GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATIONAL 1

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~Daily Inspirational ~ ~THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT~ MAY 30, 2005


~THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT~

"The Sword of the Spirit... is the Word of God" (Eph. 6: 17). Of all the spiritual armor which believers are told to "put on" in Eph. 6:11-18, there is only one offensive weapon. This is "the Sword of the Spirit... the Word of God."

The Bible is called "the Sword of the Spirit," because the Spirit of God is its Author. It is called "the Sword of the Spirit" because, thus written by God who knows all, it can cut deeply. This makes it, for the believer, a formidable weapon against Satan and the forces of evil. We are told in Heb. 4:12,13:

"The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."

As David said long ago:

"O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me.
"Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest
my thought afar off" (Psa. 139:1,2).

It is because God knows and understands us so thoroughly that His Word can sometimes cut us so deeply. How wise, then, to bow before that Blessed Book, acknowledge its condemnation of sin and trust the Savior it presents! And, having done this, how wise to "put on the whole armor of God" in our stand against Satan and sin, not forgetting to "take... the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God"!
By C. R. Stam

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

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

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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~Daily Inspirational ~ ~GLORIOUS PROSPECT~ JUNE 1, 2005


~GLORIOUS PROSPECT~

To the true Christian one of the most wonderful passages in the Bible is Eph. 2:7, where we read of God’s purpose, "That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." This passage appears the more wonderful when viewed in the light of its context.

Verses 2-6 tell how we were all once the "children of disobedience," and therefore "by nature the children of wrath,even as others." But then we read those wonderful words of hope, "But God."

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love wherewith He loved us..."  And the next verses tell how He has taken believers in Christ from the lowest position of condemnation and wrath and given them the highest place of favor and blessing in Christ at His own right hand in the heavenlies.

The simplest, humblest believer in Christ has been given this position in the heavenlies, for God no longer sees him in himself, but in Christ, who died for his sins. This is why St. Paul so often writes about "those who are in Christ Jesus."

It is for the believer now to occupy this exalted position, to appropriate by faith the "all spiritual blessings" which  are his in Christ (See Eph. 1:3). Like Paul, he may be lifted by grace, through faith, above the troubles and sorrows of "this present evil age" and enjoy his position and blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. And even this is not all, for looking far ahead to the future the Apostle, by divine revelation, goes on to say (in Eph. 2:7) that God has done this all for us, "that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
By C. R Stam

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

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

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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~Daily Inspirational ~ ~GOD'S ANSWER TO UNBELIEF~ June 2, 2005


~GOD’S ANSWER TO UNBELIEF~

The resurrection of Christ is God’s answer to unbelief. The changed attitudes of His followers who saw Him alive after His crucifixion and the revolution in the life of Paul, who saw Him "last of all," rank high among the "many  infallible proofs" of His resurrection. Cowards were made bold, doubters believed, the sorrowing were made glad, the pitiless persecutor became His devoted follower. The broken Roman seal, the empty tomb, the failure of the enemies  of Christ to produce the dead body and a hundred other facts add their testimony in confirmation of the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ has been "declared to be the Son of God with power... by the resurrection from the dead" (Rom. 1:4).

The resurrection of Christ assures us that His payment for sin is all-sufficient and complete, for "when He had by Himself purged our sins [He] sat down on the right hand of  the Majesty on high" (Heb. 1:3). "For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Heb. 10:14).

Next, the resurrection of Christ gives us a living Savior. Comparing the Old Testament priests with Christ, Heb. 7:23-25 says:

   "And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them."

The resurrection of Christ is also the pledge of the believer’s resurrection in glory. In I Pet. 1:3 the Apostle Peter breaks out in a doxology:

   "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

And our Lord Himself said what no other could possibly say: "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). Finally, the resurrection of Christ is a warning to the world of judgment to come:

   "Because [God] hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained: whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).

  "Now is the accepted time" (ll Cor. 6:2). "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).
By C. R. Stam

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

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

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

Click Below For FREE Email Subscription:
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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~Daily Inspirational ~THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE~ June 9, 2005


~THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE~

"...the gospel... is come unto you, as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth" (Col. 1:5,6).

How wonderful to see the gospel of the grace of God do its work! Paul had never even seen the Colossians. He had only sent missionaries to them from Ephesus with the good news of the grace of God, but this had produced amazing results.

Wherever the gospel of the grace of God is preached in its purity it produces results. No one hearing that message can go away the same. Either he will consider it utter foolishness and be hardened by it, or he will see its vital importance and be softened by it. Ultimately he will either be eternally condemned, or eternally saved and justified by his response to that message.

"The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (I Cor. 1:18). "Christ crucified... unto them which are called... the power of God and the wisdom of God" (I Cor. 1:23,24). "The power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth" (Rom. 1:16).

Mark well: it is "the gospel of the grace of God," the "preaching of the cross," that produces such results. The law of Moses never did, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh," God sent His Son to accomplish for us (Rom. 8:3,4). This is why Paul proclaimed, at Antioch of Pisidia:

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

God’s message to us is a message of love, proclaiming to even the vilest sinner that he may be "justified freely by [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).
By C. R. Stam

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

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

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

Click Below For FREE Email Subscription:
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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~Daily Inspirational~ Forgiven or Not? June 10, 2005


“Forgiven or Not?” - Part 1 of 3
by Thomas Nitz

The other night while having dinner with some very good friends, the subject of confessing our sins to be forgiven came up. It startled me to wonder how this subject became so misunderstood in the Christian family. It also showed me how paralyzing a topic like this could be to an individual’s life. To help better understand this topic we need to go to the source of truth and not our traditions to get a better handle on this all-important topic. We will accomplish this through the pages of the Bible and will look to no other source for truth.

Do we need to have forgiveness?  If we need to have forgiveness, how do we get it? Once we have forgiveness, how do we maintain it? Is forgiveness a one-time act, or do we need to keep begging for something that was already given? This topic is a serious subject and needs to be looked into soberly because it can and will affect ones relationship with their God and also on how one relates to others. This is the heart and core of the Gospel as God gave it to Paul.

Do we need forgiveness? The Bible declares Romans3: 23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All have sinned not, just a few but all. So if we all have sinned what is the verdict for this sin? What is the consequence? Romans 6:23 “ For the wages (what we earned) of sin is death…” Death seems pretty final to me, but what kind of death are we talking about here. If we go back to the Garden of Eden and when God gave instructions to the first humans that ever lived. He declared Gen 2:17 “ but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (living independently from God) you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.” If one reads the story further we draw the conclusion that they did eat from the tree of good and evil and therefore died, but how can this be because as we read further we see they continued to live and have children. What died from them was what God put into them and that is the spiritual life that was imparted. Adam and Eve had been given God’s Spirit as part of their make-up along with the human spirit and body. However when they took of the tree of good and evil the spirit God’s life, which is spirit, departed from them, they died spiritually. This is why God declared in Gen 3:22 “ The Lord God said. “ Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil: and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever,” Mans decision was to go it alone without God and become an independent creature and from that time forward we all have received this nature from our father Adam which is dead. It is something we all inherit from birth. Romans 5:12  “ Therefore just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all have sinned.” Mankind as a whole has this issue that has to be dealt with and it is death. We need Life. We as a whole do not think we are that bad or dead, and in need for life. From the Garden of Eden forward God has been revealing to man their need to be dependent upon Him for Life. He gave the Law to convict us, not for us to keep. This is a hard one for us to accept, however if we are going to believe the Bible as our source for truth this is what it says. Our hearts are so blinded to this dead nature within us that in God’s love He gave the Law to convict, to convince, to help us see, the need for life. God did not give the Law to make us try to live a better life. If so the Jewish race should be the most prominent of all races since the Law came through them. The Law was given to help us see that we are all sinners and have earned death. We really do have a serious issue to deal with and that is the deadness that lies within. Romans 3:19-20 “ Now we know that whatever the Law says, (when we view our life in lieu of God’s Law) it speaks to those who are under the Law so that every mouth may be closed (convicted) and all the world may become accountable to God: because by the works of the Law (trying to keep the Law) no flesh will be justified in His sight: for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.” The known Christian world has taken what God has given (the Law) and has tried to make it a standard of living rather then for what the purpose the Law was intended for. The Law was designed to convict us of the deadness within; it renders the verdict of guilty.  Thereby if we are convicted of the deadness within, we will surely come to the conclusion that we are hopeless in this quest for life and in need of forgiveness. However, God in His Love provided a way to bridge the gap. To take sinful man and make us right with Him. Thereby, giving us a way to receive forgiveness and have Life restored. This will take us to our next topic on how we receive the forgiveness that he provided.

Now that the Law has done its work in revealing to us that we are sinners deserving of death, how do we receive the forgiveness that was provided. Do we keep short accounts with God? Do we try now to keep the Law? Do we give more at church? Just what is it we have to do to receive and even maintain this forgiveness that we all need? Does a just God even expect us to maintain this forgiveness through confession? Let’s open the Bible and see what God has to say about this subject. Look for part 2 on How we receive God’s forgiveness.

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

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

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

Click Below For FREE Email Subscription:
http://www.graceandthetruth.com/pop_up.htm
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~Daily Inspirational~ Forgiven or Not? Part 2 June 11, 2005


“Forgiven or Not” - Part 2 of 3
by Thomas Nitz

As we saw from the previous article we all are in need to be restored and forgiven. The Bible declares us all dead and worthy of the death sentence. Thankfully! We have a God of Love that had a plan to make us right with Him and to provide life to us so we can live eternally with Him. Acts 2:23 “ this Man (Jesus) delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.”  So let’s unfold the plan that God had predetermined that would provide what we as dead humans could not provide.

How do we receive the forgiveness of God?  The Bible declares Hebrews 9:22 “ And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding there is no forgiveness.” The Bible is very clear that there would have to have blood shed (or life given) for the forgiveness of sin. How would a just God bridge the gap between sinful man and a Holy God?  How was a way going to be provided that would take care of this for all and render us a forgiven people?

The solution is found only in the pages of the Bible. John 1:29 “ The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming to him and said, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Two very important declarations were made in that one scripture. One “the Lamb of God,” this was God’s way of dealing with the sin issue, for without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. If we take note through the pages of the Old Testament the Jews had their sacrificial system daily taking care of the forgiveness issue because of sin. God was introducing a sacrifice (the Lamb of God, Jesus) that would take care of the sin issue once and for all. This leads us to the other declaration made, “who takes away the sin of the world.” What did we just read? Who takes away the sin of the world. What does this mean to take it away, and if it is taken away why do we focus on it so much? Jesus Christ was and is the only one that lived a perfect life as a human and being God Himself He is the only sacrifice that can totally remove what has caused this great separation (spiritual death) between God and His creation. His shed Blood would be the FINAL sacrifice that would once and for all deal with man’s sin and provide a way for man to be restored to the way we were originally designed. When Jesus became the sacrifice that would satisfy a Holy God and He bore the world’s sin on the cross at Calvary He was able to shout out in His final breath John19: 30 “…….He said , “It is finished!….” He took care of the sin issue and the consequences of that which was death. His death satisfied, took the place of yours and mine. God was now satisfied. He could now remove all the daily sacrifices that would bring temporary forgiveness’ to a lost people. God dealt with the sin issue at the cross, once and for all. Hebrews 10: 15-18 “ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this, First He says: “ This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord, I will put My laws (the two commands Jesus left us, Love God and thy neighbor) in their hearts, and write them on their minds. ‘ then He adds: “ their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more,” And where these have been (past tense) forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Did we notice Have been Forgiven? Christ took care of the sin issue at the cross, that is where God accepted His sacrifice and where God Placed forgiveness on the whole world. Hebrews 9:15 “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance - now that He has died as a ransom to set free from the sins committed under the first covenant. The sin issue has been dealt with, forgiveness has been provided. Romans 6:10 “ For the death that He died, he died to sin (hear it comes) once and for all: but the life that he lives, he lives to God. Yes, the sin issue and forgiveness has been dealt with.

How do we receive it? It is received in His life, by what He provided for us. We receive the provision “IN “ Him. Once we come to the conclusion we are sinners worthy of death, and that a life had to be given. We can only come up with two conclusions. One, that I can give my life to satisfy the just sentence or I could place my faith “IN” what God provided to deal with my sin issue once and for all and receive the forgiveness that He so generously gave. 2 Cor. 5:21 “ God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that IN Him we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus became yours and mine sin substitute, He dealt with yours and mine sin issue at the cross, once and for all. He declared, “It is finished.” We Just have to appropriate His sacrifice by Faith, once we do that we can boldly walk in confidence in Psalms 103:10-12 “ he has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities, For as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west so far He removed our transgressions from us.” Jesus’ sacrifice His shed blood dealt with sin forever, why do we not want to believe this and place our faith in what God has done to remove this from His eyes, never to deal with it again. Why do we keep bringing our sins before Him when He does not even see them anymore? Remember shed blood is what brings forgiveness. Do we really think Jesus is going to keep shedding His blood over and over for us every time we sin? Hebrews 9:24-26 “ For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us, (God accepted His sacrifice in place of ours) nor was it that He would offer Himself often, (or again and again) as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, he would have needed to suffer often, since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation (end) of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” This is one of the key points in the glorious gospel of Grace. The fact Jesus died to take away sin, to put it away, to remove it from God’s eyes. Done at the Cross - of Calvary. Yes, Jesus died was buried, and rose again on yours and mine behalf. Hopefully, we attempted to see from God’s word how we can by faith enter into what was provide by the predetermined plan from the foundation of the world. How God was going to solve the sin issue and provide forgiveness to a race of people that are born spiritual dead . In the final article to follow we will see how God will provide man with the means to maintain the forgiveness that He provided at the Cross of Calvary. Lets rest in what He has accomplished for us and give thanks for all He has done for us!

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

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

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

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

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~Daily Inspirational~ Forgiven or Not? Conclusion June 12, 2005


“Forgiven or Not” - Part 3 of 3
by Thomas Nitz

As we draw our conclusion on the subject of forgiveness, let’s go over the two points briefly that we already examined. The first topic we covered was man’s need for forgiveness. We have seen from Adams fatal decision forward all of humanity has been born dead (spiritually). Following are three scriptural truths to finalize our conclusion on the condition of humanity.  Romans 5: 12 “ Therefore just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”   Romans 3: 23 “ For all have sinned.” Romans 6:23 “ for the wages of sin is death.”  So we are all guilty and in need of forgiveness, and that forgiveness comes ONLY by the shedding of blood. Hebrews 9:22 “ …and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

We then set out to discover that God had a predetermined plan to provide a means to supply us with the sacrifice that would settle this issue once and for all. That of course we discovered was the sacrifice of the Son of God taking on the form of a human.  John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,…” Hebrews 10:12 “ but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:17-18 “ And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is FORGIVENESS of these things, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.” When God accepted the sacrifice of His Son, he was satisfied He knew justice was served.

So how do we maintain the forgiveness once we understand it from His point of view? Do we continue to confess to get forgiven as 1 John1: 9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When we read that scripture it tends to contradict what we just discovered in numerous other scriptures. We just read, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”  We just read in the Bible that God was satisfied with this once and for all sacrifice for sin and that the blood of Jesus is what brought forgiveness. Why would He require us now to set out to get forgiveness through confession? God basically looks and sees two groups of people, (1) believer, and (2) unbelievers. If, we examine this scripture closely in light of all the other scriptures we read, we will discover that a believer would already have come to the conclusion that they were a sinner. Believers do not walk around thinking they have no flesh or sin to deal with. Believers know where sin had it’s final confrontation and verdict and who’s life satisfied the death penalty. This was written to confront a group of people that believed man did not have a sin nature. So the Apostle John addressed the topic on this.1John 1:8 “ If we say we have no sin we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” As we discovered in the previous writings man does have a sin nature and in need of forgiveness and that was provided by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus). So if at anytime one comes to understand that they are in need of this, they are to confess their sin and God being as faithful and righteous as He is will impute what Christ did on their behalf and forgive their sin, and cleanse them from ALL unrighteousness. Do not forget for one to be declared righteous in God’s sight one has to take on the righteousness of Christ. In order for this to happen one has to be cleansed and totally forgiven, and as we seen this could only be done by Jesus Christ blood. 1John 1:9 could read as follows “ If we confess our sins (agree with God concerning our sin natures, dead), He is faithful and just “to have forgiven” our sins and “to have cleansed” us from ALL unrighteousness. This scripture once researched reveals that in the original Greek some of the terms are a past tense action that has taken place. An example of this is to forgive should be rendered to have forgiven. God forgave when He accepted the blood of His Son. When we put the whole story together on forgiveness it paints a beautiful picture of what God did through Jesus Christ on yours and mine behalf.

This leads to the finality of what was accomplished on the Cross of Calvary and what is required of us to maintain the forgiveness that was already provided. It can be summed up in this scripture. Colossians 2:6 “ Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”  We walk by faith knowing now there is Romans 8:1 “ no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Preoccupation with sin does not have to rule us, besides how could we remember all the sin that we do in a day to confess it anyway? When we get caught up in confession, we take part in the salvation process and God will have no part of this. How much confession is good enough anyway, when will one know if they confessed enough to receive the forgiveness? There is truly no rest - believing confessing brings forgiveness. Only the Blood of Christ brought forgiveness, once and for all. He is not going to die over and over again for sin. We just need to accept in faith what he already provided and thank Him for what He has done. If we do not accept the Finality of the Cross, then what good was it, what real freedom did it bring? The cross settled what sin ushered in for humanity and that is spiritual death. When we sin we don’t receive punishment for the sin, the penalty is death and Christ death took care of it. This then prepares us to receive the righteousness and life of Our Lord Jesus Christ provided through the resurrection.

When we receive eternal life provided by the resurrection it is the Lord's very Life we receive which is ETERNAL, we can never loose it and the reason for it is because he took care of the death issue which would be the result to us every time we sin. He paid the price death for all, and gave His life to all who believe so they would never have to worry about that issue again, death. It truly is a dead issue. We no longer have to be occupied with sin; we can now focus on LIFE and that is Eternal Life provided in and through Our Lord. We now have a relationship.

We can now live out of the grace of God that will motivate every true believer to come to know the one whom paid the price and who is now willing to take up residence in the same, thus bringing about a personal relationship that will result in new LIFE. What an awesome God! He really has taken care of it all. Death and Life all we have to do is trust Him and rest from our works, from confession, to beating ourselves up. He loves and accepts because of His nature not because of what we do. Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

We know we have ETERNAL LIFE...because we have received ETERNAL FORGIVENESS

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

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

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

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

[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational~ ~THE BIBLE A CONFUSING BOOK?~ June 13, 2005


~THE BIBLE A CONFUSING BOOK?~

We ran across an article recently, entitled: "Yes, the Bible is a Confusing Book."

The article did not even attempt to dispel this "confusion," or in any way help its readers to understand the Bible. It did not suggest even one basic rule of interpretation. Nor did it explain why the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles constantly exhorted men to study the Bible. The Bible is indeed a very large Book, so that the greatest of us will never understand it all. Moreover, it is God’s Book and must necessarily contain much that is "hard to understand." But this makes it the greater challenge to the believing heart to seek divine aid in exploring its depths and the greater joy when precious stones are brought up
from this exhaustless mine.

God does not reward lazy and indifferent Christians with light from His Word, but confusion invariably vanishes as we prayerfully obey His command:

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH" (II Tim. 2:15).

In studying the Bible there are basic distinctions to be observed; e.g., between the twelve apostles and Paul, the apostle for this age; between the "gospel of the kingdom" and the gospel for our day: the "gospel of the grace of God," etc., but meantime there are many passages of Scripture so plain and simple that a child can understand them and no theologian can explain them away. For example, in John 3:35,36, we read:

"The Father loveth the Son, and HATH GIVEN ALL THINGS INTO HIS HAND.

"HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him."

At the other end from the spiritual poverty experienced by those who deem the Bible "a confusing Book," we have what St. Paul, by divine inspiration, calls "all [the] riches of the full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2).

By C. R. Stam

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

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

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

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[nChrist]

~Daily Inspirational~ ~INEXCUSABLE~ June 14, 2005


~INEXCUSABLE~

The second chapter of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is a dark, sad passage, but it opens the door to the richest blessing the human heart can contain: salvation by grace.

The opening words: "Therefore thou art inexcusable," are blunt indeed, but God exposes our sinful condition only so as to save us from it.

This is where most philosophies and the Bible clash head on. Most philosophies close their eyes to the sinful nature of man. They argue, generally, that man is inherently good, while overwhelming evidence bears witness that he is inherently bad. Therefore human philosophy offers no salvation from sin and its just penalty. Only the Bible does this with its "gospel [good news] of the grace of God."

In Paul’s day the Greek philosophers condemned the uncivilized pagans for their open immorality and wickedness. But while preaching virtue these moralizers themselves practiced vice, and God said: "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things" (Rom. 2:1).

It is the same today. Multitudes of self-righteous people are outwardly cultured and moral, but they forget that God looks upon the heart and sees hate as murder, jealousy as theft and the lustful look as adultery. He considers, not  what we do, outwardly, but what we desire to do or wish we dared to do. He sees the desires and motives of the heart.

But thank God, "Christ died for sinners" -- guilty sinners, and all who come to God by faith in Christ are "justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24). "Inexcusable," or "justified freely by His grace," through faith in the Christ who died for our sins? Which will it be?

By C. R. Stam

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

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one who maybe defending the USA. The Word of God is so needed in our troubled world.  It is our heart at GRACE AND THE TRUTH and mission to reach as many people as we possibly can TO SHARE with them the Word of God and all that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for members of the body of Christ.

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

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