GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

[nChrist]

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

RELENTLESS PURPOSE
By Miles Stanford

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him" (II Chron. 16:9).

All of God's thoughts concerning us are centered in His Son, where He has placed us. Hence they are "thoughts of peace, and not of evil" (Jer. 29:11). Others may do evil against us, but our Father turns it into our good, for Jesus' sake.

"The purpose of God is that through the conditions and sufferings of my life should develop in me the features of His Son. On the one hand, the features of the old creation may be seen to be more and more terrible and horrible, as I recognize them in myself; but over against that God is doing something which is other than my old self. He is bringing into being Another, altogether other, and that is His Son, my new life. Slowly, seemingly all too slowly; nevertheless something is developing. The sonship is not very much in evidence yet, but it is going to be manifested. What God has been doing will come out into the light eventually --- conformity to the image of His Son." --- T. A-S.

"Afflictions are in the hands of the Holy Spirit to effect the softening of the heart in order to receive heavenly impression. Job said, 'God maketh my heart soft' (Job 23:16). As the wax in its natural hard state cannot take the impress of the signet, and needs to be melted to render it susceptible, so the believer is by trials prepared to receive, and made to bear, the divine likeness."

"Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving" (Col. 2:7).

[nChrist]

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

WILL THERE BE A FUTURE JUDGMENT
FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST?


A glorious declaration is sounded in Romans 8: 1: 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.' The word 'condemnation'  can also be rendered 'sentence of judgment.' Does this mean, then, that because we are 'in Christ Jesus', and are forgiven and justified in Him, and are 'complete in Him' (Colossians 2:10), that there will be no judgment for us in the future? Some reason that way. But what saith the Scriptures? What is 'the Berean test' for this (see Acts 17:11)?

     FIRST: THE GOD OF ALL GRACE SAYS THERE WILL BE A FUTURE JUDGMENT FOR MEMBERS OF CHRIST'S BODY! In Paul's final words, by divine inspiration, to Timothy, he testified clearly: 'I have fought  the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing' (II Timothy 4:7-8 ).

     Now note carefully that 'the Lord' here (evidently the Lord Jesus Christ, as II Timothy 4:1 states) is called 'the righteous judge'. The term 'judge' here means one who passes sentence. Here Christ is described not so much as a magistrate to condemn or to exonerate, but to umpire or referee as in a game or a contest.

     This same thought comes out other places in Paul's epistles. For example Paul's exhortation to Christians in their vocational employment says: 'And whatever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men, knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve (or, serve ye) the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done, and there is no respect of persons' (Colossians 3:23-25). If these warnings don't carry the underlying truth of the believer's personal accountability to God for what he does, then they are absolutely meaningless.

     Elsewhere, the believer standing before 'the judgment seat (bema) of Christ' on 'the day of Christ' (also called 'that day' - II Timothy 1:18, 4:8 ) is presented by the Apostle as being a motive for godly living. Thus we read: 'For we must all appear (be made manifest) before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive (as a recompense) the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (worthless)' (II Corinthians 5:10).

     Because God has saved us and accepted us in Christ, and we stand 'complete in Him,' we desire to so 'walk worthy of the Lord unto pleasing Him in all respects'. We seek to so live, not to placate an angry God, but because we love Him and want to bring the most glory and pleasure to His heart possible. And then on 'that day,' we will hear His 'well done Thou good and faithful servant,' which in turn will all be 'to the praise of His glory' throughout the ages to come.

     Beloved, let us so walk and work 'in the Lord' in daily yieldedness and trust so as to be 'crowned' on 'that day'.

Grace, Peace and Love, Pastor Hume

[nChrist]

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

PEACEFUL KNOWLEDGE
By Miles Stanford




"I have been crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20).

The difference between stultifying carnality and growing spirituality is the believer's realization that he the sinner, as well as his sin, were taken down into death. Seeing one's identification in the Lord Jesus' death, burial, resurrection and ascension is the necessary foundation for spiritual growth to maturity.

"How often do we find believers plunged into the very depths of distress and darkness as to their spiritual condition and prospects! So many do not as yet see the application of the death of the Lord Jesus to their old man. They do not realize the glorious truth that in that death they were delivered from this present evil world, from the dominion of sin and the law, and from the power of the enemy.

"All believers see that the Blood of the Lord Jesus screens them from the judgment of God; but most do not as yet see that they are 'dead unto sin' in the Lord Jesus; that their 'old man was crucified with Christ; that not only have their sins been put upon Him at the Cross, but they themselves, as sinful children of Adam, have been personally identified with Him in His death unto sin; that God pronounces them dead and risen with Him. But if this foundational truth is not apprehended by faith, there is no bright, happy, emancipating sense of full and everlasting salvation." -C.H.M.

"We are to hold by faith the position which the Father has given us in the risen Lord Jesus, and abide therein, occupied with the interests of our Father and not our own. Taking thought of our-selves is a divergence from the place of faith."

"We enter the heavens in order to be qualified for earth; we do not begin on earth, to reach the heavens. Our simplest earthly responsibilities require us to be conversant with the 'things above. '"

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

[nChrist]

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

ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK
By Pastor Robert Hanna

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:20-21

King Solomon prayed to God for wisdom because he knew that his human limitations were such as to be totally inadequate for the task to which he had been appointed. His humility and faith and dedication were rewarded twofold. "And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies ... behold, I have done according to thy words. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour" (I Kings 3:11-13) .

And so it has ever been. You and I live in an entirely different chapter of God's dispensational book, but we have the same glorious relationship with God as did Solomon insofar as prayer is concerned. "Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). Our bounty from God is not always measured in terms of this world's goods, or robust health or freedom from pain and grief. But we are as greatly blessed as was Solomon in degree.

We receive according to His purpose. There is no limitation to God's ability, for He "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." The more completely we humble ourselves and depend on Him, the more He is glorified.

[nChrist]

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

Is the Mystery in the Old Testament?
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


No, of course not! Then why does Paul often quote the Old Testament to substantiate the Mystery (e.g., Rom. 15:9-12). Let's start in Acts 26:22, where Paul testifies:

"I continue unto this day...saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come."

This statement seems to belie Paul's insistence that his message was hid from ages and from generations? (Col. 1:26). However, he explains himself in the next verse:

"That Christ should suffer, and that He should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" (Acts 26:23).

The death and resurrection of Christ was not a mystery, nor was God's plan to show light unto "the people" (of Israel) and "to the Gentiles." Thus Paul is saying that while his message did not fulfill the prophets, generally speaking it did not contradict the Old Testament. We see the same in Acts 15, where the leaders in the church met to decide what to make of Paul's new gospel. James concluded:

"Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name. And to this agree the words of the prophets... (v. 14,15)."

James didn't say that Paul's new message fulfilled the prophets. Rather he said it agreed with them, i.e., God always intended to visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name. Of course, according to Prophecy this was supposed to happen through Israel's rise (Isa. 60:3), not through her fall (Rom. 11:11). Someday in the kingdom it will. But in the meantime, James could not deny that generally speaking Paul's new message was in accord with the Old Testament.

When most New Testament writers quote the Old Testament, it is to show fulfillment of prophecy. However, when Paul quotes the Old Testament, it is to show harmony, not fulfillment.

Let's close with an example. In Romans 10:19 Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:21, where God vows to provoke Israel to jealousy by a foolish nation. This cannot be the Gentiles, for they are "the nations," plural. Peter rather identifies the believing Jews to whom he wrote as the "holy nation" that God originally used to provoke the apostate nation of Israel to jealousy (I Pet. 2:9 cf. Matt. 21:43; Luke 12:32) and fulfill Deuteronomy 32:21. But in the next chapter of Romans, Paul says,

"...I am the apostle of the Gentiles...if by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh..." (Rom. 11:13,14).

Here Paul declares that God was now using the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy. Not in fulfillment of Deuteronomy 32:21, but certainly in harmony with it!

So while the Mystery is not in the Old Testament, Paul can quote it freely to show how his new message was in agreement with it.

[nChrist]

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

SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING
by C. R. Stam


Honest, prayerful study of the Word brings us to spiritual maturity and understanding. But does it not require superior intellectual powers to understand these "deep things of God"? No indeed. Superior intellects among unsaved men are unable to appreciate even the "simple" truths of the Word, for "they are spiritually discerned" (I Cor. 2:14). And as to the "mystery" made known to Paul by the glorified Lord, the Apostle declares that it is now "revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Eph. 3:5).

The mystery is not merely something more difficult to grasp intellectually, for the Apostle specifically states that it is "not the wisdom of this world" but "the wisdom of God" (I Cor. 2:6,7), and that only by the Spirit of God can it be understood and appreciated. This explains why many of the humblest believers rejoice in the mystery and understand it so clearly, while so many great theologians and religious leaders fail to grasp it and keep confusing it with God's prophesied program regarding the kingdom of Christ.

The mystery is not "hard to be understood" because men are slow of mind to understand, but because they are "slow of heart to  believe," because the devil, who "hath blinded the minds of them that believe not" also seeks to keep God's people from seeing and  rejoicing in the truth of the mystery with its riches of grace, its "one body" and its "one baptism."This is why the Apostle prayed so fervently that the believers to whom he ministered might be given "spiritual understanding" to take in the glorious message he was commissioned to proclaim (See Eph. 1:16-19; Col. 1:9,10).

[nChrist]

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

TRUE RICHES
by C. R. Stam

Some years ago there came to this country a very poor young man. He found a job in the timber lands of Wisconsin. Being industrious he gradually accumulated some timber acreage of his own. Soon he began to prosper, and after a few years he invested in a lumber milling industry. Before long he owned more than one mill, and this led him to expand into northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. In a few years he was known as a rich man, investing in timber acreage in the far northwest and eventually owning valuable land by the thousands of acres, the very finest timber in the country. At the time of his death neither he nor his relatives nor friends knew what he was worth financially, he had become so wealthy.

When the time came for him to die, however, he could not take one cent of his riches with him, for as I Timothy 6:7 says: "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we carry nothing out".

It seems difficult for most men to learn that "a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15). They close their ears to the words of wisdom spoken by the Lord: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matt. 6:19,20).

The truest, most lasting riches of all are referred to in II Corinthians 8:9, where the Apostle Paul says: "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".

And these riches may be had by faith -- by accepting them as a gift, for "the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

[nChrist]

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

COMFORT ONE ANOTHER
by C. R. Stam



Increasing world tension and the present trend of events in the Middle East have always filled many with fear, and there are even sincere believers in Christ who fear that perhaps the "Great Tribulation" of prophecy, with all its horrors, is at hand.

It is true indeed that even Paul's epistles warn this world of the judgment to come. "...The Day of the Lord", he says, "so cometh as a thief in the night".

"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape" (I Thess. 5:2,3).

But before this time comes, the Lord will recall His ambassadors, as the apostle tells us in the following passage:

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall 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.
"Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (I Thess. 4:16-18 ).

This is the event with which "the dispensation of the grace of God" will be brought to a close. Then will follow "the day of His wrath", but even as Paul goes on to tell about this in the passage which follows, he reassures the members of Christ's Body that they will not be included amongst those to whom the Lord will come as "a thief in the night".

"But ye brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light...God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us...Wherefore comfort yourselves together..." (I Thess. 5:4-11).

[nChrist]

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

TRANSFERRED AND TRANSFORMED
By Miles Stanford




"If [since] ye, then, be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God" (Col. 3:1).

The growth truths seem complicated and difficult to understand on first encounter. However, with progress in grace we find them to be as clear and logical as the truth of justification. For both time and eternity, all is summed up in John 17:3: "And this is life eternal. .. [to] know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ." Study on!

"The marvel of divine grace is that not only has everything according to the heart of God been secured for me through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, but that I, a child of Adam, should be, not only in peace with God where I was under His judgment, but that I am transferred from Adam to Christ, and I am to have Christ formed in me now.

"I am born of God - of new and divine origin - a new creation to be here on earth now where I was a child of Adam, in the grace and beauty of Christ, led by His own power to stand for Him; daily more and more 'transformed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord' (II Cor. 3:18 )."

"I used to study this passage and that passage to obtain guidance and light. I see now that if I were really near Him beholding His glory (II Cor. 3:18 ), I should be transformed, should come from Him so impressed with Himself that His interests would, as it were, naturally control me." - J.B.S.

"When the heart has found its rest and satisfaction in Him, it can turn to Him naturally and continually in every circumstance."

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:2).

[nChrist]

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

THE THRONE WHICH IS NEVER ABDICATED!
By Paul Hume



Scripture Reading: Rev. 4:1-11; Heb. 4:16

What a glorious and great scene is this! John, by the Spirit, is caught away into "the Lordly day" (Rev. 1:10) to behold events which will certainly transpire in the heavens and on the earth. This is the scene of "the Majesty on High" in Rev. 4. Notice the throne and the One who sits upon it! How awful is this glorious scene! All the celestial beings who behold this sight can do no less than fall before Him on His throne and "Worship Him that liveth forever and ever."

Oh! Friend! Stop right now! Let this blessed scene flood your soul--that of the Sovereign God of the universe--our Father! Then bow low in spiritual worship!

     "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,
     Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
     Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
     God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!"
                                                    (Reginald Heber)

Here is the Throne which has never been abdicated!
Earthly monarchs are sometimes deposed. Some of them reign for a score or two of years, and they must finally yield the throne to their successors. All must die sooner or later. But not the One who occupies "the Throne of grace!" In the Person of the Lord Jesus, in Whom all the fulness of the Godhead has been pleased to take up its permanent home (Col. 1:19), our blessed God is still ordering our lives in His matchless mercy, grace, and love from that eternal throne. Furthermore, in the wider sense, He is still ordering the varied affairs of this old world--be they malignantly evil, or be they magnificently good--from that same throne! Little wonder we can sing from our hearts:

"God is still on the throne,
And He will remember His own,
Though trials may press us and burdens distress us,
He never will leave us alone
God is still on the throne,
He never forsaketh His own;
His promise is true,
He will not forget you,
God is still on the throne." (Mrs. F.W. Suffield)

Is HE on the throne of YOUR heart today?

[nChrist]

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

GRACE REIGNS THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS
by Russell S. Miller


 In addition to those other passages in Paul's epistles, where "Grace", "Faith", and "Righteousness" are found, The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews contains the following references to "Grace and Faith" as well as "Grace and Peace":

 "The throne of grace..." (Heb. 4:16), so grace reigns.

 "The King of righteousness..." (Heb. 7:2).

 But you argue Christ is the Head of the Church, not King. However the reference is to the mysterious Melchisedec priesthood. Yet I Timothy 1:17 states that our Lord is "the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God...". While I Timothy 6:15 calls our Lord, "...the blessed and only Potentate...". Nevertheless, "grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 5:21).

 "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heb. 9:12).

 "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" (Rom. 3:25).

 "...The spirit of grace..." (Heb. 10:29), in conjunction with "the Word of grace" (Acts 20:32), teaches us to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10).

 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).

 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17).

 "...The God of peace..." (Heb. 13:20).

 It is so comforting to know that our God is dispensing "grace" and "peace" today. This blessed theme is prevalent in all of Paul's epistles, the theme that he and Timothy "preached every where in every church" (I Cor. 4:17).

 "Grace be with you all..." (Heb. 13:25).

 "Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:3).

 Indeed, while many find it difficult to believe the Epistles of Saint Paul, may you find comfort in knowing the wonderful and marvelous truth that "Grace and Peace" reign through His "Righteousness" today.

[nChrist]

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

SPIRIT-TAUGHT AND SPIRIT-WROUGHT
By Miles Stanford


"Hath made us alive together with Christ" (Eph. 2:5).

If we fail to rely upon the Holy Spirit for the practical day-by-day realization of the identification truths, we will fall short of Romans 8, and find ourselves bound in the struggle of Romans 7.

"If some of you who have been the Lord's for a long time cast a glance over your past history, you will be able to recall occasions when He spoke and you obeyed instantly. But you can recall other occasions when He spoke and you failed to respond; yet strangely, after a time you just found yourself in the way of obedience.

"Such is the fruit of the Holy Spirit's government in our lives. Even if we are totally unable to obey and cannot even exercise faith, a day comes when the resistance has vanished and we are trusting the Lord Jesus in simplicity of heart. It is the tireless energy of the indwelling Spirit that has accomplished this.

"Our union with the Lord Jesus is a union of life. We were raised with Him, we are made alive in Him. True, our bodies are to be changed, and those who have died in Christ are to be raised as to their bodies, but now we are raised with and are made alive in Him.

"The trouble is that many are not aware of this wonderful fact and position; all of it seems so far away and unreal. If we will believe God's Word and begin to thank Him for the truths that He tells us, the Holy Spirit will ere long begin to make these truths living realities in our lives."-L.L.L.

"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6).

[nChrist]

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

PURSUING PEACE
By JOHN McKAY, Pastor

Scripture Reading: Romans 14: 19; II Timothy 2:22

"Let us .. . follow after the things which make for peace ... follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

These orders from the Lord are so needed today. With television, fornication, adultery, wicked music and other evils confronting us every day, the believer must deliberately make the pursuit of peace a priority. We cannot allow the things of this world or our own inadequacy rob us of the contentment that God wants us to have right now in this perverted generation.

There will be times when our peace will be disturbed. The Lord knows that if we stand up for His Truth, we will suffer. We should not be ashamed with the absence of peace if it has come through obedience. Even then, won't there be the deep peace--- as our Apostle Paul experienced in the midst of suffering--- which cannot be removed from our inner man! " ... though our outward man PERISH, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." Inner peace is to be preferred over external!

The Biblical doctrine of separation is sometimes compromised in the name of peace. Can we be so foolish? Has not God commanded separation from false doctrine and vile conduct in order that we might attain peace? Separation will guarantee the greatest degree of peace possible! " ... there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." " ... put away from among yourselves that wicked person." It may take some disturbance of external peace to accomplish this, yet the result will be far greater peace than could ever be imagined. The saved person can always have inner peace. Let's pursue external peace too.

[nChrist]

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

The Convicting Work of the Holy Spirit
by Steve Me Vey



The ministry of the Holy Spirit in bringing conviction into our lives is one of the most misunderstood truths of the New Testament. Many of us have lived for many years with a viewpoint that suggests that one of His main responsibilities is to point out our sins so that we will abandon them. Many are surprised to learn that, while the Holy Spirit does indeed convict us, it isn't about our sins. He convicts us about something altogether different.

Consider John 16:8-11:

8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

This passage says that the Holy Spirit convicts of three things: 1. Sin 2. Righteousness
3. Judgment. He convicts two groups of people: The world (not you) and you (the Christian).

    Who does the Holy Spirit convict of sin? Verse 9 says that the conviction of sin is connected to the world. Why are they convicted? "Because they do not believe in Me," says Jesus. It is the unbeliever who is convicted of sin. What is that sin? They are convicted of one sin in particular - unbelief in Christ. The Holy Spirit doesn't convict unbelievers of their sins (plural), but of the singularly greatest sin of all -- their failure to trust Christ as their Savior.

   Even if they stopped doing all the wrong things they do in life, the world would still have the fundamental problem of their unbelief. When your house is burning to the ground, you don't worry that it needs a paint job. There are more pressing matters. So it is with those who don't know Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts them of their great need to believe in Him. Everything else is incidental.

   But what of the Christian? Jesus said the Spirit would convict of righteousness because "I go to My Father and you no longer see Me." Conviction of sin is directed to a group Jesus called "they" - the world. Conviction of righteousness is associated with "you" - the follower of Jesus. The ministry of the Holy Spirit toward the Christian is to convince us of our righteousness. Jesus has put away our sin by the sacrifice of Himself (see Hebrews 9:26). Now He seeks to convince (convict) us of that reality so that we will act consistently with who we are.

   The Spirit of Christ doesn't put you under guilt and condemnation about something Jesus Christ has already absorbed into Himself at the cross, defeated and put away. Remember that Jesus dealt with sin and then sat down by the right hand of God because there was nothing left to do regarding sin. Your sins have been defeated and put away. So at every moment, "There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."

When the Christian sins, the Holy Spirit causes us to realize, "This isn't who I am. I don't want to live like this." That realization is a call to recognize our righteousness and act like who we are. If you sense feelings of worthlessness and shame; if you think you are a horrible person when you sin, that isn't the Holy Spirit speaking to you. It may be your church or family history rising up to condemn you, but it isn't God's Spirit. He doesn't do that. Ever.

You can be convinced (convicted) that the ruler of this world (Satan) has already been judged and has nothing on you anymore. Your sins have been defeated, so when you find that you have fallen, don't beat yourself up because God doesn't. Just get up and act like who you are!

[nChrist]

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

HEAVEN -- AND WHO WILL GO THERE
by C. R. Stam



    Most people are surprised when they learn that the Old Testament,though three times as large as the New, does not contain one single promise about going to heaven. God's people, in Old Testament times, looked forward to a glorified earth, with Messiah as its Ruler.

    This was so even when our Lord was on earth and continued to be so through Pentecost. Peter, addressing his kinsmen just after Pentecost, said in essence: "Repent, and God will send Jesus down here" (See Acts 3:19-20), but Paul, in his epistles, says by divine inspiration: "Believe, and God will take you up there."

    This apostle of grace teaches us that God has already given believers in Christ a position and "all spiritual blessings" in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 2:4-6; 1:3). And he teaches further that at the close of this dispensation of grace "the dead in Christ shall rise" and "we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together ...to meet the Lord... and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thes. 4:16,17).

    Thus it is that Paul, God's special apostle for our day, declares that "our conversation [or citizenship] is in heaven" (Phil. 3:20) and writes of "the hope which is laid up for you in heaven" (Col. 1:5). Thus it is that he encourages persecuted saints, saying:

    "Ye...took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing...that ye
    have in heaven a better and an enduring substance" (Heb. 10:34).
    And thus he writes even of death:

    "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were
    dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with
    hands, eternal in the heavens" (II Cor. 5:1).

    "...to die is gain....to depart and to be with Christ...is far
    better" (Phil. 1:21,23).