GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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The Wonders of His Grace
by Paul M. Sadler,



Scripture Reading:

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

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

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

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

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

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WRONG SOURCE
By Miles Stanford



"Rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Phil. 3:3).

There are two ways in which God reveals to us the true condition of the natural man. The first is via the Word: "In me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing" (Rom. 7:18 ). The second is via experience: years of struggle with the constant sinfulness and failure of that old nature. If we were more willing to face up to the incorrigibility of the Adamic life within, it might not take us so long to be freed from its domination.

"It is quite possible for everyone of us to have a perfectly good conscience. A happy state to be in! Have you a good conscience? Are you under accusation, under condemnation? Are you fretting and worrying about the badness of your own heart? That means that you have not the answer of a good conscience to God. What is the matter? You are still looking for something from nature, from the old man. You had better give it up, as that is the only way out; repudiate it.

"Tell yourself and tell the accuser once for all that in you, that is, in your flesh, dwelleth no good thing, and you never expect to find anything. The enemy knows it, and yet he is trying to get you on an impossible guest for something he knows you will never find, and that is how he worries you. Years of it! Then why not come onto the Lord's ground and outmaneuver him? Let us settle it that we can never expect to find any good in our old nature. All our good is in another, even our Lord Jesus. It is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:2)." ---T.AS.

"Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free" (Gal. 5:1).

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"GLORY"


People today have lost hope. They are anxious about the past; they are anxious about the present; and they are anxious about the future. Fear grips their hearts and minds as they witness the government crumbling, the job market disappearing, and the family unit being torn to pieces. Disillusioned young people, in total rebellion, turn to drugs and alcohol. They join gangs, drop out of school, and commit horrible crimes. Without hope and without Christ, they tread down dead-end streets. Walking according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan), they fulfill the desires of the flesh and the mind (Ephesians 2:1-3).

The believer in Jesus Christ, however, has HOPE. He has a future. He has something to look forward to. We must learn that hope in the scriptures does not involve any element of uncertainty. Scriptural hope means to expect with ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE all God has purposed for the believer. The Apostle Paul states in Romans 5:2 that the child of God is to " .. rejoice in HOPE of the glory of God."

The logical question to raise at this point is, What is the HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD? Why should we rejoice?

Hebrews 1:2-3 tells us God has appointed the Lord Jesus Christ heir of all things. He is the heir of all that God owns. ALL THINGS were created by Christ and for Christ (Colossians 1:16) for "of Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To whom be GLORY forever" (Romans 11:36). Everything that exists will find its true meaning only when it comes under the final control of Jesus Christ. What a day of GLORY that will be!

One day soon, the GLORIOUS Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the archangel. The trumpet of God will sound. The dead in Christ will rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord (I Thessalonians 4:14-17). In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, God will change our natural body to a spiritual body. Gone forever are corruption, dishonor, and weakness; here to stay are incorruption, GLORY and power (I Cor. 15:42-44. " ... we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ who 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" (Philippians 3:20-21). Conformed to the image of Christ--Oh, that will be GLORY (Romans 8:29-30)!

When Christ, who is our life, appears, we shall appear WITH HIM in GLORY (Colossians 3:1-4). We will be manifested as children of God, heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. We will be GLORIFIED together with Him--Oh, that will be GLORY (Romans 8:17)! The troubles, trials, and tears we may experience in this life are nothing compared to the GLORY that will be revealed in us at the Lord's coming (Romans 8:18 ).

Two thousand years ago, the Lord of GLORY, Creator and Heir of all things, was born of a virgin and laid in a cattle stall because there was no room for Him in the inn. He laid aside His GLORY and became poor to make us rich--one day we will be GLORIFIED. At Calvary's cross, He bore the penalty for our sin, was buried, and arose triumphantly the third day. He laid down His life FOR us. He gives His life TO us. He lives His Life THROUGH us.

Can you look back in faith and see that God's grace has saved you? Can you look forward in Hope and see GLORY awaiting you? Can you look at your life today and know Christ, the HOPE OF GLORY, lives within you (Colossians 1:27)? "The life which I NOW live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" Galatians 2:20.

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~GROWTH  FOR SERVICE~
By M. Stanford


"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Gal. 4:19).

A ministry of life, whether it be at the kitchen sink, or from the First Church pulpit, must flow from the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. That life must be developed in and shared through the growing believer, by the Holy Spirit. We are to rest in Him for spiritual growth, and He will work through us for spiritual service.

"He, whom the Lord cannot trust with the faithful care of his own vineyard, will not be trusted with the tending of God's Vineyard of living, immortal souls. How shall we face the Owner of the Vineyard, if we have neglected our own lives; if we have not entered into that which God has shown us; if we must say, when He asks us about the lack of fruit and the neglect which is so sadly evident: 'Lord, I was so busy tending Thy Vineyard, that my own vineyard I have not kept' (S.S. 1:6)." - C.H.MacI.

"Our Lord is more concerned for a testimony than for a work. We need to get clear on that. A good deal of confusion comes in when you begin to think of things in the light of a work. When you get a lot of people leaving their employment to go into 'the work,' all kinds of complications arise. It is not that we aren't to serve the Lord, but in the first place it is not the work the Lord is after, it is a testimony, it is a light, a living flame."

"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10).

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"FROM FAITH TO 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).

What does Paul mean by the phrase, "from faith to faith", in this passage? His words in Galatians 3:23-25 may give us food for thought and substance to our faith:

"BUT BEFORE FAITH CAME, WE WERE KEPT UNDER THE LAW, SHUT UP UNTO THE FAITH WHICH SHOULD AFTERWARDS BE REVEALED.

"Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

"BUT AFTER THAT FAITH IS COME, WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER A SCHOOLMASTER" (Gal.3:23-25).

Hence, the Apostle's use of the phrase, "on whom the ends of the ages are arrived", and the Greek word, telos, in I Corinthians 10:11, is pertinent here, for Paul's gospel is the unveiling of God's "eternal purpose" in Christ. In his epistles alone we learn that "the time of reformation" had come as "works" gave place to the Age of Grace (Heb.9:10-14). This, then, and the passage in Galatians, gives us additional light and understanding upon our text, "from faith to faith", in Romans 1:17. When God does something, it affects the whole Universe as is evidenced in the Epistles of Saint Paul concerning the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His finished work on Calvary's cross.

"FOR HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US, [CHRIST] WHO KNEW NO SIN; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM" (IICor.5:21).

Therefore in Paul's gospel, both Jews and Gentiles can "now" live "without the law":

"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.3:24-26).

Thus in Hebrews 9:26 Paul's words about our Saviour, and His finished work of redemption, are most significant:

"For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."

In the book of Romans we see that God's righteous standards are maintained, "from faith to faith". Whereas God once required obedience to the Law of Moses for acceptance with Him, now, in this Age of Grace, you must accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior today, for His righteousness is "witnessed" by the Law and the prophets:

"EVEN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD WHICH IS BY FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST UNTO ALL AND UPON ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE..." (Rom.3: 21,22).

How important Paul's words are then, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." (Acts 16:31), and do it today.

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SALVATION FROM START TO FINISH
By HAROLD STEINBRON



Scripture Reading: II Timothy 1:9-12

"Before the World began"; that's how long ago God scheduled my life, salvation, and place in His glorious presence. Sometimes I'd worry and fret about whether I was going to make it through to next weeks pay-day! As I look back now over many years, to that concern about lasting until pay-day, I wonder, did I really believe God had known me before He made the world! I think not! It was a theory with me, I knew the Bible stated it, but it had not been reckoned SO by me. Unbelief must be a very serious insult to the One who planned by existence long before my parents were born! My God was too small!

The person who truly lays hold of the Eternal God and truly believes what these verses teach will truly thank God even when everything that could go wrong does; and at the worst possible time---and then the bottom falls out! The peace of God that only the God of peace can bestow will bring an inner calm and freedom from turmoil that will be apparent to those about us.

Verse 12 mentions suffering "these things". One would assume that God's choice servant who wrote half our New Testament would live a trouble-free, leisurely life. Not So! "My Grace is sufficient for thee", was God's answer to Paul's request for relief from a grievous thorn in the flesh. God is apparently wanting to inform us that since He has planned our life and eternity from start to finish, we must not shrink from hardship, bodily suffering, or rejection by our fellow man. The holy calling is not unto ease, but unto faithfulness unto Him who called us.

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FIXED POSITION
By Miles Stanford


"And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23).

True spiritual experience will result from our standing immovable in our position "in Christ." All too often believers allow certain "experiences" to move them from the faith-ground of their objective position, and they are soon adrift on the sea of subjective feelings and unscriptural influences.

"The Christian life is essentially a continuous dying, and a continuous living. Of course, there may come a particular crisis in experience where the Spirit of God brings the soul face to face with a definite issue as to a willingness for the Cross, and a yielding of the life to God. Yes, the first revelation of the secret of victory also may constitute a real crisis in the life of the believer, but that crisis or experience can never, in itself, avail for the future.

"There is a subtle danger in relying upon some isolated experience of 'sanctification,' so-called. The victorious Christian life is a Person, not an experience. Following the crisis, whatever phase or landmark in the life that may represent, there must be the daily reckoning, the moment-by-moment abiding and the control of the Holy Spirit. Whatever may have been our experience of holiness, and the measure of spiritual attainment in the past, we can never get beyond the need of abiding in Christ and the continuous reckoning of faith." - R.W.

"For we, alive though we are, are continually surrendering ourselves to death for the sake of Jesus" (II Cor. 4:11, Wey.).

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BOLDNESS TODAY
by C.R. Stam


   Some may suppose that it would require little boldness today to proclaim grace in all its purity. Who is ever persecuted now, at least in free, enlightened lands, for preaching God's grace? Ah, but do not be deceived. Satan was no less active in his opposition to the truth when Constantine exalted the professing Church to prominence than when his predecessors persecuted the Church and    sent its members to death by fire and sword. Indeed, the devil was doubtless more successful in Constantine's day than he had been    when persecution raged.

 Does any believer in the Word of God suppose that Satan has relented in his opposition to the truth today, just because men, at least in this land, are not burned at the stake or thrown to the lions? Do not be misled. Satan's enmity against God and against His Word continues undiminished. His hatred of "the gospel of the grace of God," is as bitter, and his opposition to it as determined as it ever was. But well does he know that the constant discouragements connected with being in the minority often succeed in silencing those who would stand against physical persecution.

  Today Satan uses the new evangelicalism with its highly-organized, highly-financed campaigns -- and its woeful lack of doctrinal and dispensational teaching of the Word -- to neutralize the saints. Multitudes are attracted to these neo-evangelical extravaganzas, at which the participants are for the most part    performers, and those who stand for the truth often feel very small as compared to the vast unthinking majority. But let us never forget that God uses "things that are not" to accomplish His work (See I Cor. 1:26-29).

  Let us, who know and love the truth, then, determine by God's grace that nothing shall make us unfaithful to our glorious commission; that, whatever the cost, we shall faithfully and boldly proclaim to others the unadulterated gospel of the grace of God, "the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation    of the mystery."

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GLORIOUS PROSPECT
by C. R. Stam


    To the true Christian one of the most wonderful passages in the Bible is Ephesians 2:7, where we read of God's purpose, "That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." This passage appears the more wonderful when viewed in the light of its context.

    Verses 2-6 tell how we were all once the "children of disobedience," and therefore "by nature the children of wrath, even as others." But then we read those wonderful words of hope, "But God." "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love wherewith He loved us..." And the next verses tell how He has taken believers in Christ from the lowest position of condemnation and wrath and given them the highest place of favor and blessing in Christ at His own right hand in the heavenlies.

    The simplest, humblest believer in Christ has been given this position in the heavenlies, for God no longer sees him in himself, but in Christ, who died for his sins. This is why St. Paul so often writes about "those who are in Christ Jesus."

    It is for the believer now to occupy this exalted position, to appropriate by faith the "all spiritual blessings" which are his in Christ (See Ephesians 1:3). Like Paul, he may be lifted by grace, through faith, above the troubles and sorrows of "this present evil age" and enjoy his position and blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. And even this is not all, for looking far ahead to the future the Apostle, by divine revelation, goes on to say (in Ephesians 2:7) that God has done this all for us, "that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

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~INSPIRATION, WHAT IS IT?~
by Russel S. Miller


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

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

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

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

"ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (II Tim. 3:16).

Thus the Apostle Paul was not only, himself, inspired in the writings of his epistles but he also wrote by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

And those who insist that only the words on the page are inspired, do greatly err "not [rightly dividing] the Scriptures"!

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

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THE TRUTH OF CHRIST
by C. R. Stam


        "As the truth of Christ is in me..." (II Cor. 11:10)."

   How often St. Paul, in his letters, speaks with an oath! "God is my witness" (Rom. 1:9), "As God is true" (II Cor. 1:18 ), "Behold, before God, I lie not" (Gal. 1:20), "God is my record" (Phil.1:8 ), "I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not" (I Tim. 2:7), etc., etc.

   As Dean Howson has said: "When Paul makes a solemn statement under the sense of God's presence, he does not hesitate to express this."

   But had not others spoken under the sense of God's presence? Of course they had, yet Paul calls God to witness far more often than any other Bible writer. Why is this? The answer is found in the distinctive character of Paul's ministry as the apostle of "the mystery." John the Baptist, the four evangelists and the twelve apostles did not need to speak with oaths since they proclaimed that which had already been prophesied. But with Paul it was different. Separate from the twelve, who were widely known as the apostles of Christ, Paul had been raised up to make known a wonderful secret which God had kept hidden from all who had gone before. While not a contradiction of prophecy, this secret had nevertheless not been prophesied; it was a new revelation. Hence it was appropriate that the Apostle should insist again and again that he wrote as in the presence of God.

  As we consider Paul's oaths, however, we must ask ourselves whether anyone ever used the oath with more solemn sincerity. Did anyone ever suffer so intensely for the truths he proclaimed, or pay so dearly to convince others of them? Could anyone say with such simplicity to those who knew him best:

 "Ye know... after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations [testings]... and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you..." (Acts 20:18-20)."

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TRUE LIBERTY
by C. R. Stam


As true Americans celebrate their liberty, true Christians should rejoice in the even greater liberty which they have in Christ.

Our Lord said: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" and "If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:32,36). Likewise St. Paul declares that believers in Christ have been made "free from sin" and have become "servants to God," who deals with us in grace (Rom. 6:22).

It is strange that so many sincere religious people actually wish to be in bondage to the Mosaic Law, which can only judge and condemn them for their sins. Peter called the law: "a yoke... which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear" (Acts 15:10). Paul called it "the handwriting of decrees, that was against us, which was contrary to us" (Col. 2:14). He called it "the ministration of death" and "the ministration of condemnation" (II Cor. 3:7,9).

He challenged those who "desired" to be under the law:

"Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?" (Gal. 4:21).

"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" (Gal. 3:10).

Thank God, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). Man always responds better to grace than to law. The law was "added because of transgressions" (Gal. 3:19). "By the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20). But Christ died for our sins and now true believers serve God from gratitude and love. Hence Rom. 6:14 says: "Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law but under grace." Since Christ has redeemed us from the law (Gal. 4:5) God says to every true believer:

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

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NOT DYING FOR LACK OF LOVE
by C. R. Stam



It has been said that "the world is dying for the lack of a little bit of love." When this statement is examined in the light of Scripture, however, it is found to be the exact opposite of the truth. Listen to what God’s Word says about this:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

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

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (I John 4:9,10).

Many about us are dying in their sins, but not "for the lack of a little bit of love." It is rather because they reject the great love that God has manifested to us in His Son. We are told in John 1:10,11 that "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not." This is the problem: men are rejecting His love. "And this is the condemnation," says John, "that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light" (John 3:19).

But while others reject Him, you may accept Him as your Savior and know the joy of sins forgiven and of everlasting life, for "as many as received Him, to them gave He the power [Lit., right] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12).

"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" (John 3:35,36).

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

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GRACE CROWN
By Miles Stanford


"The God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect (mature), establish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Peter 5:10).

At first, the old nature hides from us. Then, we try to hide from it. But when we begin to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, we are able to face up to the awful facts concerning the old man and his condemnation at the Cross. As the Holy Spirit reveals the old man (Colossians 3:9), we count upon death; as He reveals the new man (Colossians 3:10), we count upon life (Romans 6:11).

"The believer, at the opening of his course, never knows his own heart; indeed, he could not bear the full knowledge of it; he would be over-whelmed thereby. 'The Lord leads us not by the way of the Philistines lest we should see war,' and so be plunged into despair. But He graciously leads us by a circuitous route, in order that our apprehension of His grace may keep pace with our growing self-knowledge." - C.H.M.

"It was not for nothing that God let Satan loose upon His dear servant, Job. God loved Job with a perfect love; a love that could take account of everything, and, looking below the surface, could see the deep moral roots in the heart of His servant - roots which Job had never seen, and, therefore, never judged. What a mercy to have to do with such a God! to be in the hands of One who will spare no pains in order to subdue everything in us which is contrary to Himself, and to bring out in us His own blessed image!"

"Humble yourselves. therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you" (1 Peter 5:6, 7).

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INEXPRESSIBLE JOY
by C. R. Stam


             Have you ever noticed that the Apostle Paul never speaks of his love for Christ? Rather he keeps talking about Christ's wonderful love to him. Neither does he exhort us to love Christ, but keeps telling us how Christ loved -- and loves, us. This is consistent with the message specially committed to him: "The Gospel of the Grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

           The Law said: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God" (Matt.22:37). This is the very essence of the law. And we should love God, but the law cannot produce love, so God comes to us in grace and say: "I love you". This is why Paul's epistles are so filled with "the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus" (Rom.8:29).

 The fact that God deals with us in grace does not mean that believers should not, or do not, love Him. The very opposite is true, for love begets love. It is when men come to know the love of Christ that their hearts respond to him in love.

 Peter, like Paul, had once been a strict observer of the Law, but had since come to know the love of Christ in growing measure. The result: A deep love for Christ and the overflowing joy that accompanies such love. This is why we find in I Peter 1:8 those touching words that naturally overflow from the heart and lips of one who has come to know the love of Christ: "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory".

 Yes, knowing and loving Christ does indeed bring inexpressible joy, but we cannot love him by trying. We must accept His love for us in faith so that our hearts may naturally respond.