9). ALL will eventually be taught of God through God’s obedient and well-informed representatives. (See John 6:45 with Isaiah 54:`13). If one was not enlightened in the time frame in which they first lived, their resurrection is to judgment – a fair judgment, a judgment that allows one to hear and comprehend the truth and then to make an intelligent choice and be afforded ample time to implement that choice to obey and serve God. Through His prophet Isaiah, God says that all humanity will be granted a minimum of a hundred years to hear and accept the truth and surrender themselves to God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. (See Isaiah 65:20). Now that’s fair! “All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy name” (Psalm 86:9).

Hebrews 9:27: “And as it is appointed unto men ONCE to die, but after this the judgment.” NONE need die the second death. It is appointed unto us that we die only once. (Reincarnation is but one of Satan’s clever lies that he has used down through the ages to blind the minds of the unsuspecting). After our death there will be a resurrection. “ALL that are in the graves (not in heaven, hell, limbo or purgatory – but in the graves) shall hear His voice (that will awaken them from the sleep of death), and shall come forth (from their graves even if their ashes were scattered about centuries before, even if the sea has been their “grave”); they that have done good (or, who have obeyed God), unto the resurrection of (eternal) life (immortality, incorruptibility), and they that have done evil (any and all outside of Christ – even Abraham and Moses were IN Christ), unto the resurrection of JUDGMENT (“damnation” is a mistranslation of the Greek word krisis” (See John 5:28-29).

For the overwhelming majority of humanity – the Buddhists, Hindus, Shintoists, Taoists, atheists, deceived “Christianity” – their call to walk in the truth and have fellowship with God is yet future. Most live and die without ever hearing the truth. They honestly haven’t had a fair opportunity to enter into a genuine life-changing relationship with their Creator. Most Mormons, Christian Scientists, etc., are deceived. They aren’t rejecting Christ. They honestly think they are wholly obedient to Him. They are not saved, but neither are they irreconcilably lost! The Buddhists, the Hindus, yes, and most atheists are deceived. They aren’t Christ rejecters. They have never been drawn to Christ. An atheist in India may reject Shiva – but Shiva is not God! An atheist in Iran or Iraq may reject Allah – but Allah is not God! The atheist is a fool for not believing in a Creator as creation is sufficient proof there is a God, but they are not Christ rejecters – not utterly, hopelessly lost. That is a doctrine of demons, satanically inspired to portray a loving, merciful, totally fair Creator God as unfeeling, harsh, cruel, unbending and grossly unfair!

Jesus Christ plainly stated that He had come down to earth from heaven to “give life unto the world” – not just a tiny segment of the world’s population. (See John 6:33, 51). In Hebrews 2:9 we are told that Jesus tasted death “for every man” – for all born human, not just for the “elect,” or a limited number of men. In 2 Peter 3:9 we are told that God “is not willing that ANY should perish.”

Do not foolishly limit God as to His power and ability to turn things around, make things right, and give a full and fair opportunity to all humanity to be forgiven all their sins and be incorporated into the eternal family of God.

Then why don’t most preachers see this wondrous divine truth in the scriptures? Primarily because most preachers will flatly tell you, “I don’t get my doctrine out of the Old Testament. I am a New Testament Christian.” They read right over Paul’s plain, clear statement to Timothy that “ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE!” (See 2 Timothy 3:16). And it is through the Hebrew prophets God reveals this wondrous truth in its fullness. Then, too, for many centuries Christianity has suffered the same fate of God’s people in the past. The prophet Jeremiah warned the Israelite people of his day and era, “Our fathers have inherited LIES!” (See Jeremiah 16:19). Satan never abandons a tactic that works so well. Our fathers have inherited lies, too! Long accepted “Christian” doctrine has long been erroneous doctrine as well. That “old time religion” harbors a lot of falsehood. God help you to understand.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

There is one further aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant that must be duly considered in order for one to have a good understanding regarding that covenant.  The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant are conditioned upon one’s obedience to God and His judgments.  God does not bless rebels.

In the 18th chapter of Genesis, we read these words: “And the Lord said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and ALL the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him (seeing that ALL nations shall have residing within them faithful followers of God, nations like China, Japan, Brazil, America, Portugal, etc.)  For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, AND THEY SHALL KEEP THE WAY OF THE LORD TO DO JUSTICE AND JUDGMENT THAT THE LORD MAY BRING UPON ABRAHAM (and his descendants) THAT WHICH HE HATH SPOKEN OF HIM'” (verses 17-19).

Not only are multitudes of believers ignorant of the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant, they are likewise ignorant of the absolute requirement of continued obedience to God and His commandments in order to obtain the benefits of that covenant.  Many actually ridicule commandment keeping and say such is tantamount to working for one’s salvation.

In Galatians Chapter 5, the apostle Paul enumerates several acts or behaviors that he calls “works of the flesh.”  He lists such things as adultery (the breaking of the 7th commandment), idolatry (the breaking of the 1st and 2nd commandments) and murder (the breaking of the 6th commandment), and says, “I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, THAT THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD” (see verses 19-21).  You see, inheriting the kingdom of God, the rule of the world, is part of the inheritance guaranteed the faithful in the Abrahamic Covenant.  Forfeiture of this stupendous inheritance is a heavy price to pay for disobedience wouldn’t you say?

The apostle Paul goes on to write: “Be not deceived.  God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption, but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life.  And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap (everlasting life) if we faint not” (See Galatians 6:7-9).  No, we are not locked in to eternal life and our inheritance and rewards.  We can throw in the towel at any time.  We can go back into the world and forget life in the Spirit.  It’s our choice.  Choose you this day whom you shall serve.  As for me, I shall serve the Lord.

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Divine healing is a large part of the blessings promised us as descendants of Abraham.  We looked at several verses in the 105th Psalm in a previous installment.  Let’s look at a few more.  In the 37th verse of that Psalm, we read: “He brought them forth (out of slavery in Egypt) also with silver and gold, AND THERE WAS NOT ONE FEEBLE PERSON AMONG THEM.  Egypt was glad when they departed, for the fear of them fell upon them.  He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light in the night.  The people asked, and He brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven (manna).  He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river, FOR HE REMEMBERED HIS HOLY PROMISE, AND ABRAHAM HIS SERVANT” (Psalm 105:37-42).

He remembered His holy promise, the covenant He had so long ago made with Abraham and His descendants.  Many of Abraham’s descendants have forgotten that covenant entirely.  They do not even know that it is still valid yet today in the year 2025.  It was valid the year you were born as well as the year George Washington was born.  It was valid five hundred years ago, a thousand years ago – in fact every single day since the day God first made His covenant with Abraham OUR father.

“And when Abraham was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, ‘I am the Almighty God.  Walk before me, and be perfect.  And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.’  And Abraham fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, ‘As for me, behold my covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations (not just one or two).  Neither shall your name any more be called Abram (exalted or high father), but your name shall be Abraham (father of a multitude), for a father of many nations have I made you.  And I will make you exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come out of you (and not just the kings of Israel and Judah – See Revelation 5:9-10).  And I will establish my covenant between me and you AND YOUR SEED AFTER YOU IN THEIR GENERATIONS (THAT INCLUDES US) FOR AN EVERLASTING COVENANT (THAT INCLUDES THE YEAR 2025), TO BE A GOD UNTO YOU, AND TO YOUR SEED AFTER YOU.'” (See Genesis 17:1-7).

Note those words “to be a God unto you” carefully.  With those words God is promising to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves!  If my car breaks down as I am crossing Death Valley, California or Nevada, I can cry out to God and He will direct a rescue helicopter to “happen by” overhead.  If I am speeding toward a collision on some back road in Ohio, he will dispatch angels to prevent the collision.  And if I am felled by some grave illness, something over which I have no control, He will perform His role of Great Physician on my behalf.  He will prove Himself to be a God unto me again and again and again.  To be continued…..

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond (slave) nor free, there is neither male nor female (and you could add, there is neither white nor black), for you are all one (family) in Christ Jesus.  And if you be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed (descendants) and heirs according to the promise (the promise God made to Abraham and ALL his descendants)” (See Galatians 3:29).

And it is in this text wherein Paul is speaking of the Abrahamic Covenant.  I assure you Paul, being a Jew and once having been a Pharisee, had an intimate knowledge of the Abrahamic Covenant and all that it entailed.  What is horrible beyond words to describe is that the average Christian has no concept whatever of that covenant, does not know that it is still in full force and effect yet today in the year 2025 and applies to all faithful sons and daughters of God in Christ Jesus.

The 105th Psalm is a Psalm addressed primarily to the descendants of Abraham.  In fact, you might say this Psalm is addressed solely to the descendants of Abraham for it speaks to and of only the faithful sons and daughters of God of all ages, and all such are descendants of Abraham, according to the revelation given us by the apostle Paul in Romans 4 and Galatians 3.

Verse 1: “O give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.”  Verse 2: “Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works.” Verse 3: “Glory ye in His holy name.  Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord (for He can be found by the descendants of Abraham).” Verse 4: “Seek the Lord, and His strength.  Seek His face evermore.” Verse 5: “Remember His marvelous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.”  Why remember such?  Because HE CHANGES NOT!  What He did for Abraham and Abraham’s descendants of many generations ago HE WILL DO FOR YOU!  This is the heart and soul of the Abrahamic Covenant.

Verse 6: “O ye seed of Abraham His servant, ye seed of Jacob His chosen.”  Verse 7:  “He is the Lord our God.  His judgments are in all the earth.”  Yes, in ALL the earth.  In Ohio!  In Kentucky!  In New Jersey!

Verse 8: “HE HAS REMEMBERED HIS COVENANT (WITH ABRAHAM AND ABRAHAM’S DESCENDANTS) FOR EVER, the word which He commanded TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS, WHICH COVENANT HE MADE WITH ABRAHAM, and His oath unto Isaac.” (verse 9).  Less than one hundred generations have passed since God made that covenant with Abraham and His descendants, whose descendants WE ARE says Paul in Romans and Galatians.  It will be in effect for hundreds of generations beyond our own day and time.  To be continued…..

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Some of what I now write I have written before, but there is certain information and scripture truth one must have in their mind in order to see most clearly what God’s Word has to say about Abraham and the covenant God made with Abraham and all his descendants – ALL of his descendants.

In the fourth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Roman believers he introduces a subject that is one of the most profound truths in all of Holy Writ.  But we need to back up into the third chapter and read the last three verses in that chapter, connecting them with the information contained in the fourth chapter.  Beginning at verse 29 of chapter 3, we read these words: “Is He the God of the Jews only?  Is He not also (God) of the Gentiles (as well)?  Yes, of the Gentiles also.  Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision (Jews) by faith, and uncircumcision (Gentiles) through faith, do we then make void the law through faith?  GOD FORBID.  Yea, we establish (Greek histemi, pronounced HIS’-tay-mee, “continue”) the law.”  Now, continuing to read with Romans 4:1, “What shall we say then that Abraham OUR father (yes, father of both the Old Covenant Jew and the New Covenant Gentile as well as the New Covenant Jew and Gentile), as pertaining to the flesh, has found?”

Did you catch that – AS PERTAINING TO THE FLESH!  Abraham is OUR father as pertaining to the flesh.  Gentile believers are as much descendants of Abraham as any Jew, in fact MORESO.  “Neither, because they are the (literal) seed (descendants) of Abraham, are they all children, but, in Isaac (the promised son) shall thy (Abraham’s) seed be called.  That is, they which are the children of the flesh (literal descendants of Abraham), these are NOT the children of God, but the children of the promise (that’s US) are counted for the seed”  (See Romans 9:7-8).

Through Paul, God declares that Gentile believers, truly converted men and women of any and all nations, are to be reckoned as descendants of Abraham.  Therefore, anything and everything God promised Abraham AND HIS DESCENDANTS belongs to US “that he might be the father of ALL them that believe, though they be not circumcised (Jews)” (See Romans 4:11).  But these mighty promises are made only to those “who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham” (verse 12, Romans 4).

Just believing isn’t going to get it, folks.  That’s where Satan intervenes and robs multitudes of the blessings promised Abraham and his descendants.  He says, “All you gotta do is believe.”  The steps of faith Abraham walked in were steps of obedience to God.  When God said “Take your son, your beloved only son and sacrifice him to me on Mt. Moriah,” Abraham gathered up the firewood and said to Isaac, “Let’s go!”  (Read the account in Genesis 22 and how God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac).

To be continued…….

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley