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Superiority of Christ
Part 2 0f 2
By Gregg Bing


In Him All Things Created

Jesus Christ is the One by (in) whom "all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him" (Col. 1:16-17a). The word "all" means exactly that. Because He is God, everything that was created was created by (in) Christ. Who else but God has the wisdom and power to do so? John said of Him, "All things were made through Him, and without (apart from) Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:3). These verses are devastating to the blasphemous idea that Christ Himself was a created being. That is why the Jehovah's Witnesses, in their perversion of the Scriptures, add an extra word to Colossians 1:16 so that it reads: "For by him all [other] things were created." The word "other" is not found in any Greek text. Christ is "the Firstborn over all creation" because all things were created in Him (sphere), through Him (agency) and for Him (purpose).

He is Before All Things

Jesus Christ is "before all things" (Col. 1:17b). Being the eternal Word, Christ is before all things as to time. In the beginning, when the universe came into being, Christ already existed (John 1:1-2). Being Almighty God, the Creator of all things, and thus the "Firstborn," Christ is before all things as to position and authority.

In Him All Things Consist

Not only did Jesus Christ create all things, bringing them into existence out of nothing, He is also the One by (in) whom "all things consist (hold together)" (Col. 1:17c). Hebrews 1:3 says that Christ, "being the brightness of God's glory and the express image of His person" upholds "all things by the word of His power."

Head of the Body, the Church

Just as Jesus Christ is over all the created universe, He is over the new creation as well, being "the Head of the Body, the Church (Col. 1:18a). After His death on Calvary, God raised Christ from the dead, exalted Him to His own right hand, "far above" all authority and rule and every name that is named, and gave Him to be "the Head over all things to the Church" (Eph. 1:21-23).

He is the Beginning

Jesus Christ is Head over the Church, because "He is the beginning" (Col. 1:18b). The word "beginning" is from the Greek word "arche" which speaks of that which holds the highest position. For example, Michael is called the archangel. "Beginning" carries the ideas of both originator and ruler. Christ says of Himself: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End" (Rev. 1:8.). He is the beginning of life, not just physical life, but spiritual life as well, for "in Him was life" (John 1:4).

Firstborn From the Dead

Jesus Christ is not only the "firstborn over all creation," "He is the firstborn from the dead" (Col. 1:18c). Jesus was not the first man to be raised from the dead, but He is the first to be raised unto eternal life, never to die again. Christ's resurrection ensures resurrection and eternal life to all who will trust in Him as Savior. Paul assures us of this truth from the negative standpoint in 1 Corinthians 15:17-18: "And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished;" Then from a positive standpoint in 1 Corinthians 15:20-23: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming." Christ is, therefore, both "the Author and Finisher of our faith," having endured the cross for our sins and being raised from the dead (Heb. 12:2). He is our risen and glorious Savior and Head.

That He May Be Preeminent

Jesus Christ, simply because of who He is, is to "have the preeminence (first place)" in all things (Col. 1:18d), for He truly is superior to all things. He is the eternal God; He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things; He is the Firstborn from the dead; He is the Alpha and Omega; He is the Head over all things to the Church, His Body. "In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" and, because of this fact, those who trust in Christ as Savior are "complete in Him" (Col. 2:9-10). How important it is to acknowledge the superiority of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to give Him the preeminence in our hearts and lives.

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LIBERTY FOR ALL
By Miles Stanford



"If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances?" (Col. 2:20, R.v.).

When it comes to spiritual growth and walk, any help from ourselves is a hindrance to us. The source is wrong. On the death side, we are to receive deliverance from sin's power through the Spirit from the Cross; on the life side, we are to receive growth through the Spirit from the Lord Jesus. It is a matter of receiving, not contributing. We are branches, not vines.

"The old elementary legal rudiments of a legal age are for those 'living in the world' (having an earthly temple and worship). Believers are seated in the heavenlies in Christ, and are spiritual people with a sanctuary in Heaven. 'Touch not,' 'taste not,' 'handle not'; such commandments of men have no value. They perish with the using.

"'Voluntary humility,' 'neglecting of the body,' 'fasting,' etc., have a show of wisdom. They gratify religious pride and self righteousness, they 'puff up the fleshly mind,' but they are 'not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.' The flesh is not subdued by fasting, nor pride by whipping, nor worldliness by neglect of the body. These are of 'no avail' though men glory in them. Only the Holy Spirit brings one into liberty - and that via the Cross. 'The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death' (Rom. 8:2)."  -G.G.

"Stand fast, then, in the freedom which Christ has given us, and turn not back again to entangle yourselves in the yoke of bondage" (Gal. 5:1, Cony.).

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THE FOLLY OF WORLDLY WISDOM
by C. R. Stam




Has not the world made great progress, intellectually, since Paul's day? Is this not evident on every hand? Of course! For one thing, our physicists have taught us how to kill each other much faster now. Moscow, London or Washington could be wiped out in a few minutes, and this is a considerable saving in time!

And think what has been accomplished in the field of electronics! We can now keep intelligent people glued to their TV sets for hours on end, their eyes riveted to shows which are often unwholesome, but sometimes at least entertaining and occasionally even informative. And think of the many time-saving devices in our homes! We are all saving so much time that we cannot even be hospitable to each other and our mental institutions are over-crowded with patients who have collapsed from enjoying all this leisure time.

Then consider our achievements in transportation! Our thorough fares are crowded with automobiles whose drivers are getting jangled nerves in traffic jams and choking in the deadly carbon monoxide fumes, or else racing at high speeds, which is great fun until suddenly some object looms up ahead as if from nowhere. And the airplane! This is really something! We can now fly through the air with so much noise and commotion that innocent people for miles around our larger airports are kept awake nights. Of course, the minority should be willing to suffer cheerfully for the majority and it is important that great numbers of people get places fast, fast, fast.

But all this is nothing compared with what is going on in outer space. We now have all sorts of things orbiting around out there -- and it's not all debris. It includes some very sensitive instruments, serving us faithfully from day to day. Indeed, men from our earth have actually landed on the moon and have brought some of its rocks and dust back with them. Soon, maybe, we will have people from beautiful New England, or the breath-taking Rockies, or the lovely shores of Oregon, living on its barren wastes. Wonderful prospect! And we can always get the necessary billions from the taxpayers.

But the best of it is that while we have aspired to reach the moon, and even Mars, we've got a Great Society going on earth; a Society whose wild pagan music has all but replaced the beautiful melodies and harmonies of the classics, and whose twisted "art" reflects the bewildered confusion of our times; a Society in which children and young people are corrupted, women are robbed and raped, and men, women and children are murdered in the streets. Oh, it's wonderful! The young people demonstrating a tour universities for the right to use filthy language if they want to, and demanding a greater voice in running our institutions of learning; the minority groups marching to protest their various grievances, the rioting and blood shed, the burning and looting! And meantime, ever so quietly,our most sophisticated mob syndicates are running fine motels and other business organizations -- and pouring a never-increasing flow of narcotics, pornographic literature, etc., into our enlightened community, judges and juries doing what they can to favor the criminals and, should any of them land behind prison bars, the parole boards are there to help get them released as soon as possible, so that our happy society may benefit from their experience and our mental and penal institutions may be further enlarged. Surely we've never had it so good.

Thanks be to God for the truth of Gal. 1:4:

"[Christ] gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world
[or, "age"] according to the will of God and our Father."

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God's Gifts To His Church
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler




Scripture Reading:

“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry.”
– Ephesians 4:11-13


    Paul warns us about those who, whether wittingly or unwittingly, would spread unsound doctrine among us. We are living in a time when some of the brethren seem to deem it important to find something new. Of course, it is not our intent to discourage anyone in regard to exercising the “Berean spirit.” However, care should be taken not to undermine the foundation upon which our faith rests. We do well to remember that the “Doctrinal Statement” our forefathers forged for us was a product of intense debate with the denominational leaders of their day. Each plank of the statement was carefully crafted as a defense and confirmation of the Fundamentals of the faith and Paul’s gospel. Therefore, let us not be too quick to challenge those things which are “tried and true.”


    At this late hour, there are those who tell us that the “gifts” of evangelists, pastors and teachers or pastor-teachers are no longer in operation today. Some have even g   one as far to say that the enabling “gifts” have also passed. This flies in the face of our “    Doctrinal Statement,” which has served us well for over fifty years. It states:


     “The gifts necessary for the ministry of the Body of Christ are those enumerated in Eph. 4:7-16. Of these, only the gifts of evangelists and pastor-teachers are in operation today. All the sign gifts of the Acts period, such as tongues, prophecy and healing (I Cor. 12:1-31), being temporary in character, have ceased (I Cor. 13:8-11).”


    Here in Ephesians, one of Paul’s later epistles, the apostle sets the tone for the course of this dispensation. Clearly, the context of this portion concerns itself with the gifts God has given to His Church. It is true that the gifts of “apostles” and “prophets” passed with the completion of the Word of God (I Cor. 13:8-13 cf. Col. 1:25). Once the Word of God was dispensed, these two offices and the gifted men who held them were nonessential. We now have something far better, the written revelation that they handed down to us, which is to be obeyed in matters of faith and practice.


     There is no indication, whatsoever, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors and teachers have ever been withdrawn. In fact, Paul plainly states their purpose: “For the perfecting [maturing] of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the Body of Christ.” And how long shall this continue? “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge [Gr. epignosis -- full knowledge] of the Son of God” (Eph. 4:13).

       Surely, it could not be said there has ever been a period in Church history, past or present, that the “unity of the faith” has been attained, much less a “full knowledge” of the Son of God. But this is exactly what we are being asked to believe; that is, the unity of the faith has been attained. Perhaps, we should put this to the Berean test.

Creation: Some believe God created all things in six literal twenty- four hour days. Others teach the “ruin and reconstruction theory” that God created, destroyed and re-created. This is commonly called the “gap theory” which places millions or billions of years between the original creation and the re-creation.

Redemption: The battle has raged for centuries over whether Christ died for the sins of all mankind or merely for the sins of the elect. Which do you believe?

Things to Come: It is well known there are those who believe the events covered in the Book of Revelation are entirely futuristic. Many would challenge this assertion as absurd. They teach that the early chapters of the Apocalypse describe the various stages of Church history up to the present “Laodicean” age. If we agree that there are two camps of interpretation on any Biblical subject, then we have yet to come into the unity of the faith.


There is not one scintilla of evidence that the “unity of the faith” has ever been attained by all. Even in Paul’s day, the saints were wielding the sword of the Spirit against one another (II Tim. 1:15 cf. 2:17-19). In addition, we must inquire: Has the Church come to a full knowledge of the Son of God? That is, of His person, work and present heavenly ministry. We shall answer this question with a question: Has the Church, which is His Body, acknowledged the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the Mystery?


The “unity of the faith” and a “full knowledge” of Christ is a goal set before us that will never be fully attained until the Rapture. Thus, the responsibility of Gods gifts to His Church is to proclaim the whole counsel of God in light of the Pauline epistles. Why? that the saints might be established in the faith!


There is also an experiential side to this truth as well. When God called me into the ministry nearly thirty years ago, it was definitive. Other pastors have testified of similar experiences, which confirms that the “gifts and callings of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29). Beware of those who would rob you of this precious truth!

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GOD'S TRANSFORMING GRACE
By Pastor Robert Roosendaal


"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, right and godly in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:12, 13).

The religious world in the realm of Christendom is blinded to salvation by grace. The cults are unanimous in its rejection. Within the ranks of fundamentalism and evangelicalism much confusion remains. In the latter group there is further confusion relative to what effect this has in the believer's walk. Paul answers this in verse 14- "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works."

Let us learn how effective God's grace can he in the home: God's grace will create love to replace the sting of bitterness. A beautiful obedience to God's Word will terminate disobedience, and the miracle of harmony will prevail over disharmony. The grace of thoughtfulness will touch the heart and dispel indifference. Divine hope will triumph over the pain of hopelessness. The preeminence of Christ will blossom forth---no longer will Christ be ignored. Prayerfulness will certainly be victorious over prayerlessness. Unselfishness now enters in to bless the home and to dispose the shame of selfishness. The parents learn to excel in spiritual positives, avoiding the folly of nagging negatives. The hearts of lovers now offer praise to God and for each other to wipe out the depression of murmuring. Contentment will bring glory to God for His goodness. Our Wonderful Lord is the giver of rest and refreshment for those in turmoil, the restlessness and fatigue that afflict so many. God is willing to direct us in attaining meaningful goals to replace the aimlessness and indirection that makes life so dull. Emerging from a life of wandering and confusion, Christ will thrill our hearts with eternal joy. The loveliness of Christ will shine with glorious beauty while the lackluster of sin with its attractions, will fade away. God's grace can do all that and much more.

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Christ In Us
by Pastor C. R. Stam


      It has been well said that if there is anything good in any man it is because it was put there by God. And something good— a new nature — has been imparted by God to every true believer in Christ.

While there is still within us “that which is begotten of the flesh,” there is also “that which is begotten of the Spirit,” and just as the one “cannot please God,” so the other always pleases Him.

Adam was originally created in the image and likeness of God, but he fell into sin and later “begat a son in his own likeness, after his image” (Gen. 5:3). It could not be otherwise. Fallen Adam could generate and beget only fallen, sinful offspring, whom even the law could not change. But “what the law could not do, in that it was weak[because of] the flesh, God, sending His own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,” accomplished, “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:3,4).

As Adam was made in the likeness of God, but fell, so Christ was made in the likeness of sinful flesh — though without sin — to redeem us from the fall, that by grace, through the operation of the Spirit, a new creation might be brought into being, “the new man which after God,is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:24).

Thus in addition to our fallen Adamic nature true believers, through faith, have also become “partakers of the divine nature” (II Pet. 1:4). This is the “inner man” of which Paul speaks in Eph. 3:16, and this “inner man” delights to do God’s will (Rom. 7:22).

The Adamic nature, which Scripture calls “the flesh,” is that which was generated by a fallen begetter. It is sinful in itself, even in the believer. It cannot be improved or changed. But “that which is born [or begotten] of God” always pleases Him. It was begotten by the Spirit of God Himself. This is why our Lord said to Nicodemus:

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; that which is born of the Spirit is spirit….

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THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST
by Russell S. Miller



In I Corinthians 2:6-8 the Apostle Paul declares that his gospel, and the finished work of Christ, was hid from the Roman authorities as well as the scribes and Pharisees in Israel. It was hid from the Twelve Apostles, and most mysterious was it to the angels; and even the devil couldn't figure it out:

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 naught: 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. (I Cor. 2:6-8.).

It is the preaching of the cross in Paul's Gospel alone that is good news today (I Cor. 1:18.). This wisdom of God was also HIDDEN in a Mystery and ordained before the world began unto our glory, as Paul goes on in Ephesians to declare:

How that by revelation He made known unto me the Mystery (as I wrote afore in few words,

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the Mystery of Christ)

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is NOW revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit... (Eph. 3:3-6).

To be sure, the Gentiles are fellowheirs, and of a joint-body and joint-partakers of His promise in the Christ  and, Yes, we are baptized by one Spirit into the one Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13), but, mark well, that both Jews and Gentiles are MADE NIGH by the BLOOD of Christ (Eph. 2:13).

But, the Apostle Paul declares that his gospel is a secret hitherto NOT made known (Eph. 3:5), ...HID IN GOD (3:9), HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERATIONS, but NOW is made manifest... (Col. 1:26). Does the Apostle therefore contradict himself?

It is, of course, blessedly true that where the Body of Christ is concerned, and this dispensation of grace, the Mystery is NOT found in the Old Testament. But where the Lord Jesus Christ is concerned it is even more blessedly true that all the types and shadows of the Mosaic sacrificial system (Heb. 10:1-4) mysteriously pointed forward to Christ and Calvary's cross:

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

The fellowship of the Mystery, in Ephesians 3:9, includes the Church, which is the Body of Christ, while the Mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19) speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, and His finished work of redemption. 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 (Col. 1:18.). It is these two aspects of this great Mystery that even the devil did not know.

Paul does not contradict himself. Could anything be clearer than The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans with regards to the finished work of Christ! Paul declares that the GRACE of God in Calvary's cross is first revealed to him, in all that God promised (Rom. 1:1-4), and in all that God kept secret (Eph. 3:1-9), concerning the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:15,16). This is why God raised up the Apostle Paul to reveal the blood stained cross of Christ and His finished work on Calvary:

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name (Romans 1:5).

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In our last issue we examined the superiority of the person of Jesus Christ, looking at Paul's warning to the Colossians about false teachers who denied the deity of Christ. These false teachers also denied the sufficiency of Christ's finished work of redemption, insisting that righteousness must be attained by keeping the Law, a teaching commonly referred to as legalism.

Sufficiency of Christ
Part 1 of 3
By Pastor Gregg Bing

Legalism is not related specifically to the Mosaic Law; legalism is simply man trying to deal with his sins and obtain the favor of God through the works of his own hands, something that began, not with the Mosaic Law, but in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, "the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings" (Gen. 3:7). They became conscious of their sin and were filled with shame and guilt, so Adam and Eve, working with their own hands, sewed fig leaves together to cover their nakedness and shame. However, when they "heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day," their guilt remained, so they "hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden" (Gen. 3:8.). God Himself provided a proper covering for their nakedness and sin, using tunics of skin to clothe them (Gen. 3:21), demonstrating that sins can only be dealt with through the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22).

Later, Adam and Eve's children, Cain and Abel, brought offerings to the Lord for their sins. Abel, a shepherd, brought of the firstborn of his flock; Cain, a farmer, brought of the fruit of the ground. God respected Abel's offering because he offered it by faith, hearing God's command to offer a blood sacrifice and obeying. Cain heard the same command, but he chose, instead, to offer the work of his own hands which he took from the ground (both of which were cursed because of sin), an offering which could never please God (Rom. 8:8.).

God, who is holy and righteous, required that mankind's sins must be paid for through the blood of an innocent, sinless sacrifice, a sacrifice that God would supply through His own Son. God chose to bring His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world through the nation of Israel. In order to preserve His purpose through Israel, God placed them under the Mosaic Law. The Law was to serve as a tutor, a strict schoolmaster to discipline and correct Israel, to keep them holy until Christ was born (Gal. 3:24-25).

The Law was not given to save Israel from their sins. It is evident that "no one is justified by the law in the sight of God," for "the just shall live by faith," and "the law is not of faith" but of works (Gal. 3:11-12). The Law was given "that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God," for "by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:19-20). This is why God made provision in the Law to atone for (cover) the people's sins through the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the various sacrifices.

The Law declared the holy and righteous standard of God, a standard which all fall short of (Rom. 3:23). The problem is not with the Law; the Law is "holy and just and good" (Rom. 7:12). The Law could not make anyone righteous because of the weakness of the flesh (Rom. 8:2), "for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them" (Gal. 3:10). No one could keep all the Law perfectly, thus, all were concluded to be "under sin" (Gal. 3:21-22). Even the Law's provision for sin was insufficient. The animal sacrifices, which were offered continually year after year, could never "make those who approach perfect" (Heb. 10:1). It was simply "not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins" (Heb. 10:4). All these sacrifices could do was atone for, or cover, the people's sins each year.

The Jews of that first century never understood the real purpose of the Law. They assumed the Law was a means of making them righteous in God's eyes. Paul described their futile efforts in Romans 10:1-4.

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Rom. 10:1-4)

These verses give us a good definition of legalism: "Seeking to establish their own righteousness," or, literally, "Seeking to establish a righteousness of themselves." The Pharisees believed they were "blameless" concerning "the righteousness which is in the law" (Phil. 3:6), and this is what they taught the people. The majority of these Jews were depending on their own religious works to save them, just like Cain.

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Sufficiency of Christ
Part 2 of 3
By Gregg Bing



When the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world, the majority of the Jews were offended at Him and His teaching. He exposed their sin (John 15:22), and in response, they rejected and crucified the One who came to be their Savior; the One who came "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Thus, Jesus Christ, God's only Son, shed His own precious blood as a sacrifice and payment for the sins of the whole world. Through the "offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," the sins of all men could not just be covered, but taken away completely (Heb. 10:5-14). The Lord Jesus Christ, thus, became "the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Rom. 10:4).

Nevertheless, many today are just like the Jews of Paul's day, seeking to become righteous and pleasing in God's sight through their own good works. This is exactly what Satan wants men to think; it is "the lie" that blinds men to the truth of the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4) and keeps them from trusting in Christ as Savior.

Paul warns of this false teaching of legalism in Colossians, chapter 2. He begins by warning of those whom Satan uses to deceive men using "persuasive words" (Col. 2:4). There are many eloquent speakers who present themselves as servants of God, but who are actually ministers of Satan (2 Cor. 11:13-15). Though they have a "form of godliness," they "deny the power thereof" (2 Tim. 3:5). Paul admonishes believers not to be carried away with "philosophy and empty deceit," with the "tradition of men," and with the "rudiments (basic principles) of the world;" things which are not "according to (in accordance with) Christ" (Col. 2:8.). The ideas, traditions, and teachings of men must always be tested against the truth of Christ, truth which is found in God's Word. This wonderful truth is summarized in these two central verses:

"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Col. 2:9-10)

Because He is very God who was "made flesh and dwelt among us," Christ's finished work on Calvary is sufficient to make us "complete in Him." When we trust in Christ as Savior, believing He died for our sins and rose again (1 Cor. 15:3-4), we have complete salvation, complete forgiveness of our sins. The word "complete" literally means "filled full" so that nothing needs to be added.

In Paul's letter to the Colossians, he responded to the false teachers who contended there were things that must be added to Christ before a person could be saved.

"In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses." (Col. 2:11-13)

The Judaizers insisted that men must be physically circumcised to be saved; Paul declares that in Christ we are circumcised with "the circumcision made without hands." This spiritual circumcision is more than just cutting off the flesh; it results in "putting of the body of the sins of the flesh," freeing us from slavery to the flesh, our old sin nature.

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Sufficiency of Christ
Part 3 of 3
By Gregg Bing




There are many today who believe that while circumcision was necessary for salvation back in Paul's time, that today this has been replaced by the rite of water baptism. Paul refutes this idea in verse 12, as he describes how we are "buried with Him (Christ) in baptism" and "raised with Him through faith in the working of God." Just as the circumcision of verse 11 was spiritual, so the baptism of verse 12 is spiritual as well. It is not accomplished by men's hands, but by "the working of God," specifically the baptism of the Holy Spirit that places us in Christ when we believe in Him as Savior (1 Cor. 12:13).

Having been identified "with Christ" in His death, burial and resurrection, we are "made alive together with Him," and forgiven of all our sins and trespasses, something the law could not do (Rom. 8:2a).

This is why, when Christ came and paid the penalty for our sins, He freed us "from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2b). He "wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" (Col. 2:14). The requirements of the Law were "wiped out" or obliterated completely; they were "taken out of the way," permanently; they were "nailed to the cross," in finality. Christ was triumphant, not only over the Law, but over all principalities and powers, including those of Satan (Heb. 2:14).

The conclusion of all this, as Paul says, is: "Let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths" (Col. 2:16). All of these things are parts of the Mosaic Law, and while they served a purpose when Israel was under the Law, they are not imposed by God upon men today. The Law, with all its commandments, judgments, and ordinances, was only "a shadow of things to come;" the "substance," the "body", the "reality" of what the Law only pictured, is provided in Christ. The writer to the Hebrews put it this way:

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

Perfection and completeness of what the Law merely pictured is found in Christ and His once for all offering for our sins (Heb. 10:14). Now that Christ has come and completed the work of redemption, there is no longer a need for the Law. Now that we have the substance, why would we continue to cling to the shadow? But that is exactly what we still hear being preached and taught today—that men must "do" something; that they must adhere to some type of legal or religious system in order to please God and be saved. Beware of such false teaching, teaching which is not found in God's Word, but in the philosophies and traditions of men.

Let us, instead, rest and rejoice in the fact that salvation is by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9); that Christ and His finished work of redemption is sufficient to "save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him" (Heb. 7:25).

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INTERNAL PRIORITY
By Miles Stanford


"Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1 :27).

Beware! The world, both secular and religious, is seeking to destroy your individuality by conforming you to the mass of faceless ones. But our heritage and destiny in the Lord Jesus Christ is to be conformed to His image - not at the loss of our individual personality, but by the gain of His nature and character. "I in you"; "Christ liveth in me" (John 15:4; Gal. 2:20).

"Something has got to be done in us as well as for us. We want to proceed on the line of having things done for us, heaven intervening for us, our difficulties removed for us, having a straight path made for us. Heaven may be ready to come in, the Lord may be prepared to work for us, but it is not sufficient for Him - and it would not prove good enough for us - if that were all. The very principle of spiritual growth and maturity demands that He keep the objective and the subjective balanced; that is, that something is done in us as well as for us." - T.A.S.

"We are apt to think that if and when the circumstances and conditions of our lives are changed and we are in another position than the one we now occupy, then something will happen, the purpose of God will begin to be fulfilled. But the Lord says, 'No, it is not circumstances, not conditions, at all; it is you.' "

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).

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If God be For Us
By John LaVier

In the 8th chapter of Romans we reach the climax of this wonderful book, and verse 31 seems to be the capstone of this great chapter. Here we read: "What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"

"What shall we say to these things?" What things? Why, all the things that have preceded in the book of Romans. To review but a few of "these things" we discover that we who by nature were guilty sinners, have now been justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. We have been justified by faith alone without the deeds of the law. We have righteousness without works. We have peace with God. We have been identified with Christ in His death and resurrection. We are not under the law but under grace. We are without condemnation in Christ. We have the Holy Spirit, and He bears witness with our spirits that we are the children of God, and if children, then heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. We are waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, and no suffering of the present is worth comparing with the glory that shall then be ours. Then we will be conformed to the image of God's Son. And even now God is causing all things to work together for our good, we who love Him and are called according to His purpose. "What shall we say then to these things?" About the only thing we can say, is "Glory to God! Hallelujah!"

Now notice the last half of this verse: "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Oh beloved, may this truth come to you with unction and with freshness. God is for us. How convincingly and conclusively He has proved it. He could not have done more, for in verse 32 we read: "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things." And that greatest of all gifts is the pledge of every gift that God can give us with His Son. May this great truth bring encouragement to us as we realize anew that He, the Everlasting God, is for us. Not just for a day, or a season, but for eternity, for we read in the verses that close this wonderful chapter that no power within or without, in earth, hell, or heaven, will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. He is eternally committed to our cause.

We should now be prepared for Romans 12. Chapters 9, 10, and 11 of Romans are parenthetical and dispensational, and so we can jump right from Romans 8 to Romans 12, where we read in the opening verses: "I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

In Romans 8 God is saying, "I am for you." In chapter 12 He is saying, "Now I want you to be for Me." In chapter 8 He is saying, "I delivered up My Son for you." In chapter 12 He is saying, "Now I want you to deliver up your body to Me." God made a great sacrifice for us when He gave His Son. Now He desires that we present ourselves to Him as living sacrifices. Such a sacrifice is acceptable to God, and when we make it we prove that His will is acceptable to us, as well as good and perfect.

May we all be impressed by these two things. The Revelation in chapter 8 and the Response in chapter 12. If God is for us, then we must be for Him.

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WHY IS HEAVEN SILENT?
Part One of Two
by John D. LaVier




After the tragic event of September 11th a few years ago, we often hear the question "Where Was God?" or "Why did God allow this to happen?" The believer knows that God is still on His eternal throne, that He is sovereign, and nothing happens apart from His direct or permissive will, but for a season He has with-drawn from this earthly scene. He does indeed work on behalf of His own, and otherwise as well, but He acts covertly and His action seen only with the eye of faith. Bloody wars take place among the nations, thousands perish from famine, flood, earth- quake and storm, but no voice or action is heard from above. In one of Sir Robert Anderson's books the opening words are: "A silent heaven is the greatest mystery of our existence."

What is the answer to this mystery? For two thousand years the heavens have been silent and this is strange when we compare it with Old Testament times. God was then dealing with the Hebrew nation and they saw marvelous displays of His person and power. He brought them out of slavery, making a path through the sea, and for forty years He fed them and led them and brought them into the land of promise with mighty victories over all their foes. Isaiah saw the Lord; Daniel fell at His feet; angels walked to and fro in the land; God fought for His people; heaven was not silent.

When Israel is enjoying the favor of God the heavens are open, but when Israel is in disfavor with God the heavens are silent. Between the two testaments, when Israel was being judged for their sins, there was a period of time which is often referred to as "the four hundred silent years." God spoke His last word through Malachi and then 400 years of silence. This silence was finally broken by the appearance of the angel Gabriel to  Zacharias announcing the birth of John the Baptist. Then Gabriel spoke to Mary, telling her of that Holy One which should be born of her, even the Son of God. Later the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of the Christ-child and from the opened heavens they heard the heavenly host praising God.

Heaven was not silent during the earthly ministry of Christ when He was presenting Himself to Israel as their Messiah nor was heaven silent after His resurrection and on into the Acts period, when Israel was given opportunity to repent. There were miracles, wonders, signs, angelic visitation, jail deliverances, sudden judgments, etc. The heavens were not silent. However, Acts 28:28 marks a great change. Israel no longer stands as a nation before God. They are set aside for a reason and a season. The reason was their rejection of Christ both in His incarnation and in His resurrection. The season is this present dispensation of the mystery.

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WHY IS HEAVEN SILENT?
Part two of two
by John D. LaVier




After the close of the Acts period we find a great man of God sitting in the Roman prison, but no angel comes to liberate him. An age of silence has begun. A silent God. A silent heaven. This silence has already lasted two millenniums. The nations rage and we see war, sin suffering and sorrow on every hand. The people of God oft suffer at the hands of their enemies, and we see the ever-increasing and God-defying masses sinning and sinning and sinning. And yet in the midst of it all, God remains silent.

When God turned away from Israel, that nation through which His earthly purposes are to be realized, He then and there with- drew from this earthly scene. C.H.M. wrote "So long as there was any ground of hope in connection with Israel, the heavenly mystery was held back; but when earth had been abandoned and Israel set aside, the apostle of the Gentiles, from his prison at Rome, writes to the Church, and opens out all the glorious privileges connected with its place in the heavens." God has for a season abandoned earth but we are here as His ambassadors in enemy land and we are asked to walk by faith and not by sight. God is allowing man's day to run its course and is permitting the full development of the mystery of lawlessness. The mystery of iniquity is working. Soon the whole will be leavened. Man's day will be replaced by the Lord's Day. Then...

THE SILENCE TO BE BROKEN

This is promised everywhere in Scripture. The psalmist declared: "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence!" Just as the silence of the 400 years was broken by His first coming, so the present silence will be broken by His second coming. But before He manifests Himself to the world, He will manifest Himself to His own. This is the bright and blessed hope of the Church, the rapture, and it will be the opening rift in the silent heavens. After the Body of Christ has been removed from the scene God will begin to deal again with Israel and the nations. The silence will be broken and God will speak again, not then in grace, but in wrath. The heavens will be opened, not to pour out blessing, but disaster. The judgments of the Apocalypse will be visited upon the world, when the seals will be broken, the judgment trumpets sounded, and the vials of God's wrath poured out.

Finally, the heavens will be fully opened and the blessed Lord Jesus Christ will return. The Apostle John saw Him as the rider on a white horse, followed by the heavenly armies, and He wrote: "He hath on his vestura and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." The silence will be broken. The King will return and have His rightful place upon the throne, with all beneath His feet. Every eye shall see Him and the earth will be filled with His glory. And never again will their be silence for the lines of communication will always be open between heaven and earth, both as to the millennial earth and on into the new earth.

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THE BOOK OF ROMANS = DOCTRINAL TREATISE


In TIME PAST God made a covenant with Abram/Abraham that with his seed after him shall all the earth be blessed. And, AT THAT TIME salvation was going forth on the basis of that Abrahamic covenant. That is, that through the nation of Israel salvation and God’s blessing was to go out to the world. There was no other way THEN. In that prophetic program the nation of Israel was to be the single channel for God.

In the very beginning of the book of Acts Jesus’ disciples expressed great concern to Jesus by asking Him …

Ac 1:6b KJV: “… Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”

That was the HOPE of the world THEN.

But, by the end of the book of Acts the nation of Israel was diminished; they were finished. The Jews were set aside. Any Bible reader paying attention, when they come to the end of the book of Acts, should scratch their head wondering, “WHAT NOW?” If the channel of God’s blessing is gone, how will salvation be dispensed?

Of course, today we know that Romans through Philemon tells us exactly how!

Three times apostle Paul clearly announces God’s change in His program: Acts 13:44-46; Acts 18:5-6; Acts 28:28 KJV … these are the three distinct steps where God’s blessings are officially withdrawn from the nation of Israel, to begin “the times of the Gentiles.” Israel rejected the Kingdom—they stopped up their ears and wouldn’t hear it—therefore God’s prophetic program was interrupted and put on hold simply because the nation of Israel was no longer willing to go along with God’s plan. So, God sends salvation to the Gentiles despite it, thus Israel was no longer to be God’s channel.

Of course, God was the only Person that KNEW all that was going to happen. That’s why the Bible says “the MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God”. God knew all along that the Jews would reject the Kingdom. And, the details of this “mystery” God explained to our apostle Paul to give to us, so we could understand its meaning.

The book of ROMANS explains the whole problem created in the book of Acts. The reason the book of Romans is FIRST is because it lays the whole DOCTRINAL basis for the faith for the Body of Christ, which is the second part of God’s two-fold plan to someday rectify the current rebellion that is happening in heaven and on earth.

Basics of God’s two-fold plan:

Earthly agent = Israel/Jews = prophetic program

Heavenly agent = Body of Christ = mystery program

And, no, God is NOT finished with the nation of Israel yet. God will be further dealing with them in the future. BUT NOW God is building the Body of Christ one member at a time, by grace through faith.

The book of Romans is a DOCTRINAL TREATISE on the issue of SALVATION.

The THEME of the book of Romans can be found in Romans 1:16-7, KJV, which fully clarifies that justification is by faith alone.

With the book of Romans Paul adds the CAPSTONE to progressive revelation. Paul is given information about the Cross that no one else ever knew. Progressively God revealed more and more about the Cross. Sure, people in time past knew about the Cross, but it wasn’t until Paul that the completion of that revelation was made known. Paul was given the last installment of progressive revelation, which we have today as preserved in Romans through Philemon, KJV.

Read (penned by apostle Paul): 1Thes 2:14-16, Ro 3:32; Col 1:25-26; 1Ti 1:11; Ro 15:16a; Ga 1:11-12; Tit 1:3; 2Ti 1:11, KJV.

By LeighAnn Mycko