GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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Cursed Is Every One!
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


      The Law curses “every one that continueth not in all things…of the law” (Gal. 3:10). The words “continueth” and “all” here tell us the Law demands 100% faithfulness 100% of the time! Though this may sound unreasonable, how many of our married readers are satisfied with 99% faithfulness from your spouse? Even if you could go 70 years without sinning, then sin, the Law would curse you. This too might sound unreasonable, but if you go 70 years without killing anyone, then snap, the law won’t let you slide just because you’ve never done it before, and neither will God!

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident” (Gal. 3:11). The Greek word for “evident” here is translated“certain” when Paul says, “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out” (I Tim. 6:7). You’ll never see a U-Haul trailer behind a hearse! And it is just as evident that no one can be justified by the Law. You might look good in your neighbor’s sight, but we’re talking about “the sight of God” (Gal.3:11). Even Abraham looked good to his neighbors, but he couldn’t boast before God (Rom. 4:2), for God knew he lied about his wife.

No, “The just shall live by faith” (Gal. 3:11), that is, the way you get to be just is by faith. “And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them” (Gal. 3:12),i.e., live eternally (Lev. 18:5 cf. Luke 10:25-28.). God is fair.If you could obey Him perfectly, He would give you eternal life. It is not technically correct to say the only way to heaven is by faith. But while there are two ways to get to the moon, by rocket and by jumping, one of these two ways is impossible! Just so, there are two ways to get to heaven,by faith and by the works of the Law (Rom. 2:6-10), but the latter is just as impossible! (Gal. 2:16).

Thankfully, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13). “That the blessing of Abraham[salvation] might come on the Gentiles through….” Through what? Through Israel? Through circumcision, or the Law? This was true for Gentiles in the Old Testament. But today the blessing of Abraham comes on us “through Jesus Christ.” Why not “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). Notice doesn't say “believe and be good.” It just says believe and be saved! “Christ died for our sins…and…rose again” (I Cor. 15:3,4). Don’t try to add any good works to Christ’s work, for salvation is “to him that worketh not, but believeth!” (Rom. 4:5).

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BE ON YOUR GUARD
By R.B. Shiflet

One of the strongest appeals that the Apostle Paul makes to believers is that found in Colossians 2:4-23, in which he warns us against letting Satan capture our minds. This section of the epistle is bounded on either side by the word “hid,” and its key message is the fulness of Christ as the only answer to the emptiness of human reasoning. Note how in verse 3 he refers to Christ, “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” and in chapter 3, verse 3, he says to us as believers, “ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Between these passages that tell us that all true wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ and that our own lives are also hidden in Him, he calls attention to (1) The Purpose of our Enemy, (2) The Plan of our Enemy, and (3) The Protection Against our Enemy.

THE PURPOSE of our Enemy

The aim of our foe is stated in Colossians 2:8: “Beware lest any man spoil you.” The term “spoil” means to “rob,” or to “make a prey” of, or to take one captive. It is obvious that a loose hold on the truth of our fulness in Christ will make one an easy victim to this method of deception. Just as surely as the truth makes free, error genders to bondage. One who fails to see the truth of our completeness in Christ and His fulness does not have a balanced view of truth and can be easily led astray.

It is interesting to note the bait that Satan uses to reason aside the weak brother that he takes into captivity. For the carnal believer, such as those at Corinth, he uses the coarse appeals of the flesh with all of its lusts. But for the “spiritual” Christian who still has an unbalanced view of truth, he may use a “spiritual” bait—as is suggested in Colossians 2:18. This may come in the form of “visions,” superior claims to holy living, or any effort to attain spiritual progress through fleshly efforts or wisdom.

THE PLAN of Our Enemy

The enemy usually lures us aside through an emphasis on an empty, deceitful kind of wisdom. He bases this, according to our chapter in Colossians, on three things:

First, he uses man-made teachings, or the traditions of men. Bible teachers tell us that the word “tradition” as used here is found thirteen times in the New Testament, and it is usually used in a bad sense. Note, for example, where the Pharisees were charged with making the Word of God of none effect through their traditions (Mark 7:2-7). How much of the church programs of today are nothing more than traditions of men, with no Scriptural basis!

Second, Satan would lead us astray by keeping us in the elements, or rudiments of the world. The term “rudiments” means “first steps.” The Hebrews were told that these rudiments or elements belonged to childhood, and the mature believer was charged to leave them and go on (Hebrews 5:12-6:3). The Galatians were told that these rudiments would only gender bondage (Galatians 4:3). In Colossians 2:20, the believer is told that he is dead with Christ to these rudiments, and that he therefore should not be subject to carnal ordinances. By way of contrast, he is told to set his affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Believers who live in the shadow days of external ordinances miss the joy of the reality, who is Christ; those who feel that they can worship only with these worldly elements fail to see that we are citizens of heaven and in the sight of God are “seated with Christ” in heavenly places even now.

Third, if Satan cannot lure us through traditions of men and rudimentary ordinances, he will make the intellectual appeal. He will reason us aside through wisdom of words, making the cross of Christ ineffective (1 Cor. 1:17); he will try to get us so involved in the wisdom of this world that we will fail to see that it is only foolishness to God (1 Cor. 3:19); he will lead us into fleshly wisdom, frustrating the grace of God (2 Cor. 1:12); and he will make the wisdom from beneath so, attractive that we neglect the wisdom which is from above (James 3:15-17).

THE PROTECTION Against Our Enemy

The entire Colossian epistle is written to give us the protection we need against these tactics of our enemy. It may be summarized in one or two verses: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:9-10). This completeness in Christ is the exact opposite of the empty, vain life that Satan has to offer. Are we really aware of what we have? YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM! If I am complete in Christ, then nothing a preacher or a church can do for me in the way of ritual or religion is needed. As a matter of fact, we can add nothing to completeness. We are Complete in HIM. If we believe this, may we act upon it and make Christ the center and circumference of our lives. May we rejoice in Him, glory in Him, do all that we say or do in HIS name, giving no occasion to the flesh, but doing all for His honor and glory. Only then will the purpose and plan of our enemy be foiled and our protection against him be sure.

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THE SHUT DOOR AND THE CLOSED GATE
Part 1  of  2
By Mel Flogel

CLOSED. How many times have you arrived at the store or office to find this word greeting you as it's posted on the door? We know what it means. We are too late and we may have missed the boat, literally. We may see people inside with the lights on, carrying on their business, but all you can do is watch from the outside.

As our Lord Jesus Christ ministered to Israel preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, He predicted this same scenario. The Lord Jesus Christ, as the master of the house, rising up to shut the door in the presence of late-comers. They appeal to Him as Lord, but He replies to them as their judge. "And he went through the cities and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door, and you begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us, and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not, where are you from? Then shall you begin to say, 'We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you I know you not whence you are, depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last." (Luke 13:22-30)

This pictures the scene for unbelievers as they stand before God at the great white throne judgement, where they have been resurrected to appear before Him. (See Revelation 20: 11-15) What a lesson we should glean from this. The door of access to God, His presence, His blessings and His life, closing before their very eyes. Their pleas and appeals now being denied. They denied Him when the door of opportunity was availed to them, and now comes the recompense of their denial. This will be the scene for unbelievers of the ages in that day. How this should motivate us to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ in faith while the door is open, while we are living and breathing and have our mental faculties about us, believing not only His claims to be God in the flesh, but also believing what He accomplished in His cross for us. How active we should be in preaching to and warning every man as Paul did, knowing that "if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them." (II Corinthians 4:3-4)

 Our Lord Jesus Christ was on His way to Jerusalem, teaching as He went, when someone asked Him, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" (vs. 23) His answer was that many are lost and will be shut out to their dismay. Many who ate and drank in His physical presence, many who heard Him as He "taught in their streets" will be sent away and turned away for good. Many of these people were content with their own ideas of what makes a person good or bad to consider His message. Others considered His message but felt the cost was too dear to become one of His followers, for the nation of Israel was sharply divided over His claims.

The day will come and has come for many in which the door of opportunity to "enter in at the strait gate" will end. The time given to fully embrace in faith the Saviour and His message will have expired. In Noah's day, only Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives took God's message for the day seriously enough to enter the ark until the door shut and the rain came down. Suddenly, public opinion changed but it was too late. Many were preoccupied with the daily events of their lives and concerns like work, fun, recreation and pleasures to consider the warnings. "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5)

Jesus said that there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth." Can you believe it? What a sorry picture this paints and yet how real and how very believable. They shut Him out of their hearts, minds, and lives, yet now argue that He should disregard this and let them enter. They argue as if somehow it is His fault, and that He should remember seeing them for they were "around" when He visited their cities. They were "around" as others spoke of His marvelous deeds such as feeding the multitudes, healing their sick and even raising the dead.

Many today, are "around" true believers who proclaim the gospel of the grace of Christ. They are "around" places where the gospel is preached and around believers who give testimony of the blessedness of being "in Christ" yet they themselves have not entered in. They are "around" the strait gate as in church but haven't gotten around to coming to Christ for salvation. They have failed to apply the truths of the gospel to their own heart and soul calling upon Jesus Christ through personal faith.

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THE SHUT DOOR AND THE CLOSED GATE
Part 2  of  2
By Mel Flogel


Others, are like King Agrippa in his response to Paul in Acts 26, when he replied, "You ALMOST persuade me to be a Christian." (Acts 26:28.)

The day of grace will shut also. It shuts for people individually when their lives come to an end, or when they lose their mental capabilities to embrace spiritual truth. God does not bypass our minds when it comes to communicating with mankind. But just as the "master of the house" closes the door of opportunity in this way, He will also close the day of grace to the Gentiles. The door which opened at Israel's fall will also swing shut again.

 After the resurrection and ascension of our Lord, Israel stood-by their decision not to have Jesus rule over them. God, therefore concluded them in unbelief nationally, and opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles, announcing:
"Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it." (Acts 28:28.) But with this announcement we Gentiles are warned by Jesus Christ (thru Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles) to "Be not high minded, but fear, for if God spared not the natural branches, (Israel nationally) take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity, but toward thee (the Gentiles) goodness, IF THOU CONTINUE IN HIS GOODNESS, otherwise THOU SHALT ALSO BE CUT OFF." (Romans 11 :20-22)

So here we have a stern warning to the Gentiles not to be arrogant in this matter and to continue in God's goodness (by accepting and embracing seriously the salvation offer from God thru Christ) or they will also be cut off or shut out.

Paul goes on to predict this event, revealing a mystery saying, "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." (Romans 11 :25) He predicts this again in his second letter to the Thessalonians where it says "seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them" and "in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. " (II Thessalonians 1 :6,8,9)

Friend, what about you? Which side of the door would you be on if it were to shut right now? The choice is yours. His invitation to you is to enter the "strait gate" immediately. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (II Corinthians 6:2) See the need to enter, step thru the gate by trusting Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and as the only way of salvation. Believe His claims to be God manifested in the flesh. Be reconciled to God by believing what was accomplished in His cross for you. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (II Corinthians 5:21)

If you have entered the strait gate by believing the gospel of the grace of God, why not join us in getting this message out? Spread the word by telling others. Devote yourself to Christ, to live for Him out of gratitude for His shed blood on your behalf. Be a good example for others in your manner of life.

 Become a good testimony and a good reflection upon the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are not saved by good works, but good works result from trusting Him and should be evident in our lives. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto (upon) good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) Be among those who will be found inside when the door closes, and have lasting reward to go along with it. Remember, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. "

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"BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS"

By Robert Hanna, Pastor

Eph. 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ"

When considering our positional blessings as believers saved by grace, we do well to remember how these blessings were acquired. True, it was "not by works of righteousness which we have done" (Titus 3:5). Consider our position in its full magnitude. We are "blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies IN CHRIST." "He hath chosen us IN HIM before the foundation of the world...having predestinated us unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ TO HIMSELF...He hath made us accepted IN THE BELOVED (ONE) (Christ).. in whom (Christ) we have redemption.. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance (in CHRIST)" (Ephesians 1:4-11).

All this--and we are totally undeserving of it. We earned none of it "For by GRACE are ye saved .. not of works.." (Ephesians 2:8- 9 .) Note, however, that it did not all 'just happen' to come to pass. Throughout all past dispensations, man has been instructed as to what he must do to satisfy God's requirements in order to attain acceptance in His sight. In time past God had required blood sacrifice, circumcision, works of law, works of ceremonial rite, etc.

But what of today, in the age of grace? "To him that worketh not, but BELIEVETH ON HIM. THAT JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY, his faith is counted for righteousness. Through verse 11 of Eph. chapter 1 we have noted what we are and what we have IN CHRIST. Now on to verse 12: "IN WHOM (Christ) YE ALSO TRUSTED, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation."

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Finally Brethren
By Charles Wages

"Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." (2 Thess. 3:1-5)

The Apostle Paul uses the expression "Finally brethren" in his epistles to draw a conclusion to a particular matter of great importance. This is "the rest of the matter" until further instructions are given. These "finalities" are of great importance to all of us as believers. What is the first of these admonitions? "Pray for us."

This was his first and most needed request of the Thessalonian believers. This request was not for personal reasons, but for particular premises in the work of the Lord. The preeminent result was "that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men." This showed there were people of this nature in Paul's time. The amount and intensity of such men is prevalent in "our times" as well. Why were these people so unreasonable and wicked? The answer is forthcoming: "For all men have not faith!" Even today, there are some who have "faith," but are not "faithful men."

It is wonderful that we are told: "the Lord is faithful". However, we must be faithful to his Word. We are told in this passage of Scripture that "the word of the Lord may have free course and may be glorified, even as it is with you, and that you might be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men." God's preservation is amply seen in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, where we are told: "But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil."

The "finalities" of these wonderful portions of Scripture is found in, "And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ" (2 Thess. 3:5).

Remember Paul's admonition, "Finally brethren, PRAY FOR US!"

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"The Power of His Might"
Part 1 of 4
BY RICHARD JORDAN



 The book of Ephesians begins with a three chapter exposition of the wealth of our calling in Christ as members of His body. This is followed by almost three more full chapters detailing our walk in our conduct as members of that body on planet earth. Paul then concludes the epistle with an exhortation concerning the warfare we face due to our conflict with the adversary the devil.

These final instructions are introduced with the statement:

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Eph. 6:10).

This is a twofold declaration. First comes a message of grace: "Be strong in the Lord." As we previously saw in our study of this phrase, this is an exhortation to be strong in God's grace to us in Christ --to take our stand in the "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places" which God's grace has so freely bestowed upon us "in Christ. "

To this Paul adds a message of glory: "Be strong in ... the power of His might." Although this part of the verse is often mistakenly assumed to be simply a repetition of the first part, we will find great profit in considering it more fully on its own.

A MESSAGE OF GLORY
In speaking of being strong in "the power of His might" Paul is referring back to Eph. 1 and the risen, ascended Lord Jesus as the source of the power which enables us to stand the shock of the battle with the adversary. He does this for a very important reason--one which explains why Satan hates the Body of Christ and the message of grace with such ire.

Eph. 1:15-23 contains the first of two great prayers recorded in this book. It is a prayer for enlightenment: that believers might know what is (1) "the hope of His calling"--the glorious expectation inspired by what God has purposed to do with and through the Body of Christ; (2) "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints "--what God will gain for Himself in all He plans to accomplish; and (3) "the exceeding greatness of His power" in accomplishing it all.

The standard for measuring "the greatness of His power"is then set forth:

" ... according to the working of His mighty power,
 "Which HE WROUGHT IN CHRIST, WHEN HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, AND SET HIM AT HIS OWN RIGHT HAND IN HEAVENLY PLACES,
"FAR ABOVE ALL PRINCIPALITY, AND POWER, AND MIGHT, AND DOMINION, AND EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED, NOT ONLY IN THIS WORLD, BUT ALSO IN THAT WHICH IS TO COME:
"AND HATH PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET, AND GAVE HIM TO BE THE HEAD OVERALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH,
"WHICH IS HIS BODY, THE FULNESS OF HIM THAT FILLETH ALL IN ALL" (Eph. 1:19-23).

God's power has been measured in different ways throughout Scripture. It was manifest in creation. With Israel, when the Lord wanted to cite who He is and what He does, He often pointed to their deliverance through the Red Sea as illustrating His power to deliver them. In the dispensation of grace, however, His power is set forth "when He raised [Christ] from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places."

It is important to read these verses fully and appreciate that much more than simply the resurrection of Christ from the dead is in view here--as glorious as that wonderful truth is!

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"The Power of His Might"
Part 2 of 4
BY RICHARD JORDAN


What is being referred to here is the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ over the government of the universe. The Father "raised Him from the dead" and not just to "sit on David's throne" (Acts 2:30), as prophecy had predicted. We now know He has "set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion."

For God to have "set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places" and to have 'put all things under His feet and [given] Him to be head over all things" signifies that Christ has been placed into a position of governmental headship. Just what government the principality--power--might---dominion" is referring to is expanded in Col. 1:16,

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities or powers: all things were created by him, and for him."

There is a government not only "in the earth" but also "in heaven," Just as Satan usurped the position of "prince of this world" he has also taken the position of "prince of the power of the air" --the unseen, heavenly realm, But God has a plan and purpose to restore His authority in all these governmental positions--in heaven as well as in the earth.

His prophesied intent, is to reclaim the authority in the earth through the instrumentality of a kingdom vested in the nation Israel. This is the subject of prophecy and has been "spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began" (Acts 3:21).

God also has a purpose and plan to restore His authority in the government in the heavenly places as well. This is the subject of the mystery revealed to Paul and was "kept secret since the world began but now has been made manifest" (Rom. 16:25; Eph. 3: 1-9).

Eph. 1: 19·22 is setting forth the greatness of God's power as demonstrated by making the Lord Jesus Christ the head over a heavenly kingdom. The governmental positions of rank and authority which have been usurped from God's authority by Satan and his host have been reclaimed by the Lord Jesus. Thus Christ now sits as the rightful head of "all things." Note that the context clearly defines "all things" in verse 19-- "all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named. "

And this is done to the specific advantage of the members of the Body of Christ:

"And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, "Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all" (vs. 22,23).

Notice Paul does not here say that Christ is the "head of the church." That is a glorious truth but it isn't the point here. Rather Eph. 1:22 declares Him to be "head over all things to the church." Again, the "all things" over which He is made head is the heavenly government--and it is to the advantage of the church that He is so positioned.

Christ has a two-fold headship that should not be confused. Col. 1:18 declares, "He is head of the body, the church. " But he is also the "head of all principality and power, " as Col. 2:10 clearly states:

"And ye are complete in him, WHICH IS THE HEAD OF ALL PRINCIPALITY AND POWER."

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"The Power of His Might"
Part 3 of 4
BY RICHARD JORDAN




It is Col. 2: 10 that matches Eph. 1:21,22--not Col. 1:18. At this point perhaps we should examine Col. 1:16-18, for these verses hold the key to how Christ's headship over the heavenly government is for our advantage.

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

It is God's intention that Jesus Christ have the preeminence in "all things." Once again, the context of Col. 1: 16-18 clearly defines the "all things" being spoken of as those things identified in verse 16 --the positions of government created by Jesus Christ in heaven and earth. These are the "all things" that are to be "reconciled" in Col. 1: 20. 2 The reference is to the future restoration of the system of government originally established over heaven and earth.

It is clear from the prophetic program that Jesus Christ was to be head of" all things" in the earth. When He sits on "the throne of His glory" and reigns from Jerusalem, He will be "King of Kings" and "all nations shall serve Him." What was unknown until the revelation of the mystery was that He also had a plan to reclaim His position in the heavenlies.

>From Genesis 1:2 until the raising up of the Apostle Paul, the issue in the program of God was the earth. Now with the revelation of the mystery, the heavenly places have become the focus. God will restore the earth to Himself through the nation Israel; the heavenly places through the Body of Christ. Then Christ will be head of "all things." This is what Eph. 1:9-10 looks to:

"Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
"That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are in earth; even in him."

In order for Christ to be preeminent in "all things," He needed the Body of Christ. Israel would be His agency to reclaim the government of the earth. But He would need a "new creature" a "new man "--to extend His reign into the heavenly places. Thus Christ has been made "head over the body"--"that in all things he might have the preeminence. "

Without the Body of Christ He could never reclaim "all" things. Thus Christ has been made "head over all things to the church" that is, to the advantage of the church, for the church is "His body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all"

In other words, it will be members of the Body of Christ whom He will use to fill up the positions of governmental authority in the heavenly places and through whom He will carry out the rule and business of His "heavenly kingdom" (II Tim. 4: 18.).

What a position is ours! What power and authority has been exercised in our behalf! And it is in this power that we are to stand fast.

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"The Power of His Might"
Part 4 of 4
BY RICHARD JORDAN




WHY IT IS NEEDED

Our need for being strong in this power of His might goes much deeper than simply the momentary difficulties and vicissitudes of life. Consider Eph. 3:9,10.

"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

"TO THE INTENT THAT NOW UNTO THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS IN HEAVENLY PLACES MIGHT BE KNOWN BY THE CHURCH THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD,"

You see, as we make known "the fellowship of the mystery"--as Body truth works in our lives--we manifest unto the angelic beings currently filling the positions of principalities and powers in the heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God in reconciling even those positions back under His authority through Christ. And what is that "manifold wisdom "? I Cor. 2:6·8 tells us:

"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

"WHICH NONE OF THE PRINCES OF THIS WORLD KNEW: FOR HAD THEY KNOWN IT, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY."

Simply by keeping a secret about what He would accomplish through the cross-work of Jesus Christ, God "spoiled principality and power" and "made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Col. 2: 15).

At Calvary God took the wise in his own craftiness! In the face of Satan's boasted "wisdom" all God had to do was keep a secret and Satan fooled himself into doing the very thing that resulted in assuring his doom.

Is there any wonder why Satan hates the truth of the mystery so? Is there any question that he would oppose those who proclaim it to others? Thus Paul says,

     "----BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT."

Our strength is in what God had done in Christ. It is this message of grace and glory Satan so bitterly hates. Yet this is the very truth that makes us strong as we rest by faith in who God has made us in Christ. It is this message we are privileged to cherish, to guard, to proclaim and with which to fill our lives.

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"ACCEPTED"
by C. R. Stam


 In Ephesians 1:6 the Apostle Paul sings a doxology, as it were, "to the praise of the glory of God's grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved".

 In the story of the Prodigal Son it is touching to see the father accept his wayward son back to his bosom --- and so generously! He does not merely admit him back into his home; he clothes him with his best robe, puts a ring on his hand, shoes on his feet and kills for him the fatted calf so that they call all to "eat and be merry" in celebration of his return.

 But the prodigal was after all the father's son, whereas Paul bids us "Gentiles in the flesh" to remember that originally we were "without Christ...aliens from the commonwealth of Israel...strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Eph. 2:12).

 Hence it is even more touching to contemplate God's gracious acceptance of us who were not sons but "aliens" and "enemies" (Col. 1:21).

 The word "accepted" in the above passage actually comes from the word "grace" (Gr. karis) with which the verse begins: "...His grace, wherein He hath engraced us in the Beloved One".

 Thus God looks upon us now with delight; He delights to favor and bless the believer because He sees him in Christ, His beloved Son.

 This passage reminds us how God once broke through the heavens to declare: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17). And now He is delighted with us and blesses us with "all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies" because we are in Christ, the "Beloved Son". Not that we have attained to this position, far from it, for "HE hath MADE us accepted" --- HE hath engraced us in the Beloved.

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Things Hid
Part 1 of 3
By John D. LaVier

The wise man of the Old Testament declared: "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing" (Proverbs 25:2). God seemingly delights to hide something away and then in His own time to bring that thing out of its hiding place, manifesting it to His amazed and wondering creatures, and thus bring glory to Himself.

"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing." With the words of this text in mind, let us turn to the book of Colossians and notice in each of the first three chapters some things which have been hid.

The Mystery Hid

In Colossians 1:26 the Apostle Paul refers to the dispensation given to him by God; "even the mystery which hath been hid." What was this mystery which had been hid? It was the dispensation given to Paul, the dispensation of grace, during which God is saving sinners by grace, through faith in the crucified and resurrected Saviour, and making them members of the Church, the Body of Christ.

The word "mystery" is used in the Scriptures in regard to many things. For example, we read of the mystery of Israel's blindness during this age (Romans 11:25); the mystery of the Church as being a joint-body composed of Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 3:6); the mystery of the indwelling Christ (Colossians 1:27); the mystery of the vital union between Christ and the members of His Body (Ephesians 5:32); and the mystery of the translation of living believers at the end of the age (1 Corinthians 15:51). However, we need to take care lest we reduce the mystery to a mere feature of it. The foregoing are but various phases of the mystery. The mystery proper is the dispensation, the dispensation of the mystery.

Some years ago we were in the scenic state of Colorado. As we stood one day on the top of Mount Evans, we could see the mighty snow-capped peaks rearing their heads toward heaven, and we could also see other mountain ranges farther beyond, but we could not see the long valley between. It was hid from our view. So it was with the prophets of old. They saw two great prophetic mountain peaks: the first coming of Christ as the suffering Messiah, and the second coming of Christ as the reigning Messiah, but they did not see the valley in between. That valley was the dispensation of grace. It was hid from their view.

This present dispensation and all of God's purposes in it, having to do with the calling out of the Body of Christ and its glorious character and destiny, is the mystery that was hid. It was hid, not in the Scriptures, but in the mind and heart of God. Israel's prophets knew nothing about it, nor did Christ as the minister of the circumcision make it known when He was here upon earth. It was not until Israel had been set aside that God made the mystery known through the Apostle Paul.

All of God's purposes for the world had been connected with the nation Israel. But Israel rejected Christ in the days of His flesh, then refused the call to repentance, and blasphemed the Holy Ghost. It must then have appeared that the purposes of the Almighty had been defeated, but then it was that the manifold (many-sided) wisdom of God was made known. Then God revealed through Paul the fact that He had a secret purpose. He had foreseen Israel's rejection of the Christ, and had foreordained that Israel likewise should be rejected, and that during their rejection He would dispense grace to all the world, and bring to completion His glorious Church. Now the secret is out; no longer hid. Now we are commanded "to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery" (Ephesians 3:9).

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Things Hid
Part 2 of 3
By John D. LaVier

God's Treasures Hid

Men who have valuable possessions usually seek a safe place in which to hide them. God has a safe place in which to hide His treasures. That place is in His own dear Son. The Lord Jesus Christ is the jewel box in Whom are hid all the rare treasures of the Godhead, for the Word declares: "In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3).

"All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!" Who can declare their value? The hymn writer put it:

Precious, more precious;
Wealth that can never be told;
O, the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Precious, more precious than gold.

In his epistle to the Romans the inspired apostle wonderingly cries out: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" And these riches are all in Christ. All the treasures, all the riches, all the "pleroma" (fullness) of the Godhead resided "in Him."

How blessed the two little words "in Him," which occur so often. Everything of any value is "in Him." We read in Colossians 1:19, "For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell." The words "the Father" are in italics, and have been supplied. If any words should be added it should be the words "the Godhead," or as the marginal reading puts it, "For in Him all the fullness of the Godhead was pleased to dwell."

In Colossians 2:9 a similar expression is found: "For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." Then follows a tremendous statement: "And ye are complete in Him." There are two great teachings presented in Colossians: (a) All the fullness of the Godhead is "in Him." (b) The saints are made full "in Him." There is nothing we need which is not to be found in Him, for in Him are hid all the Divine treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Christ is heaven's treasure chest. All is hidden away in Him, and there is a sense in which He also is hidden. He is the hidden Christ. All during Old Testament times He was hidden. Then He was hidden in the womb of the virgin. After His birth He was hidden in Egypt. Returning to the land He was hidden in Nazareth, with one brief glimpse of Him as a boy of twelve. Then He was crucified, and for three days and three nights He was hid in the heart of the earth. But God raised Him from the dead, and He went back into heaven. Now for almost two thousand years He has been hidden beyond the blue, discernible only to faith's eye.

Some day Christ will be hid no longer. He will be revealed from heaven: The Revelation of Jesus Christ! That is the title of the last book in the Bible. First, though, he will reveal Himself to His own, as He calls them home to be forever with Himself. Then He shall be revealed to all the world. Every eye shall see Him. All shall perceive and know that He is the Incarnate Wisdom of God, that all the treasures of the Godhead, all the deep and precious treasures of wisdom and knowledge, are hid in Him. Then every knee shall bow before Him; His name shall be exalted; His praise shall be on every lip. Then shall be days of heaven upon earth. Lord Jesus, haste the day!

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Things Hid
Part 3 of 3
By John D. LaVier

The Saints Hid

In the opening verses of Colossians 3 the apostle reminds the saints of their exalted position in Christ. Having died with Him, and been raised with Him, and seated with Him, they are now to be done with the things of earth and to set their affection on things above. We read: "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." The believer is to reckon himself as dead to sin, but alive unto God; as dead to self, but alive to Christ; as dead to the world, but alive to the things of heaven.

A most blessed statement is found in this verse: "Hid with Christ in God." Christ is hid, and the saints are hid with Him. Hid in God; what a safe hiding place. The storms of life may buffet us, but we will not fear, for we are hid with Christ in God. The enemy of our soul may threaten us, but he will not prevail, for we are hid with Christ in God. In all these things we are more than conquerors, for we are hid with Christ in God. What a place of blissful nearness; hid with Christ in the heart of the Eternal One, the object of His love, the child of His care.

The saints are hid with Christ. It is not surprising then if they go unrecognized by the world. John wrote: "The world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be." The pilgrims of faith wear but humble garb, and veiled is their high degree. We are hid with Christ, be we are waiting. We are waiting for God's Son from heaven, and for the manifestation of the sons of God. "When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then shall we also with Him be manifested in glory." Our bodies of humiliation will be exchanged for bodies of glory. As we have borne the image of the earthy so shall we then bear the image of the heavenly. We shall be conformed to the image of Christ. We shall be like Him, in His likeness. Then it will be seen by all that we are indeed the sons of God, and heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.

We went into a friend's home one wintry day to observe a miracle of nature. On one of his walks through the woods this friend had picked up a cocoon, and had hung it up on a kitchen wall. That cold morning he called us in to see what had happened. The cocoon had opened up, and from out of it had come a beautiful moth. As we looked at the ugly cocoon, and than at the beautiful thing which had emerged from it, the thought came, we Christians are now in the cocoon stage, but some day we are coming out. We will be manifested to a wondering world. How that fragile creature got out of that tough cocoon, I do not know, but at God's time it came out. The time is coming when the graves will be opened, when the power of death will be broken, when every redeemed child of God will soar away yonder to appear with Christ the Head in matchless, marvelous, fadeless glory.

This article was written by Pastor John LaVier back in January of 1955. We are thankful for the faithful ministry of this dear saint of God who went home to be with the Lord in September, 2005.

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THE SON OF A VIRGIN
by Russell S. Miller

    In the Book of Leviticus God revealed to Moses how that life itself is in the chemistry of the blood; and that only "blood" can atone for sin:

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I [the Lord] have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Lev. 17:11).

The blood of Old Testament animal sacrifices, however, could not reconcile God and man, as the Apostle Paul says: "For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Hebrews 10:2-4).

This is where the Son of God enters the stream of humanity, and Mary is the real mother of the humanity of Christ, and a true descendant of David, whom God used to bring His Son into the world to save sinners. As Isaiah the prophet predicted: "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." This is the quote in Matthew 1:23 concerning "the birth of Jesus Christ." But how can a "virgin" give birth to a child? This is a total impossibility with man, but God is not bound with man's impossibilities:

"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:34,35).

Consequently none of Adam's tainted and sinful blood was coursing through His veins. The blood of Jesus Christ was divine. The Lord Jesus Christ did not inherit that old Adamic nature. There was no sin in Him, not a chance!And what we could not do because of the corruption that Adam's sin brought upon mankind, Christ accomplished through "the blood of His cross" (Col. 1:20). Thus the blood of Christ is efficacious to save us from our sins, as the many references in the Epistles of Saint Paul declare:

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

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph.2:13).

And in Hebrews, Chapter Ten, Paul writes these words concerning the perfect humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His deity, and virgin birth:

"But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, SAT DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD....For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Heb. 10:12,14).

And the Apostle Peter also makes this same declaration:

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:18,19).

God simply wants us to believe the Truth of His Word, placing our faith and confidence in what God has said about His Son, and upon believing, God's Word declares that He will save us for time and eternity. It's simply a matter of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ alone.