Two Minutes With The Bible

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Two Minutes With The Bible - GODS PROMISE vs. MANS EFFORTS


May 25

GOD’S PROMISE vs. MAN’S 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 promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise."

The Apostle Paul, God’s 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 let’s go back to that phrase: "the law worketh wrath." Many people somehow do not see this. Even some clergymen 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 stopped, 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 knowledge 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 - BAPTISM AND THE REMISSION OF SINS


May 26

BAPTISM AND THE REMISSION OF SINS

By Cornelius R. Stam

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). The twelve apostles preached and practiced exactly this.

When Peter’s hearers at Pentecost were convicted of their sins and asked: “Men and brethren, what shall we do” Peter did not tell them that Christ had died for their sins and that they could receive salvation as the gift of God’s grace, apart from religion or works. Rather he said:

“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

Years ago, in a series of debates on dispensationalism, the author asked his opponent: “Suppose, after a Sunday evening service, some of your hearers were convicted of their sins and asked you and your co-workers: 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Would you tell them what Peter told his convicted sinners at Pentecost?” “Why, of course!” he exclaimed. “In those words?” I persisted. He thought for a moment and then replied: “Well, I guess not exactly in those words.” The fact is that this pastor would not at all have said to his hearers what Peter said to his.

Even though a Baptist, he would not have said: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins,” for he believed that subjection to water baptism should be left to each person’s conscience, and he did not believe that it had anything to do with salvation. He would doubtless have said to any inquirers what Paul said when the convicted Gentile jailor asked: “What must I do to be saved?” Like Paul, he would have replied: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.. .“ (Acts 16:31). Peter at Pentecost preached what he was commanded to preach under his commission:

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark  16:16), but when God raised up Paul, that other apostle, He sent him to proclaim “the gospel of the grace of God” and the
finished work of Christ.

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - CHURCH-GOING


May 27

CHURCH-GOING

By Cornelius R. Stam

There is an important passage on church-going in Hebrews 10:23-25:

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering.... And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is... "

We are often urged, these days: "Go to the church of your choice." The implication is that one church is as good as another -- just so you go to church. But this is not so. The Scriptures teach that the true Church is composed of those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior who died for their sins. Such are told to "hold fast" the faith which they have professed, without wavering. This must come first, for it is only those who have first exercised such faith who can meet together with unity of mind and purpose to encourage each other "to love and to good works."

It is a truly blessed experience for those who have been saved by the grace of God, to assemble to express their praise together in song, to lift their hearts together in prayer and to join together in the study of God’s Word so as to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

In these days of tension and confusion there is a tendency for even the most sincere Christians to be so occupied with temporal things that they deprive themselves of the encouragement and spiritual uplift that comes from getting together with other Christians. But these are just the times when true believers need the encouragement of each other’s company and should particularly remember the admonition of Scripture not to forsake "the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is."

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - THE GOSPEL OF GRACE OF GOD


May 28

THE GOSPEL OF GRACE OF GOD

By Russell S. Miller

"Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph.1:2).

The above verse is the theme of all the Epistles of St. Paul where we find how to obtain both "grace" and "peace". The words of this verse are found at the beginning of every one of his letters.

So, which would you rather have, the "grace" and "peace" of God, or would you prefer to see the Lord Jesus Christ on that "white horse" of the Book of the Revelation?

"AND I SAW HEAVEN OPENED, AND BEHOLD A WHITE HORSE; AND HE THAT SAT UPON HIM WAS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE, AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS HE DOTH JUDGE AND MAKE WAR" (Rev.19:11-16).

It is on account of the wickedness of men in seeking to run the world without Him that He judges the earth and makes war.

However, "...now is the Day of salvation" (IICor. 6:2). It is in this Day and Age of Grace that God is saving men and women, boys and girls, by grace through faith without works (Eph.2:8,9). We cannot earn heaven, of course, for our salvation is "the gift of God", purchased for us by Christ on Calvary's cross. Paul therefore declares in his Epistle to the Corinthians with regards to "the gospel of your salvation" (Eph.1:13):

"...How that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (ICor.15:3,4).

This redemption that is in Christ Jesus is ours by simple faith in Him.

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

Nevertheless, we can, and should, draw nigh unto Him, through faith in His blessed Word, the Bible. Read especially the epistles of St. Paul, over and over again, until they become part and parcel of yourself, for therein is our only salvation:

"WHEREFORE HE IS ABLE TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST THAT COME UNTO GOD BY HIM, SEEING HE EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM" (Heb.7:25).

There is no peace in this world, so worth having, as "peace with God".

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - HOW SMALL WE ARE!


May 29

HOW SMALL WE ARE!

By Cornelius R. Stam

Just behind me, in the super-market check-out line, were two little boys. I noticed that the older one kept looking up at me and then down at his brother again several times in succession. Finally, nudging his little brother and pointing up at me, he said: "Hey, Joey, look how little you are!"

Those who have seen me in the flesh know that I am not exactly small, physically, and I can easily imagine that, standing next to these little fellows, I made them look small indeed!

But all this pertained only to the physical, and as I left that super-market, I began asking myself: "How big are you, actually, in the sight of God?" I thought of Psalm 8:3,4, where David mused over the same question:

"When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man that Thou art mindful of Him...?"

Yet we are so important to the heart of God that He entered the stream of humanity, as it were, and became one of us in Christ, Son of God and Son of Man. Why? Hebrews 2:14,15 gives us one important reason:

"...that through death [His death for our sins] 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."

Moreover, insignificant as we are in ourselves, He would use us mightily to His glory for, according to I Cor. 1:27,28, He has "chosen" the "foolish," the "weak," the "base," the "despised," and those who "are not" to accomplish His purposes and to bring to naught the plans of the world’s great ones.

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - INEXCUSABLE


May 30

INEXCUSABLE

By Cornelius R. Stam

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 headon. 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?

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - ACCESS TO GOD BY GRACE


May 31

ACCESS TO GOD BY GRACE

By Russell S. Miller

If "grace" reigns today, and the Apostle Paul states emphatically that it does, then it must reign from "the throne of grace" in Heaven. "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But 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" (Rom.5:20,21).

Thank God that grace was dispensed when He could have justly poured out His righteous judgment upon a Christ-rejecting world. There is nothing in prophecy to prevent His wrath upon mankind except His own heart of love toward an undeserving world. God, in grace, reached down from heaven to save His chief enemy on earth, Saul of Tarsus. The very one, who represented a doomed world, was also the one to whom our Lord was pleased to reveal "the riches of His grace" and "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph.1:7; 3:8,11).

In the Epistles of St. Paul, we have "grace" and "peace" to enter God’s presence without fear through the finished work of Christ on Calvary:

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus" (Heb.10:19).

In this new dispensation Jews and Gentiles are bidden by God, Himself, to come confidently into His presence "through Jesus Christ our Lord": "IN WHOM WE HAVE BOLDNESS AND ACCESS WITH CONFIDENCE BY THE FAITH OF HIM" (Eph.3:11,12).

Indeed, Old Testament saints could not even imagine the access we have today into God’s presence "by His own blood" (Heb.9:12). In grace He gives us a full and complete audience whenever we call:

"LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY UNTO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED" (Heb. 4:14-16).

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - JEHOVAH IS HIS NAME


Jun 1

JEHOVAH IS HIS NAME

By Russell S. Miller

In Genesis 15:5,6, God told Abraham to look up and count the stars, for "So shall thy seed be", and Abraham "believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness". But who is the "God" in whom Abraham believed, what is His name?

When the Israelites were in the bondage of Egyptian slavery and Moses was commanded to deliver them out of Egypt, he also inquired about God’s name:

"...Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name?, what shall I say unto them?

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Ex.3:13,14).

Now in Exodus 6:3, the Lord again spoke to Moses: "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by My name JEHOVAH was I not known to them".

So it was Jehovah, the Lord God Almighty, in whom Abraham believed, the same Lord who "made Heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is" (Gen.1:1; Ex.20:11; Eph.3:9).

In John 8:56 Christ spoke to the Jews of His day about Abraham’s God:

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad". How often in John’s gospel the Lord speaks this truth, that "...Before Abraham was, I AM" (8:56; 6:35; 8:12; 10:7-11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1-5). This is most interesting, because, in the darkness of that night of Christ’s betrayal and arrest, they fell over "backward" upon hearing those two little words, "I AM" (John 18:5,6). The Eternal God was in their presence! And they could only arrest Him, as He voluntarily surrendered to God’s purpose.

So, Jehovah, of the Old Testament, is the Lord Jesus Christ, of the New Testament.

In his epistles, the Apostle Paul relates that this same JESUS "took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil.2:7,8).

Thus, the Apostle points peoples of all nationalities to the Christ of Calvary’s cross as the only means of salvation today:

"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).

Jehovah means Saviour, Jesus Christ is our only Saviour, consequently, God will also "count" your "faith" for "righteousness", if you will simply believe what the Bible says about Jesus Christ:

"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins ... that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in JESUS" (Rom.3:24-26).

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - God's Gifts to His Church


Jun 2

God's Gifts to His Church

By Paul M. Sadler, President

Scripture Reading:

"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry."
  -- Ephesians 4:11-13

Paul warns us about those who, whether wittingly or unwittingly, would spread unsound doctrine among us.  We are living in a time when some of the brethren seem to deem it important to find something new.  Of course, it is not our intent to discourage anyone in regard to exercising the "Berean spirit."  However, care should be taken not to undermine the foundation upon which our faith rests.  We do well to remember that the "Doctrinal Statement" our forefathers forged for us was a product of intense debate with the denominational leaders of their day.  Each plank of the statement was carefully crafted as a defense and confirmation of the Fundamentals of the faith and Paul's gospel.  Therefore, let us not be too quick to challenge those things which are "tried and true."

At this late hour, there are those who tell us that the "gifts" of evangelists, pastors and teachers or pastor-teachers are no longer in operation today.  Some have even gone as far to say that the enabling "gifts" have also passed.  This flies in the face of our "Doctrinal Statement," which has served us well for over fifty years.  It states:

"The gifts necessary for the ministry of the Body of Christ are those enumerated in Eph. 4:7-16.  Of these, only the gifts of evangelists and pastor-teachers are in operation today.  All the sign gifts of the Acts period, such as tongues, prophecy and healing (I Cor. 12:1-31), being temporary in character, have ceased (I Cor. 13:8-11)."

Here in Ephesians, one of Pauls later epistles, the apostle sets the tone for the course of this dispensation.  Clearly, the context of this portion concerns itself with the gifts God has given to His Church.  It is true that the gifts of "apostles" and "prophets" passed with the completion of the Word of God (I Cor. 13:8-13 cf. Col. 1:25). Once the Word of God was dispensed, these two offices and the gifted men who held them were nonessential.  We now have something far better, the written revelation that they handed down to us, which is to be obeyed in matters of faith and practice.

There is no indication, whatsoever, that the gifts of evangelists, pastors and teachers have ever been withdrawn.  In fact, Paul plainly states their purpose: "For the perfecting [maturing] of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the Body of Christ."  And how long shall this continue?  "Till we ALL come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge [Gr. epignosis -- full knowledge] of the Son of God" (Eph. 4:13).

Surely, it could not be said there has ever been a period in Church history, past or present, that the "unity of the faith" has been attained, much less a "full knowledge" of the Son of God.  But this is exactly what we are being asked to believe; that is, the unity of the faith has been attained. Perhaps, we should put this to the Berean test.

Creation: Some believe God created all things in six literal twenty-four hour days.  Others teach the "ruin and reconstruction theory" that God created, destroyed and re-created.  This is commonly called the "gap theory" which places millions or billions of years between the original creation and the re-creation.

Redemption: The battle has raged for centuries over whether Christ died for the sins of all mankind or merely for the sins of the elect. Which do you believe?

Things to Come: It is well known there are those who believe the events covered in the Book of Revelation are entirely futuristic. Many would challenge this assertion as absurd.  They teach that the early chapters of the Apocalypse describe the various stages of Church history up to the present "Laodicean" age.  If we agree that there are two camps of interpretation on any Biblical subject, then we have yet to come into the unity of the faith.

There is not one scintilla of evidence that the "unity of the faith" has ever been attained by all.  Even in Paul's day, the saints were wielding the sword of the Spirit against one another (II Tim. 1:15 cf. 2:17-19).  In addition, we must inquire: Has the Church come to a full knowledge of the Son of God?  That is, of His person, work and present heavenly ministry.  We shall answer this question with a question: Has the Church, which is His Body, acknowledged the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the Mystery?

The "unity of the faith" and a "full knowledge" of Christ is a goal set before us that will never be fully attained until the Rapture. Thus, the responsibility of Gods gifts to His Church is to proclaim the whole counsel of God in light of the Pauline epistles.  Why? that the saints might be established in the faith!

There is also an experiential side to this truth as well.  When God called me into the ministry nearly thirty years ago, it was definitive.  Other pastors have testified of similar experiences, which confirms that the "gifts and callings of God are without repentance" (Rom. 11:29).  Beware of those who would rob you of this precious truth!

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - MELTING HEARTS


Jun 3

MELTING HEARTS

By Cornelius R. Stam

Melting hearts, in Scripture, are consistently associated with discouragement and fear. Note a few examples:

"And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt..." (II Sam. 17:10).

"Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt" (Isa. 13:7).

"The heart melteth and the knees smite together..." (Nah. 2:10).

Christians, therefore, should not pray for melted hearts, as so many do. There are too many believers with melting hearts now! Indeed, men of God, down through the ages, have always found it a real task to keep the hearts of Christians from melting. Fear can easily become cowardice and cowardice, like courage, is extremely contagious. For this reason God explicitly instructed the military officers of Israel to announce to their armies:

"What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his heart" (Deut. 20:8).

If ever God’s people needed confidence and courage it is in the day of crisis -- especially spiritual crisis -- in which we live. Here Paul’s word to the Ephesian believers is appropriate:

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against [wicked spirits] in high places" (Eph. 6:12).

Thank God! While the opposition of our adversary during "this present evil age" calls for special courage and steadfastness of heart, God has made particular provision for us, for He has given us more light on His Word than was given those of former ages and we can meet the enemy with "the whole armor of God." Moreover we have God’s Word through Paul, that battle-scarred warrior:

"God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God" (II Tim. 1:7,8).

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - GOOD NEWS FROM CALVARY


Jun 4

GOOD NEWS FROM CALVARY

By Cornelius R. Stam

All through the Old Testament the cross is but dimly seen. Though a hundred historical characters and a hundred more Levitical sacrifices and rituals were typical of Christ and His finished work, not once does the Old Testament state this. The silence is profound. The clearest Old Testament prophecy of Christ’s death, Isaiah 53, does not even specify who the Sufferer would be.

It was the same during our Lord’s stay on earth, for only toward the close of His ministry do we read: "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples how that He must go unto Jerusalem and suffer... and be killed..." (Matt. 16:21). And what was their response? "Then Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him" (Ver. 22). Luke 18:34 states three times that they did not have the slightest idea that He would even die, much less did they understand all that His death would accomplish. Even at Pentecost Peter blamed his hearers for the death of Christ and said to them:

"repent and be baptized every one of you... for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). The twelve were preaching "the gospel of the kingdom" and knew little about the cross and its purpose.

Not until the Apostle Paul, that other apostle, do we have what is properly called "the preaching of the cross," i.e., as good news. And in Paul’s great message our Lord is no longer seen as the Victim, but as the Victor, not merely after death, or over death, but in death. His death itself is seen as His greatest triumph. In Heb. 10:12,14 we read:

"...after He had offered one sacrifice for sins [He] sat down... for by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." And in Col. 2:14,15 Paul describes Christ at Calvary nailing the Law to the cross and utterly defeating Satan and his hosts, "triumphing over them in it (i.e., in the cross)."  Little wonder the Apostle exclaimed: "God forbid that I should boast, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Gal. 6:14).

________________________

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One year's worth of Two Minutes With The Bible daily devotional articles are also available in book form, along with many other Bible study materials, in the Literature Corner section of our website at:
https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/literature

[nChrist]

Two Minutes With The Bible - THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD


Jun 5

THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD

By Cornelius R. Stam

"Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (I Cor. 1:20).

This challenge was hurled at the intellectual world of nineteen hundred years ago, so famous for its philosophy, literature and art. Nor are these the words of one who himself lacked the benefits of higher learning. Rather, they flowed from the pen of one of the most learned men, one of the greatest thinkers of all time: the Apostle Paul. More than this, they are found in that Book of books, the Bible, which has withstood, not barely but magnificently, all the attacks of a thousand critics through centuries of time. This Book says:

"The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God" (I Cor. 3:19).

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov. 9:10).
 
Actually, the "intellectuals" in any age are those who assent to the theories of those who agree with each other that they are intellectual! Dissent from them and you have automatically branded yourself an illiterate!

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

"And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

"That no flesh should glory in His presence" (I Cor. 1:27-29).

________________________

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[nChrist]

Two Minutes With The Bible - TRUE LIBERTY


Jun 6

TRUE LIBERTY

By Cornelius R. Stam

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

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

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

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

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

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written. Cursed is every one that CONTINUETH not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law, to do them" (Gal. 3:10). Thank God, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). Man always responds better to grace than to law. The law was "added because of transgressions" (Gal. 3:19). "By the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20). But Christ died for our sins and now true believers serve God from gratitude and love.

Hence Rom. 6:14 says: "Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law but under grace." Since Christ has redeemed us from the law (Gal. 4:5) God says to every true believer:

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

________________________

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[nChrist]

Two Minutes With The Bible - WHERE DO YOU STAND?


Jun 7

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

By Cornelius R. Stam

Joshua 5:13 and 14 contain a lesson which every believer should learn. God had appointed Joshua to lead the people of Israel into the land of Canaan. It was just before the battle of Jericho that the great leader looked up to see a man with a drawn sword facing him. His sudden appearance must have startled Joshua, but he showed no trace of fear -- not Joshua!

Advancing toward the man Joshua demanded: "Art thou for us or for our adversaries?" No wonder the answer brought him to his knees! He had been standing face to face with the captain of the Lord’s hosts, no doubt Michael, the angelic prince of Israel (See Dan. 10:21 and 12:1).

The question was not whose side was the angel of God on, but whose side was Joshua on! Was he himself in harmony with God’s will?

What a lesson to learn! In the constant battle over truth and error there is a tendency for Christians to demand of other Christians: "Whose side are you on? Are you for us or for our adversaries?"

If this is as far as we have gotten in our service for the Lord we still have much to learn, for the great question is not: "Are you on my side?" but "Am I on God’s side?"

God’s truth will prevail. His purposes will be carried out, and even though we might be on the side of the most powerful and influential of men, we will surely be driven to defeat if we are not in harmony with God’s Word and will. Should we not all fall on our faces with Joshua, then, and ask: "What saith my Lord unto His servant?"

________________________

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[nChrist]

Two Minutes With The Bible - SMALL CHANGE AND A FREE GIFT


Jun 8

SMALL CHANGE AND A FREE GIFT

By Cornelius R. Stam

Has the cashier at the restaurant or the check-out girl at the supermart been asking you: "Do you have the two cents?" or "You don’t have the change, do you?" If so, it’s because there is a coin shortage all over the U.S. and will be for some time.

All kinds of coin-using machines have created a shortage of coins for other purposes. Isn’t it strange: a penny is hardly worth picking up these days, and President Eisenhower called our dollars "dollarettes," yet people seem to be spending more money in small amounts.

You can make more and more purchases with coins these days. Some people say that you can buy anything with money, but they’re wrong -- very wrong.

The things we need most cannot be bought with any amount of money. The air we breathe, the water we drink (we pay only for the service), love of family and friends. These things can’t be bought. And the most precious treasure of all: salvation, eternal life, can’t be bought at any price.

God doesn’t want our money. He calls it  "filthy lucre." He’s not going into business, selling houses and lots in heaven, much less will He pervert justice and pronounce us innocent for a consideration. But He does pity and love us and He can and will give us eternal life if we trust in the merits of the One who died to pay the penalty for our sins. "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 yourselves, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD" (Eph. 2:8).

Our Lord said to the Samaritan woman: "If thou knewest the gift of God... thou wouldest have asked..." (John 4:10). Have you asked?

________________________

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