GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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JEW AND GENTILE ON SAME LEVEL
DICK WARE, Pastor


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

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

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

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

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"A TRUE VETERAN"
by C. R. Stam


Before you have placed your trust in Christ as your Lord and Savior, there is nothing whatever you can do to please God or to gain acceptance with Him. John 3:35 declares that "the Father loves the Son" and cares what you think about Him and do with Him. This is why Verse 36 goes on to say:

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him."

But once you have received Christ as your Savior and Lord there is much you can do to please God. You can witness to His saving grace, you can please Him by living a godly life, you can work for Him, you can sacrifice of your means to further His cause, and yes, you can fight for Him. "Fight for Him" you say? Yes indeed, for this world system, our Adamic natures and Satan and his hosts, are all antagonistic toward the Christ who died for our sins. Satan’s forces, especially, work behind the scenes to "blind the minds of them that believe not" (II Cor. 4:4). These fallen angels, we read, are "the rulers of the darkness of this world" (Eph. 6:12).

This is why God urges His children to be "strong in the Lord," putting on "the whole armor of God," so as to meet and defeat these evil forces (Vers. 10,11). This is why He puts a sword ("the Word of God") into our hands and bids us "stand... stand... stand!" (Vers. 11-14).

Ah, but a great veteran, who waged many battles in making Christ known to the lost, gives us an inkling of the thrill that goes with being "a good soldier of Jesus Christ." In his last words, just before his execution, the Apostle Paul declared triumphantly: "I have fought a good fight!" (II Tim. 4:7). It was indeed "a good fight" in which he had been engaged, a fight to bring light and salvation and blessing to benighted souls. And the reward:

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown" (Ver. 8.).

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THE TRANSFORMING GRACE OF GOD
Part One of Three
By Pastor James Gray


Paul knew the secret of living the Christian life. He knew that if believers were to live sensible, be examples of good works, purity, and adorn the doctrine of God, it would come not by the Law. It would take the Grace of God. Grace is the basis and motivation of Christian living. It is the transforming power of our salvation. All the previously mentioned transformations in Titus 2:1-10 are the products of Grace. Grace is the reason we can be all we are meant to be.

GRACE HAS APPEARED.

The Christian life is possible because the Grace of God "has appeared." The word appeared is the Greek word epiphane, meaning became visible, appearance, manifestation. It is an emphatic aorist indicative, stressing grace as a historical actuality. The grace of God has entered upon the stage of history. It is observed in three ways:

First, grace is seen in historical redemptive acts. Throughout history God has displayed His grace. It is seen in the garden, in that physical death was not instantaneous, but rather the grace of God made provision for sinful man. Noah found grace, and was spared the judgment of the flood. The nation Israel was founded upon grace. This nation was not chosen because it was numerous, nor because of its power, but simply by His grace. The redemptive acts throughout the history of this nation are a visible display of His grace.

Second, the greatest visible manifestation of God's grace is seen in the sending of His Son. Christ was the Grace of God embodied. In fact, the Greek word epiphane is where we get our word epiphany, which means the revelatory manifestation of divine being. God revealed Himself in and through His Son. Christ was God incarnate. He was the embodiment of Grace. Christ is the clearest manifestation of grace available to man. He who "existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Phil. 2:6-8, NASV). That is Grace! No wonder the gospel writer declares that during the incarnation they beheld His glory, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The incarnate Christ was grace and truth manifested in flesh; the historical appearance of God's grace. Leon Morris is correct when writing that "nowhere do we see more clearly what the grace of God means than in the Word made flesh" (John 1:14).

Third, the Grace of God is historically manifested on a personal level at the point of our personal salvation. At the moment of our salvation God's grace is manifested and applied to us on an individual level. "For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves. it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8.). The transforming power of God's grace is still being manifested. This transforming power begins at the point of salvation.

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THE TRANSFORMING GRACE OF GOD
Part Two of Three
By Pastor James Gray




GRACE BROUGHT SALVATION.

The reason for the historical appearances of grace was to bring salvation. That is the goal of grace. God has manifested His grace into order to bring salvation to all men. It is redemptive in purpose.

Bible students are divided on what the phrase "to all men" is to be coupled with, the "hath appeared," or with the ''bringing of salvation." It seems that it should be connected with the bringing of salvation to all men. This is the most natural reading of the Greek text. The literal reading of the Greek text is "For appeared the grace of God which brings salvation for all men." The phrase is a dative in the Greek and thus suggests the scope of salvation. It describes the universality of God's grace that brings salvation. It is for all men. Grace makes salvation available to all, regardless of age, race, sex, position, or circumstances.

It is important to note that this widespread scope does NOT mean universality of application. Salvation is available to all, but its saving effect is dependent on personal application to oneself by faith. "By grace are ye saved through faith." The Grace of God is the source of our salvation, but faith is the channel. Faith is the channel that permits saving grace to flow into our lives. Grace makes all men savable, but faith is the element that actualizes salvation in individuals. The imperative of grace is to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved" (Acts 16:31).

GRACE TRAINS US.

To this point the Apostle Paul has centered upon what grace has done. Now the Apostle centers upon what Grace does. The verb tense changes from past to present tense, thus the word teaching or instructing. It is an action that is going on now. The Grace of God is continual in the life of the believer. Notice Paul designates the recipients of this instruction as "us," those who have personally accepted by faith His salvation by grace. Once grace starts flowing by salvation through faith, it continues to flow to train us in holiness.

The student should notice carefully that it is not the Law that is active today in training us. Paul in the epistles makes it very clear that the Law, although holy and good, is powerless to change us. Its purpose was to reveal the knowledge of sin (Galatians 3:19), to reveal our guilt before God (Romans 3:19), and to lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). However it could not and cannot justify us before God (Romans 3:20,28.). The Law made nothing perfect (Hebrews 7:19). Just as the Law cannot justify, it cannot sanctify, the reason is that it is "weak through the flesh" Romans 8:3). Believers in this age of grace are not under the Law (Romans 6:14). When will we as believers learn the truths that the Apostle Paul gives to the church? That Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness (Romans 10:4). Too many believers today are like the Galatians who think that having begun in the spirit, they can now be made perfect by the Law (Galatians 3:1-4). C.R. Stam is absolutely correct when writing, "Efforts to keep the Law will never establish one's righteousness; rather they will establish his unrighteousness."

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THE TRANSFORMING GRACE OF GOD
Part Three of Three
By Pastor James Gray



Today it is Grace that trains us. The word instructing is the Greek verb paideuo, and actually means to train a child, to bring up a child. It is the training process. Grace schools believers in holiness. The Grace of God does not stop with salvation, but is active and continuously operates. It offers not only the escape from condemnation, but aims toward the goal of transforming our character. It is the operating principle in the life of believers which educates us to be what God wants us to be. The aim of this educative process is clearly stated in typical Pauline fashion, both negatively and positively.

Negatively, it trains us to deny "ungodliness and worldly lust." The word deny is ameomai meaning abrogate, renounce or forsake. It is also interesting that this word is found not in the present tense as one would expect, but the aroist tense. D. Edmond Hiebert tells us that,

The aorist participle indicates that grace aims to lead the believer to the place whereas a definite act he will voluntarily make a double renunciation of the past ("Titus," The Expositor's Bible Commentary, 11:440).

Thus, it seems that Grace training is deeper than the Law. It acts upon the will, not just the mind. The Law can teach mentally what is right or wrong, but it could not change the heart or the will of man. Grace changes the motive of man, not just the mind of man. When one correctly understands the Grace of God it will transform him. He will come to the place where he will deny ungodliness (the irreverence of the old life), and worldly lust (passions characteristic of the world). He will live on a higher plane.

Positively, it will train us to "live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." This is the highest plane. Again the word live is in the aroist tense. Hiebert makes the observation that:

Live may mean "come to live" but more probably means that our entire course of life should be consistently characterized by three qualities (stated as adverbs). In the original these adverbs stand emphatically before the verb ).

First, we are to live on the plane of being sober-minded. The Greek word, sophronos, has already been found in various forms in the epistle (2:2, 3, 5, 6). It describes one whose mind is well balanced; the balanced mind set. It means self-controlled. Grace trains us to control the inward attitude.

Second, we are to live on the plane of righteousness. The Greek word is dikaios, which signifies being just, without prejudice or partiality. It describes how we are to live outwardly, in faithfulness to the demands of truth and justice in relation to others.

Third, we are to live on the plane of being godly. This is the Greek word eusebos, denoting pious, devout, reverently. This speaks of our upward attitude toward God, being devoted to God in reverence and obedience.

This training is not futuristic, but for "this present age." These characteristics are to be present now. Grace not only instructs, but transforms us to live on this plane here and now. Believers are to rise to the higher elevation of Grace. Grace has appeared to transform us into all God intended us to be, and elevates us to the highest plane.

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THE APOSTLE OF GRACE
by Russell S. Miller


    "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities" (II Cor. 12:4,5).

When the world was ripe for the judgment of God to fall upon it, the Lord Jesus Christ in mercy and grace reached down to save "the chief of sinners," and in so doing God "shewed forth all longsuffering" to a lost and dying world.

"And [Saul] trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6).

It is most touching, after being caught up to the third heaven (II Cor. 12:1-7), that this once proud Pharisee should speak most humbly of the Christ who had saved him from such an eternal loss, making him "the Apostle of grace." In a number of passages Paul speaks with such gratitude of the matchless grace of God and his own unworthiness:

"For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

"And profited in the Jews religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers" (Gal. 1:13,14).

"For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (I Cor. 15:9,10).

In Ephesians 3:7, the Apostle tells us that he is "made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God, given unto me by the effectual working of His power.

"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:8.).

And Paul's apostleship is further confirmed in I Timothy 2:7:

"Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity."

The theme of Paul's epistles is "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 1:2). This is why Paul is "the Apostle of grace."

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GOD’S JUST JUDGMENTS
by C. R. Stam



"We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth..."

The first 15 verses of Romans 2 always make me think of our Lord’s dealings with the rich young ruler of Luke 18:18,19. "Good Master," the ruler had said, "what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

The Lord answered in effect: "Why do you call Me good? There is none good but God, so if I am good I must be God. But do you want to know what to do to inherit eternal life? Simply obey the Law, the Ten Commandments."

Our Lord, of course, was trying to show the young man that it was impossible to earn salvation by doing good. To keep the Law was impossible for any child of fallen Adam, and breaking the Law could only bring condemnation. Now this absolute justice is the basis for the believer’s confidence in God.

It is wonderful to know that God does not merely pity sinners and smuggle them into heaven if they are sorry. If He did, someone in heaven could point an accusing finger at this writer and say: "What, you here!" Thank God, He has rather taken us before the bar of justice, pronouncing us guilty, but has stepped down, as it were, to pay the penalty for our sins Himself, then justly declaring us righteous! This is why salvation, in Scripture, is based upon Christ’s payment of our just debt. This is why Rom. 3:24 declares that believers are "justified freely, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 5:21).

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ONE THING
by C. R. Stam




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Be On Your Guard!
By R.B. Shiflet

One of the strongest appeals that the Apostle Paul makes to believers is that found in Colossians 2:4-23, in which he warns us against letting Satan capture our minds. This section of the epistle is bounded on either side by the word "hid," and its key message is the fulness of Christ as the only answer to the emptiness of human reasoning. Note how in verse 3 he refers to Christ, "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," and in chapter 3, verse 3, he says to us as believers, "ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Between these passages that tell us that all true wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ and that our own lives are also hidden in Him, he calls attention to (1) The Purpose of our Enemy, (2) The Plan of our Enemy, and (3) The Protection Against our Enemy.

The Purpose of Our Enemy

The aim of our foe is stated in Colossians 2:8: "Beware lest any man spoil you." The term "spoil" means to "rob," or to "make a prey" of, or to take one captive. It is obvious that a loose hold on the truth of our fulness in Christ will make one an easy victim to this method of deception. Just as surely as the truth makes free, error genders to bondage. One who fails to see the truth of our completeness in Christ and His fulness does not have a balanced view of truth and can be easily led astray.

It is interesting to note the bait that Satan uses to reason aside the weak brother that he takes into captivity. For the carnal believer, such as those at Corinth, he uses the coarse appeals of the flesh with all of its lusts. But for the "spiritual" Christian who still has an unbalanced view of truth, he may use a "spiritual" bait—as is suggested in Colossians 2:18. This may come in the form of "visions," superior claims to holy living, or any effort to attain spiritual progress through fleshly efforts or wisdom.

The Plan of Our Enemy

The enemy usually lures us aside through an emphasis on an empty, deceitful kind of wisdom. He bases this, according to our chapter in Colossians, on three things:

First, he uses man-made teachings, or the traditions of men. Bible teachers tell us that the word "tradition" as used here is found thirteen times in the New Testament, and it is usually used in a bad sense. Note, for example, where the Pharisees were charged with making the Word of God of none effect through their traditions (Mark 7:2-7). How much of the church programs of today are nothing more than traditions of men, with no Scriptural basis!

Second, Satan would lead us astray by keeping us in the elements, or rudiments of the world. The term "rudiments" means "first steps." The Hebrews were told that these rudiments or elements belonged to childhood, and the mature believer was charged to leave them and go on (Hebrews 5:12-6:3). The Galatians were told that these rudiments would only gender bondage (Galatians 4:3). In Colossians 2:20, the believer is told that he is dead with Christ to these rudiments, and that he therefore should not be subject to carnal ordinances. By way of contrast, he is told to set his affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Believers who live in the shadow days of external ordinances miss the joy of the reality, who is Christ; those who feel that they can worship only with these worldly elements fail to see that we are citizens of heaven and in the sight of God are "seated with Christ" in heavenly places even now.

Third, if Satan cannot lure us through traditions of men and rudimentary ordinances, he will make the intellectual appeal. He will reason us aside through wisdom of words, making the cross of Christ ineffective (1 Corinthians 1:17); he will try to get us so involved in the wisdom of this world that we will fail to see that it is only foolishness to God (1 Corinthians 3:19); he will lead us into fleshly wisdom, frustrating the grace of God (2 Corinthians 1:12); and he will make the wisdom from beneath so, attractive that we neglect the wisdom which is from above (James 3:15-17).

The Protection Against Our Enemy

The entire Colossian epistle is written to give us the protection we need against these tactics of our enemy. It may be summarized in one or two verses: "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2:9-10). This completeness in Christ is the exact opposite of the empty, vain life that Satan has to offer. Are we really aware of what we have? YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM! If I am complete in Christ, then nothing a preacher or a church can do for me in the way of ritual or religion is needed. As a matter of fact, we can add nothing to completeness. We are Complete in HIM. If we believe this, may we act upon it and make Christ the center and circumference of our lives. May we rejoice in Him, glory in Him, do all that we say or do in HIS name, giving no occasion to the flesh, but doing all for His honor and glory. Only then will the purpose and plan of our enemy be foiled and our protection against him be sure.

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THE MIGHTY CREATOR!
By Pastor Paul Hume



Scripture Reading: Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11; Col. 1:16-17


A small girl who lived in a remote section of the country was receiving her first Bible instruction at the hands of her elderly grandmother, and the old lady was reading the child the story of the creation. After the story had been finished, the little girl seemed lost in thought. "Well, dear," said the grandmother, "what do you think of it?" "Oh, I love it. It's so exciting," exclaimed the youngster. "You never know what God is going to do next!"

How thrilling it is to know that the visible and invisible elements of this universe and world of ours is the product of the perfect and only Creator: God the Father in the Person of His Son by the agency of the Holy Spirit! How sodden and sterile is the popular so-called "scientific" hypothesis that this universe and our world is simply the product of evolving matter with energy to motivate it! Nay! It is refreshing to be anchored to the "old landmarks" of the Truth and declare, "Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev. 4:11). View the Sovereign Creator:

"The great God was all alone amid the awful silence of His own vast universe. But even at that time, if time it could be called, God was sovereign. He might create or not create according to His own good pleasure. He might create this way or that way; He might create one world or one million worlds, and who was there to resist His will? He might call into existence a million different creatures and place them on absolute equality, endowing them with the same faculties and placing them in the same environment; or, He might create a million creatures each differing from the others, and possessing nothing in common save their creature hood, and who was there to challenge His right? If He so pleased, He might call into existence a world so immense that its dimensions were utterly beyond finite computation; and were He so disposed, He might create an organism so small that nothing but the most powerful micro-scope would reveal its existence to human eyes." (A.W. Pink). Are you part of His new creation?

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THE DOCTRINE OF SUBSTITUTION
BY  Robert Hanna


Scripture Reading: Romans 4:25; 5: I

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

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

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

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BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH
by Russell S. Miller



"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into His death" (Rom.6:3)?

It is a sad commentary indeed that after 2000 years the vast majority in fundamentalism still labors under the so-called "great commission" and, consequently, is manifestly confused and divided over the subject of water baptism. However this "baptism" of which Paul speaks here in Romans 6:3 is so absolutely absent of water that most of those who water baptize fail to see that believers in the dispensation of grace are actually "baptized into His death". This is why Paul can write in Galatians 2:20:

"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."

And not only that, but the Apostle further states that it is the old Adamic nature in all of us that was crucified with Christ:

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DESTROYED, THAT HENCEFORTH WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN" (Rom. 6:6).

And what's more, in this baptism, "...the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14).

Furthermore, the Apostle Paul writes by divine inspiration in I Corinthians 12:13 that upon believing in the Lord Jesus Christ we are baptized into the Body of 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." And this was revealed to Paul "by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:11,12).

We have been so completely identified with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection that Paul goes on in Romans 6 to declare:

"Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4).

No wonder the Apostle exhorts:

"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal. 6:14).

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Two Things We Know
by Pastor C. R. Stam



In Romans 8 St. Paul points to two great truths which every true believer knows. The first (Verses 22,23) he knows by experience; the second (Verse 28.) he knows by faith.


Rom. 8:22,23: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption four body.”

The words “until now,” in this passage, are significant, for our Lord came to earth healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, making the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the lame to leap for joy. But He was rejected by sinful men and nailed to a cross.

After His resurrection and ascension His persecutors were given another chance, however, as Peter called upon them to repent so that “the times of refreshing” might still “come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19,20). But again the King and His blessed kingdom were rejected so that, in the words of Paul, the whole creation continues to groan and travail in pain “together until now.”

But in this passage the Apostle points out that even God’s children are not exempt from this suffering, for the most sincere believer,the most consecrated saint, must still partake of the sufferings and sorrows of the world while he waits for “the redemption of our body,” when “we shall all be changed” (I Cor. 15:51).

But while every believer knows about suffering and sorrow by experience,there is something else he knows by faith. Verse 28 speaks of this:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

The true Christian is not a mere optimist; he is a believer in God’s Word, and God has much to say about how He is working all out for the good of His own. We have room here to quote but two passages:

II Cor. 4:17: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

Rom. 8:18: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed In us.”

[nChrist]

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PERSONAL APPRECIATION
By Miles Stanford



"As ye have, therefore, received Christ Jesus as Lord, so walk ye in Him, rooted and built up in Him" (Col. 2:7).


We appreciate His benefits toward us, but are we appreciative-do we express to Him our appreciation?

"Let us be very watchful that the inner life, communion with the Lord Jesus, be the true source of our activities."

"The Lord Jesus longs for fellowship with us. He does not want patronage. It does not meet the desire of His heart to be followed, or admired, or gazed at, because of what He can do or give. He delights in a heart taught of the Spirit to appreciate His Person, for this glorifies and gratifies the Father. He retires from the gaze of an excited and tumultuous throng who would fain make Him a king, because they had eaten of the loaves and were filled; but He could turn with touching earnestness to the little band of disciples who still remained, and challenge their hearts with the question, 'Will ye also go away?'"

"Love could never be too near to its object. Nearness to the Lord Jesus is the instinct of divine life, as we see in the first question of the two disciples who followed Him, 'Where dwellest Thou?' Why is not this the first question now? Because there is not simple devotedness of heart to the Lord Jesus Christ."

"There is nothing in all the world so precious to the Father as a heart that, in any measure, appreciates His Son."

"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28.).

2Th 1:7  "And to you who are troubled rest with us, ......."

[nChrist]

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HOPE INSPIRES BOLDNESS
By Pastor Marvin Duncan



Scripture  II Corinthians 3:12
" Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech"

In Second Corinthians, chapter three, the Apostle Paul is writing about the Gospel that had been committed to him by revelation, even the message of the Mystery (Eph. 3:3) which the Holy Spirit had used to save these Corinthians to whom he was now writing this letter.

The message of Christ's substitutionary death for the payment of the debt of sin is compared with the Law of Moses, in verses six through eighteen. Paul speaks of the Law of Moses as having a glory, but that glory of the Law was not as great as the glory of the message he had received from the risen, glorified, Lord Who is now in heaven.

In the first part of this third chapter, Paul said that he didn't need anyone to commend him to these saints at Corinth. Their salvation was proof that he was God's Apostle and the message he preached was God's message to a world separated from their Creator by sin.

At the time of this letter, Paul was receiving a great deal of opposition as to his Apostleship--- both from the unbelieving Jews and from some members of the church in Corinth. It was in answer to this opposition to his Apostleship that Paul says (II Cor. 3:12) that when he saw the power of the Gospel of the Grace of God changing lives, as was evident from the fact that these Corinthians to whom he was writing had experienced a change in their lives, he was encouraged in the hope that this same message of the Mystery would change the lives of others. Therefore, he would be bold in preaching the message of Christ's substitutionary death for the forgiveness of sin.

Knowing that we, too, have been saved simply by believing the message of the Grace of God, we should boldly preach the gospel of the Grace of God in the hope that this same message will be used of the Holy Spirit to save others and change their lives, as it did ours.