GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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Grace Not Earned
by Pastor C.  R. Stam


Have you ever noticed that God does not hold the great men of Scripture up to us because of their personal goodness? Almost invariably their records are marred by failure and sin, but God bids us look at their faith,to see what their faith did for them. Even those who lived consistently good lives are not held up to us for their personal worth, because God knows their imperfections. Thus Rom. 4:2,3 says:

“For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory– but not before God. For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

And Verse 6 goes on to say about David:

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”

This is because man cannot live a life good enough to make him acceptable to God, for with God only perfection is good enough. One sin spoiled the earth; God will not allow one sin to spoil heaven too. This is why in grace He gave Christ to die for our sins and to pay the just penalty for us. Because of the all-sufficient payment of Christ in our behalf, God can now be “just, and the Justifier” of those who place their faith in Christ (Rom. 3:26).

The famous eleventh chapter of Paul’s letter to the Hebrews bears out the fact that salvation, or acceptance with God, is obtained, not by human effort, but by faith. This great chapter on the heroes in God’s“Hall of Fame,” begins with the words: “For by it [faith] the elders obtained a good report,” and then goes on: “By faith Abel …,” “By faith Enoch…,” “By faith Noah…,” “By faith Abraham…,” etc., and closes with the declaration:

“…these all…obtained a good report through faith…”

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The Fruit Of Grace
by Pastor C. R. Stam

When John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ appeared on earth,God’s people had been under the law of Moses for fifteen hundred years. Little wonder John and his Master looked for fruit among them.

When the hypocritical religious leaders came to join John’s growing audience and asked to be baptized, John called them a“generation of vipers” and bade them “bring forth…fruits meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:7,8.). True repentance, with fruit to prove it, was the basic requirement of the kingdom John proclaimed. This is evident from his declaration:

“And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire” (Matt. 3:10).

Our Lord appeared, proclaiming the same message as John, and also sought for fruit among His people (Matt. 7: 16-20; 21:33-43). We know, however,that John the Baptist was beheaded and Christ crucified. The fruit produced under the Law was meager indeed. Even after the resurrection of Christ the majority of His people refused to repent and failed to bring forth the required fruit.

But what the Law requires grace provides. It was at this time that God raised up the Apostle Paul, whose “preaching of the cross”showed that Christ had not died an untimely death, but in infinite love had come into the world to die for sinners so that they might be saved by grace, through faith (Eph. 2:8,9). Paul’s message was called “the gospel [good news] of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24), and where the Law had failed to bring forth fruit, grace brought it forth abundantly.

God’s grace in Christ, when accepted in true faith, always brings forth good fruit. Thus Paul wrote to the Colossians that his good news was going forth into all the world, adding: “and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you since… ye knew the grace of God in truth” (Col. 1:5,6 cf. Rom. 6: 21,22).

Accept God’s message of grace, trust in Christ as your Savior and He will help you to produce the fruit.

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THE MINISTRY OF YIELDING
PART 1 OF 2
By Pastor Lloyd Peterson


Romans 6:13 and Romans 1:1-2

Lately I have had several discussions relative to the age in which we are living. The consensus seems to be that we are living in strange times to say the least. It was generally agreed that we could be living in the sunset or eventide of the age of grace. The church is not prophesied as to its time and it appears that these 'coming events' are casting their shadows before them. If the hour of Christian history is rapidly coming to a close, it is possible to remain spiritual and loyal to our blessed Redeemer as night shadows lengthen? It would do all of us good to study the Gospels and learn well the attitude of Israel as they lived before God had cast them away. (Romans 11:15) The experiences of their being set aside will be those of the Gentiles. These experiences will, and must, affect the church. Some believe the spiritual paralysis has already begun. Jesus cried to Israel in their hour, 'Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you! The response to this cry was negative, for the Scripture declares: 'But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him: that the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report?..... Therefore they could not believe.' John 12:35,37-39.

God sent blindness to Israel. He will do so to the Gentiles. Will this spirit be experienced in our age? If so, can the Christian today avoid being anesthetized by the spirit of the age? Must my life be affected regardless what I might do about it? This is a good question and every believer should give very serious thought to it. We believe (many of us) that the tide of the age not only will affect many but already has put some asleep spiritually. Some will read this article and smile....but the smile is evidence of spiritual indifference. No serious child of the living God today laughs off our times. But it does not have to be that we become spiritually indifferent. We can be true; found at our post with lamps burning brightly until the curtain falls on this age. But how many will do so? Paul gives the remedy in Romans 12:1-2. At first thought we may think we know these verses; but do we? Paul request two things in view of God's mercy. (His mercy was that by faith He has incorporated us into His Body.)

First: He declares 'present your bodies.' The word present is the same word as yield in 6:13 and assist in 16:2. The original word means 'to set beside' or 'put beside,' that is 'to assist.' The Holy Spirit is called the 'Parakletos'; one called alongside to assist. A parable is a 'parabollo,' something cast alongside to assist in teaching or to assist in making clear some teaching. To present your body is to 'assist' your body in its dedication and service to God. So there is something you and I can do about our times.

Second: Paul declares the means of assisting, helping or presenting your bodies. By (means of) the renewing of your mind. The word 'renew' is interesting. It is made up of two Greek words: 'Ana' and kainos'. 'Ana' means, 'up' and 'kainos' means 'new.' Really it means to 'up the new'; to put the new to the front or show the new. Take down the faded, worn and tattered and put up the new life in Christ. It amounts to what Paul says in Col. 3:1, 'Set your affections on things above.' A most wonderful passage to study with this in mind is Col. 3:5-10. Be sure to consider this as it is so related to the renewing of the mind.

I'm rather sure that all of us as Christians have trouble in certain areas and we do so want to be victorious and glorify our Blessed Lord. The renewing of the mind is the first major step in the direction of success. Daniel, as a believer, is a good example of this lesson. He was only a boy when he was carried into captivity. The world made a bid for his soul. In fact, the head of all Gentile power, King Nebuchadnezzar, demanded that Daniel defile himself with a portion of the king's meat. But the Word of God says 'Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself.' Daniel 1:8. This is the 'renewing of the mind.' Divine enablement follows this, but man's first step is to take a stand against the inroads of evil. 'Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.'  May we as Sons of our Savior do so.

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THE MINISTRY OF YIELDING - Part 2 of 2
By Pastor Lloyd Peterson



This is a continuation of the article from yesterday, concerns the 'HOW' of yieldedness.

Within the heart of every true child (son) of God there is a desire to live a life commendatory to the risen Saviour. It is unnatural for  a Christian to want to live in sin. 1 John 3:9 says, 'Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin (make life a practice of sin) for His seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.'

This is not teaching sinless perfection; it is simply stating that if you are a saved man or woman God's life abides in you and this life does not permit the enjoyable practice of sin. Romans 8:2 is very much like this. It declares: 'For the law of the Spirit of, life in Christ Jesus hath made me free.' A Christian having a defeated life must bring grief to the heart of the Saviour. Do you recall when David had fallen into sin that Nathan, the prophet, told him, 'Because of this deed, thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.'

As Christians we do, therefore, want to live above reproach. But HOW? In the previous message we sought to show that there must first be 'a renewal of the mind.'  To me this is Romans 7. There is the willingness but........how to perform that which is good I find not,' declares Paul in Romans 7:18. To this point Paul had not experienced what he wrote in Romans 8. You see my friend, there is not only renewal of the mind but there is the renewing of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5. When a Christian takes the stand Daniel did in Babylon, 'determining not to defile himself,'  there comes the quickening power of the Holy Spirit enabling the believer to carry out holy dedications.  There are two wonderful verses that come to my mind at this point. They are Rom. 8:11 and 1 Corinthians 6:14. Both speak of the same thing. The former often is used as a funeral text but has no relationship to a dead man but rather to the living. God's Spirit that quickened Christ's dead body will quicken our mortal bodies, not after death but NOW. The latter text has the same testimony. Romans 8 is an exposition of the thought brought forth in these texts.

The renewal of the mind and the renewing ministry of the Holy Spirit is well illustrated by an experience related by a veteran missionary from Africa.  He told of the discipline necessary to be a faithful and ambitious servant of the Master in Africa. He said. "I found myself becoming lazy, tempted to sleep late in the mornings when I should be up, alert and active. My nature was to sleep and the climate was such that it was conducive to sleep, especially at the times that I should get up. Late hours of work at night gave me good excuse to sleep, and yet I felt I should be an example to those working with me. I wanted to break that habit that had formed in my life. -- but how? I was not willing to 'assist' (same word as in Rom.  12:1 'present' and  Rom. 6:13,  (' yield') my body so I set my alarm clock. It awakened me out of a dead sleep. But I was still in bed. All forces of nature intrinsic and extrinsic said 'stay in bed,' but I jumped out of bed, raised my hands toward heavens in stretching, took a deep breath of fresh God-given invigorating air and said, 'Thank God for this new day,' ran around my bed three times and by that time I was renewed in mind and renewed in spirit and was ready for the day."

This is crude perhaps as an illustration but it gives a good picture of the two important factors necessary for successful living. And so it is in the spiritual realm. God show us all how to be best for Him.

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MERCIFUL DEATH
By Miles Stanford



"Set your affection on things above ... for ye died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:2,3).

The spiritual recession that occurs after the early joys of the new birth is not necessarily back-sliding at all. The discovery of the sinful old man is the first and foremost step in the discovery of the righteous Christ-life.

"We are more disposed to be occupied in telling the Father what we are in ourselves, than to allow Him to tell us what we are in the Lord Jesus Christ. So often the believer is more taken up with his own self-consciousness than with the Father's scriptural revelation of Himself. His revelation is one thing; my self-consciousness is quite another."

"It gladdens the heart to hear the new convert speak of the blessings he has received, and of his new-found joy in those blessings; but we can often see very distinctly that he is wrapping all these benefits of grace round himself, and we feel pretty sure that he will have to learn some lessons presently that will take the shine out of him. He will have to learn what a poor wretched thing he is, as in the flesh, that his heart may be transferred to a new center altogether.

"Nothing can be more distasteful to a spiritual mind than to hear people professedly giving a Christian testimony which begins and ends with themselves. It is for the effectual displacement of all this, and to transfer the heart to an entirely new center, that the revelation of the old man is divinely necessary for our souls. The Father has to come in and detach us from that which is our natural center, that He may link our affections with another Person - even with the glorified Lord Jesus Christ - and make Him everything to our hearts, so that our association with Him may be known, and may become the deep, abiding joy of our souls." -C.A.C.

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing" (Rev. 5:12).

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THE HOPLITE OF THE HEAVENLIES - Part 1 of 2
or HOLDING THE FIELD,
Eph.6:10-20, is worthy of inclusion in this study.
By Dr. A. J. RODDY


We dare not consider the stenai [stand] of Eph.6:13 apart from the provisions of chapters one through three. This is no mere privilege: it is an imperative. This stand is the third of three great verbs in this epistle, the first of which is the prerequisite of the other two.

The first is seen in the ineffable assertion "He made us sit together," Eph.2:6. Christ, when He had made purification for sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High, Heb.1:3. God the Father set Christ in His own rights in the heavenlies, Eph.1:20. Paul affirms that we share in that magnificent sequence, as objects of lavished grace, when he states that we are "jointly-quickened with Christ, jointly raised, and jointly-seated with Christ in the super- heavenlies," Eph.2:5b,6.

This is, of course, a Fait Accompli. In as much as through His incarnation, passion, resurrection, and ascension He has forever triumphed over the Accuser, this standing, or should we say, joint-seating, is in no jeopardy of failing. Far from being the victors, we are the objects of the VICTOR'S interest; our role in this glorious enterprise is a passive one, He made us alive in union with Christ Jesus, it was He that worked in Christ Jesus when He raised Him from the dead, Eph.1:19, so raised us up in union with Him. It was He, by that power lifting Christ to the heavenlies and causing Him to be seated in the full rights of God, jointly lifted us into that realm and set us there with Christ.

Observe, it is not said, in raising us to the heavenlies, we are to be seated. He Who delights in the impossible has triumphed over all our weakness in His matchless strength and He has set us as objects of grace in a joint-union with Christ. He picked us up and set us down. It is difficult to accept the fact that we are loved without merit or demerit - no deserving, no striving, no reaching, no attaining, no gaining, and thus, alas, no boasting! Paul asserts that from first to last this is the gift of God. We did not even SIT down, He sat down, and He SEATED US.

Now it is to us, in this heavenly sphere, objects of this grace, that the command comes to walk "worthily of this exalted Calling", 4:1. It would seem impossible that one so blessed should walk unworthily, or otherwise than in love - but the truth we dare not overlook is that the exhortation to walk worthily is directed to those who are so seated. The walk is expected of those who have been made to sit. Only those who have been made to sit with Christ in the heavenlies can hope worthily to walk. The "seating" does not depend upon the walking; the walking, one's way of life, depends upon the sitting. The "Seating" is the work of God in union with the glorified Christ, and we are seated by God and told to walk. The seating is bound up with the accomplished, finished work of Christ, NOT in the walking. The sitting is the cause, the worthily walking is the result.

Here our pride may ensnare us yet. "Here at last," weak flesh shouts gleefully, "is something for me to do." But this is, to the contrary, also the outworking of the indwelling Christ, Who, by the power that is at work in us (that power not being exhausted in our being raised to the heavenlies and seated there) is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we may ask or think, Eph.3:20, in line with the Christ-like walk.

When we come then to the battlefield of 6:10-20, we are told to HOLD THE FIELD, it is still within this glorious context. Because of our seating and walking the call comes to us to Hold the Field. The seating is not in danger, if we yield to the Enemy that which has been wrested from his grasp, the walk may be in danger of being unworthy of such a high calling.

The Great War was won in the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. We are not told to take the field but to hold it. Eph.6:10,11: " ... keep being empowered (endynamousthe, a passive) in union with Jehovah and in union with the effectively-working- might of His strength. Put on God's Panoply, so as to be empowered (dynasthai) to stand against the skillful strategy of the Devil"

The power is His power working in us the impossible, we are told to submit to its constant empowering. No frail human wretch is called upon in his unaided strength to face so great a foe, even if the foe is already conquered. Here, the man of the heavenlies, in union with the Lord of the heavenlies, is reminded of his duty to withstand, he is in no danger, for he has the life of His Lord, in this conflict he cannot lose, for the victory is assured, before the call to battle, he sings the victor's song. The ground is already won, it is his matchless privilege to hold it in union with Christ who empowers him, and Who, in the final analysis, holds it. But the man of the heavenlies is called to share in this enduring conflict, for he who was ousted at Calvary would regain the lost ground, he will not, he cannot, try as he may, for the ground is held in the power of the Lord Jesus. The war is won, through Christ our  Victor.

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THE HOPLITE OF THE HEAVENLIES
PART 2 OF 2
By Dr. A. J. RODDY



"Dress up in God's panoply", Eph.6:11. The emphasis is not upon the English word "whole." The word panoply means whole Armor; for what Hoplite (foot-soldier) would consider going to war with only part of his Armor? This is a war against a master schemer intent upon wrecking the life of the Man of the Heavenlies, the Heavenly Hoplite, as he goes about his walk. Satan, nor demon, cannot touch the life seated jointly with Christ in the heavenlies but he will contest the victory claim to the end that the life he cannot touch be rendered as ineffectual as possible. It is not rewards that are disputed but the usefulness of a person's life for Christ.

Each of these epithets, Eph.6:12, Principalities, Authorities, World Tyrants of this Darkness, Spirits of Super mundane Wickedness in battle dress - they march, but you are not told to march, you are not told to fight. You are told to be dressed in God's panoply so as to be able yourself to stand. This is repeated "for this reason pick up God's panoply, so that you may be able to withstand in the day, the Evil One, and having done all things thoroughly to be able to stand decisively there, Eph.6:13.

If one strips away the imagery of physical "Armour" the panoply consists of Truth, Righteousness, the Gospel of Peace, the Faith, and the Word of God. Satan's warfare is against these issues.

Before the Heavenly Hoplite takes his stand upon these ramparts he does the "girding ... putting on ... binding under the feet (the sandals) ... picking up." After the hoplite has done all these, he then takes his stand.

Only the praying is present, 6:18, as though timeless, characterizing every act of the soldier. Thus, the warfare of the heavenlies is bounded by the command ever to submit to the empowering and ever to be praying in every season in spirit.

Praying for whom? For all the saints. They too are heavenly hoplites; and they too take their stand. Ever praying, for whom? "And for me ... " Ah! for thee, Paul? Bound in chains, gazing perhaps upon the Roman soldier to whose wrists thou art chained, whose very Armour may have given thee the figures for these passages; for thee Paul, who despite chains and prisons art none the less a heavenly hoplite of God? And, why pray for thee? Wouldst thou be free of thy chains? Wouldst thou be free of thy prison? Ah, hear him, this great soldier-saint: "and for me, that to me may be granted utterance, in opening my mouth (not these prison doors), with boldness to make known the Mystery of the Good News, for the sake of which I GROW OLD IN MY CHAINS (for this is the meaning of "I am an ambassador" that I may speak freely in it, as indeed I must speak."

Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land.
I hear them hail thy bright, ascendant star.

Hast thou no scar?

Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent,
 Leaned me against a tree to die: and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?

No wound? No scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And pierced are the feet that follow me;
But thine are whole ... can he have traveled far
Who has no wound or scar? By: Amy Carmichael

Dr. A. J. Roddy

Hoplite, Gr., "hoplites" - tool or weapon, a heavily armed soldier. A.J.R.

Satan is not Omnipotent, Omnipresent, nor Omniscient. Demon activity crested in crisis in view of Christ's impending death and resurrection. Curiously, demons used Christ's rightful titles. Mt,8:28,29; Lk.4:33,34. Demon activity is within the realm of Satan's pseudo- Ministers of Righteousness, 2 Cor.11:13-15. R.H.S.

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THE SOVEREIGN GOD AND HIS WORD
By Pastor Paul Hume


Scripture Reading: 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Psa. 68:11

"Prove to me in one word that the Bible is the inspired Word of God!" demanded King Frederick of Prussia of a Christian minister one time. After a few moments of thought the answer came clear, "The Jew, Sir, the remarkable Jew is one evidence that the Bible is the inspired Word of God!"

Yes! The Bible IS the very Word of our sovereign God even though He chose to use some forty human authors through which to give His Word. Yet the truth still stands, "The Lord (the Master) gave the Word" (Psa. 68:11). "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God"--that is, "all Scripture is God-breathed." By His Spirit He brought the Word of God into being! No wonder we read in Hebrews 4:12 that it is "living and active," "His Word, said the Psalmist, 'runneth very swiftly' (Psa. 147:15). According to both Isaiah 55:11 and Matthew 4:4 it came forth from the very mouth of God! Blessed Book! It is "forever settled in heaven!"

Can men ever destroy this Book? They may burn Bibles by the thousands, pass laws preventing the propagation of that Book, jail or even slay the  preachers of it, yet "heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away" (Matt. 24:35). Men may cry that it is out-dated and not relevant to our times, yet it still abides and is changing the lives of millions who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ! Why! Because God has sworn to stand by His Word: "I will hasten my word to perform it" (Jer. 1:12).

"The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
'Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.
The Bible stands ev'ry test we give it,
For its Author is divine;
By grace alone I expect to live it,
And prove it and make it mine,"

Now we may say a hearty "Amen" to these blessed  truths--and rightly should we. But the acid test is this: "Does this Book have authority over my life?" If not, then you are in rebellion against its blessed Author! I trust you are not, but if you are, remember that "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry!"

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The Other Sheep
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler

Scripture Reading:

    “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” — John 10:16

A short time ago I made a passing reference to the “other sheep” which generated a lot of interest among our readers. Some were under the impression that this phrase had to do with the reunification of the divided kingdom. Others had been taught that the “other sheep” is the Church, the Body of Christ. Having been in the ministry for many years, it has been my experience that when someone has a question such as this, there are normally twenty standing in the wings wondering the same thing. So, with God’s help I shall do my best to shed additional light on the matter.

Those who are Acts 2 dispensationalists normally hold the position that the ones who “are not of this fold” are the members of the Body of Christ. This is an inexcusable dispensational blunder, but it is understandable since they do not consistently rightly divide the Word of truth. Once again, we must ask ourselves the question: To whom was our Lord speaking, and at what time? The discourse on the Good Shepherd was delivered by Christ when He was on the earth at least two years before the Apostle Paul was given his special revelation.

Inasmuch as Paul was the first to receive the truth of the One Body, the “other sheep” in the above context could in no way be the Body of Christ.

But there’s more. None of the Apostle Paul’s Gentile epistles contain a reference to the members of Christ’s Body being sheep, much less a sheepfold. However, these metaphors are found throughout the pages of prophecy, which serves as another distinguishing factor between the two programs of God.

THE HOUSES OF ISRAEL

    “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah” (Jer. 31:31).

Under the reign of Rehoboam the kingdom was divided in Israel. The division proved to be devastating as the ten northern tribes, which came to be called the house of Israel, appointed Jeroboam as their King. He, of course, destroyed the religious unity of the nation when he erected altars at Dan and Bethel and caused the children of Israel to offer sacrifices unto the gods of Egypt (I Kings 12:16-31).

On the other hand, the house of Judah (tribes of Judah and Benjamin) followed in the ways of the Lord and continued to offer their sacrifices in Jerusalem, thus obeying the Law and the prophets. They remained in the Lord’s favor in spite of the fact that He allowed them to be carried off into the Babylonian captivity for their lapse of faith. These two tribes were by far the more spiritual tribes in Israel, not to mention that it was in Bethlehem of Judaea where the Prince of Peace chose to be born.

Consequently, some believe that the “other sheep” are the ten northern tribes who will be brought back into the fold at the Second Coming of Christ. Hence, there will be one fold and one Shepherd. We surely concur that there will be a reunification of the tribes of Israel as represented by the binding of the two sticks in Ezekiel 37:15-28.

This, however, must not be confused with the sheepfold. Israel is the sheep of God, whether they were of the northern or southern tribes. The Lord would have never called His chosen people the “other sheep.” They are the sheep and therefore the primary fold.

If we say that the ten northern tribes are the “other sheep,” then what about the kingdom Gentiles — where do they fit into the picture?

It is often overlooked, but God had made a provision in prophecy for the Gentiles to be saved through Israel. Thus, they are also said to be joined to the Lord. And Isaiah goes on to add, “Even them [the Gentiles] will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer…” (Isa. 56:6,7). Insofar as the Gentiles are the last non-Jewish converts to be reached under the Great Commission, the classification “other sheep” fits them perfectly. But some are sure to inquire: “Are the Gentiles ever called sheep in prophecy?” Indeed they are, please read prayerfully Matthew 25:31-46.

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THE SECRET OF SPIRITUAL VICTORY
by C. R. Stam

    Believers in Christ have been made "free from sin" by grace (Rom. 6:14,18.) in the sense that they need not, indeed, should not, yield to sin when temptation arises (Rom. 6:12,13). Believers have also been made "free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2) for Christ, in grace, bore the death penalty for them.

But no believer is free from what Paul calls "the law of sin which is in my members" (Rom. 7:23), that is, the old flesh, with its inherent tendency to do wrong. Nor is he free from the conflict with the new nature which this involves. If the Christian would be truly spiritual and deal in a scriptural way with the sin that indwells him, he must clearly recognize its presence; he must face the fact that while, thank God, he is no longer "in sin", sin is still in him. (Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.)

But this conflict should not discourage us, for it is one of the true signs of salvation. It is unknown to the unbeliever, for only the additional presence of the new nature, along with the flesh, causes this conflict, for the Bible says about these two: "these are contrary the one to the other" (Gal. 5:17).

But not only is this conflict within the believer a sure sign of salvation; it also creates within him a deep and necessary sense of our inward imperfection and of the infinite grace of a holy God in saving us and ministering to us daily in helping us to overcome sin. And this in turn gives us a more understanding approach as we proclaim to the lost "the gospel of the grace of God".

Paul's epistles show clearly that there is nothing that will so help us to overcome sin and live pleasing to God as an understanding and an appreciation of what He has done for us in Christ. As we are occupied with these "things of the Spirit" we find ourselves "walking in the Spirit", and Galatians 5:16 says: "WALK IN THE SPIRIT, AND YE SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH". How much better to have our lives transformed by occupation with Christ (II Cor. 3:18.) and our position and blessings in the heavenlies with Him (Col. 3:1-3), than to assume the hopeless task of trying to improve the "the flesh"; always engaged in introspection; always occupied with the flesh!

[nChrist]

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The Coming Grace Revolution
by Steve McVey


We need a change – a big change. A revolutionary change. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines revolution as “the overthrow or renunciation of one government or ruler and the substitution of another by the governed; a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something; a change of paradigm.”

That’s what we need – the overthrow of the dead religious legalism we tried to make nice with for so much of our Christian lives. I’ve seen its devastating effect on people’s lives. I talked to the young girl two weeks ago who tried to commit suicide last month because she can’t live up to the demands she has placed on herself. She was brainwashed by what somebody told her was the Bible when it was really nothing but religious babble.

I’ve talked to the pastor who is caught in the middle between grace lovers and hard core legalists who seek to disrupt the church because grace scares them out of their wits. I’ve spoken to the church members whose pastor gave a rebuttal on a Sunday night to what I’d taught all weekend. I’ve heard from those who innocently ask, “Is this really true?” and find it hard to believe that the gospel could really be that good. After all, they reason, there must be something that we have to do besides simply believe that Christ did it all. Where’s “our part” in that?

Something is happening. Its time has come and I want to be a part of it. A grace revolution is under way.  In this revolution, those of us who are tired of the same-old-same-old we’ve heard declared for gospel truth for years only to now discover it’s a load of flesh are going to boldly take our stand. We will love everybody. There’s no question about that, but we aren’t going to try to sugar coat our words anymore. The truth is what it is and, if the only way people are going to be set free is when they know the truth, (and that’s what Jesus said) then we need to be bold about it. Our love for Christ and His church compels us to do so.

Mild mannered men with mild mannered messages teaching men how to be more mild mannered never usher in revolutions. The world isn’t changed by a namby-pamby submission to or compromise with a system that is flat wrong. It’s time for us to stand up together and bring the message of Christ back to the front of the stage. The performance based, we-need-to-rededicate-ourselves-to-try-harder approach has been in the limelight long enough and has come up short. It doesn’t work. It just doesn’t. What works is Jesus Christ.

I want you to get on board with me in this. If you believe in the message of the grace walk, don’t sit on the sidelines. Don’t just hope that this message will spread. It’s time to sign up for active duty in expanding the kingdom of grace. Business-as-usual isn’t going to change the world. We must step it up a notch – a big notch.

I want to bombard cities with the grace of God through Grace Walk Groups who become the catalyst for revolution where they live. I want to blitz pastors with Grace Walk  books because I know how God has already used the book to transform many pastors. I’m thinking of pastors I’ve talked to in the past few weeks. Men like Tom Lanier, who got so excited that he bought air time on a local radio station and, over a period of days, read the whole book on the air and gave away free copies to everybody who called in and requested it.  Guys like Don Fugate who started a church where he can build up lives on the foundation of this message. People like Mike Meadows who said that he can’t teach anything else. Their DNA has been changed. Those are the kind of people God is using and will use – quiet or not-so-quiet revolutionaries who are willing, like Martin Luther, to say “Here I stand, I can do no other.”

It won’t always be easy. I’ve had attacks ranging from written reviews by pseudo-intellectuals who call me antinomian to wild-eyed kooks whose review suggested that “Steve McVey is a liar with twisted views and a bad haircut.” (I must admit, that one’s pretty funny.) If you get in on this revolution, brace yourself. Or to use the words of the Apostle Paul, “stand firm in the faith, be a man, be strong” (1 Cor 16:13).

Much is at stake but as C.S. Lewis said in “The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe,” Aslan (Christ) is on the move!  Let’s follow Him and be tools in His hands to usher in a revolution of grace.

[nChrist]

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GOD'S POWER PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS
by C. R. Stam



To Paul was committed the greatest revelation of all-time. He was divinely commissioned to proclaim the glorious all-sufficiency of Christ's redemptive work. He made known God's offer of salvation by free grace to all who trust in Christ, along with their heavenly position, blessings and prospect in Christ.

Lest he should become puffed up by the glory of these great truths, God gave him what he called "a thorn in the flesh," an aggravating physical infirmity of some sort. "For this thing," he says, "I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me" (II Cor. 12:8.). But the Lord knew better than Paul what was good for him:

"And He said unto me. My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (Ver. 9).

How right God was! Every Christian knows that with brimming health and "good fortune" comes the tendency to forget our need of Him, while infirmity causes us to lean harder and to pray more, and this is where our spiritual power lies. Every believer should acknowledge this and say with Paul:

"Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities... for when I am weak, then am I strong" (Vers. 9,10).

Infirmities of the flesh are common even among God's choicest saints. What satisfaction there is, then, in resting upon God's Word: "My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

[nChrist]

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When He First Loved Us
Oscar M. Baker


     We can never fully express the love of God.  It is past finding out, as far as the fleshly nature of man is concerned.  It is the same with the love of Christ (Eph. 3:19).  In looking at John 17:24 we find the Sons reminding the Father that He had loved Him before the foundation of the world.  The questions that arise are, When was this? and why?

    This word foundation, KATABOLE, occurs 3 times in the Bible (John 17:24; Eph. 1:4; 1 Peter 1:20).  It is made up of two words, KATA and BOLE.  BOLE is a noun and occurs once in the Scriptures (Lu. 22:41).  There it is translated "cast".  Our Lord went about a "stone's cast" from the disciples to pray.  KATA is variously translated as down, out, away, etc.  One can readily see that there is nothing in the word foundation that would fit the idea given by the Greek.  But at the same time one must note that this  casting is not a striking.  There was nothing done to the stone; it was flung away.

    Some time the earth must have been cast or flung from its place, either in this solar system or some other, and did not always have the same orbit and place that it now does.  This could account, in part at least, for the overthrow of Gen. 1:2.  This may be more understandable to those who have studied the known history of Venus.

    We have before connected this overthrow of the world with the downfall of Lucifer.  Here is where sin and death entered the universe.  Now we also have noted before that there was a promise of life in Christ before the ages began (Eph. 3:6;  2 Tim. 1:1 ; and Titus 1:2).

    This life was to be made possible by a great sacrifice which was determined before age times, before the flinging away of the world (1 Pet. 1:20).  Here the lamb was foreordained.  Contrary to popular notions, God's wrath did not fall on the sacrifice, not ever.  The sacrifice was accepted, it was a sweet-smelling savor.  God did not pour out His wrath on His Son at Calvary, but accepted Him and all that believe in Him.  That is why we are accepted in Him.

    Because the Son was to be the sacrifice and would be obedient, the Father loved Him for the very time that this was planned, which was before age times, before the flinging away of the world.  This love is in contrast to the hate a holy God must have for sin and death.  God's rule had been questioned; His glory dimmed; and His creation ruined by the revolt.

    Since this ruin and its effects were not confined to this little earth, but affected the heavens as well, this promise of life and this Lamb that was to be slain would have more than the earth for their sphere of influence.  So that the heavens might be restored, a people was chosen from before this flinging away and disruption which followed (Eph. 1:4). That a kingdom should be established on the earth was a plan that was made later, after the failure of Adam and his race.  So the things that pertain to the kingdom are since the foundation, or rather disruption of the world.

[nChrist]

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THE HAND OF LIFE
By Miles Stanford

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

'The life that emerges from death is administered by a loving, nail-pierced hand.

"As with the seed that is buried once for all, but then disintegrated through a gradual process that sets free the new life, even so does our Father deal with our old nature by delivering it to death with the Lord Jesus once for all, and then bringing about its mortifying in detail through the circumstances of daily life, until the power of the old man has lost its hold on us."---L.T.

"We are going to have to learn death in order to know life. Redemption must be known first, and the ultimate effect will be death to sin, to selfishness; and all this is very trying. One might be tempted to say, All this trial comes upon me because I have not been redeemed. Not so; it is just because you are redeemed. We may seek to avoid the bitter waters of Marah, but our Father will bring us to them. He intends to break down what is of the old man, and then, in His own good time, He will pour in that which sweetens all.

"But because God has brought me to Himself, He is putting His finger on everything that hinders complete dependence upon Him, or my soul's full enjoyment of Himself. So count it not strange, though it be a fiery trial which is to try you; for the Father will have you drink of the very thing (death) that redeemed you." -J.N.D

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

[nChrist]

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Taking God At His Word
by Pastor C. R. Stam


 Because of a failure to understand God’s purposes as outlined in the Scriptures some have felt it necessary to alter many of the plainest statements of Holy Writ. Supposing that God could not have meant exactly what He said, they have concluded that these things must be interpreted in  a “spiritual” sense.

 Actually there is nothing spiritual about failing to take God at His Word, and seeking to explain away difficulties by arbitrarily altering what He has plainly said.

 First, this would leave us at the mercy of theologians. If the Scriptures do not mean what they say, who has the authority to decide what they do mean? And how can we turn to the Word of God for light if it does not mean what it says, and only trained theologians can tell us what it does mean?

 Second, this altering of the Scriptures affects the veracity of God. It is a thrust at His very honor. If the obvious, natural meaning of the Old Testament promises are not to be depended upon, how can we depend upon any promise of God? Then, when He says: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13), He may also mean something else instead of what He actually says.

 Third, this “spiritualizing” of Scriptures endorses apostasy, for it allows men to alter the meaning of God’s Word according to their will.

 The path to a true understanding and enjoyment of the Bible is not in altering but in “rightly dividing” it (II Tim. 2:15).

 Those who have resorted to the “spiritualization” of the prophetic Scriptures because they cannot account for the seeming cessation in their fulfillment, will find the solution to their problem in are cognition of the unique character of Paul’s apostleship and message. Recognize “the mystery” revealed through Paul and there will be no need to alter prophecy.