GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

[nChrist]

Now Means Now!
by Anabel Gillham


Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1

Now (adverb): at the present time; at once (Webster)

I've been thinking about the difference between conviction and condemnation. When the Holy Spirit convicts me of something that I have done wrong, the thoughts will be something like this: “I really blew that! I was wrong. I should have thought before I said that. That was certainly not a Christ-like thing to do! I’ll go over the first thing tomorrow and make an apology. I am so thankful that He has promised to complete what He started. He still has a lot of work to do on me—that’s for sure!” In conviction there is hope—hope for changing fleshly patterns because of the power of Christ in me—hope for righting wrongs—hope for overcoming.

On the other hand, thoughts of condemnation will attack me—myself—not just my performance. For example, “I am such a loser. I do everything wrong. I should not be teaching or witnessing. What a sorry Christian I’ve turned out to be. I can’t do anything right.” There’s no hope in those accusations—just condemnation. Those words condemn me because of my poor performance and give birth to guilt, depression, disappointment, hopelessness, and a lot of other destructive thoughts.

The Holy Spirit isolates—brings to mind—the sinful act. Satan, however, makes broad, all-inclusive accusations against my person/character/integrity. God will never condemn me. Why? Because He knows me—my new heart, my desire to please Him, my love for Him—and He doesn’t expect me to perform perfectly. That’s His program—conforming me to the image of His Son. “Conforming” means there’s work to be done—changing my performance, the things I do—not my identity. There is, therefore, NOW no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

___________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
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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]

AMBASSADORS OF RECONCILIATION
PART 1 OF 2
    By J. C. O'Hair



In Great Britain, France, Mexico and other countries, the United States maintain ambassadors. Such a representative of the United States is called "minister plenipotentiary and ambassador extraordinary." As a servant of this country he is a servant full of power or authority, and, being the personal spokesman for more than 120 million people, with the President, the cabinet, the congress, the army and the navy behind him, he is truly a representative extraordinary.

Of course, the man selected for such an important ministry should be fully qualified for the position. In order that he may honorably and uncompromisingly protect the interests of his nation and people at the foreign court he must be exceedingly careful about receiving personal favours, concessions and gifts from official representatives of that foreign nation.

In the important act of establishing treaties and agreements between his own government and the foreign nation that has received him as United States representative, this ambassador is forwarded a government document from Washington, bearing the seal of the United States of America. signed by the President and the Secretary of State. In dignity, accompanied by his official attendants, the ambassador presents the document to the foreign court for the signature of the Ruler and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Thus treaties of possession, commerce and peace are made.

It is deplorable when such a representative is chosen, not because he is qualified for the post but to pay a political debt.

Surely it is a great privilege and a great honor to be an ambassador representing the United States.

It is not an easy task to persuade people that it is a greater honor and a greater privilege to be an ambassador for Christ, and the Kingdom of God. Note the statement of the Apostle Paul, recorded in II Corinthians 5:20. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

This same apostle, in Philippians 3:20, says: "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." The word "conversation" here could be translated "citizenship" or even "politics". There is a sense, then, in which the citizenship and politics of every representative of Christ is in heaven. But while here on earth, as ambassadors for Jesus Christ, those who belong to Christ have the very difficult task of trying to be pleasant among sinners, while at the same time being governed by Galatians 1:10; "for do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

In His wonderful prayer, recorded in John 17, the Lord Jesus said concerning His disciples: "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." John 17:16. The qualification for an ambassador is set forth in Colossians 1:12 to 15: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son; In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature." In Colossians 1:12 the expression "hath made us meet" could be translated "hath qualified us". In other words, before we can acceptably represent Christ we must qualify. We must be delivered; we must be redeemed. In Colossians 1:20 we are told how this is accomplished. It is through the blood of His cross. Here we note that by the blood of the cross of Christ the believer is reconciled and is at peace with God. We quote Colossians 1:20 to 22:

"And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled. In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight"

Here we note that alienated enemies are made wholly unblameable and unreproveable because of what Christ did through death.

Peace and reconciliation by the blood of His cross. What a wonderful message God's ministers have to proclaim to lost sinners. And what glorious good news the sinner may receive and be saved for time and eternity.
We go back now to II Corinthians 5:17 to 21:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

Here we note that the ambassador for Christ is a new creature. According to Ephesians 2:10 he is God's workmanship, created anew in Christ Jesus. Man by nature belongs to the old creation. He is identified with Adam, the sinner. The most important transformation that can come to any man is to get out of Adam and in Christ; that is to be identified with "The Last Adam" Who is now the glorified Man in heaven. All who are in Adam are in sin, in the flesh, and under condemnation. If any man be in Christ there is a new creation. The new creature is no longer dead in sin. He is dead to sin. The believer's old man has been crucified with Christ. He is in the Spirit. He is made accepted in Christ, the Beloved. He is complete in Christ. He is waiting to appear with Christ in glory. His citizenship is in heaven. He is in the world, but not of the world. And now he has a new responsibility. For unto him is committed the word of reconciliation. To him is given the ministry of reconciliation.

In these closing verses of the fifth chapter of II Corinthians we observe that it is not the sinner seeking God; but God, through ambassadors of Christ, seeking the sinner, and beseeching the sinner, in Christ's stead, to be reconciled to God.

There is no more definite statement of the gospel, no clearer announcement of saving truth than we find in II Corinthians 5:21: "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

When the Lord Jesus Christ cried "finished", and yielded up the Ghost on the cross, He was crowned with a crown of thorns, the emblem of the curse. He was made sin, although He knew no sin. The God of all grace ordained and permitted the cruel death of the sinless Christ, yea, offered up His well-beloved Son, so that poor unrighteous men might, by His infinite grace, through faith, be made the righteousness of God in Christ. Man's only place of security and Divine blessing is in Christ.

___________________________________
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]

AMBASSADORS OF RECONCILIATION
PART 2 OF 2
    By J. C. O'Hair



This ministry of reconciliation is distinctively a Pauline ministry. More than a dozen times that great apostle emphasized the fact that he was the apostle, the preacher, and the teacher of the Gentiles; that unto Him the risen Christ committed the "dispensation of the grace of God for Gentiles"; the "unsearchable riches of Christ for Gentiles"; "the mystery among the Gentiles"; and the "dispensation of the mystery." Romans 11:13; Ephesians 3:1 to 3; Ephesians 3:8 and 9; Colossians 1:24 to 27.

According to Galatians 2:8, God was mighty in Peter in the apostleship of the circumcision. Peter received from Christ the keys of the kingdom of heaven and the so-called "great commission." In his ministry, recorded in the early chapters of Acts, Peter preached unto Israel repentance and restitution; the gospel of the kingdom; the promises and blessings of the covenants which God made concerning Israel; but never once did he preach reconciliation to Gentiles. He did not refer to Adam. Never once did Peter preach to Israel, in those chapters, concerning the "old man" and the "new man"; concerning the "old creation" and the "new creation". Peter did not preach concerning the believer's identification with Christ in death, burial and resurrection; blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. Peter had no authority from Christ to even refer to uncircumcised Abram from whence came Paul's gospel of the uncircumcision. It was unto Paul that the risen Lord committed the gospel of the uncircumcision, (Galatians 2:7; Galatians 3:8 ) the ministry of reconciliation and the mystery concerning the Body of Christ. Invariably when we have the ministry of reconciliation we find linked with it the ministry of the new creation and the truth of the believer's identification; out of Adam, into Christ. The word "atonement" in Romans 5:11 is a mistranslation. It should read "reconciliation". Then follows the story of Adam and Christ, the old creation and the new creation, and the new creature's identification with Christ. Romans 5:12 to Romans 6:12.

Our mission today is to beseech sinners to believe the word of reconciliation; to believe that the document has been signed and sealed; that the Lord Jesus Christ provided this reconciliation and made peace by the blood of His cross. Truly with such a ministry we should know that we are ambassadors extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary. How willing and eager sinners should be to accept this glorious gospel message, be at peace with God, reconciled to God, and be redeemed for time and eternity.

If you are troubled to know under which one of the Lord's commissions you are to labour, remember these words of Paul, "the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me (Paul) as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter." Galatians 2:7. And again Paul's words in II Timothy 2:2. "And the things that thou hast heard of me (Paul) among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Again in Ephesians 3:1 and 2, "I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles". . . "the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you ward". Again, "the gospel which was preached of me is not after man . . . taught it by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Galatians 1:12.

"That I (Paul) should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation." Romans 15:16 and 20.

Note what Paul says concerning himself, in I Corinthians 3:10: "According to the grace of God which is given unto me (Paul), as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation."

When the risen Christ gave the so-called great commission, in Matthew 28:19 and 20, to Peter and his associates, he never hinted at the gospel of uncircumcision, the dispensation of the grace of God for Gentiles, or the ministry of reconciliation which some years later He committed, by revelation, to Paul who then declared, "I am the apostle of the Gentiles; I magnify mine office." Romans 11:13.

The pity is that the Lord's ambassadors today minimize Paul's office instead of magnify it.

Well, fellow-Christians, our commission and message today is the word of reconciliation. That reconciliation message was not the commission of Matthew 28:19 and 20, because Israel had not yet been cast away and God's word instructs us in Romans 11:15, "the casting away of them (Israel) be the reconciling of the world." After Christ had been raised from the dead. Peter declared that He was raised from the dead to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel. Acts 5:30 and 31. Christ raised from the dead to give repentance is quite different from the reconciling of the world because of Israel was cast away.

Now here is sufficient Divine authority for our ministry for the Lord, "hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation" II Corinthians 5:19, "Hath given us the ministry of reconciliation." II Corinthians 5:18.

In the context note our identification with Christ II Corinthians 5:15 - And also note why we labour as ambassadors of reconciliation: "the love of Christ constraineth us"; "Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men." II Corinthians 5:14 and II Corinthians 5:11.

Let us not be guilty of the spiritual crime of perverting the glorious Divine message of grace. In the message of reconciliation sinners are not to beg God to be reconciled to them and save them. Carefully note II Corinthians 5:20: "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as thought God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

God beseeches the sinner. We pray the sinner. This is not the sinner seeking God and salvation. This is God beseeching the sinner to accept the perfect work of redemption accomplished by Christ. When He was made sin on the cross, God was reconciled. The reconciliation becomes mutual the moment the sinner believes God and receives Christ. We have a blessed ministry, a great responsibility, and a glorious privilege as ambassadors of reconciliation.

___________________________________
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]

A PRAYER WE NEVER PRAY
by C. R. Stam






Down through the centuries many sincere believers have uttered this prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus; come quickly,” but we have not joined them in this.

Lest we be misunderstood, we hasten to explain that we, personally, long to see and be with our blessed Lord, and did we think only of ourselves we would have Him come now, without further delay.

But this continued absence of our Lord in grace is the special subject of Paul’s epistles, as Peter states:

“AND ACCOUNT THAT THE LONGSUFFERING OF OUR LORD IS SALVATION; EVEN AS OUR BELOVED BROTHER PAUL ALSO ACCORDING TO THE WISDOM GIVEN UNTO HIM HATH WRITTEN UNTO YOU;
“AS ALSO IN ALL HIS EPISTLES, SPEAKING IN THEM OF THESE THINGS…” (II Pet.3:15,16).

How gracious has our Lord been in delaying His return for His own and the judgment to follow! How gracious to extend the day of grace until now! Now that we are saved we would fain be with the One we love and long for, but how grateful we should be that He waited for us, and how eager we should be to win others to Him while He waits still longer!

As we consider the lost about us, therefore, we cannot implore the Lord to “come quickly,” though His coming for us is indeed a “blessed hope,” and we remain on the alert for it to take place at any time.

In this connection it is interesting to observe that the prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus,” and its counterpart “How long!” are both “tribulation” prayers, uttered by saints (not of the Body) who will live during that dreadful time of God’s wrath. Both are found in the Book of the Revelation and both in connection with our Lord’s return to earth to judge and reign, and not in connection with the rapture. In both Revelation 2:5 and 2:16 our Lord says: “Repent…or else I will come unto thee quickly,” i.e., to judge. In Revelation 3:11 He writes to the church at Philadelphia, but again in warning: “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Revelation 22:7 and 12 are used in the same way, indicating that in that day only those who are “overcomers” will long for the Lord to come and put an end to the world’s rebellion. Thus John closes the Revelation with the declaration: “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly”, and the response: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Verse 20).

___________________________________
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]

Adoption as Sons
Part 1 of 2
by Dennis Hogg


Scripture often uses symbolism to illustrate spiritual principles. As with all Divine symbolism, the correspondence between the symbol and the actual principle is perfect. For this reason we can thoroughly analyze a symbol and thereby discover a deeper understanding of the spiritual principle as long as we analyze the symbol as given and remain consistent with the rest of Scripture.

Paul uses the Roman custom of adoption to illustrate the salvation and resulting position of the believer. Adoption was a very common practice as even a father's natural born children had to be adopted before they became sons and heirs. This is illustrated in Galatians 4:1-7...

"Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fulness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying, 'Abba' Father! Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God."

The characteristics here show us several things. The position of the child before adoption is paralleled with that of a slave. The two terms are so similar that they are almost completely interchangeable in this metaphor. Slaves were like property since they had no control over their own destiny. The child or slave had essentially no rights, and no power with which to change that situation. The power to change the future for a slave or child rested entirely with the father.

The father made the choice as to whom he would adopt. In many cases the natural firstborn child was not necessarily the heir. A natural born child may well expect that someday he would be adopted as a son, but a slave would never have any reason to expect to become an heir. (By working hard a slave could not merit adoption, because it was his duty to work hard in the first place. See Luke 17:7-9) The father was perfectly within his rights to adopt whomever he chose, and if a slave was adopted this was an unrequired act of kindness on the part of the father. Adopting one slave did not imply that the father had to adopt any other slave.

The result of the adoption was a new relationship between the father and the newly adopted son. This new closeness allows the son to call his father "Abba". The use of this title, essentially equivalent to the English "Daddy", was never permitted by a slave.  The son was now also the heir, and had a vast amount of rights and privileges that he would otherwise not enjoy. The father-son relationship is also permanent. A wife could be divorced, and a slave could be sold, but a son is a son forever.

The metaphor of adoption illustrates Christian salvation perfectly. We started out as slaves to sin. Galatians 4:7. ' We had no rights before God. Even if we could have done good works these were never a reason why God should save us. God chose to demonstrate His love and His kindness in us and has saved us even though we were totally undeserving of this kindness.

___________________________________
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]

Adoption as Sons
Part 2 of 2
by Dennis Hogg




"He predestined us to adoption as sons through Christ Jesus to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." Ephesians 1 :5,6

Just as with adoption, this choice lies entirely with the father and not the sinner. Also, God is completely within His rights to save some and to allow others to remain in sin. There is no injustice towards the sinner, just as the slave who remains a slave is not mistreated. This demonstrates the sovereignty of God.

This should impact the way we view ourselves before God. God chose us because it pleased Him, not because we wanted to be saved, or because we asked to be saved. (We were incapable of wanting or asking for this salvation. Rom. 3:11; 1 Cor. 2:14; 2 Cor. 4:4)

This unmerited adoption now puts us into a new relationship with our Heavenly Father.

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ, if we indeed suffer with Him in order that we may be glorified with Him. Romans 8:14-17

Now we can approach God and without fear approach Him as Father or "Daddy". 'We are free to come into His presence and can talk with God on this personal Father-son level.

Associated with the Father-son relationship is an inheritance. We cannot even begin to imagine what God has in store for us.

"And has raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:6,7

God will use us as a showpiece throughout all eternity to demonstrate how loving and kind He can be.

"Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him."  1 Corinthians 2:9

Any attempt to describe this would be futile.

Our position, in this inheritance is guaranteed. (Recall that once adopted a son cannot be cast away,) Not only this, but "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit" (Romans 8:l6) that we are adopted. Since the Holy Spirit is eternal, we have a witness forever that we are sons and heirs of God the Father, Our position is as secure as God is eternal.

___________________________________
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]

Dear ones in Christ's,

I realize it has been about five or six days since you have received a devotional.  I have been trying other systems as AOL has been giving me some problems.  I have found one that's not too bad.  And I'm sending this note is to you to inform you of my new address, which is *graceNthetruth@Cox.net.
*
I pray that you all had a wonderful Christmas and are having a great New Year. As usual should you desire it to be taken of our  e-mail list, you will need to reply, and in the subject line plays please remove me.  I do not have it set up like it was before on this new system,  as I want to make sure before exchanged on the website that this is the right program.

In His Grace and Grip, Paris


ALLOW AT LEAST 72 HOURS FOR YOUR REMOVAL FROM THE LIST

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[nChrist]

"BELIEVERS JUSTIFIED"
by C.R. Stam



Our Lord’s appearance to Saul of Tarsus (later called Paul) on the road to Damascus, changed the pitiless persecutor in a moment into the docile, yes the devoted follower of the Christ he had so bitterly hated.

This transformation took place not only because he had now seen the risen, ascended Christ; it was caused also by what he had learned from Christ. From heaven the Lord had revealed to Paul the glory of His finished work of redemption and had sent him forth to proclaim "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

This is seen in the closing words of the Apostle’s first recorded sermon, delivered at the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia. After mentioning the death and resurrection of Christ, the Apostle said:

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38,39).

Paul never changed this message, but kept emphasizing it wherever he went as well as in his writings. He saw in this truth the answer to man’s condemnation for breaking God’s holy law. Thus he wrote to the Romans:

"...by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested" (Rom. 3:20,21).
"[We] declare, I say, at this time, [Christ’s] righteousness; that [God] might be just and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom. 3:26).

Mark well: He does not say, "believeth and is baptized." This was the message committed to the twelve (Mark 16: 16; Acts 2:38 ). With the ushering in of the dispensation of grace God was manifested as "the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

___________________________________
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]

LIBERATED FROM LEGALITY
By Miles Stanford




"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2 :13).

One of the most subtle, tenacious, and all-pervading errors amongst Christians is slavery to the legal principle (the Galatian error). And, as in deliverance from the power of sin, there is no freedom from law apart from the death we shared in Christ on the Cross. "You too in the body of Christ have ended your relation to the law" (Rom. 7:4, Wms.).

"It is a harmful perversion of the truth of God to teach (as did the Puritan theologians) that while we are not to keep the law as a means of salvation, we are under it as a 'rule of life.' Let a Christian only confess, 'I am under the law,' and straightway Moses fastens his yoke upon him, despite all his protests that the law has lost its power.

"Men have to be delivered from the whole legal principle, from the entire sphere where law reigns, ere true liberty can be found. This was accomplished on the Cross. There we 'died unto the law' (Gal. 2:19); we were there 'discharged from the law' (Rom. 6:14). And those who believe this enter the blessed sphere where grace reigns. The Holy Spirit, indwelling the believer, performs in him the will of God, whose will, at last, is a delight (Rom. 8:3,4; 12:2)." - W.R.N.

"Law taught me to love my neighbors as myself --- made my love for self the measure of my duty to my neighbor. Christianity looks for having no self at all, but giving up ourselves for our neighbors."

"He Himself, through Jesus Christ, accomplishing through you what is pleasing to Him" (Heb. 13:21, Wms.),

___________________________________
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]

Eternal Life, The Gift of God
By Russell S. Miller



Suppose I knew of a financial benefactor who was giving away one million dollars to every one that personally contacted him. I told my parents about this, and they collected their million; my sisters collected theirs, after I told them of course; and my brothers-in-law all received their generous portions. Of course I told my wife, and every one in her family, about it. All our relatives, friends, and many, many strangers contacted this gracious benefactor as per instructions, and received their million dollars.

But I never told you!

What would you think about my actions in this matter, if I had not told you about this wonderful gift? Would you not have a right to be very angry with me and wonder why you were left out?

Now please do not think that I am angry with any one, for such thinking could not be farther from the truth. No, not at all.

This is an illustration of what God seeks to convey to a lost and dying world. Only it's not a mere million dollars, nor is it billions of dollars that we are discussing here. It is a portrait of the love of Christ:

"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8 ).

The Lord does not promise earthly wealth, but He has promised "eternal life" to all who will believe on His Son, worth more than all the money in all the world:

"For the wages of sin is death; but THE GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

Yes, my dear friend, I trust that you also can now see how important, how really important, this gift is that God wants to give you!

The Apostle Peter describes the gift of God as more valuable than the precious metals that men covet after.

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Pet. 1:18,19).

The Bible clearly teaches that we are all "sinners" (Rom. 3:23), lost and dying, and in desperate need of the "Savior" (Titus 1:4). Jesus Christ, of course, is our only Savior. There is no other Savior for mankind. If you miss Him, you will have missed everything! This is why the Apostle Paul declared that salvation can only be obtained by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ:

"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" (Eph. 2:8,9).

"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).

This is also why the Apostle Paul exhorts us to trust Christ as our Savior:

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." (Acts 16:31).

___________________________________
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]

HEART OF ROMANS
By Miles Stanford



"Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead" (Rom. 6:13).

Deliverance from the reign of sin, and liberty in the life of Christ, are set forth as a doctrinal unit in Romans Six, Seven and Eight. This area of truth has but one key---the Cross. This is the great master key to spiritual life and liberty.

When we begin to comprehend Romans Six, we know that our death in Christ unto sin was completed at Calvary. When we have been in Romans Seven for a time, we come to realize that we have been struggling to produce that which God has already accomplished for us in Christ. When we thereby come to Romans Eight, we know at last that the Holy Spirit will produce in our experience what God completed for us on the Cross and in Christ our Life.

"In Romans Six we see the foundation of our deliverance --- the fact that we died with Christ; and also the conditions of our deliverance --- that we reckon ourselves dead unto sin and yield to God as those that are alive from the dead. Romans Eight tells us the means and the method of our deliverance --- that it is through the blessed Holy Spirit alone that we are actually delivered in everyday life, from sin's reign; the moment we cease from all our own efforts and let Him do all the work, He will begin delivering us from the power of sin. How long it takes some of us to come to the end of our own efforts can be seen in Romans Seven!" -- W.R.N.

"That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:4).

2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

"We can either choose to grovel in our own self-pity or rejoice in whatever state we may find ourselves."

___________________________________
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 WORD OF HIS POWER~


HEBREWS 1 :3
"Who being the brightness of his glory,
and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the tight hand of the Majesty on high"

Our text verse is a marvelous one upon which to meditate. There are many faces of God's power. One of these is "the Word of His power." This means we should stand more in awe at (God's written Word, the Holy Bible. Modern day "translators" and others who tamper with what God has written, through His Holy Spirit, could do nothing more heinous! Christ is so powerful that "all things" are literally held together "by the Word of His (inherent, self-contained and originated) power." Imagine the absolute harmony in all the universe. Everything operating with absolute precision that can barely be contemplated by humans. Hebrews 1:3 begins by stating that Christ is the brightness of God's glory and then confirms that Christ is very God of very God - "the express Image of His Person." Use this verse on those who would make the Lord Jesus Christ less than God. The verse continues: "He upholds all things by the Word of His power." Of course! Who would dare to doubt that a Creator Who "made the worlds out of nothing" could not keep them by that same power?

And then this great God purged our sins by the sacrifice of Himself. It was so great a sacrifice that Christ cried to His Father; My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? (Matthew 27:46).

Salvation is the free gift of God, but at what a price it was obtained. Then the Son of God sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. His sacrifice accepted by the Father so that we, who believe He died for us, can be "accepted in the beloved Son of God" and be seated with Him in the heavenlies forever more. Praise God!

___________________________________
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]

Running to Win
Part 1 of 4
By Pastor Ricky Kurth





"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (I Cor. 9:24).

Did you know that if you are a Christian, you are in a race? Imagine being in a race and not knowing it! When this writer turned 40, he realized he was in a race against time, and time was running out! It was time to get serious about life! As Christians, we too are in a race — not against each other, but against time, and time is running out! (Rom. 13:11-14). Its time to get serious about the things of the Lord!

While the ancient Olympic games were held in Olympia, the Isthmian games were held in Corinth, and so Paul was using an analogy, the details of which these Corinthians understood, but which must be explained to us. For instance, the "prize" they raced for was not Roman citizenship; you had to be a citizen in order to compete in these games. Likewise, Paul is not speaking about racing for heavenly citizenship, for you must be saved in order to compete in this race. Additionally, it is said that participants in the Isthmian games had to be free of all legal entanglements. If a man were guilty of a felony, or even up on charges, he could not compete. Thank God, grace has freed us from all legal entanglements! We are "free from the law," and cleared of all charges by the blood of Christ!

At the Olympic or Isthmian level, no runner would even think about taking a step backward during a race, for such a step would take you in a direction opposite of your goal! And so it is when you sin, you take a step backward from your goal, and you are losing ground spiritually! Then too, no runner would think of taking a step sideways, for every runner knows that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Sometimes Christians ask if it's acceptable for God's people to watch TV, gamble, or engage in other such marginal activities. While such things are not always wrong, they are often steps sideways, and won't help you win the race at the eternal level.

The writer of Hebrews seemed to understand this too. He challenges us to "run with patience the race that is set before us" (12:1), and his advice is to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us." Obviously the weights he has in mind are not sins, for he mentions them separately. Doubtless he was thinking of these marginal issues, things that are not steps backward, but things that will weigh you down and make it more difficult for you to run the race successfully.

This writer was once working as a house painter in an apartment building that had two sidewalks that led to the door. Since trips back and forth to the truck for equipment take time — and time is money — pacing had to be employed to determine which was the shorter route! But in the race in which we are engaged as Christians, time is much more important than money. Thus it behooves each of us to examine our Christian lives and cast aside any extra weight, straighten out the curves, and eliminate all steps backward and sideways.

When Peter walked on the water through the storm to our Lord, do you think he meandered hither and yon to admire the crashing waves and great ocean swells? Hardly! No doubt the raging sea caused him to set a straight course for the Lord. May the storms that rage in your life cause you to do the same!

Peter's experience teaches us another valuable lesson, "for when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid" (Matt. 14:30). In order to see the wind, he must have taken his eyes off the Lord, and the writer of Hebrews tells us that we should always be "looking unto Jesus" (12:2). Runners know they must focus on the goal. Sin and marginal issues are a distraction that cause us to take our eyes off the prize!

___________________________________
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]

Running to Win
Part 2 of 4
By Pastor Ricky Kurth



Our Lord is described here in Hebrews 12:2 as "the author and finisher of our faith." Many race courses are straight lines, and the starting line is different than the finishing line. Obviously, Hebrews 12:2 speaks of the more circular form of race course, where the starting line is the same as the finishing line, for our Lord is the beginning of the Christian life, but He is also the goal!

But while Christ is our goal, what specifically are we racing for? I'm glad you asked! God doesn't expect you to engage in a race for an unknown prize. Philippians 3:14 says:

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

So what is "the prize of the high calling of God"? Well, before we can determine what "the prize of the high calling" is, we must first define "the high calling of God." Paul speaks here of our high calling as opposed to Israel's low calling. While believers in Israel were promised an earthly hope, believers today are promised a heavenly hope. Thus Israel's hope is a low calling only in a geographical sense.

But what then is "the prize of the high calling"? Again, we find the answer when we compare what we have to what Israel has. The prize of Israel's low calling was greater opportunity to rule and reign with Christ on earth. The twelve apostles were promised thrones in Christ's earthly kingdom (Matt. 19:28 ), and faithful Jews in general will be rewarded with authority over the peoples of the Gentiles (Luke 19:17,19). As the parable in Luke 19 indicates, the extent of their reign will be in direct proportion to the extent of their service. What then is "the prize of the high calling"? Surely it is the extent of our reign with Christ in the heavens, which will be in direct proportion to our faithful service for Him.

To win this prize, Paul says that he concentrated on "one thing" (Phil. 3:13). Before 1871, D. L. Moody was interested in many things: the YMCA, social issues, Sunday School work, etc. But after the great Chicago fire devastated his city and took many lives, he determined to focus on one thing—evangelism! Similarly, there are many issues that Christians today can be distracted by: politics, protesting abortion and gay rights, etc. But let us, like God Himself, focus on one thing, and work with Him to "have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (I Tim. 2:4).

But after we extend a lifetime of effort in this race, can it be that only "one receiveth the prize" (I Cor. 9:24)? No, Paul offers this by way of contrast to the way participants in the Isthmian games were rewarded. How heartening to read Paul's words earlier in this epistle, where he speaks of how when "the Lord come...then shall every man have praise of God" (I Cor. 4:5). His words in Chapter 9 are given to encourage us to run as if only one were going to receive the prize, that is, with the same intensity as the Isthmian runners.

"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible" (I Cor. 9:25).

Here Paul turns our attention from the racetrack to the Isthmian wrestling arena. We know from Ephesians 6:12 that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places," the demons that currently reign in the heavens, fallen angels who aren't looking forward to members of the Body of Christ taking their place. We must wrestle against the "doctrines of devils" (I Tim. 4:1) that these rulers of darkness teach. We must try to enlighten those whom they would keep in spiritual darkness.

___________________________________
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]

Running to Win
Part 3 of 4
By Pastor Ricky Kurth




As we strive, we must remember to be "temperate" or moderate in all things. Pastor Stam's father was a workaholic city missionary. He died a premature death, and Pastor Stam never forgot this lesson. He tempered his own ministry by occasionally taking time out for his diversions, which included photography, chess, and other interests.

The Isthmian wrestlers strove for "a corruptible crown," a leafy laurel that time would corrupt in just a day or two. But we strive for an "incorruptible" crown. Today we often use the word "corruption" to apply to government, when elected officials abuse the public trust. Thank God, when we receive our crowns and begin to rule and reign with Christ, there will never be any corruption in our heavenly government, as there was ages ago when a third of the angels abused God's trust and corrupted the government in the heavens.

"I therefore so run, not as uncertainly, so fight I, not as one that beateth the air" (I Cor. 9:26).

As we run this race with Paul, there are three things we are not uncertain about. First, we are not uncertain about our salvation, for as we said, we are not competing for heavenly citizenship. Second, we are not uncertain about our rewards. We trust God when He says that every man shall have praise of Him. Lastly, we are not uncertain as to the rules of the game. The rules in professional football have changed over the years, and one thing is certain: if you play by the rules of a previous era, you'll be penalized! Likewise in the dispensation of grace, if you play by the rules that God gave to Israel, you are certain to be penalized!

When Paul says "so fight I," he has switched arenas again, this time to the boxing ring. Boxing is a studied art, but it all boils down to two essentials: hit, and don't get hit! A hard-hitting boxer who can't avoid his opponent's blows will not succeed. But an artful dodger who can't strike a blow is just as ineffective! As Christian boxers, some chant: "We don't smoke and we don't chew, and we don't run with them that do!" — but they don't do anything else either! They can dodge Satan's darts, but can't land a punch for the Lord. But we also have the opposite type, heavy hitters who are preaching and teaching and have the devil on the ropes, but who never learned to duck, and soon are down for the count, having disgraced their ministry by falling into sin.

Paul was not "one that beateth the air," and neither are we! The only time a boxer engaged in beating the air, or "shadowboxing," was when he was training, and you and I are never without an opponent! Our Berean Bible Institute students may be in training, but as far as God is concerned, they are already engaged in the conflict!

"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (I Cor. 9:27).

The phrase "keep under" is a peculiar phrase used only one other time in the Bible, and in a way that tells us precisely what Paul means. In II Chronicles 28:10, we read:

"And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you...."

___________________________________
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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