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REALIZING OUR RICHES

This is an article that I kept from years back in fact the date was April 29, 1973, and thought it bears repeating at this time.

"To my thinking the richest verse in the Bible for the believer is Ephesians 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' (or more accurately - 'in the heaven-lies'). Why we, as members of the body of Christ, do not show forth more radiantly our eternal heritage, I do not know. Maybe it is because we have eyes too fixed on time's boundaries rather than God's eternity and His purpose. The context of this tremendous verse reveals that we were chosen of God for an eternal purpose and ministry. 'Chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world' Verse 4. (The church is always referred to as such; Israel, 'from the foundation of the world.') There is then design and purpose in God's saving us. It is an eternal purpose and ministry. Life's little day soon ends and we pass on, but in passing on it is to some ministry beyond the sunset of time. What it is we have never been told for the Bible is prin-cipally the history of redemption. This puts the believer today in a high calling. It should be a great outlook; for each of us 'is necessary'.
Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 12:22 'Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary.' As the redeemed we should with the great apostle declare, Blessed by God'. We, how-ever, do not always pray that way - rather we cry 'bless me' when He 'hath blessed us'.
Again, the context reveals that we were 'chosen' and 'predestinated'. Why some saints are frightened when they hear of pre-destination, I'll never know. We should rejoice over it. I suppose the reason some become disturbed in this doctrine is because they read some things into it that should not be there. We start meddling in God's busi-ness. God has kept some thing to Himself. I'm glad that he has. Do you remember when Jesus told Peter about his, i.e. Peter's future? (See John 21:20). Peter started doing just what we do. He said, speaking of John, 'What shall this man do?' Do you remember what Jesus said? He said, 'What is that to thee?' In our language it would be, 'That is not your business, you follow me.' Always remember dear child of God, that God has your interest at heart. You need never fear the truth of pre-destination, rather rejoice in it.
There are two key words in Ephesians 1:4 which belong to verse 5. They are: "in love'. Thus verse 5 reads as follows, 'In love having predestinated us.' It is 'to the good pleasure of His will' and 'to the praise of His glory' and 'according to the riches of His grace' and 'in all wisdom and prudence' 'which He purpos-ed in Himself.'
Space does not permit further exposition but read and reread Ephesians, Chapter 1. May we this week radiate the Savior's coun-tenance. May the Holy Spirit help us to mani-fest the reflection of such a rich heritage. No doubt this week we shall more than once ask God to remove the hindrances in the way so that the Holy Spirit will well forth in our lives 'springs of living waters'. As a result of all this we shall better realize our riches in Christ Jesus.

Amen and love,
Pastor Lloyd Peterson
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Brief Study of Omniscience

1. Isaiah 46:9-10, "...I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure." This shows the believer that God knows the future as certainty. There is no guessing, contingency, or failure in God's knowledge. He knows the beginning, the middle vectors (not as spec-ulative possibilities), and the end. The Prophet Isaiah doesn't allow us to wonder whether God knows things thoroughly. God has revealed Himself to us through the in-spired words of the Prophet.

2. I Samuel 23:12 records under inspiration the question of David and the answer of the Lord God, "Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, They will deliver thee up." This verse teaches us that the Lord knows -- with certainty -- even the potential possibilities of evil men who are free moral agents -- even when the result is averted through prudent action. In this case, David sought the Lord, and the Lord directed him to escape the potential conclusion which never occurred. God knows with certainty what would happen in every possibility even though men must view an event as contingent upon many factors.

3. Isaiah 41:17-23, "...I, the God of Israel, with not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys...that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together that the hand of the Lord hath done this.... Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things, what they be, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods..." The Lord God challenges anyone to foretell the future. He makes it a test of deity to know and accu-rately predict the future. Our Lord has never been incorrect on anything He has foretold. If He were wrong once, He would be a liar. He would not be God. If God did not fore-know all things with certainty, He could not foretell anything with certainty. Although He knows even all possibilities, He knows what will actually occur. What He "knows-will-occur" -- will occur. It is not a wise guess or an intelligent projection.

4. Psalm 147:5, "Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite." His understanding could not be infinite if His knowledge were finite. Infinite understand-ing requires infinite knowledge. This should not surprise us in the light of all that the Bible tells us of the Lord. God is at work in the fall of a bird and the hairs of a man's head. All birds and all human heads are a part of His work. Compare Matthew 10:29-30 and Acts 15:18. It is reassuring that all of His creation and all the workings of it are a part of His work. Nothing is outside the work of God -- even the acts of fallen angels and wicked men! Our conclusion is in agreement with the words of Lewis Sperry Chafer, "...God knows to an infinite degree and eternally all that is knowable whether actual or possible" (Syst. Theol., vol. VII, page 244).

5. I Kings 8:39, "...Thou, even Thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men..." This is linked to God's omnipresence along with the infinite nature of all His attributes. Knowing all about all men -- past, present, and future -- demonstrates that God is Omnisicient. He never learns. He knew all before it happened. God is a Spirit and does not need the senses to perceive and gain wisdom and understanding. All His know-ledge is intuitive (to borrow a finite term and expand it to fit the infinite God). All His knowledge is innate -- not acquired. All His knowledge of all things past or future is immediately present with Him at all times.

6. Our conclusion to this brief study is the following: Omniscience is "...God's perfect and eternal knowledge of all things which are objects of knowledge, whether they be actual or possible, past, present, or future" (Systematic Theology, A. H. Strong, page 282).

7. No one should be discouraged by the fact that God sometimes reveals Himself in anthropomorphic terms (He portrays Himself as if He were in the condition of His creatures). See Genesis 6:6, Genesis 11:5, Exodus 32:14, etc. Also, sometimes people (especially unbelievers) make up irrational conditions, self-contradictory situations, and nonsense which supposedly refute the overall testimony of the Bible to the omniscience of God. We should not be bothered by these tricks. Let the Word of God stand as it is in testifying to the Greatness of our Sovereign God.

Pastor John McKay

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THE SUPREMACY OF LOVE
1 Cor. 13:1-3

This chapter of Corinthians is known as the love chapter of Scripture. These first three verses show the value of love. It is supreme above all other experiences of Christian faith. The problem in Christian assemblies today was a problem in the early Corinthian church - 'such talk with too little walk'. The Christians of Corinth boasted of nine gifts, maybe more. However, with all these gifts, something was lacking. They could talk in different languages (12:30) and have them interpreted, but the language most understood by all was missing. This was the language of love. Someone said, 'The language of love is understood by everyone, every-where.' Paul did not condemn the exercise of the gifts of the spirit but he declared them value-less without the expression of love.

It may be well at this point to remind ourselves of the true meaning of love as spoken of in the chapter. We must never associate the LOVE mentioned here with the silly, slushy, empty, meaningless sentimentality gener-ally associated with love. It is unfortunate that the King James version translates the word as 'charity'. Verse three makes that clear for 'bestowing goods to feed the poor' is not necessarily the expression of love; it might be sympathy.

We all know that there are three words used for love in the Greek language. Two of them are used in the New Testament. Years ago while a student at the Moody Bible Institute, I heard my Greek professor say, 'There are three words for love in the Greek language. One is eros - love which could be spelled lust-love. Another is philos - love, which could be spelled like - love and the third is agapa - love which could be spelled love - love.' The latter is the word used in 1 Cor. 13. It is a divine love. This love is always, with no discrepancy used of man's love to God. Thus when man loves God it is a divine, pure and holy love.

However, God's love to man is expressed with the use of the latter two Greek words mentioned above. That is, He both likes and loves His own. The love of this chapter then is a love that is pure, holy and unwavering. Paul declares that unless our claims of spiritual gifts are founded up this love we 'become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.' 'Sounding brass' could mean a roar-ing trumpet with no certain message in its blast ( 1 Cor. 14:7-8). 'Tinkling cymbal' also means some inharmon-ious sound. Thus unless love prevails in the Christian's life the gift claims are meaningless. We get our English word love from the Teutonic 'leben' which means 'to live'. This is true, for love is the means, dispenser and preserver of life.

How easy it is for people today to declare that they love the Lord, but sad it is that there is no connection or relationship between the testimony and the life. There is no harmonious sound of the two. The noise of the mouth and noise of the life are incongruous. When a Christian boasts of his or her spirit-filled life with accompanying gifts, a life manifesting the love of God should be very evident. One's walk and talk should be a symphony. How often in the ministry it has been our experience to hear people testify of their faith in the Lord and their love for Him but when called upon for a sweet humble service or the exercise of gifts given by the Savior, they neither have the time nor interest to do so. One of the big prob-lems in our fundamental and evangelical churches today is to get Christians to serve. Choir chairs remain empty, Bible school classes are without teachers, many vacancies are unfilled - the world rushes on madly toward the pit and Christians stand idly by.

Do these so-called Christians really LOVE God? It is possible to have been given gifts of God, to know it and also to know there is a desperate need for those gifts and refuse to exercise those gifts for One whom you are supposed to love? Is this possible?

Remember there is the 'sounding brass and tinkling cymbal' of Christian testimony. Christians, let us 'awake to righteousness'.

The world hates our lovely Lord, religious or other-wise. Let us who are of the faith be sure that we have what Paul declares to the Galatians: 'Faith which worketh by love' (5:6). A real good test of our sincerity and genuineness is to evaluate our service to God. It is so easy to say, 'Yes, I'm a Christian' or 'I believe' or 'I love the Lord' and then have no time, money or talent for Him who loved so much 'that He gave' yes, gave ALL. 'You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving.' It is because of this that Paul was inspired to write 1 Cor. 13. The Corinthian Christians claimed all gifts but love was not evident - either for the Lord or one another. Paul said, 'The trumpet gives an uncertain sound - sounding brass.' There is an inharmonious jangle - 'tinkling cymbal'. No little wonder that he wrote them later saying, 'Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith.' 2 Cor. 13:5. This is good advice to much of modern Christianity today.

Pastor L. Peterson
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SPIRIT-DEPENDENT

"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctifica-tion of the Spirit and belief of the truth" ( 2 Thess.2:13).

To be Christ centered, we must be Spirit dependent.

"It is basically the belief of the truth; it is not belief of the fruits. The Holy Spirit cannot present to me the fruit He has produced in me, as the object of my faith. He speaks to me of my faults, of my sins, but not of the good works that may be in me. He produces them in me, but He hides them from me; for if we think of them, it is but a more subtle self righteous-ness. It is like the manna which, being kept, produced worms. All is spoilt --- it is no more faith in action. The Holy Spirit must always present to me the Lord Jesus Christ, that I may grow and have peace." ---J.N.D.

"An understanding of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is basic to Christian growth. Spirituality is Christ likeness, and Christ like-ness is the fruit of the Spirit. Spiritual power is not the miraculous or the spectacular, but rather the consistent manifesta-tion of the characteristics of the Lord Jesus in the believer's life. All this is the work of the Spirit, of whom the Lord Jesus said, 'He shall glorify Me' (John 16:14).

"What are the ingredients of spirituality? First, a spirit of dependence, whatever may be the state of faith and the blessings we may have realized. Secondly, an entire confidence in the good-ness of the Father; for He is love. Thirdly, the Lord Jesus as the constant object of the affec-tions of the heart, for the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart is to fill it with contemplation of and fellowship with the Lord Jesus in glory."

"Changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

MILES J. STANFORD
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE HEART OF THE MATTER

"You...hath He reconciled" (Colossians 1:21).

Our Father's Cross-love was personal; we were there in the Son. Our Father's heart-love is personal; we are hidden there in the Son.

"Have you ever thought of the Father dealing with you not as to what you are in yourself, but as to where He has positioned you in His Son? Have you ever thought that it is the affections of the Father's heart which flow down to us where we are, seeing us in the Son, not in our poor wretched selves? What we are in the old man is not the thing to scan,
but what we are, and where we are, in the Son; and what there is in the living affections of the Father, who has raised us up together with His Son, and has given us all heavenly blessings in Him."---G.V.W.

"Nothing can make up for a lack of personal acquaintance with the Lord Jesus. Intimacy with Himself is certainly the secret of true
devotedness. Occupation with Him, the heart readily detects, and rejects the voice of the stranger, and cannot but own the Lord's claims to be paramount. Nothing so thor-oughly tests the state of our hearts, as
whether or not we have intimacy with the Lord Jesus Himself." ---H.H.S.

"A great deal of our time is spent in learning that there is nothing here to meet the require-ments of our new affections. There is a wandering in the wilderness in a solitary way, and yet no city is found to dwell in. But our Father allows this in order that His children may find that their desires can only be sat-isfied by and in Him. We must learn that we are not of this world." ---J.B.S.

"To present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in His sight" (Colossians 1:22).

MILES J. STANFORD
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

LIBERATED FROM LAW

"In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature" (Galatians 6:15)

It required nothing less than the Cross to liberate us from the law.

"The law is not our ' rule of life' for the simple reason that it was the Israelite's. The Chris-tian not being a Jew, the law is not for him.
'Holy, just and good' it is, but the Christian's rule of life is 'in Christ....a new creature' (Galatians 6:15). The believer's place and
rule is to walk as a 'pilgrim and stranger' upon the earth. The law has nothing of this. Had it been fulfilled, it would have made earth morally a paradise; and will, when written upon Israel's heart in millennial days. But being a stranger on earth and a heavenly walk, is never taught."---F.W.G.

"The Christian is on larger, higher, firmer ground than that on which Israel after the flesh stood. The law is good if a man use it lawfully; and its lawful application is ex-pressly not to form, guide, and govern the walk of the righteous, but to deal with the lawless and disobedient, ungodly and sinful, unholy and profane, and, in short, with what-ever is contrary to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:9,10)."---F.W.G.

"Any aspect of life or conduct which is under-taken in dependence on the energy and ability of the flesh is, to that extent, purely legal in character, whether it be the whole revealed will of God, the actual written com-mandments, or the exhortations of grace. Dependence on the arm of flesh is consistent with pure law; dependence on the power of God is demanded under pure grace."---L.S.C.

"Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1).

MILES J. STANFORD
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

A NEW YEAR CHALLENGE FOR ALL

WHAT DO YOU KNOW

You've heard it said, "What you don't know won't hurt you." Wrong! In Christianity, what you don't know will destroy you! On the other hand, what you know and Who you know--Jesus--will grant you the peace that passes human understanding.

You know....

WHO YOU ARE: God is Spirit and He created you in His image; therefore, you are a spirit critter who lives temporarily in an earthsuit. You are not a physical critter with a spirit. The essence of your identity is spiritual, not physical.

WHO GOD IS: God is love. He created you to need love so that you would need Him. But, not knowing God, you set out to get your love-need supplied through only people, and naively ignored the only Source that can fully satisfy our need to be loved.

WHO YOU WERE: God's job description is, "He runs things." He's in control. At birth, however, you imme-diately homesteaded everything you wanted to control, staked a claim, drew an imaginary circle around it,
established your fences, held an election, stuffed the ballot box and declared yourself god of your"turf." You crowned yourself lord of the ring. You took control, and that put you in competition with God. Ultimately, you built your self-image upon your ability, or inability, to effec-tively play lord of the ring.

GOD STARTED ALL OVER WITH YOU: When you said, "Yes," and allowed Jesus to save you from yourself, many wonderful things happened instantly. And you didn't do a thing to make them happen---Jesus accom-plished them for you. All your sins were laid on Jesus when He was crucified in Christ (Romans 6:6). He not only took your sins to the cross, He took you to the cross.

WHY YOU SIN: As a saint (holy one), you long to obey God. But because you programmed your brain with thoroughfares (software) that God calls "flesh," this makes you vulnerable to sin. A power called "sin" dwells
in your as yet unredeemed body (Romans 7:21-23). The law of (power of) sin is an agent of Satan that seeks to control your behavior by using the thoroughfares of the flesh to trigger thoughts into your mind with first person singular pronouns (I, me, my, etc.) Victory over this power is experienced as you act out ("life" out) reality; that is, as you "act dead" to sin's thoughts and "act alive" to the truth that Jesus is overcoming your circum-stances through you. This is God's command to us
(Romans 6:12-13).

THE CONFORMATION PROCESS: You know that to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ," you must develop a lifestyle of "setting your mind on (these) things above," that you are resting in Christ in heaven while Jesus meets your circumstances through you on earth. You do this by faith, not by feel, because feelings will often deceive you. This technique makes it much easier to recognize sin's thoughts when they penetrate your awareness. You think, Nope, that's not my thought; I'm dead to that, and you press on. Through this pro-cess, you are "transformed by the renewing of your mind".

WHO YOUR LIFE IS: One life came out of the grave 2,000 years ago as Christ began a whole new spirit-race: Eternal Life, Christ, Resurrection Life. Jesus is the Vine, you are a branch. You know that God's will is that you allow Christ (Vine) to express His Life through you (branch). In this way you can gain God's approval ("Well done, good and faithful servant.")

YOUR TRUE IDENTITY: You are a new creation in Christ ( 2 Corinthians 5:16-17). You know the criteria you once embraced as the means for determining your identity are false, a ruse. Physical appearance, intellect, race, educational achievement, alumnus of (fill in the blank),
personal worth, and things of this type are used to generate and maintain acceptance from others and to bestow or withhold self-acceptance. But you no longer have to strive for acceptance from others or yourself.
Jesus has set you free to rest in God's unconditional acceptance through Christ.

By God's grace, you and I know these things and can be used by God to help lead other Christians into appro-priating their true identity in Christ. In so doing, we can celebrate together knowing Christ, His life in us, and the matchless grace of our Heavenly Father. So, sic 'em,
Tiger!

Bill Gillham
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

CHASTENING---CHILD TRAINING

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous" (Hebrews12:11a).

Our Father chastens us "for our own profit, that we might be par-takers of His holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). We are not chastened because we deserve it, but because we need it. And there is no wrath in His child training.

"Many have the wrong idea of that word 'chastening'. We think, perhaps, that it represents God as having a big stick in His hand and knocking us about all the time. You have only to make a mistake and down comes the big stick! That, of course, is a totally wrong conception of the Father, and is not at all what the word means. The word 'chastening' simply means child training, which has to do with sonship. Sonship in our Father's mind is to have people who are reliable and responsible, who know in their own hearts what is right and what is wrong, and do not have to be constantly told and admonished.

"We should always look at our difficulties in the light of this training. It often seems that the life of a Chris-tian is more difficult than any other life, and more troubles come to us than to anyone else. Whether we re-cognize it or not, these difficulties and troubles which come to us are to train us for something and to develop in us the spirit of son-ship; that is, to develop spiritual intelli-gence and spiritual ability in us." ---T. A-S.

"One of the main purposes of all the Father's dealings with us is to bring us into a greater knowledge of His Son. We never know any-thing about greatness unless we have a great need to know it. Therefore we are brought into situations where we must know something much greater than we already know. This is why our Father brings His children into difficult circumstances --- that they may learn how great their Lord Jesus is." ---T. A-S

"Nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are exercised by it" (Hebrews 12:11b).

MILES J. STANFORD
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Press Forward in Christ

My dear child, I want you to forget all the things that are behind you and press on toward the mark that is the high calling of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 3:14)

Let the words of your mouth be My Words. Fresh water and salt water do not come out of the same stream. My love has been shed abroad in your heart and that love is perfecting you more and more into My image. (Col. 3:16)

My love shines forth from you in your smile, in your eyes, in your actions. Love shines from you because love is in you. Oh, My dear child! My precious child! How I love you! I love you so much that I died on the cross for you. I endured all sin and all diseases so that you would not have to bear them.

I bore all your grief's so that you wouldn't have to bear any. So, why do you carry around with you the cares of this world? They are not yours to carry. Give them to Me. Cast all your cares on Me. Trust in Me and do good. Delight yourself in Me. Commit your way unto Me. Trust Me, and I will help you.

My dear, I want you to know that I am pleased with you. You are the apple of My eye. I continually encompass you about with mercy and loving- kindness. I intercede for you daily. I know the circumstances that you're in right now. I know that Satan has been shooting fiery darts at you from every side. I know that he is battling you in your mind. He puts thoughts in your mind. (Rom. 8:26-27)

Don't listen to Satan! He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (2 Cor. 11:14-15; 1 Peter 5:8) But he cannot devour you! No! No! No! For you are God's property! (1 Cor. 6:19)

You have been bought with a price! You are made free from sin! You cannot be defeated! (1 Cor. 6:20)

You are a winner! You are redeemed from the curse. You are more than conqueror. You're redeemed from darkness. (Rom. 8:37)

You are a child of light. You're redeemed from poverty. Your needs are met according to His riches in glory. You're redeemed and in Christ, who God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, and set apart, and redemp-tion; therefore He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Cor. 1:30-31)

You are redeemed from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us (Gal. 3:13 Freedom begins and ends at the Cross of Christ. Not only was the penalty for our sin dealt with that day, but the power of sin as well. A Christian can have the joy of the Lord as he yields (presents) his body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. (Rom. 12:1) The joy of the Lord is your strength in weakness. (2 Cor. 12:9) The love of God has been shed abroad in your heart, and that love you never had till He redeemed you. We now in the age of grace are promised the peace of God which passeth all under-standing, (Phil. 4:7) which will guard your heart and thoughts in Christ Jesus. In turn you will then be experiencing the joy of the Lord, in what ever circumstances the Lord brings into your life for His purpose.

Unknown Author
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE SUPREME IMPORTANCE OF GOD’S WORD TO THE BELIEVER

The Bible will always have first place in the life of the spiritual Christian.

It is of utmost importance that we understand this, for some who feel themselves quite spiritual give much time to prayer, but little, if any, to the study of the Word. Such have actually fallen for the subtle trick of the adversary to play upon their natural human pride and cause them to exalt self and push God into the background.

In saying this we do not for one moment minimize the importance of prayer; we only stress the supreme importance of the holy Word of God. In this we are surely Scrip-
tural, for David says, by inspiration:

“For Thou host magnified Thy Word above all Thy name” (Psa. 138:2).

Of those who would still object and place first emphasis upon prayer rather than upon the Word, we would ask one simple question: Which is the more important, what we have to say to God or what He has to say to Us?There can be but one answer to this question, for obviously what God has to say to us is in-finitely more important than anything we might have to say to Him. Our prayers are as fraught with failure as we are, but the Word of God is infallible, immutable and eternal.

Yet some, having fallen for one of Satan’s “devices” and feeling quite spiritual about it, are like the talkative person to whom one listens and listens, occasionally nodding his
head, but receiving little or no opportunity to “get a word in edgewise.” They do all the talking, but give little time listening to what God has to say to them.

Author unkown
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SAUL IN DAMASCUS AND ARABIA

Scripture Reading: Acts 9:8-22

Saul, as the leader of the rebellion against Christ, was on his way to Damascus to take prisoner any whom he fund to be followers of Christ and return them to Jerusalem to be put to death. It was while on the road, before he reached Damascus, that Saul was confronted by Christ from heaven. It was at this time that Saul recognized that Jesus was truly God the Son.

Once Saul had entered Damascus and receiv-ed his sight again, we read, in Acts 9:20, that "straightway he preached Christ in the syn-agogues, that he (Christ) is the SON OF GOD." This is not the Grace message, for Saul had not been given this revelation as yet. It was while he was in Arabia that he received the revelation of the Mystery. But Saul now knew that Jesus was the Son of God and he began to tell this great truth to the Jews dwelling in Damascus.

It is interesting to note the difference be-tween Saul's presentation of Jesus and Peter's presentation during his Pentecostal ministry. Peter preached Jesus as the SON OF DAVID. There was no offense in this
message, but Saul (also known as Paul when he ministered to Gentiles---Acts 13:9) present-ed Jesus as THE SON OF GOD and this was an offense to the Jews for this is the reason they had Christ put to death. They thought that he, being a man, was making himself to be God and this was punishable by death according to the Law of Moses. Now that Saul was saying that this man was the Son of God, they wanted to put him to death also. From the very outset of Saul's ministry, we find him at odds with the Jews and threaten-ed with death (Acts 9:24 and 9:29). Never was Peter in danger of death because of preach-ing that Jesus was the Son of David.

MARVIN DUNCAN, Pastor

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SAUL --- AND THE JERUSALEM CHURCH

Scripture Reading: Acts 8:1-4

The Greek word for church means "an assembly (congregation)", or "a called out group".

"The church which was at Jerusalem" began with God promising Abraham "a great nation" (Genesis 12:2). It was later named Israel. It was present on Mount Sinai when God gave "the Law" (Exodus 19:5, 6). It was called
"the church in the wilderness" (Acts 7:38). Christ spoke of it in Psalms 22:22. It was also referred to as "the little flock" (Luke 12:32).

The Jerusalem Church existed during Christ's earthly ministry: "...tell it to the church..." (Matthew 18:17). There were 120 in "the Jerusalem Church" before the day of Pente-cost (Acts 1:4, 15). Those who were saved
on the day of Pentecost and who "were add-ed to the church" (2:41, 47), were added to a church that already existed. This was the church that Saul persecuted. He represented the nation Israel in its rejection of Christ.

Saul wasn't save by receiving the message of the Twelve. He was saved by the glorified Christ, who changed his name to Paul, and made Him the Apostle to the Gentiles. He became an example and pattern of God's grace (1 Timothy 1:14-16). Saul became "a new creation", and with him God began "the one New Man" (Ephesians 1:15), which is called "the Church which is His Body" (Ephesians 1:22, 23).

"The church which was at Jerusalem" and "the Church which is His Body" are two distinct churches. The Jerusalem Church was prophesied. In it there is a distinction between the Nation Israel and the nations. It has an earthly hope with material blessings. The Body of Christ was a mystery. In it there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile. It's hope is in the heavenlies and it is blessed with every spiritual blessing. These are but a few distinctions. By the grace of God, may
you not confuse the two!

DICK WARE, Pastor
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THE TRUTH PREVAILS

Scripture Reading: Acts 8:5-25

Let us notice three main movements of our passage. Preaching, receiving, and sinning. First, The preaching of the Messiah by Philip was accompanied by the signs of the king-dom. Philip declared the Lord Jesus as the Messiah of Israel. He worked sign-miracles as his authorization from the Lord that he was an accredited representative (See Hebrews 2:3-4). Demons were removed and people were healed of physical afflictions. Water baptism was part of the message con-sistent with the things of the kingdom of God.

The second part of our passage includes the receiving of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the Apostles' hands. The work of the Holy Spirit was not immediate and externally powerful for these Samaritans in the nearly automatic manifestation as at Pentecost in Acts chapter two. The Samaritans had to be taught that salvation is of the Jews in the kingdom program. It is not to everyone everywhere without distinction. The Lord Jesus insisted on this point in His discussion with a Samaritan in John 4:22. The fact that the Apostle Paul's Gospel of Grace includes possession of the Holy Spirit at the same time one possesses the Lord Jesus, is power-ful evidence that the Kingdom program is different from that which the Apostle Paul initiated. Read Romans 8:9 as it asserts, "Now if any have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His."

The third part of our text contains the fascin-ating story of Simon who sought to purchase the power of God with money. The full account is given in Acts 8:9-24. Let us SPIRITUALLY profit from the things which we
read here.

JOHN McKAY, Pastor
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE CONVERSION OF SAUL

Scripture Reading: Acts 9:1-7

The one greatest event upon which all history revolves is the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. The other event is the conversion of Saul of Tarsus.

Christ's crucifixion introduces the New Cov-enant (though it is not mentioned hereafter until Paul), and nullifies that old Mosaic system (Hebrews 7:11-22) upon the basis of His shed blood at Calvary. A significantly important transaction for Israel (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

While Saul's conversion sets that favored nation aside for its stubborn rejection of Christ's kingdom gospel (Matthew 10:7; 12:31, 32; 21:42, 43; Luke 12:32; 19:14; Acts 4:11, 12; 7:51-60) to usher in "the dispensation of the grace of God" (Ephesians 3:1-3).

"I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy" (Romans 11:11).

"FOR I SPEAK TO YOU GENTILES, INAS-MUCH AS I AM THE APOSTLE OF THE
GENTILES, I MAGNIFY MINE OFFICE" (Romans 11:13).

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in" (Romans 11:25).

Throughout the Acts transition we find Paul, time and again, denouncing his own nation for their denunciation of the Lord Jesus Christ --- Acts 13:46; 18:6; 28:28.

Don't you see that instead of taking an isolat-ed spot, as Acts 2:38, to begin something new, God began "the Mystery", all revolving around the conversion of Saul of Tarsus!

RUSSELL S. MILLER, Pastor
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SAUL'S DISTINCTIVE COMMISSION

Scripture Reading: Acts 9:15, 16

Our chapter opens with Saul "yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord..." but near Damascus that was forever changed. Not Peter nor any eager preacher of that time spoke to Saul.
It was the risen Lord Who shined and then spoke to Saul on the ground. A blind, hum-ble, converted man was led into town. After three days in darkness and hunger for Saul, the Lord readied another servant--Ananias.
Since Saul's reputation had preceded him, Ananias was scare stiff. He gave the Lord several good reasons why he should not hazard a visit to Saul. "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he (Saul) is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the
children of Israel."

Rather than being an extension of the so-called Great Commission, this was the opposite. Gentiles---not Jews---were mention-ed first! No wonder Paul later called himself "the apostle of the Gentiles." The heretofore
favored first nation was mentioned last! Israel was not first in this commission of this new apostle of God's new message of grace!

Think how stunned poor Ananias must have been. Did he hear the Lord correctly? Did the Lord really mean what He said? How could this be? Would this one who had caused so much suffering now willingly suffer for the rejected Christ? And would he really "suffer...great things" for the sake of Christ? Paul's later recounting of this great event in his defense gave more of Ananias' words. "For thou (Saul) shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard..." (22:15).

Later, before Agrippa, Paul gave us even more of what the risen Lord had said to him. Putting all the above together, how could we ever have missed the distinctiveness of Saul's commission?

IVAN L. BURGENER, Bible Teacher

Note: IVAN L. BURGENER, Is one of my favorite Bible Teacher
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Unanswered prayers...
and the secret of contentment

Paul writes in Philippians 4:12-13"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

"How did he learn the secret of contentment? Of being content even when "hungry" or "in want"? It went back a number of years to an experience that he tells about in 2 Corin-thians 12:7-8 when he had a need in his life. He pleaded with the Lord three times to remove that thorn in his flesh.And the Lord's answer was ... No! Instead of taking away Paul's problem, as Paul had prayed, the Lord said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. "So Paul then says, "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9).

In the administration of God's grace that the Lord Jesus revealed to the Apostle Paul, He does not promise to fix all our problems. There is no promise like in the gospels where the Lord promised Israel that "whatever you ask in faith you shall receive. "Read through all of Paul's letters where he writes about the administration of God's grace that the Lord Jesus revealed to him for us today, and you never read a promise like 'whatever you ask in faith you'll receive.'

Here is the answer to the problem of unanswered prayers today. Claiming a promise that wasn't made to us. Today, under grace, we have the promise of "grace and power" (2 Corinthians 12:8) sufficient for any problem in our lives, and the Lord Jesus wants us to learn this secret of contentment. Not that He will fix all our problems or "move all our mountains" out of our way, no matter how much faith we may have, but that He is our strength. "I can do everything through Christ who constantly strengthens me!" Have you learned the secret? Do you know God's Grace For Today?

Unknown Author

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Christ Is All
John Nelson Darby (1800-1888)

Christ is the key to the puzzle of this world.May God give us to be anything or nothing, so that the Lord Jesus may be everything.The magnet always turns towards the pole; the needle always trembles a little when the storm and tempest roar, but its direction changes not; the needle of the Christian heart always points toward Christ. The only thing which can be truly blessing to our brethren, so precious because they be-long to Him, is that which we reproduce of Him. . . . If He is the life, all which that life does has Him for its end and object..
. .
Everything relates to Him: we do not eat without Him (how can we when He is our very life?), we do not drink without Him; what we say, what we do, is said and done in the name of the Lord Jesus. The most eminent Christian is one of whom no one has ever heard speak, some poor labourer or servant, whose all is Christ, and who does all for HIS eye, and His alone. Jesus is the fountain of all blessedness, sent to poor, weak, wretched sinners, that they may have abundance of comfort, of peace and of enjoyment.

We must find everything but Christ nothing.

No trial can touch a person who has Christ for his all. He may have lost this or lost that; but if he has Christ he has that which he cannot lose. It is not the quantity we do that makes spirituality, but the measure of pre-senting Christ: that is the value of our service, in a world where there is nothing of God. It is not always in the correction of the failures which come before us that sources of unhappiness are heaped; they disappear when souls are nourished upon the riches which are in Christ. We must think of this; we must, while ourselves feeding upon Christ , and He gives us to feed on Him without stint , cause other to breathe a new atmosphere, where Christ is. He has purchased a “peculiar people, zealous of good work.” He has brought you to Himself, to have your whole heart wrapped up in His interests, your thoughts, your actions, everything for Him. . . . Are we living enough out of the world (not merely out of its pleasures but its cares) and enough with Christ for Him to have a large place in the daily thoughts of our hearts? . . ., Have we the consciousness from the time we get up in the morning till we go to bed at night, that our hearts are with Christ, . . . a consciousness that He is in us, and we identified with Him?
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ARE BELIEVERS ABOVE THE LAW?

Some people understand the grace principal to mean that living "under grace" we may do as we please, but grace is, by no means, a license to sin. However, it is argued that because the covenant of the law was made with Israel, Gentiles were not under the law, and Romans 3:19 is cited in support of this thinking:

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, IT SAITH TO THEM WHO ARE UNDER THE LAW: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."

The covenant of the law was, indeed, made with God’s chosen nation, Israel, and no such covenant was ever made with any other nation, but that did not exclude Gentiles from God’s law. The law was given, we read, "THAT EVERY MOUTH MIGHT BE STOPPED, and all the world might become guilty before God" (Rom.3:19). So, Israel represented the
righteous and holy standards of the Law of God in the world. And "when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto
themselves" (Rom.2:14). This bears witness that Gentiles had "the law written in their hearts" (Rom.2:15). It is no wonder that we have such a lawless society today when believers feel themselves to be above the
law.

In this dispensation of grace it is blessedly true of us, that "sin shall not have domin-ion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom.6:14). "Free from the Law" does not mean that we are above the law, although we are to produce that fruit which is spiritual (Col.3:1-4), and heavenly (Eph.1:20,21; 2:6), in character. In so doing we shall, by His grace, accomplish what the law could never do.

Therefore as members of the Body of Christ the Apostle Paul exhorts us:

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Gal.5:16).

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, good-ness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Gal.5:22,23).

Pastor Russell Miller
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THE DEATH OF THE CROSS

There are four words which every one of us should consider in connection with Christ's death at Calvary if we would fully appreciate what our Savior did for us there.

CRUCIFIXION

It is doubtful whether man has ever con-ceived a more cruel and humiliating way to execute even the vilest criminals. The physical agony alone must have been horrible beyond comprehension. The criminal was nailed to a tree and left to hang there, writhing in the most intense pain until, fevers wracking his body, he died. And then think of the humiliation as he hung there, stripped and naked, to suffer shame and disgrace before the public gaze. Little wonder Phil. 2:8 says that Christ humbled Himself to be come obedient "unto death, even the death of the cross."

SUBSTITUTION

We have not even begun to understand the cross if we do not understand that Christ died there as our Substitute, paying for our sins.

"Christ died for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3). "His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Pet. 2:24).

REPRESENTATION

But Christ was more than our Substitute; He was our voluntary Representative at Calvary. He had taken on Himself human form that He might represent man before God and die as Man for men.

"As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment, so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many..." (Heb. 9:27-28).

"[He] was made...lower than the angels...that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Heb. 2:9).

IDENTIFICATION

It follows from this that if Christ represented me at Calvary, He became identified with me there, and I am identified with Him as I accept this by faith. Hence Paul exclaims:

"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).
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STAND YOUR GROUND!

"The law is not of faith" (Galatians 3:12).

The law will break you; grace will make you!

"Nothing can be more sure than the steps of one guided by the Spirit of God and the Word of God, and yet nothing more complicated than to have to walk in 'separation' from all that exists around. It is indeed difficult to have to wind one's way through things so perplexing and so complex as the religious systems of our own day. We have to avoid on the one hand organizations formed in imitation of things past (Israel-law), and on the other systems more characterized by anticipation of things future (Kingdom-law). We have to allow that such things were once given by God, and that they will yet again be introduced by Him; while invariably contend- ing that they are positively opposed to His present working by the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven." ---J.L.H.

"With many Christians, it may be almost thought that the Lord Jesus was but the introduction to Moses. That His death pro-cured the payment of sin's debt, so that the debt being paid, the believer might be in a position to keep the law, and that, accord-ingly, the law, and not the 'Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,' might be the believer's rule of life."
---H.F.W.

"The walk of the believer should ever be the natural result of realized privilege, and not the constrained result of legal vows and resolutions---the proper fruit of a position known and enjoyed by faith, and not the result of one's own efforts to reach a position 'by works of law.' ---C.H.M.

"For I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I might live unto God" (Galatians 2:19).

MILES J. STANFORD
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WONDER OF WEAKNESS

"He said to me, My strength is sufficient, for it is only by means of conscious weakness that perfect power is developed" (2 Cor. 12:9,
Wms.)

Our Father does not test our faith so much as He exercises and develops it. In time, He makes us aware of our utter weakness; and in time, we trust and rest in His all sufficient strength.

"Until we are carried quite out of our depth, beyond all our own wisdom and resources, we are no more than beginners in the school of faith. Only as everything fails us and we fail ourselves, do we draw upon abiding strength. 'Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee'; not partly in Thee and partly in himself. The devil often makes men strong, strong in themselves to do evil --- great con-querors, great acquirers of wealth and power. The Lord on the contrary makes His servant weak, puts him in circumstances that will show him his nothingness, that he may lean upon the strength that is unfailing. It is a long lesson for most of us, but it cannot be passed over until deeply learned. And God Himself thinks no trouble too great, no care too costly to teach us this."

"Faith counts on the Word of God outside and apart from everything and everyone here. When you are in faith your life is centered in the Lord Jesus. The moment the heart is detained by anything here, faith is obstructed. The visible is antagonistic to the invisible. If you walk in the Spirit you will be sensible of this in a moment, the effects and influences of the visible are counter to the invisible. Eve had lost faith when she saw that the tree was good for food, and pleasant to the eyes. If she had kept faith --depen-dence upon God --- she would not have looked; but she had parted with the faith which overcometh the world when she 'saw.' The moment one becomes occupied with the visible one has parted company with faith" ---J.B.S.

"Since His power is so glorious, may you be strengthened with strength of every kind, and be prepared for cheerfully enduring all things with patience and longsuffering" (Colossians 1:11, Weymouth).

MILES J. STANFORD
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE WORKS OF THE FLESH vs. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Adultery heads the list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21, with fornication and uncleanness following second and third in succession. There is a world of sinners out there, unrestrained with unbridled lusts, to which the Lord sends His ambassadors with "the message of reconciliation" (2 Cor.5:14-21).

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, un-cleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witch-craft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like..."

It was adultery that ruined King David, for when it came time for the king to go to war, he was on his rooftop:

"And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon" (2 Sam.11:2).

Did the Lord have this in mind when He said: "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt.5:28)? It is truly "from within, out of the heart of man, [that] proceed evil thoughts"; and "adulteries" are at the top of this list in Mark 7:21-23 also.

Again, in Romans Six, the Apostle Paul speaks of the works of the flesh as unfruitful and leading to death: "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now asham-ed? for the end of those things is death" (Rom.6:21). In Colossians, we read that these works of the flesh originate from within, and pointing to the Christ of Calvary’s cross, Paul says: "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, YET NOW HATH HE RECONCILED IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight" (Col.1:21,22).

Consequently, there is real "joy and peace in believing" (Rom.15:13) as God’s grace saves and transforms lives so that Christ may be seen, and not the works of the flesh.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22,23).

It is only right that there are laws against the works of the flesh, but how could there be laws against the fruit of the Spirit? A striking contrast indeed!

Pastor Russell Miller
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ETERNAL LIFE, THE GIFT OF GOD

Suppose I knew of a financial benefactor who was giving away one million dollars to every one that personally contacted him. I told my parents about this, and they collected their million; my sisters collected theirs, after I told them of course; and my brothers-in-law all received their generous portions. Of course I told my wife, and every one in her family, about it. All our relatives, friends, and many, many strangers contacted this gracious bene-factor as per instructions, and received their million dollars.

But I never told you!

What would you think about my actions in this matter, if I had not told you about this wonderful gift? Would you not have a right to be very angry with me and wonder why you were left out?

Now please do not think that I am angry with any one, for such thinking could not be farther from the truth. No, not at all.

This is an illustration of what God seeks to convey to a lost and dying world. Only it’s not a mere million dollars, nor is it billions of dollars, that we are discussing here. It is a portrait of the love of Christ:

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom.5:8).

The Lord does not promise earthly wealth, but He has promised "eternal life" to all who will believe on His Son, worth more than all the money in all the world:

"FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD" (Rom.6:23).

Yes, my dear friend, I trust that you also can now see how important, how really important, this gift is that God wants to give you!

The Apostle Peter describes the gift of God as more valuable than the precious metals that men covet after.

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, AS SILVER AND GOLD, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

"But with THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (IPet.1:18,19).

The Bible clearly teaches that we are all "sinners" (Rom.3:23), lost and dying, and in desperate need of the "Saviour" (Tit.1:4). Jesus Christ, of course, is our only Saviour. There is no other Saviour for mankind. If you miss Him, you will have missed everything! This is why the Apostle Paul declared that salvation can only be obtained by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ:

"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" (Eph.2:8,9).

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but BY HIS OWN BLOOD He entered in once into the Holy Place, HAVING OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION FOR US" (Heb.9:12).

This is also why the Apostle Paul exhorts us to trust Christ as our Saviour:

"BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED..." (Acts 16:31).

RUSSELL S. MILLER
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

WHAT ARE THE
SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST?

Members of the heavenly election are brought into this fellowship. The God and father of the Lord Jesus Christ is their God and Father. He invites them to enjoy His purposes concerning the glories of His Beloved Son; and in this Epistle He makes known to the believer the highest (Eph) of these glories.

The Epistle Ephesians opens with God, His thoughts and purposes, and His activities in the election and the elevation to the highest glory of those whom He loved from before the foundation of the world. Redemption is viewed from the divine stand-point, not from the human.

Everything here is divine "The will of God" vs1, "grace and peace from God v2, His will v5, His grace v7, His blood, His will v9 His pleasure v9, His purpose vll, His counsel v 11, His glory v 12, His calling v 18, His inheritance v 18, His power v 19, His right hand v 20.

From out of the darkness of this dungeon the Apostle looked into the heavenly place. They are mentioned five times in the Epistle. ( v3, 20, 2:6, 3:10, 6:12). From the prison burst the trium-phant word "blessed" v 3 All is glory and victory, Believers are blessed; they are blessed with all blessings; the blessings are spiritual they belong to the heavenly places; and they are secured in Christ. Seven of these blessings are detailed.
V4, chosen, V5 predestined; v 6 accepted; v 7 redeemed; v9 instructed; v13 sealed v 14 enriched.

The Church is a company of sons v 5 engraced in the Beloved One v 6, God embraces them as sons, because they are in His dearly Beloved son. v 7 procured them redemption, and the measure of the forgiveness they enjoy i the measure of the unsearchable riches of His Grace. God is the Author and Christ is the object of these glories. He planned to surround His Beloved Son with sons Who He could fully love and delight in.

In verse 4 His purpose as God is seen; in verse 5 His activity as Father. which he called us sons (Greek... huiothesia) called sons, all believers are His sons, and called saints,

Will be continued for a list of the 100 gifts which are ours at the very time He saves us in Christ.
=================================
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

One Hundred Things That Are Free To Us By Christ

We sailed some challenging waters last year, didn't we? We wish we could assure you the circumstances before you are not as daunting as the ones that are behind you. But while we can't do that, we can tell you that your Heavenly Fathe promises to meet all of your needs. And we can assure you, that He can be tursted.

We encouage you to live your life with gusto in 2004. It is far too easy to become bogged down with details in our lifestyle that won't even matter a year from now, le alone eternity.

It is our prayer for each of you in 2004 as it begins, you will find yourself encouraged with the realization that the new year offers you the opportunity for a fresh start. To help you in this, we have carefully chosen to bring to you these last two devotions, "WHAT ARE THE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST? and the one today. We understand that the one today is longer than the usual one's, however, we all need the meat of the Word of God to obtain the peace of God in all situations, and it will be done only as we know the Word of God.

As you read the Scriptures ponder them, weigh them, and chew the Word of God over like eating you food. We have purposely left some Scripture for you to look up. May you be richly and blessed by the Lord Jesus Christ as you faithfully study these Scriptures.

1.ACCEPTED ---------------- Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

2. ALIVE WITH CHRIST-------- Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

3.ASCENDED---------------Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

4. ADOPTED -----------------Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

5 AMBASSADORS ----------------2 Cor 5:20 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.

6.ACCESS -------------- Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. & ROMANS 5-2 .

7. ALL THINGS --------------- I TIM. 6:17
8. ANOINTED US --------------- 2Cor 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

9.APPREHENDED ---------------- PHIL. 3:12
10. APPOINTED------------------I THESS. 3:3
11. ATONEMENT --------------Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

12. AUTHORITY ----------------- TITUS 2:15
13. ASSURANCE ---------------- I THESS. 1:5
14. ABUNDANCE OF GRACE --------- ROMANS 5:17
15. BAPTIZED ---------------- Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

16, BLESSED ------------------- 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:

17. BURIED -------------------Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead

18. BELOVED -------------------- ROMANS 1:7
19. BUILDED TOGETHER ------------ Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

20. CALLED -----------------Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

21. CHOSEN ---------------- Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

22. CIRCUMCISION --------------Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

23. COMPLETE ----------------- Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

24. CONFORMED --------------Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

25. CRUCIFIED ------------------ Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

26. COVERED ------------------- ROMANS 4:7
27. CONFIRMED ----------------------I COR. 1:7,8
28. CLEANSED -------------------Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

29. CREATED -------------------------Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

30. CONQUERORS -----------------Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

31. CROWNED -------------------2 TIM. 4:8
32. DAUGHTERS -----------------2, COR. 6:8
33. DECLARED ---------------------2. COR. 3:3
34, DELIVERED ----------------2 COR. 1: 10
35.ELECT OF GOD ---------------- Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering & Titus 1:1

36. ENRICHED -----------------I COR. 1: 5
37. ESTEEMED ------------Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

38. ETERNAL ----------------TITUS 1:2 -15
39. FAMILY-------------------EPH. 3.
40. FELLOWHEIRS -------------Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

41. FELLOWCITIZENS -----------Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

42. FELLOWLABOURERS ------------ PHIL. 4-13
43. FELLOWSERVANT --------------- COL. 4:7
44 FELLOWSOLDIERS ----------------PHIL. 2:25
45. FORGIVEN ------------------ Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

46. FREEMAN ------------------ I COR. 7:22
47. FURNISHED -----------------2 TIM. 3:17
48. GLORIFIED --------------- ROMANS 8:30
49. HABITATION --------------- EPH. 2:22
50. HEIRS --------------- ------- Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

One Hundred Things That Are Free To Us By Christ

Part 2 of 2

51. HOLY------------------- Col. 3:12 52. Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
52. HUSBANDRY---------------1 Cor 3:9
53. INDWELL ----------------Romans 8:1
54. INHERITANCE--------------Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

55. INSTRUCTED-----------------Phil.4:12
56. INTERCESSION---------------Romans 8:26,34
57.FITLY JOINED TOGETHER--------------Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

58. JUSTIFIED------------ROMANS 3:24
59. KNOWN OF GOD------------ Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

60. LOVED------------ EPH 2:4
61. MADE MEET------------- Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

62. MEMBERS---------------EPH 4:25-5:30
63.MESSENGERS --------------2 COR 8:23
64. MIGHTY-----------2 COR 10:4/COL 1:29
65. MINISTERS------------- 2 COR3: 16, 6:4
66. NEW CREATURES------------- 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

67. PARTAKERS----------- EPH 3:16/1 TIM 6:2
68. PEACE--------- ROMANS 5:1
69. PLANTED TOGETHER---------ROMANS 6:5/EPH 3:20
70. POWER WORKING IN US-------------- Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

71. PREDESTINATED--------- Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, & Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

72. PREPARED UNTO GLORY------------- ROMANS 9:23
73. PRESERVED------------2 TIM, 4:18
74. PURCHASED POSSESSION------------ Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

75. "QUICKENED--------------Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;

76. "RAISED---------------Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

77. RECONCILED -----------ROMANS 5: 10
78. REDEEMED ------------Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

79. REGENERATION------------ TITUS 3:5
80. RENEWED------------ 2 COR. 4:16
81. RESURRECTED ---------ROMANS 6:5
82. RICH---------- 2 COR. 6:10,8:9
83. RIGHEOUSNESS OF CHRIST -------1 Cor 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: & 2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. & Rom 5:19.,

84. RISEN---------- Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. & Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

85. ROOTED------------ Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, & Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

86. SAINT---------- ROMANS 1:7/1 COR. 1:2
87. SANCTIFIED---------- I COR. 6.: 11
88. SAVED----------- ----------Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: & 10/1 & 1 Tim 1:9
89. SEALED------------- I COR, 1:22 & Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

90. SEATED---------- Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

91. SOLDIERS -------------2 TIM. 2:3,4
92. SONS-------------- ROMANS 8: 14
93. STEWARDS---------- COR. 4:1
94. TRANSLATED ----------Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

95. TRIUMPH ----------2 COR 2:14
96. VICTORIOUS---------- I COR. 15:57
97. VOCATION ---------Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation(calling) wherewith ye are called,

98. WASHED-----------I COR. 6:11
99. HAVE WISDOM -----------I COR. 1:30
100. HIS WORKMANSHIP -------------Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

HOW MANY MORE CAN YOU FIND?
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE FLOOD OF NOAH’S DAY

During Noah’s flood the canopy of Genesis 1:6 that "divided the waters from the waters" converged with "the fountains of the great deep" to become one gigantic ocean (Gen.-7:11-16). And God’s judgment upon the wickedness of man "flooded" this globe.

"And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground...and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark" (Gen.7:23).

Genesis 9:9-17 speaks about a coven-ant that God made with Noah. In short, the "rainbow" is God’s "token of [that] covenant" (9:13) with mankind, that He will never again destroy the earth by a flood. God’s faithfulness to His Word here, has been wondrously demonstrat- ed for over 4,000 years. "I DO SET MY BOW IN THE CLOUD, AND IT SHALL BE FOR A TOKEN OF A COVENANT BE-TWEEN ME AND THE EARTH. ...AND THE WATERS SHALL NO MORE BE-COME A FLOOD TO DESTROY ALL FLESH" (Gen.9:13,15).

Indeed God has also been faithful to His covenant of "day" and "night" (Jer. 33:20,21) since the beginning of time, that’s 6,000 years!

Though God shall never again destroy the earth with "water", the Apostle Peter declares that after the 1,000 year reign of Christ, earth and space shall be purified with "fire" from all that with which man has polluted it (IIPet.3:10-12).

Nevertheless before Prophecy is resumed and "that great and terrible Day of the Lord comes" (Joel 2:11,31; Acts 2:20; Rev.19:11-16) the armies of Heaven shall invade the earth.

"HE THAT SITTETH IN THE HEAVENS SHALL LAUGH: THE LORD SHALL HAVE THEM IN DERISION. THEN SHALL HE SPEAK UNTO THEM IN HIS WRATH, AND VEX THEM IN HIS SORE DISPLEAS-URE" (Psa.2:4,5).

Much as He did in the land of Egypt when Pharaoh would not let His people go (Ex.5:1-4:31). Are you ready for this "Coming" of the Lord Jesus Christ? Probably not, who would be!

But God has some "good news" for you; before His wrath is poured out upon this Christ rejecting world, He shall "catch" us away to Heaven (IThes.4:13-18).

First, my friend, God wants to save you from your sin, if you will only believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
=================================
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

CROSS PURPOSES

"The Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from evil" (2 Thess 3:3,R.V.)

When once we see and accept His purpose for our lives to the extent that it becomes our will also, the details of His process cease to matter. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15).

"The one purpose our Father has in view, in all His ways, is to conform us to the image of His Son. This may explain our perplexities as to the past; it will govern our behavior in the present; it is to be our guide in the future. The chief concern of our Lord is not to instruct us about a multitude of details, not to explain to us the reason for the trials which we are called to pass through. He is working out everything to serve His one supreme aim in manifesting the character of His Son in His saints." ---H.F.

"The God given experiences of the Spirit's working within many a time passes away, and leaves the believer apparently dull and dead. This is only until the double lesson has been fully learned: (1) that a living faith can rejoice in the Living God even when all feeling and experience appear to contradict the truth (Romans 8:28,29); and (2) that the Divine
life only predominates as the life of the old man is held in the place of death, inoperative (Romans 6:11a). The life of the Lord Jesus is revealed as His death works in us (2 Cor. 4:11, 12), and as in weakness and nothing-ness we look to Him (2 Cor. 3:18)." ---A.M.

"While our Father is dealing with someone in discipline, when He is applying the Cross in a life, he careful knows you sympathize with him. You may be taking sides with him against God. By such sympathy, you may,
indeed, draw him away from the work of the Cross."

"For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh" (2 Corinthians 4:11).

MILES J. STANFORD
=================================
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"DOUBTING THOMAS"

"Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25).

A lot of people today are like "doubting Thomas", they just won’t believe. You hand them a gospel tract, with a pleasant word of testimony, and they turn a deaf ear, rejecting the only blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ:

"IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE" (Eph.1:7).

But Thomas gave himself an "out". He want- ed to see the evidence of Christ’s resurrec-tion. Melancholy, yes, Thomas was melan-choly, but death is very permanent, and except for the miracle working Christ some 2000 years ago NO ONE comes back from the dead. Even though Thomas witnessed his Lord raise Lazarus from the dead he was skeptical about Christ’s resurrection. That the Invincible One had been overcome and con-quered by death was the thought upon the minds of them all. Thomas, and all the apostles, those disciples too, together with the Jews, and the Gentiles, SAW that Christ was dead. And Thomas was not with the other disciples when, on the third day, our Lord Jesus Christ arose from the dead.

Now "after eight days" had passed the Lord appeared again to His disciples, and fortu-nately Thomas was with them this time or he may never have seen the Lord, and Christ said unto them:

"Peace be unto you" (John 20:26).

The Record of Scripture indicates that Thomas had spoken the words of John 20:25 in unbelief. Our Lord’s sudden presence with them was the surprise of his life. It was Thomas’ time to see the Lord, and to his
utter delight, he heard Him say:

"Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing" (Ver.27).

"And Thomas answered and said unto Him, MY LORD AND MY GOD" (Ver.28).

There was no doubt in his mind now that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead, nor were any of the others doubtful about the mighty power of God to save.

"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:24-29).

Those who find the most for which to crit-icize "Thomas", when presented with the evidence, and the truth of God’s Word "rightly divided", often find it convenient to reject "The Light" (2 Cor.4:6), and cling to old errors.

My friend, this is where you and I come in, and the Apostle of the Gentiles, for in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, he writes of our resurrected Christ:

"WHO WAS DELIVERED FOR OUR OF-FENCES, AND WAS RAISED AGAIN FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION" (Rom.4:25).

"THEREFORE BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST" (Rom.5:1).

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
=================================
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor.4:4).

People sin under the cover of darkness--"
they that be drunken are drunken in the night" (IThes.5:7). They suppose darkness hides the things they do. This is why un-saved man prefers evolution to creation.
It destroys the thought, so he thinks, of having to "give [an] account of himself to God" (Rom.14:12).

How sad! You cannot hide from God. Because there is coming a day "in the which He will judge the world IN RIGHTEOUSNESS by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).

In "that day" these poor souls will only wish they could hide from God, but they will not be able to do so. See Revelation 6:15-17; 20:11-15. These same, now suppose that "that day" is so far away that they need not be concerned. To this the Apostle retorts:

"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight. But all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Heb.4:13).

The difference between the unsaved and those of us who are saved is that we not only have a Saviour, but we also have "a great high priest", who intercedes for us when we fail. The Lord Jesus loves you,
my unsaved friend, and wants to be your Saviour, too.

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condem-neth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom.8:31-34).

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb.4:14-16).

Don’t hide like Adam who sinned, but "seek the Lord, if haply [you] might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us" (Acts 17:27).

Even in the darkness of this world’s sin and wickedness God is there, and He will hear you, and save you, if you will simply ask Him (Rom.10:13).

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
=================================
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Daily Inspirational

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Standing in Grace ... Forever

Sometimes we get the idea that yes, we're saved by grace through faith, but now that we're saved, the Lord puts us on a "works system." We have to be good enough to keep our salvation. We can't really be sure we're going to heaven, because we don't know whether we'll "endure to the end." Here, again, knowing about the "administration of God's grace" that the Lord Jesus revealed to the Apostle Paul for us is the open door to a really blessed Christian experience. Not only are we saved by grace, but our stand-ing before God every day is in His grace! "We were welcomed by faith into this grace in which we stand..You are not under law, but under grace." Romans 5:2 & 6:14 How does law work?

Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for
ye are not under the law, but under grace.

The law says, 'Obey and God will bless you, disobey and God will curse you.' (See Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15-16). Many Bible teach-ers today are teaching law instead of grace. They say "Give your tithes and God will bless you." "Be obedient and God will bless you." Wrong!! This is the essence of the law. "Obey and be blessed, disobey and be cursed."But Paul says we're not under law. We're under grace, we're standing in His grace. And remember how grace works... "If it is by grace then it is no longer by works..." Romans 11:6. Our standing with God is not on the basis of our works, not our obedience, not our tithes ... it is entirely on the basis of His grace, every moment of every day! Bless-ed with all spiritual blessings already by grace (Ephesians 1:3), everything that we do today for the Lord is motivated not by fear (Romans 8:15) but by gratitude (Colossians 3:17)."Thank you Lord that you have already bless-ed me with every spiritual bless-ing, that you saved me by your grace in which I am now standing, that you have begun your good work in me and will carry it on to completion" (Philippians 1:6).This is the Lord Jesus'

Grace For Today.
Pastor Dennis Kiszonas
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Part 1 of 2

BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

The Apostle Paul wrote, in Ephesians 5:18, "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit."
This study is a brief consideration of what it means "to be filled with the Spirit," and what the evidence is of His filling.

1.) What does it mean to be "filled with the Spirit"?
Sometimes in the Bible we read of someone being "filled" with joy, or sorrow, or anger, etc. What does that mean? To be "filled" is to be controlled by something, under the influence of something: So joyful that they were under the control and under the influence of joy, or of sorrow or of anger. To be "filled with the Holy Spirit" is to be under the control of the Spirit, or under the influence of the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 starts out with the command not to be drunk. I used to read that verse and wonder, "Why put these two so seemingly different commands in one verse? 'Don't be drunk with wine but be filled with the Spirit'? Then I realized: to be drunk with wine is to be filled with wine, under the control or influence of wine in much the same way that we are to be filled with, under the control or influence of the Spirit. The two parts of the verse go together very well.
When we are drunk with wine, we take in a foreign substance which has an effect upon our brains, and as we begin to think differently, under the influence of the alcohol, we begin to talk differently and act differently. So also when we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, He begins by renewing our minds, our thinking comes under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit, and when our thinking changes, our speaking and acting changes. We are under the Spirit's control and influence.

Paul's command in Eph 5:18 is a present tense imperative which indicates "be always filled, controlled, and influenced by the Spirit," or "keep on being filled by the Spirit." Not a momentary action, but a constant condition.

2.) Earlier in Ephesians Paul told us that we all have the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13 said that first we heard the good news that Christ died for us. Then we believed in Him as our Savior. Finally, we were sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit. And in Eph 4:30 we learn that the Holy Spirit is never going to leave us, we are sealed unto the day of redemption (the day of the rapture). We may grieve Him, cause Him sorrow as He sees how we act, but He will never leave us. Every Christian has the Holy Spirit. We are never commanded to "receive the Holy Spirit." But every Christian is not filled with the Holy Spirit. So we are command-ed, not to receive the Spirit, but to be filled with Him. He is in us, but He may not be in control. We may be saved, and yet we may not be "spiritual." And so Paul writes, "Let the Spirit be in control of your life."

3.) How do we know if we are filled with the Spirit? What is the evidence of His filling, of His control, of His influence? Here's where the doctrine gets controver-sial! Some churches and denominations claim "we're Spirit-filled--and the others aren't!" Other churches and denominations say "We're not a Spirit-filled church, and we don't want to be!" Spirit-filled has come to have a certain meaning based upon certain supposed evidence: Spirit-filled means speaking in tongues, or acting in some strange manner, etc.
But what does the Bible say the evidence is of the Spirit's filling?
The Body of Christ today is broken into thousands of different denominations and groups. And each group has their verses in the Bible to prove that they're right and the others are wrong. And they all point to verses in the same Bible, yet they all disagree with each other. It is an awful tragedy to see the Body of Christ broken again, divided and confused. What is the reason for all the confusion? The failure to "rightly divide the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15).

Part 2 of 2 - BEING FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

Take the commands in the Bible about food for example: In Gen 1:29 God gave Adam the herbs of the earth and the fruit of the trees to eat as his food. Then later in Gen. 9:1-4 God added to Noah the meat of the animals, fish and fowls to eat as his food. Then God commanded Moses in the Law to eat only some meat, fish and fowls as food, only "kosher" or clean food (Lev. 11) Finally the Lord told Paul that we could eat any kind of food, that every creature was created for our nourishment and nothing was to be forbidden or refused if it is received with thanksgiving (1 Tim 4:3-5).
Now let's imagine there were four preachers: One preached that we could only eat fruits and vegetables. He preached Gen. 1:29. His followers would start the "Vegetarian denomination." The second preacher preached that we could eat only "kosher foods" and he preached Leviticus. His followers could start the "Kosher denomination." The third said "We can eat any kind of food as long as we gave thanks for it." And he preached Paul's letters and his followers would be "followers of Paul."
All three would be "Biblical" -- they all had their verses in the Bible. All three would be "scriptural." But two of them would be wrong. Because, though they were scriptural and Biblical, they weren't "dispensational." They failed to "rightly divide the word of truth."
It was the Apostle Paul alone who wrote, "If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God that was given (by the Lord Jesus Christ) to me for you (the gentiles)" (Eph 3:2). The Lord gave Paul the dispensation of grace for us today and that includes the instructions on what kind of food we can eat.
But this is an illustration of how all the denominations and various divisions got started. They may be Biblical and scriptural, but they fail to be dispensational, and fail to follow "our apostle" for this dispensation of grace, the Apostle Paul, not about food, but about salvation, assurance, prayer, and even the filling of the Spirit, and that's why there is so much disagreement, division and confusion in the Body today.
When we want to know what the evidence of being filled with the Spirit is, there are several Biblical and scriptural answers, but there's only one dispensational answer. The first person said to be filled with the Spirit is found in Exodus 31:1-5. His name was Bezaleel. And the evidence of being Spirit-filled was that he was a master craftsman, a carpenter, a jeweler, a metal worker. Moses was building the tabernacle and God supplied him with a Spirit-filled craftsman. Later in the Bible, in Acts 2, we read that the disciples were filled with the Spirit and the evidence then was the ability to speak in other languages (or 'tongues'), so that Jews in Jerusalem who came from other countries could understand the apostles' message in their native languages (Acts 2:11).
The Holy Spirit filled people in other dispensations, but the evidence was different in each dispensation. What is the evidence of His filling in the dispen-sation of grace? Its not being a master craftsman as in Exodus, or speaking in a foreign language as on the day of Pentecost.
We know that because the Corinthian church spoke in languages (tongues) more than any other of Paul's churches (1 Cor. 1:4-7) but they were not spiritual believers, Paul said they were not spiritual but carnal Christians (1 Cor. 3:1-4). The gift of languages (tongues) was never a sign of spirituality or of being "Spirit-filled" in the dispensation of grace. The most carnal church spoke in languages more than any other church. The evidence of being "Spirit-filled" in this dispensation of grace that we're living in today is found in Ephesians 5:18-6:9. This is the only place in Paul's letters where he writes about being filled with the Spirit, and here's where he gives us the description of a Spirit-filled believer:
Eph. 5:19 "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord." Singing and joy are evidences of the Spirit's filling. 5:20 "Giving thanks always for all things..." A thankful, trusting attitude is an evidence of the Spirit's control, not fearful, not complaining. 5:21 "Submitting to one another..." The evidence of the Spirit's control is seen in our relationships: Spirit-filled wives submitting to their husbands (5:22) and Spirit-filled husbands loving their wives just as Christ loved the church (5:25), and Spirit-filled children obeying their parents and Spirit filled parents raising their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (6:1-4), and Spirit-filled employees doing their work as unto the Lord and Spirit-filled employers respecting and honoring their employees (6:5-9).

It is interesting that in this passage that starts with the command to be Spirit-filled (Ephesians 5:18) and then gives this long list of the evidences of the Spirit-filled life (5:19-6:9), Paul never mentions speaking in languages (tongues) as one of the evidences. That was never an evidence of spirituality or of the Spirit's control in the dispensation of grace. The evidences of spirituality are things like: a husband loving his wife, a joyful believer making melody in his or her heart to the Lord, a peace-filled believer giving thanks for all things to God the Father, etc. A Spirit-filled believer is a believer who is manifesting the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) in his/her life.
The Body of Christ is broken into thousands of denominations, all claiming to be biblical and scriptural, but all divided from the others, and nowhere is the division sharper, the breaks more clear-cut than in the doctrine of the Spirit-filled life. But the answer, as always, is to "rightly divide the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15). The Lord Jesus gave the Apostle Paul the dispensation of grace for us today and that included the provision of the Holy Spirit, His control and His influence to renew our minds and to transform our lives. The command to be "Spirit-filled" is not just for some Christians (the "spirit-filled ones"), but it is for all of us, and it is not a momentary experience, but a constant and ever growing influence as we "let the word of Christ dwell in us richly." (Col 3:16).
Note the results of letting the word of Christ dwell in us in Col 3:16-4:1 and compare them to the results of being Spirit-filled in Ephesians 5:18-6:9. They're the same! To become Spirit-filled, we need to spend more time in His word, and let it "soak in." As we "behold the Lord Jesus Christ" in His word, God the Holy Spirit transforms us to be like Him, He exerts that wonderful influence and takes that gentle control of our lives, He fills us to become like Him.

Pastor Dennis Kiszonas
Grace for Today
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Great Tribulation: What is it?

That interval of time which separates the removal of the Church from the earth and the return of Christ to earth is designated by various descriptions in the Word of God. Isaiah calls it the day of vengeance (Isaiah 61:2). Jeremiah calls it the time of Jacobs trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). It is called the great day of the Lord in Zephaniah 1:14, and a time of trouble in Daniel 12:1. The Lord Jesus calls it the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24:21 and Mark 13:19-20.

For then shall great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, nor ever shall be’ (Matthew 24:21).

The Tribulation is quite different from “tribulation” The word itself literally “to trash,” “to crush.” It carries with it the thought of sorrow and suffering and affliction. Most people some time in life suffer various forms of “tribulation.” (See
Job 14:1, John 16:33, Romans 12:12) But the period of time designated as Great Tribula-tion (or The Great Tribulation. Rev. 7:14) is more personal affliction or individual sorrow. It is a definite, specific period in which certain events will take place.

The Great Tribulation is always either directly started or specifically indicated as being connected with Israel. In Jeremiah 30:7 it is called the Time of Jacob’s Trouble. Why Jacob? It is because of something that happened in Jacob’s life that foreshadowed this tribulation time. It goes back to the night of Jacob’s trouble in Genesis 32:24-30. After some twenty years of exile, Jacob was about to return to his own land. He had reached the border when he heard of Esau’s plan to come and meet him with an army of men. Hearing of this Jacob became afraid and distressed. Through the night he cried to God for deliver-ance. He pleaded for mercy in his hour of crisis.

It was in this night of suffering and anguish that the Lord in mercy changed his name from Jacob to Israel. It was here that God showed more than mercy. He extended grace. For the name Israel means ‘a prince with God.’ So there will come a time when the nation Israel will be in similar circumstances of fear and distress. It will be the time of Jacob’s trouble, the hour of crisis for the nation Israel, The Great Tribulation.

It may not arrive until Israel returns to the Land. But is must come upon Israel before that nation enters into the millennial king-dom. And then during this time of crisis the Anti-Christ will strike fear into the hearts of the nation Israel, as did Esau to the man Israel long ago. And then Israel will cry to God (Matthew 6:13), and it is then that God will show mercy and grace to them. (Romans 11).

All this is yet future. It did not occur at the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 as some erroneously believe. At that time Israel was driven out of the land and scattered. They were not ‘saved’ not ‘delivered,’ but literally lost in the sea of nations. But at the close of the Tribulation time there shall come a ‘Deliverer,’ the Lord Jesus Christ. ‘And so all Israel shall be saved.’ (Romans 11:26).

The great Tribulation is imminent. It will be the most terrible time in all man's history. 'There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.' (Daniel 12:1) 'For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation.' (Mark 13:19; Matthew 24:21) Now is the day of salvation!
Dr. Henry Grube

Dr. Henry Grube was pastor of Greystone Bible Church; he went home to be with LORD in 1968.
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Unanswered prayers...
and the secret of contentment

Paul writes in Philippians 4:12-13
"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

How did he learn the secret of contentment? Of being content even when "hungry" or "in want"?

It went back a number of years to an experi-ence that he tells about in 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 when he had a need in his life. He pleaded with the Lord three times to remove that thorn in his flesh.

And the Lord's answer was ... No!

Instead of taking away Paul's problem, as Paul had prayed, the Lord said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

So Paul then says, "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:9).

In the administration of God's grace that the Lord Jesus revealed to the Apostle Paul, He does not promise to fix all our problems. There is no promise like in the gospels where the Lord promised Israel that "whatever you ask in faith you shall receive."

Read through all of Paul's letters where he writes about the administration of God's grace that the Lord Jesus revealed to him for us today, and you never read a promise like 'whatever you ask in faith you'll receive.' Here is the answer to the problem of unanswered prayers today. Claiming a promise that wasn't made to us.

Today, under grace, we have the promise of "grace and power" (2 Corinthians 12:8) suffi-cient for any problem in our lives, and the Lord Jesus wants us to learn this secret of contentment. Not that He will fix all our problems or "move all our mountains" out of our way, no matter how much faith we may have, but that He is our strength.
"I can do everything through Christ who constantly strengthens me!" Have you learn-ed the secret? Do you know God's Grace For Today?

By Dennis Kiszonas
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"ENTERING INTO HIS REST"

"GOD rested the seventh day from all His works" (Heb.4:4), a reference to the six days of creation as recorded in Genesis 1:1-2:2, and an exhortation that you cease your works and REST in the power of Almighty God.

But Moses himself, through unbelief, failed to enter, and rest, in the land of promise (Heb.4:6; Nu.20:7-13; Deut.34:1-8).

Since he had already "smitten" the rock once (Ex.17:1-7), the Lord now instructed him to "speak" (Nu.20:8) to the rock, for the "Rock" smitten once typifies Christ’s death on Calvary (ICor.10:4; Heb.10:10-14). A "word" humbly "spoken" in the wilderness (Ex.17:1-7) would bring forth the water of life freely, but Moses "smote the rock", not once, but "twice" (Nu.20:11). His anger with Israel, "ye
rebels", revealed his unbelief also, for Christ was not to be "smitten twice" (Nu.20:8). Nevertheless in John 4:14 we see the "water" that Christ gives is a "well of water springing up into everlasting life".

Under the leadership of Moses and Joshua, it is apparent that though Israel entered Canaan , they failed to enter His rest.

"And they to whom it was first preached enter-ed not in because of unbelief" (Heb.4:6).

Even David and his valiant men could not bring Israel into His rest because of unbelief (Heb.4:7).

"For if [Joshua] had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day" (4:8).

From David unto Christ, Israel would not enter into His rest, "although the works were finished from the foundation of the world" (Heb.4:3; Rev.13:8), a reference to the "forbear-ance" of God as Paul declares in Romans 3:25,26.

"Jesus", Hebrews 4:8 in our KJV, refers not only to Joshua, but He whom Joshua typi-fied, our Lord Jesus Christ. Under His Divine Leadership Israel rejected the Millennial Rest of His glorious reign (Luke 19:14). See also Romans 10:3,4.

But there remains "a rest" to all those who will place their faith and rust in our "Great High Priest.......JESUS the Son of God" (Heb.4:14-16).

"FOR HE THAT IS ENTERED INTO HIS REST, HE ALSO HATH CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, AS GOD DID FROM HIS" (Heb.4:10).

Again in Romans, Abraham is God’s great example of faith:

"For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; BUT NOT BEFORE GOD. "For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and...HIS FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Rom.4:2-8).

Isn’t it about time that you also ceased from your so-called "good works". Trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone as your Saviour for salvation, and His finished work on Calvary’s cross, and enter into His rest, by grace through faith?

"IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE" (Eph.1:7).

RUSSELL S. MILLER
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

GRACE REIGNS THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS

In addition to those other passages in Paul’s epistles, where "Grace", "Faith", and "Right-eousness" are found, The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews contains the follow-ing references to "Grace and Faith" as well as "Grace and Peace":

"The THRONE of grace..." (Heb.4:16), so grace reigns.

"The KING of righteousness..." (Heb.7:2). But you argue Christ is the Head of the Church, not King. However the reference is to the mysterious Melchisedec priesthood. Yet I Timothy 1:17 states that our Lord is "the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God...". While I Timothy 6:15 calls our Lord, "...the blessed and only Potentate...". Never-theless, "grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom.5:21).

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, BUT BY HIS OWN BLOOD He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us" (Heb.9:12).

"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" (Rom.3:25).

"...The SPIRIT of grace..." (Heb.10:29), in conjunction with "the Word of grace" (Acts 20:32), teaches us to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col.1:10).

"Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb.11:1).

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hear-ing by the Word of God" (Rom.10:17).

"...The GOD of peace..." (Heb.13:20). It is so comforting to know that our God is dispens-ing "grace" and "peace" today. This blessed theme is prevalent in all of Paul’s epistles, the theme that he and Timothy "preached every where in every church" (ICor.4:17).

"GRACE be with you all..." (Heb.13:25).

"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal.1:3).

Indeed, while many find it difficult to believe the Epistles of Saint Paul, may you find com-fort in knowing the wonderful and marvelous truth that "Grace and Peace" reign through His "Righteousness" today.

RUSSELL S. MILLER
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

INSPIRATION, WHAT IS IT?

When "Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary" as recorded in Luke 1:39-45, and "the babe [John] leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice..." (Vers.41, 42), uttering the words of verses 42-45, was she inspired?

She was, in fact, inspired. And what she "spake" was inspired because Elisabeth "was filled with the Holy Ghost". Consequently the very words which she "spake out" are the inspiration of God. And if this is not enough to prove that the "holy men of God" were, themselves, inspired, we have the very words that Elisabeth "spake out" recorded for us in the inspired Word of God. Even as Luke was, himself, inspired to write The Gospel Accord-ing To St. Luke. So, Scripture confirms that Elisabeth, herself, was inspired.

And not only was Elisabeth inspired of God to speak, but her husband, Zacharias, was also "filled with the Holy Ghost" and what he "prophesied" was the inspiration of God, recorded for our reading in Luke 1:68-79.

Just as God "breathed into [man] the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2:7) so the Lord inspires "holy men of God" to speak and write as they are moved by the Holy Spirit. Would you not agree that to be "filled with the Holy Ghost" is to be, as Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words puts it, "inspired by God".

"ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOC-TRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (IITim. 3:16).

Thus the Apostle Paul was not only, himself, inspired in the writings of his epistles but he also wrote by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
And those who insist that only the words on the page are inspired, do greatly err "not [rightly dividing] the Scriptures"!

Therefore, "the holy men [and women] of God [who] spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (IIPet.1:21) were themselves inspired, and not merely their words on the page. When the prophets uttered, "Thus saith the Lord," some 300 times, they themselves were inspired of Almighty God. Since the days of the Apostles and Prophets, however, there has been no such inspiration for with the letters of Paul revelation came the completion of the Word of God (Col.1:25,26). Once again we see that Scripture is a commentary upon itself.

RUSSELL S. MILLER
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE GOSPEL OF GRACE OF GOD

"Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph.1:2).

The above verse is the theme of all the Epistles of St. Paul where we find how to obtain both "grace" and "peace". The words of this verse are found at the beginning of every one of his letters.

So, which would you rather have, the "grace" and "peace" of God, or would you prefer to see the Lord Jesus Christ on that "white horse" of the Book of the Revelation?

"AND I SAW HEAVEN OPENED, AND BEHOLD A WHITE HORSE; AND HE THAT SAT UPON HIM WAS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE, AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS HE DOTH JUDGE AND MAKE WAR" (Rev.19:11-16).

It is on account of the wickedness of men in seeking to run the world without Him that He judges the earth and makes war.

However, "...now is the Day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). It is in this Day and Age of Grace that God is saving men and women, boys and girls, by grace through faith without works (Eph.2:8,9). We cannot earn heaven, of course, for our salvation is "the gift of God", purchased for us by Christ on Calvary's cross. Paul therefore declares in his Epistle to the Corinthians with regards to "the gospel of your salvation" (Eph.1:13):

"...How that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (ICor.15:3,4).

This redemption that is in Christ Jesus is ours by simple faith in Him.

"We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Eph.1:7).

Nevertheless, we can, and should, draw nigh unto Him, through faith in His blessed Word, the Bible. Read especially the epistles of St. Paul, over and over again, until they become part and parcel of yourself, for therein is our only salvation:

"WHEREFORE HE IS ABLE TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM, SEEING HE EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM" (Heb7:25).

There is no peace in this world, so worth having, as "peace with God".

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

WHAT IS GRACE ?

Question: What is grace?

Answer: Grace is God's riches at Christ's expense. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to pay for our sins. Jesus Christ's obedience to God's will made it possible for us to obtain salvation. "Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave him-self for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Galatians 1:3-5
Grace teaches us to live:

soberly (moderately, discreetly, being temp-erate and self-controlled with a sound mind)

righteously (justly, innocently, holy, being equitable in our character and actions) and

godly (piously, devout being well-reverent)
today!

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee." Titus 2:11-15

Have you accepted God's grace? If not, what are you waiting for?

Question: What is the difference between "law" and "grace"?

Answer: Under the law system, God's relation-ship with man was on the basis of man's obedience to God's divine law. Failure to obey resulted in withholding of blessings, punishment, separation and death. God's command to man was "thou shalt..." and his promise was "I will..." Some examples are found in Exodus 20: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." "Thou shalt not kill." "An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee." (verses 3, 7, 13, 24)

What was the problem with the law? Simply put, man failed to keep it and thus man be-came guilty of all. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10 The law was weak in the flesh. When Christ shed his blood on the cross, he condemned sin in the flesh and liberated us from the law. "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, con-demned sin in the flesh: That the righteous-ness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Romans 8:2-4

What was the purpose of the law? To teach us that we are sinners and that we are in need a Saviour. "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopp-ed, and all the world may become guilty be-fore God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:19-20 "Wherefore the law was our school-master to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a school-master." Galatians 3:24-25

Under grace, God's relationship with man is based upon His mercy in giving man total and complete forgiveness for sins. The sacrifices under the law could not take away sins. "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." Hebrews 10:4 These sacrifices were only a temporary solution. God provided a perma-nent solution by taking away sins with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily minister-ing and offering oftentimes the same sacri-fices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." Hebrews 10:9-13

Because man fell short of God's glory by sinning, God set forth Jesus Christ as our propitiation (or fully satisfying sacrifice). "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemptionthat 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." Romans 3:23-26

The law taught us of our short comings and our need for salvation. Grace teaches us of our completeness in Christ. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespases; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." Colossians 2:6-15

The law required continual obedience. Grace requires one time acceptance. The law work-eth wrath. "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgress-ion." Romans 4:15 Through grace, we have peace. "THEREFORE being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2 "Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound, But where sin abound-ed, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:20-21

By Rita Lee Graves
=================================
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"LOVE WITHOUT HYPOCRISY"

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER

"Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" (Rom.12:9).

The Pauline epistles have much to say about "Love Without Hypocrisy". The meaning of hypocrisy is simple enough -- playing a part rather than actually living the part. The television is clearly an instrument of hypocrisy. The world is full of actors, all pretending to be somebody they’re not, whereas believers in Christ ought to be living a true life for our Saviour. The love with which Timothy’s mother and
grandmother cherished him, however, was most assuredly not produced by Hollywood. What a testimony his life and character was to the truth of God’s Word. See II Timothy 1:5:

"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."

The word "unfeigned" is translated "without dissimulation" in Romans 12:9 and "without hypocrisy" in James 3:17. It is also found in II Corinthians 6:6; I Timothy 1:5; and I Peter l:22.

The word "love", of Romans 12:9, was not produced in Hollywood either. It is that "love of God" (Rom. 5:5,8; 8:35) that eternally secures believers in Christ with "all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies" (Eph.1:3). But our local assemblies would do well in "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts" (Tit.2:12). This would produce so much more for the cause of Christ through "His constraining love" (IICor.5:14). If believers of all walks of life would only "be filled with the Spirit" (Eph.5:18) they would not "fulfil the lust of the
flesh" (Gal.5:16). This is why Paul writes Timothy:

"Now the end of the commandment is charity [agape] out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned [without hypocrisy]" (ITim.1:5).

Peter wrote to the Jewish remnant, "scattered throughout" Asia Minor, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (IPet.1:22).

"A pure heart, a good conscience, and unfeigned faith" produces the kind of true love, that balance in the Christian life, that brings forth fruit, unto God.

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Gal.5:16).
=================================
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE GOSPEL PRODUCES ASSURANCE

"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake" (IThes.1:5).

Many people do not have assurance in these days in which we live. They base their sal-vation upon what some man has said, or upon some church doctrine, rather than God’s Word. Even their so-called "good works" cannot please God because they have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ and refused to believe Paul’s God-given "gospel" of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph.1:7).

The Lord has told us that "the gift of God IS ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom.6:23). If God’s "gift" is eternal life, and we are "justified by [Christ’s] blood" (Rom.5:9), should we not believe what God has said? He is well able to perform that which He has said He will do.

"BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING, THAT HE WHICH HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFORM IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST" (Phil.1:6).

The "performance", here, also goes beyond our salvation to include our daily walk with Him. It is true that "we are HIS workmanship" (Eph.2:10), but it is equally true that we are to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil.2,12). "Shall we continue in sin [then], that grace may abound?" (Rom.6:1). Paul answers this with an emph-atic: "GOD FORBID. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Rom.6:2). This lifestyle does not produce assurance; it rather produces guilt as we can readily see from the world about us! It there-fore behooves every child of God to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, accept-able 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 (Rom. 12:1,2).

There is more. To the yielded believer, "God works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil.2:13). Indeed our won-derful Saviour desires greater things yet -— "That our hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the FULL ASSURANCE of understanding, to the acknowledgment [full knowledge] of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ" (Col.2:2).

This is the "gospel" that "established" the believers at Thessalonica and also produces assurance in us today. Listen to what the Apostle wrote in his first letter to them:

"For OUR gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance...." When we believe Paul’s gospel, we have that assurance of being true "FOLLOWERS OF THE LORD"
(IThess.1:5,6).

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
=================================
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;but unto us which are
saved it is the power of God." (1 Cor 1:18)

We have often heard it said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The statement usually means that our opinion of something depends on our perspective. Our text, 1 Corinthians 1:18, tells us that "the preaching of the cross" will produce two different re- actions in people. Perhaps it is best to first define what is meant by the "preaching of the cross." The preaching of the cross meant telling the Biblical message that everyone is a sinner by nature and a sinner by choice; it means that man is doomed to a literal hell
because the wages of sin is eternal death; it means that God's Son the Lord Jesus Christ, entered time and space and came to earth to die for our sins; it means that by placing faith and trust in Jesus Christ's work on our be- half, we are forever saved from the penalty of sin and are inheritors of eternal life. The preaching of the cross leaves no room for religion or good works. The Biblical gospel leaves no other way to heaven. It is the only way: Humanism, Taoism, Buddhism, Mormon-ism, Catholicism, or any other ism will not provide salvation. This is the preaching of the cross. What we think of this message depends on whether or not we believe it. 1 Corinthians 1:18 tells us that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. On the other hand, to those who have belived, it is the experienced power
of God at work in their life. Notice that believers are already in the completed state of salvation, once for all saved. What is your opinion of the preaching of the cross for salvation? The choice is yours, and you must make it.

Pastor David Havard
=================================
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

WHY IT IS GRACE, PLUS NOTHING

Since sin entered the human race by the unbelief and disobedience of Adam, God has decreed that in order to be saved from the penalty of sin every sinner must be obedient in faith. Lost, believing Satan's lie and dis-obeying God's command, man must now believe and obey God's truth. This has always been God's method of saving man, by grace through faith.

Abel, according to Hebrews 11:4, could not have been saved had he not brought an offering. Yet, according to Hebrews 10:4, the offering in itself could not atone for sin. Essentially, he had to bring an offering in order to be accepted. God demanded an offering. Faith obeyed. (Even as money will purchase a railway ticket, but the ticket must be produced before the prospective passen-ger can ride.) Abel's faith purchased the ticket (the lamb), and upon presentation he was accepted of God.

Moses, (Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 5:1), gave God's commandments. Those who had faith would endeavor to keep the law. Know-ing that none could 'keep the law,' God provided grace within the law, and made it possible for all who believed to secure atone-ment by bringing an offering.

John the Baptist was used of God to call the nation (Israel) to repentance. Again, God demanded an ACT of faith (Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:4-5), and those who believed God, performed the act of obedience (Luke 7:29). But those who rebelled and rejected God, refused to obey (Luke 7:30).

Peter, at Pentecost, preached the same message as John the Baptist. Israel had sinned and in unbelief had crucified the Son of God. God demanded faith, and an ACT of obedience (Acts 2:38). All who desired for-giveness submitted to the command of God through Peter.

Then a wonderful thing happened, God saved Saul of Tarsus, who became 'Paul,' the apostle to the Gentiles (Colossians 1:24-29, Romans 15:16). And God revealed to Paul a secret which had been hid from all men through all ages (Ephesians 3), and God used Paul to be the great revealer and explainer of what Christ actually accomplished on the cross. Paul brought us to the grand new truth that our Lord on the cross was not a victim but a victor; that the cross was not a tragedy but a crowning triumph in the plan of God.

Christ became our sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12). Christ kept and met every requirement of the law for us (Romans 8:1-4, Galatians 3:13). Christ was baptized into death for us (Romans 6:3). Paul declares that if sinners today will only put their faith in Christ, the Son of God, trust Him, then God will give them credit for everything which Christ did (2 Corinthians 5:21).

He explains in Romans 3:21-31 that now God only requires believing on the Lord Jesus as the ACT of obedience. He says the law was in force only UNTIL Jesus Christ died and rose again (Gal. 3:19 and Hebrews 9:16).

So today- faith is still that which acts in obedience to God's commands. The only command God gives today is, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31). Faith purchases the ticket; com-ing to God in the name of the Lord Jesus secures for us eternal salvation. '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' (Eph 2:8-9).

H. Grube, Pastor
=================================
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

ALWAYS NOW

2 Cor 6:1 (KJV) We ......... beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

The grace you had yesterday will not do for to-day. Grace is the overflowing favour of God; you can always reckon it is there to draw upon. "In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses"--that is where the test for patience comes. Are you failing the grace of God there? Are you saying--Oh, well, I won't count this time? It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you; it is taking the grace of God now. We make prayer the preparation for work, it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the exercise of drawing on the grace of God. Don't say --I will endure this until I can get away and pray. Pray now; draw on the grace of God in the moment of need. Prayer is the most practical thing, it is not the reflex action of devotion. Prayer is the last thing in which we learn to draw on God's grace.

"In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours"---in all these things manifest a drawing upon the grace of God that will make you a drawing upon the grace of God that will make you a marvel to yourself and to others. Draw now, not presently. The one word in the spiritual vocabulary is NOW. Let circumstances bring out where they will keep drawing on the grace of God in every conceivable condition you may be in. One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be humiliated without manifesting the slightest trace of anything but His grace.

"Having nothing..." Never reserve anything. Pour out the best you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful about the treasure God gives. This is poverty triumphant.

Author unknown
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Glory of Grace

If you find it difficult to live the Christian life you are not alone. Many Christians live second-rate lives with feelings of insecurity, discontent, anxiety and impotency. For them, the joy and victory that the gospel of grace promises seem little more than a theoretical illusion, a fleeting ghost in the face of disappointments that trap them in a syndrome of stress, self-pity and depression. Sadly missing are the confidence, assurance and consistency that come from the life of freedom that faith in Jesus Christ brings for every believer.
Grace is the answer. Legalism is the enemy. Victory in the Christian life is obtained in the same manner as salvation: by appropriating, receiving, believing - not by works.
Rom. 6:11-13 is a key passage every believer needs to master:

(Romans 6:11-13 KJV) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. {12} Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. {13} Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

This is the process: Reckon yourself dead unto sin, but alive unto God. How is it possible? Just before the above passage, Paul had explained:

(Romans 6:3 KJV) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

The moment we trust the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we die - with Him. Our baptism (identfication) into Christ's death sets us free from sin, "For he that is dead is freed from sin" (vs. 7). But grace does not stop there; the wonderful thing is that we can die and yet still live.

(Romans 6:4 KJV) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Is only after we die - with Christ - that we are able to ret ially start living - again, with Him. Thus Paul goes on to state:

(Romans 6:17-18 KJV) But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. {18} Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

(Romans 6:22 KJV) But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

All of this is succinctly summed up in a verse every sincere believer should know by heart:

(Galatians 2:20 KJV) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

How can I be dead and alive at the same time? The explanation is clear: It is not I anymore but it is Christ who lives in me and it is His life - His power, energy and wisdom - that is to be on display in my action and attitudes. The wonderful truth is that Jesus Christ gave His life for me at Calvary, so that He might give His life to me when I trusted Him, so that He might live His life through me day by day.
This is the glory of grace: not simply that it saves us from eternal damnation in "the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8), there is more, "much more." The glory of God's grace to us in Christ is that His life is available to us right now.
Speaking about the saints, Col. 1:27 says:

(Colossians 1:27 KJV) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The "riches of the glory of this mystery" is defined as "Christ in you, the hope of glory." This wealth is what God wants His saints to appreciate and rejoice in. If all you understand about grace is that we are not Israel and they are not us, you are missing the real wealth, because the "riches of His grace" are found in God's saving godless sinners and then coming and living His life in them.
Being set free from sin and having the life that spoke the universe unto existence living in us is "the riches of the glory of this mystery," indeed!
It is this truth of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" that empowers the believer's walk. To be "dead in sin" provides needed freedom from sin's dominion; to be "alive unto God" provides the capacity to use this freedom to bring forth "the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God" (Phil. 1:11).
Gal. 4:1,2 demonstrates that a basic difference between a child and an adult is the issue of freedom. What a child is required and forced to do, an adult does voluntarily. What a child does in fear, an adult does in freedom.
Freedom is an awesome thing. Although it can be and too often is abused, when it is used for its intended purpose, our freedom in Christ is our most valuable spiritual asset. There are two aspects to freedom: freedom from and freedom for.
By God's grace we have been freed from sin - from both its con-demnation and its control. Free from guilt and shame. Free from the downward impulses and urges we couldn't stop when in bondage to sin. Free from the tyranny of other's expectations, opinions and demands. But this is not all - not by far.
God's grace has also made us free for service. We are free to obey, free to love, free to forgive others as well as ourselves, free to live beyond the limitations of human effort, free to serve and glorify Christ, free to live as adult members of the family of God.
When we come to appreciate the freedom of our Sonship, we recognize that we are free to voluntarily do that which formerly we did in fear. As adults we can voluntarily apply the wisdom of God to the details of our lives by making decisions based on the Word of God.
God is surely glorified when believers bear the fruits of their righteous standing in Christ. These "fruits of righteousness are by Jesus Christ" - that is, they are mediated through Christ in us. There is literally an outbreak of the righteous character of God on the stage of human history through the lives of believers who bear these fruits.
This is of course the result of "the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (I Thess. 2:13). We could never accomplish this by our own doings, no matter how intended. just as an apple tree bears apples because of the life that is in it, so the believer bears fruits of the righteousness because of the life of Christ living through us.
When Paul says, "It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13), he is referring to the Spirit of God working in the believer's inner man through the Word of God. Our service is not born out of an outward constraint or necessity, but rather is the result of the life of Christ in us working itself out through the members of our body as we voluntarily apply God's wisdom to the details of our lives. Thus it is that "the life is also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body" (II Cor. 4:10,11).
The glory of God's grace to us in Christ goes far beyond simply what He has and is doing for us. It goes on into the manifestation of what He is doing for Himself through us, for we are simply "His workman-ship, created in Christ Jesus unto (Gk epi - upon) good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).

The law of God condemns the best of men; the grace of God saves the worst of men.

by Unknown
=================================
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE GOSPEL OF GRACE OF GOD

"Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph.1:2).

The above verse is the theme of all the Epistles of St. Paul where we find how to obtain both "grace" and "peace". The words of this verse are found at the beginning of every one of his letters.

So, which would you rather have, the "grace" and "peace" of God, or would you prefer to see the Lord Jesus Christ on that "white horse" of the Book of the Revelation?

"AND I SAW HEAVEN OPENED, AND BEHOLD A WHITE HORSE; AND HE THAT SAT UPON HIM WAS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE, AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS HE DOTH JUDGE AND MAKE WAR" (Rev.19:11-16).

It is on account of the wickedness of men in seeking to run the world without Him that He judges the earth and makes war.

However, "...now is the Day of salvation" (IICor. 6:2). It is in this Day and Age of Grace that God is saving men and women, boys and girls, by grace through faith without works (Eph.2:8,9). We cannot earn heaven, of course, for our salvation is "the gift of God", purchased for us by Christ on Calvary's cross. Paul therefore declares in his Epistle to the Corinthians with regards to "the gospel of your salvation" (Eph.1:13):

"...How that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (ICor.15:3,4).

This redemption that is in Christ Jesus is ours by simple faith in Him.

"We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Eph.1:7).

Nevertheless, we can, and should, draw nigh unto Him, through faith in His blessed Word, the Bible. Read especially the epistles of St. Paul, over and over again, until they become part and parcel of yourself, for therein is our only salvation:

"WHEREFORE HE IS ABLE TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM, SEEING HE EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM" (Heb.7:25).

There is no peace in this world, so worth having, as "peace with God".

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE APOSTLE PAUL'S SPIRITUAL SECRET?

Have you learned Paul's secret of content-ment? He could say, "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation" (Philippians 4:11). "Any and every situation"sometimes involved extreme hard- ships--"I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone with-out food; I have been cold and naked" (11 Corinthians 11:27).

He could say this because Christ was HIS LIFE. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

HUDSON TAYLOR LEARNED PAUL'S SECRET

How could Hudson Taylor continue in China after his wife died and his children were sent back to England? Hudson's brother, Howard Taylor, writes, "If ever the reality of the power of Christ to meet the heart's deepest need was put to the test of experience it was in this life, swept clean of all that had been its earthly comfort---wife, children, home, health to a large extent-left amid the responsibilities of such a Mission and such a crisis, far away in China."

Hudson Taylor wrote to Miss Blatchley, who was caring for his children in England, "How little I believed the rest and peace I now enjoy possible down here. It is heaven begun be-low, is it not? May we ever enjoy it! Com- pared with this union with Christ, heaven or earth are unimportant accidents..."

Hudson Taylor corresponded with his sister, "Oh! It is joy to feel Jesus living in you. To find your heart taken up by him; to be remind-ed of His love by His seeking communion with you at all times, not by your painful attempts to abide in Him. He is our life, our strength, our salvation; He is our wisdom and righteousness, our sanctification and re-demption; He is our power for service and fruit bearing, and His bosom is our resting place now and forever..."

Writing to Mr. Berger at the home office in England he said, "Oh! My dear brother, what a wonderful expression is that, "In Christ Jesus." And what a wonderful fact is our being in Christ Jesus and He is in us. Day by day I am learning a little and a little more of it, and it is so sweet, so practical, so simple, so all-sufficient! And yet no truth
makes one fear so utterly childlike. It is like playing in the shallows of a boundless ocean...Oh, the unsearchable riches of His fullness! And all is ours---for He is ours and we are His.

Hudson Taylor discovered the 'exchanged life' after toiling in China for several year. Mr. Judd described the change, "He was a joyous man now, a bright happy Christian. He had been a toiling, burdened one before, with latterly not much rest of soul. It was resting in Jesus now, and LETTING HIM DO THE WORK---WHICH MAKES THE DIFFER-ENCE! Whenever he spoke in meetings after that, a new power seemed to flow from him, and in the practical things of life a new peace possessed him. Troubles did not worry him as before. He cast everything on God in a new way..."

Hudson Taylor told his sister of his experi-ence: "As to work, more was never so plentiful, so responsible, or so difficult; but the weight and strain are all gone. The last month or more has been perhaps, the happiest of my life; and I long to tell you a little of what the Lord has done for my soul. I do not know how far I may be able to make myself intelligible about it, for there is noth-ing new or strange or wonderful---and yet, all is new! In a word, 'Whereas once I was blind, now I see'....

Will Be Continued
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THE APOSTLE PAUL'S SPIRITUAL SECRET?
Part two

The sweetest part, if one may speak on one part being sweeter than another, is the rest which full identification with Christ brings. I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize this; for He, I know, is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine....

Faith, I now see, is 'The substance of things hoped for,' and not mere shadow. It is not less than sight but more. Sight only shows the out-ward forms of things; faith gives the substance. You can rest on substance, feed on substance. Christ dwelling in the heart by faith (i.e. His Word of Promise credited) is power indeed, is life indeed. And Christ and sin will not dwell together; how can we have His presence with love of the world, or care- fulness about 'many things'?

How should we look upon this experience, these truths, as for the few, they are the birth-right of every child of God, and no one can dispense with them without dishonor of our Lord. The only power for deliverance from sin or for true service is Christ."

An unknown Christian said, "The most extra-ordinary thing about the victorious life is that although it is so clearly taught in Scripture, yet it is so frequently unrecognized by Bible students. Many who have a thorough know-ledge of their Bibles know nothing of this truth experimentally. The writer himself had been a careful student of the scriptures for many years before the glory of this life lighted up his soul. Again and again clergy have confessed, 'we do not preach this
truth because we do not know it experi-mentally'."

Miles J. Stanford notes that many great saints labored for years before understanding and experiencing this truth. We might consider some familiar names of believers whom God obviously brought to maturity and used for His glory---such as Pierson, Chapman,Tauler, Moody, Goforth, Mueller, Taylor, Watt, Trun-bull, Meyer, Murray, Havergal, McConkey, Deck, Paxson, Stoney, Carmichael and Hopkins. The average for these was 15 years after they entered their life's work before they began to know the Lord Jesus as their life and ceased trying to work for Him and began allowing Him to be their all and all and do His work through them.

FRANCES SCHAEFFER LEARNED PAUL'S SECRET

Francis Schaeffer, a man who probably influenced Christianity more than anybody during the 20th century, ministered for more than ten years before he understood the power of the resurrected Christ in his life. He made it clear that he was not speaking about or claiming for himself a "second blessing" or a "second work of grace", neither was he saying that faith is grounded in experience. Christian faith is grounded in the objective revelation of the God of the Bible, but experi-encing a relationship with God that continues throughout life would follow a person's new birth. He recognized that his own lack of reality of the presence of God in his life was related to his ignorance about the meaning of the finished work of Christ in his present life. A new door opened to him in the hayloft, a door that led him to acting more upon his knowledge of the Christian faith. He came to realize the necessity of being open to Christ in prayer, so that Jesus Christ could bear His fruit in his life. He learned that if he was to become an agent of God, he must allow Christ to work in him. He believed Christians must know the power of the resurrected Christ in their own lives in the present. He began to insist that the Christian life involves a daily reliance upon the Holy Spirit within us as a constant act of faith...By faith, there should be and ever increasing, moment by moment experiential, side of his faith, but it has been too often overlooked by his reviewers and by his critics.

On furlough to America form L'Abri, a faith ministry he began in 1955, Schaeffer wrote a series of talks he gave simply titled, Sanctification I, II, III, IV, V." They stirred controversy. Objections came to such statements as: "There is no source of power for God's people---for preaching or teaching or anything else---except Christ himself. Apart from Christ, anything which seems to be spiritual power is actually the power of the flesh." His mission board cut his support by $100 a month and sent out letters warning of Schaeffers' influence. However, today few realize that he understood and taught the "Christ life."

(The quotations were taken from Dr. Turner's new book, UNDERSTANDING GRACE)
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY"

"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [hindereth] will [hinder], until he be taken out of the way.
"And then shall that wicked [one] be reveal-ed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:
"Even him [anti-Christ], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders" (IIThes.2:7-9).

In this world-system "the mystery of iniquity" is connected with foreign intrigue, espion-age, politics, and liberalism, but this short study shall focus upon the professing church with its modernism, ecumenicalism, and neo-evangelicalism. There is no principle, or cause, that these men will not sacrifice upon the altar of their global economy and one world religion. And this wickedness was already at work in Paul’s day under the guise of different names, but nevertheless just as subtle:

"For if he that cometh preacheth ANOTHER Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him" (IICor.11:4; see also verses 13-15).

Satan, of course, is responsible for all the confusion, wickedness, and lawlessness that is in this world. It is Satan who "hates" our "Liberty" in the Lord Jesus Christ and seeks only to "steal" and to "kill" and to "destroy" (John 8:44; IICor. 3:17; John 10:10). But the "love" of God was manifested in the cross of Calvary where "CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS" (ICor.15:3,4).

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (IICor.4:3,4).

Nevertheless God has not given us "the spirit of fear" but rather He has commissioned us with "the mystery of godliness" today, and equipped us with the ability "to make all men see WHAT IS THE FELLOWSHIP OF THIS MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world hath been HID IN GOD, who created all things by Jesus Christ" (Eph.3:9) until He takes us, His blood-bought Church, out of this sinful world.

Such preaching, in the power of the Holy Spirit, will suppress "the mystery of iniquity" (Rom.1:16-18; IITim. 3:5) and further the cause of Christ in this world.

The commission, which God has given members of the Body of Christ --Romans 16:25,26 -- has been ridiculed and slighted even by Christians for many long years now. It is about time they woke up to the stark and stern reality, that Paul’s Gospel hinders the ministers of iniquity!

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
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Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

LIGHT AND DARKNESS, AND THE LOVE OF GOD

"Giving thanks unto the Father, Which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheri-tance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son..." (Col.1:12-14).

When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of "the tree of [the] knowledge of good and evil" (Gen.2:9) they fell into sin themselves, and plunged the whole human race into sin (Rom. 5:12). Having been warned, "for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Gen.2:17) they were disobedient, and so, we are no longer perfect, but sinful, and in need of the Saviour. While it may take 70 or 80 years, from the moment we are born, we begin to die, and "dying thou shalt die". Consequently mankind, that’s all of us, was blinded by the devil’s lie, and as such, walks in darkness.

"In whom the god of this world [Satan] HATH BLINDED THE MINDS OF THEM WHICH BELIEVE NOT, lest the LIGHT of the GLOR-IOUS gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should SHINE unto them" (IICor.4:4).

If a man is dying, and you have the means to help him, would you let him die? So God, Himself, places a "very high value" upon us all. We are of "eternal worth" to Him. He sent His "Eternal Son" to pay for our sins, Himself, at the extreme cost of His own life’s blood (Rom.8:31-34; Eph.1:7) that we may now, by faith in Christ, walk in the Light of His Word. Why else would God have sent His "only begotten Son" into this sin cursed world to die on a cruel cross for our sins? Therefore God will not, and cannot, accept your "good" works in substitute of Christ’s "finished work of redemption" on Calvary’s cross.

It’s not "good works", then, but rather a matter of whether or not we believe God’s Word. It is what Christ did on the cross that God accepts (Rom.3:25), and as we accept Christ's redemptive work on our behalf (Eph. 2:8,9), God "accepts" us (Eph.1:6). Do we believe the truth of the Word of God or the devil’s lie? God loves us, each and every one of us, with an everlasting, an eternal, love. How MUCH He loves us:

"BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US" (Rom.5:8).

"BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED..." (Acts 16:31).

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
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Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE UNCERTAINTIES OF LIFE

Are you prepared to meet the Lord? Have you trusted Christ as your Saviour? Or will you meet Him as your Judge?

September 11, 2001: The news reports that terrorists had attacked the World Trade Center, and demolished it, in New York City, and attacks on other government buildings in Washington, and elsewhere, shocked the nation and the world.

Such unbelievably horrifying news should certainly awaken America! It is our prayer that the entire world will be awakened spiritually to real faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (This could have happened to your city, your place of business, and your office!) Have you been troubled by the uncertainties of life? Death comes to all, whether in the city or quaint little towns. Death is but a breath away, a heartbeat, and we have all broken God’s Laws, ignored His righteous standards, and have gone our own way. In short, as we read in Paul’s letter to the Romans:

"FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD" (Rom.3:23).

And...,

"THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD" (Rom.6:23).

In the midst of all of life’s uncertainties there is one constant, The Love of God.

"BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TO-WARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US" (Rom.5:8).

God’s great love continues to delay His judg-ment upon the wickedness of man’s sin (Acts 17:31). And for now, He extends, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom.1:2). Individ- ually, by faith in Christ, "WE HAVE REDEMP-TION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVE-NESS OF SINS, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE" (Eph.1:7). If you will simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God will save you, and then, when this life ends, you will be forever in Heaven with the Christ of glory.

God has made the plan of salvation very simple. When the jailor at Philippi asked Paul and Silas, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30), the Apostle Paul replied:

"BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED..." (Acts 16:31).

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
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Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

GODLINESS IN AN UNGODLY WORLD

Of the first two children born into this world, Cain bludgeoned his brother, Abel, to death (Gen.4:4-8). And before two more chapters in
the history of the human race, as recorded in the Book of Genesis, are passed, we read these words:

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagi-nation of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually:
"And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart" (Gen.6:5,6).

The seeds of wickedness and sin, millennia ago and through the years, continue to pro-duce such ungodliness in our world today. But how are we to live "godly" in such an ungodly world? The answers to this, and
many other questions, are found in Paul’s epistles.

"FOR I SPEAK TO YOU GENTILES, INAS- MUCH AS I AM THE APOSTLE OF THE
GENTILES, I MAGNIFY MINE OFFICE" (Rom.11:13).

And the Apostle Paul, God’s man for today, continues in Romans to declare:

"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peace-ably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will re-pay, saith the Lord" (Rom.12:17-19).

In I Thessalonians 4:1-12, Paul instructs believers how they ought to walk and to please God, and furthermore, in Galatians, he declares:

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Gal.5:16).

In the midst of all this ungodliness, believers are to manifest God in their lives:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
"Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
"And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
"If we live in the Spirit, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT" (Gal.5:22-25).

We’re speaking about "godliness".Remember "the Judgement Seat of Christ", is much closer today than it has ever been before! Are you ready to meet the Lord (IICor.5:10)?
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Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

LED by the SPIRIT

But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law, Galatians 5:18
...for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14

With this simple statement the Apostle Paul taught one of the most important principles for living the new life in Christ. Transformation, a changed life, begins here with the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life. We are changed by
a person who has come to live in us permanently.

Receiving the Holy Spirit

Since the Holy Spirit is a "spirit," he cannot be felt, seen, touched. He is spiritual and not able to be sensed by physical senses.

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit John 3:8.

We can see and hear the effects of the wind, but we cannot see the wind itself. So with the Holy Spirit, we can see His effects, but we are not capable of directly sensing Him. For this reason there are many unscriptural ideas about the Holy Spirit. We must walk by faith here and believe what the scriptures teach about the Holy Spirit, rather than trying to actually see or feel his presence.

Paul writes to the Galatians that all believers are led by the Spirit. He came to live in us at the moment that we put our faith in the Lord Jesus as our Savior:

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Galatians 3:2.

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "ABBA, Father!" Galatians 4:6

We received this Spirit by the "hearing of faith" -- -- -- that is, when we believed the gospel, we received the Holy Spirit into our lives. When we became sons of God, he sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. In the dispensation of grace that we read about in Paul's epistles, there is no believer who does not have the Holy Spirit. And we don't have to wait to Him, He comes into our hearts as soon as we believe the gospel.

The Spirit's leading

When the Holy Spirit entered in, He came to "lead" us. We often hear people saying things like, "The Spirit led me to do something," or "God led me to go somewhere." But this is not the idea of the Paul is writing about in Galatians 5:18 because these experiences are just occasional, sporadic events in the believer's life, but the leading of the Holy Spirit is a constant experience. The Holy Spirit doesn't lead us only in rare occasions but at all times.

It is helpful to put two verses side by side to see the point that Paul is making here:

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law: Galatians 5:18
......for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14

Both verses state that we are "not under law." One says, in contrast to being under law, that we are the "led by the Spirit." The other that, in contrast too being under law, that we are "under grace." To be under grace is to be led by the Spirit, and to be led by the Spirit is to be under grace. Not passing, occasional experi-ences, but comprehensive descriptions of the Christian life today in the dispen-sation of grace.

We are not under law -- -- -- not under a system in which blessings or earned by obedience and curses received for disobedience (this was God's plan for the nation of Israel, see Deuteronomy 28 for a full exposition of "law") We do not earn our blessings a little at a time by obeying God because under grace we were blessed totally, with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, when we believed the gospel (Ephesians 1:3). And as for curses, the Lord Jesus became a curse for us on the cross (Galatians 3:13) there is no curse for us today.

Under grace we are completely released from the system of earning blessings or fearing curses, we are "loved." Instead of a system of law, we are given the Holy Spirit who leads us under grace. We do not always follow Him, but He is leading use every moment under grace.

Will be Continued...
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Led by the Spirit
Second part
Pastor Dennis Kiszonas

Walking in the spirit

The Holy Spirit came to live in us when we believed, and He came to lead us in our life for the Lord, not to drag us or force us -- -- Paul writes to the Galatians:

Stand fast and therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

The leading of the Holy Spirit is not a leading that drags us on the end of a chain, it is freedom and not bondage.

On the other hand, His leading is not "carrying us" or "bearing us." He leads us, but we need to follow him, or as Paul writes to "walk by the Spirit" since we are now "living by the Spirit." Though the Spirit is leading, He is not living the life in us all by himself. As Paul wrote to the full the Philippians:
Work out (note carefully: not work for) your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13

He is at work in us to will and to perform, but we are the one who must work out what He is working in. How do we do that? Paul wrote to the Galatians:

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you ow being made perfect by the flesh? Galatians 3:2-3

They received the Spirit by hearing the message of grace, the message of the Cross, with faith, that's how they "began in the Spirit." Now Paul says, continue as you began. We go on believing in the message of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), We are motivated under grace not by offer of blessings -- -- we have already been totally blessed, and not by the fear of cursings -- -He became a curse for us, but we are motivated by gratitude, by thanksgiving for what the Lord did for us on the Cross.

The first ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives revealed to us in Paul's letters is found in Romans 5:5-6.

......the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

The Holy Spirit comes into the believer's heart under grace with the primary ministry of pouring out the love of God in our hearts, that's his love for us demonstrated at the Cross where the Lord Jesus died for us. And as we focus on that love, Paul describes the proper response:

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Cor. 5:14-15.

Paul's heart had been gripped by the love of Christ for Him, that 'He loved me and gave Himself for me!' (Galatians 2:20). This love compelled Paul, it gripped his heart and life so that from now on he would no longer live for himself but for the Lord who died and rose for him.

The life led by the Spirit is a life motivated not by fear or the desire to add more blessing, but by love and gratitude. What more could the Lord have done for us? If the Cross does not grip our hearts what will?

And whatever you do in Word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

Whatever you do, Paul writes, let it all be done as a prayer of thanksgiving. Everything in life done to say 'Thank you, Lord' for dying for me.

The Spirit and All - Sufficient Grace

In a number of places in his letters Paul writes of the amazing power of God at work in his life. He wrote to the Philippians:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Philippians 4:13

And to the Corinthians, he wrote about the time he prayed for relief from a problem and received an unexpected answer:

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor. 12:8-9.

This grace that is sufficient for every situation in life is nothing less, no one less, than the Spirit Himself. He points us constantly back to the Cross and to the resurrection of the Lord.

I had been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Here is God provision for us to be "led by the Spirit" and living in the "newness of life."
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"JOINT-HEIRS, JOINT-BODY, JOINT-PARTAKERS"

"That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel" (Eph.3:6).

Bible prophecy has great things in store for those Gentiles of the future "kingdom of Heaven" on earth, but such a position as "joint-heirs, and of a joint-body, and joint-partakers" is foreign to the prophetic Word of God. Nevertheless such is the rendering of Darby’s New Translation; Bullinger’s foot-notes; and Englishman’s Greek New Testament.

This is why Paul declares that "the Mystery" committed to his trust was "hid in God", "not made known", and "hid from ages and from generations" until it was first revealed to him by the glorified Lord Jesus Christ (Eph.3:1-9; Col.1:26; ICor. 9:17; Gal.1:11,12).

"Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Eph.3:5).

In all that which the Lord Jesus Christ in-herits of His Father, we have been made "JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST" (Rom.8:17), and of His promise to Abraham we are "JOINT-PARTAKERS IN CHRIST" (Eph.3:6). But there is more, in that "one new man" of Ephesians 2:15, believing Jews and Gentiles are a "JOINT-BODY" in Christ today. And all this is a result of the gospel of the grace of God given to Paul.

Thus, the Apostle produces his credentials "WHEREOF I AM MADE A MINISTER, accord-ing to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; EVEN THE MYSTERY WHICH HATH BEEN HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERATIONS, BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST TO HIS SAINTS" (Col.1:25,26).

That’s right, Paul, that great architect of grace, is the minister of the Church, which is the Body of Christ. "AS A WISE MASTER-BUILDER", he says, "I HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon" (ICor. 3:10).

"...That in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM TO LIFE EVERLASTING" (ITim.1:16).

"And to make ALL MEN see what is THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY, which from THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD hath been HID IN GOD, who created all things by Jesus Christ" (Eph.3:9).
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"LOVE WITHOUT HYPOCRISY"

"Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" (Rom.12:9).

The Pauline epistles have much to say about "Love Without Hypocrisy". The meaning of hypocrisy is simple enough -- playing a part rather than actually living the part. The tele-vision is clearly an instrument of hypocrisy. The world is full of actors, all pretending to be somebody they’re not, whereas believers in Christ ought to be living a true life for our Saviour. The love with which Timothy’s mother and grandmother cherished him, however, was most assuredly not produced by Hollywood. What a testimony his life and character was to the truth of God’s Word. See II Timothy 1:5:

"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also."

The word "unfeigned" is translated "without dissimulation" in Romans 12:9 and "without hypocrisy" in James 3:17. It is also found in 2 Corinthians 6:6; I Timothy 1:5; and I Peter l:22.

The word "love", of Romans 12:9, was not produced in Hollywood either. It is that "love of God" (Rom. 5:5,8; 8:35) that eternally secures believers in Christ with "all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies" (Eph.1:3). But our local assemblies would do well in "deny-ing ungodliness and worldly lusts" (Tit.2:12). This would produce so much more for the cause of Christ through "His constraining love" (2 Cor.5:14). If believers of all walks of life would only "be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit" (Eph.5:18) they would not "fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Gal.5:16). This is why Paul writes Timothy:

"Now the end of the commandment is charity [agape] out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned [without hypocrisy]" (ITim.1:5).

Peter wrote to the Jewish remnant, "scattered throughout" Asia Minor, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (IPet.1:22).

"A pure heart, a good conscience, and un-feigned faith" produces the kind of true love, that balance in the Christian life, that brings forth fruit, unto God.

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Gal.5:16).

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE WALK OF THE BELIEVER

How is it possible to live "under grace" and not be governed and controlled by rules and laws and regulations of a by-gone dispen- sation?

The "life in the Spirit," of Galatians 5:25, is obtained by faith in Christ. This is where we must begin. Calvary is ever the meeting place
between God and man.

And as we come to Christ at Calvary we are "created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Eph.2:10). No, we’re not perfect yet, and most of us have a long ways to go, but now we have someone with which we can go
the distance--"the Spirit". So the number one question is, "Are you saved?"

Then God wants us to know that the Holy Spirit "BAPTIZES" us into Christ and into the Body of Christ (Rom.6:3,4,). Entirely apart from the Law, we are made one with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and one with one another also by "the operation of God" (Col.2:12).

Romans 6:11-13 states that we are now to "reckon" ourselves "alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord". When believers "walk in the Spirit" (Gal.5:16) their lives produce
that which the Law could never do: "...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, good-ness, faith, meekness, temperance...";
against which the Apostle Paul says, "THERE IS NO LAW".

The Law cannot save you, nor can it keep you, and it certainly cannot bless you (Gal. 3:13; 2:20,21; 4:15).

"Knowing this, that the Law is NOT made for a righteous man..." (I Tim.1:9).

However...GRACE does save us, GRACE does keep us, and GRACE continues to bless us (Rom.8:3,4; 5:10; 8:34) with "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph.1:3) because GRACE has imputed the very "righteousness" of the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, to our account (2 Cor.5:21).

"That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph.2:7).

As we "look" for our wonderful Saviour, Titus 2:11-13 teaches that GRACE is not a license to sin. Therefore do not repay such "love" with such ingratitude to Him who shed His blood to save you from an eternity in "Hell" and "the Lake of Fire" (Rev.20:11-15).

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER IS SACRIFICED FOR US

When Israel came out of the land of Egypt and the Lord's gracious forbearance with Pharaoh required that he release the people of God from slavery, that Egyptian did not revere the Lord and would not let God's people go. On the fateful night of "the Lord's Passover", Pharaoh arrogantly hardened his heart against the Lord (Ex.5:1;14:15-18,27).

God told the Israelites to take a lamb, roast it with fire, and bitter herbs, and eat it in haste, for "it is the Lord's Passover", and "strike [the blood] on the two side posts and on the upper door post" of each house (Ex.12:1-11).

"For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and
against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord."

It is not Pharaoh and his Egyptian "gods", but Jehovah who rules the world!

"And... when I see the blood, I will pass over you... " (Ex.12:12,13,29,30).

Now we come to the New Testament, and as our Lord celebrated "Passover" with His disciples, He instituted "the Lord's Supper", a
memorial of His shed blood, the revelation of which Christ first delivered to Paul. It was later revealed to "His holy apostles and pro-phets by the Spirit" (ICor.1:18; 15:1-4; Rom. 3:25,26; 5:9,10; Eph.3:5; IPet.1:11,12).

That Christ was born of "a virgin" makes His blood efficacious to save us from our sins (Matt.1:18-25; John 1:47; Rom.5:12; 8:3; Heb.
7:26).

This is why the Apostle Paul could say of the Lamb of God on Calvary's cross:

"FOR EVEN CHRIST OUR PASSOVER IS SACRIFICED FOR US" (ICor.5:7).

Now we see that not only were Israelites redeemed by blood in the Exodus of Egypt some 1500 years Before Christ (Ex.12:11-14), the typification of which is revealed to Paul, but we also learn that Christ's "Passover" blood now saves believing Jews and Gentiles
(ICor.11:25).

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, BUT BY HIS OWN BLOOD HE ENTERED IN ONCE INTO THE HOLY PLACE, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heb. 9:12).

By Russell S. Miller
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Ultimate Victory is Sure

Discouragement is one of the formidable enemies that can prevent a Christian from realizing his destiny in God. It can prevent that child of God from experiencing the wonderful portion that God has assigned for him in his lifetime. A good portion of the people in the body of Christ must decisively shake off the poverty rags of discouragement and depression from their lives. They may have "good" and "valid" reasons to be discouraged and downcast. However, the discouragement and depression can become effective tools of the enemy to steal from them and rob them of their visions and their dreams.

Setbacks and "failures" in life are just temporal - provided one dare to courageously release them, put his life and his future in the hands of the good God and move forward decisively. God's divine empowerment and providence will surely follow.

Nothing done for the kingdom of God is ever wasted. Future victory is sure.

1 Corinthians 15:58
So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted as it would be if there were no resurrection. (TLB)

Victory is sure. You may not experience it immediately but if you don't give up, victory is sure.

Romans 8:37-38
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (NKJ)

The phrase "more than conquerors" came from a Greek word "hupernikao" that means to vanquish beyond, i.e. gain a decisive victory. Decisive victory is yours in due season.

The Living Bible translates this beautiful verse as

Romans 8:37
but despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us.(TLB)

Overwhelming victory is yours, beloved of the Lord. Jesus paid a hundred percent price for your total victory.

As the sons of Korah (who were temple musicians and assistants) penned this beautiful verse, "The LORD will command His loving kindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me-A prayer to the God of my life. (Psalms 42:8),

my utmost prayer for you is that your faith and your walk with God will never be shaken by any circumstance or any seemingly impossible situation. Overwhelming Victory Is Yours. Arise and March on!

By Rev Dr John Lim

Blessings!
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"SEPARATED UNTO THE GOSPEL OF GOD"

What is meant by the phrase, "separated unto the gospel of God"? The Word "separated" means simply "set apart" of course. God’s children have always been "set apart" as sacred unto Himself. However, we must not confuse Paul (as many do) with the other apostles. Though he considered himself "less than the least of all saints" (Eph. 3:8) he was, nevertheless, "THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES" (Rom.11:13) and "a chosen vessel unto Christ" (Acts 9:15). But "chosen" for what? Ah, this is where our text comes in:

"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle, separated unto the Gospel of God" (Rom.1:1).

Since our subject is Paul’s "separation unto the gospel of God", we would ask, what is this good news for which Paul is separated"? And, as always, the Bible is the greatest com-mentary upon the Bible, because Galatians 1:15,16 answers that question clearly, increas-ing our light and understanding upon the subject:

"But when it pleased God, WHO SEPARATED ME FROM MY MOTHER’S WOMB, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood."

God chose this man from before his birth, just as "He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world" (Eph.1:4). But wait there’s something else--"He called him by His grace." I Timothy 1:15,16 confirms that there, in Acts 9,Saul of Tarsus, the great persecutor,
was SAVED and called by the "grace of God" alone (Acts 26:13-19). But more, he is saved that God may "reveal His Son in him." It is this "revelation"--ROMANS 16:25,26--that he was "SEPARATED" unto!

A revelation that was not made known to the prophets! A dilemma that baffled the Phar-isees! And frustrated Pilate in his own court room! The disciples did not comprehend it! And neither could the devil figure it out! A Mystery that even "the angels desire to look into"!

This "gospel of God" concerned "His Son" and the types and shadows in prophecy regarding the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Rom.1:1; ICor. 15:3,4; Gal.1:11,12,16; IPet. 1:12).

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"IN"

What a big-little word 'in' is! It is a word of inclusion, acceptance, of safety, and of in-volvement. It is also a word of location: we live IN Seattle; we live IN the U.S.A.
The Word of God employs this little pre-position to express profound truths. Especially in this truth regarding the believer in this present dispensation of the Grace of God. Several things are said about this.
The believer is 'IN CHRIST JESUS'. Nearly every epistle of Paul, the Apostle, begins with the statement, 'to the saints IN Christ Jesus' (Phil. 1:1). Every truly saved person is 'in Christ Jesus'. He can be nowhere else! True, in the physical, he is 'in the flesh' as long as he lives on this earth; but in relation to his spirit, he is vitally and eternally 'IN Christ Jesus'. He was put into Christ not by works or rituals of any sort. God the Holy Spirit baptized him into Christ the moment he believed. As such, he is now' accepted in the beloved' (Eph. 1:6). He is 'in the sphere of the beloved', to put it more accurately.

'In the Beloved,' accepted am I,
Risen, ascended, and seated on high;
Saved from all sin thro' His infinite grace,
With the redeemed ones accorded a place.
'In the Beloved,' God's marvelous grace,
Calls me to dwell in this wonderful place;
God sees my Saviour and then He sees me
'In the Beloved,' accepted and free.'

No wonder the Apostle could victoriously declare: 'There is therefore now no condem-nation to them that are in Christ Jesus', and nothing 'shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord' (Romans 8:1-39).
The believer is 'IN GOD'. 'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ, IN God' (Col. 3:3). To the saints who lived in Thessalonica Paul wrote: '...to the church of the Thessalon-ians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ' ( II Thes. 1:1). What a fantastic truth!! Because Jesus Christ is God's eternal Son, and because He is 'one' with His Father (John 10:30), all who are truly 'in Christ' are also 'in God the Father! That is security! in-deed - eternal security! It is far more secure than money or jewels locked up in the largest, strongest, well-constructed vault in any bank known to man. Satan, man, or any other creation cannot reach into God and pluck you out! Blessed assurance!
The believer is 'IN THE SPIRIT'. This Paul declares in Romans 8:9: "However you are not in the flesh (the fallen Adamic nature) but in the spirit if indeed the spirit of God dwells in you.' This would seem to be sheer pre-sumption had not God said this! But praise be to God, it is so! We are IN the Spirit. Now it is up to us to learn to 'walk in the spirit' (Gal. 5:16)!
Are you on the 'in' today --'in Christ', 'in God the Father', 'in the Spirit'? If not, then call on the Lord by faith and trust Him now to accept you 'in the Beloved'.

Grace, Peace, and Love,
Pastor Paul Hume
to be continued
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

'IN'
Part Two

Last week we began to look at the truth packed into the little word 'IN' as used in the New Testament. We observed how the true believer (the Christian) is 'in Christ Jesus,' 'in God the Father,' and 'in the Spirit.' He is vit-ally joined to all three members of the bless-ed Godhead by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:3-5; 1Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:5). We now want to carry this blessed sub-ject a little further and note some more truths therein.
The believer is 'IN THE FAITH,' Paul the Apostle warned the professing Ch ristians who lived in Corinth. 'Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!' ( 2 Cor. 13:5, NAS). Note the phrase: 'in the faith.' To Titus, Paul wrote: 'Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect...' (1:1). Paul also declared, 'There is.....one Lord, one faith, one baptism...'(Eph 4:5). What does Paul mean? Is this 'Protestant faith'? Is it 'the Catholic faith'? Is it 'the Presbyterian faith,' etc? NO. It is the spiritual persuasion of heart that God gives to everyone who is truly saved, resting upon the body of Truth in the Bible, especial-ly through Paul's epistles. This faith comes from above. It is 'the faith of the Son of God' (Gal. 2:20). And every truly born-again person shares in that God-given faith. He is 'in the faith.' Are you?
The believer is 'IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH.' Paul speaks twice of this: '.......those who are of the household of faith' (Gal. 6:10), and '......fellow-citizens with the saints, and are of God's household' (Eph. 2:19). Now a household involves a family. The word in Greek means 'kindred.' This means brothers and sisters and parents. In this case, the Word of God makes it clear that God the Father is the head of this household, 'the first-born among many brethren' (Romans 8:29). All who are 'in Christ Jesus' in this economy of the grace of God are 'adopted' sons and daughters (see Ephesians 1:5-6 and II Corin-thians 6:18). How blessed it really is to realize this great truth: 'I am, by the grace of God, a member of God's household; and all of us who are truly saved are one big family!' Do you look upon others who know the Lord as your brothers and sisters?
The believer is 'IN THE TRUTH.' 'What is truth?' (John 18:38.) 'I am the Way the Truth, and the Life,' declared the Lord Jesus 'But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus' (Eph. 4:20-21). Thus John the Apostle could write to believ-ers: 'I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth' (III John 4). Before we were regenerated by the Spirit of God (whom our Lord called 'the spirit of truth' (John 14:17), we were all part of 'the lie' - under the power of Satan (I John 5:19, Col. 1:13). Now 'we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life' (I John 5:20). As result, we must practice walking in the truth, 'speaking the truth in love,' and telling the truth. All phoni-ness and hypocrisy and lying is wrong! It has no place in the Christian life! Why? Because we are 'in the truth.' Are you? Do you live truthfully? You CAN by the grace of God!

Grace, Peace, Love
Pastor Paul Hume
to be continued

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

'IN'
Part 3

What a 'big-little' word we have found 'IN' to be in the Word of God. We look back to the Lord's words through Moses to captive Israel in Exodus 6:6-8: '...I will bring you OUT from under the burdens of the Egyptians...then I will take you for my people, and I will be your God...and I will bring you IN unto the land....' Note how Jehovah purposed to bring His chosen people out in order to bring them in. OUT of bondage and IN to blessing with battles involved, however).
This is similar to what God does when He saves individuals today. He marvelously takes them; out of death, into life; out of sin, into His righteousness, out of Satan's power, into the Kingdom of His beloved Son; out of darkness, into His light; out of enmity, into His love; out of being alienated, into His adopted family; out of unbelief, into true faith! No wonder we can sing:
'Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my sickness into Thy heath,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.'
Let us meditate together more on this being 'brought in.' We have seen how the believer is 'in Christ,' ' in God the Father,' 'in the Spirit.' 'in the faith,' 'in the household of faith,' and 'in the truth.' No let us note another reality the true believer in Christ has been brought in to.
The believer is 'IN THE LIGHT.' In the words of the commission of the risen Lord to Paul the Apostle, we read: '..I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light' (Acts 26:18). On this account, Paul reminds us: 'For you were formally darkness, but now are you light in the Lord; walk as children of light' (Eph. 5:8). What is 'darkness', and what is 'light'? Dark-ness, as referred to in the Scriptures, when it is used morally or spiritually, speaks of Satan's power, the devastating effects of sin, and ignorance of God and His Truth. Thus all people--religious or not---are 'darkness' as well as 'IN darkness' before they become saved. Even the most skilled, sanguine, 'sharp' people are 'in the dark' as far as God goes. But when the Holy Spirit carries out His pre-salvation work in the heart, and then the sinner receives the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart by God-given faith, the 'light comes on' in his heart. For God, Who said, 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 4:6, N.A.S.). This is also why the Apostle John could testify, 'And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding...' (1 John 5:20). 'God is light,' declares John, and every true Christian has been brought into that Light. Now we are to 'walk in the light, as He is in the light' in order to experience daily 'fellowship with one another'---with our Father as well as each other.

Dear Reader, are you 'in the Light' today? If not, come in to God's Light today by believ-ing on the Lord Jesus Christ, and then start walking day by day in that 'marvelous light.'

Grace, Peace and Love,
Pastor Paul Hume
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

CRYING AGAINST GOD

The passengers on the train were uneasy as they sped along through the dark, stormy night. The lightning was flashing, black clouds were rolling and the train was travel-ing fast. The fear and tension among the passengers was evident. One little fellow, however, sitting all by himself, seemed utterly unaware of the storm or the speed of the train. He was amusing himself with a few toys. One of the passengers spoke to him, "Sonny, I see you are alone on the train. Aren't you afraid to travel alone on such a stormy night?" The lad looked up with a smile and answered, "No, ma'am, I ain't afraid. My daddy's the engineer."

Only God's people have the assurance that the Heavenly Father is the "Engineer" as they travel through the storms of life and that He is working all thing "After the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11; Rom. 8:28).

A.W.Pink, in his excellent little book "The Sovereignty of God: says in part: A true recognition of God's Sovereignty will ex-clude all murmuring." This is self-evident, yet the thought deserves to be dwelt upon. It is natural to complain when we are deprived of those things upon which we had set our hearts. We are apt to regard our possessions as ours unconditionally. We feel that, when we have prosecuted our plans with prudence and diligence, we are entitled to success; that when by dint of hard work we have accumu-lated a 'competence', we deserve to keep and enjoy it; that when we are surrounded by a happy family, no power may lawfully enter the charmed circle and strike down a loved one; and if in any of these cases, disappoint-ment, bankruptcy or death actually comes, the perverted instinct of the human heart is to cry out against God. But in the one who, by grace, has recognized God's Sovereignty, such murmuring is silenced, and instead, there is a bowing to the Divine Will with an acknowledgment that He has not afflicted us as sorely as we deserve.

To which we add: How blessed to know that God doeth all things well when it con-cerns His own. Surly He never makes a mistake. What may seem at the time to be an almost unbearable trial, may prove to be a blessing in disguise. The Apostle Paul wrote, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose," (Rom 8:28). To have perfect peace in any circumstance, it is necessary to rest completely in the Lord. "And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and mind though Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7) We who are saved have the best "Engineer," who will always steer a course according to His Will and purpose. Amen!
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

WHICH APPEARING?

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Heb.9:28).

When our Lord first came to earth, He came "TO PUT AWAY SIN by the sacrifice of Him-self". This one infinite sacrifice was the great anti-type of all the Old Testament sacrifices. They were offered "year by year continually" (10:1); indeed, "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats" could ever "take away sins" (10:4). But Christ, by His one sacrifice, "the sacrifice of Himself", put away sin, settling the sin question forever for believers.

But what about the latter part of our text, concerning His appearing "the second time"? Does this refer to His Second Coming to earth? Hardly.

The second time our Lord comes to earth He will not come apart from the sin question. Rather He will come in wrath TO JUDGE SIN.

"Because He [God] hath appointed a day in the which HE WILL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS by that Man whom He hath ordained, whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).

It is concerning this return of Christ to earth that we read:

"AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS DOTH HE JUDGE AND MAKE WAR" (Rev.19:11).

Clearly, our Lord’s appearing "apart from sin" cannot refer to His return to earth to judge the world for sin. And notice carefully: If
our Lord were to catch up His Church after the Great Tribulation on His way to judge the world, as some teach, this would still be His
return to judge the world for sin. Moreover, Hebrews 9:28 refers to our Lord’s appearing, not to those who reject Him, but to those who
"look for Him".

To these--and we are among them!--He will appear, not in wrath to judge sin, but in love, "APART FROM SIN unto salvation".

In other words, we have here another reference to the rapture of "the Church, which is His Body". True, we will receive rewards or suffer loss for our service and conduct as believers, but our sins were fully paid for by that "one sacrifice" in which "Christ was offered to bear the sins of many". This appearing, "apart from sin", then, is the
"appearing" to which Paul so often refers, and in Titus 2:13 he refers to it as a "blessed hope".

"LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE AND THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF THE GREAT GOD AND OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST" (Tit.2:13).

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

SEALED IN CHRIST SAFE FOREVER

IN CHRIST YOU ALSO TRUSTED, AFTER YOU HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION; IN WHOM ALSO, HAVING BELIEVED YOU WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.
THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 1:13

We see in this Bible verse God's se-quence of salvation and find the answer to the question:

Can a person who has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her Savior ever be lost again?...Never!

First, you heard the good news---you heard the word of truth, the gospel; of your salvation. No one can ever be saved who does not first hear the good news, for "faith comes by hearing" (Romans 10:17). Some-how, whether by reading the Bible itself or a booklet, or perhaps by hearing a radio or TV broadcast, in church, or from a friend, we heard the good news of salvation---how the Lord Jesus Christ loved us in our sinful condition and took our sins upon Himself. That He took the blame and accepted the responsibility for all of our sins when He died on the cross, and that God raised Him from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The cross was the payment for our sins; Christ's empty tomb is God's receipt that the price has been paid in full. God has once and for all accept-ed the death of his Son as the full payment for all our sins (Colossians 2:13).

Second, you believed in Him---Paul writes in Ephesians 1:13, You trusted in Christ.

We gave up "trying to be good enough" to get into heaven. We gave up trusting in our-selves, our own efforts, our religion and our church, and instead, we began to trust in, rely upon, depend on the Lord Jesus Christ alone to save us. We believed that He took the blame for our sins and died for us, to pay the penalty once and for all and forever (Hebrews 10:10-18).

Third, you were sealed in Him---in whom (Christ) also, having believed you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. At the moment that we trusted in His Son as our own Savior, not only did God forgive us for all our sins---past, present, and future (Colossians 2:13)----and counts us righteous in His sight with a righteousness not our own (Philipppians 3:9), but He also sealed us in His Son forever.

The Apostle Paul tells us about this in many places in his letters:

He wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:13, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body." The moment that we believed, we were all baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of the Lord Jesus. This was not water bap-tism, but a baptism done "without hands" (Colossians 2:11-12) by the Spirit Himself, who puts us into the Lord Jesus Christ. We became part "of His flesh and of His bones" (Ephesians 5:30) as God the Holy Spirit fused us into and united us with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Not only did the Spirit baptize us into Christ, but He also sealed us in Him. An envelope is sealed to insure that the contents stay inside and reach their destination. A jar is sealed to prevent contamination. A is for safety, security, and assurance. God says that the Holy Spirit has sealed us for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30) He has sealed us in Christ unto the day that the Lord Jesus Christ returns from heaven to redeem us, together to Himself forever.

to be continued
Pastor Dennis Kiszonasseal
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

SEALED IN CHRIST SAFE FOREVER
PART 2

God not only saves us, but God also wants us to know that we are safe and secure in that salvation; to be able to say, "I know that I'm going to heaven, not because of my own efforts, but because the Lord Jesus Christ paid for all my sins by His own death on the cross. I am trusting in Him as my Savior, and now I am sealed in Him, safe forever."

There are many today who believe that a Christian can lose his or her salvation---that we really can't be totally sure that we are going to heaven--until we get there! There are four reasons that some do not believe in the sealing and security of the believer.

1.) Many people, even many religious leaders, don't really understand that salvation is by grace. Salvation today does not depend upon our own efforts, religious activities, or good works. Salvation depends wholly upon the death of Christ on the cross for us. There at the cross He said , "It is finished." So there is no more work to do. All we can do is agree with God, and let him save us by His grace (see Romans 4:5 and Eph. 2:8-9)

2.) Others do not "rightly divide the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15), and if we don't 'sort the mail' before we read it, we're going to become very confused by the Bible!

For instance, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the four gospels, are not "our mail" in the Bible, they are not addressed to us. Christ in His earthly ministry was not speaking to us today, but to the people of Israel (see Matthew 15:24). The Book of Hebrews is addressed to the Hebrews obviously! The Letter to James is addressed to "the twelve tribes (of Israel) scattered abroad" (James 1:1). In fact, Peter, Jams and John by agreement with the Apostle Paul confined their ministries, and their writings, to the nation of Israel (Galatians 2:7-9).

But "our mail" in the Bible is the letters written by the Apostle Paul. The Lord Jesus Christ gave to Paul the gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:24) and the dispensa-tion of the grace of God for us today (Ephesians 3:1-2). Only Paul writes about being baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ and being sealed in Him. This is part of the special ministry and message that the Lord Jesus gave to Paul for us today.

3.) We need to be careful that we don't confuse salvation, which is God's gift to all who believe (Eph.2:8-9), with rewards in heaven, which must be earned. Christians can lose their rewards by not living for the Lord, but we can never lose our salvation. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 and 9:24-27, and 2 Timothy 2:11-13 all warn of losing rewards if a believer is not faithful, but Paul writes that even if a believer loses all his rewards "he himself shall be saved" (1Corinthians 3:15) because we are sealed in Christ.

4.) Some oppose the teaching of the sealing and security of the believer because they fear it will lead to laxness in the Christian life; that a believer might reason, "I've trusted in Christ, my sins are all forgive, I'm, sealed and safe. So now it doesn't matter how I live. I can live as I please." But Paul himself, who told us that we are sealed in Christ from the moment that we put our trust in Him, also wrote, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30). The Holy Spirit has sealed us in Christ, and He will never leave us, but our lives can cause the Spirit joy or grief. How is your life making the Spirit feel right now?

While some are concerned about whether they will get to heaven "someday," Paul writes to those who have trusted in Christ as their Savior that God "has raised up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 2:6). In Christ, as a member of His body, every believer is already seated in heaven and is already blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3). That indeed is the exceeding riches of His grace!" (Eph. 2:7)

Pastor Dennis Kiszonas
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE AUTHORITY OF REALITY

IT IS ESSENTIAL to give people a chance of acting on the truth of God. The responsibility must be left with the individual; you can-not act for him, it must be his own deliberate act, but the evangelical message always leads a man to act.

The paralysis of refusing to act leaves a man exactly where he was before; when once he acts, he is never the same. It is the fool-ishness of it that stands in the way of hundreds who have been convicted by the Spirit of God. Immediately I precipitate myself over into an act, that second I live —all the rest is existence. The moments when I truly live are the moments when I act with my whole will.

Never allow a truth of God that is brought home to your soul to pass without acting on it—not necessar-ily physically, but in will. Record it, with ink or with blood. The fee-blest saint who transacts busi-ness with Jesus Christ is emanci-pated the second he acts. All the almighty power of God is on his behalf. We come to the truth of God, we confess we are wrong, but go back again. Then we come up to it again, and go back—until we learn that we have no business to go back The last thing we seem to do is to come to our redeeming Lord, but everyone who does knows that the dominating power of the world, the flesh and the devil is paralysed, not by your act, but because your act has linked you on to God and His redemptive power.

—by Oswald Chambers
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Wonders of His Grace

Scripture Reading:
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was
rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty
might be rich."
-- II Corinthians 8:9

Whether the occasion is a holiday, a birthday celebration, or a graduation, it is customary to give a gift. While some gifts are given out of necessity, for the most part, a gift is an expression of our love. We normally bestow these tokens of our affection on those whom we feel deserve the honor. But God's ways are not our ways. He gave the gift of His beloved Son to His enemies. That's a true love story! Oh, the wonder of His grace that God sent His only begotten Son, the Son of His love, to save sinners like you and me while we were fleeing from the glory of His presence. Little wonder the Apostle Paul says, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeak-able gift" (II Cor. 9:15).

The word "unspeakable" here has the idea of "indescribable." The gifts I've received through the years were all describable. Some may have been a little harder to describe than others, but describable nonetheless! But the gift of God's dear Son is indescribable. Who
can explain the incarnation, how the eternal Son of God left heaven's glory and took upon Himself the form of human flesh, yet was not
tainted with our sin. Who can explain how Christ was wholly God and wholly human in one person? These wonders can only be received through the eye of faith.

The manger and the Cross stand at the two extremes of our Lord's life, but they are connected by the tapestry of redemption. Hence, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." A love story that ends with a death is tragic; in contrast, the death of Christ is the greatest demonstration of love this world has ever seen. How much does God love you? He gave His only begotten Son to die on your behalf. You see, Christ wasn't dying for His sin, He knew no sin; He
was dying for your sins and my sins at Calvary. He was made sin for us that we might receive the righteousness of God in Him. Have you trusted Him?

Surely you would never think of paying for a gift; why, the giver would be highly offended -- how much more so with God. The payment
for your sins has already been furnished by the Giver; simply receive Him as a gift from God. If you have, then why not thank Him today for His unspeakable gift? After all, this is the Gift that includes all others!

Paul M. Sadler,
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE RACE SET BEFORE US

As another New Year dawns its always wise to give the Scriptures our careful attention so as to please the One who paid the ultimate
sacrifice on account of our sins at Calvary, our wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It is not that we merely wish to please Him, but our gratitude should manifest itself in the lives we live for Him. It was indeed for this
reason that the Apostle Paul has so much to say about "the race set before us".

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1).

As I opened my Bible in the study of this subject I discovered that the word "race" [agon], here, is only found in the following verses, having to do with the athlete in the race, rather than the course itself:

Philippians 1:30: "Having the same conflict which ye saw in me...."

Colossians 2:1: "...what great conflict I have for you...."

I Thessalonians 2:2: "...we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much contention".

I Timothy 6:12: "Fight the good fight of faith...."

II Timothy 4:7: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith".

Hebrews 12:1: "...the race that is set before us".

On the other hand, the Greek word stadion, "they which run in a race", is translated "furlongs" (the 220 yard dash), five times in our Bibles (Luke 24:13; John 6:19; 11:18; Rev. 14:20; 21:16) and, surprisingly only once in Paul's epistles where it is rendered "race" (ICor. 9:24).

The Apostle does not refer to the course, here, which the contestants ran in their Greeks games, but to the Christian life.

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (ICor.9:24).

Russell S. Miller
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

ONE BODY IN CHRIST

So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:5)

One Body—the first and only time this is mentioned in all of Romans. The setting is a practical one where Paul, having finished the doctrinal portion of the letter, now turns to telling just how all the great truths of justification and redemption affect the life of the believer. Not only is he in Christ, but so also is every other believer. This makes us all one in Christ—one Body in Christ, to be exact—and this has many practical consequences.

Service to the whole Body is service to Christ since the Body is one and made up of the many members. Since this Body has Christ as it's Head, Christ is served when the members are served and the whole Body benefits! The illustration of the human body is too good to miss—or did God perhaps have that in mind a long time before? In any case, just as the many members of any body do not all do the same thing, neither do we as members of Christ's Body. Sometimes we lose sight of this great practical fact and spiritual truth. Any time we are wishing we were fitted differently so we could perform a different function in the Body, we are at that same time implying that God made a mis-take. He really should have fitted us for other service. We don't really mean to say so, but might not that actually be the case? We should think soberly about this whole matter, for God is the one who has dealt to each of us our own special capability to serve as He has seen fit.

On the other hand, God may have fitted us to serve and we are too slow to realize it. With His help and prayerful exercise, we should venture out to see how the Lord might use us. And as with natural talents, exercise brings development beyond expectations!

--Ivan Burgener
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

IS CHRIST DIVIDED?

Working together is increasingly more difficult in a world that places the greatest emphasis on individual achievement. Those around us urge us to look out for "Number One" and to seek our own advancement, sometimes--most times--at the cost of others.

Being the light of the world and the salt of the earth, we need to realise that we were never meant to fit in with the crowd. A light must shine. Salt must retain its distinctive flavour. We cannot afford to blend in with our surroundings.

We stand out from those in this world because we have a higher purpose in life than to please ourselves. That purpose is "to please Him who has chosen us to be a soldier."

We would consider it strange for a soldier to wish to join the ranks of the enemy, to want to be like them in their dress, in their attitud-es, in their beliefs, and in their manner of life. Yet, it does not seem so unusual today to see Christians who have taken as their own the world's philosophies, priorities, and purposes.

Not that we consider those in bondage to sin as our enemies, for God loves them and so do we. Rather, it is their master whom we battle. They are merely Satan's instruments to do his bidding. Our goal in ministry is to rescue them from their bondage in the king-dom of darkness and bring them into the glorious light of God's Son, Jesus Christ. Yet, we must be careful not to become en-tangled in this world's affairs as we engage in daily spiritual warfare.

Satan recognises the power of God in us and will flee as we resist Him. This is certain. But this is not to say that he doesn't have any strategies of his own, for he is a master of evil schemes. His most often-used tactic is to bind Christians to the world's mindset--specifically to individualism.

In correcting the Christians of Corinth, Paul showed how their divisiveness was not appropriate for members of the Body of Christ. It was not that the men they followed were not worthy of their following, for they all had their part in the household of faith. The sin that brought the greatest portion of Paul's condemnation was the individualistic attitude that evidenced itself as the believers took sides, aligning themselves with the men God was using, and lifting up their voice in pride, saying, "I am of Paul," "I am of Apollos," "I am of Peter," and "I am of Christ." It was when self-centered pride took over that following God's chosen ministers became sin.

Is Christ divided? No. Nor is His Body. We joyfully sing the hymn, "We are not divided; all one body we: one in hope and doctrine, one in charity." And then we indulge the flesh by placing ourselves on a pedestal above the Pentecostals, the Baptists, the Methodists, and the Presbyterians. Are we better than they because we believe as we do? Has God granted us more grace, more blessings, a higher calling than they? How could He, and still remain as one who shows no favouritism? All in Christ's Body are equal in His sight--all seen as Christ Himself, dressed in His robes of righteousness.

But we in our human nature give in to the devil's strategy and divide the Church. We place our own agenda above God's. We seek our own ambitions rather than working for God's will to be done. How better by far to live out the unity of the Spirit in our day-to-day experience. When eternity is at the door, petty differences must be set aside for a greater cause. We are all members together of one another, and what God has joined together we dare not separate. O the joy of a united endeavour in the Lord--to serve Him with one heart, to praise Him with one voice, and to work with one goal. Together in Him. This is what being in the Body of Christ is all about.

--Jonathan Shriver
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Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE DANGERS OF LEGALISM

EVERY FEW DAYS I receive letters and tracts from men trying to persuade me that, though we are free in Christ, we are yet under the bondage of the law. Some of these are good men, men who believe and preach the gospel of God’s free grace in Christ. But their error in this point is most serious and grievous.

l. If you seek to be justified by the law, you will surely perish. It is written: ‘By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight.’

2. If you seek sanctification or seek to be-come more holy by obedience to the law, you will become self-righteous. Self- righteous-ness is neither more nor less than your own righteousness. It is a supposed righteous-ness performed by you. It is that proud foolishness of heart which supposes that you are more holy than others.

3. If you make the law your rule of life, you will lose the joy of serving Christ. The joy of Christian service is the fact that it is free, unconstrained and spontaneous. It is motivated by love. But when you make the law of God a rule of life the motive becomes fear or desire for reward and all joy is destroyed.

4. If you seek assurance by obeying the law, you will become despondent and fearful. The old Puritans, sound as they were in many points, could never gain any comforting assurance and their congregations were never allowed to enjoy any because they sought it on a legal basis. Some were driven to such despondency by legal fear that they had to be locked away in asylums to keep them from committing suicide. The law breeds fear. You cannot obey it. It can never comfort anyone except a proud, self-right-eous man who does not understand it.

5. If you seek acceptance before God in any measure whatsoever upon the basis of the law, you will never be accepted at all. Christ alone is our acceptance before God. He is all our righteousness, all our sanctification, all our holiness, all our redemption and all our peace. To add anything to his finished work is to make his work vain and useless. Christ will be all, or he will be nothing.

—Don Fortner
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

BE A BEREAN

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)

If this is true, then why are there so many churches that do not believe this way? This is the reaction we have heard countless times upon explaining the Grace message to someone. It is unfortunate, but very typical for people to initially reject something they have never heard before..: especially if it conflicts with their tradition! But in Acts 17:11, we find a refreshing contrast to this attitude. In fact in this verse, we find the balanced approach we should all have when we are approached with some new teaching.

First, the noble Bereans listened with open minds: for they received the message with great eagerness (Acts 17:11a). One of the saddest conditions to be in is to reject Bible teaching outright because it sounds new. Of course, the old saying is right, If it is new, it is not true, and if it is true, it is not new. Remember that just because a teaching may sound new does not necessarily mean it is. The apostle Paul’s teaching concerning the Mystery is as old as the first century when it was revealed to him by the glorified Lord of heaven. But even before that it was in the very mind of God (Ephesians 3:9).

Secondly, the Bereans balanced their open-mindedness with a holy skepticism. Luke records, [they] examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11b). This is the attitude we too must have, for there are many false doc-trines floating around in our world today. We must search the scriptures, rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15) so we will not be tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching . . . (Ephesians 4:14).

—taken from Amazing Grace

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Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

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Quote from: Ambassador4Christ on March 15, 2004, 12:24:58 AM

Amen, BE A BEREAN

THE NEW NATURE IN THE BELIEVER

It has been well said that if there is any-thing good in any man it is because it was put there by God. And something good -- a new, sinless nature -- has been imparted by God to every believer.

While there is still within us "that which is begotten of the flesh," there is also "that which is begotten of the Spirit," and just as the one is totally depraved and "cannot
please God," so the other is absolutely per-fect and always pleases Him.

Adam was originally created in the image and likeness of God, but he fell into sin and later"begat a son IN HIS OWN LIKENESS, AFTER HIS IMAGE" (Gen. 5:3). It could not be otherwise. Fallen Adam could gener-ate and beget only fallen, sinful offspring, whom even the Law could not change. But "what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending His own Son IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, and for sin," accomplished, "that the righteousness of the law might be ful-filled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom.8:3,4),

As Adam was made in the likeness of God, but fell, so Christ was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, to redeem us from the fall, that by grace, through the operation of the
Spirit, a new creation might be brought into being, a "new man... renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Col. 3:10) a "new man, which, after God is
created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4:24).

Referring to this "new man," John says:

"Whosoever is born [begotten] of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him: and HE CANNOT SIN, BECAUSE HE IS BORN [BEGOTTEN] OF GOD" (I John 3:9).

"WE KNOW THAT WHOSOEVER IS BORN [BEGOTTEN] OF GOD SINNETH NOT..." (I John 5:18).

by C.R. Stam

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT TO DO HIS WORK

I WAS DISAPPOINTED recently to be involved in an e-mail forum of Bible students and teachers the goal of which was to discuss God’s Word together and learn from each other. It wasn’t long before certain content-ious believers had blown open (once again) the KJV-only debate.

In the heat of the moment, many things were said, accu-sations made, and other believers ridiculed—sad to say it was mostly on the part of those who claimed they were "contending for the faith.". I sat back and watched as one by one many of the older and more experienced breth-ren began to unsubscribe from the forum.

Then one brother from the U.S. sent along this note which I believe shows the real essence of what we are called to do and how we are to speak the truth as be-lievers in the grace of God.

I will quote it in its entirety and urge you, as you read it, to think of any contentious doctrinal question or some petty issue that brings division between believers.

Could we consider this? Would it be a problem with the Holy Spirit? . . . He is the one who is to guide us into all truth, (John 6:13) and He is the one to glorify Christ in us. Is He not the one to unveil to us the deep things of God as well as the things that are freely given to us of God (2 Cor. 2:9-12)? Is it not God the Holy Spirit at work in every believer both to will and to do of His good pleasure, that we may be without blame in the midst of the unbelievers (Phil. 2:13-15)? Is it not the Holy Spirit who convinces the unbeliever and the believer? Is it not our responsibility to put the word out and to live the godly life that others may see Christ in us "the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27)? Then, if all of this is true, and I believe it is, why do we try so hard to make people believe it? Don’t we trust the Holy Spirit who indwells all believers to do His work?

We must allow people to believe what ever they want to believe and if it is truth that we are putting out then let’s put it out there and let God the Holy Spirit to do the con-vincing—how many times do we have to say it? Only once and then let the Holy Spirit do His work.

That doesn't mean that we can’t repeat ourselves. But if we are pressing the issue then we are trying and caus-ing division and contention and God makes it very clear that we, through the mind of Christ, are to do NOTHING through STRIFE or VAINGLORY, but in lowliness of mind (humility) letting each esteem others better than them-selves (Phil. 2:3-5). Which is more important, what you say, (which is important) or the life you live? Could it be that what we do speaks so loud that they can’t hear what we say? We can argue it to the point and always win the battle, but never the war.

I began to realise how I was not only telling people, but also trying (fading glory, 2 Cor. 3:6-11) to do the work of the Holy Spirit and [thus] turning people off to God’s wonderful unadulterated Grace message.

Yes, I still stand for the truth given to us by the apostle Paul, (2 Tim. 2:7), but at the same time I am watching how people are responding to what I am saying. Isn’t it a sight that the Corinthian believers had it all—the gifts—but the one thing they didn't have was UNCONDITIONAL GRACE LOVE. Notice how the gifts in 1 Corinthians are followed by the subject of love (1 Cor. 12:25, "that there should be no schism in the body," to 13:8, "Love that never fails"). And what is really amazing that you have the same thing in Romans, 12:3-8, with love beginning in verse 9.

Beloved, we have been given the most precious truth and it is the only thing out there that can answer all the confusion that is in the world of Christendom today but if it is not DOCTRINE ACCORDING TO GODLINESS, it will never work, because we are only proud, knowing nothing (1 Timothy 6:3-4).

I trust this will speak to your heart as it did to mine, that we will not be proud, trying by our own efforts or words to do the work of convincing and enlightening that only the Holy Spirit can ultimately do.

Author unknown to me
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KNOWING GOD BETTER

I keep asking that ... God ... may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better. (Ephesians 1:17)

It is very striking, says commentator Geoffrey B. Wilson, that Paul never congratu-lates his readers for their faith, but always thanks God for it. This is because he real-ized that their conversion was not a result of self-effort but a demonstration of God’s almighty power working in and through them. . . .

Paul says of his prayers for the Ephesians: I keep asking . . . He did not pray for them just once, but kept asking that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelat-ion so they might know him better. Wisdom is the heightening of our faculties so that we might think more clearly and more deeply. But wisdom is not enough—we need reve-lation also. As we wait before God, he gives us insights which are not our own. And for what purpose? That we might know him better!

What greater purpose can we have in life than getting to know God better?

Author unknown to me

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Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"WHAT’S IN A NAME?"

The Bible has much to say about one particu-lar name--the NAME of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. First, the Apostle John states that man is "condemned already, because he hath not believed in the NAME of the only begot-ten Son of God" (John 3:18).

God pronounced a curse upon the earth on account of man’s sin in the Garden of Eden (Rom.5:12). This is what the Psalmist meant when he said: "For all our days are passed away in Thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told" (Psa.90:9).

In the virgin birth of Christ, however, the Lord Jesus became the God-man. "And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Him-self, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil.2:8).

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a NAME which is above every name:
"That at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil.2:9-11).

Even Peter’s words in Acts 4:12 are applic-able here, when he challenged national Israel to turn in repentance and true faith in their Messiah, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and be regenerated:

"Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:10-12; Matt.19:28).

The Apostle Paul, confirmed this principle, declaring:

"For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom.10:13).

Paul declares that the only remedy for sin today is the Lord Jesus Christ, and His death on Calvary’s cross:

"For [God] hath made Him to be sin for us, [Christ] who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (IICor.5:21).

In writing the Corinthians concerning car-nality, their once lost condition, and the great victories that could be won by simple faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ--cleansing, sanctifi-cation, justification, and salvation--Paul declared:

"And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the NAME of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (I Cor.6:11).

Paul also says of those who trust Christ as Saviour that they should depart from doing wrong:

"Nevertheless the foundation of God stan-deth sure, having this seal, The Lord know-eth them that are His. And, let everyone that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity" (IITim.2:19).

But what about you, my dear friend, have you trusted Christ as your Saviour? Don’t wait until the Judgment Day when it will be too late to call upon the Name of the Lord.

This wonderful Name, this glorious Name, this matchless Name, has changed millions of lives. Christ has changed my life, and Jesus Christ can change yours, too! Will you call upon this precious Name, and ask Him to save you from your sins, and give you a new life? Do it today.

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
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WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN?

THE SIXTH CHAPTER of Romans deals with a misunderstanding that true grace" preachers are often called upon to answer. It is a natural misunderstanding-one that is generated by the plain preaching of the gospel of grace. The Apostle Paul was misunderstood on this. As he emphasized the grace of God there were those who said, "Paul is teaching that it doesn’t matter how a Christian lives." Of course, they were wrong. Paul didn’t teach this at all, but at times his message might seem to imply it, and it was necessary for him to deal with this misunderstanding.

The first five chapters of the book of Romans clearly set forth the doctrines of grace. But this presentation of grace is immediately followed by the question with which Chapter 6 opens, "What shall we say then?" That is, in view of the teachings in Chapters 1 through 5 concerning salvation by grace, what was to be said about the Christian life? If salvation is wholly by grace, so that good works have nothing to do with it, doesn’t it follow that a Christian might just as well live in sin? Paul gives his answer to this in Ro-mans 6 and carefully explains that it does matter, it matters very much how Christians live their lives.

At this point, Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones, in his commentary on Romans, has drawn a very important lesson. The lesson is that if we are faithful to emphasize the truths of grace that Paul taught in Romans 1 through 5, then we should expect that we will be misunderstood at times, just as Paul was. We should expect that we will have to give the explanation that Paul gave in Romans 6 because there will always be those who will misunderstand and think we are saying that it doesn’t matter how a Christian lives.

Of course, there are some who have no need to be concerned about this. A man, for example, who denies, directly or indirectly, that we are saved by grace through faith alone would never be misunderstood as Paul was. One who says, "Believing is not enough; you must also live for Christ and obey His will in your life; if you do not have good works in your life as well as faith you are not saved;" obviously such a man would never have to answer the misunderstanding that Paul did. His preaching would cause no one to misunderstand and think it doesn’t matter how a Christian lives. No, it’s the true "grace" preachers who have to deal with this matter. They are the ones who declare that salvation is a free gift. They are the ones who are often misunderstood.

To the faithful reader of the gospel of the grace of God, we say: Have you ever been falsely charged with saying that it doesn’t matter how a Christian lives? Then take heart my friend, for the Apostle Paul was faced with the same thing. We who emphasize salvation as the gift of God’s grace will have to explain ourselves many times just as Paul did in Romans 6. But let us not be intimi-dated by this. Let us be faithful to the mess-age of grace. Let us stand firm against all efforts to modify it. Let us preach the gospel of the grace of God with boldness and plain-ness so that such passages as Romans 6 will be an important and necessary clarification in our ministry as gospel preachers.

Pastor Art Sims
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The Touch Of God
Leave the Past Behind

SCRIPTURE READING: Philippians 3:1-14

"But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before."-- (Philippians 3:13)

Failures and disappointments. Aches and pains from the past that just won't seem to go away. Most of us know what it's like to suffer from them but too few of us know just what to do about them. So we limp along, hoping somehow they'll magically stop hurt-ing. But it never happens that way. In fact, the passing of time often leaves us in worse condition--not better. Because, instead of putting those painful failures behind us, we often dwell on them until they become more real to us than the promises of God. We focus on them until we become bogged down in depression, frozen in our tracks by the fear that if we go on, we'll only fail again.

I used to get caught in that trap a lot. Then one day when I was right in the middle of a bout with depression, the Lord spoke up inside me and said: "Your problem is you're forming your thoughts off the past instead of the future. Don't do that! Unbelief looks at the past and says, 'See, it can't be done.' But faith looks at the future and says, 'It can be done, and according to the promises of God, it is done!' Then putting past failures behind it forever, faith steps out and acts like the victory's already been won." If depression has driven you into a spiritual nosedive, break out of it by getting your eyes off the past and onto your future--a future that's been guaranteed by Christ Jesus through the great and precious promises.
in His Word. Forget about those failures in the past! That's what God has done (Heb. 8:12). And if He doesn't remember them any more, why should you?

The Bible says God's mercies are new every morning. So if you'll take God at His Word, you can wake up every morning to a brand-new world. You can live life totally unhindered by the past. So, do it! Replace thoughts of yesterday's mistakes with scriptural promises about your future. As you do that, hope will start taking the place of depression. The spiritual aches and pains that crippled you for so long will quickly disappear. Instead of looking behind you and saying, "I can't," look ahead and say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" (Weymouth Phil. 4:13 "I have strength for anything through Him, who gives me power".)

Author unknown to me
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

REJECTION OR ACCEPTANCE?

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth Speaking the Truth in Love

An advertisement once was seen which announced, “Rejects – One half price.” This was advertising tires, not people; however, it represents a principle of life that is a major cause of fear of rejection. This fear has a devastating effect on human lives. It can be seen in neglected, rejected babies and children and it can be observed in the elderly.

The effect of rejection causes people to do things they shouldn’t, such as, turning from friends and parents, committing robbery, murder, and worst of all, rejecting the Lord.

It is difficult for a person who is obsessed with a fear of being rejected to express their true feelings to other persons or concerning important matters in their life. For example, it is difficult for them to say “No.” Contrariwise, as strange as it may seem, it might deter them from saying, “Yes” to the Lord for salvation. This is tragic in view of our Lord’s wonderful statement, “Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). Also Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Sometimes, it is hard for a person who feels rejected to accept praise, that is, genuine commen-dation. They possibly feel so inadequate that they have a hard time believing anyone means it. Sure-ly, persons should not seek the favor of men, but remember, the Lord taught a parable in which the nobleman said to a faithful servant, “Well done, thou faithful servant . . .” Luke 19:17). Also, Paul wrote the Philippian believers and stated, “Notwith-standing ye have well done, that ye did communi-cate with my affliction” (Phil. 4:14).

There is a remedy for this problem caused by the fear of being rejected. That “cure” is simply its counterpart, acceptance. First and foremost is to believe the Scripture which says,

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Eph. 1:6)

This process of God, “wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved,” results in our being made gracious of acceptable. Seeing this is a stated fact, why worry or fret when maybe some misguided individual rejects or shuns us? After all, God received us when we believed Him through our Lord Jesus Christ!

by Charles W. Wages
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REJECTION OR ACCEPTANCE?
Part 2

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth Speaking the Truth in Love

There is another great truth that tends to dispel any type of fear, that is, God has plans for our lives, right down to the “end.” Jeremiah 29:11 reads,
“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Knowing and accepting the truth that God thinks of peace for our life is in itself a tremen-dously heartwarming fact. It is good just to know God is thinking about me, but to know that He has planned my life right down to the end, makes me to rejoice, and fears subside.

In closing, it is assuring to know that we have a place of refuge. Wonderful truths are found in Psalms 62, especially verses 5 though 8. Verses 6 and 7 say,

“He only is my rock and my salvation He is my defense: I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge is in God.”

Dear friend, if you have not as yet received the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, please do so. Remember the Scripture says, “But as many as received Him to them gave He the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12). God will receive you. He will not turn you away if only you will turn to Him and believe that “Christ died for your sins, according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried and that He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures” (1Cor. 15:3-4).

Dear Believer, trust God and His word as to your eternal position in Christ, “accepted in the Beloved.” He loves you, desires to use you for His glory, and has already planned for you in the glory.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, Lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path.” (Prov. 3:5-6)

by Charles W. Wages

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

TRUTH ON THE SCAFFOLD

"Truth is on the scaffold, and wrong is on the throne."

Though this may be expected in an ungodly world, such a mentality ought not to exist in the Church. Honesty, integrity, and upright-ness should rather be the watchwords among -st the people of God, especially with regards to the evidence in the Word of God.

The evidence of Creation could not be clearer (Gen.1:1; Ex.20:11; Eph.3:9; Heb.1:2), yet some people won’t believe.

The evidence of the Inspiration of the Scrip-tures couldn’t be greater (II Tim.3:16; IIPet. 1:20,21; Heb. 4:12,13), yet some people won’t
believe.

The evidence of the Virgin Birth of Christ couldn’t be stronger (Matt. 1:18; Luke 1:35), yet some people won’t believe.

The evidence of the Pauline Revelation could not be plainer (Rom. 16:25,26; Gal.1:11,12; Eph.3:9), yet some people won’t believe.

The evidence of salvation by grace through faith today couldn’t be more gracious (Rom.
5:8-11; Heb.9:12), yet some people won’t believe, preferring their "good works" to the finished work of Christ.

The evidence of the eternal security of the believer in Christ could not be more obvious (Rom.8:35-39; Heb. 7:25), yet some people won’t believe.

The evidence of a pre-millennial, pre-tribulat-ional rapture of the Body of Christ could not be more imminent (IThes.4:13-18; 5:9), yet
some people won’t believe.

The reason that many people don’t believe these wonderful truths in God’s Word is because "the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, LEST THE LIGHT OF THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF CHRIST, who is the image of God, SHOULD SHINE UNTO THEM" (IICor.
4:4).

Remember: God holds us accountable to "rightly divide the Word of truth" (IITim. 2:15).

"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will BRING TO LIGHT THE HIDDEN THINGS OF DARKNESS, and will make MANIFEST THE COUNSELS OF THE HEARTS: and then shall every man have
praise of God" (ICor.4:5).

BY RUSSELL S. MILLER
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Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

WHAT IS GRACE?

"The father of lies" always hates the truth, but he does not always oppose it by the same methods. If he fails to succeed as a roaring lion he may appear as an angel of light, sug-gesting that surely a God of love will not condemn Christ-rejectors forever. Sinners, he will contend, are not responsible for their sins anyway, for does not Eph. 1:11 teach that "[God] worketh all things after the counsel of His own will"? And thus God Himself is supposed to have conceived the idea of sin as "a gracious means to a glorious end," and to have caused man to fall into sin so that He might finally save him from it!

Why an almighty, all-wise, all-loving God per-mitted sin to enter the universe must, for the time being, remain an impenetrable mystery to us, but one thing is certain: He is not the author of sin, and never accepts the respon-sibility for it -- except that in grace and love He bore its penalty for man.

God calls sinners "children of disobedience" and "children of wrath" (Eph. 2:2,3), explaining in the clearest language that He hates sin and that His anger is kindled against it (Rom. 1:18; Eph. 5:6; John 3:36). But if God meant man to sin and caused him to sin, how was man disobedient and what cause could God have to be angry? Those who would shift the responsibility for sin from themselves to God should remember that He proclaimed His standards of right-eousness in the Law "that every mouth may be stopped and that all the world may be brought in guilty before God" -(Rom. 3:19).

The contention that all will finally be saved may at first sound like wonderful grace, but actually there is not one particle of grace in it, for it is based on the theory that since God got us into sin it is only just that He save us from its penalty. But grace is God’s mercy and kindness to the undeserving. In Eph. 2, after calling sinners "children of disobed-ience" and therefore "children of wrath," the Apostle Paul goes on to say:

"BUT GOD, who is RICH IN MERCY, for His GREAT LOVE wherewith he loved us... hath quickened us... raised us up... and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come He might show THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS" (Eph. 2:4-7).

By C R. Stam
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Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

Some three thousand years ago, and about one thousand years before Christ, the Psal-mist said:

"If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord who shall stand? But there is forgive-ness with Thee..." (Psa. 130:3,4).

The Psalmist did not explain, however, upon what basis a just and holy God could forgive a guilty sinner. This was to be proclaimed one thousand years later by the Apostle
Paul, himself once "a blasphemer, and a persecutor and injurious"; the "chief" of sinners, but forgiven and saved by the infin-ite grace of God (Tim. 1:13-15).

Preaching Christ at Antioch, in the province of Pisidia, Paul declared:

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that THROUGH THIS MAN IS PREACHED UNTO YOU THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, AND BY HIM ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, FROM WHICH YE COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW OF MOSES" (Acts 13:38,39).

But even this does not fully answer our question, for we must still ask: On what basis does God forgive sins through "this Man"? The answer is: on the basis of His payment for our sins on Calvary’s cross. Thus the Apostle wrote to the Romans, explaining how we may be...

"...justified freely by His [God’s] grace, THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS" (Rom. 3:24).

Now, thank God, through Christ’s finished work, there is not a sinner who needs to remain unforgiven, for:

"In [Christ] we have redemption, through His blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ACCORD-ING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE" (Eph. 1:7).

By C.R. Stam
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

OUR ONLY BOAST

"God forbid that I should boast, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Gal. 6:14).

St. Paul was once a proud Pharisee, smug in his self-righteousness. In Phil. 3:5,6 he lists some of the things in which he took great pride:

"Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."

But everything was changed since that day when the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Suddenly he had seen himself a lost, condemned sinner in the sight of a holy God and had tasted the matchless grace that could reach down from heaven and save even him. He knew now that he could not stand before God in himself, or "on his own two feet," as we say. His only safety, before the bar of God, was to take refuge in Christ, as he says in Verse 9:

"And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. "

Now he knew, as we all should know, that he really had nothing to boast of as far as his own standing before God was concerned. For the rest of his life, however, he did con-
stantly boast of one thing: the cross, where the Christ whom he had so bitterly persecut-ed had died for his sins that he (Paul) might be justified before God. All else of which Paul boasted was embraced in the cross of Christ.
This too, is really the only thing we have to boast of and the most godly saint will enthusiastically join Paul in saying:

"But God forbid that I should boast, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world."

By C. R. Stam
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2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE

Have you ever considered carefully the opening words of the Bible? "In the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth." Why doesn’t it simply say that God created the universe? Why the heaven and the earth?

As we go on reading we find the answer to this question, for the Bible clearly teaches that God has a twofold purpose; one having to do with the earth and the other with
heaven. The former is the subject of prophecy, while the latter is the subject of "the mystery," or secret, revealed to and through St. Paul. (See Acts 3:21; and cf. Rom. 16:25). The former concerns Israel and the nations, the latter "the Body of Christ," the Church of the heavenly calling.

Some people are surprised to learn that there is not one promise in the whole Old Testament about going to heaven. There the whole outlook is earthly, with Messiah reigning as King (Jer. 23:5, et al). When our Lord appeared in the flesh the angels proclaimed "peace on earth" (Luke 2:14).
He Himself said that "the meek" should "inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5). He taught His disciples to pray: "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10). Even at Pen-
tecost Peter declared that after "the restitution of all things" God would send Jesus back to earth and the times of refreshing would "come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19-21).

Not until the raising up of Paul do we learn that now all believers in Christ are "baptized into one body" (1 Cor. 12:13), and Col. 1:5 and many other Pauline passages speak
of "the hope which is laid up for you in heaven." Indeed, before God believers are already given a position "in heavenly places" and are "blessed with all spiritual blessings
in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3; 2:4-7).

The prophecies regarding the kingdom, however, will still be fulfilled and Christ will reign on earth and bring the promised "times of refreshing." Thank God, this world will
not forever be a place of war and bloodshed, sickness and death, misery and woe. Indeed, at that time, heaven and earth will be opened to each other, and thus will be fulfilled God’s twofold purpose: "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; even in Him" (Eph. 1:10).

By C. R. Stam
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That Precious Deposit

Scripture Reading:
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
-- II Corinthians 4:7

The story is told of how a wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing
another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier
for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art."

The young man held out his package. "I know this isn't very much, I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this." The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the
soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift." The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every
time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the great works of art he had collected.

The man died a few months later. Shortly thereafter, there was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having the opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting
of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?" There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one." But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the
bidding? $100, $200?" Another voice shouted angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!" But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "We have $10, who will bid $20?" "Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters." The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their
collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, going twice, SOLD for $10!" A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection."

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over." "What about the paintings?" "I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that
painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets every thing!"

God gave His Son 2000 years ago to die on a cruel Cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, "The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?" Because, you see, whoever takes the Son inherits everything!

EARTHEN VESSELS

In biblical times earthen vessels were clay pots that had been thoroughly baked in an oven. They were fraught with imperfections, which meant that no two were exactly alike. Archeologists have discovered that those who lived during that period secretly buried their treasures in clay pots for safekeeping. As we shall see, the master illustrator uses this facet of everyday life to illustrate a grand spiritual truth.

Those who have taken the Son are heirs, joint-heirs with Him. As members of the Body of Christ, we are partakers of His glory, His power, and His reign. In short, we are the recipients of the wealth of heaven! While the believing Gentiles will partake of the blessings of the kingdom, they were never promised to be heirs. In the kingdom, heirship is a question of nationality. In the present dispensation of Grace, heirship is based upon relationship. We are one in Him. Therefore, we have come into possession of what rightfully belongs to Him, and will share it mutually with Him for eternity (Rom. 8:17 cf. Eph. 3:6).

Today when men want to safeguard their riches they place them in vaults made of steel and concrete. But God's ways are not man's ways. God has deposited the riches of His grace in earthen vessels. We need not wait until we arrive in heaven to learn what we presently possess in Christ. We have this treasure, that is, the gospel of the grace of God in earthen vessels. Those who have been saved by grace are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. But what we
positionally enjoy in Christ must become a practical reality in the Christian experience if we ever hope to maintain a godly testimony among men. For example, we are forgiven in Christ, but grace teaches us that we are to forgive others even as Christ has forgiven us.

But why would God place these unspeakable riches in such an unsecure place? We are unworthy sinners, weak and frail, who have the sentence of death within us. Perhaps the hymn-writer, Robert Robinson, has expressed it best, "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love." The answer to the question is found in the latter part of our passage. "That the excellency [exceeding greatness] of the power may be of God, and not of us." While others usually think more highly of us than they should, essentially it is the power of God working through us that produces results in the
Lord's work.

Many years ago I was invited to minister the gospel at a Bible camp in the Rocky Mountains. On the last evening, I spoke on "The Danger of Falling Into the Hands of An Angry God." Earlier that day I hadn't been feeling well, due to altitude sickness. In addition to being exhausted that night, I was short of breath. At ten thousand feet it
doesn't take much to get winded. I now understand why it took Moses so long to return from Mount Sinai with the tablets of stone. He undoubtedly had to keep stopping on his way down to catch his breath! As I arose to speak that evening I thought to myself, this is going to be an absolute disaster. It was, or at least I thought it was, until
I learned two months later that an entire family was saved that night. Brethren, the gospel is the "power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom 1:16).

By Paul M. Sadler,
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THE SAVIOUR SUPPLIES

“But my God shall supply all need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)

There is no doubt that God knows everything. This is hard for us to understand when we know so little. We think that God must attend to such large matters that pertain to this vast universe that He couldn’t be too concerned with our everyday needs. The beautiful passage of Scripture in Matthew 6:25-34 shows the Lord’s deep concern and compassion for even the smallest detail of life. He uses as examples, birds, flowers, and even the grass of the field. Three times in these ten verses, He said, “be not anxious” and in another He asks the question, “Why are ye anxious?” Why should we be anxious when He knows our needs?

When we see that God can provide our needs without our help, if He desires, it should make us thankful, trustful, and grateful. Some have shown that the “toil not” and “spin not” of verse 28 could refer to the work of men and women, however, we could see that God can perform in anyone’s life that will trust Him. Also, it must be seen that He knows our needs before they occur and before we know them! God not only knows the future of Israel, the future of the nations, the future of the Body of Christ (the Church), the future of the devil, and the future of the heavens and the earth, He also knows the immediate need of every individual!

In order to let us know just how much He loves us, God send His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to this earth to live for us, die for us, and ascend to heaven for us. It is wonderful to see that He showed Himself in the most common places—a stable, a wedding feast, the marketplace, the home, and in other places that were of common interest to people. Today, though not here on earth in person, the Lord is with us in our work, our places of business, school, the home, the supermarket, and other places of interest to people. He is with us in Church and Sunday School, but not there only.

Being with us in common places, He ministers to our common needs. He considers the “outward man” and provides clothing for warmth and protection. Everything we wear, including man-made materials, came originally from God’s provision in nature. He knows that the stomach needs food. Think of the vast amount of foodstuff there is in this earth! The problem of hungry people is not in God providing, but in man’s distribution and misuse. Above all, God provides for the “inward man” the spiritual food so necessary. His wonderful Word is sufficient to provide for everything the believer needs!

The Lord Jesus, having been “tempted (tested) in all points like as we are, yet without sin,” can be with us in our common disappointments. Hebrews 2:18 says,
“For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.”

The familiar account in John 21 of Peter and the disciples going fishing provides a remarkable example of the Lord’s interest in everyday affairs Peter said, “I go a fishing.” The others said, “We also go with thee.” The Bible tells us “that night they caught nothing.” What a common occurrence, but what a common disappointment.

Was the resurrected Christ interested? Definitely and positively. We are told that, “when the morning came, Jesus stood on the shore.” He was interested and He was there. He also understood that their common disappointment and satisfied their common need. When they came to land they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Also, He said, “bring of the fish that ye caught.” The net was full of 153 great fish and was not broken!

In conclusion, one more thing should be considered. Why does God often provide more than we need? We probably will never know the full answer here on earth, but some things are evident. First of all, it is to show His great love for us. It is an abundant love. God loves us beyond our utmost comprehension. That love cannot be measured. Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:17-19 that all saints may be able “to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.”

Second, God wants us to share what we have with others. Someone has aptly said, “If you want to be good to yourself, try being good to others.” Not only should we have a good disposition to others, but there should be a good distribution to others.

Thirdly, God gives us abundantly to meet the needs of the future. The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us that the needs of the fallen man were taken care of for the morrow as well as his immediate need of medical attention. When Jesus fed the five thousand with the five loaves and two fishes, we are told that “they did eat, and were all filled; and there was taken up of fragments that remained, twelve baskets” (Luke 9:17).

Many today are disappointed when they cannot find salvation, rest, and peace for their troubled souls. Some try to work for their own redemption, some turn to religion and join churches, some turn to worldly pleasure, drugs, including drinking, and some give up completely in total despair, despondency, and disappointment.

Can God meet this need? Definitely and positively. That’s precisely why Christ came to earth, died on the cross, and came forth from the grave. He did all this in order for all humanity to be saved—for you to be saved! “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”

by Charles Wages
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The Ministry of Comfort

Scripture Reading:
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort."- II Corinthians 1:3

Since the entrance of sin into the world, the way of man has been anything but easy. Job seemed to have his finger on the pulse of the matter when he wrote, "... man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." It is interesting though, that when calamity strikes, men are quick to blame God, or to ask why He allows such occurrences in their lives. But shall we blame God for what man has brought upon himself? God forbid! Man is a product of his own folly. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12).

Some claim that if they had been back in the garden everything would have been different. I certainly have no reason to doubt them. In all probability, they would have pushed Adam aside to reach the forbidden fruit before he did! You see, God saw the entire human race in Adam, as only He could do. So when Adam stretched forth his hand
to partake of the forbidden fruit, each of us were reaching for it as well -- we are his posterity, thus we share in his guilt. God could have condemned the whole human race to the Lake of Fire and have been perfectly justified in so doing. Thankfully, we did not receive what we justly deserved, for "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy" (Psa. 103:8).

HOW GOD COMFORTS US

"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (II Cor. 1:4).

Here, of course, the Apostle refers to believers. Our heavenly Father knows that we are frail creatures of dust, overwhelmed with sorrow, sickness and even death; not to mention the spiritual upheavals that come our way. Always sympathetic to our plight, He walks with us every step of life's journey comforting us in all our tribulations. The tribulation cited here by the Apostle Paul is not a reference to the Tribulation Period known as The Time of Jacob's Trouble. Paul is speaking of the personal tribulations he had encountered due to spiritual conflicts and poor health. Personal trials come in all forms: criticism, rejection, financial setbacks, sickness, bereavement, etc.

When sorrow overwhelms us like an ocean tide the Lord in His goodness is always present to comfort us in our time of need. But exactly how does God comfort us in the dispensation of Grace? We know for instance that the heavens are silent and that neither the Lord nor any of His angelic host visibly appear to minister to the saints today. During the administration of Grace the Lord, first of all, comforts us through His Word.

For example, some years ago death took my great-grandmother. She always held a very special place in my heart and even to this day I get choked up sometimes when I think of her. My sense of loss would be difficult to bear except for the consolation I have received from the Word of God. The Lord has shown me that I need not sorrow as
others who have no hope. Some day soon the trump will sound and the dead in Christ will be raised. Then we will be caught up together with all those departed loved ones who were saved, and so shall we ever be with the Lord! Little wonder Paul says, Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

Another way the Lord comforts us is by bringing someone into our lives at just the right moment to encourage us in those times of despair. Surely we have a precedent for this in the life of Paul himself. The intensity of the spiritual warfare at Ephesus and Macedonia had taken its toll on the Apostle, both physically and spiritually. "Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus" (II Cor. 7:5-7). The arrival of Titus was a direct result of Divine intervention to not only encourage Paul, but also that he might lend assistance in the work.

Finally, God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but rather that we might comfort others. It has been given to us to carry on a
ministry of encouragement to those who are in any trouble. Think of it, having already been the recipients of God's consolation, He uses us to put our arm around that dear Christian friend who is perhaps facing his first surgery and tell him, "we too had this same surgery a few years ago and the Lord saw us through it." With hope we can face
any thing. That's why God has revealed to us the Blessed Hope that one day soon we shall be with Him. Truly He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. AMEN!

By Paul M. Sadler
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NOTE This is my last day on ChristianUnite.

Grace & Peace

Anger Management

"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil." -- Ephesians 4:26,27

Around the turn of the century, the Church was graced with an array of great preachers, but none were more tenacious and outspo-ken than Billy Sunday. He seemed to have a way of driving home a point. It is said that a woman once approached him after one of his meetings who was well known for her bad temper. She sought to defend her actions by saying: "But Mr. Sunday, although I blow up over the least little thing, it's all over in a minute." The evangelist looked her straight i

n the eye

and said, "So is a shotgun blast!! It's over in seconds,

too, but look at the terrible damage it can do."

God created us with a wide range of emo-tions, each of which serves a purpose. Yes, even anger can be good. Contrary to popular opinion, anger itself is not sinful. Notice how the apostle words his above statement, "Be ye angry, and sin not." In essence, Paul is saying that we are well within our rights to be angry over an in-justice or unrighteous circumstances.

The recent debate over "partial birth abortion" is a good example. We should be incensed by "abortion" in general and horrified by "partial birth abortions" in particular. Any procedure (usually perform-ed at 7 or 8 months gestation) that allows the infant's head to remain in the birth canal while the abortionist forces a surgical instrument into the base of the skull to suction out the little one's brains is nothing short of first degree murder. Here a right-eous anger is perfectly justified. In fact, there are scores of times in the Old Testa-ment where the anger of the Lord is said to be kindled against His enemies (Num. 25:1-9; Jer.12:13).

Surely our Lord is a prime example that anger itself is not necessarily sinful, for

He knew no sin. Thus the Lord was well within the

boundaries of godly behavior when He exhibited a righteous anger toward those who had made His Father's house a den of thieves (John 2:13-17). In the future Tribulation Period those who reject God's anointed and worship the beast and his image, "the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indig-nation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone" (Rev. 14:10).

Carefully note, Paul adds to the phrase "be ye angry" a warning, "and sin not." Unbridl-ed anger can easily turn into a fit of uncon-trollable rage which normally leaves a path of destruction in its wake. Unchecked, anger that overflows into resentment almost always results in some form of retaliation. This may take the form of verbal attacks, threats, or even physical abuse.

In a worst case scenario, it is much like a volcano that builds pressure over a period of time and finally erupts. Whenever you watch a news report of a lone gunman who enters his former place of employment with a semi-automatic weapon and kills his supervisor and three other fellow workers, you are witnessing the eruption of pent-up anger. Another example is the believer who allowed his anger to get the better of him and shot an abortion doctor outside a clinic down south. With one pull of the trigger, this young man disgraced the name of Christ, labeled all Christians as radicals in the eyes of the world, destroyed his personal testimony, and ended up with life in prison. These are both cases where anger spun out of control with tragic results.

How to Deal with Anger

We are living in a day when philosophy says, "express yourself openly," "tell it like it is," "open up," "let it all hang out." How-ever, the Scriptures counsel us to exercise restraint.

The fruit of the spirit is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22,23). As we walk by grace through faith, temperance will enable us to keep our anger under control. But how does this work out in a practical sense? Those who fly off in a fit of rage permit their anger to take control of them. Consequently, the energy emitted from this emotion is usually misdirected at someone or some-thing. Sinful anger tears down. Thus, in the heat of the moment things are often said and done which cause irreparable damage to relationships.

Paul adds here in Ephesians, "let not the sun go down upon your wrath." We should never allow our anger to simmer overnight. This will only cause it to become more deeply seated. "Neither give place to the devil" (Eph. 4:27). You see, if you fail to handle things in the proper manner, you may well be giving Satan an opportunity to drive a deeper wedge in your relationships with others. Surely, we are not ignorant of his devices. Always remember, Satan is an opportunist.

By Paul M. Sadler,
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Theology => Bible Study => Topic started by: Ambassador4Christ on December 23, 2003, 02:43:40 PM