Two Minutes With The Bible

[Brother Love]

GRACE TODAY AND TOMORROW

By Cornelius R. Stam

Paul learned what thousands upon thousands of Gods
saints have learned from his day to ours: that it is often
more blessed to experience Gods grace in suffering than to
enjoy deliverance from suffering, for in the former case we
lean the harder and pray the more, and so are drawn closer
to Him. Moreover, we find that His strength is made perfect
in weakness and that when we are weak, then are we
strong (II Cor. 12:9,10).

But even better things are in store for Gods people:

Some day, "in the ages to come," God will display to all
the universe "the exceeding riches of His grace." How will
He do this? "In His kindness toward us through Christ
Jesus" (Eph. 2:7).

Dear reader, have you accepted the grace of God in Christ
Jesus? Do you believe that He loves you and that He "came
into the world" to bear all the blame and shame and pun-
ishment that was your due, so that you might be "justified
freely by His grace" (Rom. 3:24)?

If not, will you take Him at His Word now and come to
know the truth of II Cor. 4:15:

"For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God."

Whatever your past; however great or many your sins,
take God at His Word. Believe that He loves you in spite of
all. Believe that He has already provided the payment for
your sins in Christ:

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

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[Brother Love]

WHAT'S BEHIND OUR MORAL DECLINE?

By Cornelius R. Stam

One does not have to be a prude to conclude that our
country is suffering a serious moral decline. Our rulers and
law enforcement agencies seem powerless to cope with it.
Campaigns to check it seem vain. J. Edgar Hoover of the
FBI warned us again and again that the alarming rate of
this downward trend would spell ruin for America if not
checked soon. But what most people fail to realize is that
behind this moral decline there is a spiritual decline. Amer-
ica has departed from God and His Word.
       
Pauls letter to the Romans tells us how the heathen got
that way. Rom. 1:21,22 says: When they knew God they
glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful, but became
vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was
darkened. Professing themselves to be wise they became
fools, and the verses that follow tell how God finally had to
give them up to uncleanness and vile affections all
because they did not like [wish] to retain God in their
knowledge (Ver. 28).

St. Paul further describes them in Eph. 4:17-19, as
walking in the VANITY OF THEIR MIND, having THE
UNDERSTANDING DARKENED, being alienated from the
life of God through the IGNORANCE that is in them,
because of the BLINDNESS of their heart; who being past
feeling [conscience] have given themselves over to lascivious-
ness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. This, sad to
say, is an accurate description of increasing numbers in
America today. They are throwing off restraint and going
after uncleanness with greediness.
       
But this is not liberty, it is enslavement. It is not a sign
of strength, but of weakness. It does not indicate superior
intelligence, but grossest ignorance, and is the result of
alienation from God.
       
How much better off are those who have come to know
God through Christ! Of these the Apostle says: And you,
who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled, in the body of His
flesh, through death, to present you holy and unblameable
and unreprovable in His sight (Col. 1:21,22).
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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

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[Brother Love]

WHERE ART THOU? WHERE IS THY BROTHER?

By Cornelius R. Stam

The first question of the Bible came from God Himself as
He called to fallen Adam, hiding in fear from His presence:
"Where art thou?" (Gen. 3:9).

Adam and Eve made a great mistake in running and
hiding from God, for their plight was hopeless without Him.
But none of Adams children have done any better than he.
In Psalm 14:2,3 we find the Lord scouring the earth, as it
were, "to see if there were any that did understand [their
need] and seek God," but the answer was, "No, not one."

How grateful we may be that in grace He sought us, that
the Lord Jesus Christ came "to seek and to save that which
was lost" (Luke 19:10) and that "we have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the
riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).

But another question follows naturally. This question too
came from God Himself, as He asked the murderer, Cain:
"Where is Abel thy brother?" (Gen. 4:9). Cain countered
with another question: "Am I my brothers keeper?" but he
soon learned that he was his brothers keeper as God drove
him out of His presence, not only as punishment to him, but
to teach us all that we are indeed responsible for those
about us.

The unsaved, who have never responded to Gods call:
"Where art thou?" should remember that God also asks
them, as He did unregenerate Cain: "Where is... thy broth-
er?" By rejecting Christ as Savior men are also keeping
others out of heaven -- others whom they might have been
used to win to Christ, had they themselves been saved.

You say: "God will save those whom He has predesti-
nated." That is only one side of the coin. Our Lord said
to two cities of His day, that if the "mighty works" done in
them had been done in Tyre and Sidon "they would have
repented long ago" (Matt. 11:21), and God says that He is
"not willing that any should perish" (II Pet. 3:9) and has
"committed" to His people the "word" and "ministry" of
reconciliation (II Cor. 5:18,19).
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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]

"THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH"

By Russell S. Miller

Some suppose that somehow, in the final analysis, their "good works" will outweigh the bad works they do and God will accept them into His heaven. But is it good works that save?

Of the first two children born into this world, Cain brought of the fruit of the ground--that, which his works had produced--with which to worship the Lord, while Abel, his brother, offered the sacrificial lamb that God required.

"By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh" (Heb.11:4).

God rejected Cains offering because he had not obeyed the Lord God.
But a far greater sacrifice than Abels has been offered on our behalf. "CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS" (ICor.15:3). Now the question must be asked, Have you believed the Lord in this? As long as men continue in unbelief, and reject the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they will remain angry and bitter and wicked sinners in the sight of a thrice Holy God.

Such are the deeds of those who place their will over the written Word of God, as their evil doings are reported daily over radio, TV and in our newspapers.

But God is able to turn "the wickedness of men" into the greatest good, as we have seen. For, when wicked men crucified the Lord, little did they know "that God was in Christ, RECONCILING THE WORLD UNTO HIMSELF, not imputing their trespasses unto them..." (IICor.5:19).
Little did they know, that this event in history--the crucifixion of Christ--would bring "to nought" all this worlds wisdom. Little did they know, that God had a secret eternal purpose in Christ:

"Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (ICor.2:.

Study Gods Word, especially the Epistles of St. Paul, and discover that Christ IS the great Victor over sin, death, the grave, and hell.
You will also be rejoicing in all that He accomplished on Calvarys cross--"the salvation, which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (IITim.2:10), and His "more excellent sacrifice", to which all the types and shadows pointed.

"The preaching of the cross" constitutes the obedience of faith today.
It is therefore faith, and faith alone, in the finished work of Christ that saves:

"NEITHER BY THE BLOOD OF GOATS AND CALVES, BUT BY HIS OWN BLOOD HE ENTERED IN ONCE INTO THE HOLY PLACE, HAVING OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION FOR US" (Heb.9:12).
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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

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[Brother Love]

FORGIVENESS THAT CANNOT BE REVOKED

By Cornelius R. Stam

Centuries before Christ, the Psalmist said: "If thou, Lord,
shouldst mark iniquities... who shall stand? But there is
forgiveness with Thee..." (Psa. 130:3,4).
       
It is doubtful whether the Psalmist understood the basis
upon which a just God, through the ages, has so graciously
forgiven sins, but this has since been revealed in the Epis-
tles of Paul.

There we read: "God for Christs sake hath forgiven you"
(Eph. 4:32). But this is only part of the truth, for God for-
gives sinners, not merely because Christ desires this, but
because Christ paid for their sins and purchased their re-
demption. Thus Eph. 1:7 declares: "In [Christ] we have
redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, ac-
cording to the riches of His grace."
       
And thus Paul could proclaim to his hearers in the syn-
agogue at Pisidian Antioch:
       
"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).
       
Obviously such forgiveness can never be rescinded or
revoked, for it is based upon the full and complete payment
of our whole debt of sin by "the precious blood of Christ."
       
Sad to say, many people do not feel they need forgiveness,
for they have not seen themselves as they truly are in the
sight of a holy God, but those who are conscious of their sins
and are willing to say with the prodigal son: "I have
sinned," may experience the peace and joy of sins forgiven
by faith in Christ who paid sins penalty for us.
       
Here is forgiveness that can never be revoked because it
is based on the "one offering [of Christ at Calvary]" by
which our Lord "hath perfected forever them that are sanc-
tified [i.e., set apart as His own]" (Heb. 10:14).
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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]

THE REIGN OF GRACE

By Cornelius R. Stam

It is amazing that God should still send forth the good
news of His grace in a world where His Word and will are
increasingly despised.

The growing wickedness of "this present evil age," of
course, only emphasizes the true character of grace, for
grace is the mercy and love of God toward those who do
not deserve it (See Eph. 2:2-6).

It is interesting to observe that while the four "Gospels"
and the Acts take up twice as much space in our Bibles as
the Epistles of St. Paul, yet the word "grace," in the orig-
inal, appears only 27 times in the "Gospels" and the Acts,
while it occurs 107 times in the Pauline epistles: a ratio
of 27 to 214 in favor of the Pauline epistles! Furthermore,
only a very few times in the "Gospels" and the Acts is the
doctrine of grace referred to, while in the Epistles of Paul
almost every reference has to do with the doctrine of God’s
love and favor to undeserving sinners.

True, "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ," but it was
not manifested at His birth, or even during His earthly
life, for He lived and died under the Law (Gal. 4:4,5). As
"the law was given by Moses," not at his birth, nor when
a prince in Pharaohs court, nor yet when he served with
his father-in-law in the desert, nor even when he returned
to deliver Israel from Egypt, but years later at Sinai, so
"grace and truth came by Jesus Christ," not at His birth,
nor during His earthly ministry, nor even during His resur-
rection appearances, but after His ascension to heaven,
when He committed the dispensing of it to Paul (Eph. 3:
1-4).
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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
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
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[Brother Love]

MORTIFY THOSE EARTHLY MEMBERS

By Russell S. Miller

"MORTIFY THEREFORE YOUR MEMBERS WHICH ARE UPON THE EARTH...." Paul lists such sins as "...fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetous-ness, which is idolatry" (Col.3:5), and he says concerning these sins:

"For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience" (Ver.6).

How beautiful is the grace of God! The wrath of God does not come upon us, but His GRACE is showered upon us. Therefore DO NOT repay such love with ingratitude.

Rather, as he says in Romans 6:11-13, "reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin" and "alive unto God...", or as here in Colossians:

"PUT TO DEATH" those very sins for which God’s wrath does come upon the children of disobedience.

And he adds, "PUT OFF" these sins also: "...anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication..." (Col.3:8,9). "...PUT OFF the old man with his deeds", and...

"AND PUT ON THE NEW MAN, WHICH IS RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE AFTER THE IMAGE OF HIM THAT CREATED HIM" (Col.3:10).

"PUT ON therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, [inner feelings] of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
"AND ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS PUT ON CHARITY, WHICH IS THE BOND OF PERFECTION" (Col.3:12-14).

"AND LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful" (Col.3:15).

"LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Col.3:16).

There is no other avenue of wisdom today whereby the Spirit of God works in the hearts and lives of men and women, boys and girls, than THE WORD OF GOD. And especially the Word of God, "rightly divided", as we find it today in the Epistles of St. Paul. No other source can "renew our minds" today except "the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery" (Rom.16:25). So "LET THIS WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM..." (Col.3:16).

"AND WHATSOEVER YE DO in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Col.3:17).
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
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[Brother Love]

HELP IN TIME OF NEED

By Cornelius R. Stam

Our Chicago papers, recently, carried two interesting
front page items; one about Timothy Nolan, a Chicago po-
liceman who pleaded in vain for help while he battled two
toughs. Sixty people stood about, watching him fight for his
life, but not one of them helped him or even bothered to call
another policeman. They just stood and watched.

The other item was about a twelve-year-old girl, named
Susan Benedict, who had come from Clinton, Wisconsin, to
visit Chicago. As Susan sat in the Greyhound Bus Station
at Clark and Randolph, a thief grabbed her purse and ran.

Perhaps it was because she was a sweet, defenseless
twelve-year-old, but in any case, about a dozen people who
witnessed the incident, followed the thief until one got a
policeman, who caught the thief and returned the purse to
the little girl.

It is a very frightening thing not to be able to find help
when it is desperately needed -- and just as wonderful to
have help when it is needed.

Thank God, He is always ready to help us in our deepest
need -- the salvation of our souls. Are you afraid that your
many sins have placed you in a position beyond help -- that
you have sinned too greatly for God to forgive you? Then
listen to Eph. 1:7, where the Apostle Paul says, by divine
inspiration:

"We have redemption through [Christ’s] blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE."

Rom. 5:20,21 will give further encouragement along this
line:

"...WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND,
THAT AS SIN HATH REIGNED UNTO DEATH, EVEN SO MIGHT
GRACE REIGN, through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord."

Paul knew this by experience, for he was the leader of the
worlds rebellion against Christ, but he was saved in one
moment by the grace of God. This is why he says: "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" (1 Tim. 1:15).

If God saved the "chief of sinners," He is surely willing to
save you, "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13).
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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
Germantown, WI 53022

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[Brother Love]

CALVARY IN RETROSPECT

By Cornelius R. Stam

If the Bible makes anything clear, it is the fact that the
secret of all Gods good news to man is centered at Calvary.
It was because Christ was to die for sin that God could pro-
claim good news to sinners down through the ages.

It was not until some time after the crucifixion, however,
that "the preaching of the cross" was widely proclaimed as a
message by Paul in "the gospel [good news] of the grace of
God" (Acts 20:24; I Cor. 1:18).

The proclamation of "the gospel of the grace of God" was
the natural accompaniment to the revelation of the cross as
the secret of Gods good news to man. In this proclamation
of His over-abounding grace to sinners, everything centers
in the cross.

According to Pauls epistles "we have redemption through
His [Christs] blood" (Eph. 1:7), we are "justified by His
blood" (Rom. 5:9), "reconciled to God by the death of His
Son" (Rom. 5:10), "made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph.
2:13) and "made the righteousness of God in Him" because
God "hath made Him to be sin for us" (11 Cor. 5:21).

The "covenant" of the law was abolished by the cross (Col.
2:14), the curse of the law was removed by the cross (Gal.
3:13), the "middle wall of partition" was broken down by the
cross (Eph. 2:14) and believers in Christ are reconciled to
God in one body by the cross (Eph. 2:16). Little wonder
Paul calls his message "the preaching of the cross"!

To the believer it is thrilling to see the cross as Gods
reply to Satan when, at first glance, it had appeared that
Calvary had been Satans greatest triumph! Thus we can
exclaim with Paul:

"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!" (Gal. 6:14).
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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
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
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[Brother Love]

THE GIFT OF GOD

By Cornelius R. Stam

Men have given many gifts to each other down through
the ages, but in James 1:17 we read that "every good gift
and every perfect gift is from above," and comes to us from
God. The greatest of these gifts is our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ and the redemption He has purchased for us.
In speaking to the sinner-woman at Sychars well, our Lord
drew a picture, contrasting the barrenness of her own life
with the refreshing joy of salvation, saying:

"If thou knewest THE GIFT OF GOD, and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water... Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst..." (John 4:10-14).

By nature we are all sinners, but by the grace of God we
all may be saved.

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

"For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of your-selves; it is THE GIFT OF GOD: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9).

Thus St. Paul speaks of "the gift of the grace of God" (Eph.
3:7) and constantly emphasizes the fact that salvation is a
free gift.

But a gift is not possessed until it is accepted. Thus the
Apostle, in Rom. 5:17, refers to those who "RECEIVE abun-
dance of grace and of the gift of righteousness."

Those who receive Christ and the salvation He has
wrought for them, find it natural to exclaim with Paul-
"THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE
GIFT!" (II Cor. 9:15).
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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
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[Brother Love]

ARE YOU READY?

By Cornelius R. Stam

I wonder what finally became of Molotov? Most of us
know only that he was expelled from the Communist Party
and was later recalled to Moscow to answer for what
Kruschev, of all people, called "barbarous crimes"!

Molotov, "the hammer," was active in the Communist
Revolution since 15 years of age. A close friend of Stalin,
he served Soviet Russia variously as Secretary of the Cen-
tral Committee, Premier of USSR, its Foreign Minister and
its Representative to the UN.

But in 1957 Kruschev, jealous of Stalin’s popularity, dis-
missed Molotov from the Presidium and sent him away as
ambassador to ’Outer Mongolia’. Now disgraced along with
his old friend Stalin, this once popular hero of the Soviets
was discarded by the system he championed. Pathetic, but
he deserved it.

Contrast this with the Apostle Paul. He had been great,
prospering in his religion above many of his equals, being
"more exceedingly zealous" of the traditions of his fathers
(Gal. 1:14). But he gave all this up and counted it loss for
"the excellency of the knowledge of Christ." Serving Christ
amid unceasing persecution, he said:

"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel [good news] of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

Yes, and in his last recorded words before Nero beheaded
him, Paul said:

"I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown..." (II Tim.4:6-8).

What a triumphant way to go! And you, my friend, can
go that way too -- if you can say with Paul, "I am ready."
"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
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P.O. Box 756
Germantown, WI 53022

Web Site:
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[Brother Love]

SEATED IN HEAVEN

By Cornelius R. Stam

God sees every believer in Christ as already in heaven.
See what the Bible says about this:

"BUT GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, FOR HIS GREAT LOVE
WHEREWITH HE LOVED US,

"EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SINS, HATH QUICKENED US
TOGETHER WITH CHRIST (BY GRACE YE ARE SAVED),

"AND HATH RAISED US UP TOGETHER AND MADE US SIT
TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS:

"THAT IN THE AGES TO COME HE MIGHT SHOW THE EXCEED-
ING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US
THROUGH CHRIST JESUS" (Eph. 2:4-7).

Most sincere believers, poorly taught in the Word, are
concerned about getting to heaven, but as far as God is
concerned they are already there. They have been "made
accepted in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:6). God has given them a
position "in Christ."

We are well aware that most of God’s people know little
about this experientially, but God says that as far as He is
concerned, they are already in heaven, and this is what
matters. As Christ took our place on Calvary’s cross, God
now sees us in Christ, at His own right hand, the place of
favor and honor. This is why the Apostle Paul says to
believers in Christ:

"IF YE THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS
WHICH ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST SITTETH ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.

"SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS
ON THE EARTH.

"FOR YE ARE DEAD, AND YOUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN
GOD" (Col. 3:1-3).

And all this by the free grace of God:

"WHO HATH SAVED US, AND CALLED US WITH AN HOLY
CALLING, NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS, BUT ACCORDING
TO HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE, WHICH WAS GIVEN US IN
CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN" (II Tim. 1:9).

Our hearts go out to those of our readers who have not
yet received this "gift of the grace of God." "Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).
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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]

ALWAYS ABOUNDING

By Cornelius R. Stam

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable,
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).

We should note carefully that the Apostle Paul here
addresses only his brethren in Christ, those who have truly
been born again -- born into the family of God.

Furthermore, he sent this appeal to Christians every-
where: to "all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus
Christ our Lord" (I Cor. 1:2). He knew that there is a tend-
ency among all believers to be tempted to abandon the work
of the Lord through discouragement or carelessness, so he
pleads with us to be "stedfast" and "unmoveable," remind-
ing us that our labor is "not in vain in the Lord."

How we need this exhortation! We do not soon abandon
our businesses or homes. We toil on in spite of difficulties
and obstacles, and when the outlook is darkest we often
work the hardest. Sometimes our bodies suffer for it, but
we do not immediately give up.

And how much more urgent is the work of the Lord!
Souls are perishing all about us for whom Christ died. It is
our plain duty to pray for them and tell them of His love.
It is our responsibility to toil and sacrifice that they may
hear and believe the good news. What shall we say when
some day we stand before our Savior if we have been sat-
isfied merely to know Him ourselves? And what will He
say?

Let us then be up and doing, "always abounding in the
work of the Lord." Life is too short to fritter away the pre-
cious moments God has given us to proclaim His saving
grace. Let us tell them, then, by lip and by life, by our
testimony and by our behavior, that "Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners" and that "we have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the
riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).
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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]

CREATION AND CHRIST

By Cornelius R. Stam

When we believing Christians hear some "scientist"
speak of "our ancestors" roaming this earth, say, 40,000,000
years ago, we become upset, and exclaim: "What nonsense!"
Why? The answer is that we know that the speaker is not
stating scientific facts; he is propagating the long-disproven
theory of evolution. Worse than that, the speaker has de-
nied God’s own account of creation by disseminating a
theory far more difficult to believe.

Yet, when the believer hears a scientist refer to some
planet, say, 460,000,000 miles away he rejoices and ex-
claims: "How great is our God!" Why the difference? Ah,
because astronomy, unlike evolution, is basically a science.
Granted, some astronomers may go far afield when they
speculate on the origin of the universe; they may even
make many errors in their calculations, but astronomy
proper is nevertheless a science, based mainly on math-
ematics and physics. This has proved to be true as men
from earth have orbited the earth and the moon and have
landed on the moon, returning back to earth again. Indeed,
it is only a few months since two soft landings (of instru-
ments) were made on the planet Venus, about 67,000,000
miles away, and all the above with the earth, the moon and
Venus, not only travelling through space at incredible
speeds, but with each all the while revolving on its own
individual axis!

The Lord Jesus Christ dwelt in glory "far above all heav-
ens" in eternity past and came to earth to subject Himself to
humiliation and death only that He might pay the penalty
for our sins and redeem us to Himself:
       
"That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7).
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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]

FOR JESUS SAKE

By Cornelius R. Stam

"Delivered unto death for Jesus sake" (II Cor. 4:11).

There is much that we all do for our own sake, for the
sake of our children, our loved ones or others, but the real
test of the believers love for the Lord is what he does "for
Jesus sake."

Under the dispensation of Law our Lord told His disciples
that to be forgiven they must forgive:  "Forgive, and ye shall
be forgiven" (Luke 6:37), "but if ye forgive not men their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses"
(Matt. 6:15).

But now, under the dispensation of grace, He exhorts us
to forgive one another "even as God for Christs sake HATH
forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32).  The difference is striking.  Before
the cross: If you would be forgiven, forgive.  Now, in the
light of the cross: You have been graciously forgiven for
Christs sake.  In the light of this be tenderhearted and
forgiving toward others.

And we are to go farther than this: Not only are we to
forgive our brethren in Christ, but we are to be prepared to
show this attitude toward the world as well.  St. Paul said:
"For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself
servant unto all" (I Cor. 9:19), and referring to his perse-
cutions by unbelievers, he said: "We... are always delivered
unto death for Jesus sake" (II Cor. 4:11).  How many un-
believers would be won to Christ; how many of our Chris-
tian friends would be strengthened and helped, if we adopt-
ed this attitude toward others!

As to suffering itself, the Apostle also gladly bore this
"for Jesus sake."  In writing to the Corinthians, he said:  "I
take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in
persecutions, in distresses for Christs sake; for when I am
weak, then am I strong" (II Cor. 12:10).  He had learned that
in weakness he leaned the harder, prayed more, and was
brought closer to His Lord, and herein lay his spiritual
strength.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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