Two Minutes With The Bible

[Brother Love]

BIRTH, DEATH AND REBIRTH

By Cornelius R. Stam

St. Peter declares that to obtain eternal life we must be
born again, since by nature we were born but to die.

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth and the flower thereof falleth away. But the Word of the Lord endureth forever, and this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you" (I Pet. 1 :23-25).

Our Lord emphasized this same fact to the Pharisee
Nicodemus. "That which is born of the flesh," He said, "is
flesh... Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born
again" (John 3:6,7).

Nicodemus was devoutly religious, and he even recog-
nized Christ as "a teacher come from God" (John 3:2). But
he was not saved. He had not been "born of the Spirit," and
"that which is born of the flesh is flesh," even though it is
"religious flesh." Therefore it must die. Nicodemus, like
many sincerely religious people today, needed to be born
again -- of the Spirit, by faith in the Word, of which the
Spirit is the Author.

Some suppose that Paul did not teach the new birth, but
they are wrong. He taught it consistently, and nowhere
more clearly than in Titus 3:5, where he wrote by divine
inspiration:

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration [re-birth] and renewing of the Holy Spirit."
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
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Web Site:
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[Brother Love]

GOD: A JUST JUDGE

By Cornelius R. Stam

How just are the judgments of God! In Rom. 2:16 St. Paul
says: "God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ
according to my gospel." Notice carefully what this in-
volves:

1.  He will judge "the secrets of men." In human courts
there are often miscarriages of justice because all the facts
are not brought to light. But at the "Great White Throne"
there will be a Judge with "eyes... as a flame of fire" (Rev.
19:12), before whom no secret can remain hidden. (See also
Heb. 4:13).

2.  He will judge the secrets of men "by Jesus Christ."  
Not the Father, but the Son will preside at the judgment of
the unsaved. John 5:22 declares that "the Father judgeth no
man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" and
Verse 27 adds that the Father has given the Son this au-
thority "because He is the Son of man." This insures just
judgment, for, men will be judged in that day by the One
who loved them enough to become a man that He might
understand and help men, and even die for their sins.

3.  He will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ "ac-
cording to my gospel," says Paul. How eminently fair and
just this is. If He judged men according to the law of Moses
no one ever would be saved, for all of us have broken the
Law. Moreover the children of fallen Adam, because of
their depraved nature, cannot consistently keep the Law.  
Thus they will not be judged on the basis of that which they
were unable to live up to. This is why He will judge men
according to the good news proclaimed by Paul, which is the
great truth that salvation is denied to no one who takes
God at His Word and approaches Him in His way. His way
for today?  "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt
be saved."
       
"To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:5).
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
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P.O. Box 756
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[Brother Love]

THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION

By Cornelius R. Stam

Years ago a man of God was asked to preach at the
funeral of a young soldier whose parents were unsaved.

During the course of his message the preacher sought to
impress upon his hearers the basic fact that "the wages of
sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus
Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

This greatly upset the parents. After the service they
complained: "This is embarrassing. Our boy was not a sin-
ner."

The truth was that shortly before his death this young
soldier himself had done what every true, born-again
Christian has done. He had acknowledged himself to be a
lost sinner and, trusting Christ as his Savior, had been so
gloriously saved that his parents were mystified that he
could be so happy in the face of death.

The simplest believer in Christ understands all this. He
knows that for the "old man," the child of fallen Adam, the
death of the body is indeed a "dishonorable discharge" for
laws broken, orders disobeyed, responsibilities unmet and
trusts betrayed. But for the "new man," the child of God,
the death of the body is the vestibule through which he is
ushered into the blessed presence of "the Captain of our
Salvation," the One who "by the grace of God tasted death
for every man" that He might "bring many sons to glory"
(See Heb. 2:9,10).

This is why we read in Heb. 2:14,15:

"Forasmuch, then, as the children [of Adam] are partakers of flesh and blood. He [Christ] also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

"And deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

No wonder St. Paul’s simple message of salvation was:

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved"
(Acts 16:31).
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
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[Brother Love]

AN INDISPUTABLE FACT

By Cornelius R. Stam

The theological confusion in the Church today is basically
the result of her rebellion against the authority of Paul as
the divinely-appointed apostle for the present "dispensation
of the grace of God" (Eph. 3:1-3).

On every hand Paul is referred to merely as one of the
apostles, sometimes even as one of the twelve, though the
record of Scripture proves that he could not possibly have
qualified as one of the twelve (See Matt. 19:28 and cf. Acts
9:1).

In Galatians 1 and 2 the Apostle throws down the certifi-
cate of his apostleship, as it were, to those who questioned
it in his day. He opens his argument with the declaration:

"...I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

"For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:11,12).

The Scriptures teach beyond the shadow of a doubt that
Pauls apostleship and message were absolutely unique and
separate from that of the twelve or of any who had preceded
him. This is what Christendom as a whole has refused to
accept. Is it any wonder, then, that they confuse Gods
prophesied kingdom program with "the mystery," commit-
ted to Paul for us in this present dispensation?

The Scriptures emphasize not only the Apostles constant
use of the first person pronoun, "I," "me," "my," but the
unique character of his apostleship and message. Ignore
this fact and confusion must inevitably result; accept it and
a hundred seeming contradictions in Scripture disappear.
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings

Email: berean@execpc.com

[Brother Love]

THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST

By Cornelius R. Stam

"...the righteousness of God... by [the] faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe" (Rom. 3:22).

Note, the Apostle Paul here does not refer to faith in
Christ, but the faith of Christ. Nor does he refer to what
Christ believed, but rather to His worthiness to be believed,
His fidelity, His trustworthiness.

We must not forget that faith is a reciprocal matter; it is
two-sided. One side is objective; it believes in another. The
other is subjective; it is a trustworthy character. One refers
to what a person does; the other to what he is. If I have
faith in you, you should keep faith with me; you should be
trustworthy.

Seven times in St. Pauls epistles he refers to "the faith of
Christ" and each time his purpose is to emphasize our
Lord’s worthiness of our complete confidence. That he does
not refer to our faith in Christ is evident on the surface in
each case. In the passage above he declares that the right-
eousness of God, which is "by the faith of Christ," is con-
ferred "upon all them that believe" (Here’s your faith in
Him).

Similarly, in Gal. 3:22 he states that "the Scripture hath
concluded all under sin, that the promise, by faith of Jesus
Christ, might be given to "them that believe." Here again,
we believe because He is worthy of our confidence.

Again in Phil. 3:9, the Apostle expresses his desire for a
righteousness not of his own, "but that which is through the
faith of Christ" -- and then adds: "the righteousness which is
of God by faith." Heres mans faith again! He has faith in
Christ because Christ is completely faithful, completely
worthy to be believed in. He paid the full penalty for our
sins and is now in heaven dispensing the merits of Calvary
-- riches of grace, mercy and forgiveness.

But remember, "the faith of Christ" always precedes our
faith in Christ. What good would it do us to believe in Him
for salvation if He were not wholly to be relied upon for
this? But He can be trusted "to save... to the uttermost
[all] who come unto God by Him" (Heb. 7:25). This is why
Paul could say to the terrified jailor at Philippi: "Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
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[Brother Love]

HEROES OF FAITH

By Cornelius R. Stam

In Rom. 4:12 the Apostle Paul declares that Abraham
was the father, not of his physical offspring alone, but also
of those who "walk in the steps of that faith" which Abra-
ham had.

Have you ever noticed that God does not hold the great
men of Scripture up to us because of their personal virtues?
Almost invariably their records are marred by failure and
sin. But God bids us observe their faith and what their
faith gained for them (See Rom. 4:3,9,11,12).

There is a whole chapter on this subject in the Book of
Hebrews. Hebrews 11 is properly called "the great faith
chapter," and its heroes "heroes of faith," for it tells how
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and scores of
others "obtained a good report" before God. They all fal-
tered and failed again and again, but Heb. 11:39 declares
that "these all... obtained a good report THROUGH
FAITH."

This is why Rom. 4:9-12 states that God’s blessing is be-
stowed upon those who "walk in the steps of that faith"
which Abraham exhibited, just as it was bestowed upon
Abraham himself.

This truth is driven home in Verses 3 to 5 of the same
chapter:

"For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3-5).
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
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[Brother Love]

DONT DOTE ON PERSONALITIES

By Cornelius R. Stam

When Paul instructs Timothy to charge his followers not
to "give heed" to "endless genealogies" (I Tim. 1:4), he
refers to the status symbol of the personality of his day.

Recently this writer was informed by a correspondent
from an eastern state that it appeared that he might be
related to a Revolutionary general named Stam -- and, did
we wish him to investigate further!  We replied that we
were far too excited about where we were going to care
much about where we had come from!

While there are some in our day who are very proud of
their ancestry and have coats of arms displayed in their
homes, the average Christian probably, has never had his
family tree traced back very far.  But in Pauls day geneal-
ogies were very important, even among believers.  One’s
family relationships meant a great deal.  If you were a sec-
ond cousin to Christ or even a third cousin to Peter you
"had it made."  You might be crude, or stupid, or even
wicked, but all this was overlooked:  you were closely re-
lated to Christ Himself or to the Apostle Peter and all were
ready to give you audience.

Actually, the personality cult is still with us in the
Church today though it manifests itself in different ways.  
We live in a day of mass communications, when the faces
of prominent men and women are seen again and again in
newspapers and magazines and even their personalities
come through to us over radio and television.  Thus it is the
prominent "Christian" politician, athlete, actor, beauty
queen, or even former gangster who commands the atten-
tion today.  Those who arrange evangelistic campaigns
often seek to engage such personalities to attract crowds.  
Such prominent figures, though perhaps actually saved,
may be very much "of the world," dishonoring their Chris-
tian calling every day, but their presence draws crowds and
their shallow testimonies are used to justify their public
participation in the work of the Lord.

The new evangelicalism has borrowed many prominent
personalities from the world to help swell its audiences,
while the old prayer that the witness may be hid behind
the cross is to all intents and purposes considered passe.
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
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[Brother Love]

GODS PROMISE vs. MANS EFFORTS

By Cornelius R. Stam

"For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath..." (Rom. 4:14,15).

This should be self-evident to us all. If blessing is gained
by the works of the Law, it is earned. This is why Gal. 3:18
says: "If the inheritance be of the law it is no more of prom-
ise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise."

The Apostle Paul, Gods great apostle of grace, declares in
Rom. 4:4,5:

"Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

But lets go back to that phrase: "the law worketh wrath."
Many people somehow do not see this. Even some clergy-
men tell us that the Law was given to help us to be good.
But God Himself says, "the law worketh wrath." Every
criminal knows this, and every sinner should know it. God
certainly places strong emphasis upon it:

"Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of
transgressions" (Gal. 3:19), "that every mouth may be stop-
ped, and all the world may be brought in guilty before God"
(Rom. 3:19). "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall
no flesh be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowl-
edge of sin" (Rom. 3:20).

If we come to God expecting eternal life because of our
good works, are we not offering Him our terms, which He
can never accept? He will never sell salvation at any price,
and certainly not for a few paltry "good" works, when our
lives are filled with failure and sin.

Our only hope? God has promised to give eternal life to
those who trust in His Son (John 3:35,36; Acts 16:31; etc.).
"The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our
Lord" (Rom. 6:23).
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
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Email: berean@execpc.com

[Brother Love]

ARE YOU SURE?

By Cornelius R. Stam

Would you like to have the knowledge, the assurance and
the joy of sins forgiven? Would you like to be sure of heav-
en?

Well, the first step to heaven is to realize that you cannot
get there by trying. You cant walk there. You cant climb
there. You cant fly there. Only God can take you there.
Many try to earn heaven. They try to climb there on a
ladder of good works. They talk about "adding another
rung." But look out for that good works ladder! Its not
anchored at the top and the higher you climb the farther
you will fall.

Gods Word says that salvation is "the gift of God, not of
works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9). He is not
going to have boasters in heaven -- there are enough of
them on earth and nobody likes them.

All of us should realize that even the best of us are not
good enough for heaven, for "all have sinned and come short
of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23), but in this same statement
the Apostle Paul declares that believers in Christ, who died
for our sins, are "justified freely by His [Gods] grace,
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1).

So, friend, it is not by trying, or crying, or praying, or
paying, or doing anything that you will reach heaven: it is
only by believing. God says He loves sinners, and that
Christ died for our sins. Will you believe this and trust
Christ as your Savior? The terms are stated very plainly in
John 3:35,36:

"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."
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
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Email: berean@execpc.com

[Brother Love]

GODS ANSWER TO UNBELIEF

By Cornelius R. Stam

The resurrection of Christ is Gods 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 bro-
ken 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 be-
lievers 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).
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
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[Brother Love]

PAULS PHRASEOLOGY

By Cornelius R. Stam

The careful student of the Epistles of Paul soon observes
that the Apostle makes many specific statements as to the
distinctiveness of his ministry and message. Even apart
from this, however, and considering his phraseology alone,
we often wonder how anyone could possibly deny that his
message was distinct from that which the twelve had pro-
claimed. Note the following examples:

Rom. 2:16: "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to MY GOSPEL."

Rom. 16:25: "Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to MY GOSPEL, and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."

II Tim. 2:7,8; "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

"Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to MY GOSPEL."

Gal. 1:11: "But I certify you, brethren, that THE GOSPEL WHICH WAS PREACHED OF ME is not after man."

Gal. 2:2: "And I went up [to Jerusalem] by revelation, and communicated unto them THAT GOSPEL WHICH I PREACH AMONG THE GENTILES, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain."

I Cor. 15:1: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you THE GOSPEL WHICH I PREACHED UNTO YOU, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand."

Add to this the Apostles explicit claims as to the distinc-
tive character of his ministry and message and you have
irrefutable proof of the fact.

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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
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Web Site:
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[Brother Love]

THE DAY OF ITCHING EARS

By Cornelius R. Stam

For the professing Church the day of theological con-
troversy has passed. Ecumenism is now the word on every
tongue. Church leaders appear to have become convinced
that the stifling confusion in the Church can be overcome
only by all of us getting together, minimizing our differ-
ences and emphasizing those doctrines on which we all
agree. As a result some of the most important doctrines of
Scripture are neither denied nor affirmed; they are ignored.
But little matter, for the objective now is not to be true to
the written Word of God, but to see to it that the Church is
"strong" and commands the worlds respect.
       
Ecumenism, sad to say, has made significant inroads
among evangelical believers too. All too seldom do men of
God stand up to defend by the Scriptures the truths they
believe and proclaim. Theological debate has given place to
the dialogue, in which two individuals or groups sit down
together to discuss their differences and see if there is not
some basis for agreement. This appears generous and objec-
tive but too often convictions are compromised and the
truth watered down by such undertakings, with the result
that the Spirits power is sacrificed for numerical strength.
No man of God can speak in the power of the Spirit when
he places anything before the Word and Will of God. Nor
can the Church ever be truly united and strong unless she
puts Gods Word and Will first and takes her place in the
world as Christs embassy on alien territory (See II Cor.
5:20).
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
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P.O. Box 756
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Web Site:
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[Brother Love]

THE ONE TRUE CHURCH





Religious people -- even sincere Christian people -- may divide themselves into various denominations or churches, but there is no indication in the Bible that God recognizes
these divisions. Indeed, God makes it abun-dantly clear that in His sight there is but one Church, composed of all who truly trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. In ICor. 12:12,13 the Apostle Paul declares by divine inspiration:

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ:

"FOR BY ONE SPIRIT ARE WE ALL BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY...."

Again, in Rom. 12:5, he says:

"SO WE, BEING MANY, ARE ONE BODY IN CHRIST, AND EVERY ONE MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER."

Indeed, it is on the basis of the fact that there is but "one body" in God’s sight that He ex-horts us to seek to "keep the unity of the Spirit":

"ENDEAVORING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE.

"THERE IS ONE BODY...." (Eph. 4:3,4).

How can we become members of that "one Body ," the true Church? Ephesians 2 ex-plains how Christ died for all, Jew and Gentile alike, "that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross..." (Ver. 16). Indeed the Epistles of St. Paul show how God "hath concluded... all in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all" (Rom. 11:32), and offer to them reconciliation and salvation by grace through faith in Christ who died for our sins.

The question, then, is not: What church do you belong to? but, Do you belong to the Church, the Body of Christ, composed of all who have acknowledged themselves to be sinners in the sight of God and have trusted in Christ and His finished work for salvation?

By C. R. Stam
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings

Email: berean@execpc.com

[Brother Love]

CHURCH ON FIRE

By Cornelius R. Stam

The Chicago newspapers carried an account the other day
of a large church, burned to the ground, at a loss of about
half a million dollars. Our sympathy goes out to the pastor
and congregation who, at best, will have to carry on for a
time under makeshift arrangements.

But the account reminded me of the story of another
church on fire. The crowds had gathered to see the fire en-
gines pour water on the burning building, when one man
spotted a friend in the crowd. "Hi Bob!" he shouted: "This
is the first time Ive seen you at church!" "Well," responded
the other, "This is the first time Ive seen a church on fire."

We write this as a special appeal to true, born-again
Christians. Isnt it true that if believers were more "on fire"
for Christ, more completely sold out to Him, those who are
now disinterested would be more apt to become interested
and come to know Him as their Savior? We so soon lose
interest or become discouraged, and quit. This is why the
Apostle Paul, that tireless ambassador for Christ, wrote:

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (I Cor. 15:58).

This, we repeat, is his exhortation to believers only, for
God will not accept our money or our good works, until we
have first accepted "the gift of God," which is "eternal life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

Accept this gift; trust the Christ who died for your sins
and He will give you plenty to do -- the most rewarding
service any man could possibly render.
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Subscribe at:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/twominut.html
Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings

Email: berean@execpc.com

[Brother Love]

PEACE WITH GOD ACCESS TO GOD AND THE HOPE OF GLORY

By Cornelius R. Stam

According to Rom. 4:25, Christ was delivered to death for
our sins and then raised from the dead because He had fully
settled our debt. The results of this mighty work of redemp-
tion are marvelous indeed to ponder over.

First, it means for every believer in Christ, that "being
justified by faith we have peace with God" (Rom. 5:1). If
Christ has paid for our sins and the barrier between God
and us has been removed, why should we not enjoy peace
with God? Why should we not rise in the morning, go about
our work during the day and retire at night with complete
confidence that all is well; that we are at peace with God
and that He loves us as His very own?

But more: Verse 2 goes on to say that by Christ we also
have "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." If
the barrier of sin has been removed and we are at peace
with God, what is there to keep us out of His presence, es-
pecially when He Himself bids us to "come boldly unto the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to
help in time of need"? (Heb.4:16). How wonderful to have a
standing before God in grace! to be at peace with Him and
to enjoy free access into His presence by faith!

But there is still more. Not only does the believer in
Christ enjoy peace with God and access to God, but, as this
same verse says: "We rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

"Hope" in the Bible is, of course, more than a wish. It is
an eager anticipation of wonderful things to come. Heb.
6:19 says: "Which hope we have as an anchor to the soul,
both sure and stedfast." Man has always been afraid of the
glory of God. When the glory of the Lord shone round about
the Judaean shepherds "they were sore afraid." This was be-
cause "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"
(Rom. 3:23). But the simplest believer in Christ may rejoice
in the anticipation of sharing Gods glory some day.
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Subscribe at:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/twominut.html
Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
Berean Bible Society
N112 W17761 Mequon Road
P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/
Gospel Books, Materials, & Free Mailings

Email: berean@execpc.com