GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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APPREHENDED TO APPREHEND
By Miles Stanford




"I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord" (Phil. 3:8 ).

Positionally, our Father subjected our old nature to the Cross and its resultant death. Experientially, He applies the work of the Cross to our old life, thereby progressively holding it in the grip of that death. He is "unforming" the old nature in death, and conforming the new nature in life.

"Life more abundant requires that what He did for us shall be made good in us. In His Cross He dealt with our sins, and He also dealt with ourselves; but that is something which has to be made good progressively. It is as we ourselves are dealt with in the power of the Cross that the way is made for His life to express itself in ever deepening fulness.

"The fact is that it is the old life which is in the way of the new life and its full expression. It is the natural life which obstructs the course of the divine life. Thus what has been done for us has to be done in us, and as it is done in us that life becomes more than a deposit, more than a simple, though glorious possession; it becomes a deepening, growing power, a fulness of expression." - T. A-S.

"You may have been in the fires and have been having a pretty hard and painful time in your spiritual life, but that only means that God has been preparing you for something more. No, God is not a God who believes in bringing everything to an end. He is always after something more. And if He has to clear the way for something more by devastating methods (Cross), well, that is all right, for it is something more that He is after. There is so much more, far, far transcending all our asking or thinking."

"I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:12).

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THE LAW AND THE WRATH OF GOD
by C. Stam



Romans 4:15 clearly states that "the law worketh wrath," but so many people, it seems, do not wish to see this. Even some clergymen tell us that God gave the Law to help us to be good, when God Himself says the very opposite; that it was given to show us that we are bad and need a Savior.

"The law worketh wrath." Every criminal knows this and every sinner should know it, for the Bible has much to say on the subject. Rom. 3:19,20 declares that the Law was given "that every mouth may be stopped, and that all the world may be brought in guilty before God," and this passage goes on to say:

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

II Cor. 3:7,9 calls the Law "the ministration of condemnation" and "the ministration of death." Gal. 3:10 says that those who are "of the works of the law," i.e., who seek to make themselves acceptable to God by keeping the Law," are under a curse," because the Law can only condemn them.

Those who approach God, expecting eternal life in return for "good works" are offering Him their terms -- which He will never accept. God will not sell justification to those already under condemnation for sin. But He does offer sinners complete justification by grace because:

"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).

Thank God, those who trust in Christ, "having redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sin, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7), "being justified, freely by His [God's] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

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Grace Is Bigger Than Your Sins
by Steve McVey


One of the most amazing aspects of God's grace is the way it blows sin right off the map of our lives. Make no mistake about it - sin lost the battle with God and is now a nonentity as far as its ability to stop His purposes for the life of the Christian. Are there consequences for our sins? We have all seen that often to be the case. Do our sins disqualify us from being used by God? Not at all.

David committed a horrible sin when he slept with Bathsheba, but after they were married and God wanted the temple to be rebuilt it was her son, Solomon, that He used to accomplish that project.

Peter flatly denied that he even knew Jesus, but when it came time for the sermon to be preached on the day of Pentecost, he was the man who God used that day.

Abraham had his wife Sarah tell a king that she was his sister so that the king wouldn't kill him to have a chance to take her. Despite his horrible and cowardly sin, God reaffirmed His intention to make him the father of a great nation many times afterwards.

The list could go on and on. It's a strange thing to hear debate in the church today about who God can and can't use. The fact is that God can use anybody He wants to use. I learned this truth even before I understood the grace walk. Years ago someone asked me about a certain, flamboyant TV evangelist. "What do you think of him?" I was asked. "He's an idiot," I responded in my "I-haven't-learned-a-thing-about-grace" way that was all too common back then. The woman then went on to tell me how God had used that man's ministry to transform her life. "What do you think now?" she asked. Without hesitation, I answered, "I guess God uses idiots!"

While my response was far from graceful, it's true. God uses idiots. I should know. He used me despite my years of legalistic idiocy. God can use you too. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you might have done something that is so terrible that your Father can't redeem your past and use your life for His glory. He can use you and He will use you.

Jesus came to put away your sin and He fully succeeded at that. (See Hebrews 9:26) We need to stop worshipping our sins by focusing on them and glory in the finished work of the cross. God's grace is bigger than our sins and He will use our lives for His glory. Let's just trust Him to do it!

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THE TRUTH OF CHRIST
by C. R. Stam


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

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

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

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

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

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

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No Forwarding Address
by Steve Mc Vey

Sometimes people have the mistaken notion that grace plus faith equals a happy lifestyle at every moment. That's a dangerous doctrine because it forces those held captive by it to fake it even when life seems to be crumbling around them. To feel and act normally in devastating circumstances isn't an option for them because they have wrongly thought that faith means any situation we face can never knock us down and we certainly can't let ourselves admit negative feelings. That view stands in sharp contrast to the Apostle Paul's words about the way he felt during great times of trial. (See 2 Corinthians 1 :8-9 and 4:8-9)

Melanie and I recently endured one week of time in which we faced six different situations that threatened to forever change our lives in very painful ways. In fact, three of the situations involved health issues among family members that could lead to death. It was a week in which we felt like we were in living hell. It seemed like God had moved and forgot to leave a forwarding address with us. My prayers seemed to fall back on my head and I didn't want to talk to anybody.

Have you ever felt like that? Maybe you feel that way now. The climate of our world is certainly conducive to widespread personal problems in people's lives. Financial threats, health scares, and a general sense of instability in the world make these trying days for all of us at times.

If you find yourself in a situation like that right now, you can be assured of a few things that can help you if you'll believe them. First, know that you aren't abnormal. When we face our own trials, sometimes it seems like things are going well for everybody else and we wonder why it can't be that way for us. The reality is that you may not know what others are going through. You can be sure of one thing - you aren't unique in the fact that you're facing the troubles you have. God hasn't singled you out to bring down disaster on you. The rest of us are there at times too.

Secondly, you can know that your Father hasn't abandoned you. Even when heaven seems silent, God is with you. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit have placed you squarely in the center of their divine group hug and nothing can move you from that place. So when you don't feel it, at least choose to know it, because it's true.

Finally, know that your problem will ultimately pass. Things will change, either now or later. So, until they do, cling to Jesus and know that He is clinging to you and will not abandon you.

It's okay to feel emotionally low. Job did. (See Job 23:1-10) Paul did. (See the verses referenced above.) Even Jesus did. (See Luke 22:40-44) Just because you feel low doesn't mean your faith is low. Jesus is your Faith. So lean on Him and rest in His faith until the storm passes.

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"The Splendor of His Glory"
By R.H. Schaefer


If then, you were roused
together with Christ, be
seeking that Which is
above, where Christ is
sitting at the right hand of God.

Be disposed to that which is
above, not to that on the
earth, for you died, and
your life has been hid
together with Christ in God.

Whenever Christ, OUR LIFE,
should be manifested, then
you also will be manifested
together with Him in Glory
(Col. 3:1-4).


Oh! that we could think God's thoughts! That we could see the Christ as God sees Him! As a young man recently wrote me, "Men do not reject Christ, what they reject is our (meager) concepts (and presentation) of Christ."  Oh! that we could think God's thoughts as He sees us as having been awakened because of our encounter with His Christ. For seeing this our seeking would irresistibly be drawn to God's Christ and to the realm or His enthronement above. God has placed a "death" in our path by virtue of uniting us with our Savior in His death and with our Lord in His seating. The luster of this union pales all else besides. The most beautiful and attractive things on earth are but humble pointers of things above. The vast inner temple of life, that inner "secret hiding place" known to each of us and  to God,  is indeed "in spirit, His Temple" (Eph. 2: 22), and been kept inviolable and unprofaned as God's secret meeting place with us in Christ with Christ in Himself. All of  God's purpose for Creation is summed up briefly in this, that it all be made Christlike, or as Ephesians 1:10 aptly expresses it, "totaled up in Him," summed up in Him," "headed up in Him." Christ is the expression of what our life  is meant to be, Christ is the expression of what our life will yet be, hence the Colossian passage boldly expresses it, 'Christ OUR life."

The "appearing," or better, "manifestation" of our Lord is not a synonym for the parousia or presence, or: as the A. V. so frequently translates it, "coming."  The Second Epistle of Peter stresses the parousia while the first mentions the "manifestation." The temper of the two is quite different, the latter being identified with the Day of the Lord and of God (3:4, 10, 12) and the earlier with blessings (1 Pet. 1:7, 13, 20; 5:4), When the Colossian passage speaks of "whenever Christ ....  should be manifest" (Col. 3:4), of what is the text speaking? The A. V. translated "appear" rather than "manifest" but the latter is correct. The word used here (Greek (phanerothe from phaneroo) means simply "to bring to light, to view clearly, to see one as he is." This could be a mental viewing, or an actual comprehension of another in the fullness of his being. It is interesting that Peter in his second epistle (1:16-18 ) declares that he had  made known the power and presence (coming) of the Lord Jesus Christ,  i.e., His incarnation presence, but then he goes on to  speak of Mount of Transfiguration and the majesty seen there.

Peter had been in the "presence" of Christ for a number of years prior to the transfiguration where Christ is seen for the first time in the fullness of His being, garmented with light and His face shone like the sun--this was the manifestation that Paul saw on the Damascus road. 'The hope of the Body of Christ collectively an personally is epitomized and summarized in this wondrous Colossian passage:

Whenever Christ, OUR LIFE, should be manifested ...

whenever He is seen in the majesty and splendor of His being, what He really is in His fullness, then we see ourselves as God intends us to be. Surely that is the meaning of the rest of that Colossian passage:

... Then you also will be manifested together with Him ...

First John 2:28 and 3:2 shed some light upon the meaning of this word "appear" or "manifest." The first is used in conjunction with parousia:

If He is MANIFESTED we may have confidence and not be shamed from Him in the PRESENCE of Him.

'The second reference is self-explanatory as to the meaning of "appear" or "be manifest":

... and not yet was it MANIFESTED what we shall be, we know that if he (he? it?) is manifested like Him we shall be, BECAUSE WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS.

Subjectively, we are transformed only as we see Christ.

Now, in the written Word that speaks of His person and work, hence, "that  Christ might be completely at home in our hearts by faith (not by sight) .

Objectively, then we too are transformed:

...manifested 'TOGETHER with Him.

Oh, to think God's thoughts with Him, to see as He sees, the whole and not merely the part!

Then the Colossian passage adds:

IN GLORY

This is truly the substance, the reality of the Shekinah (Heb. shekhinah, the dwelling place). It was out of this glory that the heavenly voice spake on the holy mount (2 Pet. 1:17) and it is uniquely "'The Magnificent Glory." It was always God's plan that we bear the heavenly image; that was true in the very act of creation itself. God's ultimate purpose for Israel was that they make known to the nations the glory of God. ''To awaken in His likeness" was the hope of ages past. But from now on forward whenever Christ OUR LIFE is manifested (Oh! so intimate is our oneness with Him!) that the manifestation will automatically be a mutual one. And, it will be IN GLORY, at one, at home in the splendor of His glory, wherever that is and wherever it might yet be. e Our destiny will be one with Him forever.

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The Father Of Our Country And The Apostle To The Nations
by Pastor C.  R. Stam


      Millions highly honor George Washington as “the father of our country,” but how few know about Paul, God’s apostle to the nations!

Not Matthew, or Mark or Luke; not Peter or James or John, but Paul alone wrote:


“FOR I SPEAK TO YOU GENTILES (or, YOU OF THE NATIONS] INASMUCH AS I AM THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES [NATIONS]: I MAGNIFY MINE OFFICE” (Rom. 11:13).

And remember, Paul wrote this by divine inspiration. But note well that Paul did not magnify himself, but his office, to which he had been appointed by the glorified Lord. In defending his apostleship before the Galatians, he wrote:

“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
“For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:11,12).

In many other passages the Apostle claims to speak as a direct representative of Christ (See I Cor. 11:23; 15:3; Eph. 3:2,3; I Thes. 4:15; etc.). To Timothy Paul wrote in I Tim. 6:3-5 concerning his own writings:

“If any man teach OTHERWISE, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing…”

This could not demonstrate more emphatically Paul’s claim that his words were “the words of our Lord Jesus Christ,” received from Him by direct revelation. To the Corinthians, who questioned this, the Apostle wrote:

“…IF I COME AGAIN I WILL NOT SPARE, SINCE YE SEEK A PROOF OF CHRIST SPEAKING IN ME” (II Cor. 13:2,3).

The proof of this claim? This was overwhelming indeed, for Paul was used more than any other apostle to found churches and lead men into the knowledge and joy of salvation. To the Corinthian believers he wrote what he could have written to many thousands of others: “The seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord” (I Cor. 9:2).

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EPHESIANS 5:30
"For we are members of his body,
of his flesh, and of his bones."



GRACE AND THE BODY OF CHRIST
Pastor Robert Hanna

Having accepted the free gift of eternal life by grace through faith, we become members of the Body of Christ. The significance of this distinctive position is clearly defined in God's Word but seldom recognized or appreciated by the reader. Paul wrote to the Galatians, "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. For as many of you as have been baptized (Not by water, but by the Spirit-into His death) into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female for YE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS" (Galatians 3:26-28 ).


"And He (Christ) is the Head of the Body, the Church; who (Christ) is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18 ).

"For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many...Now ye are the Body of Christ, and members in particular (1 Corinthians 12:12-14,27).

To fail to realize our position as members of the Body of Christ, is to miss much of the joy of our salvation. "Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Eph. 4:7). "Rejoice evermore! For we are members of His Body of His flesh, and of His bones!"

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DOES GOD INTERVENE IN THE AFFAIRS OF MEN TODAY?
by Russell S. Miller


There is a teaching these days, that the Lord does not answer the prayers of His saints; that He is not interested, nor does He care about His people today, nor what they do. Since this age of grace is a timeless, signless age, it is argued that God does not intervene in the affairs of men today.

It is, of course, quite true that as far as tongues, signs, and miracles are concerned God has laid aside the Faith Healer in favor of dispensing "grace" through "faith" in this dispensation. But to say that God does not intervene today is in grave error.

The Apostle Paul, and those who have followed his ministry down through the centuries, would tell you that God is very much alive today, and that He is still on His throne.

God is looking for "faithful" men and women to equip for the ministry (I Cor. 4:1,2). Men whose one desire is to know the truth, and to make it known. Men who will not be drawn away by false doctrine, but who will point the saved, and unsaved alike, to the Scriptures, and the heavenly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the Pauline epistles.

"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ" (Eph. 3:9).

But this error, that the Lord has set the age of grace in motion, only to take His hand away, allowing us to drift without any moorings (Heb.6:19), is unthinkable of God.

That the conversion of Saul of Tarsus was an unexpected event in history as far as prophecy was concerned is obvious (Acts 9:1-6). It certainly took Paul by surprise. And the devil has not yet gotten over the shock of it. But what is most important about Paul's encounter with Christ is the fact that for 2000 years now, the Gospel of Grace has shined brightly in this dark world. In short, this is the greatest intervention of God into the affairs of men to date, when He physically appeared to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus (Acts 22:6-11). A surprise of grace that even the Prophets had not predicted (Col. 1:26).

Beloved, God intervenes in the affairs of men every time a sinner trusts Christ as his Saviour. Every time the Gospel is preached God intervenes to "edify" His saints; to save men and women, boys and girls, from sin's degradation - from a Christless eternity, and conform lives to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29; 12:1,2; Eph. 1:18; Phil. 3:10). And, by faith alone, to delivers us from this present evil world system (Gal. 1:4). Question: Are you ready for the next event in God's "mysterious" program, the "catching away" of His Church?

"And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, [who] delivers us from the wrath to come" (I Thes. 1:10).

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I HAVE SET THEE A WATCHMAN
by C. R. Stam



The Prophet Ezekiel was appointed by God as a "watchman" over the house of Israel (Ezek. 33:7). He was held responsible to warn the wicked from their way, for while God must deal justly with sin, He had declared: "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live" (Ver. 11).

If Ezekiel failed to warn the wicked, they would die in their sins, but their blood would nevertheless be required at his hand. If he faithfully warned them, however, and they refused to heed the warning, they would die in their sins, but he would be absolved of all responsibility (See Vers. 8,9).

Would some Christian reader remind us that we are living under another dispensation and that our message is one of grace? True enough, but this does not diminish, it increases our responsibility toward the lost.

If we believers carelessly allow the lost to go to Christless graves are we not morally responsible for their doom, and will we not be held accountable at the Judgment Seat of Christ? (See II Cor. 5:10,11). This is why we find Paul reminding the Ephesian elders that he had not ceased to warn men "night and day with tears" (Acts 20:31).

As the Apostle looked back over his ministry among the Ephesians he could say: "I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men" (Ver. 26). And this had been true of his ministry in general. Indeed, it was now his desire that, whatever the cost, he might finish his course with joy, and the ministry which he had received of the Lord Jesus, to testify "the gospel of the grace of God" (Ver. 24).

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"Gentiles and the Law"
Part 1 of 2
by Dr. Roland Icke



Romans 2:14-15 "For when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things contained in the law ... these are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts ... accusing or else excusing one another."

Though the conscience may be a guide, it can be deceived and become insensitive (seared) by sin (I Tim. 4:2). From the creation of the world, God clearly revealed His eternal power and Godhead, so that those who violated their own consciences were without excuse when they vainly imagined their own wisdom, worshipped creatures instead of the Creator, and were given up to their own vile affections (Psa. 19:1; Rom. 1:20-32). God remembers that we are but dust (Psa. 103:14). He promised a Redeemer and desires that no one should perish, but that all should come to repentance (Gen. 3:15; 2 Pet. 3:9).

Ephesians 2:11-12 "In time past, Gentiles ... were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world"

Redemption for Gentiles apart from the Law, was revealed later in due time (1 Cor. 2:7-8; 15:8 ).

Romans 5:12-14 "As by one man, sin entered into the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. For until the law, sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law, nevertheless sin reigned from Adam to Moses."

See also Genesis 2: 17; 3 :6-19, and Acts 17:30.

Galatians 3:8 "And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen [Gentiles] by faith, preached the gospel before to Abraham, saying, 'in thee shall all nations be blessed."

The law was added because of transgression, in the hands of a mediator (Gal. 3:19). God gave Moses the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, with details of more than 600 civil, ceremonial, and health laws in their other chapters and in Leviticus, for "the children of Israel."

"Because God loved them," He sovereignly chose Israel to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, and gave them the Sabbath as a perpetual covenant, a sign between God and the children of Israel, not Gentiles (Ex. 31:14-18; Rom. 2:14-15). All but the Fourth of the Ten Commandments continue as God's righteous standards for man's behavior, but impossible for sinful man to fulfill (Rom. 6:14; 7: 12-24; 1 Cor. 9:21). Jesus said that total love for God with heart, soul, and mind "is the first and great commandment." Love for neighbor as one's self is second and like unto it: "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matt. 5:48; 22:36-40).

James 2:10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

In mercy, God gave Israel "carnal ordinances" to be observed sincerely as a temporary atonement (covering) for man's failures (Lev. 17:11; Acts 22:17; Heb. 9:9-10). Instead of being the God-ordained witness to the Gentiles, observance of these ordinances became Israel's showpiece of "religious piety" (Rom. 9:31-33). Peter called the Law "an unbearable yoke" (Acts 15:10).

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"Gentiles and the Law"
Part 2 of 2
by Dr. Roland Icke



Paul called it "the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2).

Galatians 4:4-5 "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law."

Jesus said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matt. 15:24). He lived under the Mosaic Law and commanded His apostles to "obey the scribes and Pharisees, for they sit in Moses' seat" (Matt. 23:1-3).

John 1:17 "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

Romans 11:32 "For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all."

God determined "that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Gal. 3:13-14). This is accomplished without the deeds of the Law (Rom. 3:28; 1 Cor. 1:17; Gal. 3:2-3).

Romans 3:20 "For by the deeds of the law there shall be no flesh justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. "

"But now in Christ Jesus, you [Gentiles] who were formerly far off are made near by the blood of Christ ... having abolished ... the law of commandments contained in ordinances," all of which were "nailed to His cross" in triumph (Eph. 2:8-10,13-19; Col. 2:14-15, 20). The Law served its purpose, revealed our inability to meet God's perfect standard of righteousness, and acted as our schoolmaster to lead us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith (Gal. 3:24). "God shall justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision by faith," no one by the Law. "He is the God of the Jews and also of the Gentiles (Rom. 3 :28-31; 4:6).

Ephesians 1:22-23 "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body [the Church], and partakers of His promises in Christ by the gospel."

2 Corinthians 5:19 "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them ... "

The everlasting God commanded the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the previously secret (mystery) gospel for the salvation of all nations (Gentiles), for the obedience of faith (Rom. 16:25-26; 1 Cor. 2:7-8; 15:1-4). For God has "made Him [Christ] to be sin for us ... that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21 ).

Romans 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes."

He is "the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:2). We are to reckon that we died to sin, in Christ, when His blood paid our death penalty in full at Calvary (Rom. 6:1-14). The mighty power of God was wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead (1 Cor. 2:7-8; Eph. 1:19-20).

Galatians 2:20 "The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

"The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death," and given me a new life (Rom. 6:3-4, 11; 8:2-4).

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are you saved through faith and that ... is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast."

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

He asks that we believe the Gospel. Because of His great love, we should be motivated to serve Him even more diligently than we would merely by trying to obey His rigid laws (Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Eph. 2:4-10).

Romans 11:33 "0 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out."

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ENCOURAGEMENT  FROM THESSALONIANS



As I have been teaching through First Thessalonians, one concept, or thought, has continued to jump out at me. It is the thought of encouragement. It seems as if Paul is constantly encouraging them in one area, or another.

As we look at the historical context, we can see why. As Paul went to Macedonia to answer the Macedonian man's entreaty (Acts 16:9-10), he went from city to city teaching and proclaiming God's Word, the gospel, for the Body of Christ. In Acts 17:1, Paul and his cohorts arrive in Thessalonica. As his custom, Paul started out sharing in the synagogue. Jews, God-fearing Greeks, and some leading women responded to the message. The jealous Jews stirred up a mob to harm Paul and his helpers, or to run them out of town. Paul was then sent away by night.

I wonder about the believing Thessalonians who all remained in the city after Paul left town. If this was the Jews' reaction to Paul and his message, what was their reaction to those who believed and lived that message among them? Was their opposition as strong against their neighbors as it was against Paul? I tend to think it was.

There are a couple of verses that come to mind. The first verse is I Thessalonians 1:6, "having received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit." This verse clearly states that those receiving God's message were afflicted. They were not afflicted a little or some, but there was "much affliction" associated with following the risen Christ and his message for the Jew/Gentile church. It was no bed of roses for them to believe and follow Christ Jesus.

The next verse I want to look at is I Thess. 2:14, "For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God the ones being in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you suffered the same things by your own fellow countrymen just as they suffered by the Jews." This even more clearly states that the Thessalonian believers were suffering for their faith. They were being persecuted. Paul knows all about this as a former persecutor of the Lord's people himself. He was a Jew persecuting other Jews who believed that Jesus is the Messiah, or Christ.

Finally, in I Thess. 5:15, Paul writes, "You see someone does not repay evil in place of, or instead of, evil to anyone." Why would Paul say this unless they were being treated in an evil manner? He does not want the Thessalonian believers to sink to the level of those persecuting them. The natural man will use the same tactics as those who attack him. Even though they are being persecuted, God wants them to "pursue the good" toward believers and non-believers alike.

In light of this persecution and opposition, what do these people need? They, and we, need encouragement. As stated above, I believe this is a constant thread woven throughout this letter. The Greek verb we will be looking at is parakaleo.  This word is translated several ways, which include: to comfort; to encourage; to urge; and to exhort. My preferred translation is "to encourage," as I believe it best fits into all contexts. Paul uses this verb eight times in the book of I Thessalonians: 2:12; 3:2; 3:7; 4:1; 4:10; 4:18; 5:11; 5:14. Paul also uses the noun form of this verb once in I Thess. 2:3-4 where he talks about the source of his encouragement.

In 2:12, again, he deals with the motivation for his encouraging them in the Lord. In 3:2, Paul sent Timothy to encourage them on behalf of their faith and not to be troubled by Paul's afflictions. In 3:7, Paul relates how he is encouraged by the Thessalonians through their faith. Here we see that encouragement is reciprocal. Paul needed to be encouraged as well. It is interesting to see what encouraged Paul. It is the faith of other believers.

In 4:1, even though the Thessalonians know how to walk and please God, Paul encourages them to "abound more." In 4:10, even though they are loving one another, Paul encourages them to "abound more." God doesn't want us to rest on our laurels. God wants us to press on and grow in these areas.

In 4:18, Paul writes to encourage the Thessalonians about the dead in Christ and that they won't be left behind at the time of the resurrection. In 5:11, in light of what God has done for us through Christ as stated in the preceding verses, they, and we, need to encourage and build up one another. In 5:14, Paul encourages them to meet the spiritual and physical needs of those in the local assembly. So, here we have Paul encouraging them in a variety of areas. In each instance there is a need and the local believers are instructed to meet those needs.

As we have seen, there are many areas in which to encourage others and be encouraged ourselves. As you may know, we have an extensive camping ministry. What follows is an e-mail we received recently from one of our campers. I was greatly encouraged by it. I trust you will be, too. "My name is D. H. and I've been going to the horsemanship camp for around 6-7 years. I am now able to be a TIM (Teen In Ministry, which is our Counselor In Training program) and i would love to have the application to be one. This camp has helped me through some of the hardest years of my life, and I just wanted to be part of helping the kids and teens who go. It would be lovely to hear from you." This is one of the reasons I work here. Praise God for His work in this child's life!

May God bless you as you live for Him who died for you (2 Cor. 5:15).
By John Walker

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THE HAND OF GOD
By M. Stanford



"For this is thank worthy, if a man  for Conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God" (I Pet. 2:19, 20).

When self reacts correctly in a difficult situation, it can only result in the sin of self-righteousness. In order for Christ's righteousness to be manifested, the Holy Spirit must hold self inoperative by means of the Cross.

"Accustom yourself in everything that happens, to recognize the hand of the Father. Before you fix your thoughts on the person who did it, first be still, and remember, God allows me to come into this trouble to see if I shall glorify Him in it. This trial, be it the greatest or least, is allowed of God, and is His will concerning me. Let me first recognize and submit to God's will in it. Then in the rest of soul which this gives, I shall receive wisdom to know how to behave in it. With my eye turned from man to God, suffering wrong is not as hard as it seems.

"The Lord Jesus knew that His Father would care for His rights and honor. But he who lives in the visible, wants his honor to be vindicated at once here below. He who lives in the eternal, and as seeing the Invisible, is satisfied to leave the vindication of his rights and honor in God's hands; he knows that they are safe with Him. Giving one's all into God's keeping brings rest and peace." - A.M.

"When He suffered, He. . . committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously" (I Pet. 2:23).

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GLORIOUS CONSUMMATION
by C. R. Stam



In Eph. 1:9,10 Paul makes a statement regarding the mystery which has baffled many students of the Word:

"Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:

         "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him."

         This will be the glorious consummation of the mystery but we, of the dispensation of grace, are to show men and angels that true oneness is to be found only in Christ (Eph. 3:9-11).

The world knows nothing of this perfect oneness and, indeed, the Church does not experience it -- except in Christ. There is no true oneness anywhere -- in the world or in the Church -- except in Christ. We might illustrate this by two members of the body: our two arms. They hang from opposite sides of the body yet work together as one. But wherein lies their oneness? The answer is: In the head. It is the head which makes my arms and hands operate as one, and so our oneness as members of Christ's Body, is in Christ, the Head. It is the recognition of Christ as our Head, then, and this alone, that can make us one, experientially. Thus the Apostle says:

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5).

         Soon enough the Lord will take us out of this world and all those events will transpire which will finally bring in "the fulness of [the] times," when all in heaven and earth will be "gathered together in one... in Christ"! "What a day of rejoicing that will be"!