Two Minutes With The Bible

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

March 22, 2009

BETHLEHEM AND CALVARY
by Cornelius R. Stam

"Sweet Name come down from Heav'n above,
To win our heart's deep tender love;
As Bethlehem and Calv'ry prove:
My Jesus."

How true this old hymn is! Bethlehem and Calvary do indeed prove that the Lord Jesus Christ came from heaven to win us to himself.

St. Paul's declaration that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (ITim.1:15) takes in both Bethlehem and Calvary. At Bethlehem Christ showed His love for man, not merely by coming to be with us, but by becoming one of us.

Luke, "the beloved physician," wrote the famous "Gospel According to St. Luke" to show how truly man the Lord Jesus Christ was. Apart from sin, our Lord experienced all the emotions, the sorrows, the joys, the pains, the pleasures that we do. The Son of God actually became the Son of Man that the sons of men might become the sons of God.

But His life alone could not save us. His holiness would only expose our sin and condemn us. This is why the Apostle Paul declares that "Christ DIED for our sins" (ICor.15:3), and that "WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE" (Eph.1:7).

Those who believe this and trust Christ as their personal Saviour rejoice in the truth of the above poem. Their hearts have been won to the Blessed One who came from heaven to Bethlehem and Calvary because HE loved them.

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

March 23, 2009

PAUL, NOT ONE OF THE TWELVE
by Russell S. Miller


"For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office" (Rom.11:13).

These are Paul's inspired words in Romans 11:13. He is not one of the Twelve Apostles as many teach today and certainly was not chosen to take Judas' place. Acts 1:16-26 gives ample proof that Saul of Tarsus did not even qualify as a follower of Jesus Christ at that time, he was an unbeliever! He had not followed the Lord from John's baptism "unto that same day that [Jesus] was taken up from us" (Acts 1:22). Listen to Paul's own testimony as he later recounts his conversion before King Agrippa:

"And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities" (Acts 26:11).

When Paul finally does come upon the scene in the Acts of the Apostles, Acts 9:1,2 reveals him as "a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious" (ITim.1:13), on his way to imprison and "put to death" Christ's followers at Damascus (Acts 26:10). This is a far cry from being eligible for the position that Judas held with the disciples of the Lord. Paul was therefore most ineligible, for he had not seen Jesus Christ of Nazareth during our Lord's earthly ministry! The qualifications for the position that Judas held are clear enough:

"Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that He was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection" (Acts 1:21-22). The "lot" therefore fell to "Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles" (Acts 1:26).

Later, when Saul finally did get saved, it is the Lord Himself who stopped Saul in his tracks, and saved him from further persecution of Messiah's followers:

"And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? ... And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus" (Acts 22:7-11).

Thus, Paul is specially "chosen" by God through whom God's Son is to be revealed to all nations since the favored nation refused Messiah under their so-called "Great Commission." This is what makes Paul's ministry, and apostleship, so very distinct from that of the Twelve, and their kingdom gospel.

Furthermore, Colossians, chapter one, makes it clear that God began something very new and different with Paul's conversion--the Church which is the Body of Christ:

"Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the Church:

"Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the Word of God;

"EVEN THE MYSTERY WHICH HATH BEEN HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERATIONS, BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST TO HIS SAINTS:

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col.1:24-27).

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

March 24, 2009

IS REVIVAL POSSIBLE?
by Cornelius R. Stam


We have received responses from several friends who conclude from such passages as
II Tim. 3:1-13 that there cannot possibly be a revival before the Lord comes for His own.

We have never concurred in this view. Verses 2-7 of this passage describe the condition of the ungodly about us. These have "a form of godliness" but not the reality and it is these who will "wax worse and worse" (Vers. 5,13). "From such" the Spirit exhorts us to "turn away" (Ver. 5).

But why, in the midst of these "perilous times" should the Church not be strong and united? The Word of God often shines brightest when the days are darkest.

It is true that our Lord said about the coming "tribulation," that "because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matt. 24:12), but this was a prediction concerning a particular situation, and while similar causes often produce similar effects, this is not always so. Not infrequently the wickedness of the world has driven saints to their knees and to the Word, with blessed results.

True spiritual revival takes place in the blood-bought Church of God not in the wicked world about it. That which is dead cannot be revived but that which has life can and should be. We know of no Scripture that should deter us from praying for a true spiritual awakening among God's people. Indeed we must be careful lest we cease praying and toiling for a revival on the grounds that "times are getting worse and worse and there's not going to be, a revival."

It seems to us that one of the surest ways to grow spiritually indifferent ourselves is to conclude that God will not grant us a spiritual awakening no matter what we do.

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

March 25, 2009

THE ABUNDANT MERCY OF GOD
by Russell S. Miller


"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (IPet.1:3).

Upon several different occasions in the Gospels our Lord spoke of His coming death and resurrection (Matt.12:39-42; 16:21-26; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33,34), yet His disciples did not understand that He would die, much less that "CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS" as Paul later wrote to the Corinthians. Luke clearly states that all the disciples were totally ignorant of Christ's approaching death:

"And they understood NONE of these things: and this saying was HID from them, NEITHER KNEW THEY THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN" (Luke 18:31-34).

The Apostle Peter had believed Christ to be the very Son of God in his affirmation: "Thou art the Christ [Messiah], THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD" (Matt.16:16). This is what was "revealed" unto him of "My Father which is in Heaven" as the Lord states in Matthew 16:17. And Peter's reaction in Matthew 16:21-26 to this announcement of Christ's approaching crucifixion confirms that he most definitely did not understand Calvary's cross!

It was those "fifteen days" with the Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:18, as well as the light and understanding which that Jerusalem Council afforded this beloved brother (Acts 15:7-11; Gal.2:7-9), combined of course with the Spirit's working as recorded in Acts 10, 11, that opened Peter's eyes to see the truth of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Until Peter had met the Apostle Paul, he did not know what could free him from the law, "which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear" (Acts 15:10).

This is why Peter now writes concerning "the abundant mercy of God" and "the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." Hear what this Apostle has to say to his brethren about the very subject of "obedience" in their salvation today:

"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied" (I Peter 1:2).

This is very different from any thing he had ever preached before. A far cry from his "repentance and water baptism" on that momentous Day of Pentecost in Acts 2! At Pentecost he did not offer the death of Christ, and His shed blood, as the payment for sin. Rather he brought a stunning indictment against his own nation for having "killed the Prince of life" (Acts 3:14,15). The "remission of sins" was there based upon their repentance and submission to water baptism (Acts 2:38 ). Nothing was said in Acts 2 about the shed blood of Christ for salvation.

It is not until we come to Paul's epistles that we learn about Christ's shed blood "for the remission of sins":

"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS THAT ARE PAST, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, AT THIS TIME HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS: that He might be JUST, and the JUSTIFIER of him which BELIEVETH in Jesus" (Rom.3:24,25,26).

"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).

Brethren, "propitiation" is a Pauline concept of the Old Testament "mercy seat." Jesus Christ became the mercy seat, sprinkling His own blood upon Calvary's cross. And this is FIRST made known in the Pauline revelation. If God is therefore "satisfied" with Christ's redemptive work, shouldn't you be satisfied with His finished work also?

In Galatians, Chapters One and Two, we see that the Apostle Peter had comprehended this aspect of the "mystery" which had been "committed to his trust" through the Apostle Paul. In this he most assuredly came to see the grace message through Paul's ministry. This does not mean that God has changed His mind about the Kingdom promises to the "Little Flock" of Messiah's followers (Luke 12:32; Rom.11:29; IPet.2:9; IIPet.1:16). Don't worry. When He shall come, "at the revelation of Jesus Christ" with all His holy angels, the Twelve Apostles "shall sit upon Twelve Thrones, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel" (IPet.1:7; Matt.19:28; 25:31). However, it does mean that Peter "stood" in the very same position where all believers "stand" today, in "THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD" (I Peter 5:12)! The Apostle of the Circumcision had become well acquainted with "the present truth" as he writes in II Peter 1:12,13:

"Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in THE PRESENT TRUTH. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance."

The Apostle Peter had forsaken his Pentecostalism for "THE SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST." Thus he could write to "the strangers scattered" throughout Asia Minor:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which ACCORDING TO HIS ABUNDANT MERCY hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (IPet.1:3).

Thus in his first epistle, Peter's own words reveal his understanding of Paul's gospel and the grace message:

"FORASMUCH AS YE KNOW THAT YE WERE NOT REDEEMED WITH CORRUPTIBLE THINGS, AS SILVER AND GOLD, FROM YOUR VAIN CONVERSATION RECEIVED BY TRADITION FROM YOUR FATHERS;

"BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, AS OF A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH AND WITHOUT SPOT" (I Peter 1:18,19).

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

March 26, 2009

THE WORD OF TRUTH
by Cornelius R. Stam


In Eph. 1:13 the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and believing "the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation." This declaration is substantiated by many other passages of Scripture. Our Lord said: "He that heareth... and believeth... hath everlasting life" (John 5:24). This at a time when sacrifices and baptism were still required for the remission of sins. Even then men had to hear and believe to be saved, for "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17).

Now, however, salvation is received by hearing and believing alone. Works for salvation are not merely unnecessary; they are forbidden. Today salvation is "to him that worketh not, but believeth" (Rom. 4:5). "For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9).

God has changed His dealings with men from time to time down through the ages, teaching one lesson at a time. This is why it is so important to note the dispensational distinctions in Scripture, "rightly dividing the Word of truth."

Once the works of the Law were required for salvation: "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested" (Rom. 3:21) and men are saved solely by faith in Christ, "being justified freely by [God's] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24). We are saved, then, as we hear and believe what Paul calls, "the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation" (Eph. 1:13), and we are established in the faith as we obey II Tim. 2:15: "rightly dividing the Word of truth."

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

March 27, 2009

IT'S YOUR ATTITUDE
by Cornelius R. Stam


Many people fear that they will never reach heaven. Some try not to think about it, while others struggle to "be good," hoping that they will finally "make it." Very few, comparatively, are sure of heaven.

The real pity is that so few understand what it is that keeps people out of heaven. If you are confused about this, just remember that according to Scripture, it is not one's sins that keep him out of heaven, but his attitude.

God has made full provision for our sins. "Christ died for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3) and "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace"
(Eph. 1:7).

But God has made no provision for a self-righteous attitude. He gave the Law "that every mouth may be stopped and that all the world may be brought in guilty before God" (Rom. 3:19). Thus He does not want you to keep saying things in your own defense. In fact, before you can know God as your Savior, you must recognize Him as your Judge, righteously condemning you as a sinner.

Often, when capital crimes are involved, the defendant's attorney will tell him: "It will be to your advantage to plead guilty and to throw yourself on the mercy of the court." This is especially true of us as sinners in the sight of a holy God. If we will only plead guilty and cast ourselves upon His mercy we will find Him more than gracious, for He has already paid the penalty for our sins Himself.

Yes, unsaved friend, it will be to your eternal advantage to plead guilty before God and to cast yourself upon His mercy, "for the wages of sin is death, but THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD" (Rom. 6:23).

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

March 28, 2009

GRACE, AND HOW THIS AFFECTS US
by Cornelius R. Stam


Ask the average believer what the Bible word "grace" means, and he will doubtless reply, "unmerited favor".

Actually, however, grace is much more than this.

Subjectively, it is that loving attitude, or disposition, on God's part, from which all His kindness toward us flows.

Objectively, it is all the kindness that flows from His love toward us.

Thus we read in Ephesians 2:2-6 that we were "the children of disobedience" and therefore "by nature the children of wrath, even as others".

"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."

Note: This passage begins with those who were "children of disobedience" and "children of wrath" and, saving them "by grace," gives them a position in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus!

God's grace to us as sinners was great indeed, for:

"In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS [God's] GRACE."

But now, having given us a position <>in His beloved Son, God's grace goes out to us in still greater measure.

Ephesians 1:6 declares that God has "made us accepted [Lit., ‘engraced us'] in the Beloved".

Beholding us in Christ, God loves us and delights in us more than any father ever delighted in his son, or any grandfather in that precious grandchild.

Thus, while in Ephesians l:7 we read that we have "redemption...the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace", in Ephesians 2:7 we see these riches of grace increased to us "exceedingly", now that we occupy a position "in the Beloved":

"That in the ages to come He might show THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE..."

How?

"...in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus"!

What a prospect! Through the ages of eternity God will lavish His loving kindness upon us to demonstrate to all the universe "the exceeding riches of His grace"!

"What a prospect, child of glory,
  Doth the future hold in store!
By the wildest flights of fancy
  Thou couldst never ask for more.
Heir of God; joint heir forever
  With His own beloved Son
God could not to you have promised
  More of bliss than He has done!"

-Author Unknown

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

March 29, 2009

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 engines pour water on the burning building, when one man spotted a friend in the crowd. "Hi Bob!" he shouted: "This is the first time I've seen you at church!" "Well," responded the other, "This is the first time I've seen a church on fire."

We write this as a special appeal to true, born-again Christians. Isn't 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.

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

March 30, 2009

MOSES AND THE PROPHETS
by Cornelius R. Stam


Now our Lord, when on earth, encouraged, indeed He even challenged His audiences to "Search the Scriptures" for themselves (John 5:39). Indeed since God revealed Himself and His plan of salvation in the written Word, we are responsible, each one for himself to study the Scriptures. When the rich man Dives begged Abraham to be allowed to go and warn his five brothers about the horrors of hell, Abraham replied, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them". And when the rich man urged that a word from him would be more effective, Abraham answered, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (Luke 16:29,31).

Don't depend upon your clergyman, my dear friend, to interpret the Scriptures for you. See for yourself what God says in His Word. For "every one of us shall give an account of himself to God", says Romans 14:12. And it won't be enough in that day to say, my minister or my priest told me so and so. You are responsible, you, to search the Scriptures for yourself, to see whether these things are so.

Why don't you search the Scriptures, especially the epistles of Paul, our apostle. For it is Paul who says, "For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the Apostle of the Gentiles [Nations], I magnify mine office" (Rom.11:13). Learn in his epistles this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory and how it is that Christ's death on Calvary's cross can save you.

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

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

March 31, 2009

A FAMOUS YOUNG MAN
by Cornelius R. Stam


Has it ever occurred to you how Timothy became so famous a young man?

H. L. Hastings tells of a group of British archaeologists who, years ago, came upon a huge marble slab, evidently very ancient, high atop a mountain where no one would be apt to find it -- or remove it.

Experts were called upon to decipher the hieroglyphics which covered the marble monument. They found them to be a declaration by an ancient ruler of his great exploits, and an explanation that he had used this means of recording his deeds so as to secure to himself everlasting fame.

The trouble was that no one could find any historical account of a king who bore this name or who had accomplished the glorious exploits recorded on the marble slab! Thus the archaeologists had found, engraved in marble, a glowing self-tribute to -- whom? It might as well have been to nobody!

By striking contrast, young Timothy has been well known by Christian people all over the world for nearly two thousand years! During all this time, without interruption, he has been read about, written about, preached about and used as an example of consistent Christian conduct. Yet, have you ever read one great deed done by Timothy? Have you ever read of one great sermon from his lips, one brilliant book or letter from his pen, one great exploit of any kind? No, you hardly know more than that he was a young preacher, a friend of Paul, and that he had been taught the Scriptures in early life by his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice (II Tim. 1:5), so that Paul could now write to him:

"...FROM A CHILD THOU HAST KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, WHICH ARE ABLE TO MAKE THEE WISE UNTO SALVATION, THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS" (II Tim. 3:15).

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

April 1, 2009

THE PROMISE GOD MADE TO HIMSELF
by Cornelius R. Stam


"In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world [or, "ages"] began" (Titus 1:2).

"The Cretians are always liars" (Ver. 12). "God... cannot lie" (Ver. 2). What a contrast! And how reassuring to know that our salvation depends upon the Word of God, who cannot lie!

Our opening passage, above, however, states that God made this promise "before the world [or, "ages"] began. How can this be? There is no indication that He made this promise to the angels, and there was no one else to whom He could have made it -- except Himself, and this is exactly the truth of the matter. Have we not all made earnest promises to ourselves?

Before God ever made one promise to any man, He promised Himself that He would provide salvation and all the riches of His grace for sinners through Calvary's finished work, and the promises later made to men were but progressive revelations of a firm purpose He had already made in His own heart of love. Paul, the apostle of "the mystery," refers to this blessed fact again and again in his epistles:

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery... the hidden... WHICH GOD HATH ORDAINED BEFORE THE WORLD UNTO OUR GLORY" (I Cor. 2:7).

"According as HE HATH CHOSEN US IN HIM [CHRIST] BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD..." (Eph. 1:4).

"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, BEING PREDESTINATED ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIM WHO WORKETH ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL" (Eph. 1:11).

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to HIS OWN PURPOSE AND [HIS OWN] GRACE, WHICH WAS GIVEN US IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN" (II Tim. 1:9).

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

April 2, 2009

THE APOSTLE OF GRACE
by Cornelius R. Stam


The conversion of Saul of Tarsus was an amazing event. Saul loathed the very name of Christ. He blasphemed Him and caused others to be tortured so as to compel them to blaspheme that holy name. He led his nation and the world in rebellion against the resurrected, glorified Christ -- the world which had already disowned and crucified the lowly Jesus.

But as Saul went to Damascus, still "breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1), God did a wonderful thing. Rather than crush the leader of the world's rebellion, He saved him. Christ broke through the heavens, as it were, to speak words of pity to His greatest enemy on earth. As a result Saul's rebellious spirit was broken and in one moment the pitiless persecutor became the docile, indeed the devoted follower of Christ.

More than this, Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor, became Paul the Apostle. To him the glorified Lord committed "the dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph. 3:2) and "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). Now he went everywhere proclaiming grace, telling men how God loved them, how Christ had come into the world and had gone to Calvary to pay man's debt of sin so that believing sinners might be saved.

"The gospel of the grace of God," found in Paul's epistles, does not blame anyone for the death of Christ. Rather it presents the cross as good news. It declares that "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7). It says that "God hath concluded them all in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all" (Rom. 11:32) and that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Rom. 5:20). Thus the vilest sinner may believe and rejoice in the consciousness of sins forgiven.

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

April 3, 2009

WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?
by Cornelius R. Stam


We have shown in a previous article that God is for sinners and desires their good. We have shown how He proved this by paying for their sins Himself as God the Son at Calvary. But if this is true, how much more must it be so with regard to His own children who have trusted Christ as their Savior?

How often -- and how significantly -- the Apostle Paul uses the words "for us" in this connection!

In Eph. 5:2 we read that "Christ... loved us, and hath given Himself for us." In Rom. 5:8 we are told that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." In II Cor. 5:21: "[God] hath made Him to be sin for us." And in Gal. 3:13 we read: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us."

And the love that brought Him down from heaven to die in shame and disgrace for our sins is not affected by our many failures as Christians now. In Heb. 9:24 we read that our Lord has ascended to heaven "now to appear in the presence of God for us." In Rom. 8:34 we learn that He is "at the right hand of God" to "make intercession for us." And in Heb. 7:25 we read that He is able to save us "to the uttermost" because "He ever lives to make intercession for us."

Our failures now, after having trusted Christ as Savior, may -- and should -- trouble our consciences and thus hinder our fellowship with God, but this does not change the fact that we are God's dear children through faith in Christ, who died for all our sins. Unworthy though we still may be, therefore, God would have us come into His presence to be spiritually renewed.

"What shall we then say to these things? IF GOD BE FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?" (Rom. 8:31).

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

April 4, 2009

HOW GOD EMPOWERS HIS WITNESSES
by Cornelius R. Stam


As we know, Paul wrought mighty miracles, as Peter and the Pentecostal believers had done. Indeed, a comparison of Paul's miracles with those of Peter shows Paul's to have been the mightier. This was mainly in divine confirmation of his apostleship, since Paul was not one of the twelve (II Cor. 12:11,12).

But it is clear from a study of Paul's ministry and his epistles that these miraculous demonstrations were to vanish away as the dispensation of grace was fully ushered in (See I Cor. 13:8; Rom. 8:22,23; II Cor. 4:16-5:4; 12:10; Phil. 3:20,21; I Tim. 5:23; II Tim. 4:20). In fact, in the last seven of Paul's epistles nothing whatever is said about signs, miracles, healings, tongues, visions or the casting out of demons.

How, then, does God now empower His servants in their conflict with Satan and his demons? The answer is: by the Holy Spirit through His Word, as it is preached with conviction. There is a great volume of evidence as to this in Paul's epistles, including his early epistles. Two examples:

I Cor. 2:4: "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing [persuasive] words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."

Mark well, this was power in his preaching, not in performing miracles. Indeed at the very same time when he proclaimed his God-given message with such power, he himself was very weak, for in the preceding verse he says:

"And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling."

The other example is I Thes. 1:5:

"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance..."

In Thessalonica too, Paul had suffered much opposition and persecution, until the whole city was in an uproar (Acts 17:1-5), and this may well have been the result of his powerful preaching. Out of the "uproar," however, sprang the beloved Thessalonian church, an example and inspiration to those won to Christ under more benign circumstances.

[nChrist]

_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription

For Questions Or Comments:  berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________

April 6, 2009

The Path of a Good Soldier
by Paul M. Sadler


"Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." -- II Tim. 2:1,2

If we were to ask the average Christian to write down what they expect in a spiritual leader the list would probably read something like this: A man of God must have completed college and seminary. He should be eloquent and be able to articulate his thoughts well, enthusiastic, insightful, creative, and have a good sense of humor. In addition, he should not have too many shortcomings, and be well dressed.

Interestingly, just the opposite was true of the spiritual leaders found in the Scriptures. Most of the giants of the faith in biblical times were unlearned and ignorant men by the world's standard. The Bible is a who's who of shortcomings: Noah's drunkenness, Moses' speech impediment, David's adulterous ways, Peter's denials, Paul's repulsive appearance, etc. Nevertheless, God used these souls mightily to the pulling down of strongholds. As it has been said, "God took a handful of nobodies and made somebodies in His sight."

While we are an advocate of higher education, intellectualism is not a prerequisite to be used of the Lord. God has accomplished great things through those who merely had a willing heart. Timothy, for example, wasn't educated at the Ivy League Schools of Jerusalem, nonetheless, God chose him to carry the torch of grace after Paul's martyrdom.