GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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PEACE ON EARTH
Part 2  of  2
by Gregg Bing


Jesus' coming into this world did not result in peace, but in division (Luke 12:51-53). The people were divided over Him and who He was. A small remnant, including the apostles, believed He was "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16), but the majority of Israel saw Him only as a teacher or prophet. To those who believed, He was precious, but to the rest, the Lord Jesus was offensive and they stumbled at Him, "being disobedient to the Word" (I Pet. 2:7-8.). They rejected the "Prince of peace," declaring, "We will not have this Man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14), and they delivered Him to the Romans to be crucified.

While those who put Jesus to death were certainly "wicked" or "lawless," we read in Acts 2:23 that all this was according to God's determined purpose. This was exactly why the Son of God came into this world - to give His life on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world (I Pet. 3:18, I John 2:2). He, "Himself, bore our sins in His own body on the tree" (I Pet. 2:24). Isaiah prophesied of the great sacrifice that He would make for us: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:5).

It was through His death that Jesus brought peace. Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Our sin separates us from God, for He is holy, and we are under the penalty of death (Rom. 6:23), but even in this terrible condition, God loved us; so much that He was willing to send His only-begotten Son into the world to become the propitiation for our sins (Rom. 3:24-26, I John 2:2). Jesus' death on the cross satisfied God's holy and righteous requirement. This One, who knew no sin, become "sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Cor. 5:21). When we simply believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, God justifies us; He declares us to be righteous in His sight. The result of being justified is described in Romans 5:1: ''Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. " We, who once were enemies of God, are reconciled to God through the death of His Son (Rom. 5:10).

Many today are longing for "peace on earth" between men and nations, but, sadly, there is no peace. Wars and threats of wars continue with no peace in sight. The Scriptures teach that there will be peace on earth one day, but only when the Lord Jesus Christ, our risen and ascended Savior, returns to earth to fulfill the promises made to the nation of Israel. The Prince of peace will establish His kingdom on this earth and His people, Israel, will rule and reign with Him. This is a peace that man can never hope to achieve through his own efforts.

Others are longing for peace in their own hearts and lives. This is a peace that is possible, but, once again, not by our own efforts. This peace only comes when we have "peace with God" through the Lord Jesus Christ. When we trust in Christ as our Savior, not only do we have "peace with God," we are also filled with "joy and peace in believing" "by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 15:13, Gal. 5:22). This wonderful "peace of God," which is beyond our understanding, then keeps or guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7).

If you are longing for true peace in your own heart and life, you can have it this very day, even this very moment, by simply believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross of Calvary; that He died for your sins and rose again the third day (Acts 16:31, I Cor. 15:3-4). It's not by any works of righteousness on your part (Tit. 3:5), but all by God's grace---His gift of eternal life (Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 6:23).

Won't you trust Him today and experience this wonderful peace? You can have "peace with God" and the "peace of God" in your heart and life. This is truly "good will toward men."

The End

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SIMPLICITY IN CHRIST
By John N. Baker



Scripture Reading: II Corinthians 11:3

The word "simplicity" as used in II Corinthians 11:3 can be interpreted to mean singleness or single-minded. The gospel of grace is simple indeed. Man has attempted to make it complex. Paul was single-minded in the gospel he proclaimed. "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). Here is singleness of purpose and mind. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (I Corinthians 1:18.). Note the simplicity of this gospel which confounds the wise of this world. "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (I Corinthians 2:2). Once again, Paul expresses his singleness of purpose and mind. "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ... " (Galatians 6:14).

The lesson in all of this for us is that we must be very careful to maintain the simplicity of the gospel with singleness of mind to make it known to a lost and dying world. It is very easy to get caught up in trying to learn the deep things of God and lose sight of the simplicity of the gospel of our salvation and our primary responsibility to make this gospel known to the lost. We must take every care to keep the gospel simple and proclaim it with singleness of mind. Our minds must not be "corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

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DEITY IN THE PERFECT HUMANITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
PART 1 OF 4
BY RUSSELL S. MILLER



Those who should know better are propagating a false doctrine that places doubt on the Deity of Christ. They have now come to the erroneous conclusion that our only Saviour, Jesus Christ, could have sinned! Mind you, He didn't of course, but they say He could have! This doctrine is not only erroneous, it is also heresy, and precious souls are being led astray.

Furthermore those who propagate such teachings plainly reveal that they do not believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ; nor do they know, or understand, the purpose of God in entering the stream of humanity through the Virgin Birth.

If Christ could have sinned then He was no different  than the first Adam, and His sacrifice was no better than the Mosaic system, and we are yet in our sins! It is WE rather who inherited Adam's sin, and Adam's sinful nature, and not the Lord Jesus. He was no sinner. Adam's sinful nature was NOT transferred to Him. There was none of Adam's sinful blood coursing through His veins. Thus the purpose in the Virgin Birth of Christ is fulfilled. He lived the perfect sinless life before the world. Consequently, at Calvary, He could take our sin-that Adamic nature-upon Himself, and bear our sin on the cross. As Paul states in II Corinthians 5:21, Christ was "made sin for us" at Calvary, Christ, who "knew no sin; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM." But not only did the Lord Jesus take our sin upon Himself, Paul further declares that "CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS." He took our SINS upon Himself also, when He died upon that cross. Thus in Paul's epistle to the Ephesians we read these words concerning the Lord Jesus:

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph.1:7).

Plus, His resurrection from the dead is a clear declaration that there was not one fraction of a possibility that our Lord Jesus Christ could have sinned.

In Hebrews 7:26 we read these words concerning the Lord Jesus Christ: "For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and MADE HIGHER THAN THE HEAVENS" (Heb. 7:26).

It is therefore not a question of whether or not Christ could have sinned-what a horrible thought! It is rather a fact that Jesus Christ WOULD NOT sin. Lucifer rebelled, and sinned wickedly in departing from God to do evil and became the Devil. Adam and Eve sinned, and plunged the whole human race into sin (Rom. 5:12). You and I sin! But Jesus Christ WOULD NOT sin. He "set His face like a flint" to bear our sins on Calvary's cross (Isa. 50:7; Luke 9:51; Heb.10:5-7).

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DEITY IN THE PERFECT HUMANITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
PART 2 OF 4
BY RUSSELL S. MILLER


In Isaiah 7:3 the prophet was told to go to Ahaz and to take his son with him, and this is a clear declaration that Isaiah's wife was not "the virgin" spoken of in Isaiah 7:14, for his son was already born and named "Shearjashub" (Isa. 7:3), NOT Immanuel! And in Matthew 1:23 we have the quotation of Isaiah 7:14, "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which being interpreted is GOD with us" (Matt. 1:23), speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus the angelic announcement in Luke 2:13,14:

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

It is concerning Immanuel's birth, the birth of Jesus Christ, that the Apostle Paul writes these words in Hebrews 1:6:

"And again, when He bringeth in the First begotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him" (Heb.1:6).

It is because GOD "CANNOT LIE" (Titus 1:2) that the Apostle pens these words, and in the same chapter, God the Father again speaks, showing that Christ IS God!

"But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom" (Heb. 1:8.).

Furthermore, the Apostle Paul ascribes the entire work of creation to the Son of God. "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands" (Heb. 1:10).

In the first chapter of John's Gospel, and the first verse, are these words:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. "The same was in the beginning with God" (John 1:1,2) .

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

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DEITY IN THE PERFECT HUMANITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
PART 3 OF 4
BY RUSSELL S. MILLER




In the discourse, at the feast of tabernacles in John, Chapter 7, the Jews "marvelled" that the Lord taught with such grace and truth.

"For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matt.-7:29). The Lord spoke very boldly to these Pharisees that His "doctrine" was to do the will of God (John 7:16,17). And as they went about accusing Him of having "a devil" (7:20; 8:48,52; 10:20), notice His response to their wickedness in John 8:44:

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44).

The Lord was compelled to answer their bitter unbelief with such strong language because they, knowingly (John 15:22-24), would not accept Who He was.

Thus these words are written of God: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: FOR GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED WITH EVIL, NEITHER tempteth He any man" (Jas. 1:13).

In the Apostle Paul's struggles to do the will of God he utters these words in Romans 8:3 concerning the perfect humanity of Jesus Christ, and His Deity:

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh."

The Lord Jesus was in "the likeness of sinful flesh" but He did not sin! There was no old Adamic nature in Him! It was on account of our sins, your sin and mine, it was "for sin" that God "condemned SIN in the flesh," and turned His back on His Son (Matt. 27:46) . The Lord Jesus wasn't just "found in appearance as a man," He was wholly man, and at the same time wholly God:

"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8.).

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DEITY IN THE PERFECT HUMANITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
PART 4 OF 4
BY RUSSELL S. MILLER


"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS; of whom I am chief" (I Tim. 1:15).

"By the which Will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

"But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins FOR EVER, sat down on the right hand of God" (Heb. 10:10,12).

And not only would Jesus Christ not sin, He CANNOT sin, for He is GOD! See I John 3:9. Thus the perfect Man, the God Man Christ Jesus, offers a propitiatory sacrifice that satisfies God's holy Law forever.

The work of redemption was finished in Christ's sacrifice for sin, God was satisfied; salvation from sin was fully purchased, because Jesus Christ is the spotless, sinless, Lamb of God.

Now here is something to consider in light of the fact that "we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in His Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Cor. 5:10).

Will this Athenian doctrine (Acts 17:19,21) that is being espoused bring others closer to the Lord? Or, are they being "carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Eph. 4:14)?

Furthermore, in his Romans epistle the Apostle Paul states:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Rom. 16:17,18.).

Don't join their camp, nor invite such teachers into your church no matter how good of a speaker, but "reject" their teachings, and "avoid" them. "For ... they shall turn away their [your] ears from the truth, and [you] shall be turned unto fables" (II Tim. 4:3,4).

"A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; "Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself" (Titus 3:10,11) .

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The Adoption of Sons
Part 1 of 2
A Primer on this Wonderful Truth
By Keith R. Blades

In Romans 6-8 the apostle Paul teaches us about our sanctified position in Christ and how God is dealing with us today under grace and not under the law. As he does so he declares that in accordance with this God has adopted us.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; BUT YE HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, WHEREBY WE CRY, ABBA, FATHER. (Romans 8:14-15)

In this dispensation of grace we are the adopted sons of God. And this is a wonderful privilege of God's grace. However, unfortunately it is often not understood and appreciated as it ought to be due primarily to the restricted meaning given to the present usage of the word adoption. Today, when we speak of adoption we refer to the issue of someone, who is not the natural born child of a couple, being taken in by them and constituted a member of their family. By natural birth the child is not theirs, but by adoption the child legally becomes their own. This is the common meaning of the term today, and it certainly is an adoption. However, it is not what we should think of when we read about God adopting us. In Romans 8:14-15 Paul is not simply referring to the fact that we now belong to God being saved. He is not simply referring to the fact that we are part of God 's family. Yet this is what is commonly thought. To adopt a child not naturally your own is only one kind of adoption. To adopt simply means to take something unto yourself and make it your own. Hence, there are other kinds of adoptions, especially in other cultures, one of which is the kind of adoption Paul refers to in Romans 8. In Hebrew culture, and even among the Greeks of Paul's day, parents adopted their own children. When they did this they recognized a level of maturity that their child had reached and they no longer treated him as a little child, but began treating him as an adult. By this kind of adoption the child was declared to be no longer in a state of childhood. He had now passed from childhood into adulthood. He was now declared to be a son and no longer a child, and he was now going to be treated as an adult by his parents. This is the kind of adoption Paul is referring to in Romans 8. This is made perfectly clear in Galatians 4 where he deals with it in quite some detail.

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. (Galatians 4:1-2)

Here Paul cites this unique cultural issue of adoption so common in his day. As he says, a father's own offspring is his heir. But for as long as he is a child, or is in the state of childhood, his father doesn't treat him any different from a servant. He may be lord of all being his father's heir, but he is not treated as such by his father for as long as he is in the state of childhood. Rather, in accordance with childhood and being a minor, the father deals with his offspring through the use of tutors and governors. The relationship between the two, therefore, is restricted and is on a puerile level. However, the father does not intend to always be treating his child as a child. There is an appointed time coming at which the father will no longer treat his child as a child, but will in accordance with his growth begin to treat him as an adult. This appointed time of the father is the time at which the father adopts his own child. He declares his offspring to no longer be a child in the state of childhood, but now he is an adult, a son. He has attained unto sonship. Being so his father is going to begin to treat him as such and deal with him accordingly. Again, this is the kind of adoption Paul is talking about when he declares that we in this dispensation of grace are now the adopted sons of God. Having adopted us God has put us into the position of adult sons. We possess sonship. He is not treating us like children. Instead, He is dealing with us as adults, as sons. The Privilege of Sonship in time past God's heirs did not possess the adoption of sons. Rather, as Paul points out in Galatians 4:3, they were children and God dealt with them as such.

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: (Galatians 4:3)

The Law contract with its elements of the world functioned like tutors and governors and through it God dealt with Israel as the children that they were. However, the appointed time was coming when God would make provision so that He could adopt His heirs and begin dealing with them as adult sons and no longer have to deal with them as children. When Christ came, He came in accordance with the appointed time of the father.

But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)

The provision to enable God to deal with His heirs as sons and no longer have to deal with them as children was made by Christ on the cross. In view of it, God could adopt His heirs and the glories of sonship could begin to be enjoyed by them. God, however, suspended His program with Israel and they have yet to receive the adoption of sons. We, the members of the church the body of Christ, are the heirs of God in this present dispensation of grace. In accordance with the provision God has made through Christ for sonship to be a reality, and in view of the riches of His grace unto us, God has wonderfully adopted us, putting us in the position of adult sons and treating us as such. We are not being treated by Him as children under the tutor and governor system of the Law, but we are being treated as sons. (Israel will receive the adoption when God resumes and fulfills His program with them upon the conclusion of this present dispensation of Gentile grace. See Romans 9-11, especially 9:1-5; 11:1-36.)

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The Adoption of Sons
Part 2 of 2
A Primer on this Wonderful Truth
By Keith R. Blades



The Glory of Sonship

There are many wonderful issues associated with sonship. There are also a number of differences between the way God dealt with Israel in treating them as children and the way He now deals with us as sons. One outstanding issue is that of the intimacy and direct personal union that now exists between God and us. Instead of tutors and governors, we possess the Spirit of adoption. Instead of intermediaries, God deals with us directly through the Holy Spirit.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:14-15)

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)

As Paul says, the major mark of sonship, (and one of its most glorious features), is the issue of being led by the Spirit of God. When a father adopts his child the relationship becomes much more personal between the two, and hence much more intimate. No longer does the father want tutors and governors to come between him and his child. And no longer does the child need them. No longer does the father want his child's education limited to elementary and rudimentary things. Instead, having placed his child in the position of an adult son, now the father himself personally becomes his son's teacher and guide. The father now personally assumes the remaining education of his son. This is something not only looked forward to by the father, but it is also a wonderful liberty for the son. Going from tutors and governors to being personally dealt with by his father is an issue of great joy and relief to a son. The adoption commences a glorious intimate relationship never experienced under the tutors and governors. In full accordance with establishing this new intimate relationship that sonship brings, Paul says God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into (our) hearts. Possessing the Spirit of God to be led by Him is in direct contrast tooth tutor and governor system of the Law. The restrictions of relationship associated with that system are not being employed with us. The weak and beggarly elements of the world associated with that childhood system are not the basis of God's dealings with us today. Instead, nothing less than the personal operation of the Spirit of God within is what we possess as sons. In view of this, just as with any adopted son, our hearts ought to overflow with joy and relief. Hence, Paul says that the Spirit cries Abba, Father.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, CRYING, ABBA, FATHER. (Galatians 4:6)

The doctrine of our sonship status is full of glory. Being adopted sons is one of the jewels of the riches of God's grace unto us in Christ. Yet it remains one of the most least appreciated aspects of God's grace that we are possessors of today. And this is a shame. This has been nothing more than a very short primer on this wonderful truth. Yet may this brief introduction to sonship motivate us all to learn more about this privilege of God's grace unto us, and most of all to live as the sons God has made us to be.

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The Four Gospels or Paul's Gospel?
By John LaVier


In talking with one of the Christian leaders in this city, he pressed the idea that so many have; namely, that we who seek to rightly divide the Word of Truth, reject completely the so-called four gospels as not being for us as members of the Body of Christ. Certainly all of Gods word is FOR us (1 Cor. 10: 11), but it is most assuredly not all TO us (Rom. 3:19), nor even about us. While it is true that much of the teaching found in the historic records can and should be obeyed by members of the body of Christ today, still there are many other things that can not, for they are contrary to the 'grace' teaching found in the epistles. To bring over the religious program and kingdom teaching found in the historic records, and endeavor to practice it in this dispensation, would frustrate the grace of God. During this age of grace all religion has been abolished, and the kingdom program has been suspended.

We quote herewith a passage from Authority, written by William R. Newell, noted Bible teacher:

"Many people when reading the Bible do not know but what any man who may be talking is talking to them. They make no discrimination. Instead of learning what God wants them to learn for discipline and instruction, they put themselves right under the words of the person they may be reading. There are those for instance, that take the Lord Jesus in the four Gospels for their authority, and they really think there is no authority but Him, forgetting that He had spoken in another way since then ... I want to say that our Lord Jesus didn't come to us. You will never learn the truth unless you believe what Christ said. Jesus Christ said He was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel ... If He says that He was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel, then He was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel!"

The Lord Jesus' authority, in the days of His flesh, did not extend to the Gentiles. He came to this world as the Messiah of Israel. Therefore if you go back and put yourself under the Sermon on the Mount, you are going to have trouble."

The above is strong language, but Mr. Newell goes on to say,

"Wouldn't it be a good thing for you to know the epistles and love the epistles and be acquainted with the epistles and delight in the epistles and stay in the epistles that are according to faith of God's elect? ... Did you ever hear of a heresy based on the Pauline Epistles? Come on now! You stay in the house God gave YOU."

In Philippians 1:10 (R.V.) we are told to "Distinguish the things that differ," and if we would be, "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed," we must study all Scripture in the light of the revelation given by the resurrected, ascended, glorified Christ at God's right hand, to and through His servant the Apostle Paul. Everything that we, as members of the church of the mystery, need to know concerning our calling and our hope, as well as our walk and behavior, is to be found in the epistles of Paul, "the apostle of the Gentiles" (Rom. 11:13).

In rightly dividing the Word of Truth we do not discard or lose any portion of the Word. Rather, we regain much that was formerly, to all practical purposes, lost. Many portions of the Word which were formerly unintelligible, confusing, and contradictory, have, when put in their right place, and studied in the light of Paul's final and complete revelation, taken on new meaning and we have been able to understand the message which God wished them to convey to us. The Bible has become clearer and dearer when we have seen what is our hope, calling, position, and riches as members of Christ's Body. We are one with Him who is the Head.

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THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF CALVARY
by C. R. Stam


Three times in Romans 5 we read that Christ died for us. Verse 6 tells us that He died for us in our weakness, Verse 8 that He died for us in our sin, and Verse 10 that He died for us in our rebellion.

First, Verse 6 says: "For when we were yet WITHOUT STRENGTH, in due time Christ died for the ungodly".

Men sometimes try to make themselves acceptable to God by human effort, but they never succeed. We can't walk or run to heaven, we can't even fly there, and we certainly can't climb there —- not even by doing good works, for good works is what we ought to do, and we should not expect them to counter-balance our sinful thoughts and deeds. Anyway, heaven is God's and He says we cannot gain it by works:

"For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9).

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

Many people feel shut out of heaven, not merely because of a sense of helplessness, but because of a sense of sinfulness and condemnation. To such God proclaims the glad news that "Christ died for sinners", and "came into the world to save sinners" (I Tim. 1:15). At Calvary He paid the just penalty for sin -— for the sins of all mankind -— so that we, by faith, might be "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

But Romans 5:10 goes even further, offering hope and grace to those who have resisted God's grace and rejected His Son, for here the greatest Christ-rejecter of all time, now gloriously saved and changed, declares:

"When we were ENEMIES, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Rom. 5:10).

And so the helpless, the sinful, yes, and the rebellious, can find acceptance with God if only they will turn from their sin and failure to Him. “BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED…” (Acts 16:31).

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Good News of Great Joy
by Steve McVey

When the angels appeared on the first Christmas, they described Jesus' birth as "good news of great joy!" It's a safe rule of thumb to remember that when angels use words like "good news" and "great joy," whatever they're talking about must be big - really big. After all,they live in heaven so good news by their standards has to be something off-the-charts good. What was it about the coming of Jesus that they knew was so fantastic? It's what they knew would happen when He completed His mission here on earth.

There are many aspects of His coming we could celebrate. As you reflect on the meaning of Christmas, keep these three in mind:

1. Our sins have been taken away. God forgave your sins, but the good news of Christmas is even better than that. The Bible says He took them away so that you are now justified - that is, you're in a position as if you've never sinned one time. Nothing. They're all gone and no trace of sin is left on your now-holy spirit. It is just-if-I (justify) never sinned! You don't have to shirk away from God in embarrassment about anything because God's heart toward you is to do nothing but hug you.

2. God isn't angry with us. Since there are no sins to stand between you and God, there's nothing that would cause Him to be angry with you.You may have grown up thinking that your Father is looking at you with a disapproving look on His face, but it's not true. Your God is smiling with delight as He watches you each day. We may still see our sins, but from the eternal realm God knows "it is finished" and that they've all been totally obliterated. Think outside the box - the time box - and be assured that your Father is happy with you because He has dealt with your sins already.

3. We don't have to try to change ourselves. Religion is man's attempt to make himself become acceptable to God by changing himself. You don't have to do that anymore. You are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. If you look at yourself through the legalistic lens of performance based acceptance, you'll see flaws and will find yourself experiencing an urge to improve yourself. When you look at yourself through the lens of God's grace, you will know that He adores you at this very moment, just the way you are. He loves you enough that He will assume responsibility for bringing any changes into your life that may be needed.

It's Christmas and your Father has given you a gift in Jesus Christ that surpasses anything you can imagine. He has taken away your sins. He adores you completely. He has let you off the hook so that you don't have to try to improve anything about yourself. Those are just the tip of the iceberg.

Will you embrace the full meaning of Christmas? Jesus didn't die just so you could go to heaven. He came to give you life - His life; an abundant life free from guilt, condemnation, and slavery to both sins and religion. He came to bring a grace revolution to the world and that is exactly what He accomplished. Now, that's a reason to have a Merry Christmas!  And a Blessed NEW YEAR, as you rest in these truths.

[nChrist]

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TRUE SANCTIFICATION
By Miles Stanford



"Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us ... sanctification" (1 Cor. 1:30).

If we keep in mind that the Lord Jesus is our Sanctification, the seemingly difficult subject will clearly unfold for us day by day.

"Many fall into the Methodistic, or Quaker, or Pearsall-Smith scheme of sanctification --- all of which is substantially the same. The true scriptural means of sanctification is that you are set apart to God. It is not at all a question of whether there is evil in your flesh, for there is a great deal. Why, that is all the old man is made of!

"But yet you are sanctified. Sanctification has nothing whatever to do with the extinction of evil in the flesh. That idea, begun with Pelagius, revived by Thomas a'Kempis, handed down through Jeremy Taylor, the French and Dutch mystics, Wm. Law and John Wesley, has passed into other communions where they have no notion whatever whence it came." ---W.K.

"The Christian life is nothing short of the life of the Lord Jesus (Col. 3:4). It is His life reproduced in us. 'That the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh' (2 Cor. 4:11). The common conception of sanctification is that every area of the life should be holy; but that is not holiness, it is the fruit of holiness: holiness is the Lord Jesus Christ.

"When we are conscious of pride we fancy that humility will meet our need, but the answer to pride is not humility, it is the Lord Jesus, and He is the answer to every need. The Father will not give you humility or patience or love as separate gifts of grace; He has given you the Lord Jesus, and if you simply trust Him to live out His life in you, He will be humble, patient, loving and everything else you need."

"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2 Thess. 2:13).

[nChrist]

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THE NATURAL AND THE SUPERNATURAL
PART ONE OF TWO
Mel Flogel



Why does the songbird sing his song? Why does the dog give us his bark? The same reason the cat says, "meow". It is their nature to do so, the nature they received from their parents. We humans also have the characteristics of our parents by nature. Among them is a sinful nature. We are born sinners by nature passed down to us from Adam after he sinned against God in the garden of Eden. This presents many problems, the largest being that there is a penalty for sin. We, by nature, want to hide from God and to remain in darkness and to deceive ourselves. But God's light and grace are supernatural, transcending our natural blindness and darkened minds and hearts.

Jesus Christ has paid in full the penalty for sin. This He did once for all by dying our death, shedding His blood as payment to God. He rose again from the dead and now Supernaturally gives a NEW NATURE to everyone who believes.

NATURAL MAN: HIS TENDENCY AND CAPABILITIES

Romans 5:12 says, "Wherefore, 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." Paul explains this further and adds that not only are we born with a sinful nature, but we are also born spiritually dead. He wrote to the Ephesians, "And you hath he quickened who were DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS, wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, among whom WE ALL HAD OUR CONVERSATION in times past in the lust of the flesh and of the mind, AND WERE BY NATURE THE CHILDREN OF WRATH, even as others." (Ephesians 2:1-3)

One characteristic we humans are born with places us on a very different plain from the animals, however. We have a consciousness of the existence and presence of God. Even in our fallen state, we all have the God-given ability to receive enlightenment and illumination by the Holy Spirit. (He is Supernatural) "In him (Jesus Christ) was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness of the Light, THAT ALL MEN THROUGH HIM MIGHT BELIEVE. He was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which lighteth EVERY MAN THAT COMETH INTO THE WORLD." (John 1:4-9)

Man is not innocently blind, or innocently in darkness, or innocently dead spiritually. The light of truth and knowledge which God sends to him he denies, he covers up, he resists, even if he can make the existence of God a gray area. "He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT BECAUSE THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:18-21)

Man in his fallen state still has a God-given consciousness of his creator, and the Supernatural enlightening and illuminating work of the Holy Spirit brings truth and knowledge home to his mind, heart and conscience. Man is without excuse. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, WHO HOLD THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, because THAT WHICH MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD IS MANIFEST IN THEM, for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being UNDERSTOOD by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE. Because that, when they KNEW God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but BECAME vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise THEY BECAME FOOLS." (Romans 1:18-22) Again, man is not innocently blind, he likes to deny truth and deceive himself.

[nChrist]

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THE NATURAL AND THE SUPERNATURAL
PART 2 Of 2  CONCLUSION
Mel Flogel


THE SUPERNATURAL WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT



God is not only Supernatural, He is a Super Savior manifesting the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ to unbelievers everywhere. "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and MAKETH MANIFEST THE SAVOUR OF HIS KNOWLEDGE BY US IN EVERY PLACE. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, AND IN THEM THAT PERISH, to the one we are THE SAVOUR OF DEATH UNTO DEATH, and to the other the savour of life unto life." "You are our epistle written in our hearts, KNOWN AND READ OF ALL MEN "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not, but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully. BUT BY MANIFESTATION OF THE TRUTH COMMENDING OURSELVES TO EVERY MAN'S CONSCIENCE in the sight of God." (II Corinthians 2:14-16; 3: 2; 4:1-2)

So from this we see that man in his fallen state is still capable to receive enlightenment, and enough illumination to know what he is required by God to believe in order to be saved. He has a responsibility to do so. This is how God is justified to punish "them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thessalonians 1:8.)

Jesus said, "It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because I go to my Father, and you see me no more, of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. " (John 16:7-11) The supernatural convicting work of the Holy Spirit, enlightens the mind as God's messengers deliver warning about the penalty for sin which is "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" (II Thessalonians 1: 9) God does not by-pass our minds in requiring that we trust Jesus Christ and His finished work as the only way of salvation. This is where the rubber meets the road so-to-speak, for at this point man must exercise faith in God's revelation, God's declaration, and this is something he cannot see, smell, touch, taste or hear with his senses. He must believe with his heart or soul.

THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS IS A SUPER POWERFUL MESSAGE

God's Word tells us that the penalty for sin is "Everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" Our senses cannot grasp this, but they can grasp death, darkness, separation, isolation, physical destruction, pain, punishment, solitude and suffering. The Holy Spirit brings home the fact that if these phenomena are true, then God's warning about the penalty for sin can also be true and His remedy trustworthy. His divine influence upon the heart or soul helps fallen man have the capability to trust God's remedy for sin, it's penalty and it's power. He helps man to fear the penalty and consequence of unbelief.

Even though trusting Jesus Christ and His vicarious death (or death in our place) seems foolish or too easy, God's Word has otherwise proven trustworthy -- so why not trust Him on this one too. So then he believes with his heart or soul and God rewards his faith giving him a NEW NATURE along with forgiveness of sins, eternal life, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. "For by grace (or divine influence upon the heart) are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 8-10) Upon believing we are made a new creation, given a new nature "which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:24)

God has revealed so much light and truth by sending His Son Jesus Christ into the world, sending Him to endure the death of the cross, making complete satisfaction to God for sins. And now He offers eternal redemption as a free gift to all who will believe. He has sent the Holy Spirit to supernaturally help natural man see his dilemma, and show him God's remedy. It is no wonder He commands all men everywhere to repent by believing, man has no excuse for not believing and receiving His offer. His grace is presently being dispensed to all. This is why he warns and beseeches "you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" (II Corinthians 6:1) It is one thing to be enlightened and illuminated concerning the need and the remedy. But it is another thing to apply it to your soul and believe it.

Maybe the good news of God's grace is tugging at the veil over your heart and pulling away the blinders from your mind right now? "Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, ARE CHANGED into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (II Corinthians 3:16-18.)

Why not turn to Him right now with your heart and mind and be changed into His image? "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (II Corinthians 4: 6)

[nChrist]

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LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS
by C. R. Stam


"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us" (II Cor. 4:6,7).

Any instructed Christian reading this passage from the pen of the Apostle Paul naturally goes back in his mind to the time when God first said: "Let there be light," and dispelled the darkness of the primeval world.

He might also recall the incident related in the book of Judges, when Gideon’s army went to battle against the Midianites, each man with a sword in one hand, and a lamp hidden within a pitcher in the other. At Gideon’s command the soldiers broke the earthen vessels and the lights shone out to strike terror into the hearts of the enemy, who could not account for the crash and the blaze of light at this midnight hour.

For every believer God has caused light, wonderful light, to shine out of the darkness and fill the heart, just as once He said to the dark and chaotic earth: "Let there be light -- and there was light."

But we believers have come into "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God" by coming to know Christ. Our Lord rightly said: "No man cometh unto the Father but by Me" (John 14:6). God is unknown and unknowable apart from Christ, who is God manifested in the flesh. It was He who lived a perfect life and then died a sinner’s death in order to bring us into relationship and fellowship with God.