Walking in the Spirit is keeping in step with Him,

allowing Him constant control over our lives.
                   Colossians 3:15

HAVE YOU HEARD?

By Cornelius R. Stam

"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward" (Eph. 3:2).

Could it be that those to whom Paul addressed his
Ephesian letter had not yet heard that God had committed
to him "the dispensation of grace"?

Next to the death and resurrection of Christ, the conver-
sion of Paul and his commission to proclaim "the gospel of
the grace of God" was the greatest event in history .

The apostles at Jerusalem had recognized the importance
of Paul’s part in the divine program. They themselves had
at first been sent by Christ into "all the world," yet in Gal.
2:9 we find James, Peter and John publicly shaking hands
with Paul in a solemn agreement that he should henceforth
be the apostle to the nations.

Could it be that some twelve years later, when he wrote
the Ephesian letter, there were any who professed the
name of Christ who had not heard of Paul’s special place in
the program of God as the apostle of grace? Little wonder
his words "if ye have heard" carry with them a touch of
reproach.

It is possible, of course, that there were some among
them, but recently brought into the Church, who had not
heard, but what seems utterly incredible is that there
should be even one believer at this late date who has not
heard that after Christ and His kingdom had been rejected
and the world was ripe for prophesied judgment to fall, God
intervened, saving Saul, His chief enemy on earth, and
sending him forth with "the good news of the grace of God."

This good news is based, of course, upon the fact that
since Christ was the spotless Lamb of God, His death is
accepted by God as full satisfaction for the sinner. Thus
Paul, by divine inspiration, declares that believers are
"justified freely by His [God’s] grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).
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THE WATER OF LIFE

By Cornelius R. Stam

For almost twenty-four hours, recently, Chicagoans had
to boil their drinking water! Millions of small fish had
jammed the water intakes far out in Lake Michigan, and
had died there. It was, of course, a major operation to clear
them all away and to make sure that Chicago’s drinking
water was uncontaminated.

It is of the utmost importance, always, that the water we
drink is pure and fresh, and this is no less so where spir-
itual matters are concerned. The Bible has much to say
about stagnant water, and foul water, and poisoned water,
but the water which God would give to us is called in Scrip-
ture, "the pure water of life," doubtless because it is so
wholesome and refreshing.

Perhaps the reader will recall the picture our Lord drew
for that fallen Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar.
John 4:10-14 tells how he and this woman had discussed
Jacob’s well. Somehow she seemed to sense that He was
contrasting her vain pursuit of pleasure with eternal life,
when He said:

"Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever
drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the
water that I shall give him shall be in him, a [fountain] of water, spring-
ing up into everlasting life" (Vers. 13,14).

How true this is! The pleasures of this world do not sat-
isfy. Men go on "pursuing pleasure" to keep from being
bored, but the everlasting life that God gives to those who
trust in Christ is a never-ending source of refreshment and
joy. Also, it provides the greatest incentive to serve Him.

Those who possess the joy of sins forgiven and of peace
with God naturally long to serve and please Him, and God
desires no service except that which springs from genuine
gratitude and love. "We love Him because He first loved us"
(I John 4:19).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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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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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:

Daily Inspirational

WEB SITE
Grace And The Truth
www.graceandthetruth.com

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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.  

Every time I pass by a cemetary, I think:
People are just dying to get in there....
 

LOL I like it  

EAT PIZZA A LOT OF PIZZA With TONS of Meat

[Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.]

But if I gave up the burgers, who would do the quality control?

  K, *sniff* I understand....
But if you change your mind.....

My kind of philosophy!  
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday,
lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

 

Never take life seriously.
Nobody gets out alive anyway.  

Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday,
lying in hospitals dying of nothing.  

Health is merely the slowest possible
rate at which one can die.

Good one JudgeNot LOL


-----------------------------------------

I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned
that most people die of natural causes.

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH

By Cornelius R. Stam

St. Paul wrote to Timothy, many centuries ago: "All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in right-
eousness" (II Tim. 3: 16).

The Apostle referred, of course, to the sacred Scriptures,
also called The Bible and The Word of God. All of it, he
says, is "God-breathed and profitable," to "teach," to "re-
prove," to "correct" and to "instruct."

But why, then, have so many heresies and false teachings
sprung up through the years - all based upon the Bible?
And why have so many thousands of sincere people been led
astray by these false teachings?

The reason is that teachers and followers alike have
failed to heed another important statement which Paul
made in this same letter prior to his declaration that all
Scripture is inspired of God and profitable. This statement
is found in Chapter 2, Verse 15:

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth."

The Bible can prove "profitable" to us only as we "rightly
divide" it. We must rightly divide the Word of truth for the
simple reason that if we do not do this we can pervert the
truth and change it into error. Through the centuries God
has periodically altered His dealings with mankind. Many
religious rites which were commanded in Old Testament
times are positively forbidden in this present dispensation
of grace.

In Old Testament times, for example, animal sacrifices
were required for acceptance with God, and from John the
Baptist through Pentecost water baptism was required
(Lev. 17:11; Mk. 1:4; Acts 2:38), but some years after the
death of Christ Paul was sent forth with "the preaching of
the cross," and he declared that: "We have redemption
through [Christ’s] blood, the forgiveness of sins according to
the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7). "Being justified freely by
[God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
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Reponse for Bronzesnake'

Bronze - I really do thank you for our response – I like it when people put some thought into and go for it and I am being sincere.
This was supposed to be about one’s position in Christ not Revelation but if you want to go there, then fine, I’m easy to get along with.  

Now, you said a lot and I’m not sure I even know where to begin. No way to adequately cover what needs to be covered in this post. I read every word of your post and I trust you will do the same for.

“you should be very careful when making such statements as the following...It's very patronizing,///such comments they often come back and make us look foolish.”

Honestly bronze, not worried about this coming back to bite me a bit – been hashing it out for over 22 years now.  I used to believe what you have posted below until I started comparing it with Paul and then I had to regroup and rethink the traditional thinking on the subject – it wasn’t easy.

”The "Church" are Christians. Christians are those who believe in Jesus Christ and accept His sacrifice at the cross.”

Amen, I agree on the salvation part. But, just because we see the word “church” doesn’t mean it is the church, which is His body. How about the church in the wilderness (Acts 7:38) – there it is the Jewish church in the OT.  Comparing scripture with scripture the word church means “congregation” – see Heb. 2:12 with Psa. 22:22. So, we must be careful when we make a blanket statement about what the church means – context determines the definition.  

”Are you trying to tell me that the Church (Christian believers) can not be found in Revelations?”

Yes, that is exactly what I’m saying.  The church, which is His body (Eph. 5:30; 1:22,23, etc.), is not an earthly people in God’s eyes but a heavenly people seated in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 2:6, etc.).  Christ’s body suddenly comes down from heaven to go through the tribulation?  That is not the purpose of the church!  The purpose of Revelation is the consummation of God’s plan regarding the nations and Israel.  Paul revealed the completed plan for the church in Ephesians and Colossians – Col. 1:25 and Eph. 3:10.

”Also, you have a poor understanding of who Revelations is addressed to judging by this statement..."Revelation is a book of prophecy with Israel as the focus."”

Ok, then show me the body of Christ in the Gospels and the OT.  Show me where the focus is no the body of Christ in Revelation when Paul didn’t breath a word of it to us.  Show me Pauline truths in Revelation.  Show me any Pauline scriptures – I can show you tons of OT references but not body of Christ truth.  

”Read the very first verse of Revelation...The focus is to "shew unto His servants" we (Christians) are His servants, the Jews don't believe in Jesus. He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John.”
 
John was the apostle to the circumcision – Gal. 2:9
Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles – Rom. 15:16
So right off the bat you have a book associated with John who is tied into Israel. Again, because we see servants doesn’t mean it is directed to servants today.
 
”John was a disciple...a Christian.”

Again, John was also the apostle to the circumcision.  Does this mean he was given truth about the body of Christ – look at what John wrote and compare it with Paul – big difference.

”The seven churches are Christian churches, not Jewish Synagogues, so you are wrong right off the bat about the Church not being in Revelations. This entire message was for the Christian churches, read it and see for yourself...”

Then why is the word synagogue used in Revelation?  Again, why do you think because you see the word church it means local churches of today or even the first century since…Rev. 1:4 – John is in the future – he is not looking at church age churches.

”You would do yourself a huge favor to read the following also...”

Yes, I can use a concordance and see the word churches but we’ve covered this before.
Is it a coincidence that in Rev. the emphasis is on the twelve tribes?
Is it a coincidence that in Rev. 12 the emphasis is on Israel (mentioned 3 times through out the epistle)?
Is it a coincidence about the two JEWISH witness of Rev. 12?
Is it a coincidence about all the other Jewish references in Rev:
Rev. 5:5, 8, 10 (Compare with Ex. 19:6 and Deut.); 4 beasts (Ezek.); New Jerusalem (Rev. 21); keeping the commandments (Rev. 22), etc?

”Here are more examples of the Church (Christians) in Revelations.
Rev 6:9”

You see church age saints  – I see tribulation saints not body of Christ.
According to Eph. 1-3 the church, which is His body is in heaven, far above all principalities and powers – not on earth during the tribulation.  Why would the Lord drag His body down to earth to go through the tribulation?  Doesn’t match Paul - II Tim. 2:7.

”Don't ignore the facts my friend, they are here in plain English.”

Well, at least I’m still your friend but you are ignoring the book as a whole and reading into it a truth you and others have been taught for years is there but it is not – sorry.

”Look at that...white robes were given to them...every one of them.”

Makes good preaching but poor doctrine.  When God saved me I did not get white robes I became the righteousness of Christ in Him – Rom. 3:22 – robes not are associated with saints anywhere in Paul’s epistles.

”Want to read in the Bible the exact point where the Rapture is described?”

Bronze – I’m trying to be gracious here while you are treating me like a kid.  I think I’ve seen the “rapture” verses before.

”Rev 4:1 which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.  “

I think Christ is talking to John – see vs. 2 “I” (John) – not us in this age. Earlier this phrase is mentioned in Rev. 1:1 and it is not talking to us but John. Makes exciting preaching – poor doctrine.

”Wowee! A door was opened…Where have I read that before???
”1Th 4:16 1Th 4:17 - ”What an amazing coincidence!”

What an amazing misplacement of a second-advent event!
Yes, I said end of tribulation – second-advent references to a catching away of tribulation saints at the end of the tribulation.  I used to think that was referring to a pre-tribulation rapture but after careful study it is a second advent reference not a church age reference.  

”1) Many Christians in Revelations, and you don't need any microscope to find them”

The word “Christian” appears nowhere in the book.

I’m bewildered but not surprised – been dealing with this teaching for years.  The reason so many are so confused over this is because they just don’t know the unique place the body of Christ has in God’s plan – plain and simple.

Look Bronze, I’m not trying to take anything away from you.  I’m trying to give you a blessing.  The body of Christ is a heavenly body sitting in the heavenly places right this moment.  If you are saved then you are in Christ and Christ is at the right hand of the Father, which puts you in eternity at this moment.  The body of Christ is a not an earthly calling – that is for Israel and the Gentile nations.  We are not coming down again to earth – we have been purposed to sit far above the heavens and display the manifold wisdom of God for eternity (Eph. 3:10). Isn’t that great!?!?!?!  

I’m trying to open up the heart here – we have a position like no other ever has – the tribulation is for the establishing of an earthly kingdom for Israel, which was the subject and theme of the OT.  We are not in the OT – we are a mystery hidden from all till Paul got it from the Lord.  

With that – I’m drained but game.  If you want to carry on I’m interested.

May God bless  

DITTO

Amen AVBunyan  Amen

Room 302

Anyone who has ever had a loved one in the hospital will enjoy this:

A woman called a local hospital. "Hello. Could you connect me to the person who gives information about patients? I'd like to find out if a patient is getting better, doing as expected or getting worse."

The voice on the other end said, "What is the patient's name and room number?"

"Sarah Finkel, room 302."

"I'll connect you with the nursing station."

"3-A Nursing Station. How can I help You?"

"I'd like to know the condition of Sarah Finkel  in room 302."

"Just a moment. Let me look at her records. Mrs. Finkel is doing very well. In fact, she's had two full meals, her blood pressure  is fine, to be taken off the heart monitor in a  couple of hours  and, if  she continues this improvement, Dr. Cohen is going to send her  home  Tuesday at noon."

The woman said, "What a relief! Oh, that's fantastic... that's wonderful news!"

The nurse said, "From your enthusiasm, I take it you are a close family member or a very close friend!"


"Neither! I'm Sarah Finkel in 302! Nobody here tells me anything

A blonde named Pam is appearing on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" with Regis Philbin. Regis: "Pam, you're up to $500,000 with one lifeline left: phone a friend. If you get it right, the next question is worth one million dollars If you get it wrong, you drop back to $32,000. Are you ready?"

Pam: "Yes."

Regis: "Which of the following birds does not build its own nest? Is it A) robin, B) Sparrow, C) cuckoo, or D) thrush."
Pam: "I'd like to phone a friend. I'd like to call Carol."
Carol (also a blonde) answers the phone: "Hello?"

Regis: "Hello Carol, it's Regis Philbin from Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
I have your friend Pam here who needs your help to answer the one million dollar question. The next voice you hear will be Pam's."
Pam: "Carol, which of the following birds does not build it's own nest?
Is it A) robin, B) sparrow, C) cuckoo, or D) thrush."
Carol: "Oh geez, Pam. That's simple. It's a cuckoo."
Pam: "Are you sure?"
Carol: "I'm sure."
Regis: "Pam, you heard Carol. Do you keep the $500,000 or play for the million?"
Pam: "I want to play; I'll go with C) cuckoo."
Regis: "Is that your final answer?"
Pam: "Yes."
Regis: "Are you confident?"
Pam: "Yes; I think Carol's pretty smart."
Regis: "You said C) cuckoo, and you're right! Congratulations, you have just won one million dollars!"
To celebrate, Pam flies Carol to New York. That night they go out on the town. As they're sipping champagne, Pam looks at Carol and asks her, "Tell me, how did you know that it was the cuckoo that does not build its own nest?"

That's easy, everybody knows they live in clocks."

THE VALUE OF ONE INDIVIDUAL PERSON

By Cornelius R. Stam

Just imagine! It had been three weeks since a big Air
Force plane had disappeared over the Pacific with a crew of
eight and a Navy enlisted man.

Now, in that general vicinity, the pilot of an Air Force
cargo plane reported sighting a raft with one man standing
up in it, waving for help.

Almost immediately the Air Force dispatched sixteen
planes to the area and called upon all ships nearby to help,
in the hope of finding this one man.

Again and again we have witnessed the almost unlimited
effort and expense that men will go to to rescue even one of
their fellowmen from death. This is as it should be, for it is
only in this life that we can prepare for eternity and it is
important that each of us should have the greatest possible
opportunity to prepare, in case through carelessness we
may have put this important matter off.

It was with eternity in mind that the Lord Jesus Christ
paid the greatest possible price to save men from judgment
to come, and what the Bible calls "the second death."

"Christ also hath once suffered for sins," says I Pet. 3:18,
"the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God."
Tit. 2:14 says that "He gave Himself for us that He might
redeem us from all iniquity." I Pet. 2:24 declares that He
"bore our sins in His own body on the tree," and in Gal. 2:20
St. Paul exclaims: "He loved me and gave Himself for me."

After three weeks alone on the ocean, the man referred
to above was keenly conscious of his need. He stood up and
waved frantically, in the hope that someone on the plane
might see him and bring help. Some people, adrift in this
world of sin and trouble, go on for many years before they
become aware of their need-or at least, before they will
acknowledge it. But not until we do acknowledge our sin
and our need, can we expect help or salvation. "Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15).
Good people do not need a Savior, but who is really good?
Rom. 3:23 says that "all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God," and our consciences bear witness. But let us
rejoice that "Christ died for our sins," and trust Him for
salvation. "He that believeth on the Son [of God] hath ever-
lasting life" (John 3:36).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subscribe at:
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
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Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings

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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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Should this devotional be a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving the daily word. You may forward this to them, by copy and paste method,  and they can use the below link to subscribe. We love to meet new people.

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:

Daily Inspirational

WEB SITE
Grace And The Truth
www.graceandthetruth.com

E-Mail GracentheTruth@aol.com

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.