GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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THE GREATEST COMMISSION
By Pastor Joel Finck

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:9

In the last lesson, we saw that God has always had a commission for His people to carry out. Our commission today is not the one given to Noah, Abraham, or to the twelve apostles. Rather, we currently operate under the commission given to and through Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles. This commission is found in II Corinthians 5:14-21, and involves the ministry of reconciling men to the God who has already reconciled the world to Himself.

But as great as this responsibility is, there is a second part to our commission. This is stated by Paul in Ephesians 3:9, "And to make all men see what is the fellowship (Gk-"dispensation") of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." This was the burden on Paul's heart when he wrote to Timothy, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will (desires to) have all men saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (I Timothy 2:3, 4).

This is the pattern Paul followed at Corinth. When he first came into town, he says, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (I Cor. 2:2). But after men were saved, Paul continued on with the second part of his commission: "Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect...we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery" (I Cor. 2:6, 7). We must all do our part to bring the gospel of salvation to a lost and dying world. But let us not be content with only half a job; we must also proclaim the mystery to those who are saved!

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THE TRIUMPH OF FAITH
by C. R. Stam

    "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (I John 5:4).

There are many who look upon faith as an abstract sort of thing. Some suppose faith is merely looking on the bright side of things; to others it is will-power; still others confuse it with a person's view-point.

In the Bible, faith is simply believing God. "Faith" is the noun and "believe" the verb. This is seen in Rom. 4:5, where the Apostle Paul declares:

"To him that worketh not but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

The above passage from I John 5 also makes this plain,when seen in its context:

"This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

"Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" (Vers. 4,5).

It is, then, the believer in Christ, and only the believer in Christ, who can overcome the world. Unbelievers are swept away by the attractions and the pretentions of this world-system, but the believer in Christ need not be.

St. Paul declared by divine inspiration that unbelievers follow "the course of this world," directed by Satan, "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2).

We do not mean to imply that believers are not often tempted to follow "the course of this world." Indeed the world would sometimes entice or intimidate us, but "this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

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THE RICHES OF GOD
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 be began to prosper, and after a few years he invested in a lumber milling industry. It was not long after that until he owned more than one mill. This led him to expand into northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Before long he was very rich, 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, so wealthy had he become.

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

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures on 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 and steal" (Matt. 6:19,20).

The truest, most lasting riches of all are referred to in II Cor. 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).

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A GOOD SOLDIER
By DICK WARE, Pastor,



Scripture Reading: II Timothy 2:3, 4


The true Christian has three enemies: "the course of this world", "the prince of the power of the air", and "the lusts of our flesh" (Ephesians 2:2,3). None of these will ever give in to the new life or the new divine nature that the Christian has in Christ Jesus. We are in a war with these enemies as long as we are in these physical bodies. Many dear believers don't even know there is a battle going on (Galatians 5:17). What a shame! If there are no battles and no war, what do we need soldiers for?

Saul of Tarsus went from being the persecutor of the "Church of God", to being the persecuted Apostle Paul. The switch came about because of his salvation, and because of the "program of God's Grace" committed to him. The switch from the persecution of the Jerusalem Church and the Twelve Apostles, to the Apostle Paul and the Body of Christ, proves God's program of salvation was being changed. Members of the Body of Christ are in a warfare with the world, the flesh, and the devil. That is why Paul wrote to Timothy to "endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (II Timothy 2:3). Satan apposes the Gospel of Grace, but he doesn't have much of a problem with you, if you are already being conformed to this world system (Romans 12:2), and being defeated by your fleshly desires (Gal. 5:19-21). In fact, you are probably a good advertisement for Satan's cause. God's message to Timothy is also His message to you who are saved today. "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus!" "Be a good soldier of Jesus Christ!" "Don't be entangled with the affairs of this life!" Why? Because, the furtherance of the Gospel of Grace is at stake involving eternal souls being saved, and Christians being established in the Truth. By God's grace, may you not be found AWOL!

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WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED AT CALVARY?
by C. R. Stam


    If the Bible makes anything clear, it is the fact that the secret of all God's good news to men is centered in Calvary. It was because Christ was to die for sin that God could proclaim good news to sinners down through the ages.

It was not until some time after the crucifixion, however, that "the preaching of the cross" was widely proclaimed as a message by Paul in "the gospel [good news] of the grace of God" (I Cor. 1:18; Acts 20:24).

The proclamation of "the gospel of the grace of God" was the natural accompaniment to the revelation of the cross as the secret of God's good news to man. In this proclamation of His over-abounding grace to sinners, everything centers in the cross.

According to Paul's epistles "we have redemption through His [Christ's] blood" (Eph. 1:7), we are "justified by His blood" (Rom. 5:9), "reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Rom. 5:10), "made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph.2:13), and "made the righteousness of God in Him" because "God hath made Him to be sin for us" (II Cor. 5:21).

The "covenant" of the Law was abolished by the cross (Col. 2:14), the curse of the Law was removed by the cross (Gal. 3:13), the "middle wall of partition" was broken down by the cross (Eph. 2:14,15), and believers in Christ are "reconciled to God in one body by the cross" (Eph. 2:16). Little wonder Paul calls this message "the preaching of the cross"!

To the believers it is thrilling indeed, and how thankful we should be, to see the cross as God's reply to Satan when, at first glance, it had appeared that the cross was Satan's greatest triumph.

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HAVING DONE ALL


Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:13

When we come to the end of our tether in this life of struggle and strife, we have a lifeline to turn to - that is, if we are saved by the grace of God in Christ. As saints, we are assured that "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted [tested] above that ye are able; but will with the temptation [testing] also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13). Paul offers his personal testimony to this statement: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil 4:13).

Serving our Lord as His dear children, we are impelled by His enduring love. The apostle affirms, "The love of Christ constraineth us" (II Corinthians 5:14). When we come to the end of our endurance, there is but one source of energy available. Paul expresses it best: "I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong" (II Corinthians 12:10).

As we are faced with a dilemma, though our destiny is in God's hands, it is often difficult for us to reason in our own minds, where the solution lies. Paul reveals such an instance in his own experience. His desire was to pass on to his heavenly reward, but he was deeply burdened with his responsibility to his congregation of believers, to whom he wrote, "I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you" (Philippians 1:23,24). It remains with God to resolve the problem, Paul "having done all" (Ephesians 6:13).

FROM AMAZING GRACE

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RED LIKE CRIMSON
by Russell S. Miller

    "Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you" (Heb. 9:18-20).

There are three different Hebrew words for "crimson" in the Old Testament with 41 occurrences translated by four different English words in our King James Version of the Bible. Of these Hebrew words one is always rendered "crimson" in the English (II Chron. 2:7,14; 3:14). Another is rendered by "scarlet," "scarlet thread," and "crimson," in 35 passages. While the third Hebrew word is translated "worms" in Exodus 16:20, "like crimson" in Isaiah 1:18, and "scarlet" in Lamentations 4:5.

Another interesting Hebrew word, "worm," so rendered seven times, used of the color from it and of the cloths dyed therewith, is also translated "scarlet"twenty-nine times. Under the law, in David's day, a sacrifice was required for sin. The Psalmist, therefore, uses the same word in Psalm 22:6 to describe the Lord's sufferings on the cross as your sin, and mine, twisted and wrenched His body: "But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people" (Psa. 22:6). Not only was there the shame and disgrace associated with that accursed cross, but these words also speak of the writhing agony that His soul bore for the sin of the world (II Cor. 5:21).

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46).

The prophet Isaiah also described our Lord, and His appearance, as He suffered there for your sins and mine: "His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men" (Isa. 52:14). They "scourged" the Lord, and made Him carry that heavy wooden cross until He could no longer bear up under its weight. They drove spikes into His hands and feet and they "crucified"Him in "a place called Golgotha--a place of a skull" (Matt. 27:27-35).The Lord's words in John 15:25 could not have been more true; "They hated Me without a cause."Yet from that cruel cross, our Lord prayed, "Father, forgive them; forthey know not what they do" (Luke 23:34), and still the Father pleads:

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isa. 1:18 ).

In the revelation that was given to the Apostle Paul, he further confirms these things concerning the sufferings of Christ and His death on Calvary's cross: "For [God] hath made Him to be sin for us, [Christ] who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Cor.5:21).That "scarlet thread" (Jos. 2:18,21) that followed Joshua, and Israel, throughout their history answers to the blood-stained cross of Calvary, and we must also look to Jesus Christ, and Calvary's cross for salvation from sin today. The blood that flowed from the crown of His head, from His hands and feet, and from His side that was pierced with that spear, was NOT tainted with sin. The Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ, died, that day, to redeem the creature from his sins.

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Gal. 3:13).

"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 [God] might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom. 3:25,26).

Have you trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour? Won't you trust His finished work of redemption on your behalf? Won't you believe on Him who died for you on that cross to save you from your sin? Believe, and be saved, today.

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HEART TROUBLE
By late Pastor Win Johnson



The heart beats 2,500,000,000 times in a normal life span, but did you know that one out of every four who read this, will die of heart disease? Did you know that heart trouble causes twice as many deaths as cancer?

There is no quick cure for heart disease, though by doing only as much work as the heart can carry, many can lead a long and useful life.

Suppose you have a bad heart. How would you like to have a doctor who knows all about it, but never tells you? Instead he talks about your nice rosy cheeks and says you are the picture of health. How tragic to find out that you have been a victim of his deceiving flattery.

It is not a very pleasant task to tell people the truth about themselves. Often such candid information is deeply resented. However, as a minister of the Gospel, it is my duty before God to give you the facts about spiritual heart trouble which afflicts every human being born into this life. The Word of God says:

   1. "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately
     wicked" (Jer. 17:9).
    2. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil
    thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts,
    covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye,
    blasphemy, pride, foolishness; all these evil things come from
    within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:21-23).

This is God's diagnosis of every heart, yours and mine. But unlike physical heart trouble which may not always be cured, there is an unfailing remedy for this spiritual malady. It is found in the cleansing Blood of Christ. "In Whom we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). It is applied by faith. Has your heart trouble been cured?

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THE STARS OF MESSIAH'S REIGN
by C. R. Stam

    "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Dan. 12:3).

The day is coming when redeemed Israel and all the saints of the Old Testament times will taste the joy of Messiah's glorious reign. But some -- the wise -- will be honored more than others and will shine in that day as the stars of the firmament.

Who are these "wise" ones? Our text answers: "They that turn many to righteousness". Not those who merely knew all the technicalities of the prophetic program, but remained unmoved, but those who, understanding the prophetic plan and recognizing that God must judge sin, did something about it and labored to turn many to righteousness.

These will be the stars of Messiah's reign.

What a lesson this passage holds for us who have trusted Christ as our Saviour in this present "dispensation of grace"!

When we stand before the Lord, all saved by His abundant grace, not all will be equally honored. Outshining the rest will be "the wise", who, understanding God's message and program of grace and, "buying up the time because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:16), URGED THE LOST TO ACCEPT "the gift of righteousness" by faith in Christ. Of these we may well say by way of adaption:

"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

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THE GOSPEL THAT PAUL PREACHED
by Russell S. Miller



"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein " stand;
"By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
"And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (ICor.15:1-4).

Do you recall that during our Lord's earthly ministry, and the announcements of His approaching crucifixion (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33,34), that His disciples didn't comprehend a thing He had said to them about His impending death (Mark 8:32; 9:32;10:35)?

"And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken" (Luke 18:34).

But it is suggested by some that the words of Christ in Luke 24:25-27 show that our Lord there revealed what He actually accomplished at Calvary. If the Lord had revealed to his disciples that "Christ Died For Our Sins" as He later revealed to the Apostle Paul, this would surely have been the good news that Peter and John would have preached on Pentecost. Instead we find Paul using the personal pronoun "I" in I Corinthians 15:1-4 regarding "the gospel" which he had "received" of the Lord Jesus, and "declared" and "preached" and "delivered," to the Corinthians, and to us.

In early Acts the Apostle Peter had only known, and preached, the resurrection of Christ to sit upon the throne of David's prophesied kingdom. He did not know what the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ had accomplished, nor did Peter preach Paul's gospel at Pentecost. He rather called upon Israel to "repent" of their wickedness in the crucifixion of Christ and submit to water baptism "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:22-31, 38; 3:22,23). Clearly, at Pentecost, the disciples of our Lord did not know what the cross of Calvary meant; else they would have preached it from the housetops!

On the contrary, God raised up the Apostle Paul for the specific purpose of proclaiming Paul's gospel for the obedience of all peoples today (Rom. 16:25,26). And all this, beloved, though first revealed to Paul, is consistent with Paul's words in Romans and Corinthians and Colossians that Christ's death, burial and resurrection was "according to the Scriptures" (I Cor. 15:3,4).

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THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY; PAST OR FUTURE?
by C. R. Stam


    Did our Lord actually ride in triumph into Jerusalem to become King of the Church? Or is His true triumph still to come?

True, the towns people cried: "Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord" (John 12:12,13). But Jesus responded by entering the city, riding "an ass's colt" (Verses 14,15). Surely this was not a very regal sight! Once before, when He knew that they "would come and take Him by force to make Him a King, He departed...into a mountain Himself alone" (John 6:15).

He knew that it was not yet time for Him to reign. First must come the cross, then the throne. Zechariah had prophesied of this entry into Jerusalem, saying: "Behold thy King!" Look at Him! and then he describes His entrance: "Lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass" (Zech. 9:9).

At this entry, "When He was come near, He be held the city, and wept over it" (Luke 19:41). At this entry He entered into the temple, looked about and went out again (Mark 11:11). It was His Father's house, but He could not worship there. It had become a den of thieves. No, this was no triumphal entry. Look at Him, meek, lowly, riding on an ass's colt, and then see Him coming again as Revelation 19:11-16 describes it. How different the symbolism!

Once meek, lowly, and "having salvation." Now, "in righteousness doth He judge and make war." Once, riding "an ass's colt." Now, "Behold! a white horse!" And those eyes, once filled with tears are now "as a flame of fire."

Our Lord's true triumphal entry is still future. According to prophecy He will come again, put down all rebellion against Himself, and reign in glory and power. Thank God He has not yet done so! In love He still points to Calvary, where He died for our sin and offers us the riches of His grace.

"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4:25).

NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR US THE BODY

Grace be to you and peace
Though days be dark about us.
God’s working out His plan
All enemies regardless.

We know that Bethlehem’s Babe
Once crucified, is risen
And seated now above,
At God’s right hand in heaven.

And soon He’ll come again
His loved ones to deliver.
We’ll share His glory then
Forever and Forever.

So while we watch and wait
O, may His love constraining
Help us to live for Him
In all the hours remaining.

– C.R.S.

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THE DAY OF THE LORD
Richard Mazek, Bible Teacher



1 THESSALONIANS 5:2,3
"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as
travail up a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


There are four key days that are proclaimed in the Word of God These days do not refer to literal twenty- four days, but rather to varying periods of time. Let us take a look at these four days in their proper order.

First of all, THE DAY OF MAN (1 Cor. 4:3)-- This Day began (we believe) with the fall of man ~ continues to be in effect even to the present day. It is marked by the government of man as it progressively becomes more ripe for judgment. This Day will culminate with ....

THE DAY OF CHRIST (1 Cor. 15:51, 52)-- This Day refers to the Rapture or home-coming of the Body of Christ. The judgment Seat of Christ is also included in this Day. The transpiring of this Day will usher in....

THE DAY OF THE LORD (1 THESS. 5:2,3)-- This Day speaks to us of God's Judgment and Justice being dispensed, first upon Israel, and then upon the Gentiles. This day begins immediately after the Rapture and continues on through the seventieth week of Daniel (the Tribulation). During this time we find Jehovah-God dealing basically with Israel (Jacob's Trouble) under Judgment until the Revelation (Second Coming) of her Messiah.

THE DAY OF THE LORD does not end here but rather continues on through the Millennium (2 Peter 3:10) as God deals with mankind as a whole, under the rod of justice and judgment. With this in mind it would seem that the Day of the Lord would also include the "Great White Throne Judgment. "

Finally we come to THE DAY OF GOD (2 Peter 3:12,13) -- This Blessed Day coincides with the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times (Eph 1:10) and has to do with the New Heavens and the New Earth, or the eternal state.

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THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
by Russell S. Miller


"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14).

What does the world have to offer you, my friend? Does its "glamour" charm you? Are the politics of this world really bringing in the peaceful reign of Christ? Will the United Nations actually achieve righteousness? Or our leaders, in seeking to run the world without Christ, will they actually win these wars against terrorism? The blood that has been shed upon this earth, all seemingly in vain, has not yet brought about peace and righteousness. And sadly, we're discovering that the world is just that much closer than it has ever been before to the awful reign of anti-Christ.

If we would truly "win" in this world, and not lose, we shall have to follow the Apostle Paul, and his ministry, as he followed Christ. And then we shall be able to say with Paul, "what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Phil. 3:7,8 ).

It is not until we put away our so-called "good works," and trust Jesus Christ alone and His redemptive work on the cross of Calvary that we shall truly be on the "WINNING" team. As Paul goes on to say:

"And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith (fathfulness) of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith"(Phil. 3:9).

This is the kind of "gain" that the world, the flesh, and the devil cannot destroy. And because "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" are found in Jesus Christ (Col. 2:3),the Apostle Paul rejoiced in what Christ accomplished in the cross:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; YET NOT I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I LIVE BY THE FAITH of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

The One who rose to power, our wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, has done so "through the blood of His cross," and He "ever liveth to make intercession for us" (Col. 1:20; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25).

"IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE" (Eph. 1:7).

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GRACE ABOUNDING
by C. R. Stam



In a letter to his spiritual son, Timothy, Paul wrote, some 1900 years ago, about his conversion:

"I 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..." (I Tim.1:13,14).

And he follows this with the now-famous declaration:

"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" (Ver 15).

Upon reading this statement by Paul, those who know their Bibles will immediately recall the words of Rom. 5:20,21:

"...the law entered, that the offence might abound, BUT WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND; THAT AS SIN HATH REIGNED... SO MIGHT GRACE REIGN..."

These two passages from the pen of Paul have a closer connection than may appear on the surface. The Apostle Paul, once Saul of Tarsus, had led his nation and the world in rebellion against Christ. "As for Saul," we read in Acts 8:3, "he made havoc of the church," and he himself testified to the Galatians: "Ye have heard... how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and laid it waste" (Gal. 1:13).

Yet God, in infinite mercy, had saved Saul, not only for Saul's own sake, but to make him the living demonstration of His grace. Thus in writing to Timothy, the Apostle goes on to explain:

"Howbeit, FOR THIS CAUSE I OBTAINED MERCY, THAT IN ME FIRST JESUS CHRIST MIGHT SHOW FORTH ALL LONGSUFFERING, FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM TO LIFE EVERLASTING" (I Tim. 1:16).

Let us, then, take our places with Saul, the sinner, and find salvation by grace through Christ, the Savior. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

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"SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE"
by Russell S. Miller




    "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ:

"From whom the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Eph. 4:15,16).

Surely by now you have noticed that people get upset and offended whenever anyone wants to share the Love of God. They do not want to hear that they are sinners in desperate need of the Saviour. Even Christian people naturally get offended when the truth is not spoken in love. But the unsaved will justify themselves with all kinds of excuses to evade this important truth that, if believed, would save their soul from an eternal loss.

"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (I Cor. 1:21).

The devil is very clever and knows how to "get an advantage of us" and keep precious souls from seeing "the light of the glorious gospel of Christ" (II Cor. 2:11; 4:4). Satan would "blind" those who do not believe from seeing their need of salvation and damn their souls to an eternal hell.

So we must walk "in love" toward the unsaved, for God places a very high value upon mankind, and He is not willing that any should perish. And because we are of "eternal worth"to Him, He sent His "only begotten Son" into this world to pay the full penalty of our sins, Himself, at the extreme cost of His own life's blood (Rom. 8:31-34). Because of Calvary, therefore, and by faith in Jesus Christ, we may also now walk in the light of His Word. Why else would God have sent "His own Son" into this sin cursed world to die on a cruel cross for our sins?

"HE THAT SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON, BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR US ALL, HOW SHALL HE NOT WITH HIM ALSO FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?" (Romans 8:32).

The Love of God had no bounds at Calvary, as His wrath upon sin was poured out upon Christ. Shouldn't we, then, in love, be showing people from the Bible the Love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord? It is what Christ did on the cross that God accepts (Rom. 3:25), and as we accept Christ's redemptive work on our behalf (Eph. 2:8,9), God "accepts"us (Eph. 1:6). It is not our "good works," then, but "faith" alone in the Lord Jesus Christ that saves from sin and hell and the Lake of fire. It is a matter of whether or not we believe what God has said in His Word about Jesus Christ. Do you believe the truth of the Word of God or do you still believe the devil's lies? God loves us, each and every one of us, with an everlasting love, an eternal love. How MUCH He loves us:

"BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US" (Rom. 5:8 ).

"BE YE THEREFORE FOLLOWERS OF GOD, AS DEAR CHILDREN; AND WALK IN LOVE, AS CHRIST ALSO HATH LOVED US, AND HATH GIVEN HIMSELF FOR US AN OFFERING AND A SACRIFICE TO GOD FOR A SWEET SMELLING SAVOUR" (Eph. 5:1,2).