GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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Christ the Anchor
By Steve McVey

A few years ago Melanie and I were sailing alone when we came to a small island where we wanted to spend the night. Normally we would pick up a mooring ball, where we would tie off our boat to secure it for the night. These mooring balls are set in concrete which are securely anchored at the bottom of the ocean. When a boat is tied off to one of them, nothing can move it.

It was late enough in the day that we couldn’t find a mooring ball because too many other boats had arrived ahead of us. Because of the hour I was hesitant to start out for another place to spend the night, so we decided to set anchor where we were. In the few years we had been sailing, we hadn’t gained confidence that we were able to successfully set the anchor so that it would hold firmly. We had been taught how to do so when we took our certification classes, but still lacked confidence.

My fears caused me to imagine what would happen if the anchor pulled loose during the middle of the night. We could drift and bump into other boats around us. I wasn’t worried so much about doing damage to ours or another boat as much as I didn’t want to look like I didn’t know what I was doing (which wasn’t totally without truth). Another possibility was that we might drift from where we were to the water’s edge and find ourselves on the nearby reef.

We set the anchor. Then for awhile I sat in one spot on deck, lining up a point on the boat with an object on land to make sure that we weren’t drifting. Everything appeared to be okay, but I still wasn’t easy about it. We took our dinghy ashore to have dinner, but throughout the whole meal I kept watching our boat to make sure she was still in the same place.

That night when we went below to sleep, I jerked awake almost every time I felt any movement on the boat that seemed unusual. I even got up and went up on deck four or five times during the night and checked the anchor to make sure it was still secure. It was a long night with brief moments of sleep.

When the sun came up the next day, I checked the anchor again. It hadn’t moved at all. Everything had been fine. My fears and apprehension had been unfounded.

I thought about that experience later and began to see how much that experience reflected my attitude in life at times. There we were, in a beautiful Carribean setting, but I didn’t really enjoy it that evening or night. I can’t even remember what I ate at the restaurant where we had dinner. I don’t remember the sunset that evening. I didn’t enjoy the gentle sway of the boat in the water, rocking me to sleep. I was too worried, focused on what might happen if the anchor didn’t hold.

Hebrews 6:19 teaches that our hope in Christ is an “anchor for the soul” to those who believe in Him. Despite that promise, there have been times in my life when I couldn’t fully enjoy being where God had put me because of fears – fears of drifting out of His will, fears about dangers I thought I could see on the horizon, fears about looking like I didn’t know what I was doing. Fear robs us of the joy of the journey known as “the Christian life.” It causes us to believe that our own safety is up to us, not God. It will make us act like we are the ones who must be in control.

Jesus Christ is the anchor of your soul. Don’t needlessly fret about the details of life. You belong to God and there is nothing that can force you to crash on the rocks. You are secure because He is secure. Trust Christ in every circumstance. Then relax. Enjoy the sunset. Savor the flavor of life. Rest, knowing that “in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.”

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~What the Resurrection of Christ Means to Us~
Part One of Two
by Pastor R. Jordan

"Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was
raised from the dead according to my gospel."
-II Tim. 2:8

When the Apostle of the Gentiles declared that Jesus Christ was "raised from the dead according to my gospel" he made it imperative that we understand just what this tremendous event means to us.

Because of limited space, we offer the following brief (and admittedly incomplete) outline, and trust our readers will use it as a springboard to look further into this important truth. The resurrection of Jesus Christ.

REPRESENTS A FACT TO BE BELIEVED

"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, 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" (I Cor. 15:3,4).

The resurrection of Christ is not fiction--His body was not stolen by His followers, nor did He somehow revive from a death-like coma and walk away by Himself. Further, the resurrection of Christ is not a fable--the modernist claim that He "lives on" in the "continuation of the spiritual principles He taught" is the real "religion myth"!

No, the resurrection of Christ is a fact of history to be accepted and believed. The "many infallible proofs" (Acts 1:3) of His resurrection make it an event as thoroughly and historically validated as any in past history.

Our faith does not rest on a coffin lid! The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact to be believed. It also

PRESENTS A FAITH TO BE EMBRACED

     "...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Rom. 10:9).

Our faith is to rest in the fact of the resurrection of Christ-not simply in the historic reality but also in the divinely revealed meaning of this event:

"[Christ] was delivered for our offences, and was RAISED AGAIN FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION" (Rom. 4:25).

The reality of Christ's resurrection declares the finality of the work of Calvary. When "Christ died for our sins, "He thoroughly put away sin, paying its penalty in full. Thus, the debt of sin having been paid, death could not hold Him. His resurrection is, as it were, the receipt that declares: "Paid in full!"

It is because the shed blood of Christ fully and completely paid for sin that Jesus Christ could be raised from the dead--and thus, with a perfect redemption accomplished and attested to, we can be declared righteous in Him.

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~What the Resurrection of Christ Means to Us~
Part Two of Two
by Pastor R. Jordan




The import of the resurrection does not end with our justification, however, for it also

OFFERS A FORCE TO BE EXPERIENCED

     ".. .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" (Rom. 6:4).

This is the practical impact in the believer's life of the reality of Christ's resurrection. Rom. 8:10,11 declare:

"And if CHRIST BE IN YOU, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

    "But IF THE SPIRIT OF HIM THAT RAISED UP JESUS FROM THE DEAD DWELL IN YOU, HE THAT RAISED UP CHRIST FROM THE DEAD SHALL ALSO QUICKEN YOUR MORTAL BODIES BY HIS SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN YOU."

The resurrection life of Christ is a power, a force, to be experienced by every believer. The "newness of life" received from Christ means that He lives His life in us.

Christianity is not a religion--it is a life. It is Christ in us living His life through us. This is the essence of Christianity.

Have you ever found the Christian life difficult to live? If not, you will!  In fact, it is not only difficult, it is impossible. Only Jesus Christ can live His life--and He does just that as we simply walk by faith in His marvelous grace to us.

Experiencing this glorious freedom and power is the goal Paul set before himself and us:

"That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death:
"If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead" (Phil. 3:10,11).

There is something else, too, which Christ's resurrection does for us. It

ASSURES A FUTURE THAT IS GLORIOUS

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him" (I Thess. 4:14).

The future of many things may be very uncertain, but for the believer it is only glorious. No matter how difficult things may be for us now, one day it will only be ''glory for me!"

One day soon our ever-living Savior will return for us and in that day He "shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself" (Phil. 3:21).

May God help us to rejoice in the reality of the resurrection of Christ and all God has made it mean to us.

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~FULFILLED LAW~
By Miles Stanford




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

The believer's attitude toward the law is that it is "holy.. .and just, and good" (Rom. 7:12). He does not belittle it by refusing to be under it; he honors it by acknowledging its fulfillment. "For I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I might live unto God" (Gal. 2:19).

"If I say I am under law, and stop there, I am left in spiritual anarchy. If I say I am under law and under grace, I am in the current Galatian heresy which seeks to combine law and grace. But if I say I am not under the law but under grace, I am giving a biblical and Christian testimony." - C.I.S.

"Our identification with Christ in His death places us in perfect reconciliation to a violated law. God has said, 'The soul that sinneth, it shall die.' The believer has sinned, and has died in Christ's death. The law has said, 'Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.' None have continued in obedience. But Christ has been 'made a curse for us'; for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.' Hence, crucified with Christ, we have been accursed in Him. Not one jot or tittle has then passed away from the law, but all has been fulfilled. - A.J.G.

"If, then, when you died with Christ, you put away the childish lessons of outward things, why, as though you still lived in outward things, do you submit yourselves to decrees?" (Col. 2:20, Wey.).

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THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST
By Pastor Floyd Baker



Scripture Reading: Romans 8:39

In our pre-marital counseling we spend a great deal of time in Ephesians chapter five looking at the responsibility of the wife and the husband to each other in the marriage. One of the most difficult instructions we find is when the wife is told "submit yourself unto your own husband, as unto the Lord." What we point out to the husband to be, is that the wife "needs" the security of his love. That is why we see that the husband is "to love his wife as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it." There is security in love!

What blessed security the child of God has in God's love. This is why Paul could write, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the LOVE OF GOD which is IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD" (Romans 8:38, 39). How needful it is for us to realize that God has our welfare in mind in all that He does and allows in our lives. This is the reality of Romans 8:28.

We have the confidence that in death, absent from the body is at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8 ). But what about life, when things appear to go wrong? Yes, Paul declares that not even life with all of its problems and difficulties will remove us out of God's love. This love as we note is "in Christ Jesus," and we are in Him for time and eternity. How wonderful for us to rest in that love, and to enjoy it each day. May we too be "persuaded" of the wonderful love of God.

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~THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL~
By RALPH F. BALOG,



Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:23

There is no disappointment in God's "good news" (gospel) to mankind in any age. Only sure hope - stedfast assurance-that God, Who cannot lie, will do all He has promised.

Notice that Paul, in our text verse, is one of a continuing line of ministers God has had stretching from Noah's day to ours Mankind is without excuse, for God has always had ministers of righteousness proclaiming His message to all generations Paul's special revelation ministry is brought out in Col. 1:25-26.

Hope in the world system falls flat. One successful cosmetics manufacturer said the secret of his success was that he always gave women hope. But each of us knows our outward house is fading with each passing day.

Scriptural hope goes beyond our "three-score-and-ten" years and sees by faith, in the written Word of God, the eternal hope of the gospel centered in the Lord Jesus Christ. The hope of Israel (Acts 28:20) and the hope of the Body of Christ are both centered in the Lord Jesus Christ: one (Israel) according to prophecy (Rom. 16:7) and one according to the mystery revealed from the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ to Paul (Rom. 16:25). It is interesting to see these truths in the same 16th chapter of Romans.

Many corporate retirement plans have been altered or failed, dashing the hopes of workers. But the "hope of the gospel" cannot fail for it is based on the written Word of God which never changes, regardless of modern-day translators' attempts to do so.

To be not moved away from this hope means to remain stedfast in your stand for the Word, rightly divided, (II Tim. 2:15). In Paul's writings alone we find the hope of the gospel (of the grace of God).

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PEACE WITH GOD, ACCESS TO GOD AND THE HOPE OF GLORY
by C. R. Stam


According to Rom. 4:25, Christ was delivered to death for our sins and then raised from the dead because He had fully settled our debt. The results of this mighty work of redemption are marvelous indeed to ponder over.

First, it means for every believer in Christ, that "being justified by faith we have peace with God" (Rom. 5:1). If Christ has paid for our sins and the barrier between God and us has been removed, why should we not enjoy peace with God? Why should we not rise in the morning, go about our work during the day and retire at night with complete confidence that all is well; that we are at peace with God and that He loves us as His very own?

But more: Verse 2 goes on to say that by Christ we also have "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." If the barrier of sin has been removed and we are at peace with God, what is there to keep us out of His presence, especially when He Himself bids us to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need"? (Heb.4:16). How wonderful to have a standing before God in grace! to be at peace with Him and to enjoy free access into His presence by faith!

But there is still more. Not only does the believer in Christ enjoy peace with God and access to God, but, as this same verse says: "We rejoice in hope of the glory of God." "Hope" in the Bible is, of course, more than a wish. It is an eager anticipation of wonderful things to come. Heb. 6:19 says: "Which hope we have as an anchor to the soul, both sure and stedfast." Man has always been afraid of the glory of God. When the glory of the Lord shone round about the Judaean shepherds "they were sore afraid." This was because "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). But the simplest believer in Christ may rejoice in the anticipation of sharing God’s glory someday.

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~THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY~
By Pastor Robert Hanna,


Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:19

Any attempt of the finite intellect to comprehend the mystery of the triune Person of God would be pure folly. God is Father, Son and Holy Ghost. All three share the same characteristics: omnipotence,  omnipresence and omniscience. Though the three operate separately at various times, there is always present the aspect of one person in triune concert, with never any cross-purpose or conflicting action. Our apostle's benediction in his second letter to the Corinthians beautifully illustrates the perfect coordination of the divine identities. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14). In promising to send the Holy Spirit after His departure, the Lord said to His disciples, "The Comforter, which is THE HOLY GHOST, whom THE FATHER will send in MY [the son's) name, He shall teach you all things..." (John 14:26).

"For through HIM [Christ) we both (Jew & Gentile) have access by one SPIRIT unto the FATHER" (Ephesians 2:18 ). "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the LORD [the Son), and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; GOD also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the HOLY GHOST, according to His own will?" (Hebrews 2:3, 4).

All three members of the Godhead are identified as the source of life: FATHER (Ephesians 2:5); SON (John 5:21); HOLY GHOST (Romans 8:10), and as indwelling the believer: (2 Corinthians 6:16); (Colossians 1:27); (I Corinthians 6:19).

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TRENDS OF THE END
PART ONE OF TWO
by Charles W. Wages




"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." (2 Tim. 3:1-5)

The verses in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 give a vivid account of what we can expect in "the last days." There are approximately twenty distinct characteristics given that portray for us the "trends of the end." The "last days" spoken of by the apostle Paul refers to the end of this age of grace.

In a right division of God's Word we must "try the things that differ," therefore the "last days" of the church here mentioned are different from the last days of Israel. The apostle Peter, while preaching on the day of Pentecost spoke of the "last days" of Israel and accounted the tremendous physical and outward manifestations that would precede and accompany those days. For example, he tells of sons and daughters prophesying and seeing visions and dreams, the showing of wonders in heaven; signs in the earth; sun turned into darkness; and the moon into blood. These "days" are further shown in the early chapters of the Revelation.

In the "last days" of this present church age, the characteristics given are more of a moral, ethical, and spiritual nature. For example, a few of these include, men to be lovers of self; without natural affection; disobedient to parents; heady and highminded; and "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." This last one is a good example of what we are seeing today. It is surely a "trend of the end."

We must constantly be reminded that all that goes on under the heading of "worship" is not always true worship of God. Worship can be just an exercise directed toward and for man or even the devil! It must be noted that the Scripture says, "having a form of godliness." This means that there is emphasis on an outward semblance of worship instead of a real worship from the heart in accordance with God's Word and will. This "form" can take on many  forms. The apostle Paul had to correct the philosophers at Athens for their confusing superstitions and ignorant worship of every false god (Acts 17:18-23). Then he concluded by telling them the true God had created all things by stating,

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needeth anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:24-25).

Throughout the history of man, both secular and biblical, we find human beings worshipping everything under the sun, including the sun. The early inhabitants of this earth are described in Romans, chapter one. We are told that they did not glorify God, but became vain in their imaginations, and were so foolish that they, "Changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. " (Rom. 1:23)

And then further, we are told,

"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. " (Rom. 1:25)

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TRENDS OF THE END
PART 2 OF 2
by Charles W. Wages


In the book of Colossians, chapter two, we find a stern warning to the "worshippers" of that day (and today) who worshipped angels. Paul's warning was,

"Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." (Col. 2:18 )

No doubt this kind of worship took on itself a religious "form." They went through certain rituals and possibly looked good and appealed to the eye and the senses (Col. 2:20-21). This kind of worship is described as "will worship," and false humility in Colossians 2:23. It satisfies the flesh, but does not honor God.

In one sense, it is good to live in a land where there is freedom of worship and most of us, I am sure, are glad and thankful we do. However, it has its problems as well. Apart from the leading of the Spirit of God, sinful man invariably chooses that "form of worship" that satisfies the flesh. The "god of this world" (Satan) doesn't mind people being "religious" as long as they do not worship the God of glory. Satan loathes the saint; God loves the sinner, but hates the sin. The antichrist, when he appears and takes charge of this world system, will forbid all worship except that which acknowledges him as god (2 Thess. 2:4).

This "false" worship this "form" worship that denies the power of God, is the outstanding "trend of our times" (2 Tim. 3:5).

How wonderful to worship the One who loved us, even when we were lost in sin, and took our place on the cross of shame. It is God's great desire through His great grace "that all men be saved, and come into the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:4). It is good to acknowledge that "there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5 ) When we trust the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, God saves and justifies us and makes us "new creations" in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Further, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the one body (the Church, which is Christ's body), seals us unto the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14), and the Spirit of God comes to dwell in the child of God (1 Cor. 6:19). Then, we are able to distinguish the false, and worship the true God, and understand (in some manner) the "Trends of the End."

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~THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT~
By Pastor Robert Hanna



Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 6:19, 20

No aspect of the believer's position can be more vital than proper knowledge of his relationship to the Holy Spirit of God and the functions of the Holy Spirit in this present age of the dispensation of grace. It is popular among many professed Christians today to embrace convictions based upon experiences recorded in the early portion of the Book of Acts. The miraculous events related to the pentecostal church of that time belong to Israel only ---not to the Church which is Christ's Body.

We who have been saved by grace through faith under this present dispensation of the grace of God, do not await a miraculous descending of the Holy Ghost. We do not "pray down the Spirit." or attempt to invite visions and signs and wonders. Upon believing to salvation, "By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body...and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (I Corinthians 12:13). "Therefore we are buried with [Christ] 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" (Romans 6:4).

The Holy Spirit indwells us, controlling our lives as we yield ourselves to His will. "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?" The Holy Spirit is our teacher of divine truth, "Not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth..." (I Corinthians 2:13.) And the Holy Spirit is our intercessor, "For we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us" (Romans 8:26).

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THE MOST IMPORTANT HOUR OF HISTORY
By John Steiner


The most important hour of all history was the hour when the Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary's cross for the sins of mankind. Often in scripture, the hour of our Lord's death is called simply "the hour," "My hour" or "His hour."

To fulfill prophecy He could not have died one hour earlier, or one later. Until that hour arrived, His enemies were somehow restrained from doing Him bodily harm, so that we read in John 7:30, "Then they sought to take Him; but no man laid hands on Him, because HIS HOUR WAS NOT YET COME" (See also John 8:20).

This hour was to be for Him a time of unspeakable agony and shame. Referring to this, He said to Andrew and Philip, "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father save Me from this hour? But FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I UNTO THIS HOUR" (John 12:27).

He had come to die for the sins of the world and would not now turn away from the sufferings involved. But this hour of suffering and shame was also an hour of glory, for there the Son of God paid a debt which would have sunk a world to hell. This is why, at this same time, in the very shadow of the cross, He said, "THE HOUR IS COME THAT THE SON OF MAN SHOULD BE GLORIFIED. Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12:23,24. See Also John 17:1,2).

Little wonder we read in John 3:35,36; "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE: AND HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM"

These thoughts are taken from one of my favorite daily devotionals called: TWO MINUTES WITH THE BIBLE by C.R. Stam. I think these comments are fitting this time of the year when many are hopefully turning their thoughts to the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

THE DEATH OF THE CROSS

There are four words which everyone 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 conceived 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 Philippians 2:8 says that Christ humbled Himself to become obedient "unto death even the death of the cross."

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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 Corinthians 15:3). "His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree" (I Peter 2:24).

He is our substitute because the "wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Death is God's required penalty for sin, and by the way, even with all the medical advances of our day the death rate remains the same (one apiece).

Our Lord Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. He is an eternal being and as such "through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God" (Hebrews 9:14).

Many people do not get saved because they don't realize they are lost. They haven't agreed with God who says they stand condemned and guilty of the sentence of death. God's Word tells us we are sinners and therefore enemies of God by nature, the nature we inherited from Adam. Paul tells us, "I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing" (Romans 7:18 ). So, take it by faith, you're a guilty sinner, lost, guilty and condemned. Trust it fully in your heart, mind and soul that Jesus Christ died as your substitute on the cross of Calvary.

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 ... " (Hebrews 9:27, 28 ) "(He} was made ... lower than the angels ... that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9).

He was qualified to represent man "in that he himself hath suffered being tempted" and was "touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 2:18, 4:15)

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. The moment we trust Him as Saviour, the Holy Spirit quickens, baptizes, or identifies us completely with Christ. "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath QUICKENED US TOGETHER with Christ. (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us SIT TOGETHER in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-6)

It is the OPERATION of God. This is why it says "without hands" we are identified completely with our Lord. Paul writes, "For in him dwelleth all the fullness 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 sins of the flesh by the CIRCUMCISION of Christ, BURIED WITH HIM in baptism where in 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 trespasses." (Colossians 2:9-13)

We are then so identified with Christ that we are hidden in Him as Paul writes, "for you are dead and, YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."  (Colossians 3:3-4) With all of this being true for us who believe, we should exclaim with Paul who wrote, "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 (or faithfulness) of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Considering these four words in connection with our Saviour's death at Calvary causes me to believe it was indeed the most important hour of history. How about you? God must see it this way for His Word has so much to say on this event and what our Savior accomplished in that hour. What peace and assurance comes to your heart and mind when you believe what the Bible tells us. Believe these truths for yourself if you have never done so. Do it this very hour. It could become the most important hour of your life.

[nChrist]

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GRACE AND LAW-WORKS
By Pastor Robert Hanna



Read: Gal. 3:10-13

As pertaining to salvation the distinction between (Mosaic) law and grace cannot be overemphasized. "For as by one man's (Adam's) disobedience many were made sinners (of a sinful nature), so by the obedience of one (Jesus Christ) shall many be, made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offense (the state of sin) might abound. But where sin abounded 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 5:19-21 ).

The law had served its purpose, which Paul explains: "Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterward be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster" (Galatians 3:23-25). "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. BUT THAT NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, IT IS EVIDENT: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, the man that doeth them shall live in them.

"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" (Galatians 3:10-13) "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1).

[nChrist]

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NO FADS AND FASHIONS HERE
By Pastor Paul Hume


Scripture Reading: Mal. 3:6; Rom. 11:29; Jas. 1:17


It's really amusing to review the changes in men's and women's apparel over the years!  Remember the longer fuller dresses which women wore just a few  years ago at the outbreak of World War II? Remember the wide flowery neckties men wore in the mid-40's? Behold! How the hemline on feminine clothing has risen! How narrow men's ties became just a few years ago, and how wide they have suddenly become now! What will develop next? You never really know!

But not so with the Person of the blessed Godhead! Our Triune God is ever "young" and perfectly changeless. This is what the theologians call "the immutability of God." God is unchangeable. He is "the same, yesterday, today, and unto the ages." Therefore the Scriptures liken Him and His beloved Son unto. "the Rock" (Deut. 32:4, I Cor. 10:4).

He is immutable in His essence. "I am the Lord, I change not." Why? Simply because He is the only One in all the universe who can ever state, "I am that I am" (Ex. 3:14). "He is altogether uninfluenced by the flight of time. There is no wrinkle upon the brow of eternity." (A. W. Pink)

He is immutable in His attributes. Semper idem __always the same - is written over every attribute of our blessed God and Savior: His righteousness, holiness, His truth, His mercy, and His love. There-fore His blessed written Word is "forever settled in heaven" (Psa. 119:89). Think of that: "forever SETTLED..."!!

His purpose is immutable. "The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying...as I have purposed, so shall it stand... For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall annul it?" (Isa.14:24,27). Praise the Lord! May we echo with Frederick Faber:

O Lord! my heart is sick
Sick of this everlasting change;
And life runs tediously quick
Through its unresting race and varied range;
Change finds no likeness to itself in Thee,
And wake's no echo in Thy mute Eternity.

Are you linked, by faith through the Holy Spirit, to this unchangeable One?