Two Minutes With The Bible

[Brother Love]

"ENTERING INTO HIS REST"

By Russell S. Miller

"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: to the rock, for the "Rock" smitten once typifies Christs 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:. 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 entered 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:.

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:, a reference to the "forbearance" 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 typified, 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 trust 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 Gods 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).

Isnt 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 Calvarys 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).

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[Brother Love]

BELIEVERS JUSTIFIED

By Cornelius R. Stam

Our Lords appearance to Saul of Tarsus (later called
Paul) on the road to Damascus, changed the pitiless per-
secutor in a moment into the docile, yes the devoted fol-
lower of the Christ he had so bitterly hated.

This transformation took place not only because he had
now seen the risen, ascended Christ; it was caused also by
what he had learned from Christ. From heaven the Lord
had revealed to Paul the glory of His finished work of re-
demption and had sent him forth to proclaim "the gospel of
the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

This is seen in the closing words of the Apostles first
recorded sermon, delivered at the synagogue at Antioch in
Pisidia. After mentioning the death and resurrection of
Christ, the Apostle said:

"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).

Paul never changed this message, but kept emphasizing
it wherever he went as well as in his writings. He saw in
this truth the answer to mans condemnation for breaking
Gods holy law. Thus he wrote to the Romans:

"...by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested" (Rom. 3:20,21).

"[We] declare, I say, at this time, [Christs] righteousness; that[God] might be just and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom. 3:26).

Mark well: He does not say, "believeth and is baptized."
This was the message committed to the twelve (Mark 16:
16; Acts 2:38). With the ushering in of the dispensation of
grace God was manifested as "the Justifier of him which
believeth in Jesus."


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[Brother Love]

THE SPIRIT OF SONSHIP

By Cornelius R. Stam

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption [Lit., sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:15).
       
 
  The position of the believer in the family of God is amply
illustrated for us in the Epistles of Paul. In Gal. 4:1-5 the
Apostle alludes to the fact that in the life of every Hebrew
boy there came a time, appointed by the father, when the
lad was formally declared to be a full-grown son, with all
the rights and privileges of sonship.
         
It was now assumed that the young man would no longer
need overseers to keep him in check. There would be nat-
ural understanding and co-operation between father and
son. And so the "adoption" [Gr., son-placing] proceedings
took place, indicating that the child, now a full-grown son,
was no longer under law, but under grace.
         
"And because ye are sons," says the Apostle, God hath
sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying,
Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a
[full-grown] son" (Gal. 4:6,7).
         
This is the position of every believer in Christ. He may,
like the Corinthians, still be a babe in his spiritual experi-
ence (I Cor. 3:1), but in Christ he occupies the position of a
full-grown son, and to grow spiritually it will do him no
good to go back under the Law; he must rather recognize
his standing before God in grace. This is why the Apostle
says in Rom. 8:15:
         
"Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption [sonship], whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
         
A recognition of this position will do far more to help us
live godly lives than will the "dos and don’ts" of the Law.

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[Brother Love]

THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW NATURES

By Cornelius R. Stam

Concerning the conflict continually going on between the
old and new natures in the believer, St. Paul says:

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Gal. 5:17).

Regarding this conflict in his own personal experience, he
writes:

"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."

"For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

"But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members" (Rom. 7:19,22,23).

It has been taught by some that we need not experience
this continual strife between the old nature and the new.
They say: "Get out of the 7th of Romans into the 8th."

We would remind such that the Apostle Paul wrote Rom-
ans 7 and Romans 8 at the same sitting; that in the original
language the letter goes right on without interruption --
without even a chapter division. Thus the same apostle who
exclaims: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1) refers in the same
letter, only a few sentences before, and in the present tense,
to "the law of sin which IS in my members," and freely
acknowledges the present operation of that law in his mem-
bers, as we have seen above. How then shall we get out of
the 7th of Romans into the 8th? Paul experienced both at
the same time, and so do we, for while we are free from the
condemnation of sin, sin itself nevertheless continues to
work within us, and we must constantly "mortify the deeds
of the body" (Rom. 8:13).


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[Brother Love]

OUR ONLY BOAST

By Cornelius R. Stam

"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 righteous-ness 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 persecuted 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 say-
ing:

"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."




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[Brother Love]

THE PEACE OF GOD

By Cornelius R. Stam

"Peace with God" is one thing; "the peace of God" is an-
other. To enjoy the latter, we must first experience the
former, for the peace of God, ruling in our hearts, is the
result of "peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

St. Paul declared by divine inspiration that "[Christ] was
delivered for our offences and was raised again for our
justification" and that "therefore, being justified by faith,"
we, who once were at enmity with God, may enjoy "peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 4:25; 5:1).

The result of "peace with God" is "the peace of God," the
peace that He gives to His own amid all the troubles of life.
This is why the Apostle wrote to the Roman Christians:

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in be-
lieving" (Rom. 15:13).

While only those who are at peace with God can -- and
should know "the peace of God," it does not follow, how-
ever, that all those who are at peace with God necessarily
enjoy "the peace of God." Believers can enjoy "the peace of
God" only as they practice Phil. 4:6:

"BE CAREFUL [ANXIOUS] FOR NOTHING; BUT IN EVERYTHING,
BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR
REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD."

As we follow these instructions the promise which follows
will certainly be fulfilled.

"THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING,
SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS"
(Ver. 7).

As believers in Christ "we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). Therefore we
should not be constantly overwhelmed and defeated by the
adversities of life, but should heed the exhortation; "Let the
peace of God rule in your hearts" (Col. 3:15).

"NOW THE LORD OF PEACE HIMSELF GIVE YOU PEACE ALWAYS
BY ALL MEANS" (II Thes. 3:16).




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[Brother Love]

MORE THAN CONQUERORS

By Cornelius R. Stam

Two boys fight in a back alley. Fists fly. Shouts go up
from the other youngsters standing by. "Give it to him! Let
him have it!"

Finally one of the two struts away with an arrogant bear-
ing, head and shoulders wagging. He has won!
       
But has he? Look at him. He has a bloody nose, a black
eye and welts on his face and arms. And if looks could kill
he wouldnt even be alive, for while his friends shout his
praises, the boy he has beaten gives him a look that says:
"Just wait." He has not won anything except, perhaps,
a bitter and lasting enemy.

So it is with the wars that nations wage against each
other. Necessary as it sometimes becomes to defend our
liberties, our homes, our way of life, by force of arms, sel-
dom does any nation actually win the war. Rather all lose,
even the "victors," as in their "victories" they sow the bit-
terness and hate which are the seeds of future wars.

It is different, however, with "the good fight of [the]
faith," for the Christian may come out of every battle
stronger than when he went in. Only the Christian can say
with regard to the heartaches and disappointments, the
difficulties and obstacles, that cross his path: "In all these
things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved
us" (Rom. 8:37).

During Pauls busy ministry for Christ he suffered a
painful "thorn in the flesh," and "besought the Lord thrice"
that it might be taken away. The Lord did not see fit to
remove the thorn, but answered Paul: "My grace is suf-
ficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness"
(IICor. 12:9).

Pauls response: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me... for when I am weak, then am I strong" (Vers. 9,10).
Let all go well, and we are prone to grow careless in our
Christian lives. Adversity, on the other hand, makes Chris-
tians lean the harder and pray the more -- and therein lies
their strength and their victory.



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[Brother Love]

CAN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS SAVE?

By Cornelius R. Stam

St. Paul pointed out a basic Scriptural -- and logical -- fact,
when he said: "For not the hearers of the law are just before
God, but the doers of the law shall be justified" (Rom. 2:13).

Many people suppose that God gave us the Ten Com-
mandments to help us to be good. The fact is, however, that
He gave them to show us that we are bad. Rom. 3:20; Gal.
3:19 and a hundred other Bible passages teach this clearly.
How can the Law be of any advantage to a law-breaker?
How can it justify us unless we keep it -- perfectly?

Do you recall the woman caught in adultery, in John 8?
She was a Jewess. She was better off than the Gentiles, for
she had the law of Moses to show her right from wrong, but
this didnt justify her; it condemned her. So her "advan-
tage" turned out to be a serious disadvantage, for "not the
hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the
law shall be justified."

James 1:23,24 says that one who knows the Law but
doesnt obey it, is like a man looking into a mirror, seeing
his dirty face, and then walking away without doing any-
thing about it. This is why Rom. 2:14,15 declares that the
consciences of the heathen confirm what the Law says,
"their thoughts the meanwhile accusing, or else excusing one
another."

Those in heathen lands know that it is wrong to lie and
steal and commit adultery, yet they know nothing about
the law of God, or the Ten Commandments. How, then, do
they know that these things are wrong? God made them
with this knowledge; He gave to them, and to us all, con-
science, a sense of blameworthiness in doing wrong.

How good to know the One who has paid the penalty for
our sins so that our hearts may be cleansed from "an evil
conscience" (Heb. 10:22)! "Christ died for our sins" (I Cor.
15:3). "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved" (Acts 16:31).


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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
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[Brother Love]

"THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH"

By Russell S. Miller

"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Rom.1:17).

Nearly 500 years ago Martin Luther shook the world on the eve of October 31, 1517 when he stood against all the ecclesiastical powers of Europe on the truth of this passage.

"The just shall live by faith." This revelation Christ gave to the Apostle Paul. Thus in his three quotations of that mysterious phrase of Habakkuk 2:3,4 we can glean some wonderful truths concerning the "revelation" of God’s Son (Gal.1:16).

"THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH" (Rom.1:17).
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom.5:1).

"THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH" (Gal.3:11).
"Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the Law; ye are fallen from grace" (Gal. 5:2-4).

"THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH" (Heb.10:38).
"Now the just shall live by faith: But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (Heb.10:38,39).

It has become very clear, then, that in Paul’s gospel, salvation for Jews and Gentiles is on the basis of faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ. And Martin Luther was right!

"But now the righteousness of God WITHOUT THE LAW is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith [faithfulness] of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that 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 THAT BELIEVETH IN JESUS" (Rom.3:21-26).





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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

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[Brother Love]

THE NEW CREATION

By Cornelius R. Stam

In Romans 5:12 God tells us how we are all related to the
first man, Adam:

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin... so death passed upon all men..."
         
This verse clearly indicates that every child born into the
world since Adam has partaken of Adam’s sinful nature.
         
Parents sometimes wonder why their children act as they
do. The answer is simple! Every child is related to rebel-
lious Adam by physical birth, and soon rebels like Adam,
whose offspring he is.
         
In Scripture we are told that God "commendeth His love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us" (Rom. 5:.
         
When you are in trouble and someone comes to your aid,
are you not automatically drawn to that person? Should we
not then be attracted to the One who cared so much for us
that He "made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him
the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross"(Phil. 2:7,8)?
         
Through natural birth we partake of the sinful natures of
our parents back to Adam, and frequently we even have the
same physical features as our parents. How touching, then,
to know that the Lord Jesus Christ took on Him "the like-
ness of men" (apart from sin) and, as the God-man, died for
our sins upon the cross, where sinful men (people like us)
nailed Him! As we recognize this and place our faith in
Him, a spiritual birth takes place and we become the chil-
dren of God (John 1:12). More than this, we become mem-
bers of the Body of Christ, God’s new creation, for "if any
man be in Christ, he is a new creation" (II Cor. 5:17). "cre-
ated in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath be-
fore ordained, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).

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To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers.  When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two
Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many
years, so that local, national and international events are
discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than
rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as
they were when first published.  This, we felt, would add to
the interest, especially since our readers understand that
they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references
in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught
therein are timeless.

Subscribe at:

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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

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Web Site:
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Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings

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[Shammu]

"THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH"



"But now the righteousness of God WITHOUT THE LAW is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith [faithfulness] of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that 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 THAT BELIEVETH IN JESUS" (Rom.3:21-26).[/b]

Amen, Brother Love.

[Brother Love]

CHRIST THE SON OF GOD

By Cornelius R. Stam

St. Paul opens his Epistle to the Romans by stating that
the Lord Jesus Christ was "declared to be the Son of God
with power," or "powerfully declared to be the Son of God...
by the resurrection from the dead" (1:4).

In Psa. 2:7, we have Christ, in prophecy, saying: "I will
declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto Me, Thou art My
Son; this day have I begotten Thee." Our Lord was, of
course, eternally one with the Father, but the word "begot-
ten" here comes from Israels laws, referring to the time
when the child was officially declared to be the fathers
full-grown son.

But what day was He referring to? On what day did the
Father officially proclaim: "This day have I begotten Thee"?
The answer is found in Acts 13:33, where the Apostle states
that God "raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the
second Psalm: Thou art My Son, THIS DAY have I begot-
ten Thee."

So our Lord was officially -- and powerfully -- declared to
be the Son of God at His resurrection from the dead.

But what did Paul mean in II Tim. 2:7,8, where he said:

"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding
in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of
David, was raised from the dead ACCORDING TO MY
GOSPEL."

The answer is that the twelve had proclaimed Christ as
the Son of David, to sit on Davids throne. Theirs was "the
gospel of the kingdom." But when the King and His king-
dom were rejected, God raised up another apostle, Paul, to
proclaim "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

Christ was, indeed, raised from the dead to sit on Davids
throne, and this will yet come to pass, but Paul has a mes-
sage for us, here and now: that Christ was raised from the
dead to certify our justification and to become the Head of
"the Church which is His Body."



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers.  When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two
Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many
years, so that local, national and international events are
discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than
rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as
they were when first published.  This, we felt, would add to
the interest, especially since our readers understand that
they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references
in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught
therein are timeless.

Subscribe at:

http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/twominut.html
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:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings

Email: berean@execpc.com

[Brother Love]

STANDING, WALKING AND RUNNING FOR GOD

By Cornelius R. Stam

In a way the Christian life is a stand; in another it is a
walk, and in still another a race.

In I Cor. 15:1 the Apostle Paul writes of "the gospel...
wherein ye stand" and in Rom. 5:2 of "this grace wherein
we stand," while in Gal. 5:1 he bids us: "Stand fast... in
the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." Perhaps
all this is well summed up in his appeal to his beloved
Philippians:

"Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown... stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved" (Phil. 4:1).

But the Christian life is more than a stand -- it is a walk
(which in Scripture refers to conduct).

Once, says Paul, we walked "in trespasses and sins" (Eph.
2:1,2) but having been saved by grace, through faith in
Christ, we are now to "walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4).
Thus the Apostle bids us to "walk worthy of the Lord" (Col.
1:10), to "walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, re-
deeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:15-16).

But the Christian life is even more than a walk; it is a
race. Sad to say, many Christians whose "walk" is consist-
ent and commendable, have never come to look upon the
Christian life as a race. These never put enough into it so
that it might be said of them that they are running. Yet
the same great Apostle wrote, by divine inspiration:

"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).

The word "patience" in this passage points up the fact
that the Christian life is not a short "hundred-yard dash"; it
requires much endurance. Thus we should put into it all
that we have. "They which run in a race," says the Apostle,
"run all," but they do not all receive the prize. Hence the
admonition: "So run that ye may obtain" (I Cor. 9:24).

Those who have not trusted Christ as Savior have not
even begun to stand, or walk, much less to run a race for
Him. These might as well forget rewards until they first
accept "the gift of God... eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers.  When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two
Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many
years, so that local, national and international events are
discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than
rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as
they were when first published.  This, we felt, would add to
the interest, especially since our readers understand that
they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references
in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught
therein are timeless.

Subscribe at:

http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/twominut.html
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:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings

Email: berean@execpc.com

[Brother Love]

TRUE UNITY

By Cornelius R. Stam

There are many unions all over the world, but in only one
place is true unity to be found: in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The children of fallen Adam have always been divided.
Adams first two children could not get along together. One
killed the other. And now that the race has multiplied
there are about three billion separate, individual wills in
the world. Some of Adams children try to get along to-
gether amicably and enjoy some measure of success, but
this always takes effort. It does not come naturally. Even
the dearest lovers must be prepared to yield to each others
wishes frequently to get along well together. There is no
true unity in this world.

But where Adams children have been divided by sin,
they may be saved and truly united in Christ. As Christ
became one with us when He died our death (the wages of
sin) at Calvary, so we may become one with Him as in faith
we acknowledge that that death was not His but ours. This
is what the Apostle referred to when he asked: "Know ye
not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
were baptized into His death?" (Rom. 6:3).

This verse does not refer to water baptism, for no one can
be baptized into Christ -- become one with Him -- by a phys-
ical ceremony. The only way to become one with Him is to
accept by faith the fact that He died our death on the cross.
The meeting place must always be Calvary. And as we ac-
knowledge His death as ours and become one with Him, we
automatically become one with each other. "For by one
Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (I Cor. 12:13).

Unity in Christ is not something for which Christians are
to strive. It is a fact of grace to be recognized and enjoyed
by faith. True believers in and out of all denominations
have been baptized into one body, whether or not they rec-
ognize this. Now it is for us to appropriate and enjoy this
unity in Christ, "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3) i.e., seeking to experience
the unity which the Spirit has made. Only those who have
been baptized into Christ by faith can appreciate the bless-
ed oneness which believers may enjoy.



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers.  When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two
Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many
years, so that local, national and international events are
discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than
rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as
they were when first published.  This, we felt, would add to
the interest, especially since our readers understand that
they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references
in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught
therein are timeless.

Subscribe at:

http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/twominut.html
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:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings

Email: berean@execpc.com

[Brother Love]

THE HOPE OF GLORY

By Cornelius R. Stam

We are taught in Romans 5 that the believer in Christ
receives justification, peace with God, access to God and the
"hope," or anticipation, of sharing His glory some day. God
wants His children to enjoy this coming glory by faith, to
live in eager anticipation of it.
       
How much there is to humiliate us in this life! God cre-
ated man in His own image and likeness, but man sinned
and fell from his exalted position. To Adam God said:
"Cursed is the ground because of thee; in sorrow shalt thou
eat of it all the days of thy life."
       
Since that dreadful day mans life has been a constant
struggle. Everything tends to go wrong rather than right.
Each has his share of trouble, sorrow, sickness and then -
death, the greatest humiliation of all, when in sickness and
pain, or at best in utter weakness, he must give up this
life itself.

Sin and the fall! This is what modern science and philos-
ophy fail to face up to. Most popular scientists and philos-
ophers today hold that man has come up from the slime pit
and the ape to modern man; that man is improving all the
time. But the truth of Gods Word is that man has fallen
through sin and is growing worse morally and spiritually
until now he can kill more of his fellowmen faster than he
ever could before.

But it is this fact, this fact of sin and the fall that God has
so graciously provided for. He took all the suffering and
shame, paid all the penalty for our sins, and then rose from
the dead so that we might rejoice in the hope, the eager
anticipation, of glory to come!

As St. Peter puts it in I Pet. 1:3: "[He] hath begotten us
again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead."



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers.  When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two
Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many
years, so that local, national and international events are
discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than
rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as
they were when first published.  This, we felt, would add to
the interest, especially since our readers understand that
they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references
in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught
therein are timeless.

Subscribe at:

http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/twominut.html
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:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings

Email: berean@execpc.com