GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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THE TIME ELEMENT IN SCRIPTURE
by C. R. Stam




How many Scriptural problems would be solved, how many seeming contradictions explained, if we were more careful to note the time element, emphasized so strongly in the Word of God.

In Romans 5:12 we learn that sin entered the human race by Adam. Then later "the law entered" (Ver. 20). But still later the Apostle Paul arose to say: "But now, the righteousness of God without the law is manifested" (Rom. 3:21).

Early in man’s history blood sacrifices were required for acceptance with God (See Gen. 4:4; Heb. 11:4), later circumcision and the Law (Gen. 17:14; Ex. 19:5), and still later, repentance and water baptism (Mark 1:4; Acts 2:38.). But not until Paul do we learn of salvation by grace through faith alone, on the basis of Christ’s finished, all-sufficient work of redemption.

This is why the Apostle refers in Gal. 3:23 to "the faith which should afterward be revealed." This is why he declares that our Lord "gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time", and adds: "where unto I am ordained a preacher and an apostle" (I Tim. 2:6,7).

It is only as we recognize the time element in Scripture that we see the difference between "the kingdom of heaven" and "the Body of Christ," between "the gospel of the kingdom" and "the gospel of the grace of God," between the "dispensation of law" and "the dispensation of the grace of God."

A comparison of Romans 3:21 and 26 shows how this time element is emphasized in Scripture. After discussing the function of the Law in Verses 19 and 20, the Apostle Paul declares: "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested..." Then, in Ver. 26 he states that it is God’s purpose: "To declare, I say, at this time His [Christ’s] righteousness; that He [God] might be just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus."

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THE WRATH OF GOD REVEALED
by Russell S. Miller


How and why is God's wrath "revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men" (Rom.1:18.)?

It is revealed "because that which may be known of God is manifest in them...". Even the "invisible things of...creation...are clearly seen..." (1:19,20). They did not want a Creator!

It is revealed "because ...[they] became vain in their imaginations...and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image..." (1:21-23). If you insist upon believing "a lie...and worship and serve the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever" (ver.25), God will send you "a strong delusion"--the devil's "lie" (II Thes. 2:9-12).

We have seen why God's wrath is revealed, but how is it revealed?"...GOD ALSO GAVE THEM UP TO UNCLEANNESS through [their] lusts..." (Rom. 1:24).

And because man has "changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator" (ver.25):"...GOD GAVE THEM UP UNTO VILE AFFECTIONS..."(Rom. 1:26).

"For even their women did change the natural use [of sex] into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet [fitting]. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge..." (1:26-28.),
"...GOD GAVE THEM OVER UNTO A REPROBATE MIND, to do those things which are not convenient" (Rom. 1:28.).

And because they had "filled" themselves with "all ungodliness and unrighteousness" (1:29-31) the judgment of God is revealed in such things as venereal disease and AIDS.

"Who knowing the judgment of God, THAT THEY WHICH COMMIT SUCH THINGS ARE WORTHY OF DEATH, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" (Rom. 1:32).

"THEREFORE thou art inexcusable, O man..." (Rom. 2:1).

But no matter what your sin, big or little, as we described or otherwise, God "LOVES" YOU and wants to save you, AND HE WILL SAVE YOU FROM YOUR SINS, if you will simply believe in His Son, who died for our sin on Calvary's cross, and arose from the dead."Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1).

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WAITING ON GOD
By Miles Stanford



"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him" (Ps. 37:7).

In times of crisis, we are prone to question His care; in times of calm, we tend to forget our need of His care.

"Don't look at earthly difficulties. Saul said, 'Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not ... therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me' (I Sam. 13:11,12). It is fatal to look around and at consequences, especially in times of crisis, for it will be impossible to be still, and wait God's time for deliverance. Jesus came to them in the fourth watch of the night (Matt. 14:25). It is always His way. God is never behind time! However dark the path may be, wait; do not go before Him, don't force yourself, like Saul. "The crisis demands action,' we say! Nay, 'dwell in stillness and wait for clearness' --- wait until you are sure of the will of God, and leave the 'Philistines' to Him." - T.A-S.

"Victory comes through the reckoning of faith and not through struggling and striving. 'But,' it may be asked, 'are we not exhorted to 'fight the good fight'? Yes, that is so, but you must please finish the text, 'Fight the good fight of faith,' and faith never struggles for victory. Faith stands in victory."

"The unbelieving heart looks at the circumstances, and leaves God out. Faith, on the contrary, looks only at God, and leaves circumstances out. Faith delights in man's extremity, simply because it is God's opportunity. It delights in being 'shut up' to God --- in having the platform thoroughly cleared of the creature, in order that God may display His glory."

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him" (Ps. 62:5).

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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 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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"YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY"
DANIEL 3:28B, ROMANS 6:13,16,19; 12:1
By Pastor P. Hume


     Several avenues in our city have signs located at their intersections which read: 'YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY.' This means that we must slow down as we approach the intersection, and give the cars which are coming at right angles to us first place. Failure to observe this command may bring tragic results!

     This is God's demand upon every individual whom He has been pleased to save. It is plainly this: 'YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD......PRESENT YOUR BODIES....... UNTO GOD.' What does this involve? Simply this: because God has graciously saved me through the death and resurrection of His beloved Son, and because by His Spirit He has brought me into an eternal union with Christ, and because I am no more my own, I repudiate all known sins in my life and deny the right to old self to be king any longer within me, and I yield my entire self with my body and its several members unto this loving Father as a 'living sacrifice.' This is a definite, once-for-all transaction, as the tense of the words 'yield' and 'present' indicate. Just as I definitely received Christ into my life as Savior and Lord once for all, so I am now just as definitely to yield or present myself to God for His own use and glory.

     Suppose I were to give you a check from our checkbook, and then tell you, 'Just fill in any amount you wish; I have signed my name already to it!' Knowing that I had informed you that I had unlimited financial resources, you would be free to write in any amount you felt you needed.

     Likewise intelligently and lovingly turn your entire being and life over to the God who loves you far more than you'll ever understand, and say, 'Lord, here I am; body, soul, and spirit; mind, emotions, will; eyes, ears, lips, hands, and feet; weaknesses, frailties, habits, sins, problems, circumstances, finances; take me just as I am; do what You will both in me and through me; and cause me ever to cleave with purpose of heart unto you until either death or 'the catching away'!'

And God will never turn down an offer like that! Do it meaningfully today!

Grace, Peace and Love,

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UNSOUND TEACHING REBUKED
JON D. BEKEMEYER, Pastor


Scripture Reading: I Timothy 1:3

Our text for today makes it quite clear why Timothy was left in Ephesus: "That thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine." There was in Ephesus, as there will be in any Christ-honoring church, efforts to promote false doctrine; to entice believers away from the truth. With such there is to be no tolerance, but rather bold, outright confrontation. Timothy was not to reason with the false teachers, nor was he to seek to establish a "dialogue." He was to charge them, that is, he was to give an authoritative commandment that the promotion of false doctrine must stop.

Many complain that such an approach to the ministry is narrow-minded, and to that charge, faithful ministers of the Gospel must plead guilty. There is only "one faith" (Ephesians 4:5). If it is narrow-minded to believe that God has spoken; if it is narrow-minded to believe that God has given a distinctive message for the Dispensation of Grace; if it is narrow-minded to emphasize that we are expected to know what that message is; then let us all be narrow-minded.

The reason many are unsettled regarding doctrine, is that they do not understand where, in the Bible, doctrine is to be found. Efforts to amalgamate the Kingdom to the Body and Law to Grace are futile. Out of desperation, many determine that there are no absolutes---anything goes.

When such an attitude is prevalent, the ministers of Satan thrive. Paul warned the Corinthians of those who "corrupt"; the Galatians of those who "bewitch"; and the Colossians of those who "spoil." Let us also heed these warnings.

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He Wants to Live Through You
by Dr. Bill Gillham



"If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him" (Romans 8:9b). When you turned toward Jesus to become a Christian, the "Spirit of Christ" (Holy Spirit) entered into you. Why did Jesus come into you? Why didn't Jesus come before you so He could lead you (some say that's His function); or beside you so you could lean on Him when you grow weary (some say this is His function); or behind you to give you a jump start when you need help (others claim this is His job), or perhaps under you to carry you when you can't make it on your own (as the poem "In His Steps" teaches)? It's because Jesus is the only One who ever has or who ever will live the life which is pleasing to the Father, and He is to express His life through you on a moment-by-moment basis. Christ's life alone gets God's Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Everything else is trashed.

It's presumptuous of any person to think he can emulate the life of Christ. God doesn't want to "help" you live on earth any more than He wanted to "help" you get saved. He did it all for you then: He's made provision through Christ to do it all for you now. This way God, not you, gets the honor (glory). Salvation is all of God, nothing of man. Guys, the Christian life is to be experienced in exactly the same way it's begun. He wants to do it all for you, through you. In this way He gets just as much glory (credit) for saving you from the hell of life as He does for saving you from the hell of death, and He gets to build the intimate, bonding relationship with you which He longs for. He died to attain this relationship with you! Imagine that! Please don't continue in your independent self-sufficiency, naively believing that this is pleasing to the Father, that He is proud of your strength. He's covered this in His love letter: "They will be held guilty, they whose strength is their god" (Habakkuk 1:11). Your personal strength is His enemy. It keeps you from intimate fellowship with Him.

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GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY & SOUL WINNING
By Pastor P. Hume


Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 9:16-23; 2 Cor. 5:14-6:2

Much of the time, sad to say, when a person treats the subject of the sovereignty of God, the truth concerning genuine soul winning is either left out or ruled out. On the other hand, oftentimes those who major on soul winning almost totally circumventor rule out the sovereignty of God. Again, as in any Divine truth, there needs to be balance and proportion. The Old Testament declares--long before this present Dispensation of the preaching of the Grace of God---"He that winneth souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30). The word "winneth" is actually a military word denoting taking captive the enemy. In the Gospels we hear our Lord telling His disciples: "Come ye after, Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men" (Mark 1:17). His intent was that as these disciples had been used to catching fish, now they were to learn how to "catch men alive" for Christ. Paul brings out the same truth when he states: "that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life." (Phil. 2:15-16). The idea here is that just as the blackness of the night is punctuated by the shining forth of the heavenly luminaries, so the darkness of this present evil age under the power of darkness is to be punctuated by believers holding out to the members of their generation the Life-giving light of the Gospel of the glory of the blessed God (See 2 Cor. 4:4-6 and I Tim. 1:11).

Where does soul winning, then, fit in the plan of God? If God sovereignly has elected a certain number unto Life in Christ, and if God is the One who must woo them, draw them, convict them, and then regenerate them, where does witnessing and leading people to Christ fit in? God has ordained that through "the foolishness of preaching (lit. the thing preached ---that is, the preaching of the word of the cross) to save them that believe." This "preaching" is not only that which the God-called pastor or Evangelist or Missionary does. It is the giving forth by word of mouth the truth of the Gospel so that those who hunger after salvation might be saved.

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GOD'S PLAN AND SOUL WINNING
By Pastor P. Hume


Scripture Reading: Eph. 2: 1-3; 3:6-9

The truth which God desires for "all" to see today is "what is the dispensation (or, economy) of the mystery (secret)" (Eph. 3:9). The heart of this mystery is stated in Ephesians 3:6 "That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body (joint-body), and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." Did you notice that last phrase? It is by means of the gospel (Paul's Gospel: "my gospel") that sinners are to share in the promise of God in Christ! What is this "promise?" It is "the promise of Life which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 1:1). The earnest of this promise is the impartation of the New Man and the indwelling Holy Spirit (see Eph. 1:13-14). We see then, that the present purpose of God in forming the "one new man," and building " an holy temple (sanctuary) in the, Lord," and bringing about the completion) of "the church" which is His body" all hinges upon "the gospel."

Our "great commission"--- binding upon preachers and people alike--is to proclaim "Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery." This is to be done on a public preaching basis, but especially is it to be done on a person-to-person basis. In other words, you as well as I are responsible to deliberately, under the leadership of the blessed "Lord of the harvest"--the Holy Spirit ---seek to win precious children, young people, and adults to the Lord Jesus Christ.

'"Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. God has been calling loudly ever since He spoke your sins forgiven---if you are forgiven at all--entreating and beseeching you to be His ambassador. Put your ear down to the Bible and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go and stand by the gates of Hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, Whose mercy you have professed to have received ... and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstance, in this march to publish His mercy to the world." (Gen. William Booth)

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The Middle Wall of Partition
Part 1 of 4

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one,
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." --Eph.2:14

BY RICHARD JORDAN


Disunity can occur in many ways. The "middle wall of partition. "which stood around Israel's temple and to which the Apostle Paul here alludes, illustrates the tremendous distinction and division that existed in "time past" between the nation Israel and the Gentile nations.

Paul identifies this division as two·fold. First there was the fleshly distinction where racial and social division was obvious:

"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands" (Eph. 2:11).

No doubt the emphasis of Paul's pen was on "called"--"called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision." That the Jews often used the term "uncircumcision" as an insult aimed at the despised and outcast Gentiles cannot be doubted. It was so thoroughly established in Jewish thinking as a term of derision that even young David is heard exclaiming about Goliath: "who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (I Sam. 17:26b).

If Israel was guilty of "name calling" surely the Gentiles were no better. Notice that Paul identified Israel as those who are "called the circumcision." Clearly Gentiles returned the reproach with equal disdain. Who can miss the sting of mocking accusation at "being Jews" in Acts 16:20, John 18:35 and else where?

There was, however, something far more important to Paul than this racial and social division. In "time past" God Himself had made a far more critical distinction between the Circumcision and Uncircumcision, between Israel and the Gentiles. Eph. 2:12 records this:

"That at that time ye 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."

Israel had a clear advantage while the Gentiles were at an equally distinct disadvantage. The religious and spiritual disadvantage of the Gentiles is simply unmistakable.

Place Rom. 9:4,5 along side Eph. 2:11, 12 and this is set in bold relief:

ISRAEL'S ADVANTAGE (Rom. 9:4,5)

1.    "Who are Israelites" (v4)
2.    "The adoption" (v4)
3.    To whom Christ came (v.5)
4.  "Whose are the fathers" (v.5)
5.    The Covenants and the law (v4)
6.    The service of God" (v.4)
7.    "The promises" (v4)

GENTILES' DISADVANTAGE (Eph.2:11,12)

1.    "Gentiles" (v.11)
2.    "Uncircumcised" (v.11)
3.    "Without Christ" (v.12)
4.  "Aliens from Commonwealth of Israel" (v.12)
5.  "Strangers from the Covenants" (v.12).
6.    "Without God" (v.12).
7.    "Having no hope" (v.12).

In "Time Past" God Himself had made a difference between Jews and Gentiles; "But Now!"

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make
 in himself of twain one new man, so making peace" (Eph. 2:13-15).

The Jews had enclosed the inner portions of their temple with a "middle wall of partition" and they jealously guarded it. Paul was all too familiar with this fact for it explains the reaction he received in Acts 21:28-30. Luke records that when the Jews saw Paul in their temple, "they laid hands on him" and:

"Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

"(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

"And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut."

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The Middle Wall of Partition
Part 2 of 4

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one,
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." --Eph. 2:14

BY RICHARD JORDAN



According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, a century ago excavations at the temple site unearthed portions of this wall and discovered this inscription: "No man of another nation is to enter within the fence and enclosure round the Temple. Whoever is caught will have himself to blame that his death ensues."

This wall, of course, only stood as testimony to the divinely ordained barrier that separated Jew and Gentile. ''In the flesh" there was bitter hatred and enmity such as could never be excused. But before God there was a distinction too, for it was God Himself who had erected the real "middle wall of partition" that separated Jew and Gentile.

Romans 1 succinctly proves that the Gentile's alienation was their own doing. There Paul presents the sad history of rebellion , evil thinking and self-will that resulted in the three·fold declaration:

          "Wherefore God gave them up ... " (v. 24).
          "For this cause God gave them up ... " (v. 26).
          "God gave them over ... " (v. 28.).

As a wise old preacher once said, "Light rejected becomes lightning!" Thus God cast away the nations of the earth and turned to one solitary figure:

"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:

"And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

"And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 12:1-3).

Abram obeyed God and when he was 99 years old, God changed his name to Abraham and erected His "middle wall of partition." Gen. 17:4-14 records the event:

    "As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
    "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
     "And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
     "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
     "And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
      "And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
     "This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; EVERY MAN CHILD AMONG YOU SHALL BE CIRCUMCISED.
     "AND YE SHALL CIRCUMCISE THE FLESH OF YOUR FORESKIN; AND IT SHALL BE A TOKEN OF THE COVENANT BETWIXT ME AND YOU.
     "And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.
     "He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
     "And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant."

Now there were to be two peoples in the world: the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision.

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The Middle Wall of Partition
Part 3 of 4

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one,
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." --Eph.2:14

BY RICHARD JORDAN




Sometime later the Law was "added" (Gal. 3:19) and the distinctions were strengthened and fortified. We are plainly told that the Gentiles "have not the law" (Rom. 2:14). The Covenant of the Law was made just with Israel and that covenant and those laws made Israel a distinct and different people in the earth. Moses reminded them of this as they prepared to enter the promised land:

     "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

     "Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

     "For WHAT NATION IS THERE SO GREAT, WHO HATH GOD SO NIGH UNTO THEM, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

     "And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?" (Deut. 4:5-8.).

This priority given to Israel in the purposes of God explains much that otherwise is baffling about our Lord's earthly ministry. Many a preacher and personal worker, for example, have quoted Luke 19:10 --but few there are who know or quote the whole statement made by Christ:

     "And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, FORSOMUCH AS HE ALSO IS A SON OF ABRAHAM.
     "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:9,10).

And how are we to explain our Lord's refusal even to answer the Gentile woman of Matt. 15:22-24, while Himself pleading the case of the woman in Luke 13:16 because she was "a daughter of Abraham?" How is this to be explained except to recognize that the Gentiles were on the "wrong side" of the middle wall of partition?

An often overlooked verse in the Book of John is nonetheless clear:

     "..... we know what we worship: FOR SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS" (John 4:22).

And what were Gentiles to do? God had covenanted with Abraham: "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18.). Gentile blessing, then, could only be had through their submission to Israel and her privileged position. Go back and read Matt. 15:22·28 again and see that this is exactly the order ultimately followed by this Gentile lady--and which Christ sovereignly honored.

That this order was no less true after the cross is clear from the record of the Book of Acts. At Pentecost, three times Peter identified his intended audience:
     " ... Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:"
     "Ye men of Israel, hear these words ...."
     "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly ...." (Acts 2:14, 22, 36).

Standing on Solomon's porch, Peter cries to his nation:

     "Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
     "Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3:25,26).

In fact, as late as Acts 11:19 we are told:

     "Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word TO NONE BUT UNTO THE JEWS ONLY."

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The Middle Wall of Partition
Part 4 of 4

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one,
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." --Eph.2:14

BY RICHARD JORDAN


Some thoughtful reader will ask, "But didn't we just read where Paul said the middle wall has been broken down? Didn't he declare that the law has been 'abolished' and that Christ had made 'peace'?" Ah, yes indeed, Paul does say this and much more. But remember: It is not until we come to Paul and his message that we learn all this.

The "But Now"of Eph. 2:13 is the same as the "But Now" in passages like:

     "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;

     "Even THE MYSTERY WHICH HATH BEEN HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERATIONS, BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST TO HIS SAINTS" (Col. 1:25,26)

     "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of  THE MYSTERY, WHICH WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN,

     "BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith" (Rom. 16:25,26).

It is Paul who declares: "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested" (Rom. 3:21); that there is "no difference between the Jew and the Greek" (Rom. 10:12; 3:22); that in Christ Jesus "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"(Gal. 3:28.). It is Paul who gives us this message, declaring that in the Body of Christ "there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all" (Col. 3:11). It is to Paul that this blessed message of "the mystery" was revealed--and through him to us!

     Thus it is Paul who writes:

     "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

     "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

     "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

     "And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

     "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Eph. 2:14-18.).

This is the heart of his special message and why it is so dear to us today. No longer must we belong to a special family, follow a certain religion, perform prescribed exercises in ceremonial correctness. No longer must we fear being "too far gone," too far off, too deeply sin stained. Now, even the simplest believers who know that Christ died for them and that He is their peace and life can know for sure they are saved and have personal access to God and are fellow citizens of His household.

All we need today to go to God is simple faith in Christ:

     "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
     "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:1, 2).

[nChrist]

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CROSS CONTINUITY
By Miles Stanford



"That I may know Him ... being made conformable unto His death" (Phil. 3:10).


The wondrous depths of the finished work of the Cross will always be adequate to deal with the terrible depths of the unfinished work of the old man. As we glory in the Cross, the flesh is denied.

"When we have apprehended our death-position with the Lord Jesus (Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20, etc.), we may have failed to see the on-going conformity to His death (2 Cor. 4:11; Phil. 3:10, etc.). The absence of this brings the anomaly of the Cross being preached with little or no marks of the Calvary spirit.

"This is the problem of teaching the 'identification' truths without the consequent conformity of death which brings forth life. We may rely upon the fact that we 'died' with the Lord Jesus, and assume that it is entirely wrought in us at once, not realizing that 'the fellowship of His sufferings' follows the apprehension of identification. That 'delivery unto death' must become deeper and deeper, until the 'conformity to His death' in the path of the Cross becomes a very real characteristic of the life."

"We are not to think that our exalted position in the Lord Jesus, seated with Him in heavenly places, frees us from the need of further application of the Cross. We never reach a point where we can leave the Cross. We are invincible, more than conquerors through Him who loved us, only as we are brought into ever deeper conformity to the Lord Jesus' death unto sin. Otherwise the flesh reinstates itself and we once more fall prey to the old man's reign. There are always remaining, however much we have advanced, hidden strongholds of the old man which must be rendered inoperative by the finished work of the Cross." -F.J.H.

"Let him deny himself, and take up his Cross daily" (Luk. 9:23).

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WHAT PETER PREACHED AT JERUSALEM WHAT PAUL PREACHED AT ANTIOCH
By Pastor Robert Hanna
Scripture Reading: Acts 3:19-23; Acts 13:37-39


The Apostle Peter, preaching to the Jews, declared: "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and Signs ... which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain ... Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Their desperate response to this indictment was to say to the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:22,23, 36-38.) Peter's message was delivered only to Israelites.

How different was the Apostle Paul's sermon, delivered after He had been appointed to be the dispenser of grace. He too began with, "Men of Israel." (Acts 13:16) But he had a different message for them. Paul knew what Christ had accomplished on the cross: "Be it known unto you therefore ... that through this man [Jesus Christ] is preached unto you forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38,39) Thus when he was asked, "What must I do to be saved?" He could answer, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 16:30,31)