GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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Baptized Into Christ
Part 4 of 5
By Dennis Kiszona


All of these baptisms that we have seen so far, as beautiful as they are, were all part of a prophesied program of God. They were all part of a message which promised entrance into a kingdom here on the earth. This was God’s plan for the nation of Israel. These were Jewish baptisms. We know from reading on in the Bible, through the book of Acts, there came a time when God set aside the nation of Israel and postponed their kingdom.

He had sent them John the Baptist. The Lord Jesus Christ had come to the nation. The Holy Spirit had come and filled the disciples. Israel’s response: murder, murder, murder. They stood by as John the Baptist was beheaded. They handed over the Lord Jesus Christ to crucifixion. They themselves picked up the stones and stoned Stephen, a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 7 and 8, the nation of Israel was cast away and that earthly kingdom was put “on hold.”

Then a wonderful thing happened. From heaven’s glory, the Lord Jesus Christ reached down in unfathomable grace and mercy to a man traveling down a road with vengeance and bitterness in his heart - a man named Saul - who was on his way to persecute the saints of God. He was a man who was called “the chief of sinners,” and the leader of Israel’s rebellion against the Lord. The Lord reached down and stopped that man in his tracks, saving him by His grace. This man’s name was changed from “Saul” to “Paul” and God made him an apostle.

He was called as an apostle not to the nation of Israel, but rather to the Gentiles. An apostle not of an earthly kingdom, but of the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ. An apostle not of a prophesied program, but of a secret - a mystery - hidden in God from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 3:9).

Part of that revelation called “the mystery,” which the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to Paul, was a baptism. It was not a baptism of water, not a baptism of oil, nor a baptism of blood. It was a baptism that was unknown before the apostle Paul. You can search the Scriptures from Genesis up to Paul’s writings and you will not find even a hint of it.

The first mention of this new baptism is in the book of Romans and chapter 6.

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (v. 3)

In 1 Corinthians 12:12 and 13, Paul writes,

“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body being many are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”

He writes about a baptism that is only part of “the mystery” which is found only in his letters - a unique baptism for us who are living in the dispensation of the grace of God. Here is a baptism that is not at all related with entering into an earthly kingdom, but a baptism that brings you into the Body of Christ. It is not a baptism of the priesthood - not a washing in water, not an anointing with oil, not a sprinkling of blood. It is not even a baptism of Messiah pouring out His Spirit on His people. It is a baptism that is an operation of the Holy Spirit Himself, taking a believer, the moment he puts his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, fusing him into the body and person of the Lord Jesus Christ so that he becomes one with Him (1 Corinthians 12:12). Paul was able to look at the church in Corinth and see Christ, not many individual members. They were one with Him. They were Christ!

I don’t think there can be any doubt that the “one baptism” of which Paul writes in Ephesians 4:5 is the same baptism which he wrote about in Romans 6 and 1 Corinthians 12. It is the fact that one Spirit baptized us into one body. This is the one baptism for this dispensation of the grace of God in which we are living.

Someone will inevitably say, “Hey, wait a minute! Didn’t Paul baptize some people with water? And if he baptized some with water and the Holy Spirit baptized them, that’s two baptisms, right?” Let’s check it out.

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Baptized Into Christ
Part 5 of 5
By Dennis Kiszona




We need to realize that in the early ministry of the Apostle Paul in the book of Acts, he not only baptized people, but he circumcised them too (Acts 16:3). After all that Paul had written in Galatians about not practicing circumcision, he takes one of the Galatians, Timothy, and circumcises him. Continue reading in the same book and you see how Paul cut his hair to keep a Jewish vow. You observe Paul going into the temple to offer a Jewish sacrifice. You hear Paul speaking in tongues. You watch Paul baptizing people with a Jewish baptism. The question is, “Should we follow him?” or “Is that an example for us?”

Take a look at what he says in 1 Corinthians chapter 1.
“I thank God that I baptized none of you . . .” (v. 14a)

A good Baptist, isn’t he? But then he remembers a few:

“. . . except Crispus and Gaius. . . . I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect” (vv. 14, 16-17).

Among the many things that could be said, I want to make one point: When Paul preached his gospel (the gospel of the grace of God), from the beginning of his ministry to the end of his ministry, he did not have to preach water baptism along with it. When Peter preached his gospel (the gospel of the kingdom), he had to preach water baptism. Everywhere Peter preached he preached water baptism. Christ had sent him to preach water baptism and the kingdom (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15018.). Paul says, “I was not sent to baptize.” It was never an intrinsic part of his gospel. In fact, as we read the letters of Paul, we find nowhere that he beseeches, or commands, or exhorts, or recommends, or says anything to the effect that members of the body of Christ ought to be baptized in water.

Why then did he baptize? He writes:
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know just as I also am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

The Greek word for “dimly” (KJV: “darkly”) is enigma, which means “a puzzle.” At this point in his ministry, during the book of Acts, as Paul looked at his own ministry he could say, “I don’t know it all yet.” We could ask, “Paul, why did you cut your hair, why did you keep that vow, why did you offer that sacrifice, why did you speak in tongues, why did you baptize those people with that Jewish baptism?” There are several reasons, but I believe there are times when Paul would say, “It is kind of an enigma, isn’t it? Even I, at that time, didn’t know the whole thing yet.”

But there came a day when the Lord Jesus Christ completed that revelation of the mystery to the apostle Paul in prison at Rome. At that time he moved into the full light of that revelation that Christ gave to him. We read about it in the prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon - and in the pastoral epistles. Paul says, now having the full knowledge of the mystery, “There is one baptism” - one Spirit baptizing us into one body (Ephesians 4:5). And in Colossians 2:15, he tells us that, when we are in that one body, baptized into Christ, we are “Complete in Him.”

The Effects of the “One Baptism”

I would like to conclude by reflecting upon the effects this has in our lives - being baptized by one baptism into the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Being baptized into His Body, we are made close to the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul writes, in 1 Corinthians 6:17, “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” When we were baptized into Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:13), we became one body with the Lord. Now we see in this verse that we became one spirit with the Lord.

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. . . “(Galatians 3:27).

We are Christ’s. We are members of Him. I may forget something that belongs to me, but I will not put down my hand anywhere and forget it. I may misplace a book that is in my library, but I won’t lose track of my foot. My hand and my foot are my members - they are me. Paul says that we have put on Christ. We are baptized into His body and have become one with Him.

“For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. . . . This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:30, 32).


Twenty-five years ago I was graduating from 8th grade at St. Mary Star-of-the-Sea School on the south side of Chicago. At the end of that year, the Sister said, “I want you each to take a piece of paper and write down what you want to do with your life.” Some kids said, “I want to be a teacher,” or “I want to be a mechanic,” or “I want to play for the Chicago White Sox.” But I wrote down on that piece of paper, “I want to live on a mountain and really get close to God.”

Continue tomorrow for conclusion

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Baptized Into Christ
Conclusion
By Dennis Kiszona




By His grace, I made it! Bone of His bones, flesh of His flesh, one body and one spirit with the Lord. What more could God say? You cannot be any closer than that. You can’t feel it, see it, or touch it, but you know it because Christ said it: He is in me and I am in Him.

Being baptized into His Body, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit.

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13, 14).

Note the order: First, you heard the gospel. Second, you believed - you trusted the Lord as your Saviour. And Paul says that at that moment, God’s Holy Spirit moved in with that baptism. It was not only the baptism, but also a sealing in Him. We are not part of the vine and the branches, where the branches can be cut off if they’re not fruitful and be thrown into the fire. We are members of His body and sealed in Him, safe and secure.

Being baptized into His Body, we are seated with Christ in heaven - now!

“Even when we were dead in trespasses, [He] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5, 6).

We may be walking about on this earth, but we are members of Christ’s body, and our head is in heaven. Because I am one with Him, I am already seated with Him in heavenly places. Ephesians chapter 1 and verse three tells me that, because I am seated with Christ in heavenly places, God, my Father, has blessed me “with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.”

Being baptized into His Body, we are joined to each other with a spiritual bond.

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

The same Holy Spirit that came to live in me is the same Holy Spirit that came to live in you. I don’t understand how the same person can be in me, in you, and in each member of Christ’s body, but this tells me that this one baptism by one Spirit into one body has pulled us all together - not only individually into the Lord Jesus Christ, but also with one another. When you see that unity, you begin to look at fellow Christians in a different light. You begin to treasure each one. God the Spirit is dwelling in each one to make us one body by this one spiritual baptism.

By this one baptism, I am placed into Christ and Christ into me. I become one with Him as a member of His body.

By this one baptism, I’m not only in Christ, but I’m sealed in Him forever.

By this one baptism, I have been seated in the heavenlies and have been blessed with all spiritual blessings.

By this one baptism, I’ve become one with Him and one with each member of Christ’s Body forever.

I believe in baptism - this greatest baptism in all the Bible, baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

A Final Word . . .

Maybe you’ve been baptized with water or had some kind of “religious” experience, but you can receive this real baptism. The Lord Jesus died on the cross to bear my sins and your sins, to pay for them once for all time. Whoever you are, no matter where you’ve come from, no matter what you’ve ever done, if you have never trusted in Him, He’s waiting for you and He’s inviting you now to trust in Him as your Savior. Stop trying to save yourself. Stop depending on a church, a sacrament, some ritual prayers, or a religion. God will save you tonight if you will simply put your faith in, and rely on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. At that very moment, God the Holy Spirit will baptize you and will place you into the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. You could never be closer to God than that. If you want to be saved right now, trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and God will save you.

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The Incarnation of Christ
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler



      Historically, it is a well-established fact that Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem in the days of Herod the King. Matthew and Luke record our Lord’s arrival with remarkable simplicity that even a child can understand. But it is the Apostle to the Gentiles who explains the significance of the incarnation of Christ.

According to Paul

When Christ left heaven’s glory, He as God, emptied Himself of the outward manifestation of His attributes. It was essential that the Lord veil the glory of His deity so sinful humanity could exist in His presence.

—Philippians 2:6,7

Christ’s entrance into the world was through natural means like any other birth. He was born of the woman that He might accomplish the great work of redemption.

—Galatians 4:4,5

Our Lord humbled Himself by stepping into a sinless human form so that He might experience all the trials and temptations we encounter. Therefore, He took upon Himself the form of a servant that He might minister to others.

—Philippians 2:7,8

Into this pure, sinless vessel was poured our sins and iniquities. As a result, He was made sin for us so that His righteousness might be imputed to us.

—II Corinthians 5:21

The Manger and the Cross stand at the opposite ends of our Lord’s earthly life, but they are uniquely connected by a special revelation given to Paul that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” It has been said, “Though Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born, if He’s not born in you, your soul is still forlorn.”

Although tradition often overshadows the truth, may God, in His infinite grace, use us as instruments to show a lost and dying world the Way, which is Christ Jesus.

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EXPERIENCE SUPERSEDED
By Miles Stanford



"And they who know Thy Name will put their trust in Thee" (Ps. 9:10).


Our experiences must be judged by God's Word, never the Word judged by our experiences. Normally, the Spirit of Truth will reveal a truth to us from the Scriptures and, as we exercise faith in what we have been shown, will begin to take us into the experience of it. Abnormally, a Christian will yearn for an 'experience,' and then attempt to find corroboration for it in the Word.

"Knowledge must carry the torch before faith." Always give God's Word first place, "for the Word of God liveth and worketh, and is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, yea, to the inmost parts thereof, and judging the thoughts and imaginations of the heart" (Heb. 4:12, Cony.).

"A person may easily know his sins forgiven, but it is a further truth to know that he himself has 'died to sin.' He finds this conflicts with his experience. Suppose I tell you a debt of a thousand pounds which you owed was paid by someone, it would not be a question of experience, but of simply believing my statement. Just so with God. He tells us our sins are forgiven, and it is a question whether we believe Him. But when He tells us we have died to sin, we look inside and say, 'Ah, sin is still at work; how is that?' A person must be taught of God to know really the truth that he has died to sin."--J.N.D.

''It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" (Luke 4:4).

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Our Reasonable Service
By Gregg Bing


"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1)

With these familiar words, the apostle Paul begins the portion of the letter to the Romans that deals with the daily life and service of a believer. Paul beseeches each of us as brethren, as fellow believers in Christ, to present our bodies as a sacrifice to God.

The word beseech literally means to "call to the side of" for the purpose of supporting, comforting, encouraging, or urging. Paul is urging and encouraging us, as believers, to "present" ourselves to God.

To "present" means "to place near or beside; to put at the disposal of; to make available for use." The word is used in Matthew 26:53 when Peter tried to prevent Jesus' arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, and Jesus asked him, "Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?" This same word is used in Luke 2:22 when Jesus' parents brought Him to Jerusalem, as a baby, "to present Him to the Lord." In accordance with the law of the firstborn (Exo. 13:2,12), Jesus' parents consecrated Him and presented Him to the Lord. We are urged to do the same thing with our bodies: to "present" or "yield" them to the Lord as "members of righteousness to God" (Rom. 6:13), that they might be vessels "for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Tim. 2:21).

Believers are to present their bodies a sacrifice to God. The word "sacrifice" is the same word that is used for the Old Testament sacrifices (Heb. 10:1), as well as for Christ's sacrifice to God for us (Eph. 5:2). Paul uses three adjectives to describe our sacrifice to God.

A Living Sacrifice

First, it is to be a living sacrifice. Old Testament sacrifices were slain and offered to the Lord, but ours is to be a living sacrifice. 2 Corinthians 5:15 states that "... those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."

A Holy Sacrifice

Second, our sacrifice is to be a holy sacrifice. The word holy means "separated or set apart." The Old Testament offerings consisted of a lamb or a ram which was without spot or blemish (Lev. 1:3). The Lord Jesus Himself was offered to God "as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pet. 1:19). A holy God requires a holy offering. As believers, we are sanctified or made holy by the blood of Christ. When we trust in Christ as our Savior, we are placed "in Christ." God sees us as He sees Christ: "holy and without blame before Him" (Eph. 1:4). This is what we are positionally in Christ, but as a living sacrifice, believers should also seek to live holy, separated lives for the Lord; lives which are set apart from the world (1 John 2:15-17) with its sinful thoughts, desires, words, and actions; lives which are clean and pure; lives which are consecrated to a holy God.

An Acceptable Sacrifice

Third, our sacrifice is to be an acceptable sacrifice. The word acceptable means "well pleasing;" that which brings delight or pleasure. The majority of people, including many believers, live to please themselves or to please other people, but Romans 12:1 declares that our sacrifice is to be well pleasing to God. Many of the Old Testament sacrifices were offerings made by fire. When these offerings were given and sacrificed in accordance with God's Word, the smell of the offering, as it was burnt, was "a sweet aroma to the Lord" (Lev. 1:13). This means it was well pleasing to Him. The Lord Jesus was called by God, "My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17). When Jesus Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice to God in our behalf, it was a "sweet-smelling aroma" to God (Eph. 5:2). As a living sacrifice, we are to seek to please the Lord in all that we do, say, and think. The apostle Paul stated this was to be our aim in life, "to be well pleasing to Him" (2 Cor. 5:9).

Here is God's desire for His children—that we present our bodies as a sacrifice to Him, a sacrifice that is living, holy, and well pleasing to the Lord. Paul declares that this is our "reasonable service." The word service, as used in the New Testament, refers to service rendered unto God. When Jesus was tempted to bow down and worship Satan, He answered, "It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only you shall serve" (Matt. 4:10). The word service is used particularly of service rendered to God in the tabernacle (Heb. 9:1,6). It is closely associated with the idea of worship.

The word reasonable is the Greek word logikos, which is akin to the Greek word logos. It means "reasonable, logical, rational; that which is of the mind, thus it is sensible or intelligent." When we consider God's wonderful love for us and the indescribable gift He has given us in His Son (John 3:16, 1 John 4:10), what should our reasonable response be? When we consider that we have been bought with the precious blood of Christ and therefore we belong to God (1 Cor. 6:20), what should be our logical service? When we consider God's wonderful purpose for our lives, to bring glory and honor to Him and to be ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20), what is the sensible, intelligent thing for us to do? We are to worship the Lord and serve Him only; we are to sacrificially present ourselves to God, placing ourselves completely at His disposal to be used as He sees fit. This is our reasonable service.

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Shadow and Substance
By Weldon Rightmer

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect." (Heb. 10:1)

"Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." (Col. 2:17)

"Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation (a making thoroughly right)." (Heb. 9:10)

In the matter of salvation it is very important that we arrive at proper conclusions. However, we feel that even here many men miss the mark. They try to impose upon us some of the things which belong back in the shadow days. One should never be satisfied with anything less than the real substance.

For instance, a wrong interpretation is placed upon Ephesians 5:26 and Titus 3:5. Those who believe in baptismal regeneration make a big to do about the meaning of the word "washing" in these two passages. The word is "loutron," meaning "laver" or "bath." This immediately reminds us of the truth brought out in Exodus 30:17-21. It was necessary that the priest and his sons wash at this laver before entering the Tabernacle. Because of the connection between these words, many insist that sinners are saved by submitting to baptism in water. A careful reading of Hebrews 9:8-12 and 10:1 will show the folly of such a notion. The washing in Ephesians is accomplished by the Word. It takes place in the sphere of the Word, not in some baptistry. The washing in Titus could not be by water; for God says, "Not by works of righteous -ness which we have done." The word "regeneration" means "re-creation" or "rebirth." This washing, or cleansing, takes place when we are created anew in Christ Jesus. We feel sorry for those who would rather have the shadow than the substance.

Another case is found in 1 Peter 3:21.

"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

This carries us back beyond the shadows of the law. But, in a measure, we see shadow and substance. The word "figure" means "antitype" in this particular passage. If the baptism mentioned here is the antitype, then Noah's experience must have been the type. Noah certainly did not get wet. God shut Noah in the ark, and it was lifted up by the waters, above the judgment sent by Almighty God. The waters beat against the ark, but Noah and his family were safe within. This ark is a type of Christ. The flood waters that beat against our Lord at Calvary will not reach those who are in Him. (See Psalms 42:7). We believe that Peter was speaking of the baptism of suffering our Saviour experienced at Calvary. Read Luke 12:50. This is the baptism that saves.

Even in this dispensation, it is necessary that one be baptized in order to go to heaven. Let us say quickly that we do not have reference to water baptism. In times past there have been "divers baptisms." These were merely shadows. There is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). We believe that a careful reading of Ephesians 1:13 and 4:3 indicates that this is the baptism accomplished by the Holy Spirit. When one accepts the Lord as Saviour the Spirit of God sets His seal upon the work of Christ. Also, the Lord says that He is talking about the "unity of the Spirit." Why should we bring in a foreign element?

Listen to this verse,

"Buried with him in baptism, the baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." (Col. 2:12)

This is real baptism, administered by God Himself. As someone has wisely said, "We are the ones who have actually been baptized." Those before us had only the shadows.

Is it necessary for one to be circumcised in order to go to heaven? It all depends on whether we are speaking of shadow or substance. Our readers will immediately say, "we are definitely not a circumcised people." In a sense that is true. "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). Compare also Galatians 2:7. We are not the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands. To practice such circumcision for spiritual reasons is to no avail in the present dispensation. See Galatians 5:3-6. It was very important to Israel.

Does this verse contradict what we have just given?

"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Phil. 3:3)

We are the ones who have real circumcision. Israel had merely a shadow.

"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ." (Col. 2:11)

This circumcision cuts away the filth of the heart.

"And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you" (Gen. 17:11).

Compare this with the 6th verse. "And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee." Each time a male child was circumcised, Israel was to be reminded that reproduction was by the power of God, and the seed to the glory of God. This shows the sacredness of the marriage vow.

Because of the circumcision of our Lord and His death on Calvary, we are to reckon our old man to be crucified with Him.

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed—that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Rom. 6:6)

The body of the flesh is put off by the circumcision of Christ. Only by the power of God can one be born into the family of God. We should also remember that it is by His power that the individual can be fruitful. This is the most sacred relationship of all.

We do not shy away from the above Scriptures just because of the use of the words "baptism and circumcision." We wouldn't think of relegating to Israel the verses mentioned in Philippians and Colossians. Perhaps we are wrong in applying 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 strictly to the Jew. Let us look into this truth.

"For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

Back in the shadow days the people were required to offer a Passover lamb. It is now in Christ (and because of what He has done) that God passes over our sins. In Him there is reality. Does God see you in Christ? Are you "accepted in the Beloved?" In our dear Lord there is everything the sinner will ever need.

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things." (Rom. 8:32)

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FACTUAL FREEDOM
By Miles Stanford

"You were set free from the tyranny of Sin" (Rom. 6:18, Wey.)

There are two extremes that keep many of us in bondage. The one is ignorance as to the possibility of freedom; the other, ignorance as to the extent of freedom. Careful attendance to the facts of the Word will solve both these crippling conditions.

"The New Testament teaches that the flesh is representatively dead in virtue of the Cross, but it no where says it will become actually dead by standing on that fact. What it does say is that, when reckoning the fact true, self will lose its governing power over me. In Romans Six we find that through the death of Christ, sin shall not have dominion over you --- the idea is of bondage, ruling, governing, dominating. There is no such view presented as the annihilation of the thing, the exclusion of its presence, but the loss of its governing power. So you see if we are looking for the actual death of the old nature in us, we are looking for something that will never come to pass in this life." ---N.D.

"Our Lord has never promised that we shall be able to look within, and say that self is gone. Whilst we really believe God's Word that we have died with Christ unto sin, and count upon Him as the Living One to manifest His life through us, others will see that self is inoperative, whilst we are occupied with Christ."

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty where with Christ hath made us free" (Gal. 5:1).

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The Highest Expression Of Faith
by Pastor C. R. Stam


      In Rom. 8:26 we read what our hearts must often confess to be true:


“…We know not what we should pray for as we ought…”


But the Apostle hastens to explain that the Spirit makes intercession for us according to the will of God, adding:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28.).

Believers may not receive whatever they ask for in the darkness of this age, but

“God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (II Cor. 9:8.).

We may not receive whatever we ask for, but by His grace we may have so much more than this, that the Apostle, in a contemplating it, breaks forth in doxology:

“Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us;

“Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Eph. 3:20,21).

In the light of all this the highest expression of faith today is found in the words of Paul in Phil. 4:6,7:

“Be careful [anxious] for nothing — but in everything — by prayer and supplication — with thanksgiving— let your requests be made known unto God —and…”

“And” what?
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive”?

NO!!

“…and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [garrison] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

[nChrist]

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Running to Win
Part 1 of 4
By Pastor Ricky Kurth


"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (I Cor. 9:24).

Did you know that if you are a Christian, you are in a race? Imagine being in a race and not knowing it! When this writer turned 40, he realized he was in a race against time, and time was running out! It was time to get serious about life! As Christians, we too are in a race—not against each other, but against time, and time is running out! (Rom. 13:11-14). Its time to get serious about the things of the Lord!

While the ancient Olympic games were held in Olympic the Isthmian games were held in Corinth, and so Paul was using an analogy, the details of which these Corinthians understood, but which must be explained to us. For instance, the "prize" they raced for was not Roman citizenship; you had to be a citizen in order to compete in these games. Likewise, Paul is not speaking about racing for heavenly citizenship, for you must be saved in order to compete in this race. Additionally, it is said that participants in the Isthmian games had to be free of all legal entanglements. If a man were guilty of a felony, or even up on charges, he could not compete. Thank God, grace has freed us from all legal entanglements! We are "free from the law," and cleared of all charges by the blood of Christ!

At the Olympic or Isthmian level, no runner would even think about taking a step backward during a race, for such a step would take you in a direction opposite of your goal! And so it is when you sin, you take a step backward from your goal, and you are losing ground spiritually! Then too, no runner would think of taking a step sideways, for every runner knows that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Sometimes Christians ask if it's acceptable for God's people to watch TV, gamble, or engage in other such marginal activities. While such things are not always wrong, they are often steps sideways, and won't help you win the race at the eternal level.

The writer of Hebrews seemed to understand this too. He challenges us to "run with patience the race that is set before us" (12:1), and his advice is to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us." Obviously the weights he has in mind are not sins, for he mentions them separately. Doubtless he was thinking of these marginal issues, things that are not steps backward, but things that will weigh you down and make it more difficult for you to run the race successfully.

This writer was once working as a house painter in an apartment building that had two sidewalks that led to the door. Since trips back and forth to the truck for equipment take time—and time is money—pacing had to be employed to determine which was the shorter route! But in the race in which we are engaged as Christians, time is much more important than money. Thus it behooves each of us to examine our Christian lives and cast aside any extra weight, straighten out the curves, and eliminate all steps backward and sideways.

When Peter walked on the water through the storm to our Lord, do you think he meandered hither and yon to admire the crashing waves and great ocean swells? Hardly! No doubt the raging sea caused him to set a straight course for the Lord. May the storms that rage in your life cause you to do the same!

Peter's experience teaches us another valuable lesson, "for when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid" (Matt. 14:30). In order to see the wind, he must have taken his eyes off the Lord, and the writer of Hebrews tells us that we should always be "looking unto Jesus" (12:2). Runners know they must focus on the goal. Sin and marginal issues are a distraction that cause us to take our eyes off the prize!

[nChrist]

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Running to Win
Part 2 of 4
By Pastor Ricky Kurth

Our Lord is described here in Hebrews 12:2 as "the author and finisher of our faith." Many race courses are straight lines, and the starting line is different than the finishing line. Obviously, Hebrews 12:2 speaks of the more circular form of race course, where the starting line is the same as the finishing line, for our Lord is the beginning of the Christian life, but He is also the goal!

But while Christ is our goal, what specifically are we racing for? I'm glad you asked! God doesn't expect you to engage in a race for an unknown prize. Philippians 3:14 says:

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

So what is "the prize of the high calling of God"? Well, before we can determine what "the prize of the high calling" is, we must first define "the high calling of God." Paul speaks here of our high calling as opposed to Israel's low calling. While believers in Israel were promised an earthly hope, believers today are promised a heavenly hope. Thus Israel's hope is a low calling only in a geographical sense.

But what then is "the prize of the high calling"? Again, we find the answer when we compare what we have to what Israel has. The prize of Israel's low calling was greater opportunity to rule and reign with Christ on earth. The twelve apostles were promised thrones in Christ's earthly kingdom (Matt. 19:28.), and faithful Jews in general will be rewarded with authority over the peoples of the Gentiles (Luke 19:17,19). As the parable in Luke 19 indicates, the extent of their reign will be in direct proportion to the extent of their service. What then is "the prize of the high calling"? Surely it is the extent of our reign with Christ in the heavens, which will be in direct proportion to our faithful service for Him.

To win this prize, Paul says that he concentrated on "one thing" (Phil. 3:13). Before 1871, D. L. Moody was interested in many things: the YMCA, social issues, Sunday School work, etc. But after the great Chicago fire devastated his city and took many lives, he determined to focus on one thing—evangelism! Similarly, there are many issues that Christians today can be distracted by: politics, protesting abortion and gay rights, etc. But let us, like God Himself, focus on one thing, and work with Him to "have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (I Tim. 2:4).

But after we extend a lifetime of effort in this race, can it be that only "one receiveth the prize" (I Cor. 9:24)? No, Paul offers this by way of contrast to the way participants in the Isthmian games were rewarded. How heartening to read Paul's words earlier in this epistle, where he speaks of how when "the Lord come...then shall every man have praise of God" (I Cor. 4:5). His words in Chapter 9 are given to encourage us to run as if only one were going to receive the prize, that is, with the same intensity as the Isthmian runners.

"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (I Cor. 9:25).

Here Paul turns our attention from the race track to the Isthmian wrestling arena. We know from Ephesians 6:12 that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places," the demons that currently reign in the heavens, fallen angels who aren't looking forward to members of the Body of Christ taking their place. We must wrestle against the "doctrines of devils" (I Tim. 4:1) that these rulers of darkness teach. We must try to enlighten those whom they would keep in spiritual darkness.

[nChrist]

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Running to Win
Part 3 of 4
By Pastor Ricky Kurth


As we strive, we must remember to be "temperate" or moderate in all things. Pastor Stam's father was a workaholic city missionary. He died a premature death, and Pastor Stam never forgot this lesson. He tempered his own ministry by occasionally taking time out for his diversions, which included photography, chess, and other interests.

The Isthmian wrestlers strove for "a corruptible crown," a leafy laurel that time would corrupt in just a day or two. But we strive for an "incorruptible" crown. Today we often use the word "corruption" to apply to government, when elected officials abuse the public trust. Thank God, when we receive our crowns and begin to rule and reign with Christ, there will never be any corruption in our heavenly government, as there was ages ago when a third of the angels abused God's trust and corrupted the government in the heavens.

"I therefore so run, not as uncertainly, so fight I, not as one that beateth the air" (I Cor. 9:26).

As we run this race with Paul, there are three things we are not uncertain about. First, we are not uncertain about our salvation, for as we said, we are not competing for heavenly citizenship. Second, we are not uncertain about our rewards. We trust God when He says that every man shall have praise of Him. Lastly, we are not uncertain as to the rules of the game. The rules in professional football have changed over the years, and one thing is certain: if you play by the rules of a previous era, you'll be penalized! Likewise in the dispensation of grace, if you play by the rules that God gave to Israel, you are certain to be penalized!

When Paul says "so fight I," he has switched arenas again, this time to the boxing ring. Boxing is a studied art, but it all boils down to two essentials: hit, and don't get hit! A hard-hitting boxer who can't avoid his opponent's blows will not succeed. But an artful dodger who can't strike a blow is just as ineffective! As Christian boxers, some chant: "We don't smoke and we don't chew, and we don't run with them that do!"—but they don't do anything else either! They can dodge Satan's darts, but can't land a punch for the Lord. But we also have the opposite type, heavy hitters who are preaching and teaching and have the devil on the ropes, but who never learned to duck, and soon are down for the count, having disgraced their ministry by falling into sin.

Paul was not "one that beateth the air," and neither are we! The only time a boxer engaged in beating the air, or "shadow boxing," was when he was training, and you and I are never without an opponent! Our Berean Bible Institute students may be in training, but as far as God is concerned, they are already engaged in the conflict!

"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (I Cor. 9:27 ).

The phrase "keep under" is a peculiar phrase used only one other time in the Bible, and in a way that tells us precisely what Paul means. In II Chronicles 28:10, we read:

"And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you...."

[nChrist]

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Running to Win
Part 4 of 4
By Pastor Ricky Kurth



  Obviously, when Paul says we should keep under our bodies, he means we should keep them "as bondmen and bondwomen" unto us. Our physical bodies make wonderful servants, but poor masters. We must keep under them lest we find ourselves "a castaway."

This doesn't mean we might lose our salvation. In Romans 11 we read that God "cast away" the people of Israel (v. 1-15), but that didn't mean that faithful Jews who died in faith lost their hope! It rather means that as a people they were side lined from competition, because they didn't follow the rules!

Paul knew from personal experience what this was like. After he had "preached to others" that we are not under law but under grace, he took a Jewish vow (Acts 21:18-26) that would have ended in an animal sacrifice (v. 26). Rather than let him cast such a dishonorable shadow on the Cross of Christ, God interrupted the vow (v. 27), had him arrested (v. 32) and subsequently imprisoned, cast away or side lined because he didn't follow the rules.

Indeed, it is this unfortunate event in Paul's life that prompted the passage we are now considering. In I Corinthians 9:20, Paul regretfully admits:

"And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law; that I might gain them that are under the law."

Paul says that he did this "that I might by all means save some" (v.22). But are we to use all means to reach the lost and teach the untaught? No, we must be careful "lest that by any means" we are too zealous and break the rules! Paul's words here are not given to encourage us to emulate his methods, but rather as a warning not to follow in his footsteps. He means for us to admire the zeal that motivated his actions, but to temper this zeal with an unwavering determination to play by the rules.

We know that Paul was willing to give up his rewards and be "accursed from Christ" for his brethren in Israel (Rom. 9:3). This sounds noble, and we are tempted to say, "Amen! You go, Paul!", and be willing to give up our own rewards for the sake of those about us. But Paul learned the hard way that God doesn't approve of it, and it doesn't work anyway! Compromising the rules never accomplishes the goal, it only brings loss of rewards. Thus Paul tells Timothy:

"And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully" (II Tim. 2:5).

This passage in II Timothy has yet another tie to our text in I Corinthians 9. The Greek word for "castaway" is the negative form of the word translated "approved" in II Timothy 2:15. Thus, if we don't rightly divide God's Rule Book, we will end up a disapproved castaway! Every Isthmian contestant knew he must do more than just follow the rules of his competition, he also knew he must not mix the rules with those of other events. For instance, while it is perfectly all right to punch an opponent in the boxing ring, a runner who slugs a man who is gaining on him will find himself disqualified! It is likewise within the rules for fencers to use a foil, but the boxer who tries to use one is disapproved! In the same way, Christians today must be careful not to mix the rules given to us through the Apostle Paul with the rules given to the people of Israel, or we will end up "ashamed" at the judgment seat of Christ.

Perhaps you are thinking that you aren't concerned with obtaining rewards, you would be embarrassed to reign with Christ, you are not the type who wants to rule and reign over anyone or anything. When you get to Heaven, you'll be content to be "a doorkeeper" in the house of God (Ps. 84:10). If this describes you, you should know that while rewards may not be important to you, they are important to God. God is tired of watching the Academy awards and all of men's other award shows, and seeing all the wrong people rewarded for all the wrong things! God is eager to see the right people rewarded for all the right things. May God help us to be as eager to be rewarded as He is to reward us! May God help us to get in the game, and live fervently for Him!

[nChrist]

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All For Us
by Pastor C. R. Stam


       Have you ever thought how much God has done“for us” in Christ?

 In Romans 8:32 we read that to save us from sin, God “spared not His  own Son, but delivered Him up FOR US all”. In Titus 2:14 we are told  that Christ “gave Himself FOR US, that He might redeem us from all  iniquity…”. In Romans 5:8 the Apostle declares that“while we were yet  sinners, Christ died FOR US”. Galatians3:13 says that Christ was  “made a curse FOR US”.

 Hebrews 9:12 states that “He entered…into the holy place[the presence  of the Father], having obtained eternal redemption FOR US”. And if we  trust Him for this “eternal redemption”we may read further in Hebrews  9:24 that “Christ is not entered into the holy places made with  hands…but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God FOR  US”. Romans 8:34 asks who can condemn the believer in Christ, since HE  [the Lord Jesus Christ] is now“at the  right hand of God” and “maketh  intercession FOR US”.

 Hebrews 6:20 declares that our Lord entered the Father’s presence“FOR  US” as our “Forerunner”. Hebrews 10:19,20 therefore encourages  believers to come to God in prayer: “Having therefore, brethren,  boldness to ENTER into the holiest by the blood of Jesus…a new and  living way, which He hath consecrated FOR US…”.

 Just think how much God has done FOR US in Christ! He delivered His beloved Son to death FOR US, Christ gave Himself FOR US, died FOR US, became a curse FOR US, intercedes FOR US, entered heaven FOR US as a Forerunner, and consecrated “a new and living way” into God’s presence  FOR US, so that we may “come boldly unto the throne of grace” to  “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). “If  God be FOR US, who can be against us” (Rom. 8:31)?

[nChrist]

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Peace And Access
by Pastor C. R. Stam




“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access…” (Rom. 5:1,2).


“Being justified… we have peace with God”!

What a priceless blessing! We believers are prone to take this blessing altogether too much for granted. Since the day we trusted Christ and the burden of sin rolled away, most of us have never had another question about our eternal destiny. Hence the danger of taking our salvation for granted.

We often fail to appreciate sufficiently what it means to be able to arise in the morning, go about our business during the day and give ourselves up to unconsciousness at night, always assured that through our Lord’s redemptive work we have “peace with God” and our eternal destiny is secure. Surely this knowledge should overwhelm our hearts with constant gratitude and have a profound effect upon our daily conduct.

The companion blessing to “peace with God” is our full and free access into His presence: another blessing of grace far too little appreciated. Think of the wonder of our free access to God; how He, the Ruler of the Universe, invites us to come confidently before His“throne of grace” at our convenience — “in time of need.”

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

We should never forget that this high privilege was purchased for us by the precious blood of Christ, and that having thus been purchased, it is His will that we believers avail ourselves of “this grace.”Could there be greater proof of His love for us?

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

“…a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us,through the veil, that is to say, His flesh.

“….Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…” (Heb. 10:19-22).