RSS feed for posts https://followingpaul.org en Sun, 12 Jul 2026 10:05:49 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/rightly-dividing-pleading-the-blood Believers are told to plead the blood over their homes, their children, their fears, even their thoughts. But where did the practice come from, and does Scripture, rightly divided, command it in any dispensation? A study of the blood across Passover, Israels program, and the mystery revealed to Paul. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/rightly-dividing-pleading-the-blood Right Division Mid-Acts Body of Christ Israel Kingdom Prophetic Program Mystery Program Mis-Application Tradition vs Truth Ruckman Holy Spirit Dispensation of Grace Forgiveness Blood of Christ /pastor-s-desk/post/roman-catholicism-follows-neither-christ-peter-nor-paul Rome claims to follow Christ, Peter, and Paul — and by right division it follows none of the three. A stand-alone study of the papacy, the Mass, Mary, purgatory, confession, and tradition, showing that Rome, the Eastern churches, and Rome's Reformation daughters share one ancient error: works added to the finished work of Christ. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/roman-catholicism-follows-neither-christ-peter-nor-paul Right Division Mid-Acts Paul Peter Roman Catholicism Apostleship Body of Christ Tradition vs Truth Religion Legalism Church History Imputation Ordinances Lord's Supper Kingdom Prophetic Program Mystery Babylon Rapture Mary Revelation /pastor-s-desk/post/the-book-of-matthew-wrongly-divided Matthew stands at the seam of right division. Peter Ruckman hands much of it back to Israel — the Sermon on the Mount, the Disciples' Prayer, conditional forgiveness — then pours the Body of Christ back in through his method of spiritual application. How a book gets wrongly divided even by a man who can see where its parts belong. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/the-book-of-matthew-wrongly-divided Right Division Mid-Acts Ruckman Matthew Kingdom Prophetic Program Mystery Program Body of Christ Israel Mis-Application Parables Law and Grace Baptism /pastor-s-desk/post/the-pearl-of-great-price-what-is-the-kingdom-worth Popular readings make the pearl of great price into salvation, or Christ, or the Body of Christ. But the parable names its own subject — the kingdom of heaven — and presses its surpassing worth on the generation to whom it was offered. A study in rightly dividing the mysteries of the kingdom. Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/the-pearl-of-great-price-what-is-the-kingdom-worth Right Division Mid-Acts Kingdom Prophetic Program Mystery Program Prophecy and Mystery Body of Christ Israel Mis-Application Ruckman Matthew Parables /pastor-s-desk/post/grace-giving-what-replaces-the-tithe-in-practice The tithe was Israel's law, never laid on the body of Christ — so what replaces it? Paul gives something freer than a percentage: cheerful, purposed, proportionate giving that flows from grace already received. This study shows where grace giving comes from, what governs it, and where the gift goes. Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/grace-giving-what-replaces-the-tithe-in-practice Right Division Mid-Acts Dispensationalism Tithing and Giving Law and Grace Body of Christ Grace Living Liberty 2 Corinthians /pastor-s-desk/post/no-such-thing-as-a-biblical-diet Daniel's fast, the clean and unclean of Leviticus, the back-to-Eden vegan plan — every so-called biblical diet borrows food rules God gave to other people under other programs. Rightly divided, none of them binds the Body of Christ, to whom God gave liberty at the table with thanksgiving. Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/no-such-thing-as-a-biblical-diet Right Division Mid-Acts Dispensationalism Body of Christ Law and Grace Grace Living Liberty Legalism Mis-Application Conscience Christian Conduct Genesis Leviticus Romans 1 Corinthians Colossians Acts /pastor-s-desk/post/good-friday-good-grief-why-christ-was-not-crucified-on-a-friday Good Friday and a Sunday-sunrise resurrection are tradition, not Scripture. The Lord gave one sign — three days and three nights in the heart of the earth — and only a Wednesday cross and a Saturday-evening rising can pay it. A study of the high sabbath, the two sabbaths, the Passover, and why no day is a holy day for the Body. Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/good-friday-good-grief-why-christ-was-not-crucified-on-a-friday Right Division Mid-Acts Tradition vs Truth Church Traditions Mis-Application Body of Christ Israel Sabbath and Holy Days Colossians Resurrection Passover /pastor-s-desk/post/answering-the-objections-to-mid-acts When a believer first hears that the Body of Christ began with Paul, the objections come fast. This study takes the strongest arguments against Mid-Acts right division — Pentecost, one body, two gospels, the Great Commission, novelty, and more — and answers each from the Scriptures rightly divided. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/answering-the-objections-to-mid-acts Right Division Mid-Acts Dispensationalism Paul Body of Christ Prophecy and Mystery Mystery Program Paul's Gospel Apostleship The Twelve Acts Period Tradition vs Truth Apostasy /pastor-s-desk/post/does-sharing-a-prayer-request-get-gods-attention Two beliefs run on one mistake: that sharing a prayer request gets God's attention and a quicker answer, and that making a need known is weak faith or manipulation. Both borrow Israel's kingdom machinery of importunity, numbers, and pooling. The Body already has access; disclosure is fellowship, not a lever, and the sin lies only in the manner. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/does-sharing-a-prayer-request-get-gods-attention Prayer Right Division Mid-Acts Body of Christ Israel Kingdom Prophetic Program Paul Dispensation of Grace Tithing and Giving Mis-Application Faith /pastor-s-desk/post/the-church-that-kept-the-wrong-apostle How the post-apostolic church came to keep the wrong apostle — exalting Peter, whom Scripture never made its head, while forsaking Paul. Two departures, the rise of the apostate church, what became of Israel's believing remnant, and the test that still exposes another gospel. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/the-church-that-kept-the-wrong-apostle Right Division Mid-Acts Paul Body of Christ Apostleship Peter Apostasy Church History Replacement Theology False Teachers Remnant and Epistles /pastor-s-desk/post/what-is-wrong-with-reformed-theology The deepest problem with Reformed theology is not any one of its five points but the method beneath them: a Bible read flat, without rightly dividing the word. Sort the texts — Israel's national election from the Body's election in Christ, predestination from selection, sovereignty without the caricature — and the system dissolves, leaving a God more gracious and a gospel more honest. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/what-is-wrong-with-reformed-theology Right Division Mid-Acts Dispensationalism Body of Christ Paul Israel Calvinism Election Sovereignty Eternal Security Assurance Grace Mis-Application /pastor-s-desk/post/where-two-or-three-are-gathered-a-courtroom-not-a-prayer-meeting Matthew 18:20 is read as a prayer-meeting promise, and binding and loosing as a tool for spiritual warfare. In its paragraph it is kingdom discipline — witnesses, a verdict bound in heaven, the King presiding over Israel's assembly. The Body of Christ holds no such keys; its discipline corrects the walk and never touches the sealed standing. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/where-two-or-three-are-gathered-a-courtroom-not-a-prayer-meeting Right Division Mid-Acts Dispensationalism Body of Christ Kingdom Prophetic Program Church Mis-Application The Twelve Spiritual Warfare Fellowship /pastor-s-desk/post/fallen-from-grace-a-fall-toward-law-not-into-sin Paul's words fallen from grace are taken as proof the saved can be lost. In their setting they mean almost the opposite of misbehavior: a fall toward law, not into sin. Rightly divided, the standing in grace cannot be lost — what falls is the walk, when a believer trades grace as his operating principle for the law. Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/fallen-from-grace-a-fall-toward-law-not-into-sin Right Division Mid-Acts Dispensationalism Paul Body of Christ Dispensation of Grace Grace Law and Grace Eternal Security Assurance Imputation Legalism Mis-Application Liberty Grace Living Sanctification Galatians Romans /pastor-s-desk/post/rightly-dividing-marriage-divorce-and-remarriage The Bible speaks about marriage to mankind before the law, to Israel under the law and the kingdom, and to the Body of Christ under grace. Read as one rule to one people, it binds commandments God never gave us. Rightly divided, the Lord's strict word to Israel and Paul's word of grace each fall into place — and grace gives far more than the law. Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/rightly-dividing-marriage-divorce-and-remarriage Right Division Mid-Acts Law and Grace Liberty Grace Living Body of Christ Israel Kingdom Prophetic Program 1 Corinthians Forgiveness Marriage Divorce /pastor-s-desk/post/rightly-dividing-the-righteous-man Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, not a base it is rebuilt on. The righteous man under the law kept it; the man under grace has righteousness imputed without works. Paul withstood Peter at Antioch over a walk that put the Body back under Israel's law, and to rebuild that law is to make yourself a transgressor. Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/rightly-dividing-the-righteous-man Right Division Mid-Acts Dispensationalism Body of Christ Paul Law and Grace Legalism Imputation Circumcision Gospel Kingdom Prophetic Program Baptism Galatians Romans /pastor-s-desk/post/the-bishop-elder-and-pastor Tradition stacks archbishop over bishop and a clergy over the laity. Paul is simpler: two offices, bishop and deacon; bishop, elder, overseer, and pastor are one man and one work; the qualifications are for entering the office, not a standing audit; and ordination is the recognition of a proven man, never a sacrament. Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/the-bishop-elder-and-pastor Right Division Mid-Acts Body of Christ Dispensationalism Paul Church Offices Church Church Traditions Spiritual Gifts Forgiveness /pastor-s-desk/post/the-lambs-wife-why-the-body-of-christ-is-not-the-bride The church is called the body of Christ, never the bride. Ephesians 5 ends not in betrothal but in one body, His own flesh and bones. The bride, the Lamb's wife, is the New Jerusalem, the covenant people of Israel married, put away, and brought home. Rightly divided, the wife is Israel and the Body is nearer than a bride. Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/the-lambs-wife-why-the-body-of-christ-is-not-the-bride Right Division Mid-Acts Dispensationalism Body of Christ Israel Paul Prophecy and Mystery Mystery Program Kingdom Prophetic Program New Jerusalem Heavenly Calling Tradition vs Truth Mis-Application Bride of Christ Ephesians /pastor-s-desk/post/you-shine-already-what-murmuring-cannot-touch Philippians 2:14-15 rightly divided. The command to do all things without murmurings touches the walk, not the standing. You are a son of God and a light already, by grace. Murmuring cannot dim the light; it only gives the world a complaint and muffles the word of life you hold forth. Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/you-shine-already-what-murmuring-cannot-touch Right Division Mid-Acts Dispensationalism Body of Christ Dispensation of Grace Grace Living Christian Conduct Sanctification Obedience Will of God Judgment Philippians Rewards and Crowns /pastor-s-desk/post/present-truth-dispensational-truth-and-universal-truth Right division is not the discarding of Scripture but the right placing of it. Three tiers — present truth, dispensational truth, and universal truth — and two plain questions sort any passage: does it govern or describe, and does it reach every age or belong to a program. Keep all of Scripture; obey only what is addressed to you. Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/present-truth-dispensational-truth-and-universal-truth Right Division Mid-Acts Dispensationalism Body of Christ Israel Kingdom Prophetic Program Mystery Program Dispensation of Grace Prophecy and Mystery Paul's Gospel /pastor-s-desk/post/rightly-dividing-denying-christ Matthew 10:33 and 2 Timothy 2:12 sound like the same threat to a trembling believer, but rightly divided they stand worlds apart. The Lord's warning belongs to Israel under the kingdom program; Paul's word to the Body touches the believer's reward, the reigning with Christ, never his salvation, which rests on One who cannot deny Himself. Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 /pastor-s-desk/post/rightly-dividing-denying-christ Right Division Mid-Acts Dispensationalism Body of Christ Kingdom Prophetic Program Eternal Security Assurance Grace Judgment Suffering