GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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HIDDEN WITHIN, MANIFESTED WITHOUT
By Miles Stanford


"Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God" (Ps. 92:13).

Defeat reveals the flesh; testing reveals the Father.

"The inward exercise of Romans Seven and the testing of the wilderness serve the purpose of teaching us what sin in the flesh is, and what is in our hearts; while such special discipline of the Father as Paul's thorn in the flesh is rather to protect us from the unalterable tendencies of the flesh. The latter is always needed, and goes on in one form or other to the end of our course here."

"We belong to another sphere altogether. We have died, and our life is hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). We are like a tree that has its roots in heaven, and its branches down here. No doubt our branches are fretted and ripped by the atmosphere here, but nothing can touch the roots up there. Planted inside, they flourish outside." -J.B.S.

"No one can question the right of the Father and the Son to have and to hold the sheep; and if we see what it has cost them to secure us, it cannot fail to give us the most blessed assurance. Much yet may have to be done for us. We shall need support, preservation, discipline. If we are left here a little longer we shall need the grace, mercy, and forbearance of the Father in a thousand ways, but all that will be needed in the future to keep us from ourselves is small compared with the stupendous cost at which divine love forever secured us."-C.A.C.

By M. Sanford

"There is more in the Lord Jesus, in the Father, in the Spirit, in heaven to give us rest and peace and joy, than in the whole universe to disquiet, trouble, or grieve us." -G.V.W.

"Heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:17).

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The Great Finalizing Shout
By John LaVier

There is no prophetic word in the Bible more wonderful than that given to us in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. This passage is well known, but we quote it again:

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

What a great, grand, and glorious event is this—the rapture of the church. Every member of that church, saved during the past two thousand years, will be caught away in resurrection bodies and escorted to their heavenly home by the Lord Himself. There are three things mentioned in connection with this great event: (1) the shout of the Lord, (2) the voice of the archangel, and (3) the trump of God. Why should this be? We can understand the first, the shout of the Lord, for the fact that it is for His beloved and blood-bought church that he is coming, explains that. But why these attendant voices; the presence of which has caused some to discard this whole passage as having no relation to the church, the body of Christ? We feel that it is because this event will have far-reaching consequences.

With the dispensation of grace ended, and with the church no longer on the scene, God now returns to His end time program, the period between the rapture and the revelation. This period is marked by apostasy, antichrist, Armageddon, and the advent of Him who is King of kings and Lord of lords. God is now concluding man's day and ushering in the Day of the Lord.

Mankind is divided into three circles in the dispensational program of God, as noted in 1 Corinthians 10:32, namely, the Church, the nation Israel, and the Gentiles, or the rest of mankind. In connection with each of these three the Lord is to have special glory. Therefore, we would suggest that all three of these circles are involved in this passage.

The Shout of the Lord

has to do particularly with the Church. By far the most of the members of that Church have already left this life by way of death and the grave. But every one such, together with those saints who are alive and remain, shall answer instantly to that assembling shout of the Lord. In an instant of time they will appear, radiant and glorious, in His presence. When the Lord stood at Lazarus' grave, and cried with a loud voice, he that was dead came forth. Even so at that future shout of the Lord every sleeping saint will "come forth" from death's domain. But whereas Lazarus was raised in the same kind of body he had before, and so died again, those raised at the rapture will be raised in glorified and deathless bodies. Then also the living saints will be changed and together with those gone before, will be caught away to be with Christ their Head in glory. This is the blessed hope of the Church; to hear the shout of the Lord; to be forever with him.

Forever with the Lord,
Amen, so let it be;
Life from the dead is in that word,
'Tis immortality.

Here in the body pent,
Absent from Him I roam;
Yet nightly pitch my moving tent,
A day's march nearer home.

The Voice of the Archangel

is Michael's voice, and he is the angel who has the special care of Israel (see Daniel 10:13,21; 12:1; Jude 9; also Rev. 12:7). When the shout of the Lord breaks forth, it shall find an instant response in the Church. Michael's voice will also be heard gathering Israel together. He will arise for this great work. This work will be much slower in its accomplishment. The devil and his angels will have to be cast down from heaven before the woman clothed with the sun can enter into her glory and inheritance (Rev. 12). And the people of Israel themselves will have to pass through the great tribulation, for "there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time," but Michael will then stand up for them, and they shall be delivered (Dan. 12:1). The wheels will move more slowly for the deliverance of Israel than in the case of the Church but they will assuredly be set in motion in connection with that great shout of the Lord.

The Trump of God

has a wider application. It is with God that all men have to do. It might appear to the uninstructed observer that men can live as they please, without any regard for God, and do so with impunity; but the trump of God will break His long silence and end His longsuffering. It will signal the close of the day of grace. Things will be changed, and every creature will discover that they have to do with God in Judgment. The nations will not immediately appear before Him, for the wheels in their case will work even more slowly than those which bring about Israel's deliverance. Yet the day will come when all nations shall be taken to the glorious throne of the Son of Man for judgment, "and He shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats" (Matt. 25:32). The day is also coming that all the dead, small and great, shall stand before God; and Christ himself, as God, will be the Judge. "Because God has appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).

The whole of God's intentions in relation to the earth are held in abeyance until the Church is taken out of it, but when the shout of the Lord is heard, and the Church has been removed from the scene, then things will begin to move swiftly toward their fulfillment. The stage will then be set for the final great act in God's drama of the ages, and so the voice of the archangel and the trump of God will be heard, thereby setting in operation the machinery that will bring about the deliverance of Israel, and the subjugation of all nations and men.

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LOOKING AHEAD
by Pastor Elvin C. Myers


Scripture Reading: Titus 2:11-14

We live in the present but we look to the future. There is nothing wrong with that. We, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, look for His appearing when we shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the clouds of heaven. When Paul wrote to pastor Titus he called his attention to the "blessed hope and glorious appearing" of our only Lord and Savior. At the present time things are not going well in our country. Many Americans are no longer ashamed of immorality, concerned about the disintegration of home and family, or the increase of crime of every description. Our government is bewildered by problems for which it seemingly has no solutions. Saddest of all is the decline of the church in America.

 Instead of sound expository Bible doctrine, we hear more and more a philosophy of Christianity and religion. This should not really surprise us. Paul told Timothy in II Tim. 3 that in the last days "perilous times shall come". The list that follows can hardly be a description of the ungodly world. The world has had all these unfavorable features since Adam and Eve began having children. Verses 2-7 are describing the decrease of godliness within the professing church.

The preaching of the Word of God, rightly divided, with a strong emphasis on Pauline dispensational theology is accepted by very few Christians. Sin is becoming more acceptable and tolerated. As a new year begins, and as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, let's make it our resolve to follow the admonition of Rom. 12:1-2, namely reasonable service, unconformed to this godless world system, and daily renewing our minds through the Scriptures, making every effort to please the Lord who bought us. If we follow Paul and "continue thou in the things thou hast learned," we will not go astray doctrinally. Cheer up, it's not going to get any better for the believer this world.

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THE CROWN OF CREATION
By Dr. William Hallman



Scripture Reading: Gen. 1:26-31; 2:7; Psalm 8

Whence came man on the earth? Did he develop, through untold billions of years, from a simple form of one-celled life? Science can prove no such thing. If evolution were true it would be in continuous operation, and there would be forms of life half-way from the ape to man. How good to turn to this record, and find that this original creation presents both animals and man as coming by direct creative fiat or decree by God.

Man was created, first of all, by God's Sovereign Power. "And God said, Let us make man," ... "And the Lord God formed man. " It is Elohim, the triune God, Who in consultation, acted to create man. Here is unity of purpose, a unanimous decision made in Heaven by the Trinity to create man. What a noble thing it is to have our beginning in a direct creation from above, rather than from the scum of the pond below!

Man was also created through God's Sovereign Process. "Let us make man in our image, after our Iikeness, .... male and female created He them. "The Image Dei, the image of God, is the chief possession of man which relates him to God. It is man alone, who like God, is self-conscious, with ability to rationalize, to create, and to make moral judgments. The "image" establishes relationship; while the "likeness" establishes similarity of character. God takes from the ground and forms a body; then breathes into this body His breath of lives. Man then comes forth as a living soul. Here he stands the crown of God's creation.

Man is created in the third place by God's Sovereign Purpose. Physically, "God made man upright" (Eccl. 7:29). The actual form that sinful man still bears (Gen. 9:6; I Cor. 11:7) was the form that God the Creator took in the person of Jesus Christ. Mentally, man had absolute power to have dominion over, and subdue the earth; also he had wisdom to name every living creature. He was also a moral being with power of choice; not a mechanical entity. Truly we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psa. 139:14). Meditate upon and rejoice in such passages as 2 Cor. 3:18; Col.3:10; Rom. 8:29.

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The Rightful Heir - Part 1 of 2
Who is worthy to open the book?
By John LaVier

The title of the last book of the Bible is not "The Revelation of St. John the Divine" as shown in the heading. The correct title is in the very first verse. It is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." He is the book's great theme and the dominant figure throughout, and all is leading up to the grand and glorious consummation when He returns to take unto Himself His great power and to reign.

Concerning that wonderful Person who is to be revealed the apostle wrote, "In him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). Indeed, in Him is hidden all the fulness of the Godhead, so it might be apropos to refer to our Lord Jesus as the hidden Christ. In Old Testament times, as the pre-incarnate Christ, He was hidden. There were a few times He appeared in what we call a theophany but in the main He was hidden. When the fulness of time was come He was hidden for nine months in the womb of the virgin, and after His birth He was hidden in Egypt because of Herod's decree. On returning to the land He was hidden for many years in the carpenter's home in Nazareth and we have only one glimpse of Him, when at the age of twelve He went to Jerusalem with His parents. At about the age of thirty He began His public ministry and for a few brief years He went about doing the works of the Father who sent Him. Rejected and crucified He was hidden for three days and three nights in Joseph's tomb. After His resurrection He was seen of them for forty days until His ascension, and now for many centuries He has been hidden beyond the blue and discernible only to the eye of faith. But praise His name, the day is coming when He will be hidden no longer; there will be the revelation (Gr. apokalupsis), the unveiling of Jesus Christ. Then every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him. Then all creation will bow down before the unveiled Christ in worship and wonder.

The fifth chapter of the Revelation is most important, and one should have a good understanding of it, for it is the key to all that follows. The word "and" at the beginning of this chapter ties it in with the preceding. In the fourth chapter the inspired writer, the Apostle John, has a glimpse of the throne in heaven and of the One seated on that throne, who is the Lord God Almighty Himself. Now in 5:1 John sees a book, or scroll, in the right hand of the Throne-Sitter. This book has writing both within and without and is sealed with seven seals. What is this book? It is, of course, a book of judgment, for as the seals are broken, judgments are visited upon the earth. The day of grace has ended and the day of judgment has begun. More importantly, however, the book is the Title-Deed to the earth and all therein.

Our Lord, the great Creator, gave the title to this earth to Adam, but because of his sin it was lost and now a usurper is in control. That usurper is Satan, who is called the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air, and we read the whole world lieth in the wicked one. The world is now waiting for redemption to be an accomplished fact, and to be brought back to its rightful owner. In Romans eight we read that all creation is groaning and travailing in pain and is waiting for redemption. And we read that even we, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we groan within ourselves, waiting for the redemption of our bodies. The redemption price has been paid, but something more is needed. It reminds us of Israel of old waiting to be delivered from Egypt. The blood was on the doorposts which gave them safety in their homes from the death angel. But now they needed power to be delivered from their enemies and to get them out of the land of bondage. When they had come safely through the Red Sea, with all their foes destroyed behind them, theirs was a twofold redemption. They were redeemed by blood, the blood of the passover lamb, and they were redeemed by power, the mighty outstretched arm of Jehovah. The redemption price for earth has been paid by Christ. Now this seven-sealed book gives to the one worthy to open it the authority to manifest his power in dislodging the usurper and claiming the purchased possession. This brings us to the question as to who is worthy.

John had been gazing at the book and now his attention is diverted as he sees a strong angel and hears him crying out, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" There is no response, only a great silence, for no one in heaven, earth, or hell is found worthy, and John weeps. He doubtless knew something of the significance of that book. If it remained sealed, redemption unaccomplished, the inheritance unclaimed, then all the purposes of God in connection with earth and mankind would remain unfulfilled. Little wonder that John wept. Would that God would touch our hearts so that we also might weep over an unredeemed world. But John's tears are soon allayed. One of the elders tells him, "Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." Notice the titles given to this One who alone is worthy: "The Lion of the tribe of Judah" and "The Root of David." Certainly, these titles are here most significant. Israel has long been set aside, estranged from Jehovah, but now they are to be reconciled and God is to begin again to work on their behalf, so Christ is given these titles that speak of the renewal of His relationship to them. The reference to the lion is also of interest. He is now about to show His kingly, lion like character and to manifest His power in subduing His foes and claiming that which is rightfully His own.

At the word of the elder, John ceased weeping and turned to see this Lion who was worthy and who had prevailed to open the book. What was his surprise when he saw, not a Lion, but a Lamb; a Lamb that had been slain, with the marks of sacrifice upon Him. This was the Lamb of God, the Lamb foreordained before the foundation of the world, the Lamb typified by every offering on every Jewish altar, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. As John looked, he began to understand that the power to redeem belonged to the Person who had paid the price to redeem. And what a price He paid; His life laid down and His precious blood shed on the Cross of Calvary. The Hebrew epistle opens with these words: "God ... hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things." Now, as John watches, he sees the Throne-Sitter place the book in the hands of the Lamb, for He has paid the price. He is the appointed Heir, and He now holds the title to all.

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The Rightful Heir - Part 2 of 2
Who is worthy to open the book?
By John LaVier


As the Lamb takes the book from the hand of the Throne-Sitter, the cherubim and elders fall before Him in worship and praise. They sing what is here called a new song, which is really the old song the redeemed saints of God have ever loved to sing. In the words of the King James Version these heavenly beings were singing about themselves, but insofar as we know, these were unfallen creatures who had no need of redemption. All other versions make their song impersonal such as the American Revised Version: "Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and did purchase unto God men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they shall reign upon the earth." Even though we are not in view here, we, as members of the Body of Christ, saved by the grace of God and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, will never tire of singing a like song, and we will certainly be able to make it personal. He loved "us" and redeemed "us" by His blood out of every people and nation.

Lamb of God! Thou now art seated
High upon Thy Father's throne;
All Thy gracious work completed,
All Thy mighty vict'ry won.
Ev'ry knee in heaven is bending
To the Lamb for sinners slain;
Ev'ry voice and harp is swelling,
Worthy is the Lamb to reign.

The singers are soon joined by the heavenly angelic host, their number, ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, an innumerable throng. Their theme is the same: "Worthy is the Lamb." It would be good to note their sevenfold doxology and then to ask ourselves some heart-searching questions. (1) The Lamb is worthy to receive power. All power in heaven and in earth has been given to Him. He has authority. Have we yielded our all to His control, to His authority? (2) The Lamb is worthy to receive riches. He was rich but for our sake He became poor so that we might be made rich. Have we given ourselves to Him and done all we can to enrich Him? (3) The Lamb is worthy to receive wisdom. Christ has been made unto us the wisdom of God. Have we given Him our minds, our intellect, to be used on His behalf, and do we seek His divine wisdom to guide us in all our affairs? (4) The Lamb is worthy to receive strength. "Who is a strong Lord like unto thee?" Have we given of our strength and energy to bring others to Him? Are we able to say: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me?" (5) The Lamb is worthy to receive honor. In heaven the Lamb is honored, but on earth He is dishonored. Do we seek to live in such a way as to bring honor to Him? (6) The Lamb is worthy to receive glory. To Him be glory both now and forever. Do we endeavor in all things to give Him all the glory? (7) The Lamb is worthy to receive blessing. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name." Do we just seek our own happiness or do we seek to bless the Lord, to make Him happy? He is worthy!

The Lamb is here seen standing. As Head of the Church, Christ has been seated at the Father's right hand. Now the Church age is ended, the Church is safe home in glory and Christ's mediatorial work is done, and He now stands to judge and to make war. The Lamb is not weak. He has seven horns which denote His great power. In Daniel's visions there are several references to horns and they speak of authority, governmental authority. After His resurrection the Lord told the disciples, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth," and now the Lamb is preparing to show that power. He stands, with the Title-Deed in hand and possessing all power. None can gainsay Him as He is about to claim His inheritance. He has incontestable right and unparalleled might.

The Lamb is also seen as Judge. "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22). He is seen as having seven eyes and this speaks of His perfection of vision. He sees all, nothing is hid from His eyes, and He knows all. In the seven horns and seven eyes are the attributes of deity. The horns speak of omnipotence, all power, and the eyes speak of omniscience, all knowledge. The psalmist said, "O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my down sitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. ... Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it" (Psalm 139:1-6). Among men, right judgment is not always rendered because all the facts may not be known. With the Divine Judge there will be no miscarriage of justice, "For he cometh to judge the earth; he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth" (Psalm 96:13). In thinking of the Judge, all should take heed. Dealings with the Lord Jesus Christ are inescapable; either we meet Him now and claim Him as our Saviour or we will meet Him in that future day and then He will be our Judge.

This fifth chapter of Revelation is important and most outstanding for several reasons. First of all, it does mark the ending of man's day and the beginning of the Lord's Day. In fact, the book of the Revelation has to do with that Day. This is what John referred to when he wrote: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day" (1:10). He did not mean he was meditating on the first day of the week. He meant he was projected in spirit into that future Day of the Lord. That day begins here with the Lord Himself rising to begin the process which will culminate in His enthronement and with all things in subjection under His feet. He alone is to be seen, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb for sinners slain. He alone is worthy and is the Object of worship and praise by all. How little we know of all this today. In our worship services there is usually not a trace of genuine Spirit-directed worship. Man is always most prominent, the flesh all too evident, and little or no reference to the Lamb of God. He should be the subject of our songs, our speech, our prayers, our thoughts.

A grand and glorious oratorio is spread before us in this chapter. It is a veritable Hallelujah Chorus. First the cherubim and elders come on the scene, falling before the Lamb with their harps and golden vials, and singing "Thou art worthy." Soon they are joined by the angelic host, thousands upon thousands, with their sevenfold ascription of praise. And finally all creation joins in, saying, "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." Our hearts are thrilled as the universe echoes and re-echoes to this symphony of praise. The psalmist said, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord." What shall we say to all this? We can only fall on our face in adoring worship and say, AMEN! HALLELUJAH!

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FAILING CHRISTIAN LEADERS
by C. R. Stam




    Have you been disappointed in your pastor or the officers of your church or perhaps in Christian leaders in general? Have you placed great faith in some spiritual leader only to be disillusioned and to find out that your faith has been misplaced? Have you observed the growing popularity of some evangelist or Bible teacher whom you "know" to be insincere, while noting that another, whose fidelity and sincerity are beyond question, seems to get nowhere?

How it helps, in such situations, to be able to "rightly divide the Word of truth," and to enjoy "the full assurance of understanding" that comes with "the full knowledge [Gr., epignosis] of the mystery"! (Col. 2:2).

In "this present evil age" we are living under "the dispensation of the grace of God."

God is not saving good people today, nor even people who will repent and "do works meet for repentance." Rather, He is saving poor sinners who will come to Him with all their sin. This is God's gracious response to man's rejection of the King and the kingdom as offered at Pentecost.

Look at the way believers lived together in love and harmony during the Pentecostal era and you are apt to exclaim: "Why can't we live that way today? Let's get back to Pentecost." But look at the way believers lived together after the raising up of Paul, even among his beloved Philippians, and you will say: "It is no different today." This is because the believers at Pentecost were all filled with the Spirit in fulfillment of a prophetic promise, while today He has in grace committed His message to failing men and women, who indeed possess the Spirit, but often grieve Him.

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Building Strong Believers FOLLOWING PAUL'S DESIGN
Part 1 of 5
BY RICHARD JORDAN



Paul's purpose in penning his treatise to the Romans is stated quite clearly at the outset:

      "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, TO THE END YE MAY BE ESTABLISHED;
      "That is, that I may be comforted together with you by THE MUTUAL FAITH both of you and me" (Rom. 1:11,12).

      The book of Romans is establishment truth, written to ground its readers in "the mutual faith. " That, of course, is not merely a reference to a desire to get them saved, for the epistle is addressed to those who already were saints (v. 7). Rather Paul's desire is that they be firmly fixed and settled in the same understanding of the grace of God to us in Christ that he had.

      Paul envisioned strong believers: Saints who would not be "tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine;" saints who would not succumb to "the slight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" saints who could endure hardness; saints who were spiritually tough and resilient. He knew this did not "just happen," but that it was the result of being established in sound doctrine.

      After masterfully setting forth "the faith" he desired the saints to mutually share with him, he concludes with a further statement concerning the establishment procedure:

      "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
       "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
       "To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen" (Rom. 16:25-27).

      This concluding benediction has often been overlooked both as to its purpose and content. It is, in fact, a concise statement of Paul's design for the establishment of believers "in the faith."

      If it is "perfected saints" who are to be doing "the work of the ministry," as Ephesians 4:12 suggests, then it is vitally important that we be--and that our ministries produce--perfected saints. How better to do this than to allow the one who gave us this charge to also instruct us as to how to produce perfected, established and mature saints for the work! Hence Paul's explanation of how believers are established is basic to doing the work of the ministry his way. It is also, unfortunately, something that has too long been overlook.

      Examine again these verses: It is God Himself who alone has the capacity to establish--to stabilize and make strong--the believer. And just how does He do so? Paul clearly sets forth a threefold process:

"Now to Him that is of power to stablish you
 ACCORDING TO

MY GOSPEL,

 and 1

THE PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING
TO THE REVELATION OF
THE MYSTERY ...
----------------------------------
1. We are aware that some suggest this "and" should be translated as "even," but this is wholly without merit. While it is true that the Greek kai can have the sensive use of "even," this is not the normal usage and there is not the slightest reason to abandon the normal junctive use in this passage. Hence we are unaware of any modern translation that does so--to say nothing of the KJV

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Building Strong Believers FOllOWING PAUL'S DESIGN
Part 2 of  5
BY RICHARD JORDAN


AND 2
THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS 3 .... "

      This three-fold design for the believer's edification is clearly defined:

      First to be laid is My Gospel: This is the foundation of God's purpose. Knowing the details of the gospel of grace committed to Paul gives an orientation to God's grace which equips us to live on planet earth for His glory.

      Next comes the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery: Here is the fullness of God's ultimate intention. Understanding His previously unrevealed plan to form a new agency, the Body of Christ, and its place in His overall purpose, gives us an orientation to God's goal and grounds us in His "eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

         Now we are ready for the Scriptures of the of the    prophets: This is the future of God's purpose. While the first two comprise the scope of the special message committed to Paul, the "scriptures of the prophets" encompass all of Scripture-in light, of course, of Paul's revelation. Understanding how the programs of prophecy and mystery unite into one great overriding purpose provides orientation to God's glory as we see these programs come to fruition.

      Notice that this is a progressive pattern, designed to set forth "the form of sound words" committed to our trust (II Tim. 1:13). And it is this form---this pattern of divine thinking---which produces the "godly edifying" that results in spiritual maturity. Let's look at it briefly.

"MY GOSPEL"

      This is a reference to the special message committed to Paul's trust by the risen Christ. Notice the two basic issues which lay the foundation for stability:

      First, it is "MY gospel"---emphasizing the Dispensational Distinctions. Failure to recognize the distinctive nature of Paul's apostleship and message brings endless confusion as to where we stand in the program of God. Such confusion is foolish, however, for Paul plainly declares:


      "For I SPEAK TO YOU GENTILES, INASMUCH AS I, AM APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES, I magnify mine office" (Rom. 11:13).

      Paul is our Apostle---in contrast with Peter and the Twelve, who were Israel's apostles (Matt. 19:28, Gal. 2:8.). Thus Paul's gospel is our gospel--in contrast to that proclaimed by Peter and the Twelve before him (Gal. 1:11, 12; 2:6-9). This is all the more important when we remember Paul's solemn pronouncement that one day soon "God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel" (Rom. 2:16).

     But it is also "My GOSPEL"---emphasizing Doctrinal Orientation. It is not enough to simply know who our Apostle is, we must also know what he has said to us. We must be oriented to the grace of God as revealed through Paul. It has too often been assumed that an understanding of the distinctive ministry of Paul automatically makes one a "grace believer." This simply is not the case. We must go on to an understanding of the grace and  love of God  to us in Christ  if we are to be genuine grace  believers!


2. This "and" is not kai but dia te, lit., "through also."
3. That this is both a legitimate and proper translation is evidenced by any first year Greek grammar book. Paul wrote as an apostle, not as a prophet and the attempt to make this a reference to Paul's epistles by translating it "prophetic scriptures" is little more than meaningless.

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Building Strong Believers Following PAUL'S DESIGN
Part 3 of 5
BY RICHARD JORDAN



      That Paul's gospel deals with salvation in Christ through His work on the cross is clear from I Corinthians 15:1-4. To Paul was delivered the capstone of divine revelation concerning the cross work of Christ. In Romans he lays four essential foundation principles of grace:

      Justification by grace (Rom. 1-5): The finality of the cross is set forth here as nowhere else in Scripture. The justice of God is demonstrated to be free to give eternal life to anyone having perfect righteousness (1:18-3:20). Since we lack this righteousness, God Himself has thoroughly dealt with our sins and provided the needed righteousness through the cross of Christ. He is thus free to give both righteousness and eternal life to everyone who "believes in Jesus" (3:21-4:25). Now this "grace wherein we stand" provides complete security, both during present tribulations as well as into eternity future (Rom. 5).

      Living under grace (Rom. 6-8.): The reality of the resurrection life through our total identification with Christ is next set before us. Because we are now "in Christ," we are called to live consistent with the reality of our position in Christ (6), the current program of grace (7) and the power of the Holy Spirit (8.).

      These chapters offer the largely untapped keys for the believer's life in time: Romans 6 identifies the step that deals with the principle of sin and provides the answer to its power. Romans 7 demonstrates the struggle with the principle of the law and reveals the answer to its bondage. Romans 8 sets forth the walk based on the principle of "life in Christ Jesus" as motivated by the Spirit of life.

      Dispensation of Grace (9-11): The fall and future of Israel are examined so that no one will think Israel's program is still in effect today or that it has been done away with permanently. The present interruption of prophecy and its future resumption are clearly explained.

      Serving by Grace (12-16): The fruits of our Sonship status in Christ are practically demonstrated. These practical instructions in grace-age living give the believer a model for decision making by the "renewed mind" grace produces.

      Thus Romans gives the foundation for the grace-life. It gives members of the Body of Christ an understanding of how we have been equipped and motivated to live daily in the details of our lives by God's grace and for His glory.

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Building Strong Believers FOLLOWING PAUL'S DESIGN
Part 4 of 5
BY RICHARD JORDAN



THE MYSTERY PROGRAM

      The next step in the edification process is built upon the previous. Once we understand who we are in Christ and how that new identity has equipped us with amazing divine assets, we are ready to move on to the advanced issues of just why God is forming the Body of Christ. This is the special focus of "the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery."

     This unprophesied program is, of course, in stark contrast with the long prophesied program preached prior to Paul. A simple comparison of Acts 3:21 with Romans 16:25 sets this forth conclusively: In Acts 3:21 Peter is preaching that "which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." The message of Romans 16:25, on the other hand, "was kept secret since the world began." If words mean anything, these are two different messages.

      Prior to the ministry of the Apostle Paul, Jesus Christ was presented as the prophet, priest and king of the nation Israel (Deut. 18:15, Psa. 110:4, Jer. 23:5, 6)---all in accord with what God "spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began" (Luke 1:70, Acts 3:21). When we come to the ministry of the Apostle Paul, however, Christ is presented in a new way as the head of the Body of Christ. This unprophesied purpose of God is completely different from the way Israel and the prophets had viewed Christ.

      This unprophesied program was first revealed to and through the Apostle Paul. He declares:

      "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
      "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
      "How that BY REVELATION HE MADE KNOW UNTO ME THE MYSTERY; (as I wrote afore in few words ... )
      "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:
      "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" (Eph. 3:1-6).

      It is vital that believers get the "big picture." Notice that Paul assumes the Ephesians had already grasp "the gospel"---in other words, he assumes their prior grounding in Romans truth, just as Romans assumes the believer will proceed on to the further truths set forth in Ephesians. These are not two different messages but rather two aspects of one message: foundational truth and advanced truth built on that foundation.

      After being grounded in our equipping in Christ to function as members of the Body of Christ on planet earth (Roman's foundational truth), Paul now moves on to explain the place for this new agency in the plan of God. This is the special purpose of Ephesians. There we learn of our:

      Calling (1-3): The wealth associated with our calling as members of the Body of Christ is detailed so that we might "abound in wisdom and prudence." "The hope of His calling"---what He has called the Body of Christ to accomplish; "the glory of his inheritance in the saints"---how Christ will take possession of a redeemed universe through the saints; "the greatness of His power us-ward" sharing in Christ's authority as head of all things; these are the advanced truths which set forth the goal of God's present purpose.

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Building Strong Believers FOLLOWING PAUL'S DESIGN
Part 5 of 5
BY RICHARD JORDAN


      These advanced truths erect a superstructure of divine edification in the believer's soul and provide a spiritual edifice of sound doctrine which gives a sense of our place in the overall purpose of God. With this "big picture" in hand, we are able to move on to the final step in Paul's pattern for our perfection:

"THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS"

      As the first step orients us to the grace of God and the second to the goal of forming the Body of Christ, this final crowning step in the edification process orients us to the glory of God to be manifest in the ages to come.

      Just as the great doctrinal books of Romans and Ephesians match the first two, the Thessalonian letters fit the third.

      I Thessalonians details the events surrounding the closing of the dispensation of grace and the exodus of the Body of Christ from planet earth. The Rapture is mentioned at the closing of each chapter and we learn details concerning its pre-tribulation scheduling (1:10), the judgment seat of Christ (2:19, 20), our subsequent presentation to the Father by Christ  (3:13), the actual details surrounding our catching up to meet the Lord (and our loved ones!) in the air (4:13-18.) as well as the faithfulness of God to see these events to completion (5:23, 24).

      In like manner, II Thessalonians focuses on the revelation of Christ at his prophesied "second coming" and its distinction from His unprophesied coming. Again, this prophesied coming is detailed in two of the three chapters with one of the Bibles fullest descriptions of the rise and career of the Anti-Christ given in 2:3-12. II Thessalonians is clear that the only thing holding back these prophesied events is God's present purpose---a purpose which has temporarily interrupted the prophetic program.

DIVINE DESIGN

      This edification process establishes the believer in the faith and provides the capacity for faithful service for Christ. This divine design can be seen embedded in the way Paul's epistles have been preserved and collated in God's word. Space doesn't allow a fuller presentation of this marvelous phenomenon, but the following will make the point:

       Romans not only stand first in the order of Paul's epistles, it is also the great book of foundational doctrine about the cross. The next great doctrinal epistle is Ephesians, which progresses on to the advanced mystery revelation concerning the church, the Body of Christ. The Thessalonian letters comprise the final great doctrinal book and focus on Christ's coming both in mystery and prophecy. By the way, the Pastoral Epistles (I Tim thru Phile) detail the functioning of the local congregation as the manifestation of the Body of Christ.

      Thus Paul's epistles naturally lay themselves out according to his design for our "godly edifying:"

Romans:
Faith looking back to the Cross.
Ephesians:
Love looking around at the Church.
Thessalonians:
Hope looking forward to Christ's Coming.
Pastorals:
Fellowship working in the Congregation.

      About this edification process Paul wrote Timothy:

      "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightiest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
       "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than GODLY EDIFYING WHICH IS IN FAITH: so do.
      "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned" (I Tim. 1:3-5).

      If we are to be---and produce---strong believers, able to be good soldiers instead of hopelessly confused and impotent spiritual wimps, we must obey this commandment.

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The Church and the Blessed Hope
By John LaVier

One great reason for the religious confusion existing today is the failure to ascertain just what God's program is in this dispensation of grace. During the present age God is doing one thing, and one thing only. He is bringing into existence, and bringing to completion, the Church which is the Body of Christ. Needless to say, this is not a denominational church, in spite of what many zealous denominationalists may think. God says, "There is ONE body" (Eph. 4:4). Truly it has been the devil's trick to divide and subdivide the members of the ONE body into innumerable sects and religious groups, thus causing them to lose their testimony and discrediting them with the world.

The one true Bible Church is not an earthly organization, but a divine organism. It is the Body of Christ, and it is composed of every blood-washed, redeemed child of God. Every sinner saved by grace is a member of that body, and some day the last member will be added to the body, and then the body complete will be caught up to meet the Head in glory. We call this "the Rapture" of the church, and just when this wondrous event will take place can not be known.

The church was a mystery, not made known unto the sons or men in other ages. It was hid in the mind and heart of God from a bygone eternity. The prophets knew nothing about this church age, and the Lord did not choose to reveal it while He was here upon the earth. But after His death and resurrection, and His rejection by the nation Israel, He made known His secret purpose in this age through the Apostle Paul.

The present dispensation of the mystery is a signless, timeless, unprophesied period of time. The Rapture, which was also a secret, will end this age of grace. "Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed" (1 Cor. 15:51). "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout ... and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16, 17).

The coming of the Lord for the members of the Body is to be distinguished from His "Second Coming," when He comes to bring in the kingdom. The latter coming is the subject of much prophecy; the former of none. When Christ comes for the church, He only comes into midair and the saints are caught up to meet Him. When He comes "in like manner" as He went, He returns to earth and "His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives." His coming for the church will be a secret coming, unperceived by the world. When He comes to reign, "every eye shall see Him." His coming for the church precedes the Great Tribulation period. His coming in power and great glory occurs at the close of the Great Tribulation.

When the Lord raptures His church home to glory, there will undoubtedly be many separations. Every saved one will be caught away by the Lord, and every unsaved one, whether father, mother, brother, sister, wife, husband, or child, will be left behind. However we must not confuse this separation with that one spoken of by the Lord in Matthew 24:40, 41. In the so-called Olivet discourse of Mathew 24 and 25, neither the church nor the Rapture of the church are at all in view. Christ was not referring to the Rapture when He said, "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left."

In the above words spoken by the Savior, the one taken is taken away in judgment, and the one is left to enter the glorious millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the secret revealed through Paul, the one taken is not taken in judgment, but is caught away by the Lord into eternal blessedness to be forever with Him in glory, while the other one is left behind to endure the terrors of the Great Tribulation, "because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved" (2 Thess. 2:10).

In closing may we ask if you are prepared for this wondrous event, the catching away of the Body of Christ? Are you a member of that Body? It is not sufficient to have your name on some church roll down here, but is your name written in heaven? If not, just now look by faith to Calvary, believe the gospel that Christ died for your sins, receive Him as your Savior, and God will save you by His grace. Then you too will be "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).

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"THE WAY UP IS DOWN"
By M. Stanford


"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ"(Phil. 3:7).

"Whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it" (Lu. 9:24). Once we learn this great paradox of the Lord, all will be gain,our good, and His glory.

" 'Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ' (Eph. 3:8.). 'Unto me, who am less than the least.' In spiritual learning we take degrees downward, not upward. as in ordinary universities. It is a great temptation to those who serve to be arriving at something above the common standard, but God gives out His best work to 'less than the least.' His service wants depth, not height." --C.A.F.

"The test of genuine revelation is as to whether the one concerned is manifestly well crucified to a desire for power, position, influence.Can that one be resisted, assailed, thwarted, rejected, without in some form seeking to come out even or on top? An element of personal domination or self-vindication will spoil the outreach and discredit the servant. Oh, the peril of getting hold of Divine Truth in order to use it!" -T.A-S.

"We are wounded in order that we may learn from the great Physician how to bind up wounds and give aid. The Father visits us with trials in order to teach us to carry the burdens of others. We ourselves must first go to school before we can be teachers of others."

"Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you" (John 15:16).

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PROGRESSIVE REVELATION
By Pastor Joel Finck

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:21

Two of the smallest words in the Bible actually carry the greatest impact of how we understand Scripture. These two words are, "but now." While the Bible is the Word of God from cover to cover, it was not all given at once or to the same audience. What was spoken to one group of people in an earlier time may not directly apply to another group of people in later times. This is called the principle of "Progressive Revelation," and we find many examples of this in Scripture.

In Romans 3:21, the apostle Paul writes, "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." At one time, the law of Moses played an integral part in righteousness. Not that the law itself could bring righteousness, it could not. But before the dispensation of the grace of God was committed to Paul (see Ephesians 3:1, 2), the law was God's prescribed method of demonstrating the righteousness which comes by faith. In other words, if a godly Jew under the law wanted to show that he believed God, there was only one way to do it: be in obedience to the law. Therefore, while the law did not bring righteousness, keeping the law went hand in hand with living a righteous life.

But according to Romans 3:21, God's righteousness is no longer associated with law-keeping. This is why Paul goes on to proclaim, "for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Rom. 6:14b). Those who do not recognize the principle of progressive revelation continue to draw people back under the law with its sabbaths and ordinances. But let us rather move on in grace!