GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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WHEN TROUBLE COMES
Part Five of Five
BY RICHARD JORDAN


BAD CHOICES


A second reason we experience problems is the simple fact that we--and others--often make bad choices. Most of us do not think we do--but we too often do! And our choices have consequences.

God. is often blamed for evil things that happen to people when the fact is we have this inherent drive to do things our own way. Proverbs 14:12 records the repercussions:

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

But why doesn't God stop these calamities brought on by our bad choices? Well, how would we have Him do so? Should he kill everyone .. for "all have sinned"? Should He take away the free will of man .. making us mere automatons?

God allows bad things to happen because He allows free will to be exercised. The only option would be for people to be robots--which, of course, would destroy His purpose of having made us in His likeness and image. There are all kinds of hardships brought about by the exercise of free will. The fact is we too often make bad choices!

Galatians 6:7-8 makes our responsibility for our choices quite clear:

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

My friend, no one is going to mock God. "Fools make a mock at sin," the Book says (Proverbs 14:9). To think we can live in sin, pleasing ourself and ignoring what God's Word says, and have no consequences to face is to play the fool indeed. Sin will get you every time. The law of the harvest is always the same: We reap what we sow. The Word of God declares, "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers. 32:23) for "they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same" (Job 4:8 ).

"He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption." And this is written to believers .. not lost folk. The plain fact of life is that if we sow to the self· life, our lives are going to fall apart, disintegrating about us in tragedies and hardships.

If we face what really happened, we will be forced to admit that there are many problems in our lives caused by bad choices--sinful, uninformed, bad decisions. Whether made by us or others, there they are, and by God's grace we can face them honestly, set matters aright and proceed on with a "walk in wisdom."

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WHEN TROUBLE COMES
Conclusion
BY RICHARD JORDAN


GODLY LIVING


   A third source of trouble is a bit more salutary than the before, but it is no less real.

   "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).

   When we desire to live "godly in Christ Jesus" we must remember that this world is no friend to grace. We will find that the world will not love Christ living in us any more than it loved Him living here in person. We can get along in the world .. on the job, in our neighborhood, during recreational activities, etc . .. as long as it is us living. But when it begins to be Christ living in us, the same world is going to react to Him the way they reacted when He was here .. and remember, they hated Him "without a cause."

   We are not talking about religion or simply doing "good works." We are talking about having Christ living in and through us. As we come to understand who God has made us in Christ and allow His life-- His attitudes and His actions-- to find expression through our lives, we are going to "suffer trouble." Colossians 1:24 is an illustration of this in the life of Paul:

   "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church."

A PROPER RESPONSE

   Trouble is going to find its way into our lives. "Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7). While we would hope that most of those problems would come from that third reason, come they will. And we must be prepared for them --we must "know that tribulation works" for us. Grace frees us to realize that our troubles are not the result of God punishing us but rather can be used as a context for His grace to train and discipline us to walk by faith. Paul reminds us:

   "..... God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

   All kinds of hardships come into our lives and with them God is faithful: He desires us to trust His provision for us in Christ and allow Him to train us by transforming our minds by the discipline of grace. The issue isn't being "delivered" from our problems; the issue is being "able to bear it "--strengthened "unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness."

   How else could God cause us to "escape" the trouble by enabling us to "bear it"? Obviously we are not delivered from the problem in the sense of the difficulty being taken away. Rather, God makes the trouble productive by equipping us to deal with it in a proper manner so that we are built up to grow stronger in our inner man. Our "tribulation" becomes the context in which by faith we apply the sound doctrine of God's grace. Thus tribulation produces patience--staying with God's truth even under great pressure--which produces experience--practical skill in applying the Word to the circumstances of life .. which produces "hope--and hope maketh not ashamed. "Thus confidence and maturity is produced in our lives as we walk by faith. All this equips us for more effective service. 2 Corinthians 1:4 tells us of "the God of all comfort:"

   "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

   There is little practical value in having sound doctrine in our heart if we never go through any problems that cause us to draw on that truth and have it come forth in our lives to God's glory.

   Just so, problems are not meant to destroy us .. they are not God's attempt to punish us or get even with us for our sins and failures; He has already dealt with our sins at Calvary. Rather, they offer an opportunity to have the truth of God and the life of Christ come forth through our bodies of flesh to His glory when trouble comes. Let's walk by faith in the riches of God's grace to us in Christ!

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ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
By IVAN L. BURGENER, Pastor


Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ; according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world ... " (Ephesians 1:3,4).

Not "all the promises in the Book are mine," but this one is! Imagine that, "Blessed with all spiritual blessings ... "! What a contrast with Israel's portion in the promised land of Canaan. Sure, it was "a good land and a large ... " God surely had picked a great place for His people. It was a land flowing with milk and honey. Who could ask for anything more?

We can readily grasp all the goodness of Israel's promised land with its abundance, but who could have imagined that God would have given us "all spiritual blessings"? Every last one of God's spiritual blessings is made ours "in Christ".

Isaiah had every reason to say, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." God had indeed given that prophet the sense of the grandeur of things beyond Israel's greatest glory, but just what they were, he had no idea! Paul quoted these very words to contrast Isaiah's stated ignorance with what Paul said" ... God has revealed them unto us [Paul, as a Bible writer] by His Spirit..." (1 Corinthians  2:9-10).

God's revelation to the Apostle Paul for this dispensation of grace shows that believers now are: one with Christ as members of His Body, seated in the heavenlies in Christ, chosen in Him for this place from before the foundation of the world and predestinated to be conformed to the "image of His Son."

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RELIGIOUS MIXTURES
by C. R. Stam



The largest segment of the professing Church offers her devotees neither peace for the present, nor assurance for the future. She does not tell them that believers in Christ are given a position in heaven at God's right hand (Ephesians 2:4-7). She even brings Christ down from His exalted position and offers Him to the world on a crucifix, requiring men to eat His flesh and drink His blood to be saved. And this when Paul, by the Spirit, so emphatically says:

"...yea, THOUGH WE HAVE KNOWN CHRIST AFTER THE FLESH, YET NOW, HENCE-FORTH, KNOW WE HIM NO MORE" (2 Corinthians 5:16).

Man's religion, especially in "the Church," is built upon an appeal to the senses. Her devotees are occupied with beads and bells, statues and crucifixes, candlesticks and sacred objects, robes and incense; so far has she departed from the teachings of Paul and from his declaration that "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Lingering still among the types and shadows of primitive ages and mingling these with meaningless pagan rituals, she keeps millions from trusting and rejoicing in an already accomplished redemption.

We beg those who read these lines to look in faith to the risen, exalted Christ and to trust in His finished work:

"Who... when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3).

"This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:12).

This is clear enough. Our Lord came to earth to accomplish our redemption and, having accomplished it, He returned to heaven and sat down with His Father. The work was finished. And now He invites us to rest in His finished work.

"THERE REMAINETH THEREFORE A REST TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD."

"FOR HE THAT HATH ENTERED INTO HIS REST, HE ALSO HATH CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, AS GOD DID FROM HIS" (Hebrews 4:9,10).

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SUBTLE SELF
By Miles Stanford



"Create in me a dean heart, 0 God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalms 51:10).

A healthy spiritual birth results in the falling away of many of the more obvious works of the flesh, often causing the new believer to claim 2 Corinthians 5:17 or Galatians 2:20 as his testimony. However, for the Lord Jesus to be fully manifested, it is going to involve a lifetime of the Holy Spirit's deep dealing with the more subtle and deadly characteristics of the self-life-- "alway delivered unto death" (2 Corinthians 4:11).

"By the daily 'supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ' (Phil. 1:19), the believer united to his Risen Lord 'grows continually to a more perfect knowledge and likeness of his Creator,' and grows up 'after the image of Him that created him,' in the sphere where 'Christ is all, and in all.'

'The child naturally grows up in the likeness of his father, and the new life communicated to the redeemed grows up in the likeness of Him who is the Creator of the new creation, if so be that the death with Christ is unflinchingly recognized, and 'old things' are truly allowed to pass away to make room for the growth of the new man 'which is after God ... created in righteousness, and holiness of truth' (Ephesians 4:24)."

"How many earnest and religious people belong to 'the Old Adam Improvement Society.'  It is the recognition of the Christ-life, it is union with the Risen Christ, that men need instead of the culture of the religious self-life." --- E.H.

"Unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).

2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

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MY FATHER CARES!
By M. Stanford




"I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear" (Job 42:5)

The heart that is hungry to have God's purpose worked out in his life is going to be neither disappointed, nor pampered. When it comes to seeing self for what it is, there can be no pampering; when it comes to seeing the Lord Jesus Christ for who He is, there can be no disappointment.

"Why are the people of God suffering? - that they may be conformed to the image of His Son. Of course, we may not need a world upheaval to do this, but God is going to use all conditions to that end, and, tragically enough, there are multitudes of the Lord's people who do need a world shaking.
"They are so bound up with the externalities of Christianity, with its whole structure and system, that nothing but that which will overthrow, disintegrate, destroy, and raise tremendous questions about the whole business, will bring them to the place where the Spirit of God can begin really to do the work He has come to do in them."
- T.A-S.

"Job was a true servant of God; but he needed to learn himself, as we all do. He needed to have the roots of his moral being laid bare in his own sight so that he might really abhor himself, and repent in dust and ashes. And furthermore, he needed a truer and deeper sense of what God was, so that he might trust Him and justify Him under all circumstances." - C.H.M.

"But now mine eye seeth Thee" (Job 42:5).

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MERCY AND GRACE TO THE “CHIEF” OF SINNERS
by Russell S. Miller



When the world was ripe for the judgment of God to fall, indeed now seems overripe and long overdue, the Lord Jesus Christ reached down in mercy and grace to save “the chief of sinners,” as Paul later calls himself in I Timothy 1:15.

In saving Saul of Tarsus, God has “shewed forth all longsuffering”to this lost and dying world. Consequently, the Lord’s words to Ananias concerned Paul’s conversion, his apostleship and commission, and also speaks of God’s grace to us all when the very next prophesied event was the      judgment of God. Contrary to the Great Commission, then, Acts 9:1-6 marks a new beginning as to the administration of God in the affairs of men today:

“…for [Paul] is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15,16).

Notice that the order of Paul’s commission is the reverse of that given to the Twelve! Saul of Tarsus, the one who had persecuted the followers of Jesus Christ, is specially “chosen” of God through whom “God’s Son” is to be revealed to “all nations.” Since the favored nation had rejected Messiah and refused“the Kingdom of Heaven” on earth under their so-called “Great Commission,” God sent forth the Apostle Paul to all nations with a new message and ministry, “to testify the Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24), from the moment of his conversion.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, PUTTING ME INTO THE MINISTRY; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

“AND THE GRACE OF OUR LORD WAS EXCEEDING ABUNDANT WITH FAITH AND LOVE WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS; of whom I am chief.

“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER believe on Him to life everlasting” (ITim.1:12-16).

Have you accepted the Lord Jesus  Christ as your Saviour? He will make a real difference in your life, if you will just ask Him to save you. Won’t you do it today?

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TERMINAL CONDITION-ETERNAL POSITION
By Miles Stanford


"Ye have put off the old man with his deeds" (Col. 3:9).

Sometimes our Christian life and love are divided between the two Adams. It may be 60-40 in favor of the Last Adam, still it is shared. But the Lord Jesus paid it all, gave His all, deserves our all, requires all, because He is our ALL. Ours is to be total separation---death to the old, life in the New.

"Our Father has removed everything to His own satisfaction, and you learn in the first eleven verses of Romans 5 the terms He is on with you. It means much to the heart of the believer to know that he is received on the ground of another Man who perfectly glorified God.

"We are accepted in Him, the Beloved. God has changed His man, and you are never happy until you believe that and are able to say, I have, too. If you do not see that God has changed His man you will never change your man."

"The only way to freedom is to leave Adam for Christ ---- to change your man; then it is 'not I, but Christ liveth in me' (Gal. 2:20). There are two sides; one, that you are cleared from the old in the eye of God in the Cross; the other, that you are now new in Christ risen. 'For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death' (Rom. 8:2). The old is held in the place of death as you walk in newness of life in the Spirit."

"And have put on the new man, that is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Col. 3:10).

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GALATIANS 1:5----- TO THE FREEDOM



As I was teaching through Galatians, in 5:1 Paul writes, "Christ freed us for or to the freedom. Therefore stand and do not be held in again by a yoke of slavery." As I thought about this verse, most people look at this verse, and rightly so, from the perspective of what we are freed from.

In the context, I think we can confidently say that the "yoke of slavery" is the Mosaic Law. Christ has freed us from the Law. In Galatians, Paul has been proving the ineffectiveness of the Law with respect to justification, or being declared innocent, or right, before God. In 3:10 Paul writes, "For as many as are out of the works of the Law, they are under a curse. For it has been written that Very cursed is everyone who does not remain in all the things having been written in the book of the Law unto the end to do them."

Then Paul continues by telling us that Christ became a curse to redeem us out of the curse of the Law (vs. 13). The purpose of this is so that the gentiles may share in the blessing of Abraham and receive the promise of the Spirit. Ultimately, this leads us back to 5:1 where Christ's death on a tree results in our freedom from the Law.

Our U.S. Supreme Court, in its infinite wisdom, has ruled that freedom of religion also means freedom from religion. By doing so, it has reduced the freedom of others to practice their faith so some may be free from the religion of others. It is hard for me to believe that this was the intent of the framers of the constitution. As many of the original settlers came from religious persecution to practice their faith unhindered, the framers wanted to insure this freedom to continue into the future. The freedom was for Americans to freely live their faith.

Likewise, I believe the freedom that God has freed us for is not only freedom from the Law, but also freedom to do something else. Most translations translate the phrase, (Tjj eleutheria,) "for freedom." A literal translation is "to the freedom." Again, freedom for what?

As we continue in the text, I believe it is the freedom to serve one another through love (vs. 13) and to walk by the Spirit (vs. 16 & 25). Before Christ's death, we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). Now that we are alive in Christ (Eph. 2:5), God has given the ability, or freedom, to walk in the good works which He has previously prepared for us to walk in them (Eph. 2:10).

In 1 Thess. 1:9-10, Paul recounts "... how you turned towards the God from the idols to serve the living and true God and to await His son out of heaven ... " In this instance, they are saved to serve. As they turned to God, He freed them to serve Him.

Our freedom is not an occasion or opportunity for the flesh (Gal. 5:13), but an opportunity to serve Him by serving one another through love, to do the good works He has prepared, and to be led by the Spirit (Gal. 5:18 ). Our freedom is to do His bidding and follow His will for us and to do it in the way He wants us to do it, through love.

So often I think of my freedom as to what things I no longer have to do, or follow, such as the Law. What I should be doing is concentrating on what God wants me to do as He has freed me to do it. I can be rejoicing that I am doing it not because I have to do it, but because I want to do it out of thankfulness and gratitude for what He has accomplished for me in His Son, Jesus Christ.

May this new year be one of serving one another through love and following the leading of the Spirit because God has freed us to do so.

In Christ's Service,
John Walker

DON’T TRY TO CHANGE – EXCHANGE FOR A NEW FREEDOM IN CHRIST
 As we mature more and more in the Lord,
 we often become convicted of things that just are not right in our lives.
 This is normal;
 in fact it’s healthy and a good indicator
 that we are coming into a deeper maturity.

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GRACE
By  RALPH F. BALOG

Scripture Reading: James 4:6

The Hebrews to whom James wrote must have been stunned to find our text verse sandwiched between verses showing the demands of the law being imposed upon them. James 4:1-5 are a stinging rebuke to adulterers and adulteresses. Then verses 7-17 are legalistic orders; none of the "beseeching" Pauline kind.

But God can and does bring His glorious attributes into any age at His good pleasure. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." The world embraces the proud and shuns the humble. God does the opposite. Body members learn in Ephesians 4:7: "But unto everyone of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."

In James 4:6 grace was given by God to those under law as He saw fit. In the Pauline dispensation of grace (Acts 20:24) the basis of all God does is in grace. There is no "lurking law" to condemn Christians when they sin. In grace they have already been forgiven (Ephesians 4:32)! Nowhere but in Paul's epistles do we find this glorious truth. No "short account" prayers to keep being forgiven. We are to quit the sin and get on with Christian living under grace. Some Christians do not fully understand grace and have a guilty feeling hanging over their heads as they go through life wondering if they are "confessed up".

James never writes about grace, but Titus does. Read these thrilling words: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12). Grace seen and practiced as commanded by Paul will cause us to live godly lives to please the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. Grace does not tolerate sin when properly understood. Man has had enough of law and should know weak flesh can't keep it.

Heavenly Father, we are awe struck at the vast dimensions of Your grace.
 Forgive us for underestimating that grace so often.
 Enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know the richness of Your grace.
 May the immeasurable ocean of Your grace be our daily supply for life in Christ,
in His name we pray, Amen.

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WISDOM
JEFF SEEKINS, Pastor

Scripture Reading: James 1 :5; I Corinthians 1:30


In today's world wisdom is often considered mystical, illusive, and unattainable. Some may even consider it synonymous with abnormality. No wonder the apostle records that the world by its wisdom knew not God, (I Corinthians 1:21). Dictionaries however, generally define wisdom as knowledge or discernment concerning what is right or true. And what is absolutely right and absolutely true is absolutely God's! Wisdom must come from God. As Solomon taught that the fear of the Lord was the instruction of wisdom in Proverbs 15:33, so our verses, though written from distinctly differing perspectives, agree that God is the source of wisdom.

From his legalistic standpoint, James directed his hearers to ask God for wisdom. Paul, on the other hand, with the dispensation of God's grace in view, pointed out that wisdom was from God and in Christ. All believers today are in Christ, and wisdom is theirs in Him. But in this context, wisdom goes beyond mere mental exercise, to the doctrine and truth God gave for this dispensation. The correlation between the two can be seen in Ephesians chapter three. Not only is the truth of this dispensation of the grace of God explained, but it is also equated with the manifold wisdom of God in verse ten. Colossians 1:24-28, on a similar vein, points out that Christ is the riches of the glory of this mystery. He is such a rich part of this truth that Colossians 2:3 tells us that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Him. Yes, believer, "ye are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom ... " ( I Corinthians 1:30). That is the very wisdom of God the Apostle Paul spoke in a mystery, (I Cor. 2:7).

Heavenly Father, we are awe struck at the vast dimensions of Your grace.
Forgive us for underestimating that grace so often.
 Enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know the richness of Your grace.
 May the immeasurable ocean of Your grace
 be our daily supply for life in Christ, in His name we pray, Amen.

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JEW AND GENTILE ON SAME LEVEL
DICK WARE, Pastor


Scripture: Romans 10:12; 11:32; Ephesians 2:16,17

Jew and Gentile on "the same level" is something unique to this program of Grace and to the writings of the Apostle Paul. This is not true of God's prophetic program. Nor, will you find Jew and Gentile on the same level from Genesis 12 (with the calling apart of Abraham) all the way through the book of Acts. Once you start in the book of Hebrews all the way through the book of Revelation, you will not find the Jew and the Gentile on "the same level." It's only in the thirteen books that begin with the first word "Paul" that you find this is the case.

Before we look at the later chapters in the book of Romans, let's look at the earlier ones. First God establishes the fact that the Jew and Gentile are on "the same level" as to both being lost (3:9). "For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" (Rom. 3:22b, 23). In Romans 5, God's justification is for "the ungodly," "the sinner," and even "the enemy of God" (5:6, 8,10). In this "program of Grace" committed to the Apostle Paul, there is no difference between who is lost, and between who can be saved (Rom. 10:12; 11:32)!

As we come to Ephesians chapter 2, we are dealing with two different Divine programs, two different groups of people, and with God's New Creation, The Body of Christ. First, there is the TIME PAST (God's past program) in which the Gentiles were separate from God's chosen people, the nation of Israel (vrs. 11, 12). As Israel rejected 'The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Acts 3:13), the Gentiles stood: alienated from Israel's blessings, covenants, and promises. We were said to be without HOPE and without GOD in the world! "BUT NOW -- both Jew and Gentile are "ONE NEW MAN" in "ONE BODY" (Eph. 2:13-17)! Today, Jew and Gentile are on "THE SAME LEVEL" when it comes to: who is lost; who can be saved; and who are the members of the Body of Christ!

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ONE THING
by C. R. Stam




Referring to the great Temple of God, which King David so earnestly hoped to build, he said:

“ONE THING HAVE I DESIRED of the Lord; that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple” (Psa.27:4).

Similarly, when Martha of Bethany complained to Jesus that Mary “sat at [His] feet and heard His Word” while she was left to serve alone, the Lord answered:

“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but ONE THING IS NEEDFUL, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10: 41,42).

Today, with regard to the message of grace from the ascended, glorified Lord, the Apostle Paul exhorts us: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col.3:16). Wonderful results follow such a determination to know Christ through the Word.

When the Lord Jesus opened the eyes of the blind beggar, the poor man was immediately persecuted by the religious leaders of the day. He could not answer all of their questions but he could answer the one most important to himself:

“ONE THING I KNOW, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).

The rest of the narrative relates how the blind beggar also received spiritual sight as, face to face with the Son of God, he exclaimed: “Lord, I believe! …and…worshipped Him” (Ver.38 ).

But what about our conduct after spiritual sight has been bestowed? The most consecrated believer will acknowledge that he often fails to live up to the light he has received. St. Paul, by inspiration, gives us the solution to this problem also, saying:

“THIS ONE THING I DO: forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press [strain] toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:13,14).

Lord God of my salvation,
thank You for the glorious message of the gospel.
What good news it is to have forgiveness,
eternal life, and daily transformation through Your grace.
Lord Jesus, I rejoice that You have taken me out from under the law.
I now look to You,
the risen Lord,
to bring forth spiritual fruit in and through my life,
in Your exalted name, Amen.

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THE DOCTRINE OF SUBSTITUTION
BY  Robert Hanna


Scripture Reading: Romans 4:25; 5: I

"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3b). The guilt of transgression was ours, but the punishment was suffered by Him "who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed" (I Peter 2:24). Human reasoning does not accept this astounding truth. Civil courts do not operate on such a principle, which would never be recognized as either moral or just. Finite intelligence cannot conceive of punishment being rendered by a loving God, even against the guilty ---much less against an innocent victim in substitution.

But this is altogether GOD'S doing. God created man. Man turned against God. For fellowship to be restored there must be a reconciliation between the parties involved, the offender and the offended. Since God is not only the victim but also the judge, His is the power to assign guilt and render punishment. We do not understand vicarious sacrifice; we must simply, by faith, receive and cherish the newness of life bestowed by the grace of God in providing it. "[He] was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Such is the miracle of love and grace by "God our Saviour; Who will have [wishes] ALL MEN to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth... Who gave Himself a ransom FOR ALL" (I Timothy 2:4, 6).

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end!

[nChrist]

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In Christ-The New Man
By Pastor Joe S. Leftwich


In Christ we were made "a new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17). "Even when we were dead in sins, [God] hath quickened us together with Christ" (Ephesians 2:5). "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 2:6). "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).

The Scriptures declare that the things above have already been done (past tense) to and for the believer in Christ! What part did we play in the above actions? Zero!

Not only are the above statements true, but there are many other descriptive elements in having been made new creatures in Christ. We died to sin (Romans 6:2). We were "baptized into His death" (Romans 6:3). We were "buried with Him" (Romans 6:4). We were raised with Him in our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 6:4). Our "Old Man" was crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6). Our "body of sin" has been done away with (Romans 6:6), so we should not let sin reign in our mortal bodies (Romans 6:12).

We were washed, sanctified, and justified (1 Corinthians 6:11). We were made "complete" in Him (Colossians 2:10). Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). We were made ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). We reign in grace, in Christ and "in life" (Romans 5:17). We reign! We can choose to offer our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). We reign! We can choose "not to be conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2). We reign! We can choose to renew our minds that we might "prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2). We can take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Does this list of things God has already done in and for every believer in Christ for eternity surprise you? Everything in Scripture from Genesis through mid-Acts has been leading up to this crowning of God's love for mankind and is now being revealed by His Apostle Paul, today, in this age of Grace.

God's chosen people, the Jews, had lived through many generations and several administrations (dispensations) in which God had been revealing Himself to His people in many ways: through His Law, for instance, given through Moses. But even while the Law was being delivered by God to Moses in the mountain, His chosen people were involved in gross sin down below. God had delivered them out of Egypt and had led them through the wilderness, by the supernatural pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day. He also gave them supernaturally, manna from heaven and water out of the Rock.

The list could go on, but these things are not new to most people with a cursory knowledge of Scripture. God had promised His people a Messiah, and they looked for Him with great anticipation. It is recorded in the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, that God had sent their Messiah, Jesus Christ, into the world to be Savior of the world. It is stated simply but magnificently that, "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not" (John 1:11).

The four Gospels covered the administration of the old covenant under the Law. The New Covenant could not begin until the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ which of course came at the end of the four Gospels. Therefore, one could argue that the choice of those translating and publishing the Bible arguably could have put the four Gospels as the last four books of the Old Testament.

The emphasis of this article will be on the importance of knowing Paul's message to both Jews and Gentiles during this age of Grace, with a special emphasis on the application of his message to the lives of believers. In this article we will be focusing on the Mystery which has been hidden from (past) ages and generations which God is now revealing through His Apostle Paul to His saints, and through His saints to the world, which is, "Christ in you" (Colossians 1:26,27).

"Christ in you" is the seminal truth of our lives as Christians here on this earth; the root, stem, branches and fruit of this truth as it blossoms in our understanding of who we are, and this growing realization that there is a whole new you, created in Christ Jesus. This understanding of our new identity makes us capable of fulfilling all of His expectations of how He wants us to live in this world, in this present lifetime, as new creations in Christ dwelling in our old mortal body of flesh, well pleasing to Him.

We, as Christians, have a tendency to be negative about our ability to live our lives well pleasing to God. We tend to emphasize what we cannot do. The enemy is just too powerful, it is said. Our "old nature," it is argued, has habits that are systemic and demand constant gratification, that are beyond our ability to control even if we are Christians. This, they say, is our dilemma.

The reasoning in this article assumes that the reader has believed the gospel and has been baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ. This is essential because the "natural man" cannot understand the things of God.

Dear Father
You know that I have sincerely tried to live as a victorious Christian.
 I have done my personal best,
 but now I realize that has been my problem, it has been "my best" that I've trusted,
instead of Your life.
 I repent of self-sufficiency and affirm that
 from this moment forward I will trust You to live through me.
 I choose to rest in You,
 depending upon You to cause the power of indwelling sin in me to stay in remission.
 You are my Victory, oh Lord. For that fact, I thank You, Amen