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February 1, 2010

THE GRAVECLOTHES - CONVINCING EVIDENCE OF RESURRECTION
by Russell S. Miller


When Peter and John had come to the sepulchre, John outran Peter, but Peter rushed immediately into the tomb upon his arrival, “…and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about His head…. Then went in also that other disciple [John], which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew NOT the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead” (John 20:6-9).

But what was it that “he saw”? What had they seen in that sepulchre? It must have been some very convincing evidence! What was this evidence in that tomb that caused them to believe apart from the Scriptures? And what exactly was it that they had believed?

The napkin, or handkerchief, a head-dress, “that [had been] about His head, [was] not lying with the linen clothes, but [was rather] wrapped together in a place by itself” (John 20:7).

When the Lord raised Lazarus from the dead, he “came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: AND HIS FACE WAS BOUND ABOUT WITH A NAPKIN” and Jesus told the Jews, and Mary and Martha, “Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44). The Greek word here, “luo,” to loose, unbind, release, is used by Christ. So they took the graveclothes from off Lazarus, and unbound him, allowing him to go free.

The evidence in Joseph’s tomb was remarkable. When Christ arose from the dead the head-dress or napkin and the linen clothes remained just as He lay in them, undisturbed. This is more than remarkable, rare, or extraordinary, it was most astonishing and miraculous evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Clearly He was not there, and that no “gardener” had taken Him away was also so obviously evident. That the grave could not hold Him is manifest proof that He possessed “the Spirit of holiness” (Romans 1:4; Hebrews 7:26). There was no sin in Him to hold Him in the grave—NOT a chance! The angel rolled the stone away from the door that the disciples, and the women, might see the empty tomb. Indeed, the Lord had already come forth, and He came through that solid stone door much as He had done, “where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews,” in John 20:19.

“He is not here, but is risen; remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee” (Luke 24:6).

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February 2, 2010

THREE TIMES WHEN THE LORD WOULDN'T ANSWER
by Cornelius R. Stam


In the various accounts of our Lord's earthly ministry we find three occasions when He declined to answer those who appealed to Him or questioned Him.

First there is the Gentile woman of Matthew 15:21-28. Her daughter was possessed of a demon and in her trouble she appealed to the Lord to help her, "but He answered her not a word." Finally, in His grace He did help her, but not until He had taught her the lesson that as a Gentile she had no claim on Him. As Romans 1:28 tells us, the Gentiles had been "given up" because "they did not like to retain God in their knowledge." In this connection we Gentiles should read carefully Ephesians 2:11,12 and see how utterly without hope we are apart from the grace of God.

Next there was a Jewess, in trouble of a different kind. She had been caught in adultery and was brought to him for judgment (John 8:1-11). Unlike the Gentile woman, she belonged to the chosen race and possessed God's holy Law, a distinct advantage -- unless you are a law-breaker. Our Lord also helped her in grace, but not until He had demonstrated that the law is the great leveler of mankind, bringing all guilty before God (Romans 3:19).

But finally we find how it was that our Lord could show grace -- and do it justly -- to both Jew and Gentile, for in the third instance we find the Lord Himself in trouble. On trial for His life before the representatives of Hebrew and Roman law, He is accused of all sorts of wicked crimes. But on this occasion too, He declines to answer.

First Caiaphas, the High Priest, said to Him: "Answerest Thou nothing? What is it which these witness against Thee? But Jesus held His peace..." (Matthew  26:62,63).

Next Pilate, the Gentile judge, said: "Hearest Thou not how many things they witness against Thee? And He answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly" (Matthew 27:13-14).

Why did our Lord not answer and defend Himself? Because He had come into the world specially to die for man's sins. Had the sinners of all ages been there to accuse Him of their sins, He would still have remained speechless for He stood there as man's representative, so that we might be "justified freely by God's grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24).

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February 3, 2010

TRUE EVANGELISM
by Cornelius R. Stam


In St. Paul's mighty Epistle to the Romans he declares "the gospel [good news] of God... concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:1-3).

The good news which Paul proclaimed was essentially about Christ. He was always talking about Christ. His epistles were filled with Christ. In his message Christ was everything.

This is in striking contrast to much of modern evangelism, which is not Christ-centered, but man-centered. Dr. A. W. Tozer, shortly before his death, wrote:

"The flaw in current evangelism lies in its humanistic approach... It is frankly fascinated by the great, noisy, aggressive world with its big names, its hero worship, its wealth and pageantry... This gross misapprehension of the truth is back of much... of our present evangelical activity...

"This concept of Christianity is a radical error, and because it touches the souls of men it is a dangerous, even deadly, error... It is little more than a weak humanism allied with weak Christianity to give it ecclesiastical respectability... Invariably it begins with man and his needs and then looks around for God, while true Christianity reveals God as searching for man to deliver him from his ambitions."

Tozer was right in this. God's good news for the world is about Christ and His power and love in defeating Satan, overcoming death, nailing the Law to His cross and paying for man the just penalty for sin, so that all who believe might be justified. This is why Paul's gospel is called in Scripture "the gospel [good news] of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24) and "the gospel of the glory of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

To enter experientially into the truth of this good news is the greatest blessing one can possibly enjoy.

[nChrist]

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February 4, 2010

THREE BILLION WILLS
by Cornelius R. Stam


As long as man remained obedient to the will of God, his Maker, all was well with him. His life was perfectly balanced because it was centered in God. As soon as he listened to Satan, however, and set his will against God's, all began to go wrong. His life was now off center and out of balance. It was no longer subject to the one central will. Alienated from God, man now reaped the fruit of his rebellion, not only in his banishment from Paradise, but in the self-will of his offspring.

Of the first two children born into the world, one bludgeoned the other to death, and this was but the beginning. Whereas God had originally created man in His own "image" and "likeness" (Genesis 1:26,27), we read later that Adam begat Seth "in his own likeness, after his image" (Genesis 5:3). And so parents down through the ages have begotten children like themselves, with fallen natures and wills of their own, until now we have some three billion wills operating in the world instead of the one central will of God.

This does not mean, however, that God has abdicated, or that the future of the world is now subject to the wills of three billion fallen creatures. Nor was God forced to formulate new plans because of the fall of man. Far from it, for despite man's rebellion -- even through it -- God has been carrying out His plan and every true believer rejoices that God "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11). While He does not rule directly in the affairs of men, He very definitely overrules, and as a result "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28 ).

All glory to that blessed One of whom it is written:

"Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me) to do Thy will, O God" (Hebrews 10:7).

[nChrist]

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February 5, 2010

THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN
by Russell S. Miller


“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, 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” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

There is, in fact, only one way of salvation in this day and age of grace in which we live today: Christ’s death upon that cross. In the above passage we read that “CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS” and it is upon the basis of this one Sacrifice that God saves souls today. Thus the extreme importance of trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour! His death upon Calvary’s cross is the only means of salvation from sin’s consequences. The Lord Jesus “made peace” for every believer “through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). Listen to the Apostle’s declaration to the Ephesians:

“BUT NOW IN CHRIST JESUS YE WHO SOMETIMES WERE FAR OFF ARE MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST” (Ephesians 2:13).

Our communion with God today is based upon the blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16; Hebrews 10:19; Ephesians 3:12). In Hebrews alone there are twenty-two references to the blood of Christ whether in type or antitype (Hebrews 2:14; 9:7-25; 10:4,19,29; 11:28; 12:4,24; 13:11,12,20). “…AND WITHOUT [THE] SHEDDING OF BLOOD IS NO REMISSION” (Hebrews 9:22). Such is our access to God.

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh” (Hebrews 10,19,20).

“According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him” (Ephesians 3:11,12).

The Apostle Paul uses the Greek word, katallagee, rendered “atonement” once (Romans 5:11) and “reconciliation” three times in his epistles (Romans 11:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18,19), in speaking about the basis of the only way into God’s presence today.

”Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1,2).

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US.

“Much more then, BEING NOW JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, MUCH MORE, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

“And not only so, but WE ALSO JOY IN GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:9-11).

So we have here the blessed truth that “Christ died for our sins”; that we are “justified by His blood”; that we are “saved from wrath” through the death of Christ, and not by our own works. And we are “reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10). “His life” at the right hand of God is the manifest evidence of His resurrection and His Almighty power to save those that believe. The fact that “He ever liveth to make intercession for us” keeps us for time and eternity (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34). So, whether we like it or not, even changing our minds cannot change His mind about our salvation in Christ Jesus.

No, God does not change His mind regarding those who place their faith in His Son. Jesus Christ is the Eternal God and “whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever” (Ecclesiastes 3:14; Romans 8:35-39).

It is therefore not a conditional salvation that Christ wrought upon the tree, but a perfect and complete redemption was fully accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross. If there had been any other way surely “the only wise God” would have known. “…If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the Law” (Galatians 3:21). But there was no other way! None other can save you from Hell and the Lake of Fire. Oh, keep this in memory and don’t ever forget that “CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS” because this is the only way to heaven.

[nChrist]

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February 6, 2010

AN OLD-FASHIONED DOCTRINE
by Cornelius R. Stam


How many there are whose hearts would be thrilled if they understood the old-fashioned Bible doctrine of sanctification!

Sanctification is not a negative matter: "Don't do this" and "Don't do that." It is rather the positive truth that God wants us for Himself as a sacred possession, much as a bridegroom considers his bride his very own in a special, sacred way.

Bible sanctification is a twofold truth, affecting both our standing before God and our spiritual state. In one sense every true believer in Christ has already been sanctified, or consecrated to God, by the operation of the Holy Spirit. Thus we read:

"...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit..." (2 Thessalonians 2: 13).

"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit..." (1 Peter 1:2).

This has nothing to do with our conduct. God did it. Sanctification begins with Him. Thus Paul could write to even the careless Corinthian believers and say: "Ye are sanctified" (1 Corinthians 6:11; cf. Acts 20:32; 26:18 ), i.e., "God has set you apart for Himself." This phase of sanctification is based on the redemptive work of Christ in our behalf, for Hebrews 10:10 says: "We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

But now God would have us appreciate this fact and conduct ourselves accordingly, consecrating ourselves ever more completely to Him. This is practical, progressive sanctification. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Hence Paul's benediction: "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly" (1 Thessalonians 5:23), and his exhortation to Timothy to be "a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet [fit] for the Master's use" (2 Timothy 2:21).

How can believers be more wholly sanctified to God in their practical experience? By studying and meditating on His Word. Our Lord prayed: "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17), and Paul declares that "Christ... loved the Church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word" (Ephesians 5:25,26).

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February 7, 2010

THE FRUITS OF THE RESURRECTION
by Cornelius R. Stam


    The fruits of our Lord's resurrection from the dead are many and important.

    First, there were immediate results. It silenced those who had ridiculed His claims, and struck terror into their hearts. It explained how the prophecies would be fulfilled which predicted the death of Christ and the kingdom glory to follow. It heartened His followers, making cowards bold, turning their fear into faith, their sorrow into joy and their despair into glorious victory.

    Then there were also long range results, for our Lord's resurrection is a warning to unbelievers:

    "Because [God] hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31. See also John 5:22,27; Acts 10:42).

    As to believers, first, Christ's resurrection from the dead assures us that our debt of sin has been fully paid:

    "[HE] WAS DELIVERED FOR OUR OFFENCES, AND WAS RAISED AGAIN FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION. THEREFORE BEING JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST" (Romans 4:25; 5:1).

    Second, His resurrection gives us a living Savior to help us in our daily walk.

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

    Third, His resurrection is the pledge of our own:

    "FOR IF WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, EVEN SO THEM ALSO WHICH SLEEP IN JESUS WILL GOD BRING [FROM THE DEAD] WITH HIM" (1 Thessalonians 4,14; cf. Hebrews 13:20).

    "BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO, ACCORDING TO HIS ABUNDANT MERCY, HATH BEGOTTEN US AGAIN UNTO A LIVING HOPE BY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD" (1 Peter 1:3).

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February 8, 2010

"CEPHAS" AND PAUL'S GOSPEL
by Russell S. Miller


The name "Simon," and this phrase, "whose surname is called Peter," is found some six times in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. But "Cephas," this name, is found only in Paul's epistles, and John 1:42:

"...And when Jesus beheld him, He said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone."

Having established that Peter's name was to be changed to Cephas, we can now consider the subject before us, "Cephas" and Paul's Gospel. Thus it is essential that we realize that when Paul speaks of Cephas in his epistle to the Galatians, he is actually referring to the Apostle Peter:

"And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision" (Galatians 2:9).

This is most significant because, although our Lord had changed Peter's name to Cephas, he is referred to as "Simon Peter" some nineteen times in the Gospels. However, it is also interesting to note that the Apostle Paul refers to Peter as Cephas four times in First Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:22; 9:5; 15:5). And these are the only passages where this name Cephas is found. But what's more interesting about the gospel that Paul preached is that in the context of 1 Corinthians 15:3,4, the Apostle of the Circumcision, "Cephas" (1 Corinthians 15:5), had come to understand that salvation today is "through faith" in Christ's shed blood -- Romans 3:25; 1 Peter 1:18,19. In early Acts, Peter had only preached the resurrection of Christ to sit upon the throne of David's prophesied kingdom (Acts 2:25-31). He did not know what the crucifixion of Jesus Christ had accomplished (Luke 18:34). There he only knew that "by wicked hands [Israel] had crucified and slain" the Son of God (Acts 2:23). Even as late as his visit to see Cornelius in Acts 10, the Apostle Peter had not understood the preaching of the cross. It is through Paul's Gospel that Peter came to see what the finished work of Christ actually accomplished, and through this knowledge he became a stalwart for the truth. And this is why he is called Cephas in Paul's epistles, a "PILLAR" for the truth of God's Word "rightly divided."

According to the Apostle Paul then, Peter and all believers, Jews or Gentiles, are instructed to leave the so-called Great Commission with its repentance and water baptism, and come on unto "perfection" through the Pauline revelation (Hebrews 6:1,2). And having seen this, Peter obeyed, and gave to Paul and Barnabas "the right hands of fellowship" (Galatians 2:9). Again Peter's own words later written in his first epistle:

"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" (1 Peter 1:18,19).

Again, in the context of 1 Corinthians 15:3,4, Paul goes on to say: "Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed" (1 Corinthians 15:11). In Acts 15:7-11 Peter had declared that Jews are saved exactly the same way Gentiles are saved today. No longer does the law, nor repentance and water baptism save.

Would to God that all our Baptist friends would come to see the truth of the Mystery as Peter had. These are not the words of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:31, but Peter's own inspired words, to his own countrymen at that Jerusalem Council:

"BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WE SHALL BE SAVED, EVEN AS THEY" (Acts 15:11).

Paul not only "received" this Gospel from the Lord Jesus, but he also "delivered" that same Gospel, which he had "received" to the Corinthians.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you... For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, 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" (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

And this, beloved, is consistent with the Apostle Paul's words in Romans 16:25,26, that Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3,4) was "according to his gospel, AND THE PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY, WHICH WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN, But now is made manifest, AND BY THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to ALL NATIONS for the obedience of faith" (Romans 16:25,26).

This also explains how John 3:14-16 is so greatly used of God today. Peter and John had both come to see "the grace that was given" to the Apostle Paul in all the types and shadows of Calvary's cross (Galatians 2:7-9; 2 Peter 3:15-18; I John 1:7).

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:14-16).

[nChrist]

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February 9, 2010

ALL FOR US
by Cornelius R. Stam


Have you ever thought how much God has done "for us" in Christ?

In Romans 8:32 we read that to save us from sin, God "spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up FOR US all". In Titus 2:14 we are told that Christ "gave Himself FOR US, that He might redeem us from all iniquity...". In Romans 5:8 the Apostle declares that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died FOR US". Galatians 3:13 says that Christ was "made a curse FOR US".

Hebrews 9:12 states that "He entered...into the holy place [the presence of the Father], having obtained eternal redemption FOR US". And if we trust Him for this "eternal redemption" we may read further in Hebrews 9:24 that "Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands...but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God FOR US". Romans 8:34 asks who can condemn the believer in Christ, since HE [the Lord Jesus Christ] is now "at the right hand of God" and "maketh intercession FOR US".

Hebrews 6:20 declares that our Lord entered the Father's presence "FOR US" as our "Forerunner". Hebrews 10:19,20 therefore encourages believers to come to God in prayer: "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to ENTER into the holiest by the blood of Jesus...a new and living way, which He hath consecrated FOR US...".

Just think how much God has done FOR US in Christ! He delivered His beloved Son to death FOR US, Christ gave Himself FOR US, died FOR US, became a curse FOR US, intercedes FOR US, entered heaven FOR US as a Forerunner, and consecrated "a new and living way" into God's presence FOR US, so that we may "come boldly unto the throne of grace" to "obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). "If God be FOR US, who can be against us" (Romans 8:31)?

[nChrist]

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February 10, 2010

THE INFLUENCE OF PAUL'S GOSPEL
by Russell S. Miller


The Gospel which the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to Paul extended throughout the Roman Empire as Paul preached “the Gospel of the Grace of God” to saint and sinner alike. It affected the Hebrews, the Twelve Apostles, and Jews and Gentiles every where. His ministry influenced all the Churches of Gentiles; bishops and deacons; pastors and teachers; and households everywhere.

“To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7).

Paul’s gospel has reached down through the corridors of time to such men of God as Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wycliffe, John Hus, and John Knox, in the days of the Reformation. Paul’s gospel shook all of Europe and England as these truths were being recovered. By the grace of God, such dispensationalists as John Darby and C. I. Scofield also furthered the cause of Christ. And in our day, J. C. O’Hair, Cornelius R. Stam, and Pastor Win Johnson have been used of God in the Grace Movement to increase our understanding of God’s Word, rightly divided, retaining the integrity of the gospel of grace. Paul’s gospel, “without works,” has also affected you and me. Would to God that all America could remember her roots, and why, and where it is that she has come from! This is why Paul declares that his epistles, and Jesus Christ, establish believers today:

“NOW TO HIM THAT IS OF POWER TO STABLISH YOU ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL, AND THE PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY, WHICH WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN,
“BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST, AND BY THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS, ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT OF THE EVERLASTING GOD, MADE KNOWN TO ALL NATIONS FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH” (Romans 16:25,26).

But if you’re not saved, my friend, I want you to know that salvation is full and free today, with no strings attached. It is based upon the virgin born, Son of God, and His shed blood on Calvary’s cross. This is why God will not accept your “good works” as substitutes for Christ’s finished work. You must believe that Christ’s death on that cross was for you. “…CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS…” (1 Corinthians 15:3). It is our “SINS”, your sins and mine, for which Christ died on that cruel cross. God wants to save you from your sins, and He will save you, if you will only believe. Won’t you just now place your faith in the Lord Jesus, and be saved for time and eternity? Oh, my friend, Jesus will save you from hell and the lake of fire, if you will only believe.

[nChrist]

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February 11, 2010

DESERTS vs GRACE
by Cornelius R. Stam


It is an interesting fact that in this day of godlessness and lawlessness so much is being said about what we all deserve! Ads in the newspapers and commercials on radio and TV ask:

"Don't you deserve the very finest automobile?"

"Don't your children deserve the best?"

"Doesn't your baby deserve Pampers?"

And even, "Doesn't your dog deserve Alpo?"

Well, do you really deserve the finest car? Please don't answer that! Do your children deserve the best -- always? If so you surely have model children -- not at all like their parents! And does your baby deserve Pampers? That's funny! And does your dog deserve Alpo? That's ridiculous! Dogs do not "love" or obey you from any moral consideration, nor, for that matter, does your baby, lovable as the darling is. And as to you and your children -- including the baby, the Bible has something to say on this subject.

The Bible says that "by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men for that ALL have sinned [i.e., in Adam]" (Romans 5:12). You and I were "in Adam" when he sinned. When he sinned, we sinned. Deny this and you might as well agree with the murderer who argued: "My feet and legs didn't do it; my ears and nose didn't do it; only my one hand and one or two other parts of my body did it, so the rest should go free."

We believers in Christ should thank God that our blessed Lord took upon Him our just deserts when He died for our sins at Calvary. This is why God's Word says:

"We declare, I say, at this time, His righteousness for the remission of sins... that [God] might be just, and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.

"Where is boasting then? It is excluded" (Romans 3:25-27).

[nChrist]

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February 12, 2010

PARDON vs. JUSTIFICATION
by Cornelius R. Stam


Did you read, recently, about the man, named Zimmerman, who spent nearly twenty-five years in prison for a murder which, it is now clear, he never committed! The mistake was discovered two years ago, and he was released, of course, but only after spending almost a quarter of a century in prison for a crime he did not commit!

This was a grim mistake, but even at that, it must be wonderful in such a case, to be free -- and to have people actually sympathize with you! Yet, after two years of liberty, Zimmerman says he still feels a bit numb. Waking up mornings he still imagines he hears the harsh sound of the prison bell, and looking about he still thinks he sees bars on the windows.

Things could be worse, though: Suppose he were guilty of the crime, merely pardoned and released. Then everyone would be saying: "There goes that murderer. They pardoned him. Don't get too friendly with him." The stigma would always remain - -as long as he lived.

Let us thank God that believers in Christ are not merely pardoned. Romans 3:24 declares that we are "justified freely by [God's] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Christ died for our sins and satisfied the just claims of the Law, and more: through the Holy Spirit He revolutionizes our lives and makes new creations out of us, for "If any man be in Christ," says 2 Corinthians 5:17, "he is a new creation."

"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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10).

[nChrist]

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February 13, 2010

Euthanasia
by Paul M. Sadler, President


Scripture Reading:

"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
-- Hebrews 9:27

It is our firm conviction that every believer in Christ should strongly oppose euthanasia on the grounds that it runs contrary to the revealed will of God. Euthanasia is the deliberate act of prematurely terminating the life of someone who is hopelessly ill. This is normally achieved through the controlled inhalation of carbon monoxide, by a lethal injection of drugs or withholding nourishment. Those who are advocates of this unwholesome rationale believe that it is morally acceptable to end the pain and suffering of a loved one whose life would otherwise be meaningless. In the name of compassion Michigan's infamous "Dr. Death" has assisted in many such suicides, proclaiming himself to be an angel of mercy.

Thankfully most physicians still hold to the Hippocratic oath, which states that every effort should be made to preserve life. But even more importantly, man has no moral right to terminate a life that has been given by God. It has been appropriately said: "Suicide doesn't end the pain, it only lays it on the broken shoulders of the survivors." Many seem to have forgotten that it is God "in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind" (Job 12:10). We sympathize, of course, with any family who has a loved one who is terminally ill. Nevertheless, to cut that life short may send them to a Christless eternity when they might have otherwise believed before their natural death. Also, we may never know how many souls in the medical profession have been saved because they were in the presence of a dying saint or family member who was faithful in sharing Christ. The Lord's consolation at such times is "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE!"

[nChrist]

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February 14, 2010

THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD
by Russell S. Miller


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

The above verse is the theme of all of the Epistles of St. Paul. The words of this verse are found at the beginning of every one of his letters. Even in Hebrews we find “grace” to be the theme of the Epistle.

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” (19:11-16).

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

However, since we are living in the Day and Age of Grace, we may enter His presence without fear of the wrath of God upon sin. This does not mean that even the people of God have a license to sin, far from it. It simply means that “He hath made us accepted in the Beloved [One]” (Ephesians 1:7). And Ephesians 3:12 states: “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him” (Ephesians 3:12). He rules from “the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16) don’t you see? Now that we are “made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13), "draw nigh unto God, He will draw nigh unto you" (James 4:8 ). Just as our “walk”, as Christians, is one of faith so salvation is received "by grace through faith" in the finished work of Calvary's cross. Paul therefore declares in his Epistle to the Corinthians with regards to “the gospel by which ye are saved…” (1 Corinthians 15:1,2):

"…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" (1 Corinthians 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" (Ephesians 1:7).

Therefore we can, and should, "draw nigh" unto Him, through faith His blessed Word, the Bible. Read especially the epistles of St. Paul. Herein is the grace and peace.

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

There is no peace in this world, so worth having, as "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

[nChrist]

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February 15, 2010

WHICH GOSPEL?
by Cornelius R. Stam


A friend asks: "Have you heard the good news?" and you reply: "What good news?" Naturally! All good news is not the same. Yet few people follow this procedure when they read in the Bible the phrase "the gospel" -- which simply means "the good news." They have been taught that "the gospel is the gospel" and "there is only one gospel," but this is simply not so in the light of the Bible itself.

God has not proclaimed only one gospel, one item of good news, down through the ages, but many. He has qualified the word "gospel" by distinctive titles, just as a woman labels her preserves to distinguish the different goodies she has put up for the winter.

The "gospel of the kingdom" and the "gospel of the grace of God" are not the same, and certainly the "gospel of the circumcision" and the "gospel of the uncircumcision" are not the same.

When we come upon the phrase "the gospel" without any qualifying title, we should immediately ask: "Which gospel?" and invariably the context will provide the answer. Luke 9:6, for example, simply states that the twelve disciples went about "preaching the gospel," but Verse 2 of the same chapter explains how the Lord had sent them "to preach the kingdom of God" -- not the cross, but the kingdom, since He, the King, was in their midst. These disciples could not have engaged in "the preaching of the cross," as Paul later did, for it was not until at least two years later that the Lord "began" to tell them how He must suffer and die (Matthew 16:21) and Peter "began to rebuke Him" (Ver. 22) and none of the twelve even understood what He was talking about (Luke 18:34).

But whereas "the gospel of the kingdom" had been committed to the twelve while Christ was on earth, "the preaching of the cross" (as good news) and "the gospel of the grace of God" was later committed to the Apostle Paul and to us (1 Corinthians 1:18; Acts 20:24).

Today we do not proclaim the kingdom rights of Christ. Rather we proclaim "redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7).