GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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The Apostle Of Grace
by Pastor C.  R. Stam


 The conversion of Saul of Tarsus was an amazing event. Saul loathed the very name of Christ. He blasphemed Him and caused others to be tortured so as to compel them to blaspheme that holy name. He led his nation and the world in rebellion against the resurrected, glorified Christ — the world which had already disowned and crucified the lowly Jesus.

 But as Saul went to Damascus, still “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1), God did a wonderful thing. Rather than crush the leader of the world’s rebellion, He saved him. Christ broke through the heavens, as it were, to speak words of pity to His greatest enemy on earth. As a result Saul’s rebellious spirit was broken and in one moment the pitiless persecutor became the docile, indeed the devoted follower of Christ.

 More than this, Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor, became Paul the Apostle. To him the glorified Lord committed “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2) and “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Now he went everywhere proclaiming grace, telling men how God loved them, how Christ had come into the world and had gone to Calvary to pay man’s debt of sin so that believing sinners might be saved.

 “The gospel of the grace of God,” found in Paul’s epistles, does not blame anyone for the death of Christ. Rather it presents the cross as good news. It declares that “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sin according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7). It says that “God hath concluded them all in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all” (Rom. 11:32) and that “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20).Thus the vilest sinner may believe and rejoice in the consciousness of sin forgiven.

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DUAL GIFT
By Miles Stanford


"To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:5).

When our testimony concerning His gift of freedom from the power of sin is as valid as our testimony to His gift of freedom from the penalty of sin, we will have matured. So long as there is only the first half, we are but babes, albeit full-grown.

"The Lord Jesus, you know, makes two offers to everyone. He offers to set us free from the penalty of our sin. And He offers to set us free from the power of our sin. Both of these offers are made on exactly the same terms: we can accept them only by letting Him do it all. Every believer has accepted the first offer. Many have not accepted the second offer. They mistakenly think that they must have some part in overcoming the power of their sin; that their efforts, their will, their determination, strengthened and helped by the Holy Spirit, is the way of victory." --C.T.

"All the powers of Deity which already wrought together in the accomplishment of the first part of the eternal purpose, the revealing of the Father's likeness in the man Christ Jesus, are equally engaged to accomplish the second part, and work that likeness in each of the Father's children." -A.M.

"Like Christ: the longer we meditate on that word, the more we realize how impossible it is without the other: In Christ. The outward likeness can only be the manifestation of a living, in-ward union. To do the same work as the Lord Jesus, I must have the same life. The more earnestly I take Him for my example, the more I am driven to Him as my Head, my Life. Only an inner life essentially like His, can lead us to a visible walk like His." -AM.

"As ye have, therefore, received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him" (Col. 2:6).

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WRONG SOURCE
By Miles Stanford



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

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

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

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

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

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GLORIOUS PROSPECT
by C. R. Stam


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

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

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

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

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The Lord's Prayer Dispensationally Considered
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler


       Scripture Reading:


“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.”
– Matthew 6:7,8



Religious leaders love to have their people recite the Lord’s Prayer. It’s been the religious thing to do for centuries. The Lord’s Prayer is one of the most beautiful, meaningful, and touching prayers in the Prophetic Scriptures, but those who recite it today are committing two major blunders. First, the Lord warned the disciples that they were not to pray this prayer, or any prayer for that matter, repetitiously (Matt. 6:5-7). Prayer is not a religious exercise, but rather communication with God; therefore, it should always be spoken from the heart. Second, the Disciples Prayer, which is the correct connotation for this prayer, was given as a model for those who would be called upon to endure the Tribulation. Since the Body of Christ is delivered from the wrath to come, this prayer does not apply to us in this dispensation (IThes. 5:9).

The Disciples’ Prayer


   Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. The reference here to “our Father” is to the God and Father of Israel — the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In prophecy, heaven was His throne and earth His footstool. His name was so holy that the Jews feared they might inadvertently speak it in vain, consequently they changed it from Yahweh to Adonai — Master, Ruler (Deut. 5:11; Isa. 66:1; Matt. 15:31; Luke 1:68 ).


   Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. The hope of every Israelite was the establishment of the Davidic Kingdom. God’s will for the earth is to overthrow the kingdoms of this world and establish the millennial kingdom of His dear Son(II Sam. 7:8-17; Luke 1:68-72; Rev. 11:15; 20:6).


   Give us this day our daily bread. In the future Tribulation, God will set a table in the wilderness for His people, as He did in time past. The saints in that day will find it necessary to pray for their daily provision of food, since they will be unable to buy or sell without the Mark of the Beast. Subsequently, God will super naturally nourish the chosen nation (Rev. 12:14 cf. Rev. 13:13-18 ).


   And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Today we are to forgive others, even as God for Christs sake has forgiven us, but under the kingdom gospel, forgiveness was based upon a like-spirit (Matt. 18:21-35 cf. Eph. 4:32).


   And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil [Gr. noun: evil one]. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. The sense here is, “Lord lead us not into the Great Tribulation, but deliver us from Satan, who brings death and destruction in his wake” (Rev. 6:7-11; 12:12; 13:1-10).

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INSPIRATION, WHAT IS IT?
by Russel S. Miller


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"SEARCH ME, O GOD"
By Miles Stanford


"I, the Lord, search the heart" (Jeremiah 17:10 ).

During the early, carnal years we are afraid to face up to the sinful nature within, not fully realizing that it was dealt with in condemnation to God's full satisfaction at Calvary. When we come to see that all the old nature was taken down into the death of the Cross, and in Christ Jesus we are completely clear of its penalty and power, then it is that we begin to welcome the work of the Cross upon all that of which the Holy Spirit convicts us.

"The natural man cannot bear the thought of being searched by God; he cannot stand to think of being found out in his true condition and character. But to the truly hungry believer it is a positive comfort to be assured that God knows everything about us; He knows the very worst that can be discovered. He has searched out all that we are, and in spite of all He has thoughts of blessing concerning us. There is, therefore, no fear of anything coming to light that might cause Him to change or reverse His thought of blessing and acceptance." - C.A.C.

"Our acceptance with God in Christ is perfect, and therefore unimprovable. It never alters; never varies. And it is very important for us not to mix the acceptance itself with our enjoyment of it. Our acceptance is 'in Christ,' and therefore eternal; the enjoyment is 'by the Spirit,' and therefore (because of the working of the flesh) often hindered." - J.B.S.

"The sense of His goodness removes the guile of heart that seeks to conceal its sin." - ].N.D.


"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11).

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OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE BIBLE
by C.  R. Stam

    There are four passages in the New Testament where adjectives are used to describe "the Word of God" and where we are informed of our responsibility toward it as such.

For example, in James 1:21 it is called the "engrafted" or "implanted" Word, and as such we are advised to "receive" it "with meekness" since it is "able to save [our] souls" The Word of God, indeed, does have a way of getting down underneath, of getting "under our skins," so to speak. It is not merely sown, it is planted into men's hearts and often makes them miserable as it convicts them of sin and of their need of salvation through Christ. When it does this, says the Apostle: "receive" it "with meekness" for it is "able to save your souls."

Then, in Titus 1:9, it is called "the faithful Word," and as such we are urged to "hold it fast." "God is not a man, that He should lie, neither the son of man, that He should repent." We can safely count on His Word and act upon it.

Next, in Philippians 2:16 the Bible is called "the Word of life," and as such we are to "hold it forth." The Word of God alone has power to regenerate and give spiritual life. St. Peter says that believers are "born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever" (I Pet. 1:23). Thus we should "hold it forth" to lost men as their only hope of eternal life.

Finally, in II Tim. 2:15 it is called "the Word of truth,"and as such we are told to "rightly divide it." If we fail to rightly divide it, we can change the truth into error, for God has not always dealt the same with mankind. Abel had to bring an animal sacrifice for salvation (Heb. 11:4). The children of Israel were told to "keep" the law "indeed" to find acceptance with God (Ex. 19:5,6). But later Paul declared by divine inspiration: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).

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FROM CONDEMNATION TO GLORY
By Pastor Marvin Duncan
"What Happens At Salvation"
Part 1 of  5



Something most Christians fail to recognize about their salvation is the extent to which God has gone to provide everything man needs to assure him of his place in God's eternal family. These activities take place simultaneously at the moment of salvation. These are not REWARDS to be gained following salvation and obtained by good works but every individual who is saved has every one of these blessings given to him by God's Grace at the moment he receives Jesus Christ as his personal LORD and SAVIOR.

FORGIVEN-Every son of Adam is a SINNER by nature as well as sinner by practice (Romans 5:12 & 3:2). The result of this Sin Nature is Spiritual Death (Separation from God) and Condemnation (Romans 1:18 &  Ephesians 2:1-2). A picture of the individual who has never received God's salvation is seen in Ephesians 2:11-13.

The first thing God does when an individual receives Jesus Christ as his personal Savior is to FORGIVE that individual of his sin. God can do this because of Christ's death on Calvary's Cross which paid for all sins.

MADE ALIVE - Another aspect of salvation is that God gives us LIFE. This life is the opposite of the Spiritual Death from which all believers have been saved (Ephesians 2:1). This life that we receive at salvation is actually Christ's Eternal Life for the Christian now has Life that will never end. This Eternal life assures us that we will forever be with Christ in heaven Romans 8:38-39).

MADE A NEW CREATION - In Second Corinthians 5:17 we read,
"THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE." This statement means that the Christian has become something different from what He was before his salvation. The natural man is a SOUL DOMINATED individual. That is, he is motivated and controlled by the desires of the body (flesh) and the things of this world. Upon salvation, that individual becomes a SPIRIT MOTIVATED individual. The SOUL is body and world conscious while the SPIRIT is God conscious. The SOUL is connected to the EMOTIONS; the SPIRIT is connected to the INTELLECT.

FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT - At the moment of Salvation God gives to each Believer the gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell in his BODY and witness to his SPIRIT concerning the things a Christian should do and how he is to walk pleasingly before God and Man.

We have several Scriptures that speak of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 5:18 we have the admonition not to be filled (controlled) with wine but to be filled (controlled) by the Holy Spirit.

First Corinthians 6:19 is even more explicit in speaking of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Here Paul challenges these Corinthians with this statement: "WHAT, KNOW YE NOT THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH IS IN YOU, WHICH YE HAVE OF GOD, AND YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN?"

The purpose of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to CONVICT US OF SIN and to INSTRUCT US IN THE WORD OF GOD. The Holy Spirit's presence in the Believer becomes the object of our next blessing.

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FROM CONDEMNATION TO GLORY
By Pastor Marvin Duncan
"What Happens At Salvation"
Part 2 of 5




SEALED - Seldom does the Christian consider this aspect of his salvation. Because God is a Jealous God, He does not want anything to happen to one of His redeemed. Therefore, the indwelling Holy Spirit becomes God's SEAL (Note Ephesians 1:13-14) and His EARNEST (His down payment) This SEALING is to PROVE that we belong to God and we have His SEAL within us. The Holy Spirit also becomes God's GUARANTEE that He will take us to Heaven to spend all eternity with Him there. Notice again Ephesians 1:14.

The purpose of a SEAL is to IDENTIFY something as belonging to the one whose seal is placed upon it. For example, when you place a postage stamp on a letter, that letter belongs to the Postal Service that issued the stamp and no one except the one to whom it is addressed may open it. The EARNEST is God's CLAIM that we belong to Him and that He will redeem His purchased possession when this age has run its course. This will happen when the Saints are caught up to meet our Lord in the clouds of the air (First Thessalonians 4: 14-17).


ADOPTED - The word ADOPTED simply means SON PLACING. We have the doctrine of Adoption spoken of in Galatians 4:1-3.

Being a SON means being in a position of INHERITANCE.  It is the SON who inherits the Father's estate. Jesus Christ is THE SON OF GOD. This means He is the One to inherit all that God the Father has - that is, all of God's creation (Note Colossians 1:5-19)

Not only has our Lord Jesus Christ been designated as the One to inherit all that God has created. But the Redeemed of God in this dispensation are also designated as SONS OF GOD and as JOINT HEIRS OF JESUS CHRIST (ROMANS 8:16-17).

The title "FIRST BORN" means that the one so designated is above all others in line of inheritance Jesus Christ, as "THE SON," -was NEVER BORN. It was only the HUMANITY of Jesus Christ that had its beginning with the physical birth recorded in the Gospel record (note again Luke 1:35). The DEITY of Jesus Christ always existed.

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FROM CONDEMNATION TO GLORY
By Pastor Marvin Duncan
"What Happens At Salvation"
Part 3 OF 5


THE NAMES OF GOD

In the Old Testament we have THREE NAMES designated to the creator God. These are: ELOHIM (translated in the King James Bible as GOD), JEHOVAH (translated in the KJ as LORD), AND ADONAI (translated in the KJ as Lord).

1) ELOHIM is a UNI-PLURAL noun formed by the word EL which means THE STRONG ALL SUFFICIENT ONE and ALAH which means TO SWEAR or TO BIND ONESELF WITH AN OATH, thus implying FAITHFULNESS.

In Genesis 1:26 we find the PLURALITY of God while in Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 3:22 we find the UNITY of God. Thus, the TRINITY is seen in the name ELOHIM.

ELOHIM is the One primarily associated with CREATION in the Old Testament, Genesis 1:1 is a good example of this.

2) JEHOVAH means THE SELF-EXISTING ONE but HAVAH, from which Jehovah is formed, also signifies "TO BECOME," that is to become known, thus pointing to a continuous and increasing self-revelation.

Jehovah is also the REDEMPTIVE name of God. We see this in Exodus 6:3. It was with Israel's deliverance from bondage in Egypt that we first find JEHOVAH being introduced as the ONE who would deliver His people out of
distress and trouble.

3) ADONAI means MASTER or OWNER. It is used both of God and of man. In the King James Bible it is translated "Lord" for God and "lord" when used for man. As applied to man, this word is used of two relationships: MASTER and HUSBAND. I Genesis 24:9, 10,12 "Master" may illustrate the former while Genesis 18:12, lord" the later.

B) In the NEW TESTAMENT we have three corresponding names in the Greek which equate exactly with the names in the Old Testament. These are: FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.

1) FATHER EQUATES TO ELOHIM and all the attributes of the Creator and THE STRONG ONE are given to THE FATHER.

2) SON equates to JEHOVAH for it is the Son who is the REDEEMER in the New Testament Scriptures. A close examination of the Word of God will reveal that it was JEHOVAH who became identified with man in the person of Jesus Christ. Thus, Jesus Christ is truly the Jehovah of the Old Testament manifest in human flesh.

3) HOLY SPIRIT equates with ADONAI

SEATED with Christ in the Heavenlies is one of the blessings we have as the Redeemed of God in this present dispensation ( See Ephesians 2:6).

The word "SIT" in this context, means to be placed on a seat of authority, that is, to REIGN with Christ in the Heavenlies.

One of the Scriptures that speaks of our REIGNING with Christ is seen in First Corinthians 6:3 . Here Paul speaks of the members of the Body of Christ sitting in judgment over Angels. When will this come to pass if not when we
are reigning with Christ in the Heavenlies?

RISEN TO NEWNESS OF LIFE. Romans chapter six speaks of our identification with Christ in His Death, Burial ad Resurrection We often think of the Resurrected Life as only that life we will experience throughout all eternity when the Soul and Spirit of the dead in Christ has been re-united with their Glorified Body. But this is not true. There is a RESURRECTED LIFE that is to be experience by God's redeemed while living this physical, earthly life.

Paul speaks of our being CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST (Romans 6:3). We know we were not literally nailed to the cross with Christ for we had not been born at that time. Yet, from, God's perspective, He sees us as having been nailed to the Cross by our identification with Christ. We are also seen as having died with Christ, having been buried with Him, and RAISED WITH HIM. Now, God expects all of his redeemed Saints to RECKON themselves to be dead to sin (Romans 6:11) so as not to yield their members to sin to commit the acts of sin. We are also to RECKON (as God does) that we are living as resurrected Saints who have been given NEWNESS OF LIFE (Rom. 6:4) after our death with Christ on Calvary.

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FROM CONDEMNATION TO GLORY
By Pastor Marvin Duncan
"What Happens At Salvation"
Part 4 of 5



Continuing with the subject of what happens at salvation, we find that we are COMMISSIONED TO BE AMBASSADORS. Second Corinthians 5:20 tells us that "WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST." This exalted position is for the purpose that we might speak in Christ's stead (with His authority), beseeching the unsaved to be reconciled to God.

1) RECONCILE means CHANGE, RECONCILIATION means to change from enmity to friendship.

Reconciliation is an act that God accomplishes in exercising His Grace toward sinful man on the grounds of the death of Christ. Men, in their sinful condition and alienation from God are invited to be reconciled to Him; that is to say, to change their attitude and accept the provision God has made whereby their sins can be remitted and they themselves be justified in His sight

Romans 5:10 expresses his in another way. In this verse we read: "FOR IF, WHILE WE WERE ENEMIES, WE WERE RECONCILED TO GOD THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON "The term, "ENEMIES" not only expresses man's hostile attitude to God but signifies that until this change of attitude takes place, men are under condemnation, exposed to God's wrath.

We must always remember that the enmity is on our part, not God's. Never will we find that God is reconciled to man; rather, it is man who needs to be reconciled to God. That is, man is the one who needs to have his enmity removed and change his attitude so that friendship can be restored between him and his Creator.

As Ambassadors for Christ, or ministry is to encourage others to receive God's forgiveness and salvation so that their natural enmity toward God can be changed to one of friendship and worship.

Let us keep in mind that God has not asked us to be SUCCESSFUL in our ministry for Him. He has only asked us TO BE FAITHFUL. We see this in First Corinthians 4:2.

BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS (Ephesians 1:3). One of the distinctive elements between this present dispensation and the former one is that of the blessings promised for each one. In the former dispensation all the blessings were physical and material. Israel was to be blessed in the Millennium by having abundant crops and an increase in the productivity of their hands, as well as extended life and no sickness (Isaiah 5:20-25; Ezekiel 36:29-30). All of Israel's blessings will be experienced on the earth and in a physical or material way.

The members of the Body of Christ live in a SPIRITUAL DISPENSATION. That is, everything about this dispensation is in the Spiritual realm. We have a SPIRITUAL SALVATION, A SPIRITUAL BAPTISM, and we walk by THE SPIRIT. We have no promises of any physical or material blessings in this earthly life for our hope for all eternity is to dwell in the heavenlies, reigning with Christ and being blessed with all the SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS that God can bestow upon one of His creatures.

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FROM CONDEMNATION TO GLORY
By Pastor Marvin Duncan
"What Happens At Salvation"
Part 5 OF 5



BECAUSE WE ARE SAVED, WE ARE:

1). ACCEPTED (Ephesians 1:6)

Because of our inherited SIN NATURE, we are, at birth, separated from God and outside His favor. Because of our position of being IN CHRIST, we have become ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED (One). This means we have been made as close to the Father as the Son is.

Nothing has changed as to our physical or moral condition from what. we were before we accepted Christ as our Savior. The only thing that has happened is that now we are IN CHRIST and from God's point of view, we have been made as RIGHTEOUS, as MORAL, as KIND and as LOVING as Christ is. It is because of what we have been made IN CHRIST that we have become ACCEPTABLE by the Father.

Being ACCEPTABLE means we have ACCESS to the Throne of God at any time without being personally invited to approach God. Being ACCEPTED means we will be HEARD when we speak to God. Being ACCEPTED means we will receive God's attention when we have any need or make any request of Him. Notice His promise to us in Ephesians 3:20. He will do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK.

2). BELOVED (Colossians 3:1).

Because we have been accepted in the BELOVED ONE, we also become BELOVED by being IN HIM. Notice that everything we have as the Saints of God is because of our being in Christ, not because of anything good in ourselves.

Being BELOVED means we are the "APPLE OF HIS EYE" and when He looks upon us, He is moved by His compassion and love to give us the BEST heaven contains.

The LOVE with which God loves us is a love that is motivated to GIVE to the object of that love the best that can be given for the beloved one's good. The kind of love we know as human beings is a selfish love that wants to GET from the one that is loved

3). CALLED (Romans 8:28 ).

To be CALLED means to be selected by name. God has selected us INDIVIDUALLY and has CALLED us ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.

[nChrist]

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FROM CONDEMNATION TO GLORY
By Pastor Marvin Duncan
"What Happens At Salvation"
CONCLUSION




In this Romans eight passage, we find there are FOUR THINGS involved in God's PURPOSE.



A. PREDESTINED.
B. CALLED.
C. JUSTIFICATION.
D. GLORIFICATION.

A) From the standpoint of PREDESTINATION, we find this word used twice in Paul's epistles. The first time is in Romans 8:29. Here we find the Holy Spirit tells us exactly what has been predetermined by God. That which was
predetermined was that the Saints would be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF GOD'S SON. This promise was made to the members of THE BODY OF CHRIST (God's Church of this dispensation of His Grace). Everyone who is saved in this dispensation are members of the Body of Christ and as such have been conformed to the image of God's Son ( Jesus Christ).

The second time this word is found is in Ephesians 1:5 where Paul speaks of the Saints of this dispensation being PREDESTINED unto the ADOPTION OF SONS.

This activity make each believer an HEIR in God's family and causes him to INHERIT all that God has created. By becoming a Son in God's family, we become JOINT - HEIRS with Christ (Romans 8:17).

b) The word JUSTIFIED means to be DECLARED RIGHTEOUS. The picture this word portrays is that of a Sinner who has been before the Throne of God, expecting to hear God's Judgment being poured out, but instead we hear God say, I declare this one to be RIGHTEOUS- just as righteous as My Son.

Some individuals would have us believe we can find the meaning of the word justified by saying it means being in the place I'd be in JUST AS IF'D I NEVER SINNED. This isn't true. To be in the position I'd be in IF I'D NEVER SINNED, leaves me INNOCENT but not RIGHTEOUS. Justification does more than leaving me innocent, it makes me

c) GLORIFICATION means to be made into the image of Christ in His PERFECTION. We will have the same glory that Christ will have as the Head of the Body of Christ. We will be LIKE CHRIST in His Resurrected Perfection.

CHANGED (Second Corinthians 5:17).

To be CHANGED means to become something completely different from what we were before the change took place. Several things are changed at the moment a son of Adam receives the salvation that is in Christ Jesus.

1. The son of Adam who receives God's salvation becomes a Son of God.

2. The son of Adam who receives the salvation that is in Christ Jesus is CHANGED into a NEW CREATION. That is, he is no longer a SINNER, but has become a SAINT.

[nChrist]

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ONE NEW MAN
By Jim Roberts
Associate Pastor
Peace Church - Indiahoma, OK

In the first chapter of the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul enumerates many of the spiritual blessings that believers possess today. Then he makes the glorious announcement that the Lord Jesus Christ now serves as the Head over all things to the Church which is His Body.

In Ephesians, Chapter 2, Paul reminds Gentile believers of two things that used to be the case in regard to their spiritual state. In addition to being at one time dead in trespasses and sins, Paul says that Gentiles were also aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise.

In response to our lethal state of sin, Paul concludes that God now makes us alive in Christ and has raised us up to sit in the heavenly places in Christ. In response to the fact that we were at one time strangers from Israel's covenants of promise, however, Paul does not conclude that we have now been made partakers in those covenants. On the contrary, Paul concludes that we have now been brought near to God apart from the covenants by the blood of Christ. Beginning in verse 11, we read:


Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:11-13)


Paul goes on to say that when Christ died on the cross, He abolished the law of commandments contained in ordinances. In other words, Christ abolished the rituals of the law which had caused such a wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles. When God instituted the temple worship at Mt. Sinai, He made it clear that no one could participate without being circumcised. Now Paul says that the shed blood of Christ has abolished that requirement. When Christ died on the cross, He fulfilled all of the righteous requirements of the Law and abolished the rituals of the Law which were but a shadow of things to come.

It is particularly interesting to note, however, that even though the rituals of the Law were abolished at the cross, they were practiced by the Jews all the way through the Acts period. In Acts 15, it is recorded that the Apostle Paul appeared before the Jerusalem church to discuss this very issue.

Paul declared before the elders in Jerusalem that God was saving uncircumcised Gentiles, and he maintained that it was not part of Gods plan or purpose for the Gentiles to be circumcised. The Jerusalem elders agreed and sent out a letter stating that the Gentiles would not be required to observe the rituals of the Law. Thus, the wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles was reinforced at this meeting. In Acts, Chapter 21, Paul was accused of teaching Jews that they did not have to observe the rituals of the Law, but since that was not the case, Paul agreed to go into the temple at Jerusalem and participate in some of the rituals of the Law.

Clearly, the rituals of the Law were very much a part of Israel's covenants, and they drove a wedge between the Jews and the Gentiles. This was true during the Old Testament times, and it was also true during the Acts period, as God offered Israel the New Covenant Kingdom.

The rituals of the Law, which had created this wall of separation, were abolished at the cross. However, it was not until Israel's covenants were set aside that Paul was free to reveal this monumental truth. In Ephesians 2 he said:

For (Christ) Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. (Eph. 2:14-16)


During the Acts period, the Gentiles were grafted into Israel's New Covenant hope (Romans 11:17). As a grafted branch, they maintained their own identity and yielded their own particular fruit. Therefore, the Gentiles could never be one with Israel under the terms of Israel's covenants (Romans 11:27). However, when Israel's covenants were temporarily set aside at the end of the Acts period, the Apostle Paul was free to announce the glorious truth concerning the Church which is the Body of Christ. Paul said that Christ had abolished the rituals of the Law at the cross so that He could create in Himself one new man in one body through the cross.

When we consider the overwhelming consequences of this revelation which was given through the Apostle Paul, we have to say with the apostle:

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph. 3:14-15, 21)