GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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GOD'S TIMETABLE
Part 2 of 4
By ~  Jack Trumm ~


ISRAEL'S YESTERDAY

So with an outstretched hand and tender nurturing, God led the children of Israel and cared for them. He sent His Son to them confirming the promises made unto the fathers. Some of the promises made unto the fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, etc.) were conditional. If they would be obedient, God would bless them, or if they disobeyed, He would punish them. However, God also made UNCONDITIONAL promises unto them, promises in which He would not take back. Among these was the promise that national Israel would be the instrument of blessing to the Gentile nations under the reign of Christ. Isaiah 60 and 61 describe this in detail, predicting a redeemed Israel, shining forth the glory of God, reigning over the rest of the nations as head.

Paul explains that God will fulfill this promise to them when He takes away her blindness, and takes away her sins in accordance to prophecy. Paul explains, "and so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11:26-27)

The cleansing and deliverance of Israel was the subject of every prophet which spoke, beginning with "Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken" (Acts 3:24), also John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ, and all of the apostles. This period of her cleansing can be summed up in the phase: "the great tribulation period". In the Old Testament it is referred to as: "the time of Jacob 's trouble ", and her "day of trouble ". (Jeremiah 30:7, Daniel 12:1, Zephaniah 1:15, Ezekiel 7:7) Paul the apostle called it "the day of the Lord", (I Thessalonians 5:12) John the apostle called it "the revelation of Jesus Christ". (Revelation 1:1)

But this terrible time of trouble has been put on 'hold' so-to-speak, "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in ". (Romans 11:25) God has chosen to reveal and dispense a Gentile dispensation first. He chose to set Israel aside temporarily, avoiding her, considering her an enemy for the sake of the Gentiles. He chose to bless the world thru her fall, taking out of the Gentiles a people without Israel's instrumentality. And so God has ushered in a Gentile dispensation in which He shows mercy and grace to all who come to Christ by faith. In fact, even an individual from the rebel nation Israel may receive the spiritual blessings of grace, but he must come to God in the avenue which the Gentiles now receive it, by grace through faith alone. For the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile is now broken down, the Israelites have lost their favored nation status, that covenant relationship. They must come to God with no merit of their own. Paul writes "even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy (the Gentiles) they also may obtain mercy (the Jews)." (Romans 11:31) Today, in the day of grace, they must come to God through the mercy and grace presently being shown to the Gentiles. Paul makes this declaration against national Israel as the Book of Acts closes, "Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it." (Acts 28:28 ) We are in a Gentile dispensation. Israel nationally is still being ignored (actually considered as an enemy of God) for our sakes. "as concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes." (Romans 11:28 )

God today is not answering Israel, for if He were to answer her, He would have to answer in His wrath for He still holds her responsible (nationally) for the rejection of His Son. It is spelled out by Paul in Romans 11:27 where it says, "when I shall take away their sins."

How long will the Gentiles continue to receive this blessed opportunity to approach God in this way, and enjoy this goodness? Paul answers this in Romans 11:25 by saying, "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in ". This tells us that God has a number in mind, a number which will bring Him to what He considers "fulness". Maybe there is only one more to be added to "the church which is His body" (Ephesians 1:22-23) before He comes to gather us to Himself. "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." (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Continued

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GOD'S TIMETABLE
Part 3 OF 4
By  ~ Jack Trumm ~



TOMORROW

Paul warned the Gentiles concerning the end of this blessed standing, saying "boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee" "well because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee goodness, IF THOU CONTINUE IN HIS GOODNESS, otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they (Israel nationally) abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again." (Romans 11:18,20-23)

Paul predicted that after "the fullness " of the Gentiles are come in, God will do just that-graft Israel in again. "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, "when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11:26-27) And then they will be that channel of blessing to the world, for Paul wrote that if setting Israel aside proved to be a blessing for the world, "how much more their fulness?" "now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, HOW MUCH MORE THEIR FULNESS?" "For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but LIFE FROM THE DEAD?" (Romans 11:12,15)

You may be thinking, well we Gentiles are blessed either way! In the end, yes, but in between time, NO! Because at this present time many restraints are in place in this world, restraints in which God Himself has in place. These seals of restraints will be removed during the great tribulation period which is to come after the last trump of grace. Some people look at wars, natural disasters, various pestilences, earthquakes, and Tsunamis as acts of God's wrath, but the Bible makes it clear that when God pours out His wrath, there will be no mistaking it for natural disasters, or the folly of men. God at that point will speak as He answers in His wrath, as it is written, ''Then shall he speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure." (Psalm 2:5)

It will be during "the great tribulation ", that time referred to as "Jacob's trouble", and her "day of trouble", that Israel is delivered, cleansed, redeemed, and grafted back in as God's favored nation. During the great tribulation the Book of Hebrews, the epistles to the circumcision, and the Book of Revelation will be much more than books "for our learning." For those writings will find direct obedience and application necessary for the believers in those coming days, as God will have moved on in His dealings with man from the grace He shows today, to His righteous judgment. Once the fulness of the Gentiles have come in, through obeying the gospel of the grace of God, and we are caught up together to meet the Lord in the air, the remaining Gentiles will find themselves in the "day of the Lord." The remaining Gentiles will find themselves in "the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Rev.  3: 10) As God removes the seals of restraints upon the "mystery of iniquity ", they will be deceived, tested, and judged "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." (II Thessalonians 2:7, 1:7-9)

With the restraints removed allowing the "mystery of iniquity" to do what he wants, those remaining Gentiles will be easily deceived. "And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be darned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (II Thessalonians 2:8-12)

So do you see it? God's dealings with mankind after the present Gentile dispensation will not be so gracious as they are now. God will have moved on from showing the attributes of the grace, mercy, and love which are in Christ Jesus to His other important attributes. He will have moved on to show "who is the ONLY Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who ONLY hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen." (I Timothy 6:15-16) Those who remain on earth after "our gathering together unto him" (II Thessalonians 2:1), if they are able to endure long enough, will experience the revelation of Jesus Christ as He shows "his wrath" and makes "His power known" upon "the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction." (Romans 9:22) The time will have come when God the Father fulfills His promise to His Son in which He said, "sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool". (Matthew 22:44)

Continued

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GOD'S TIMETABLE
Part 4  Conclusion
By ~ Jack Trumm ~


They will wish for the days of grace which we now have much like those Jews wail now at the Wailing Wall, wishing they could go back in time, but they cannot "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:21-22) "then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (I Thessalonians 5:3)

So, the Bible tells us what happened yesterday, what is happening today, and what will happen tomorrow. But what about you, friend? Have you obeyed the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ? Will you be among those of us who "shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump" of grace? (see I Corinthians 15:51-58 ) OR will you be among those who remain here to endure the most horrible time of testing man has seen or ever will see because you failed to accept God's gracious offer of salvation in the day of salvation? Evidently the fullness of the Gentiles is not "be come in" yet. You can be the next, and who knows, maybe the last Gentile to receive this blessing before the Gentiles are "cut off" again and God turns His attention back to the "natural branches" (the nation Israel) to graft them back in through the time called "Jacob's trouble." Receive the good news of God's grace. Take it to heart, and apply it to your soul. Jesus Christ died the death you and I deserve. He made complete satisfaction to God for your sins and mine. God is satisfied completely by His shed blood on the cross and through His death. We know this because He raised Jesus Christ from the dead to assure us of His satisfaction. But you must believe that this is the only way of salvation, and that it is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but rather it is by His grace and mercy He saves us today as a free gift through faith. Trust Him with your soul now. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. " (Galatians 3:13) "For he (God) hath made him (Jesus Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (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" (II Corinthians5:21-6:2)

Trust Him now while this gracious offer is still being made.

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REPROBATE CONCERNING THE FAITH
By DICK WARE, Pastor


Scripture Reading: II Timothy 3:6-9

In II Timothy chapter 3 , we see the characteristic of "the last days" of the Dispensation of Grace, is a spiritual decadence in mankind. Certain people are "reprobate concerning the faith," and are like Jannes and Jambres (Pharaoh's magicians), who were counterfeiters and resistors of the truth. The "reprobates" (disapproved) ones that are with us today: have a form of Godliness, but deny its power; take people captive; never lead to God's truth; resist the truth; are disapproved by God, and will Come to a sudden end, Godly believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are not told to work with these people, but to turn away from them (Vr. 5).

I believe "the truth" and "the faith" in our context, is "the Body of Truth for the Body of Christ", committed to the Apostle Paul. It's "the Truth of the Gospel" Paul rebuked Peter, for not being consistent with in Galatians, and what Paul also calls "my Gospel" in the same book. It's the "ONE FAITH" in Ephesians 4:5, which is "THE UNITY OF THE FAITH" in 4:13. In II Tim. 3:10, it is what Paul calls "MY DOCTRINE", and he is giving it as the answer to the confusion and division that plagues the Body of Christ. Notice however, that vr. 10 doesn't end with Paul's doctrine, but goes on to his "manner of life," etc.

Christians need to realize that Satan majors in religion. He has his "false apostles", "deceitful workers", "apostles of Christ" and "minister of righteousness" (II Corinthians 11:13-I5). These folks are definitely "reprobate (disqualified) concerning THE FAITH". Satan is opposing "the Body of Truth for the Body of Christ" committed to the Apostle Paul. It's sad to say, but some believers are also found counterfeiting and resisting this Body of Truth. Where do you stand concerning THE FAITH?

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THE TRUE CHRISTMAS STORY
By  the late Pastor Vernon A. Schutz


   The Christmas story is indeed true, but do you really know the true Christmas story?

   What do you see in the manger? For many the manger is filled with brightly colored ribbon girding a box wrapped neatly with beautiful Christmas paper. Others see tinsel, ornaments, spruce, cookies, candy and an assortment of other seasonal things. But empty the Crib of all of these, for they do not belong there, and see what the Crib really contains.

   Now that all has been taken away, what do you see? Do you see only a babe? It is sad how many know about this babe, but do not know who He is? Zacharias knew, for he praised God that He had visited His people (Lk. 1:68 ). Yes, this babe was God in flesh. This Jesus is Jehovah (Lk. 1:76); and His descent to earth was to deal with sins and their remission (vs. 77). Paul says, "Great is the mystery of Godliness: God was manifested in flesh." And of this Jesus he said, "Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever."

   Why should God take upon Himself human flesh? Ah, this is the Christmas story: the Crib and the Cross. His taking flesh at Bethlehem was only a means to an end, which end was Golgotha. This babe, God's eternal Son, Himself God, was born in order to die. The wooden Crib in Bethlehem in which He lay was to become the wooden Cross of Calvary on which He was to hang. We have heard and read often about His being born, but this is only the Christmas birth. God's Word always puts the Crib and the Cross together, and this makes the true Christmas story.

"He hath appeared (the Crib) to put away sin by sacrifice
of Himself" (the Cross), Heb. 9:26.
"The Son of man came ... (the Crib) to give His life a ran-
som for many" (the Cross), (Mk. 10:45).
"And ye know that He was manifested (the Crib) to take
away our sins" (the Cross), 1 Jn. 3:5.

On the night of His birth, the Shepherds praised God for a Saviour. A Saviour must be one who is capable of dying (God took flesh), yet at the same time one upon whom death has no claim (Christ was sinless). Christ died for us because we were incapable of paying the debt we owed to God's holiness. His holiness demands that sin be punished. Sin's penalty is death: physical, spiritual, and eternal. We could not pay it without being eternally ruined, so Christ redeemed us, i.e., He paid our debt (damnation) on the Cross. Only God Himself could satisfy the demands of His holiness without being eternally ruined, but only man owed the debt. None could pay it but God; none owed it but man. Therefore, if the debt were to be paid, it must be God that pays it; but it must be God as man, since it is man alone who owed it. Would God Himself, because of His love for us, bear the penalty of our sin? Yes! God became man at Bethlehem's Crib, in order to become our Saviour at Calvary's Cross. God took flesh (the Crib) and died for us (the Cross) so that whosoever puts his trust in this for the remission of his sins should never perish but have eternal life.

   Remember, the Bible is God's Word to us. He cannot and will not lie. Take Him at His Word. Read these Scriptures and believe what He says:

"To Him (Christ) give all the prophets witness, that
through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall
receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43).

"Through this man (Jesus) is preached unto you, the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified from all things" (Acts 13:38,39).

   Do not just believe about Christ as a historical figure, but believe on Christ as a personal Saviour. Believe on Him as the only way you can be saved.

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

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none
other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved." (Acts 4:12).

   The Crib was the preparation necessary to accomplish the wondrous plan of redemption. His holy, sinless life was the prelude to becoming the spotless lamb to be slain for our sins.

   The Cross and its suffering was the purpose for which He came into this world. There He bore our sins "in His own body on the tree." The condemnation we deserve He suffered, "the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God."

   The Crib and the Cross give us the true Christmas story. May it bring true joy to your heart at this important season of the year.

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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FREE FROM THE LAW
Living Under Grace
Part 2 of 4
By Richard Jordan


FREE FROM THE LAW

Gal. 4:1,2 demonstrates the twofold use of the law:

"Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

"But IS UNDER TUTORS AND GOVERNORS until the time appointed of the father."

A "tutor" is one who teaches, while a "governor" is one who controls, restricts and restrains. These are the two basic functions of the law: to stop or control sin and/or to teach how to bring forth fruit that would be acceptable to the justice of God.

To thus use the law, however, only demonstrates our own inadequacy, for the problem with the law is really the problem with us---it points out our inability. As Rom. 8:3 reminds us:

" .. WHAT THE LAW COULD NOT DO, IN THAT IT WAS WEAK THROUGH THE FLESH ... "

The only answer to the condemnation of the law is to deal with sin by some other means.

The law can never stop sin in our lives simply because sin is there. Rather the law makes sin active and alive for "by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20). Thus Rom. 7 tells us:

"For when we were in the flesh, THE MOTIONS OF SINS, WHICH WERE BY THE LAW, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death."

"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I HAD NOT KNOWN SIN, BUT BY THE LAW: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

"But SIN, TAKING OCCASION BY THE COMMANDMENT, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. FOR WITHOUT THE LAW SIN WAS DEAD.

"For I WAS ALIVE WITHOUT THE LAW ONCE: BUT WHEN THE COMMANDMENT CAME, SIN REVIVED, AND I DIED.

"And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

"For SIN, TAKING OCCASION BY THE COMMANDMENT, DECEIVED ME, AND BY IT SLEW ME."

"For we know that THE LAW IS SPIRITUAL: BUT I, AM CARNAL, SOLD UNDER SIN" (Rom.7:5,7-11,14).

It is our identification with Christ at Calvary that frees us from sin. In Rom. 6 our freedom from sin is based squarely on the fact that we have been crucified with Christ:

"Knowing this, that OUR OLD MAN IS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM [CHRIST], THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DESTROYED, THAT HENCEFORTH WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN.

"FOR HE THAT IS DEAD IS FREED FROM SIN" (vs.6,7).

In Rom. 7 we learn that this same identification with Christ at Calvary has also made us free from the law:

"Wherefore, my brethren, YE ALSO ARE BECOME DEAD TO THE LAW by the body of Christ. .. "

"BUT NOW WE ARE DELIVERED FROM THE LAW, THAT BEING DEAD WHEREIN WE WERE HELD; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter" (vs. 4,6).

To be "free from the law" means that Christ has delivered us from trying to "be good" in order to be accepted by God. No longer is it necessary to be under external enactments, under conditions of performance and duty. "In Christ" we already have an eternal standing in grace---have already secured Divine favor, by a sovereign act of God which has not only reckoned to us Christ's redeeming work but has placed us fully in His present acceptance with God!

This deliverance from the law gives us liberty from sin's dominion in the details of our lives. The relationship between sin and the law is explained in I Cor. 15:56,

" ... THE STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW."

Our problem all along has been sin---and the law points out sin on its every occurrence, thus condemning us. Having been made free from sin through the cross-work of Christ, however, the law has lost its job, as it were. Thus the cross also makes us free from the law:

"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" (Col. 2:14).

Since the cross has so effectively dealt with sin, should we then use the law for its other purpose---to motivate us to live in a godly manner? Let's see.

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FREE FROM THE LAW
Living Under Grace
Part 3 of 4
By Richard Jordan


LIVING UNDER GRACE


Paul declares that it is grace that teaches and motivates the believer today to "maintain good works."

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, "TEACHING US THAT, DENYING UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY, in this present world" (Tit. 2:11,12).

Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness---to stop sin in our lives---and to live soberly, righteously and godly---to bring forth fruit that will please God.

Paul says, "By the grace of God I am what I am" (I Cor. 15:10), and we need to discover in our lives what this means. It is grace that produces results, whereas law-keeping makes only for frustration. The gospel of the grace of God liberates us into a life of service for Christ and if it were truly understood it would electrify present-day Christianity. The problem of our present time is that the Church preaches a message that is little more than warmed-over Judaism rather than the liberty that comes from faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross.

Let's understand this clearly: The Christian life is not earning credits and blessings from the Lord. Instead it is the grateful response to what He has already done for us in that He has given us everything in Christ. Rom. 8:32 sets forth our confidence:

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, HOW SHALL HE NOT WITH HIM ALSO FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?"

The little word "for" in the middle of Rom. 6:14 is intriguing. We believe both parts of the verse---but why this "for"? The answer is the key to the Christian life: for the believer, being under grace brings about what all his legal efforts could never attain. Thus it is all important to discern what it means to be "under grace."

The answer is repeated over and over in Paul's epistles: it is discovering that we have everything in Christ, believing it and resting in it.

We must never believe that these truths are merely abstract doctrines that have no relevance to our lives. The motivation for the marvelous ministry committed to our trust grows out of the great joy that comes when the truths of grace grip the heart. A clear understanding of and confidence in the grace of God is the only way to success.

GRACE WORKS

Grace is not against good works! It simply does not bless on the basis of good works. We receive blessing from God based solely on the merits of His Son---blessings freely given to us in Christ and nowhere else. The completeness that is in Christ means deliverance from trying to "be good" and "do right" in order to be accepted by God.

Never think for a moment, however, that good works are not important to grace. We must learn that grace is God's way both in salvation and the Christian life. It is the modus operandi for the Christian life. The good works the law demanded, grace produces.

The law demands good works and uses its terror---rejection, shame, fear of punishment, unanswered prayer, personal tragedy, etc.---as motivation. Here performance is a necessity to secure the blessings and avoid the curses.

Grace, on the other hand, allows us to serve on a different basis---not from fear but on the basis of love and gratitude, from appreciation and gladness for blessings freely given and freely received.

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


This is the fundamental difference between the way law and grace produce results: the reason for doing the good works under law is different from the reason for doing them under grace. Two familiar passages well illustrate this:
Consider first, Matt. 6:14,15.

"For IF YE FORGIVE men their trespasses, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU:

"But IF YE FORGIVE NOT men their trespasses, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES."

The motivation to perform the good work of forgiving others is quite clear: If a person forgives others, then they will also be forgiven. If not---then there is no forgiveness for them. This is the law principle and its motivation.

Now contrast this with Eph. 4:31-32:

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and damour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST'S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU."

This is the program of grace---we do the same good work but for a different reason. Rather than being against good works, grace motivates and produces good works---but it produces them for a different reason than the law does.

Under grace we serve simply as the natural response of who we are in Christ. Are we to forgive one another because they perform up to our expectations-because they confess their wrong or make restitution? No. We forgive because by faith we are free to live consistently with who we are in Christ, simply out of gratitude.

As we rejoice in an understanding of how God values and esteems us in Christ, that understanding will motivate us to serve one another. Gal. 5:13,14 instructs us:

"For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not Iiberty for an occasion to the flesh, but BY LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER.

"FOR ALL THE LAW IS FULFILLED IN ONE WORD, EVEN IN THIS; THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF:'

Thus as we live "under grace" we are able to produce the very good works that the law demanded ---but which we were not able to accomplish under that system (Gal. 3:10).

A knowledge of the love of God so clearly demonstrated for us in Christ is His powerful motivation to encourage us to godly living and faithful service. It is the love of Christ which constrains us---not our love for Him, but His love for us. This is the motive of gratitude and appreciation. Our lives are lived simply as a "thank you" in response to God's unspeakable gift.

Sometime ago the writer witnessed an illustration of the power of love to motivate which all can understand: On the TV screen was a burning house. A young mother was in the front yard while her two small children were on the second floor, which was consumed with fire and smoke. Two big firemen were trying to restrain the little mother as she struggled to break free from them.

Finally, in a burst of energy, she escaped their grip and ran into the flaming house to her death. While newsmen asked the TV camera, "Why did she do such a thing?" everyone viewing knew the answer.

Was it some city ordinance requiring parents to care for their children that sent that mother into the flames? Hardly! Rather it was a motivation that simply would not be denied---a mother's love. There is no other motivation like it---except the love of Christ. Thus Paul declares that "the love of Christ constraineth us" (II Cor. 5:14).

Knowledge of God's love for us in Christ is His powerful motivation to encourage us to present our bodies as living sacrifices. To view Rom. 12:1,2 as a command is utterly wrong. It is to make a law of grace. Paul beseeches by the "the mercies of God, " which will bring about a submissive heart. Vows cannot obtain this. Even if they could, the sacrifice would not be acceptable to God, for "though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. "

How can this powerful motivation of love be produced in our lives? Paul has told us, "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom. 5:5). The Holy Spirit and the Word of God always go together. It is as we look into the Word of God and learn the details of all that has been accomplished in Christ that we can rest by faith in God's amazing grace. It is our faith resting in the facts of Calvary that allows the Holy Spirit to empower those truths to transform our lives----thus the word of God "works effectually in you that believe. "

The Church will realize the greatness of its potential when it discovers not new methods but the message it professes to believe. It is grace that sets us free from the frustration of the performance system of the law.

We are made capable in our service for Christ in our own right when we see ourselves as children of God, set free from the bondage of the law and brought into the glorious liberty of the sons of God---this by understanding His grace.

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THE SOURCE OF EVIL
By Pastor Bob Hanna


One of the most frequently misquoted passages of Scripture is I Timothy 6:1O. The phrase so often thus abused is quoted as saying, "Money is the root of all evil." The actual meaning of the verse is totally lost when so interpreted. Accurately read, the statement says, "The love of money is the root of all [manner of] evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." That it is the love of money, not money itself, that is the subject of this passage, becomes clear when we read on, as the apostle writes, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good  works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (I Timothy 6:17-19). God doesn't decry material wealth per se. But He encourages generosity and spiritual investment on the part of those possessing physical treasure. God discourages the wealthy from pride in their wealth. God said, "Let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord" (Jeremiah 9:23,24).

The apostle Paul consistently endured poverty, for the sake of his ministry, though not shunning the advantages of physical prosperity. He didn't spurn the comforts provided by opulence, but they held second place to service to his Lord and Savior. He wrote, " I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" (Philippians 4:11,12).

Paul had been a man of means in his career in the Sanhedrin. "I profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation" (Galatians 1:14.) "I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:8 ).

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TRUE LIBERTY
by C. R. Stam


As true Americans celebrate their liberty, true Christians should rejoice in the even greater liberty which they have in Christ.

Our Lord said: "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" and "If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:32,36). Likewise St. Paul declares that believers in Christ have been made "free from sin" and have become "servants to God," who deals with us in grace (Rom. 6:22).

It is strange that so many sincere religious people actually wish to be in bondage to the Mosaic Law, which can only judge and condemn them for their sins. Peter called the law: "a yoke... which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear" (Acts 15:10). Paul called it "the handwriting of decrees, that was against us, which was contrary to us" (Col. 2:14). He called it "the ministration of death" and "the ministration of condemnation" (II Cor. 3:7,9).

He challenged those who "desired" to be under the law:

"Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?" (Gal. 4:21).

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them" (Gal. 3:10).

Thank God, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). Man always responds better to grace than to law. The law was "added because of transgressions" (Gal. 3:19). "By the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20). But Christ died for our sins and now true believers serve God from gratitude and love. Hence Rom. 6:14 says: "Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law but under grace." Since Christ has redeemed us from the law (Gal. 4:5) God says to every true believer:

"Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Gal. 5:1).

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DEITY IN THE PERFECT HUMANITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
PART 1 OF 4
BY RUSSELL S. MILLER



Those who should know better are propagating a false doctrine that places doubt on the Deity of Christ. They have now come to the erroneous conclusion that our only Saviour, Jesus Christ, could have sinned! Mind you, He didn't of course, but they say He could have! This doctrine is not only erroneous, it is also heresy, and precious souls are being led astray.

Furthermore those who propagate such teachings plainly reveal that they do not believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ; nor do they know, or understand, the purpose of God in entering the stream of humanity through the Virgin Birth.

If Christ could have sinned then He was no different than the first Adam, and His sacrifice was no better than the Mosaic system, and we are yet in our sins! It is WE rather who inherited Adam's sin, and Adam's sinful nature, and not the Lord Jesus. He was no sinner. Adam's sinful nature was NOT transferred to Him. There was none of Adam's sinful blood coursing through His veins. Thus the purpose in the Virgin Birth of Christ is fulfilled. He lived the perfect sinless life before the world. Consequently, at Calvary, He could take our sin-that Adamic nature-upon Himself, and bear our sin on the cross. As Paul states in II Corinthians 5:21, Christ was "made sin for us" at Calvary, Christ, who "knew no sin; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM." But not only did the Lord Jesus take our sin upon Himself, Paul further declares that "CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS." He took our SINS upon Himself also, when He died upon that cross. Thus in Paul's epistle to the Ephesians we read these words concerning the Lord Jesus:

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph.1:7).

Plus, His resurrection from the dead is a clear declaration that there was not one fraction of a possibility that our Lord Jesus Christ could have sinned.

In Hebrews 7:26 we read these words concerning the Lord Jesus Christ: "For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and MADE HIGHER THAN THE HEAVENS" (Heb.7:26).

It is therefore not a question of whether or not Christ could have sinned-what a horrible thought! It is rather a fact that Jesus Christ WOULD NOT sin. Lucifer rebelled, and sinned wickedly in departing from God to do evil and became the Devil. Adam and Eve sinned, and plunged the whole human race into sin (Rom.5:12). You and I sin! But Jesus Christ WOULD NOT sin. He "set His face like a flint" to bear our sins on Calvary's cross (Isa. 50:7; Luke 9:51; Heb.10:5-7).

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DEITY IN THE PERFECT HUMANITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
PART 2 OF 4
BY RUSSELL S. MILLER


In Isaiah 7:3 the prophet was told to go to Ahaz and to take his son with him, and this is a clear declaration that Isaiah's wife was not "the virgin" spoken of in Isaiah 7:14, for his son was already born and named "Shearjashub" (Isa.7:3), NOT Immanuel! And in Matthew 1:23 we have the quotation of Isaiah 7:14, "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which being interpreted is GOD with us" (Matthew 1:23), speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus the angelic announcement in Luke 2:13,14:

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

It is concerning Immanuel's birth, the birth of Jesus Christ, that the Apostle Paul writes these words in Hebrews 1:6:

"And again, when He bringeth in the Firstbegotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him" (Hebrews 1:6).

It is because GOD "CANNOT LIE" (Titus 1:2) that the Apostle pens these words, and in the same chapter, God the Father again speaks, showing that Christ IS God!

"But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom" (Hebrews 1:8 ).

Furthermore, the Apostle Paul ascribes the entire work of creation to the Son of God. "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands" (Hebrews 1:10).

In the first chapter of John's Gospel, and the first verse, are these words:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. "The same was in the beginning with God" (John 1:1,2) .

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

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DEITY IN THE PERFECT HUMANITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
PART 3 OF 4
BY RUSSELL S. MILLER


In the discourse, at the feast of tabernacles in John, Chapter 7, the Jews "marvelled" that the Lord taught with such grace and truth.

"For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matthew 7:29). The Lord spoke very boldly to these Pharisees that His "doctrine" was to do the will of God (John 7:16,17). And as they went about accusing Him of having "a devil" (7:20; 8:48,52; 10:20), notice His response to their wickedness in John 8:44:

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44).

The Lord was compelled to answer their bitter unbelief with such strong language because they, knowingly (John 15:22-24), would not accept Who He was.

Thus these words are written of God: "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" (James 1:13).

In the Apostle Paul's struggles to do the will of God he utters these words in Romans 8:3 concerning the perfect humanity of Jesus Christ, and His Deity:

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh."

The Lord Jesus was in "the likeness of sinful flesh" but He did not sin! There was no old Adamic nature in Him! It was on account of our sins, your sin and mine, it was "for sin" that God "condemned SIN in the flesh," and turned His back on His Son (Matthew 27:46) . The Lord Jesus wasn't just "found in appearance as a man," He was wholly man, and at the same time wholly God:

"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8 ).

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DEITY IN THE PERFECT HUMANITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
PART 4 OF 4
BY RUSSELL S. MILLER



"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS; of whom I am chief" (I Timothy 1:15).

"By the which Will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

"But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins FOR EVER, sat down on the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:10,12).

And not only would Jesus Christ not sin, He CANNOT sin, for He is GOD! See I John 3:9. Thus the perfect Man, the God Man Christ Jesus, offers a propitiatory sacrifice that satisfies God's holy Law forever.

The work of redemption was finished in Christ's sacrifice for sin, God was satisfied; salvation from sin was fully purchased, because Jesus Christ is the spotless, sinless, Lamb of God.

Now here is something to consider in light of the fact that "we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in His Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10).

Will this Athenian doctrine (Acts 17:19,21) that is being espoused bring others closer to the Lord? Or, are they being "carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Ephesians 4:14)?

Furthermore, in his Romans epistle the Apostle Paul states:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Romans 16:17,18 ).

Don't join their camp, nor invite such teachers into your church no matter how good of a speaker, but "reject" their teachings, and "avoid" them. "For ... they shall turn away their [your] ears from the truth, and [you] shall be turned unto fables" (II Timothy 4:3,4).

"A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; "Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself" (Titus 3:10,11) .