GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

LEGITIMATE PRAYER
by C. R. Stam


Prayer, in Old Testament times, was based upon a covenant relationship with God, or it was an appeal to His revealed nature as merciful, gracious, etc. Today it is based upon the redemptive work of Christ, whose death opened the way for us into the Father's presence. This is why acceptable prayer today is offered “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ”. With our Lord's departure from this world in view, He said to His disciples:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me” (John 14:6).

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name…At that day ye shall ask in My name: and I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me…” (John 16:24-27).

Thus today we pray directly to the Father in the name of the Son.

Our prayers, however, are often faltering and sometimes the way is so dark before us that we do not even know what to ask for. Thus Paul declared: “We know not what we should pray for as we ought” (Rom.8:26). But he was quick to follow this with the declaration:

“And 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 ).

This is why the Apostle Paul encourages God's people:

“Be careful [merimnao--anxious-- take thought.pansiesbutterfliesheader.jpg] for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God:

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep ( phroureo--to mount guard as a sentinel ) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil.4:6,7).

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

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

HE GAVE THANKS
by C. R. Stam


At the institution of the Lord’s Supper, as He took the bread and the wine, we read that he “gave thanks” (Matt.26:26,27; Luke 22:19,20).

Surely on this occasion He did not give thanks for food supplied! He was handling the symbols of His broken body and His shed blood. How we would like to know just what He said at this solemn moment; just what He gave thanks for!

This we shall never know in this life, but there are some basic facts we do know.

It was for love for sinful men that He was to die. He was to pay their debt of sin, and He looked forward to the time when, not only redeemed Israel, but the redeemed of every nation and dispensation will rejoice in sins forgiven and all that this entails for them. As He “gave thanks” in view of Calvary, He will then rejoice at the results of Calvary. The overflowing joy that will be the portion of the redeemed will be a greater joy to Him.

Thus Paul’s words in Hebrews 12:2 give us cause to rejoice in true thanksgiving of our Lord’s finished work of redemption on Calvary cross:

“Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

THE DOCTRINE OF ASSURANCE
By Pastor Robert Hanna


Scripture Reading: Titus 2:13

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:14-16). This declaration alone should provide the believer with unqualified assurance of his salvation. Our apostle tells us, "After that ye believed, YE WERE SEALED with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:13b,14). The transaction is completed, our position certain. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit Himself.

The Apostle Paul's declaration of his own confidence should be echoed by every child of God. "I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12b). He fervently prayed for the saints, "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God" (Colossians 2:2). He affirms our certain expectation of eternally dwelling in glory, "For ye 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). "These things have I written unto you that who believe on the Name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life" (I John 5: 13).

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

A PRAYER FROM PRISON
Part One of Five
by James R. Gray


Philippians 1:3-11


I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,  For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.  For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of  Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Adversity does not control one's destiny; it is the door to fulfilling one's destiny. The Apostle Paul believed strongly in the providence of God. He knew whatever happened to him did not hinder the plans of God. The winds of personal adversity only fan the flames of God's grace. That is exactly what happened. Paul's two year imprisonment produced a fire, fueled by the pen, prayers, and passion. From this internment came the four epistles that are the heart of God's message for the Church, the Body of Christ: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

As he prayed, he knew that others might not see or understand his attitude. Others would be apprehensive about his welfare, condition, and future. He wanted them to know that He was not discouraged, or apprehensive over his imprisonment. His concern was with the readers. Notice how many times Paul refers to his readers in verses 3-11: ye (3 times), you (6 times), and your (twice). The emphasis of Paul's prayer is not self, nor even his circumstance, it is his gratitude for his readers. The prayer from prison had two very important elements: Thanksgiving (1:3-6) and Intercession (1:7-11). It is not a simple "God bless the Philippians" prayer.

WHY PAUL PRAYS (1:3-6)

Paul opens his prayer with gratitude to God. Notice this gratitude is personal.  The greeting included Timothy, but in this prayer Paul prays "I give thanks to my God." Paul is expressing his own personal gratitude to God. This is not simply a one-time expression, but Paul continually or repeatedly gives thanks to God (indicated by the present active indicative tense) for the Philippians. Note the characteristics of prayer: it is personal, constant, and directed to God the Father.

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

A PRAYER FROM PRISON
Part Two of Five
By James Gray


Three factors ignited this out-pouring of thanksgiving:

*Great personal memories of the people (1:3).

Paul here uses the singular, not the plural. He says "I," not "we." Paul's personal memories lead Him to give thanks for the saints at Philippi. It reveals his personal attitude toward the church. It is one of gratitude. He expresses thanksgiving to God for them in his prayers. Remember, it was no picnic in Philippi. Paul and Silas had experienced hardship and pain there. They were jailed, and had their backs laid open by the beating they received. Yet, it was a place of joy and victory for Paul. The first conversion in Europe took place in the city. He won a moral victory over the officials of the city, when he forced the magistrates to come and publicly release them from prison, admitting they had wrongfully beaten and imprisoned them. Paul remembers the people's love and concern, and thanks God for them. Do our former pastors think the same of us? Do we entertain good memories of others, and thank God for them? One aspect of our prayers should center on thanking God for other members of the Body of Christ which come across our paths.

* Fellowship in the Gospel (1:5)

Paul was thankful because of their "fellowship in the gospel" The word fellowship is the Greek word koinonia, with the basic meaning of sharing together, to have in common. This word certainly indicates the sharing together of a common faith, but it is much more. This sharing together is more than just a common relationship in the faith; it is much more; it results in tangible results. He uses the word to describe the "collection" (Rom. 15:26; 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:13). It indicates active participation in every way possible with Paul. They shared not only in the gospel (1:5), grace (1:7), and in the Holy Spirit (2:1); but also in the sufferings of Christ (3:10), as well as a gift of support (4:14 - 15 ) . They had participated in the proclamation of the gospel (1:27, 28 ), of acutely suffering along with Paul (1:30; 4:14-15), and in prayer on his behalf (1:19). They shared in common on every level of fellowship.

Their fellowship centered on the gospel. They followed and participated with Paul in the gospel. This participation advanced the gospel of Grace. This participation was constant, "from the first day until now."

*God's faithfulness (1:6).

Paul was thankful for God's faithfulness unto them. He was confident that God's work cannot be derailed. God is faithful.

God began the work. The Greek word oti (that) introduces the object of Paul's confidence - it is God. He is the author of the work. The work was not started by Paul, nor the Philippians, it was God. God began the good work by giving them birth from above at the moment they believed (Titus 3:5; John 3:16). Notice it is a good work, not because he is doing good works for God (Eph. 2:8-10). This occurred in them, not simply among them. It was the internal work of God in and upon them which was begun at the moment of their salvation. It is still in progress as Paul writes to them, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).

This work will be perfected or completed in them because God is faithful (I Thess. 5:24). The verse denotes certainty of completion. God will bring His good work to completion that we can be assured. He will perfect this "new creation" through His Word, his servants, and Spirit. Our assurance is built upon nothing less than the character and faithfulness of God Himself. God never starts a work without finishing it.

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

A PRAYER FROM PRISON
Part Three of  Five
By James Gray



CONTENT OF PAUL'S PRAYER (Phil. 1:9)

Paul's special prayer and request for the saints at Philippi is short and sweet. However, the request should not be taken lightly. As D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones observes; "Anyone who is at all familiar with his epistles will realize that Paul's prayers are always worthy of very careful consideration. They are not something added in a perfunctory manner; he does not merely mention them as a matter of course, or as a kind of aside... these prayers are some of the most significant statements in Paul's writings" This is certainly true of this prayer.

The heart of Paul's request is precise, yet profound: "that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment." He does not simply pray for an increase of their love, and stop at that. No, he wants their love to be balanced with knowledge and discernment.

Paul portrays love like a river. The word abound is a favorite word of Paul. It is the Greek word perisseuo, meaning to exceed a number or measure; to be over; an overabundance of something; to be in excess; to superabound; to excel. Paul uses the word to express an abundant overflow of Christian living: he used the verb in reference to thanksgiving (2 Cor. 4:15), excelling in spiritual gifts that build up the church (1 Cor.14:12), and abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58 ) to name a few. He wants the believers to "abound" in love. Not only to abound, but to increase that abundance "yet more and more." He wants the river of love to grow deeper as more and more love flows into its system.

Paul does not want an uncontrolled flood of love. An uncontrolled river does more harm than good. Swindoll observes that "when love floods indiscriminately, we love everything, even the wrong things." Paul wants the raging river to move in the designated bounds. The two banks of love are now named. The first is "knowledge" (epignosei). The word refers to a thorough, mental grasp of spiritual truth in its fullest sense. To keep the river within bounds we must "be filled with the knowledge of His will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (CoI.1:9.) This knowledge comes through the work of the Holy Spirit in cooperation with the Word of God. For "we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (I Cor. 2:12). To keep the river of love from overflowing and undirected, we must increase in knowledge of God and His will.

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

A PRAYER FROM PRISON
Part Four  of Five
By James Gray



The second is judgment. The Greek word, aisthesei, has the idea of being judicious in discernment, denoting moral discernment and understanding. It is a recognition from the Word and the Spirit of what God can and does love, and what a holy God cannot love. True love must discriminate between good and evil (Heb. 5:14). There is a difference between knowledge and being able to apply that knowledge. Paul is anxious that love, although constantly expanding, be controlled by growing in knowledge and discernment.

These guard us against two dangers in the Christian life. First, the danger of living merely on feelings or emotion. Too many today are feeding the emotions, not the soul. This is shallow Christian living. Second is the danger of being academic, abstract, and theoretical in Christian living. This leads to unpractical Christian living. The banks of knowledge and discernment allow the full force of the river of love to flow in our lives; abundantly, purposefully, and forcefully. They keep us out of the fields of mere emotionalism and mere intellectualism.

PURPOSE OF THE PRAYER
(1:10-11)

Paul makes clear the purpose of this prayer. Paul wants their love channeled by knowledge and discernment for a purpose. The word "that" denotes purpose or desired outcome. Love bounded by knowledge and discernment will lead us: To test the things that differ.

Paul wants us to "approve things that are excellent." The word for approve is the Greek word dokimazo, meaning test, to try, approve. It was a word used in assaying metals to prove that the metal was genuine. It is a recognition as genuine after examination. The word excellent is the Greek word diaphero, meaning to differ. Thus, the phrase literally can be translated "test the things that differ."

Interestingly, this almost exact same phrase is found in Romans 2:18. The context is that of the advantage that the Jews had under the Law. They knew the Law, and therefore "able to test the things that differ." This ability is clearly connected with the Word of God. They were to be able to test the things that differ because they were instructed out of the law. While they were able to do so, does not mean that they did. The context indicates they failed to use the advantages that they were given. Paul does not want us to fail this test. He wants us to know the Word and discern its truth, so we will be able to test the things that differ. This ability is important to guard the believer from heresy, as well as the differing philosophies of the world.

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

A PRAYER FROM PRISON
Conclusion
By James Gray


To be sincere and without offense.

Paul wants these believers to be fit and prepared for the day of Christ. This entails two qualities: First, to be sincere. It is the Greek word eilikrineis, meaning literally to be judged by the sun. In the ancient world, jars and vases were examined for cracks and blemishes by holding them up to sunlight. The sunlight would reveal faults that could not be seen otherwise. In the New Testament the word always denotes moral purity. Second, Paul wants believers to be without offense. The Greek word is aproskopos meaning "not causing someone to stumble." It pictures a person who carefully avoids putting anything in the way of another that would cause them to fall or trip. Thus, love bounded by knowledge and discernment is for the purpose of being pure and blameless in the day of Christ. The day of Christ clearly refers to the day when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

To be filled with practical righteousness.

Paul knew that they were righteous, for they had the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). Now Paul prays for love, knowledge and discernment in order that they may be filled with the fruits of righteousness. The phrase "fruits of righteousness" is found in the Old Testament for conduct pleasing to God (Prov. 11:30; Amos 6:12). It is a phrase indicating practical righteousness that is seen in the life of a believer. It is used of righteousness in the ethical sense, thus, it refers to our sanctification flowing out of our justification. These fruits doubtless are the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), soul-winning (Rom. 1:13), holiness (Rom. 6:22), good works (Col. 1:10), and thanksgiving (Heb. 13:15). Paul realizes that this type off fruit cannot be produce by and in one's self. The source is "by Jesus Christ." Such a crop can only be produced through Christ. It is Christ's life lived through us that produces such fruit. This results in glory to God, magnifying Him, and not self.

Paul's desire and prayer for the Philippians is not outdated. Paul's recipe for them is good for us. If our love abounds in knowledge and discernment, we will be able to know what is correct, be sincere and blameless, and bear the glorious fruits of righteousness to the glory of God.

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

~THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST~
By Pastor Robert Hanna,


Scripture Reading: John I: I

The world engages in the most futile of efforts: the denial of Jesus Christ as deity, as divinely conceived, as the one Mediator, as the only hope of salvation of the lost. "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not" (John I:10). What an indictment! "For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

By Christ's own testimony, He was very God. "Verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58 ). And God the Father said to God the Son, "Thy throne, 0 GOD, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom...THOU, LORD, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: they shall perish; but Thou remainest......(Hebrews 1:8,10,11). Not only is He here addressed as God, but two characteristics attributable only to God are mentioned: righteousness and eternal existence.

It was God Himself, in the Person of Christ, who suffered in our stead on Calvary's cross; He bore our guilt and presented us righteous before God the Father, Who sees us only through Christ. And now we who have been purchased by His blood are "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of [notice!] THE GREAT GOD AND OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity..." (Titus 2:13,14). Jesus Christ is 'God and our Saviour'! "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last" (Revelation 22:13).

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION
by C. R. Stam


Years ago a man of God was asked to preach at the funeral of a young soldier whose parents were unsaved.

During the course of his message the preacher sought to impress upon his hearers the basic fact that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom.6:23).

This greatly upset the parents. After the service they complained: “This is embarrassing. Our boy was not a sinner.”

The truth was that shortly before his death this young man had done what every true, born-again Christian has done. He acknowledged himself to be a lost sinner and, trusting Christ as his Savior, had been so gloriously saved that his parents were mystified that he could be so happy in the face of death.

The simplest believer in Christ understands all this. He knows that for the “old man” the death of the body is indeed a “dishonorable discharge” for laws broken, orders disobeyed, responsibilities unmet, and trusts betrayed. But for the “new man the death of the body is the vestibule through which he is ushered into the blessed presence of “the Captain of our Salvation,” the One who “by the grace of God tasted death for every man” that He might “bring many sons unto glory” (See Hebrews 2:9,10).

This is why we read in Hebrews 2:14,15:

“Forasmuch, then, as the children [of Adam] were partakers of flesh and blood, He [Christ] also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
“And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

No wonder St. Paul’s simple message of salvation was: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

LOVE'S ETERNALITY
By Miles Stanford



"The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God" (2 Thess. 3:5).

Between the activity of the old man and the accusations of Satan, we often find it very difficult to believe and understand that God is lovingly and legally on our side, both now and forever.

"One of the great secrets of growth is the looking upon the Lord Jesus as gracious. How strengthening it is, to know that He is at this moment feeling exercising the same love and grace towards me as when He died upon the Cross for me." -J.N.D.

"I have got away from grace if I have the slightest doubt about God's love for me. I shall then be saying, I am not happy, because I am not what I should like to be. But, dear friend, this is not the question: the real question is, whether God is what we shall like Him to be, whether the Lord Jesus is all we could wish.

"If the consciousness of what we are in ourselves, has any other effect than, while it humbles us, to crease our adoration of what our Father is, we are off the ground of pure grace. The immediate effect such consciousness should be to make our hearts reach out to God and to His grace as abounding over all."

"May our hearts get such a lesson in the love of the Father, that, instead of being depressed by trying circumstances, or elated by what are called providential interpositions, we may know that we are the objects of this wonderful love, and are being educated into it by the only One who knew it in all its power as walked here below through this wilderness world."-J.B.S.

"To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge" (Eph. 3:19).

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

REDEMPTION IN CHRIST
By Dick Johnson



Scripture Reading: Romans 3:24

"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" (Romans 3:23, 24).

Prior to salvation, everyone is dead in trespasses and sin and by nature the children of wrath (Ephesians 2: I, 3). In this condition, the future holds only judgment and eternal punishment. However, God provided a remedy for our sin and its outcome by sending His Son to be a substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf (Romans 3:25). He paid the penalty for our sin and, therefore, redeemed or rescued us from our need to pay the penalty.

We truly have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). By shedding His blood, our Saviour paid the greatest price possible, and yet paid the only price that could meet God's requirement for righteousness. We have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of God's grace (Ephesians 1:7). As a result of this demonstration of righteousness, we have received the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17).

By God's grace, Christ's death was our death, and His resurrection was our resurrection. God has made us alive together in Christ and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:5, 6). This position is true for everyone who believes the gospel of our salvation (Romans 3:22; 5:8-10; I Corinthians 15: 1-4).

What should be our response to our redemption in Christ? Does our freedom from the penalty of sin give us a license to sin? God forbid! (Romans 6:1-11). On the contrary, our response should be to glorify God in our body,  presenting it as a living and holy sacrifice (Romans 6:13; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:20).

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

REDEMPTION IN CHRIST
By Dick Johnson



Scripture Reading: Romans 3:24

"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" (Romans 3:23, 24).

Prior to salvation, everyone is dead in trespasses and sin and by nature the children of wrath (Ephesians 2: I, 3). In this condition, the future holds only judgment and eternal punishment. However, God provided a remedy for our sin and its outcome by sending His Son to be a substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf (Romans 3:25). He paid the penalty for our sin and, therefore, redeemed or rescued us from our need to pay the penalty.

We truly have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). By shedding His blood, our Saviour paid the greatest price possible, and yet paid the only price that could meet God's requirement for righteousness. We have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of God's grace (Ephesians 1:7). As a result of this demonstration of righteousness, we have received the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17).

By God's grace, Christ's death was our death, and His resurrection was our resurrection. God has made us alive together in Christ and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:5, 6). This position is true for everyone who believes the gospel of our salvation (Romans 3:22; 5:8-10; I Corinthians 15: 1-4).

What should be our response to our redemption in Christ? Does our freedom from the penalty of sin give us a license to sin? God forbid! (Romans 6:1-11). On the contrary, our response should be to glorify God in our body,  presenting it as a living and holy sacrifice (Romans 6:13; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:20).

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

Our Union with Christ and the New Heart
Part 1 of 6
by Pastor Ken Lawson

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-4).

The Human Heart

December 3, 1967 marked a milestone in medical history. Dr. Christian Barnard of Cape Town, South Africa successfully performed the first human heart transplant. This was followed a short time later by a similar heart transplant by Dr. Michael Debakey of Houston, Texas. These early transplants were only moderately successful because the patients' natural defense systems began attacking the new hearts as foreign invaders. With the use of trial and error, advanced technology, and better anti-rejection drugs, the outlook for heart transplant patients improved. Meanwhile, the heart surgeons who were icons in the medical community now became media superstars and they used that publicity well to raise funds for their heart clinics.

While being interviewed on a nationally televised talk show, Dr. Debakey told of the intricacy of the human heart and then added, "Only God can create a human body." While these doctors were catapulted to almost godlike status, they had to confess that there was much they did not know about the heart and could, at best, only promise their patients a limited number of quality years.

God and Man's Heart

As we read the pages of the Holy Bible, we soon learn that God Himself also specializes in heart surgery. While He created the physical heart which pumps the blood that keeps us healthy, as the Great Physician, He is much more interested in implanting a new heart in man which will be humble and submissive to His will and which will also bring an eternity of great fulfillment to his soul.

As we search the writings of the Apostle Paul for us Gentiles, there is one passage of Scripture that deals systematically with the mechanics of spiritual heart surgery. Romans chapter six is the "how-to" of the Christians life. Although Paul centers on Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, he does not deal with initial salvation from the punishment of sins which results from forgiveness. He dealt with that previously in Romans 3:21-5:11 with the great themes of sin, judgment, God's love, faith, grace, redemption, justification, and reconciliation. Here he begins to teach on the issue of the believer's sanctification (or separation) with the view to produce fruit unto holiness. It answers the question, "Now that I am saved from the penalty of sin and have eternal life, how can I live a life pleasing to God?"

The answer is nothing short of radical heart surgery. The heart (or "kardia") in Scripture is used to stand for man's entire inner personal life and includes his mental, moral, and spiritual activity. It covers his intellect, emotions, thoughts, desires, conscience, and will. It is the seat of man's sinfulness but also the sphere of divine influence. There is a pure heart and an evil heart of unbelief (2 Tim. 2:22; Heb. 3:12).

Although Paul does not write in terms of the word "heart" in Romans 6, the teaching is surely there in force as he writes of indwelling sin (the old heart) as well as partaking of Christ's resurrection life (the new heart). He begins by raising a rhetorical question which is really an objection raised by his critics concerning what they thought was the "fatal flaw" of his teaching of grace. "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" People always raise this question when they begin to grasp the teaching of grace. But instead of rejoicing in it they jump to a wrong conclusion. They think grace teaching takes a soft stance on sin or even gives people a license to continue in it. Paul had written, "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Rom.5:20). The legalist reasoned something like this, "Paul, if it is true, as you say, that God's grace increases much more to deal with man's sin, why not continue to allow sin to run free in order for God's grace to shine through even more gloriously." Paul answers with the strongest "No!" in the Greek language. The King James version translates it as "God forbid!" Today we might say, "No, no way!" God protests sin as it is against His holy character. Then he asks his own challenging question, "How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" He is not expressing the impossibility of living in sin but rather how illogical and contrary to God's purpose it would be for believers to do so since we have died to it. The reason for the Cross was especially to separate man from his sinning.

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

Our Union with Christ and the New Heart
Part 2 of 6
by Pastor Ken Lawson


The Baptism that Counts

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" How this passage has suffered from the intrusion of a water baptism ritual, thus losing the full force of its teaching! Water is not mentioned in these verses but "read into" by the minds of many. Actually, the word "baptism" in verses four and five means "identification with" or "initiation into" something---in this case, Jesus Christ. To be identified with Christ means that we become one with Him. To be initiated into Christ means that we are united to Him as our Source. This must be a spiritual baptism since a water ceremony could not place us into Christ or be the source of holiness. It is not a baptism into water or a church denomination that makes the difference but a baptism into Christ Himself.

In Bible times, when the color faded from a piece of cloth, they would send it to a fuller and he would dip or immerse the cloth in a dye. After a time, it would be removed and hung up to dry. In the process, the cloth would take on itself the color of the dye and become one with it. Spiritually speaking, we can apply this in a similar way to our baptism into Christ. If one insists on immersion as the definition of baptism, then it is an immersion into Christ. by the Spirit, thus, making us one with Him (1 Cor. 12:12-13).

This "oneness" extends beyond His death to His burial. and resurrection for verse 4 goes on to say, "Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." When Christ died, there is a very real sense in which we died with Him. When He was buried, we were buried with Him. And when He rose from the dead we rose with Him. This actually happened almost 2000 years ago when Christ died and rose again, but it is not made a part of us personally until we believe the gospel of grace.

This is where it starts to get deep because we cannot appeal to human experience to prove this.  We do not feel it or perceive it with our senses. The only way that we know about it is by reading about it in the Word of God, and that takes faith. I do not know how God put me to death with Christ two- thousand years before I was born, but I believe it because He said it. The problem is our perspective. We live in the present; God inhabits eternity. We see a little sliver of human history; God sees the end from the beginning. There is nothing too hard for God. Our union to Christ is what Bible teachers refer to as "positional truth." All believers have a present position in Christ as being united with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection.

Perhaps a better word for "buried" in verse four is "entombed" as Christ was not buried under ground but placed in a sepulcher from which you could walk on level ground. This positional truth is more than just theory because Paul takes it and teaches us how we can translate the position into everyday, practical living in righteousness.