GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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~INEXPRESSIBLE JOY~
by C. R. Stam

Have you ever noticed that the Apostle Paul never speaks of his love for Christ? Rather he keeps talking about Christ's wonderful love to him. Neither does he exhort us to love Christ, but keeps telling us how Christ loved — and loves, us. This is consistent with the message specially committed to him: “The Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

The Law said: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God” (Matt.22:37). This is the very essence of the law. And we should love God, but the law cannot produce love, so God comes to us in grace and say: “I love you”. This is why Paul’s epistles are so filled with “the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom.8:29).

The fact that God deals with us in grace does not mean that believers should not, or do not, love Him. The very opposite is true, for love begets love. It is when men come to know the love of Christ that their hearts respond to him in love.

Peter, like Paul, had once been a strict observer of the Law, but had since come to know the love of Christ in growing measure. The result: A deep love for Christ and the overflowing joy that accompanies such love. This is why we find in I Peter 1:8 those touching words that naturally overflow from the heart and lips of one who has come to know the love of Christ: “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory”.

Yes, knowing and loving Christ does indeed bring inexpressible joy, but we cannot love him by trying. We must accept His love for us in faith so that our hearts may naturally respond.

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From Grace And The Truth Ministries
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 GIFTS OF THE SOVEREIGN GOD
By Pastor Paul, Hume

Scripture Reading: Eph. 4:7-16; 1 Cor. 12:4-11

Undoubtedly you have stopped to ask yourself, "Why is it that, one person is so mechanically inclined and another person---even in the same family--isn't? Why can one person be so musical and able to create music while another person can't carry a tune in a bucket? Why are some. naturally diligent and prosperous while others are so lazy and could care less about getting ahead in life? The only answer is that God, the giver of life and being to all men (Acts 17:29) has been pleased to thus distribute His talents in the natural realm--even though sin has ruined and perverted these natural gifts.
 
Likewise in the realm of those who are saved. All have the same salvation. All are indwelt equally with the same Holy Spirit. All have a new nature. All are loved by the Father. But His gifts have not been bestowed equally. These two passages ought to make this clear. Now, lest someone reasons, "I don't have any gift from God other than eternal life," let us note what Ephesians 4:7 states: "But in accordance with the measure of Christ's gift, His favor has been bestowed upon each of us." (Williams Trans. ) The grace mentioned in this verse does not refer to saving grace. Nor does it even refer to sanctifying grace. It clearly refers to serving grace!  Not all the members of the body of Christ have the same office or function, but all members of Christ have a function! I do not believe there is such a thing as a true believer who does not have some spiritual gift by which he can serve the Lord! True, only a few are called to be "evangelists, and pastor-teachers," but all have been gifted sufficiently to engage in "the work of ministering'" (Eph. 4:12, lit.)
 
Has God given you a spiritual gift? Yes, indeed He has! Do you know what it is? See also Romans 12:1-8 and I Peter 4:7-11 on this theme. True, the sign gifts such as healings, tongues, the working of miracles, and prophesying have passed away (I Cor. 13:1-13).  But other gifts remain, and it is your privilege and responsibility to find out what your gift' is. Then ask the Lord for the grace to so use that gift that He might be glorified and believers might be edified and sinners saved.

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From Grace And The Truth Ministries
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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~HANDICAPPED FOR CHRIST~
By M. Stanford



"My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in [your] weakness" (II Cor. 12:9) .


In self we are crippled; in Christ we conquer. The secret is to face up to the former, and rest in the latter. The disadvantaged believer has all the advantage - he knows it must be "not I, but Christ."

"It is a great step when the believer fully consents to his own weakness, and the abiding consciousness of it, and so works faithfully on, fully assured that his Lord is working through him. He rejoices that the excellence of the power is of God, and not of us. Realizing his oneness with his Lord, he considers no longer his own weakness, but counts on the power of Him of whose hidden working within he is assured.

"It is this secret assurance that gives a brightness to his look, and a gentle firmness to his tone, and a perseverance to all his efforts, which of themselves are great means of influencing those he is seeking to win. He goes forth in the spirit of one to whom victory is assured; for this is the victory that overcometh, even our faith. He no longer counts it humility to say that God cannot bless his unworthy efforts. He claims and expects a blessing, because it is not he, but Christ in him, that worketh. The great secret of abiding in Christ is the deep conviction that we are nothing, and He is everything." - A.M.

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God" (II Cor. 3:5).

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If this devotion has been a blessing to you,
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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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READY MY PLACE TO FILL
By Pastor Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: John 4:1-42; Acts 16:6-12

 There is a hymn which we seldom sing, yet its words fit the spirit of the suggested Scriptures for our meditation today:

"Ready to suffer grief or pain,
Ready to stand the test;
Ready to stay at home and send
Others, if He sees best.
Ready to go, ready to stay,
Ready my place to fill;
Ready for service, lowly or great,
Ready to do His will."

We observed yesterday that God the Holy Spirit under the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ sovereignly bestows His gifts. If you have read Acts 16:6-12 you will also notice that God sovereignly assigns the place of service. It was not in the sovereign will of God for Paul and Silas to enter into Bithynia and certain parts of Asia (Minor) to preach the gospel. That was for "another" man" (see Rom. 15:20). But it was the will of God for them to "go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them." What a ministry they had in that part of Greece! Later on it became the will of God (I am sure) for Paul to go to Rome by way of being a political prisoner! Some argue that Paul was out of God's will in his journey to Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-23;30). 1 don't believe he was, else the words of the Lord-- "Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also in Rome"--actually commend him for getting out of His will. No, Paul was in the will of God, for he had "a place to fill" in Rome!
 
What about you? What about me? You may not be a preacher or a missionary, but are you in God's place for you? You may be a "humble housewife," yet God has that "place" for you to represent Christ in. You may be a student at such and such a school, yet you are there not by chance but by Divine choice to represent Christ there! You may be a businessman or even an executive, yet God has you in this place so you can represent Christ there! Are you in your "place?"

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From Grace And The Truth Ministries
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 THREE WORDS FOR LOVE IN THE SCRIPTURES"

Our language is handicapped, for the Word "Love" must cover everything from puppy love and fornication to love of science and love of God. There are four words for it in Greek. Suppose we disentangle the confusion by considering three of the Greek Words.

THE FIRST WORD IS 'EROS' which stands for carnal love. This love is in the glands, rather than in the will, an emotion rather than a responsible dedication. Examples people who use people to further their own career, or helps them climb socially. This 'EROS' is also lustful love, I need you to satisfy my own desires.

THE SECOND WORD IS 'PHILEO' which is also translated love. It begins when there is a communication and respect between two persons. Such love is not just sympathy, but empathy. The difference between the two is that while in sympathy we feel compassion for one another, we always remain outside the one who needs help. Or another example is I love you because you do so many nice things for me. Or because you are so lovely, different from others, popular, wealthy, so famous, etc. This is called friendship love.

THE THIRD WORD IS 'AGAPE' this is reserved for total, sacrificial self-giving. This love is the wonderful message of the Bible that in Jesus Christ this kind of love first became available to man in satisfying fullness. The love that Christ brings to us from God is not the "if" kind of love. God does not say to us, "I will love you if you become a Christian." He loves Christian and non-Christians without any partiality. He does not say "I will love you if you are a good and moral person, if you go to church, if you give contributions to Christian causes, if you read the bible, if you pray, if you become a minister, etc." There are no "ifs" of any kind He loves us exactly as we are. He does not love us for what He can get out of us. There is no requirement we must meet, no condition to fulfill.  How can we prove this? The fact that Jesus died on the cross is the proof, Jesus, the son of God, He paid a high price for serving those who had nothing to return to him; He was criticized over and over. Then in obedience to God, He died on the cross for the SIN of mankind.

Even today the only source of this 'AGAPE' love is Jesus Christ, the Living Lord who died on the cross, and risen, who came to be your LIFE. He is the only one who can love others without seeking anything in return. Since, you are a new creation in Christ it is His life thru you that will love others and shine forth out of you.

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From Grace And The Truth Ministries
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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~EVERLASTING LIFE~
by C. R. Stam


Romans 8:2, when correctly read, is a most blessed passage of Scripture. To get the sense we should place a dash between the words "Spirit" and "of." Thus it would read: "For the law of the Spirit -- of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

When a sinner places his trust in Christ as Savior he is justified before the bar of God, because Christ’s death and righteousness are imputed to him. This is a judicial matter.

But at the same moment something else happens: the Spirit regenerates and gives new life (Tit. 3:5). This is a law, an inexorable, unchangeable law. The sinner who sincerely places his trust in Christ as Savior is given life by the Holy Spirit. It is always so; it is never otherwise.

I John 5:12 says: "He that hath the Son hath life...." John 3:36 says that "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" and Col. 3:3 declares that the believer’s life is "hid with Christ in God."

Thus the Apostle could say: "The law of the Spirit, [that of] life in Christ, hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Adam forfeited his life by sin, but the believer’s new life can never be forfeited, for this life is nothing less than the life of Christ, in whom the sinner has already died and paid for his sins -- and in whom he now stands perfect and complete before God.

It is a law, a fixed unchangeable law, that sin brings forth death (Rom. 5:12; 6:23; et al). This is called "the law of sin and death," but the believer has already died for sin in Christ and has been given new life by the Spirit. Thus "the law of the Spirit," that of "life in Christ," has made the simplest believer "free from the law of sin and death."

Thank God for "the law of the Spirit," everlasting life through the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins.

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A STEADFAST HEART
By Pastor Dick Ware


Speaking of the "upright" in Psalm 112:7-8 say: "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is FIXED, trusting in the LORD. His heart is ESTABLISHED, he shall not be afraid..." In other words, his spirit, soul, and body are in one accord, "in singleness of heart." His decision and conviction to trust and serve the Lord are firmly fixed. As to his position and practice in righteousness, he is immovable.

This upright person is controlled from the inside out by God. The heart or spirit (Ps. 78:8 ) is to be exerting authority and power over the mind and the behavior. "He who stands steadfast in his heart ....has power over his will.. (1 Cor. 7:37). "The heart or spirit is to tell the soul or mind what to think, then the mind gives the orders to the body. The outcome is a disciplined character and self-control. Therefore, "...Purify your hearts you double minded (James 4:8 ), "and" may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23)."

When it comes to "trusting in the Lord," the Bible also says concerning those who are of unstable and unfixed hearts; "..He who DOUBTS is like a wave of the sea DRIVEN AND tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a DOUBLE-MINDED man, UNSTABLE in all his ways (James 4:6-8 )." Notice his heart and mind are being moved from the outside. Satan delights in overthrowing the Christian in this way!

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, BE STEADFAST, IMMOVABLE, always abounding in the work of the Lord, KNOWING that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58 )!"

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~POWER TO OVERCOME~
by C. R. Stam


Every true Christian knows by experience that the Holy Spirit does not, upon saving us, take possession of us and thenceforth supernaturally cause us to live lives pleasing to God. Rather, as with salvation, so with the Christian life, He operates in the believer “by grace through faith”.

Powerful assistance to overcome sin is freely provided by grace, but this help must be appropriated by faith in each individual case. There is no blanket provision for continuous victory throughout our whole life. We must look to Him in faith for the help we need in each separate battle.

Thus the Scripture teaching with regard to victory over sin is not that it is not possible for the believer to sin, but rather that in any given case it is possible for him not to sin. Thus too, the question in times of temptation is generally whether we truly desire to overcome, for deliverance is freely provided by grace if we will but appropriate it by faith.

But just how is deliverance provided? The answer is: BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. No longer need the believer remain enslaved to sin; for the Holy Spirit within, who imparted spiritual life to begin with, will also impart strength to overcome temptation. When tried and unable even to pray as we ought, “the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities” and “maketh intercession for us” (Rom. 8:26). When weak and ill, we may be “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph.3:16). Indeed, the Spirit even strengthens God’s people physically to overcome sin, for we read:

“But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [strengthen] your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Rom. 8:11).

And the following verse goes on to say:

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh” (Rom.8:12). The thought is that, since believers have the Holy Spirit to help them overcome sin, they are debtors  -  and not to the flesh, but to God, to live pleasing to Him.

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THE FAITHFULNESS of OUR GOD
Part 1 of 2
By Pastor James R. Gray


God is faithful in all that He is and that He does. Moses once said, "Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God" (Deut. 7:9). The Apostle Paul reminds us that even "if we believe not, yet He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself" (II Tim. 2:13). Faithfulness is essential to His being and He cannot act contrary to Who He is or what He does. His faithfulness rests upon His very being. His omnipotence, truth, immutability, holiness, love and righteous justice are foundational to His faithfulness. He never forgets, fails, falters, or forfeits His word. Faithfulness is one of His glorious perfections and one of the great themes of the Bible.

The Apostle Paul is a great spotlighter of the faithfulness of God. In his epistles there are six declarations about God's faithfulness. God is faithful in all His relations with His own. It is not our faithfulness that is the focus, but God's faithfulness. In fact, God remains faithful in all of these areas, even when we do not.

GOD IS FAITHFUL TO SAVE

"Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it" (I Thess. 5:24). Believers are those who have responded to the call of God. This call was, first of all, to salvation. In II Thessalonians 2:13-14, Paul makes clear that salvation is the work of God. Our salvation is entirely due to the initiative of God. He chose us to salvation. However, God's choice did not automatically save us, it became a reality by the work of the Holy Spirit and belief of the truth. Believers are here contrasted with those who "did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness" (II Thess. 2:12).

We were called by the gospel of God's grace. The call of God involves receiving eternal life (II Tim. 1:9-10; 6:12; II Thess. 2:14). God in His grace calls men to salvation. It is His call that proceeds and inspires us to call upon Him (Rom. 10:12-13). Therefore, believers are called-out ones. We are called into one Body, the Church (CoI. 3:15). In fact, the word church is the Greek word ekklesia, meaning the called-out ones. We have not joined the church, Christ has joined us to His church and to Himself (1 Cor. 12:13). God is faithful to save those whom He calls (Rom. 8:29-30). He called us to salvation, and He is faithful to completely accomplish it.

GOD IS FAITHFUL TO SECURE

"Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (I Cor. 1:8-9). Believers are secure in Christ. God will "confirm you unto the end." The Greek word for confirm is bebaioo, meaning to fix, make sure, preserve. It denotes to "make firm or reliable so as to warrant security" (Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary, 331). God is faithful to secure us. We do not secure ourselves by works or any other means. Our security is completely in the hands of God. We will not present ourselves blameless in that day. He will present us "holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight" (Col. 1:22). the word blameless is a legal term in the Greek, indicating not merely to be unaccusable, but free from any charge. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1).

GOD IS FAITHFUL TO SAFEGUARD US

"But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil" (II Thess. 3:3). God is faithful to save and secure us for eternity. He is likewise faithful to safeguard us in this present age. The word keep is an interesting one. The Greek word is phulasso. Although keep is a true translation, the word is more colorful than what the English word brings out. It is a military term meaning to watch, guard, sentinel, or garrison. It implies conflict and armed protection against attack. God safeguards His own.

That which we are safeguarded from is evil, or the evil one. The text here could be translated either in the neuter: evil, or masculine: the evil one. Paul uses the word in both ways; for evil in general (Rom. 12:9; I Thess. 5:22) and of the evil one (Eph. 6:16). Most students prefer the masculine translation (the evil one) because of the context.

This does not mean that evil or the evil one will never touch us. Job knew what it was to be touched by the evil one. However, as J. Sidow Baxter observes:

Again and again Satan is allowed to attack; and, alas, all too often our outward human defenses are pierced; but inside those there is an invisible wall of fire around God's elect before which Satan is scorched and thwarted. He may penetrate right to that innermost citadel, ripping away everything else to get there, as he did in the case of the patriarch Job; but there he always reaches the impenetrable, and slinks back in discomfiture, while the Lord's beloved comes through wiser and stronger, even as gold tested and purified (Majesty: The God You Should Know, 207).

God safeguards us so "who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these thing we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:35-39).

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THE FAITHFULNESS of OUR GOD
Part 2 of 2
By Pastor James R. Gray


GOD IS FAITHFUL TO SANCTION

God is faithful to safeguard us, because He is faithful to sanction what He permits to occur. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Cor. 10:13).

Temptation is a persistent enemy to every believer. It never quits. It continually attacks morning, noon and night. It surrounds us, allures us, and tries to trip us day after day, month after month, year after year. When it comes to temptation, let us give careful consideration to the facts:

* God does not tempt us

The temptation we face never comes from God. James 1:13 warns us, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man." The author of all good cannot be the author of sin, nor can He tempt any of His creatures to sin. We cannot blame God for the temptation we face. The buck stops with us. James continues, "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (1:14). When we fall into sin from temptation is it no one's fault but our own.

* God does limit temptation

God will "not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able" (1 Cor. 10:13). The word suffer is the Greek word eao meaning to permit or allow. God will not allow us to be tempted above what we can handle. God controls the amount of temptation Satan may bring upon us. Our all knowing God will not allow us to be overloaded. Each of us has a maximum capacity that we are able to handle, with His help. He knows our maximum capacity and will not allow more than that. At the point of maximum capacity He will say "no more" Job 38:11). It is important to notice that this is based upon God's knowledge, not upon what we think we can handle. He knows our limits even when we do not.

* God always makes an escape from temptation

God promises to provide a way of escape. It does not matter what the temptation is (drink, drunks, depravity, whatever), all have a way of escape. Thank God that is always true. The words "way of escape" is one word in the Greek, ekbasis, meaning a way out. We do not need to be victims of our weaknesses, environment or circumstances. God is faithful! He has appointed a way out of any and every temptation we face.

It should be pointed out that the way of escape may not mean a doing away with the temptation, but enduring the temptation. Otherwise, the last phrase - "that ye may be able to bear it" - has little meaning. The phrase clearly refers to enduring the temptation without faltering because Christ is "able to succour them that are tempted" (Heb. 2:18 ). The word succour means to help, aid. God is faithful to aid us in temptation. Making us able to ride it out, to go through it, and to bear it while we're enduring, thus coming out victorious. We can have victory over any temptation.

Notice also that the temptation and the way out come at the same time. When the temptation begins, the way out or the means to endure is available. The way of escape is always present with the temptation. The two cannot be separated. God is faithful to sanction or limit the temptation we face and to provide a way out. It is up to us to take the way out. In reality, whatever way of escape God is faithful to provide in a particular trial, it will include dependence upon the sustaining power of God.

GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS SOLEMN WORD

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised)" (Heb. 10:23). God is reliable. He will do what He promised. His is faithful to His word. Because He is faithful to His word, we ought to be faithful to Him. We may prove to be unfaithful to our word, but God never fails to perform what He promised in His solemn word. It is impossible for Him to lie (Heb. 6:16-18 ).

GOD IS FAITHFUL TO PERFORM

"But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay .... For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us" (II Cor. 1:18,20). The translation of verse 18 is not the best. For one thing, the word as is not in the Greek text. Also, the word true is the same Greek adjective which in the other references is translated faithful. Therefore it is better translated, "God is faithful."

The context shows that God is faithful to perform His Word. God not only promises, He performs what He promises. God's promise is always crowned by His performance. God will do what He says He will do. God is faithful!

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THE SUPREME CRITIC
by C. R. Stam


About 1900 years ago St. Paul wrote to Timothy, with regard to the sacred Scriptures:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (II Tim.3:16).

This truth has been confirmed by overwhelming evidence, and those who have tried, through the centuries, to overthrow the Bible have been about as successful as a man trying to overthrow the Rock of Gibraltar with a pea shooter.

Furthermore, the Word of God towers above the clergy as well as above the laity. The Bereans were called "noble" because they put the words of even the great Apostle Paul to the test of Scripture, to see if he taught anything contrary to it.

That blessed Book is the Supreme Critic. If we overlook vital doctrine, it is the Book that will "teach" us. If we handle the Word deceitfully, it is the Book that will "reprove" us. If we go astray in our conclusions, it is the Book that will "correct" us. Where moral questions are involved, it is the Book that will "instruct us in righteousness." Well do we remember when we were first convicted by the Bible as the written Word of God -- and we have never ceased to thank God for the blessed results.

This Book condemns men as sinners before a holy God, but presents salvation free and complete through the vicarious death of Christ at Calvary.

"Christ died for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3).

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

" 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" (Rom 5:10)

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THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IN HIS ASCENSION
Part 1 of 2
by ~ Jack Trumm ~


The ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven is the final event of his fulfilling all righteousness on our behalf, from His:

1. Death on the cross
2. The shedding of His blood
3, His burial
4. His resurrection
5. His ascension

As we have seen what the previous four events have meant for all of mankind, let us review what our Lord's passion has done for us.

1. His death (He died our spiritual death) Romans 5:8 says, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

2. His shed blood (cleanses us from all unrighteousness) Romans 5:9 says, "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." In Ephesians 1:7 we read, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. And Colossians 1:14 says, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

3. His burial (our sin nature, or our old Adamic nature was buried with him.) Romans 6:4 it says., "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." And Colossians 2:12.
"··Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

4. His resurrection (God regards us as being just or innocent, free, or being made righteous.) Romans 4:25 says, "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

So this brings us to the final event of our Lord giving of Himself on our behalf, His ascension into heaven. Let's ask ourselves a few questions:

1. What does the word ascension mean?
2. How do we know our Lord ascended?
3. What does his ascension mean for us?

First. let's look at the word ascension or (ascend). What does the word mean, according to the Strong's Concordance? It means "to go up, arise, come up". So when we speak of our Lord's ascension, we are speaking of him ascending or going back up to heaven after his resurrection. So this brings up the second question. How do we know that our Lord ascended back into heaven? "And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven." (Luke 24:50-51) "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11) "Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things." (Ephesians 4:9-10)

[nChrist]

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THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IN HIS ASCENSION
Part 2 of 2
by ~ Jack Trumm ~


So then, what does his ascension mean for us? First, we must understand that no man ascended into heaven before our Lord. "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." (John 3:13) Seeing then that our Lord has ascended back into heaven, we too know that we will take part in this same ascension. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, tells us in II Corinthians 5:1-8, "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."  From this passage of scripture, we know that if our earthly house (that is our body) of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; and we also know that if we are absent from our body we are present with the Lord. Now in order to be with the Lord, (and he is ascended into heaven) then we too must ascend into heaven to be with Him. We know also from this passage that Paul is speaking of our soul and our spirit. So this then brings up the question, what about our body? What will happen to our body? Will it forever remain in the grave? Or will it rise up (ascend) from the grave? I Corinthians 15 : 51-52 says, "Behold I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." Also in I Thessalonians 4:13-18 it reads, " But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

So, we can see from these two passages that our bodies will rise up from the grave and ascend into heaven to be with the Lord forever. With all of this being said, this poses another question. To whom will this happen? Romans 3:22, says "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference." Also in I Timothy 4:10, "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.

This wonderful gift of salvation is offered to everyone; but, it is given only to those that believe. Believe what?

1. Believe God concerning our need. The holy, righteous standard for everlasting life is the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and we all come short of that. God has concluded all in unbelief and thru Paul says: "There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable, there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher, with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. " (Romans 3:1 0-18 )

2. Believe that Jesus's death and burial paid in full the penalty for sin. "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation" (Romans 3:25). "blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." "having made peace through the blood of his cross" "In the body of his flesh through death, to resent you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight." Colossians 1 :20, 22, 2:14)

The religious world would tell us we have to work for our salvation, but God's word says in Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Also in Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." And in Ephesians 2:8-9, it tells us, "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."

So then with all of this being said, I would ask the reader, to whom or to what are you putting your trust for salvation? If it is in your efforts that you are relying on, or your own righteousness, you will come short because in Romans 3:21-24, Paul declares that Jesus Christ is the only righteous one and we all come short of it. But His death through shedding His blood justifies us freely, today, by His Grace. "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe, for there is no difference. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

So this again leaves us with one option, we must put our faith (or belief) in the five events of the cross of Christ. Have you done that? What better time than now. II Corinthians 6:2 says, "For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

[nChrist]

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Led  by the Spirit
Part 1 of 4
by Dennis Kiszonas


But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:18

With this simple statement the Apostle Paul taught one of the most important principles for living the new life in Christ. Transformation, a changed life, begins here with the ministry of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life. We are changed by a person who has come to live in us permanently.

Receiving the Holy Spirit

Since the Holy Spirit is a "spirit," He cannot be felt, seen, touched. He is spiritual and not able to be sensed by physical senses.

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.  John 3:8

We can see & hear the effects of the wind, but we cannot see the wind itself. So with the Holy Spirit, we can see His effects, but we are not capable of directly sensing Him. For this reason there are many unscriptural ideas about the Holy Spirit. We must walk by faith here and believe what the scriptures teach about the Holy Spirit, rather than trying to actually see or feel his presence.

Paul writes to the Galatians that all believers are led by the Spirit. He came to live in us at the moment that we put our faith in the Lord Jesus as our Savior:

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? Galatians 3:2

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Galatians 4:6

We received the Spirit by the ''hearing of faith" ---that is, when we believed the gospel, we received the Holy Spirit into our lives. When we became sons of God, He sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. In the dispensation of grace that we read about in Paul's epistles, there is no believer who does not have the Holy Spirit. And we don't have to wait to receive Him, He comes into our hearts as soon as we believe the gospel.

[nChrist]

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Led  by the Spirit
Part 2 of 4
by Dennis Kiszonas


The Spirit's Leading

When the Holy Spirit entered in, He came to ''lead'' us. We often hear people saying things like, "The Spirit led me to do something," or "God led me to go somewhere." But this is not the idea that Paul is writing about in Galatians 5:18 because these experiences are just occasional, sporadic events in the believer's life, but the leading of the Holy Spirit is a constant experience. The Holy Spirit doesn't lead us only in rare occasions, but at all times.

It is helpful to put two verses side by side to see the point that Paul is making here:

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:18

.......for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14

Both verses state that we are "not under law." One says, in contrast to being under law, that we are "led by the Spirit." The other that, in contrast to being under law, that we are "under grace." To be under grace is to be led by the Spirit, and to be led by the Spirit is to be under grace. Not passing, occasional experiences, but comprehensive descriptions of the Christian life today in the dispensation of grace.

We are not under law---not under a system in which blessings are earned by obedience and curses received for disobedience (this was God's plan for the nation of Israel, see Deuteronomy 28 for a full exposition of the operation of ''law.'') We do not earn our blessings a little at a time by obeying God because under grace we were blessed totally, with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, when we believed the gospel (Ephesians 1:3). And as for curses, the Lord Jesus became a curse for us on the cross (Galatians 3:13). There is no curse for us today.

Under grace we are completely released from the system of earning blessings or fearing curses, we are "loved." Instead of a system of law, we are given the Holy Spirit who leads us under grace. We do not always follow Him, but He is leading us every moment under grace.