GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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God's Will For My Life
by: L. Peterson

Is it possible to know God's will for my life? If so, how may I know? These questions are often asked. Another question associated with these is 'does God have a certain pattern for my life, a particular calling and a place to serve him? The latter of these questions is obviously for the Lord declares in Mark's Gospel that the believer is sown in places of service: 'And these are they which are sown on good ground' Mark 4:20. In other words, the seed is personalized and sown.. If we are in the center of God's will we are in just the place and business where he wants us to be. We are not just simply making a living where we find it most convenient, but we are living witness to God's matchless grace while we are making a living. Paul speaks of the Christian as having been 'Chosen in him before the foundation of the world' Eph. 1:4a . It is very evident then that God must have a pattern for each life; for yours and for mine. This then being true it must likewise be true, that it is possible to know God's will for my life.. The important question remains, 'how may I know for a certainty, God's will for my life?'

The three following steps are major factors to seriously consider in ascertaining divine directive, or the answer to the above question.

NO 1. You must have no will of your own. ( We shall enlarge upon this after briefly discussing the remaining two steps).

NO 2 .Every decision should lie within the boundaries of Scripture. That is no step should ever be made contrary to Holy Writ e.g., if a Christian fellow is in love with a girl who is not a Christian, he need not waste his time seeking God's will concerning his marrying her. The message of God is clear.

We, however, are often guilty of interpreting the Scriptures to fit our desires and wishes. We must never do this. The Word of God must be left to apply what it teaches. Again, we are sometimes guilty of ignoring what God's Word says. If we do so we can never come to know God's best and sweet will for our lives.

The Word of God does not openly declare every bend or turn on life's road but there are posts along the way giving the general directions that must be followed. When we adjust our lives to obey the carefully interpreted Scriptures we will have within us the witness of God, the Holy Spirit, that we are in His way and have the blessing and approval of God's good will. This bring us to the third step.

NO.3. We must have the witness of perfect rest which is given by the Holy Spirit when the correct decision is made. This is imperative! If we make a choice for life and uneasiness and restlessness is a result you may be sure the wrong decision has been made. On the other hand, when the correct decision has been made there comes to the believer's life a sweet assurance that 'this is what God wants for me'. We are told, 'And a peace of God that passeth understanding shall keep (really guard or umpire) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 'Phil. 4:7).

We now resume our discussion of No. 1, above. We have left it for this place in our brief message because of its major importance. The above outline is simple enough. Why then is so hard to be sure of God's will in the matters of life? And believe me, it is hard, easy to talk about, preach and teach, but so hard to experience. The answer to that is what I want to touch on in this brief writing, because it ( the answer) involves so much of life.

If a person can come through the first step in the above outlined, the other two are relatively simple. It is when we deal with a human will that the battle starts. We are, the most of us, so deceived by our own selves. Jeremiah spoke of this very thing, he said, 'the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: (really incurably sick) who can know it? Jeremiah 16:9.The human nature and will are absolutely bent away from any other will. It is operative in co-ordination with self, not some other person. It's just as simple as sending someone else to the doctor for bodily cure, paying all the charges and you stay at home sick. It is completely unnatural for us to submit our will to another's directing and care. Yet, when you or I come to God for His guidance there must be absolutely no will of our own! It means something when we say 'not my will but Thine'. Most of the time we lie when we say that. We are even deceived to thinking that we really mean it. Dr. Strong, the theologian said, 'mind is always greater than the its conscious operations. The man is more than his acts. Only the smallest part of self is manifested in thoughts, feelings and volitions.'

Christian, study the human will! If you can get it to really submit itself to His will, you're the winner. Remember God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.

Love Pastor L. Peterson

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Life On The Highest Plane - Part 1 of 3
By: Arvid Johanson

"I am crucified with Christ, no longer do I live."

The words written above are lifted out of Galatians 2:20 and are used to introduce a subject that is near and dear to the heart of God, namely, a holy walk by those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and born anew by the Holy Spirit. Since this is of the utmost importance to Him, it should be of the same importance to us as well.

Truly, as those who have some knowledge of the revelation of the mystery, as those who are aware of the uniqueness of this present program of grace, we certainly have a great many things to talk and sing about, and commit to the printed page. However, in all of this it seems as though God's provision for true holiness, true spirituality, and living for God His way, has fallen by the wayside.

These days in which we live are days marked by spiritual deadness and moral laxity. Perhaps it is time to review briefly some of those grand truths that God has used to produce the spiritual giants of the past. Perhaps it is time to look once again at those God-breathed truths that can conform His own to the image of His dear Son.

Beginning with Romans Chapter 6:1, we have sixty-two verses of Scripture that unfolds for us the provision of God that enables us to live as He would have us live so that we might show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. There are a number of ways that Christians attempt to live for God; however, the only way that works is God's way. Now let us begin with a definition of the Christian life. The first step toward spiritual living is identification with the death of Jesus Christ. The second step is that we are in the risen, living, and glorified Christ Who lives through us day by day. This is the Christian life as presented on the pages of the Book.

Romans 6:1 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?"

Paul begins by doing what he does so often and so well in the book of Romans. He anticipates a question that might be raised, asks the question himself, and then answers it with such force that there can be no rebuttal. Paul puts before us the central issue -- sin in the life of believer. If it were not possible for a believer to go on living in sin, Paul would not even raise a question such as this. Now at the moment, we are not talking about sins, plural. We are talking about the sin nature, singular, which is the root of sins, plural. If the root, singular, is dealt with then it follows that sins, plural, are also dealt with. For all sins have their origin in this evil Adamic nature we received through inheritance from Adam.

Paul has told us in 5:20. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." So, someone might say, "O.K.. Paul, then let us go on sinning, in order that grace may continue superabounding." Paul, what do you say?

6:2 "God forbid! For how shall we who died to sin, live any longer in it?"

Paul is most emphatic in answering the question he himself has raised. "Let it never be! Away with such stupid and bone-headed thinking"! Paul is horrified at the thought that a believer who has escaped the fires of hell, continue in sin.
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Life On The Highest Plane - Part 2 of 3
By: Arvid Johanson

I feel the necessity of a question here. How many believers know that they died to sin? Do they know when they died to sin, where they died to sin, and how they died to sin? If they do know these things, it is making a difference in their lives? Fortunately for us, Paul is going to spell it all out. Here on the pages of Romans, as nowhere else in the Bible, Paul touches every base as regarding a holy life. Beginning with the fact that at a point in time every believer has died to sin.

6:3 "Or are you ignorant that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?"

When Paul raises the question "Are you ignorant?" you can mark it down -- the brethren are ignorant about something. Let us see if we can determine just what it is that Paul wants these Roman believers to comprehend.

First of all, I trust that a treatise on water baptism will not be necessary, for certainly there is no possibility of water anywhere in the sixth chapter of Romans. Rather, we have in verses 3-6 a sequence of events that took place nineteen hundred years ago outside the walls of Jerusalem. These events happened to our Lord in a physical sense, and at the same time happened to every one who would ever be saved in this age of grace, in a spiritual sense.

Do not let this terminology deceive you, for in God's sight this whole sequence was as real as if it were totally physical. Now, unless someone tries to convince me that they were water baptized outside the walls of Jerusalem nineteen-hundred years ago, we will go with the premise that it is another kind of baptism entirely.

The context here is the cross that our Lord Jesus occupied and then unoccupied, the tomb occupied and then unoccupied. We were all involved in this whole process, we who go by the title of "Christians." There is only one way that this could happen, and this is one of the most precious truths in the New Testament. We are the Body of Christ and we have been made one with the very Son of God, joined to the living Christ for time and eternity, one in every sense of the word (1 Cor 12:12; Eph. 5:30; Heb 2:11; Rom 6:5). Since we are one with Him, His death has become ours, and His triumph over the grave has become ours, and to what end? Newness of life for us. If we were not baptized with water, then what kind of baptism? In Romans 6:2-11, we have the word "dead" and "death" thirteen times. This certainly gives us a clue as to the kind of baptism that is before us in verse three. In a kingdom setting the Lord raises the question, "Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" The Jordan River and what took place there is past tense. His question here is in the future tense as He faces the cross. Paul in a church setting speaks of the same event -- the cross-death of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in addition, our death with Him. So then, it was at the cross where we died to sin.

Spiritual living begins at the cross of Jesus Christ where we are identified with Him and His death.

6:4 "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the Glory of the Father, we too may live a new life"

We are also identified with Jesus in His burial and resurrection. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the answer to the question of how and where we died to sin. God identifies those who believe in Jesus with His baptism at the cross, and this is where spiritual living begins.

We are in the midst of a section that sets forth the very basic principles of true holiness, true spirituality, and a life truly pleasing to God. If this is our goal, we must begin where God begins, and God begins at the cross upon which the Prince of Glory died on behalf of sinners. He died once, He died for all, and He will never die again, for, in His one-time death, He accomplished all that would ever be necessary.
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Life On The Highest Plane - Part 3 of 3
By: Arvid Johanson

When , 1900 years ago, our Lord died for sin in a physical sense, everyone who would be saved in this age of grace was seen as dying to sin, in a spiritual sense. In Romans 6:2, Paul says, "we died to sin." In the statements made thus far, we see where, when, how, and why this event became reality.

Rom 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

First of all, we focus upon the two words "with Him." This further establishes the time frame when these things took place. As we come to verse 4, death has already taken place. What follows is what one would expect to take place: burial, and then coming forth from the tomb in resurrection life. This happened to the Lord Jesus physically, and to His church, spiritually, to the end that now, some 1900 years later, children of God might "walk in newness of life."

Anyone who has attended a burial will have to agree that the occupant of the grave has been cut off from the old life. In like manner, in our burial with Christ, we can say that provision has been made to escape the bondage of sin, to be cut off from the Adam-life, and to be enabled now to live the life He would have us live -- the very life of Christ.

Death and burial having taken place, we consider the next aspect: the physical resurrection of Christ and, at the same time, the spiritual resurrection of all those who would be saved in this age of grace. The greatest demonstration of power this universe has ever witnessed took place 1900 years ago when God raised His Son from the dead. That same power was effected in us as we were raised spiritually from the dead -- that power being "to us that believe" (Eph.. 1:19-20)

The greatest consideration in heaven, and among His own that dwell upon the earth, is the glory of God. In the eternal purpose of God, which He purposed in Christ before the world began, everything He has ever said and everything He has ever done has been to the end of bringing present and future glory to Himself. In our present verse, "raised by the glory of the Father" indicates that the glory of God was in view as He brought His Son back to life, and, at the same time, the "church which is His body." It would appear that the crown jewel of the purpose of God centers in the one who is "the Head over the body" and those blessed ones who make up that body, that single entity called "the Christ" (1 Cor. 12:12).

Paul goes on to inform us of the blessed result that comes from laying hold of the previously set forth truth by faith: "we should walk in newness of life." The life spoken of here is not a reworked, remodeled, or rehabilitated life. Paul is speaking of something band new. Something totally unknown in times past or times future. The life here is the very resurrection life of the risen, ascended, glorified Christ, ministered to us and through us by the Holy Spirit of God day by day. As yet we have not touched every base, but we do see the purpose behind our death, burial, and resurrection together with the Lord Jesus Christ "that we should walk in newness of life."

Rom 6:5 "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."

Paul is not talking about future resurrection, though that resurrection is certain but he is talking about living resurrection life now, as those who are alive from the dead. The resurrection life that Christ is living now at the right hand of God, is the life lived out through believers day by day (cf. Col. 3:4), and it is that truth which Paul is putting before us in verse 5.

The suppositional "if" here may pose some questions. Paul never assumes that everyone in the local assembly has a relationship with God through the living Christ. He just does not know, so he adds the word "if" to distinguish between those who have a relationship and those who only have religion. The latter group have no part whatever in the things we are discussing here in Romans 6.

One of the most precious truths associated with this present program of grace is set forth in the words united together. It speaks of the union that has taken place between the Lord Jesus Christ and all of those who will be saved in this age of grace. It is a union that will endure forever, and, because of this union all the blessings of God become ours, including the God-given ability to live as He would have us live.

We have various words and phrases that describe this union, some secular, some Biblical. Some use the phrase identified with Christ. What does that mean? It means united together with Christ. Some ninety times in Ephesians (twenty-eight times in the first chapter alone), we have phrases like in Christ, in Christ Jesus, and in Him. What do these phrases mean? They mean united with Christ. In the next article, we will provide the Bible verses that confirm the before-mentioned statements.

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Brothers and Sisters,

Everything is find at Grace And The Truth Ministries - just a few more computer problems that may already be worked out now. I appreciate the prayers.

Love In Christ,
Tom

KEEP LOOKING UP!!

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Out of Fellowship With God    OCTOBER 26, 2007


Out of Fellowship With God
by Steve McVey

It is impossible for a Christian to ever be out of fellowship with God. Do you believe that? I begin this article with such a bold statement because I want to shake you into serious thought. As we grow in our grace walk we sometimes find ourselves having to rethink some of the things we've heard all our lives. This whole concept of being "out of fellowship" is one of those things we've all heard, but it just isn't true. It isn't true for one simple reason: the fellowship you have with God isn't up to you. Your Father has embraced you with an eternal grip that makes it impossible for you to wiggle out of His love and acceptance.

If it is possible to be out of fellowship with God, what would cause that? Sin, of course. That's the silver bullet against the Christian, right? Don't be so quick to agree. The truth of the matter is that Christ has dealt a death blow against sin that will eternally keep it from ever interfering with how God sees you. Sin has been defeated. When Jesus said, "It is finished!" that's exactly what He meant.

John wrote in I John 1:7, that "if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." Know this: You do walk in the Light. Even when you sin, you are in the Light because He is the Light of the world and you are constantly in Him. Our perception of the light may be obscured, but that doesn't change the fact that we are in the light. If I go outside into the bright sunlight and put on a sleep mask so that I see nothing but complete darkness, am I in the light? Yes, I am still in the light. My only problem is that my perception of the light has been blocked.

That's what sin does in our lives. It blinds us to the fact that we are standing in the Light of His love and grace at every moment and to the reality that nothing can change that. John said that "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." The word "cleanses" in the verse is the Greek word (katharizo), a word which has powerful implications. The word is present, active, indicative - meaning that the blood of Christ at this moment and at every moment is keeping us cleansed of all sin. If we are being constantly kept cleansed of sin, what would cause God to be out of fellowship with us?

When the prodigal son was in the pig pen, his perception of fellowship with his father was totally changed. He would have said that he was out of fellowship but, in reality, his Dad's attitude toward him hadn't changed at all. His Dad still loved, adored and accepted him the way he always had done. The problem was in the son's mind, not in the Dad's attitude.

The same is true of us. Our Father adores us and nothing ever changes that fact. Our perception may be that we are "out of fellowship" at times, but God never sees it that way. He embraces and loves us even when we feel like we have broken fellowship with Him. You are cleansed of your sins and your Father accepts you. So put aside the notion that fellowship with Him can be broken by your behavior. It isn't about you. It never has been. It's all about His unconditional acceptance. He is in fellowship with us and we aren't big enough to ever change that!

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From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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THE GRACE OF GOD Part 1    OCTOBER 27, 2007


THE GRACE OF GOD
Part 1
By Jack Trumm



In this edition of the Grace Messenger, we would like to look at the word "grace". Let's begin by asking ourselves a few questions concerning grace.

1. What does the word grace mean?
2. What does the word grace not mean?
3. Who receives this grace?
4. By what means is it received?

Let's begin with the nation Israel, God's covenant people. They found grace (or favor) with God for it was through them that God intended to establish His Kingdom here on the earth. God had given them favored-nation status, and they were to be instrumental and the channel of blessing in bringing all other nations back to Himself. Luke writes of these things in Acts 3:25-26, "Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, 'And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities."

So God had given Israel favored-nation status, however His favor, His grace was something they were instructed and required to seek. Our Lord Jesus Christ exhorted them not to be like the other nations, but rather to: "seek, ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) He told them, "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7: 7)

If Israel would seek God and perform, they would find grace (or favor). "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations  of the earth: and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God." (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)

So, in order to find grace (or favor) with God, it needed to be sought and performed. And by doing so, they demonstrated their faith concerning the things God had commanded them. The end result was finding favor (or grace) with God. But we know that they as a nation failed to measure up to the requirements of God. Time and time again they failed to seek His favor and perform what was required. Rather than seek Him they crucified Him, and rather than repent for it afterward they resisted, blasphemed and persecuted those who did. Paul wrote concerning Israel in Romans 10:2-3, " For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."

So as a result of their mind set, and going about to establish their own righteousness and not submitting to the righteousness of God, He has concluded them in unbelief and has temporarily set that program aside. "Well, because of unbelief they were broken off', "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief', "blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." (Romans 11:20, 33, 25)

Israel has been TEMPORARILY set aside. This is evident by the word" until" in Romans 11:25. There are those who teach that God has permanently stopped dealing with the nation Israel, but there couldn't be anything further from the truth. Paul writes in Romans 11:1-2, "I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away his people which he foreknew."

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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THE GRACE OF GOD
Part 2
By Jack Trumm


In the future God will restore favored nation status to Israel, and establish a new covenant with them. "For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11:27) "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in my covenant and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8:8-13)

This future concerning Israel has not yet come, so this leaves a question: What has God done meantime? (between setting them aside and the future covenant He will establish with them?) God has ushered in a new program. This He had in mind from eternity past but kept it secret since the world began until He revealed it through Paul the apostle. What was this program called? It has several titles:

1. It was called the MYSTERY. "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" (Romans 16: 25)

2. It was called the GOSPEL OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION. "But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter" (Gal. 2:7)

3. It was called the DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD. "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 known unto me the mystery" (Ephesians 3:2, 3)

This is where we are today. So let us ask ourselves: "What is God's message for us today? What was kept secret until Jesus revealed it to Paul (the apostle to the Gentiles)? To answer this completely we would have to say it is that entire body of truth contained in Paul's writings and his messages as recorded by Luke in the Book of Acts. But to put it into a nutshell as they say, Paul called it "Christ and Him crucified" (I Corinthians 2:2) or in words we might use "Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for us in the death of the cross and in His resurrection". Read it for yourself as Paul writes "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." (I Corinthians 15:1-4) And in another nutshell" summary he writes, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. Much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." (Romans 5: 6-10)

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

Click Below For FREE Email Subscription:
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
___________________________________

[nChrist]

THE GRACE OF GOD
Part 3
By Jack Trumm




Let us ask ourselves: Where and when did this age and dispensation begin and how does it work? It began with the conversion of Saul (or Paul). Where did this take place? When he was on his way to Damascus. (See Acts 9:1-16) Here was a man that was not seeking the favor (or grace) of God, but rather was out to persecute those who were. But while on his way, our Lord Jesus Christ stopped him, and in unprecedented grace showed him mercy and saved him. This is why to the Ephesians Paul wrote: "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2: 8-9)

The word grace in verse eight means: DIVINE INFLUENCE UPON THE HEART. This is what God is doing today during this age of grace, seeking us out one by one, seeking to influence our hearts with good news of what He has accomplished in the cross (and if we believe this message) resulting in salvation. "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise " (Ephesians 1:13) This is how God's grace works today.

Now let's ask ourselves: "What does this word grace Not mean in this present age and dispensation?" Paul wrote, "even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." (Romans 11:5-6) He writes, "Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:9). Again, "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh NOT, but believeth on him that justified the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. " (Romans 4:4-5) Then to the Galatians, Paul explains even further saying "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" (Galatians 2:16)

Paul is trying to tell us that if we think we can get to heaven by our own works, or by our own self-righteousness, we will come short of the glory of God. This he explains in Romans Chapter three, "there is none righteous, no, not one" "They have all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not ONE." "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10, 12,23)

Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, many times reminds us that his writings are the words of Christ Himself. (See I Timothy 6: 2-5, I Corinthians 14:38, II Timothy 3:16) Here in Romans Chapter three, how could he make it clearer that it is not by our righteousness, but by His righteousness, His grace, His work in the cross that we are saved? He says, "Being Justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (verse 24).

I would ask anyone who is reading this article; Who's righteousness are you trusting in? I encourage you to study the scripture to see if what is written here is true and especially Ephesians 2: 8, 9 where Paul proclaims, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. "

This now brings up the last question. Who receives this grace and by what means is it received? God is showing unprecedented grace to everyone today. He makes the same offer to all to be reconciled to Him, showing no difference, with the same result upon believing. "For there is no difference between Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that  call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:12-13) There will not be one of us that will be able to stand before God and say "I never received God's grace". For He wants" all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (I Timothy 2: 4) This is why Paul begged his readers "that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" (II Corinthians 6:1), asking them to believe while this favor (or grace) is still being offered.

So in conclusion, accept the grace of God and as a result of it, believe that what Christ has done on the cross of Calvary was for you, and have the assurance of eternal life.

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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[nChrist]

THE GRACE MOUNTAINS
EPHESIANS 2:1-22
PART 1 OF 3
By Evangelist S. Lee Homoki



In the second chapter of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul is addressing believers but is talking about their past sinful condition as unbelievers (vs. 2a). They were described as being: " .. .filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful" (Rom. 1:29-31). It was terrible! It would be like coming upon a horrifying train wreck! Your first thoughts and words to describe the scene would be, "Death, destruction and devastation everywhere." Everything is in disarray and disorder and the stench of death hangs heavy in the air. Even the skilled eyes of a trained medical emergency team, sent to the scene, would conclude that there is "no hope." Such a sad evaluation! There are no sadder words to fall on human ears! Here, the Apostle Paul, looking over the great wreck of Gentile humanity, inspired of God the Holy Spirit, declares them as "having no hope and without God in the world" (Eph. 2:12)!

Wreckage at the Foot of the Mountain (vss. 1-3)

The crash happened when Adam disobeyed God and promptly died - and all of humanity with him! God had given Adam a solemn warning about the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" saying, "Thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Gen 2:17).

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (Ieor. 15:22).
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom 5:12).
· "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6:23).

It is important for us to look carefully and honestly at this pile of human rubble of which we are all a part. We will never fully appreciate or understand God's saving grace if we don't! There is nothing savable! We must be convinced that the destruction is so complete and so total that only the divine application of God's great grace and power could ever restore what has been lost! When the Apostle Paul surveys the debris field, he identifies at least three reasons for his discouraging assessment:

1. All the victims are spiritually dead (vs. 1). Adam was living in a perfect environment. Adam had no knowledge of what death was he should have listened and obeyed but he didn't and guilt swept over both Adam and Eve. They learned the consequences of sin by personal experience. They died spiritually and will eventually die physically! Externally nothing had changed but inwardly Adam's spirit died.

There are several kinds of death mentioned in the Bible and none of them are very appealing or exciting. If death means anything, it means the cessation of life or the inability to do anything! The worst would not be the cessation of physical life but, rather, spiritual death. Spiritual death means that the unsaved have no capacity to know God, love God, appreciate God or serve God. They are "alienated from the life of God" (Eph. 4:18 ) and their destination is ultimately to the "lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Rev. 21 :8 ).

The root cause of this death was "trespass and sins " (Eph2:1; Col. 2:13; 2 Cor. 5:14). "Sin" means that man has no ability to hit the "bulls-eye" of God's righteous demands. And "trespass" means that man is outside the boundary of God's law. Mankind is guilty of both sin and trespass. We are sinners because, by the inherited nature of Adam, we have gone our own way - the way that "seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Prov. 16:25). And, we are trespassers because we have violated the boundaries of what we knew by nature was the will of God (Rom. 2:14). The "victims" are thus declared to be spiritually dead.

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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[nChrist]

THE GRACE MOUNTAINS
EPHESIANS 2:1-22
PART 2 OF 3
By Evangelist S. Lee Homoki


2. All the victims are children of disobedience and wrath and are under the rulership of Satan (vs.2). The unsaved are dead to God. However, they are physically alive and animated in sin as indicated by the verb "walked." These living dead are energized according to the dictates of the "god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4) - "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience" (Eph 2:2).

"Walking" is not without thinking. A person lives the way he thinks (Prov. 23:7). The Apostle Paul, twice in this verse, uses the preposition "KATA" = ACCORDING TO - meaning, in this case, a pattern of thinking. Disobedience does not happen in a vacuum. The Devil, the father of all lies, dictates the "course of this world" to his disobedient children. He is aided by the political and theological liberals of this world who are the "mouthpiece" or "ministers" for him. Their damnable work is to blind the poor, lost victims as to their real condition. They are what the Apostle Paul called, "false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works" (2 Cor. 11:13-15). Christ told the Pharisee of His day, "Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it" (Jn. 8:44). The Apostle Peter says that the Gentiles, "walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatry. "

These wretched victims are not corrupt, evil and immoral because of their environment or lack of education, but because they have bad hearts (Jer. 17:9; Mk. 7:21-23), controlled by a personal Devil who makes them hostile to the will of God. That is why these "children of wrath" think it " ... strange that [believers in Christ] run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of believers" (1 Pet. 4:2-4).

3. All victims are under the control of the "flesh" (vs. 3). When Adam sinned, his whole manner of life ("conversation ") crashed in a heap. Instead of enjoying the luxury and blessings of the Garden of Eden and the grace and presence of God, he, and all of unregenerate humanity with him, are now under the harsh rule of Satan where they exist fulfilling the desires of the "flesh" and the "mind." They subsist on what can be seen, felt, touched, smelled and tasted. The human race looks at their existence in this world, having a "seared conscience" (1 Tim. 4:2) that is independent of the indwelling influence of God the Holy Spirit and the revealed Word of God. But God looks on their heart and sees the wreckage and finds nothing good in it. We can train and educate the 'flesh" so that it does not murder and steal, etc. We can cover it up with a lovely false front and a lot of human good, but that does not make it good or acceptable to God (Rom. 7:18; 8:8 ).

The Bible teaches that we are to: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 Jn.2:15-16).

This wasting wreckage of humanity is now identified as the "natural man" - "the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14).

Take a good look (verses 11 and 12)! There is no possibility for the recovery or reconstruction from the ruins without what the Bible calls "regeneration." Gaze long and hard at the wreckage here and try to understand! Picture if you will how the carnage is described. (1) The human wreckage was godless and unclean - no better than a pack of wild dogs called "the uncircumcision. " This was an uncomplimentary term that might be used to describe some disgusting piece of garbage - no recommendation for salvation here! (2) The human wreckage was separated from Christ - "without Christ" - no means of salvation here! (3) The human wreckage was excluded from the nation ("the commonwealth ") of Israel. They were illegal aliens - salvation was of the Jews Jn. 4:22) - no agency of salvation here! (4) The human wreckage had no special racial or tribal connections. They were "strangers of the covenant" that was made with Abraham the Jew - no covenant of salvation here!

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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[nChrist]

THE GRACE MOUNTAINS
EPHESIANS 2:1-22
PART  3 OF 3
By Evangelist S. Lee Homoki







Resurrected to the Top of the Grace Mountains (vss. 4-12)

What marvel! What mystery! How do we explain it? How do we describe it? How do we fully appreciate the change of scenery that takes place within the space of one verse? It cannot be so except God is introduced into the picture! God's remedy for death is another death - meaning Christ's death on the cross! Christ was the divine substitute for dead sinners. His death was our death. His death paid our penalty in full! His resurrection is our resurrection! This is great news for the hopeless! Because He lives, we shall live also (Jn. 11 :25; Gal. 2:20)!

Look now! A resurrection! See what God has done! "But God! Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:4-6)!

God has resurrected the dead! God is in the soul saving business. What He has done is not unlike what He has promised to do someday for the nation of Israel. He made them a promise about the national rebirth in a future dispensation, wherein God will gather the dead, dry bones of Israel. He said, "Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD" (Ezek. 37:4-6). Some day, all Israel will be resurrected to a national hope (Rom. 11:25), whereas, by the same power God raised the Body of Christ to "heavenly places, " thus denying death its victory (Phil. 3:10; Eph 1:19-20)!

Our text (vss. 4-6) uses words like "love," "mercy," "kindness," "riches" and "grace" to describe how God was able to accomplish this great regeneration (PALING-GHEN-ES-EE-AH = back again to the beginning); the great work of taking fallen humanity back to before Adam's fall (Titus 3:5)! How do you put a definition and limits on the greatness of God's love? You can't! That is why God recommends His love (Rom. 5:5; Titus 3:3-4) - because it has no equal or limit! Of course, the same is true of all the other adjectives, mentioned above, that are used to explain His work of saving sinners who deserve nothing but His wrath. "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift" (2 Cor. 9:15).

It's a gift! Of course, to be lifted from the valley of destruction, despair and death and elevated to the very heights of God's Grace Mountains and made to sit together in heavenly places with Christ throughout all "the ages to come" is a gift! How hard is it for the sinner, who is "dead" and "without strength" to receive a gift? It is easy! It was effortless because the "gift" was available for the taking. It's a simple matter of believing God's Word (Eph. 2:7-9). That is what faith is:

Faith is just believing
What God says He will do.
He will never fail us
His promises are true;
If we but believe Him,
His children we become.
Faith is just believing
This wondrous thing is done!

Saved sinners are God's "workmanship "! Salvation is His work! Sinners receive it by faith!

Salvation, however, was not cheap! God the Father exhausted the treasure vaults of Heaven to give His Son for the sins of the world (Rom. 8:32; Jn. 3:16). And, the personal cost to Jesus Christ was immense! He was made "sin "! He was numbered among the "transgressors," and "though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). The precious "blood of Christ" was the "cash on the barrel head" to "reconcile" sinners unto God. Be careful to give praise and glory!

[nChrist]

THE GRACE MOUNTAINS
EPHESIANS 2:1-22
CONCLUSION
By Evangelist S. Lee Homoki



Peace was Preached in the Valley (V ss. 13-18 )

"But now" indicates a definite and great change in God's way of dealing with the Jews and Gentiles. The Jews, like the Gentiles, being the sons of fallen Adam, must be counted with the wreckage in the valley of death, despair and destruction at the foot of the mountain. In the previous dispensation of Law and Commandments, the Jews occupied a place of preeminence and privilege among humanity (Rom 3:1-2; 9:4). No people were ever so blessed! The covenant that God had made with the Jews, however, excluded the Gentiles and it bred severe animosity between them. Now, the plan of God changes because Christ came "preaching peace." Since Christ never preached to Gentiles while He was here on earth (Mt. 15:24), we take this to mean that Christ spoke through the Apostle Paul, who was the apostle to the Gentiles, preaching the "Gospel of Peace " (Rom. 10:15; Eph. 6:15 and cf. Rom. 15:18; 1 Cor. 14:37; 2 Cor. 13:3; 1 Thess. 4:2,15; 1 Tim. 6:3).

Here the Apostle Paul teaches that the finished work of Christ, by the blood of the cross, removes the barrier of "hatred." In doing so, God creates "in himself of twain one new man," bringing "peace" and a new dispensation, thus causing the warfare to cease (Eph 2:13-18; Col. 3:10-11). Please note: Reconciliation implies that there was an alienation that needed healing. Reconciliation is a grace doctrine and is at the heart and soul of what is called the "revelation of the Mystery" (Eph. 1:9; 3:3-4; 3:9; Col. 1:26-27; 2:2; 4:3). This reconciliation was not said to be accomplished at the cross but, rather, "by" the cross. By reconciliation, both believing Jew and Gentile are "made nigh" to each other and the "one new man" is "made nigh" to God! "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? " (Rom 8:31-32).

Grace and Glory on the Top of the Grace Mountains

Look! The death, darkness and dread are gone! The storm is over and the bright sunshine of grace and glory is shining (Eph. 2:7; 3:1O)! (1) The dead sinners are resurrected from the graveyard and transformed into living "saints" and "citizens" of the "household of God. " (2) Those who were once the children of the Devil are reborn as the children of God and elevated to a place of privilege, being "made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus"! (3) The hopeless now have an eternal hope and home being "fitly framed together" into a "temple" to be occupied by the family of God! God's great building project - a "habitation of God" (vss. 18-22). Note: The work, role and dwelling place of the "Godhead" in this building project - God the "Father" - God the Son ("Him") - God the "Holy Spirit"!

What a change in dwelling places for God! What an adjustment from God's habitation in the Dispensation of Israel where God dwelt in the Tabernacle in the wilderness and then in the Temple in Jerusalem. And now, He has chosen to build on the mountain tops of grace, a home for Himself in this Dispensation of Grace! Bless God and give Him glory! (See my Bible Brief Study - "Building with Paul" - sent free upon request.)

A personal message: My dear reader, if you have never trusted Christ, you stand in dreadful danger! If your heart were to stop beating, in an instant you would end up in the lake of eternal fire! I have a great concern for your eternal soul. The Bible says, "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." If you will, this moment, turn your heart from your unbelief and trust the fact that Christ was your substitute and that he died for you. He is alive and paid your penalty with His blood. The moment you trust Him, your soul will be saved, your heart changed and your sins all forgiven. You become a child of God! I beg you, in Jesus' name, make that decision now. Will you do it? Why will you perish? If you will take Christ, this moment, as your Savior, write me a note and share your decision with me. If you do, I will write you a letter of encouragement and send some literature that will help give you assurance of salvation. Write to: Lee Homoki, PO Box 564, Comstock Park, Michigan 49321.

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

Click Below For FREE Email Subscription:
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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[nChrist]

THE WILFUL "SIN" OF HEBREWS 10:26
BY RUSSELL S. MILLER

It is asserted that the "wilful sin", here, does not apply to this dispensation because, as members of the Body of Christ, God has already given us eternal security in Christ as Paul declares in his epistle to the Romans:

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... NAY, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that [nothing] shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"  (Rom.8:35-39) .

Please note that the Hebrews also have "eternal salvation" (5:9), "eternal redemption" (9:12), and "eternal inheritance" (9:15).

So today, those who trust in His finished work of redemption, whether Hebrews or Gentiles, have "eternal salvation", "eternal redemption", and "eternal inheritance":

"FOR EVEN CHRIST OUR PASSOVER IS SACRIFICED FOR US" (I Cor. 5: 7) .

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, BUT BY HIS OWN BLOOD HE ENTERED IN ONCE INTO THE HOLY PLACE, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heb.9:12).

Now, on the other hand, those who reject His all-sufficient sacrifice for sins, whether Hebrews or Gentiles, reject "eternal salvation", "eternal redemption", and "eternal inheritance", and do so, "wilfully", as those who rejected Christ on the day of Pentecost, for the simple reason that there is "no more sacrifice for sins". There is no other sacrifice in the sight of God. If you miss Christ, the only thing left is "eternal judgment" (Heb.6:2), because God has made no other provision for sin:

"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" (Heb.10:26,27).

Therefore I implore you, do not tread "under foot the Son of God", nor count "the blood of the covenant" an unholy thing, and do not despise "the Spirit of grace" (Ver.29) .

"VENGEANCE IS MINE; I WILL REPAY, SAITH THE LORD" (Rom. 12:19) .

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

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http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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[nChrist]

FREE FROM THE LAW
Living Under Grace
Part 1 of 4
By Richard Jordan


Much of Christianity could be included in Paul's description of the believers at Galatia when he writes:

"0 foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" (Gal. 3:1).

The Galatians had begun with a clear understanding of the issues of grace -- of all that Christ had done for them at Calvary and the position God had given them in Christ. But they had become foolish -- they allowed their thinking to wander from their completeness in Christ and thus had been bewitched into thinking their adherence to a set of external rules would enable them to please God. Thus Paul seeks to reason with them:

"This only would I learn of you, RECEIVED YE THE SPIRIT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY THE HEARING OF FAITH?

"Are ye so foolish? HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT, ARE YE NOW MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH?" (vs. 2,3).

Is the entrance into salvation by faith but the fullness of the Christian life by the works of the law? Hardly! It is vital to realize that grace is not only the way of salvation but it is also the key to the sustaining and successful Christian life. The alternative is for our lives to be "vain" --- empty, fruitless and barren:

"Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain" (v 4).

One of the major roadblocks on the road to spiritual growth is the unrealistic notion that the Christian life consists simply of mastering certain "principles," that if we successfully follow a list of steps and standards we will achieve spirituality.

Many honest souls cannot believe that obedience to God can be secured in any other way than by the law-principle --- by adherence to a set of external rules by which to obey and seek to please God.

The truth is, however, that no believer will be effective who sees his life as slavish servitude to a list of rules and regulations. Rather, we will be motivated to godly living and faithful service when we see ourselves not as serving the law but responding to grace.

Rom. 6:14 is an important verse here. Although it is familiar and often quoted, it is amazing how little genuine understanding exists as to its real meaning:
"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

The first "for" states the fact that sin's lordship over us is ended. The second reveals the basis on which this release is realized in our lives: We are not under the law --- not under a performance system that first demands duty and then offers blessing. Rather we are under grace --- which freely bestows the blessing first, knowing that the blessing will cause fruit to follow naturally.

It is important to understand that grace frees us from both sin and the law.

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/

If this devotion has been a blessing to you, please share it with others. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

Click Below For FREE Email Subscription:
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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