GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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God’s Word at our Fingertips
Part Five
By Chuck Schiedler



Second Peter 1:3
The opening lines of this Book which follow the salutation are, “As all the things toward life and godliness are present for us in association with His divine power which has been given through the full knowledge of the one who called us to His own glory and virtue.” This verse answers the question: What do we need in order to live the Christian life? The solution is we have “all the things” at our disposal which pertain to living the Christian “life” and doing it in a godly manner.


This potential exists “for us in association with His divine power”. The word translated “power” is commonly used regarding the power of God available to us through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:13; Eph. 3:16; Col. 1:9-11; 2 Tim. 1:7). The adjective “divine” (s – related to the Greek word for God 's”) confirms this as the correct thought here. Most English Translations make “His divine power” the subject of this sentence. However, this phrase is not in the nominative case (the indicator of a subject), but in the genitive case, the case of association. The thought is all the things (the subject) we have which can help us live a godly life are associated with this “divine power which has been given” to us. The Holy Spirit is the one who enables us to understand and enact godly principles in our life.


Now, this “divine power” is not given to be used in an abstract way, but “through the full knowledge of the one who called us”. The word translated “full knowledge” is repeatedly used in the Epistles regarding truth God has revealed to be directly applied by the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:13; Phil. 1:9; Col. 1:9-10; 2:2; Titus 1:1). So, the people God “called” to salvation have access to this “full knowledge” by taking advantage of the Spirit-driven “power” within them. Using this spiritual muscle, Christians can implement the guiding principles discovered from God’s Word in their Christian “life”. When practiced, these truths produce “godliness”. We not only possess this potential by having access to His revealed Word and Spirit, but when these resources are employed they propel us toward the destination for which He “called us” – to participate in “His own glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:3).


The Greek word for “virtue” means goodness or excellence. As this concept is related to God, it speaks of His excellent moral character. God’s “virtue” is expressed by His eternal sinless state, righteousness, holiness and benevolence. In the future, when we are glorified together with the Lord, Jesus Christ, we will be conformed to this splendid condition characterizing our Father (Rom. 8:29-30; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 3:3-4; Titus 2:11-13). Before we experience this future hope, the passage at hand serves as just one of many which clarify how we can begin to realize this glorious alteration now. We accomplish this by putting off our old sinful nature and putting on the personality of God. And, it is possible because we are assisted by the Spirit to integrate God’s will into our lives (Eph. 4:22-24; 5:18.).


After a relationship with God is begun by trusting in Christ’s death on the cross, transformation of character into His divine image is what Christianity is all about. God’s revelation does not focus on what job we will have, what house we will buy or live in, what person we should marry, what car we drive or what career we should pursue. On the contrary, it wholly involves how we should live our lives during every activity we decide to partake in and at whatever location we choose to reside.


Unfortunately, some believers discredit the transforming power of biblical truth while expressing ideas like the Bible is ‘Old Fashioned’ or ‘Not Applicable to our Circumstances’. Although technologies change, human knowledge increases and societies evolve in many ways, the nature of God remains constant. It is wise to remember the world is not advancing in sophistication or righteousness when compared with God’s standards. Humanity is in moral decline because of a progressive emphasis on sin-based philosophies and pursuits. Christianity transcends these things. It actually encompasses the ability to change sinners from our inherited corrupt condition into a people who represent the virtues of our Creator (Phil. 3:20-21; Titus 2:11-14). Therefore, stand strong and proud in favor of God’s philosophy found in His Word which was intended to enable us to acquire His “divine nature” (2 Pet.1:4).


Romans 12:1-2
The lifestyle portion of this Book begins with Paul writing, “Therefore I encourage you, brethren, through the mercies of God to present your bodies a living, holy, acceptable sacrifice to God which is your reasonable service.” Because of all the wonderful things He has done for us, beginning with making us righteous in Jesus Christ, Christians are now exhorted concerning God’s desire for us to serve Him by presenting our “bodies” as a figurative “living . . . sacrifice”.


How are we to accomplish this? Verse 2 tells us, “And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of the mind, resulting in the outcome for you to assess what the good and acceptable and perfect will of God is.” The phrase “do not be conformed” includes a verb in the imperative mode meaning this is a command. It also occurs in the middle voice which signifies these Roman believers are to personally act upon themselves to “not be conformed to this age”. “This age” involves the sin-tarnished atmosphere of this world by which we are continually tested (2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2).


Now, what kind of effort would cause us to be conformed to this age? This can happen either by inaction or failing to implement God’s prescribed solution. For, after we are saved, unless we take steps to recognize our condition controlled by sin and progressively seek to change it, our worldly lifestyle will continue. It is natural for us to live by the degenerate state into which we were born that, apart from outside intervention, automatically orders every facet of our lives (Rom.5:12-14; Eph. 2:1-3).

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God’s Word at our Fingertips
Part 6
By Chuck Schiedler


However, believers do not need to be stuck in this Devil-encouraged lifestyle, for the verse continues saying, “but be transformed by the renewal of the mind”. The verb translated “be transformed” is also a middle voice imperative indicating we can get out of our sinful ways if we exercise responsibility to obey this command. The English word “metamorphosis” is derived from this Greek root. Just as a caterpillar is morphed into the form of a butterfly, our philosophical outlook and resultant lifestyle has the ability to be morally changed “by the renewal of the mind”.


The term “renewal” is made up of the preposition “”, carrying the idea of repetition, and “s”, a noun meaning new. The word translated “mind” speaks of our mental faculty, the center of our reasoning. The idea being expressed is our “mind” needs to constantly (present tense) be changed so we can be transformed from our sinful way of thinking toward a righteous mindset by which we will be able to control our bodies as spiritual sacrifices to serve the Lord (Rom. 6:12-23; Eph. 4:22-24). The word “mind” occurs in the genitive case meaning this “renewal” happens in association with “the mind”. Following the same vein of thinking we have seen in the analysis of other verses, Paul alludes to the Holy Spirit as the source enabling this renewal to take place (Rom. 7:6; 8:1-39).


When believers take responsibility to study the Word of God, their mind can be supernaturally opened “resulting in the outcome for you to assess what the good and acceptable and perfect will of God is.” The word “will”, as it is used in association with “God”, means His desire for members of the Church (Eph. 1:9-11; Col. 1:25-27). As Christians prayerfully consider the “will of God” while being “filled (controlled) by the Spirit” to give understanding, each one is able to attain “the outcome . . . to assess the good and acceptable and perfect” nature of this revelation (Eph. 5:17-18; Col. 1:9).


Furthermore, the present tense form of both action words “be transformed” and “to assess” indicates we are to constantly utilize His Spirit to progressively enable our minds to assess His will which provides a foundation for this transformation to take place. The basic meaning of the word “assess” more fully explains what Paul is trying to convey. Used in relation to “the mind” it signifies making a decision after testing something out (Eph. 5:10; Phil. 1:10 – note the surrounding contexts). Therefore, it could also be translated with the words approve or determine as authentic. This passage and verses cited in these last few paragraphs graphically teach the way to understand the “will of God” today is through renewal of our God-given minds by determining what His revealed Word means with the help of His provided Spirit.


Many Christians today have abandoned this process of Bible study while thinking the will of God can be understood by human thought or emotion, apart from His Word. These methods do not work. Also, some think they can mystically understand God’s will by His Spirit outside of the framework of studying His Word or being taught by others. This misconception is based on some passages which explain how the Holy Spirit will work in conjunction with Israel in the future Kingdom program (John 14:26; 16:13; Acts 2:4). But, this is not how the Spirit works today.


Another widely accepted philosophy is the concept that human beings naturally have an ability to make choices from Common Sense. However, when Christians grasp the foundational teaching about our sinful depravity found in the Scriptures, and then view ourselves in this manner, we should abandon our own thoughts in favor of depending on the revealed “will of God”. While taking this approach, we have the possibility of undergoing “renewal” of our already deceived minds by the Spirit’s power. Over time we will become more sensible as our brains are being directed by His thoughts (Rom. 12:3; 2 Tim. 1:7; Titus 2:1-6).


First Peter 1:10-12
This passage offers a glimpse of how God expects us to take His prophesies literally. Peter says, “Concerning which salvation the prophets diligently sought and searched while prophesying about the grace given to you; searching for what or what sort of time the Spirit of Christ was making evident among them while testifying beforehand about the sufferings in reference to Christ and the glories after these things” (1 Pet. 1:10-11).


The prophets in the Old Testament who received revelations about the coming of Christ and the Kingdom glory which would follow were “searching for what or what sort of time” these things would take place. It is plain they were searching their own written prophesies while trying to figure out the time frame and nature of these occurrences. To achieve this, they were painstakingly combing over God’s revealed instructions. Ezra and the other priests took this same approach toward studying the Scriptures when they sought to re-establish an understanding of God’s teachings in the Law after they returned to the Promised Land following their captivity in Babylonian (Ezra 7:10; Neh. 8:1 – 9:3). Also, note it says they were searching what “the Spirit of Christ was making evident among them” (1 Pet. 1:11). They fully believed the words they were recording stemmed from the Holy Spirit guiding their hands.

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God’s Word at our Fingertips
Part 7
By Chuck Schiedler





Peter proceeds to say, “To whom it was revealed that they were not ministering these things in relation to themselves but for you, which things now were announced to you through those having proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit having been sent from heaven, into which things angels earnestly desire to look” (1 Pet. 1:12). This verse contains two pertinent truths. First, prophesies written centuries ago were intended to be taken literally by both those who wrote them and the ones who read them. Second, Peter states “those having proclaimed the gospel” were delivering these prophetic teachings “by the Holy Spirit having been sent from heaven”. Summarizing, we are able to search the Scripture to learn about divine truth which is applicable during the historical framework of time.


Conclusion
I hope these verses and commentary have been thought provoking. The same Spirit who energizes Scripture resides in all believers giving the potential to transition from our natural agnostic condition – a state in which we do not know what is true – toward an understanding of the Creator’s will for our lives.


We live in a world without divine absolutes. The philosophies we encounter are a mix of relativistic ideas none of which come close to providing a basis for men to know the true God or understand His righteous standards. Satan is truly the “god of this age”, and he is “walking around seeking someone to devour” (2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Pet. 5:8.). The only way to avoid being deceived by his crafty ways is to take refuge in God’s truth and power available through the Scriptures (Eph. 2:2; 4:13-15; 6:10-20). For, we are in an unmistakable spiritual battle. If we want to finish up victorious we need to first believe God’s Word. Then, we need to utilize His Spirit for the power to come out on top in the midst of this earthly conflict (Rom. 8:9-39; Gal. 5:16-26; 1 John 4:4). Those who do not use these provisions will be caught in the same philosophical dilemma which Pontius Pilate found himself in when he asked “What is truth?” in reaction to Jesus’ reference about truth in their discussion (John 18:38.)


Philosophically speaking, if the Bible were simply words from men, it could carry no greater weight than other human writings. We would be left without a standard to follow. Furthermore, if the Scriptures are not taken literally they will be interpreted according to each person’s whim, which again voids the possibility of having a firm foundation for one’s faith. Regardless of the reason, those who do not accept the Word as a record authored by God are left without divine direction. This course does not provide a basis to succeed on the path God has intended for believers. Inevitably, this viewpoint promotes spiritual blindness, discouragement and failure.


Biblically speaking, Christians possess “the mind of Christ” and “the commandment of the Lord” in His revealed Word (1 Cor. 2:16; 14:37). We are able to “know the things having been freely given to us by God” while utilizing the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:12). We can read and understand the Scriptures (Eph. 3:4). And, we are capable of searching them in order to evaluate what we hear others teach (Acts 17:11). If we take advantage of the things our God has so graciously provided, we do not need to flounder in relativistic ideas but we can truly get excited about being successful in making progress on the eternal journey we have begun.


As we follow God’s path, Christians should not be threatened by the prevailing philosophies held by unbelievers. For, the Bible tells us those who do not know the Lord think our biblically based beliefs are “strange”, they look at us with pity for believing in Christ’s resurrection, and they view the message of the cross as “foolishness”. They will not understand why believers consider their lifestyle as that which “corrupts good morals”, and they may even consider us “mad” just like Festus labeled Paul when he heard what the gospel represents (Acts 26:24-25; 1 Cor. 1:18-25; 15:19, 32-34; 1 Pet. 4:4, 12).


It is important to remember the reason we are able to recognize God as our Father and receive His Word as truth is because we have the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9). Those who do not possess the Spirit will not accept God as He is defined in the Bible nor want to “be subject to the law of God” (Rom. 8:6-8.). In light of this reality, let us employ this spiritual difference to help thrust us forward toward our goal while being directed by absolute truth and not hindered by exposure to the wisdom of this world. Let us place our entire trust in the Spirit-published Word of God. Only then we will realize the truth God so desperately wants us to grasp regarding Christian practice – when it comes to accomplishing His will, Scripture has an app for that.


Finally, it is essential Christians recognize that teachings and writings produced by members of the Body of Christ should never be viewed on an equal plane with Scripture. What men teach can only benefit believers when it stimulates knowledge of the biblical text and encourages proper application of its instruction. With this in mind, we should promote all gifted members God has provided the Church who are positively seeking to encourage “the preparation of the saints for the work of ministry resulting in the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:7-12).

Chuck Schiedler
chuckschiedler@yahoo.com
August, 2013
Old Testament quotes are from the KJV.
New Testament quotes are original translations by the author from the Greek text.

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A Spiritual Workout
by Pastor Kevin Sadler



“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12,13).



Perhaps you have seen the Christian slogan, “Exercise Daily.  Walk with the Lord!”  Essentially, that is what the Apostle Paul is calling for when he requests for the Philippians to “work out your own salvation.”  When Paul makes this statement, he has already acknowledged that he is writing to “saints” (Phil. 1:1), to believers who were positionally in Christ, set apart from sin and set apart to God.  Paul does not say to “work for your own salvation,” but to work“out” the salvation God had already given them.  Scripture is clear that salvation today is all of grace through faith, not of works,lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8,9).  Salvation must first be worked in before it can be worked out.

The Philippians are instructed here by Paul to “work out,” to put into practice in their daily experience what God had wrought in them by His Spirit.  When we trust the all-sufficient provision made for us by Christ’s death and resurrection, salvation is worked in by the Spirit (Titus 3:5).  And salvation is worked out by the Spirit through our faith and obedience to God’s Word (Rom. 8:11).

Working out your salvation is about living the way you were saved: by grace through faith in Christ (Col. 2:6).  Salvation is found in a Person.  Christ is our salvation.  At the moment of trusting Him alone for our salvation, Christ’s life is in-worked in us.  Paul says in Colossians 1:27 that all who have trusted the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior have “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  After salvation from sin’s penalty, God desires Christ’s life to be outworked practically in our lives, so others see His life in our life.  As we do so through the Spirit’s power, by the Word, in faith, we work out our own salvation and our lives will exhibit Christ-like attributes (cf. Gal. 5:22,23).  To workout our salvation is also to live in victory over sin in our daily lives,experiencing salvation over sin’s power by God’s resurrection power within, living righteously in the life and freedom we have in Christ (Rom.6:1-13).

Verse 12 shows us there is human responsibility to our Christian lives as we are told to “work.”  Effort must be put into the Christian life,effort to grow, effort to know the Word, effort to pray, effort to serve,and effort to be in fellowship with others.  And Paul says that we are to work out our own salvation “with fear and trembling.”  These terms show us that the outworking of our salvation must be done realizing the seriousness of the Christian life in living before a lost and dying world.  We live “in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation[generation]” and God would have us shine brightly and boldly for Him“as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).  Working out our own salvation with fear and trembling also reminds us of our own weakness and inability to live the Christian life in our own strength.  We should rightly fear and distrust our own ability to meet God’s will and instruction.  We need to humbly trust in Him and not in ourselves to live godly lives.  By His power we work out our own salvation and can show Christ’s life in us.

Paul is talking about the believer’s practical, daily sanctification here and he shows both the believer’s responsibility and God’s role in it.  Verse 12 could not be carried out without the reality of verse 13.  We could never work out our own salvation and grow and mature to be more like Christ without God working in us.  God does not ask of us what we can’t do, and He Himself is our provision.  The Christian life is a process of “ins” and “outs.”  God works in and we work out.  As God works in us and we grow spiritually in Him and His Word and prayer, we then work out His life and light, serving Him and others.

I Thessalonians 2:13 says, “the Word of God effectually worketh…in you that believe.”  God works in us by His Word,and changes our will and desires as we grow and apply it.  Our minds,attitude, priorities, worldview, and understanding of life are transformed by the Word of God.  Through it we learn to see the world through His eyes and feel with His heart.  As God works in us by the Word, His “will”becomes ours, and we will seek to “do” things of “His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).  And to will and do of God’s good pleasure is about “Look[ing] not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Phil. 2:4).  God’s will and desire is for us to put the needs of others first, in love, like Christ did for us at the Cross (Phil. 2:5-8.).

In Ephesians 3:20, Paul writes, “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.”  Paul says the unlimited power by which Almighty God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask in prayer is the same power that works in us.  So there is no limit to what God can do in and through you and me.  As God works in us, He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,or could ever conceive, or possibly imagine through you and me!

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Why Christ was Born
By Charles Wages



Time is very important to God, but only as it relates to "His time" not the chronological cogitations and calculations of man. Sometimes men get carried away with "when" Christ was born and are prone to forget "why" He was born. Why did Christ come into this sin-cursed, impoverished world? This question must be carefully considered in depth, for it involves many purposes.

He Came to Fulfill God's Prophecies Concerning Israel

The well-known and oft-quoted passage in Isaiah 9:6-7 speaks of His taking the government upon His shoulder and sitting upon the throne of His father, David.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."

Note that nothing is prophesied of His being the Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18.).

The lengthy words of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, in Luke 1 speak of Christ's coming to fulfill the great expectations of God's people, Israel.

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began." (Luke 1:68-70)

We find out from the gospel accounts and the book of Acts that His people Israel never really understood, believed, or accepted this wonderful Person, their Christ and Redeemer. They crucified Him! (Acts 2:22-24). They did not and still do not accept why He came.

He Came to Seek and to Save That Which Was Lost

However, we know, as has already been stated, that there were a multitude of reasons for Christ's coming into the world, even if we don't know when exactly. The Lord Jesus, while in the house of Zacchaeus, said very simply,

"For the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)

It seems as if He was enlarging upon this great truth of salvation. It was not just Israel, but the whole world was in His heart. It is remarkable to read what the Apostle Paul had to say in 1 Timothy 1:15,

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

This verifies the words of Jesus in Luke 19:10 and makes it ever so personal. Not just sinners in general, but a sinner in particular. This is what everyone needs to do. Not just to think of a birth on a certain day; not just the "world" given a time to celebrate; not just a time of economic boom, but of sober and serious reflection of our sinful state and our inability to save ourselves. He came to die for our sins. He came to die for the Apostle Paul's sins. He came to die for my sins.

He Came to Reconcile All Things to Himself

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven" (Col. 1:20).

Note that "in earth" relates to God's earthly people, Israel, while "in heaven" relates to His heavenly people, the Church.

How did He accomplish this? We are told in Colossians 1:22,

"In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight."

What a purpose! What an answer to, "Why did Christ come?"! We need to see that God's great sacred secret, concerning the Church, which is His body, has now been revealed. This was accomplished by His death on the cross, His burial, His resurrection, and His ascension into glory. He is there now, officiating as the Head over His body, the Church (Eph. 1:19-23). When we come to realize why He came, why He died and arose, and believe it in our hearts, His wonderful birth becomes so much more meaningful. One doesn't have to know when He came in order to be saved. One doesn't have to celebrate a day in order to be saved. However, none will ever be saved from sin until they know why He came and accept it in sincerity and truth.

How thankful we should be that He was born, lived among men, and died for the sins of the whole world. His birth means so much more.

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DEFECTIVE BEGINNING
By Miles Stanford


"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

Are we aware of the importance of a personal assurance of salvation? Healthy spiritual growth is founded upon it. Many Christians seem unable to enter Romans Six and Eight simply because they are not truly established in Romans Three, Four and Five. Full assurance as to our eternal security in the Lord Jesus is the basis for the ever-deepening experience of our identification with Him.

"The defect in souls in general is the incompleteness of their conversion. It is pardon that is apprehended and not acceptance. Acceptance embraces God's side ----how He feels, and this should be chief, for we as sinners have offended Him. The offender has been removed from His eye by a Man --- the Lord Jesus Christ, and He can receive us on the ground of the Man who glorified Him in bearing our judgment.

"We cannot enjoy acceptance but in the way in which it was acquired or effected for us, and if we are in the acceptance we know that no improvement of the flesh could commend us to God, and that we cannot be before Him but in Christ. But if we are in any degree dark as to the crucifixion of the old man, we are not in acceptance experientially, we are not in the daily benefit of it, and our liberty by the Spirit can never go beyond our conscious acceptance." -- J.B.S.

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2).

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Courageous Living
Part 1 of 5
By Preston Gillham


Almost twenty years ago a man I know called his family together, lined them up in the family room, and beginning with the four-year-old, told each of them he didn't need them in his life. Last in line was his shell-shocked wife. "I don't need you. I don't love you. I'm leaving. The divorce papers will arrive in a few days."

And with that, he left to sleep in the arms of a younger woman and seek personal fulfillment through irresponsibility. His statement to the family as he turned tail to run is very revealing. He thought life was about other people taking care of him. He defined his masculinity by going to bed with another woman. He either missed, or ignored, the fact God intended for a man to be an instrument of redemption who lays his life down rather than pick it up.

A courageous man serves as Christ served, by laying his life down on behalf of those He loves. This may mean stepping into the line of fire, but it can also mean sharing your heart and soul with transparent honesty.

Time is life, and giving your time is like giving your life. A courageous man knows the importance of taking those he loves with him through life. Manhood is a code of honor, an ethic of integrity, a lifestyle of strength, and a confident security better observed than discussed, participated in rather than talked about. When a man gives of himself, lays his life down, and positions himself as an instrument of redemption he is taking up his God-ordained station in life.

We have Jesus Christ living inside us, sticking closer than a brother. The heritage our forefather, Adam, bequeathed to us haunts our flesh and stands in our memory as a profound failure of what our Father intended a man to be. We can opt to walk the same course Adam did, declare ourselves independent agents, discredit our Father's reputation, nurture shame, and fail in our task as men. Or we can choose to walk the way our elder brother did, depending upon our Heavenly Father, and let Him be our strength, source, significance, and security. In so doing, we determine to succeed in our role as men and take up our station in life as instruments of redemption.

How the enemy of God would love for us to praise the Lord we have found security as men, then fail to realize we will only know the true meaning of life if we lay our lives down.

Men provide life by giving their own life away. This is what those men have done who died for our country. When we walk past the war memorials in Washington, D.C. the reverence we give and the honor we feel is because we know their selfless service makes it possible for us to live the lives we live. On a more routine basis, this is what a man does who gives his life by sharing it with those he loves, even if it is as simple as a walk. And the ability of another person to live as God intended for them to live is the reverence and honor given because we laid down our lives.

Instead of languishing under the weight of shame left to us by Adam, we can cloak ourselves in the courage of Christ as the strong, secure men we are. This is the foundation equipping us to build a life of practical redemption for those closest to us. A courageous man loves, not because those he loves perform like he wants them to, but because of who he is and who they are. He loves because he is a loving person and because they need his love. He loves because Love Himself lives in him.

For Lifetime Guarantee, that's eGrace.

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Courageous Living -- Prayer
Part 2 of 5
By Preston Gillham


A courageous man is a man of prayer. But before you conjure up an image of yourself kneeling in your closet for an hour with a list, you need to know a courageous man of prayer is a man who communicates with his Father while doing what he needs to do and never dropping his guard against the insidious enemy he faces.

The Scripture says we are to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This can only mean God intends prayer to occur in all venues of life: kneeling, lying down, eating, riding, walking, running, working, loving, caring, kissing the kids good night, going to the ball game, the theater, fishing... although I must admit, I pray all the time when I'm fishing and it doesn't do any good.

Prayer is doing with God what God has already done with you. Said another way, God has shared everything He has with you, all of His hopes, dreams, aspirations, convictions, disappointments, hurts, and even the life of His eldest son in anticipation of your responding at the same level.

Courageous prayer is communicating with your Father and taking those closest to you on your journey toward His heart. As you communicate with them from your heart, and let them observe you doing the same with your Father, they see a model of the relationship you have with Him both through your communication with them and your communication with God.

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Courageous Living --Discipline
Part 3 of 5
By Preston Gillham


A courageous man lives a disciplined life that demonstrates the important elements of life and transfers those priorities to those within his sphere of influence. A disciplined life is a life with structure and parameters.

Please don't hear me talking about rigidity or advocating the adoption of standards that squelch spontaneity. In actuality, it is discipline that creates the fertile soil where creativity, spontaneity, and the courage to look at life uniquely flourishes most readily. An undisciplined life breeds insecurity and wastes time, the precious commodity we talked about earlier. A courageous man disciplines his life according to his Father's priorities.

Guard yourself and those you love against legalism disguised as discipline. Legalism is all about control, performance-based acceptance, and rules devised by insecure folks -- even though well-meaning --- who are threatened by the uniqueness of the human spirit and the profound grace of God to meet us at any point in life.

Discipline, on the other hand, sets us free to follow our Father's lead and examine all He has in store for us. The security offered by legalism is a limited perspective looking through a well-defined key-hole. The security of a disciplined lifestyle rests in the strong arms of our Father and views the broad horizon of life from heaven's reaches.

The difficulty in distinguishing between legalism and discipline often arises because both legalism and discipline can be preached from God's Word. However, knowing your Father's heart, as well as your own, and following both provides the discernment necessary to distinguish legalism from discipline.

It is a timid soul who puts himself and God in a legalistic box to maintain the status quo of today. A courageous man views himself and his life from God's perspective and steps into the future with the discipline of a well-anchored, confident, and secure man.

[nChrist]

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Courageous Living --- Encouragement
Part 4 of 5
by Preston Gillham

I implore you, trust Christ, depend upon your Father, live life in this vibrant relationship and encourage others to follow your lead.

When Paul says to his readers, "Be imitators of me" (1 Corinthians 11:1) he wasn't being arrogant. He was being realistic. People are going to follow, to imitate, and they are going to model themselves after influential leaders.

These titles: Man, Dad, Granddad, husband, friend, and mentor are all titles bestowing some degree of leadership, and therefore, some degree of responsibility. If you are the bearer of any of these titles, you are expected to lead, not in the same way a sergeant leads, but through your lifestyle.

If you are a man, you are expected to be anchored. For example, when strength is needed, a man is expected to be strong. Accepting this responsibility is not arrogance but necessity. Encouraging your kids, your friends, your colleagues, your wife, and all those others you are associated with to follow your lead in life as you follow Christ's means you are acting like a strong man. It might be good to reference 1 Corinthians 16:13 again: "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."

This doesn't mean you stand up on your desk at work and take charge or announce at the dinner table you are the boss and have it all under control. Lead by example. The blueprint calls for leadership in life exemplified through your life. This is leadership through love, communication, discipline, and encouragement emanating from your warrior heart-a heart committed to your Father's cause. A courageous man leads and encourages by taking his little girl's hand, his boy's shoulder, or his wife's arm.

It is courageous leadership when a man stands beside his friend who has lost everything he held dear in order that he might be encouraged toward the One who is most dear.

[nChrist]

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Courageous Living --- Service
Part 5 of 5
By Preston Gillham


A courageous man serves from a heart in tune with his Father's heart. The life of Christ will only become meaningful as you demonstrate it by allowing Him to live His life through you. We are all imitators and we are all leaders. Accept this fact. We already know the importance of having trusted men stand with us in life, but we must also make those closest to us part of our lives and stand by them.

In his book about fathers and sons, Bill Hanson writes about the relationship he has with his young son, Miles:

"If I am mowing the lawn, Miles mows the lawn also. If I am reading paper, Miles reads the paper. If I am thirsty, so is Miles. Amazing, but he is imitating my steps as I once copied my own father's. Here is the cycle of life. We learn from our fathers, so we can teach our children."

Bill Hanson, Father and Son: The Bond (Austin, TX: Bright Books, 1996), p. 2.

Being a servant is not a meek, mild job. It is the job of a warrior, and it requires great courage. A servant who serves by choice of his will is secure in his identity and source. As a matter of fact, he is secure enough to lay his life down on behalf of another. Jesus Christ was the most courageous, strong man who ever lived. But His strength was not only exhibited when He drove the money changers out of the temple. It was also demonstrated when he went to bat for the woman caught in adultery, invited Himself to Zaccheus' home for dinner, stopped to find out who touched His robe, and offered redemption to his friend, Peter, who had failed him miserably.

Being a dad is only one of the arenas where men are called upon to handle themselves courageously, but let me share a letter that came to our office written on the back of two door hangers. As you will see, this brother works for a cable company and door hangers were the stationery available at the time.

"Just a note saying thanks for your broadcast! I listen to WMBW in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

If there was a contest for listening to your program in the most unusual places it would have to be mine. When you are on the air I am usually 30-40 feet in the air up a power pole!

Enjoying your topic on being masculine and what it means. Being masculine to me means holding my 5 year old daughter protecting her from the lightening while reading her favorite story for the hundredth time. Or, camping with my 10 year old boy and explaining why God designed the bark on a tree for its protection and how He cared enough about us for that same tree to die so we can enjoy the fire we now have to cook our food.

In other words, masculinity is spending time with our children. Kids will long forget the 'prizes' or 'gifts' we give them before the memories of the time we spent with them fade away.

Thanks for your ministry."

In the context of courage, we have talked briefly about love, prayer, a disciplined lifestyle, encouragement, and a servant's heart. These are just a few of the ways we offer practical redemption.

Brother, you can do these things and adopt these roles because you are secure in your significance. Make yourself vulnerable, share your heart, be transparent, you are anchored deeply enough to withstand whatever comes your way.

But I must remind you, you won't get these things done by resolving to try harder or promising to do better. Remember, that is not the Father's plan. He intends for you to depend upon Him as your source. Doing otherwise is walking after the flesh and disappointing to your Father, not to mention the bad example of masculinity it portrays for those who are watching you to see what manhood means. Trusting your Father is not an arrangement of convenience or a provision for those critical junctures when you realize you are sliding toward the ditch. If you intend to find satisfaction in your heart and fulfillment in your masculinity, depending upon your Father must be your lifestyle. C.S. Lewis writes, "Christ says, 'Give me all. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you.'"

For Lifetime Guarantee, that's eGrace.

[nChrist]

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"ENTERING INTO HIS REST"
by Russell S. Miller



"God rested the seventh day from all His works" (Heb. 4:4), a reference to the six days of creation as recorded in Genesis 1:1-2:2, and an exhortation that you cease your works and rest in the power of Almighty God.

But Moses himself, through unbelief, failed to enter, and rest, in the land of promise (Heb. 4:6; Nu. 20:7-13; Deut. 34:1-8.). Since he had already "smitten" the rock once (Ex. 17:1-7), the Lord now instructed him to "speak" (Nu. 20:8.) to the rock, for the "Rock" smitten once typifies Christ's death on Calvary (I Cor. 10:4; Heb. 10:10-14). A "word" humbly "spoken" in the wilderness (Ex. 17:1-7) would bring forth the water of life freely, but Moses "smote the rock", not once, but "twice" (Nu. 20:11). His anger with Israel, "ye rebels", revealed his unbelief also, for Christ was not to be "smitten twice" (Nu. 20:8.).

Nevertheless in John 4:14 we see the "water" that Christ gives is a "well of water springing up into everlasting life".Under the leadership of Moses and Joshua, it is apparent that though Israel entered Canaan, they failed to enter His rest.

"And they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief" (Heb.4:6).

Even David and his valiant men could not bring Israel into His rest because of unbelief (Heb.4:7).

"For if [Joshua] had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day" (4:8.).

From David unto Christ, Israel would not enter into His rest, "although the works were finished from the foundation of the world" (Heb. 4:3; Rev. 13:8.), a reference to the "forbearance" of God as Paul declares in Romans 3:25,26.

"Jesus", Hebrews 4:8 in our KJV, refers not only to Joshua, but He whom Joshua typified, our Lord Jesus Christ. Under His Divine Leadership Israel rejected the Millennial Rest of His glorious reign (Luke 19:14). See also Romans 10:3,4.

But there remains "a rest" to all those who will place their faith and trust in our "Great High Priest...JESUS the Son of God" (Heb. 4:14-16).

"FOR HE THAT IS ENTERED INTO HIS REST, HE ALSO HATH CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, AS GOD DID FROM HIS" (Heb. 4:10).

Again in Romans, Abraham is God's great example of faith:

"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...his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:2-8.).

Isn't it about time that you also ceased from your so-called "good works". Trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone as your Saviour for salvation, and His finished work on Calvary's cross, and enter into His rest, by grace through faith?

"IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE" (Eph. 1:7).

[nChrist]

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FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST OR
THE FAITH (OR FAITHFULNESS) OF JESUS CHRIST
By Jack Trumm

It is amazing how a little two letter word can change the meaning of a statement and yet this is exactly what happens when we use the phrase (faith IN Jesus Christ) or (the faith OF Jesus Christ.)

It is also amazing that so few of God's people understand the simple significance of one of the most precious phrases in the Pauline epistles, "the faith of Jesus Christ". (Romans 3:22; Galatians 2:16, 20; and Philippians 3:9) A King James version of the Bible will help tremendously in seeing both the distinction and significance.

First let us look at what it means to have "faith in Jesus Christ". Whether we realize it or not, we all put our faith in a person or thing every day of our lives. For example, everyone of us at some time during the day sit down in a chair and do we ever question whether the chair will hold us up? For the most part, the answer to that question is No, we just sit down. We believe that the chair will do what it is meant to do, hold us up. That is a demonstration of objective faith. Another example of objective faith is: everyone of us put our faith in people or a person every day of our lives. If we are told something by someone and we believe what they say is true, we exercise objective faith (or in the Greek "pistis").

And so it is, if we put our faith (belief) in what God tells us from His word (the Bible) concerning His Son Jesus Christ. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand: By which also ye are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." (I Corinthians 15:1-4)

Do you believe this truth? If you do, then you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, and what he has accomplished for you. Then, you are saved. Sad to say, there are those who have perverted this truth, by saying the way to be saved is to say:

1. I make Jesus my Lord and my Savior.
2. I make Jesus Lord of my life.
3. I ask Jesus to come into my heart.

How far from the truth can these statements be in light of what was said above. No place in the Bible are these statements made, much less a requirement for salvation. We don't make Him Lord and Savior -- He already is. We don't make Him Lord of our lives -- He already is. We don't have to ask Him into our hearts -- He does that the very moment we believe (FAITH).

God's Word tells us in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast." According to the dictionary in Strong's Concordance, the word grace means "divine influence upon the heart" and the word faith means "reliance upon Christ for salvation". This salvation that we have is a gift from God and when he convicts our hearts of this gift (grace), then we have a choice to make. We can either reject it or accept it by FAITH, and it is only by faith because there is nothing we can do in and of ourselves to earn it. (NOT OF WORKS)

It also says in Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Here we are told again that it is not by our own self-righteousness (not of works) that one is justified, but rather it is his faith (belief) in what Jesus Christ has accomplished for us that we are justified and only then does God count it to us for righteousness. This is the objective aspect of faith, (believe) or trust in another or in what another has said or done. This is what is meant when Paul writes of faith IN Christ.

Now let's consider what is meant when God's word speaks of the faith or faithfulness  OF Jesus Christ. Here,the word translated "faith" comes from the Greek word, "pistos" and is defined in the Strong's Concordance as follows: "Trustworthy, trustful, faithful, sure, true", An example of this would be when a man and a woman get married, they make their marriage vows and one of them is that they be faithful to one another. In other words, each one of them can believe what their spouse has just said concerning their marriage vows is "trustworthy' or what they just said was "true".

And so it is with the faith OF Jesus Christ. We can rest assured in what God tells us in His word concerning what it is that Jesus Christ has accomplished for us by his death, burial and resurrection. It is trustworthy and it is sure. This is the faith OF Jesus Christ. This is what is called, subjectives faith.

Another example of the FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST is found in Galatians 2:20. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

How believers need to learn this blessed truth! We are kept, while in the flesh, not by "our faith" but by His faithfulness. Our God given faith is but a channel through which we appreciate and enjoy His never--failing faithfulness. Our "faith" would be vain (or useless) were it not for "the faith (fidelity) of the Son of God". The best of us would utterly fail were it not that "he ever liveth to make intercession for us" (Hebrews 7:25) and "now appears in the presence of God for us". (Hebrews 9:24)

[nChrist]

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THE TRUTH IN CHRIST
By Ralph Balog



Scripture Reading: Romans 9: 1

How wonderful it would be if every member of the Body of Christ could state: "I say the truth in Christ!" What a unified message of grace would be proclaimed to a lost and dying world. Paul speaks, in our text verse, from a heavy heart. He had to defend his Gentile ministry everywhere he went.  And now from the extreme depths of his compassionate heart comes the call to "hear what I say," because "I speak the truth in Christ."  None of the Jewish Kingdom apostles ever had to defend their message and ministry in such fashion.

Paul wanted the Romans to know not only his love for them, but also for "my kinsmen according to the flesh" (vs. 3). He knew what Israel, nationally, was deliberately passing up ---"truth in Christ"---to follow the traditions of the early fathers.

In 1984 it is not "truth in Christ" to proclaim the earthly ministry and message of Christ as "good news" for sinners today. What was once truth can now be false teaching in the light of new revelations from the glorified Lord Jesus Christ given to and through the Apostle Paul. Though for all intents the Body of Christ today is predominantly Gentile, we, too, know that through Israel's fall we are now made near to God by the blood of Christ. When we speak "the truth in Christ," we too can claim our conscience will bear witness with the Holy Spirit and His written Word, rightly divided.

May we never lose sight of Paul's burden for those outside of Christ. We too were there once and God's grace is sufficient to save those not yet in the Body of Christ.

[nChrist]

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Going in Circles
By Charles Wages

In Proverbs 30:11-14, it is interesting and enlightening to observe that each verse begins with the expression "There is a generation." The Hebrew word for generation refers, in one sense, to a "circle." The old expression that, "history repeats itself," is true in a large measure. It is especially seen when we note the styles and fashions from generation to generation. It is also seen in human behavior and attitudes. Let's briefly look at some of these attitudes and patterns as recorded in the above Scriptures, written some 700 years before Christ.

Ingratitude to parents: "There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother." (verse 11)

Self righteousness: "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness." (verse 12)

Pride: "There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up." (verse 13)

Violence: "There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men." (verse 14)

No doubt, God did not intend for the above vivid verses to fully describe every generation. They do, however, pretty well characterize the natural human inclinations and deeds. Sin and human nature remain the same from generation to generation; men just attempt to devise new methods of madness to express and act upon those desires. A person who is lost has a tendency to "go around in circles."

It must be kept in mind that God doesn't intend for people to live "according to the flesh" in every generation. His gracious salvation not only saves from eternal damnation but provides the way and means "to live godly in this present age" (Titus 2:12). Noah and Enoch are good examples of persons who walked with and worked for the Lord in their generations. Genesis 6:9 has two different words used for "generations." In the first usage it refers to Noah's family associations. He was found righteous by God's grace before members of his own family. In the second usage, it has reference to his contemporaries, that is his fellow associates. When this is compared with Genesis 7:1, we find that, "he was seen righteous before Me (God) in this generation." The word for generation here is the same as the second usage above, that is, his fellow associates or contemporaries. Noah was in the world, but not of the world. A person who is saved also has a tendency to go around in circles, but in God's circles.

In order for a believer to intelligently and spiritually live for the Lord, he or she must learn to distinguish the generations. Though there is a great deal of sameness in each generation, there are also great differences. God has not always dealt with man's attitudes and actions in the same manner. How thankful we should be that God has been merciful and gracious, from generation to generation, to show:

Salvation: "... but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation." (Isa. 51:8.)

Truth: "For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting: and His truth endureth forever." (Psa. 100:5)

Faithfulness: "Thy faithfulness is unto all generations." (Psa. 119:90)

These wonderful blessings could go on and on because God moves in circles to show His love and mercy to His creation. Believers should study carefully 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; and 1 Timothy 4:1-5. We must note the characteristics of our generation, especially how the natural man is expressing his attitudes and actions in religious circles. What is God's evaluation of our present generation? The epistles of Paul must be carefully read and studied in order to know God's plan for this age, also how we, as believers, should live for Him today.

As we "go around in circles" let us learn to distinguish the generations and learn how to live in this generation.

As the human race, in its natural Adamic form, continues from generation to generation, it never seems to learn. Mistakes are repeated, sins are repeated, and a process of deterioration and degradation is evident. It seems to be quickening in our present generation. On the other hand, how wonderful and comforting to know that those who have been saved by His grace are in an upward spiral, learning from their experiences. Each day of our lives brings us closer to the time we shall "see Him as He is." Believers may be "going in circles," but like a beautiful spiral staircase each turn takes us higher and higher.