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June 28, 2010

"THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD"
by Russell S. Miller

It was "the acceptable year of the Lord" for Israel when our Lord preached the gospel of the kingdom during His earthly ministry. But because of their unbelief He had to add these words regarding their works: "Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country," and thus predicting the very rejection of Himself in the "acceptable" year of the Lord (Luke 4:19,24; Matthew 23:1-39; Luke 13:34,35)!

But His rejection was not confined to the three years of His earthly ministry. Even the following year after His resurrection, Israel refused to repent until finally God had to set the nation itself aside in unbelief (Luke 13:6-9; Acts 2:14-38; 4:11,12; 4:23-31; 7:54-60; 9:15; Romans 11:11-13,25) and consequently we hear the words of the Apostle Paul:

"FOR THIS CAUSE I PAUL, THE PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST FOR YOU GENTILES,

"IF YE HAVE HEARD OF THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN ME TO YOU-WARD: HOW THAT BY REVELATION HE MADE KNOWN UNTO ME THE MYSTERY...WHICH IN OTHER AGES WAS NOT MADE KNOWN UNTO THE SONS OF MEN, AS IT IS NOW REVEALED UNTO HIS HOLY APOSTLES AND PROPHETS BY THE SPIRIT" (Ephesians 3:1-5).

In this dispensation of God's "long-suffering," Paul, the Apostle of the Nations, in declaring "all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27), made it unmistakably clear that salvation is solely by the grace of God alone. But the Apostle Peter also declared "that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you" (1 Timothy 1:15,16; 2 Peter 3:15).

Thus the conversion of Saul, also known as Paul, is the pattern of salvation today:

"Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the GRACE of our Lord was EXCEEDING ABUNDANT with FAITH and LOVE which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM TO LIFE EVERLASTING" (1 Timothy 1:13-15).

In 2 Corinthians 6:2 Paul wrote the Corinthians concerning salvation and this long-suffering of God, and His attitude toward the unsaved today:

"For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

So for us Gentiles, God, in grace, has extended the acceptable year of the Lord for these 2000 years. And like Paul, my friend, your so-called "good works" won't save you any more than they saved Paul; you must believe in Jesus. If God could save "the chief of sinners," He can save you:

"FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED" (Romans 10:13).

And He will save you, my dear friend, just now, if you will simply ask Him. So why don't you ask the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Saviour, and to save you from your sins, right now. God will hear you, if you will just ask Him, and He will save you for time and eternity.

"For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: Behold, now is the accepted time; Behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

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June 29, 2010

PETER AND JOHN, AND THE CROSS OF CALVARY
by Russell S. Miller

Do you recall that during our Lord's earthly ministry, and the announcements of His approaching crucifixion (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33,34), that His disciples did not comprehend a thing He had said to them about His impending death (Mark 8:32; 9:32; 10:35)?

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

However, in Galatians 2:7-9, "when James, Cephas [Peter], and John, perceived the grace that was given unto [Paul], they gave to [Paul] and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship...." It was here at this Jerusalem Council that Peter forsook his baptistery (Hebrews 6:1,2) for the truth of "THE SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST" as the only means of salvation from sin today (1 Peter 1:2,18,19).

But this is not all, for John also rejoiced in the same "propitiation" (I John 1:7) that had first been revealed to Paul (Romans 3:25-26). Of course the Apostle John was later inspired of God, in John 3, to write about Moses "in the wilderness" and how it typified the cross of Calvary. This explains how John 3:14-16 is so greatly used of God today. Hear the very words of the Lord Jesus in this particular passage:

"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).

How wonderful that both Peter and John both came to see the true meaning of Calvary's cross through Paul's distinctive ministry. Thus, it is Paul alone, by the revelation of Jesus Christ, who first sets forth God's plan of salvation "without works" today:

"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" (Romans 3:24-26).

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June 30, 2010

SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING
by Cornelius R. Stam

Honest, prayerful study of the Word brings us to spiritual maturity and understanding. But does it not require superior intellectual powers to understand these "deep things of God"? No indeed. Superior intellects among unsaved men are unable to appreciate even the "simple" truths of the Word, for "they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). And as to the "mystery" made known to Paul by the glorified Lord, the Apostle declares that it is now "revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Ephesians 3:5).

The mystery is not merely something more difficult to grasp intellectually, for the Apostle specifically states that it is "not the wisdom of this world" but "the wisdom of God" (I Cor. 2:6,7), and that only by the Spirit of God can it be understood and appreciated. This explains why many of the humblest believers rejoice in the mystery and understand it so clearly, while so many great theologians and religious leaders fail to grasp it and keep confusing it with God's prophesied program regarding the kingdom of Christ.

The mystery is not "hard to be understood" because men are slow of mind to understand, but because they are "slow of heart to believe," because the devil, who "hath blinded the minds of them that believe not" also seeks to keep God's people from seeing and rejoicing in the truth of the mystery with its riches of grace, its "one body" and its "one baptism." This is why the Apostle prayed so fervently that the believers to whom he ministered might be given "spiritual understanding" to take in the glorious message he was commissioned to proclaim (See Ephesians 1:16-19; Colossians 1:9,10).

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July 1, 2010

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS
by Cornelius R. Stam

Strange, is it not, that when men are successful, they generally credit themselves liberally for their success but when things go wrong they begin to blame others -- even God.

The writer does not have up-to-date information about two particular plots of ground in Moscow, but some years ago one of these was a beautiful garden, the other a patch of weeds. Above each there was a sign. Over the one: "This plot is cared for by the United Soviet Socialist Republic," over the other: "This plot is cared for by God"!

Evidently the atheistic Soviets who hatched this "bright idea" did not stop to think that only God could produce the beautiful flowers in the USSR plot. All their watering and cultivating would have been in vain except for the God they deny.

As to the other plot, they probably did not even know that even in Eden God put the garden in man's charge "to dress it and to keep it" (Genesis 2:15), and later, when man sinned, God said to Adam, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake" (Genesis 3:17). This is why the Soviets must employ a gardener to control the weeds in even their garden! How wrong and foolish, then, for man ever to blame God for anything that goes wrong for him or causes him trouble!

Actually, when I have been asked: "If God is a God of love, why does He allow all this trouble and misery, and all this wickedness?" I have replied: "That's easy. When God sent His Son into this world offering peace and righteousness and prosperity they cried: 'Away with Him' and nailed Him to a cross. If the Bible is true, and in this case it has surely proved to be true, how can this world expect peace while they still reject the Prince of Peace?"

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July 2, 2010

"SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE"
by Russell S. Miller

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ:

"From whom the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:15,16).

Surely by now you have noticed that people get upset and offended whenever anyone wants to share the Love of God. They do not want to hear that they are sinners in desperate need of the Saviour. Even Christian people naturally get offended when the truth is not spoken in love. But the unsaved will justify themselves with all kinds of excuses to evade this important truth that, if believed, would save their soul from an eternal loss.

"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).

The devil is very clever and knows how to "get an advantage of us" and keep precious souls from seeing "the light of the glorious gospel of Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:11; 4:4). Satan would "blind" those who do not believe from seeing their need of salvation and damn their souls to an eternal hell.

So we must walk "in love" toward the unsaved, for God places a very high value upon mankind, and He is not willing that any should perish. And because we are of "eternal worth" to Him, He sent His "only begotten Son" into this world to pay the full penalty of our sins, Himself, at the extreme cost of His own life's blood (Romans 8:31-34). Because of Calvary, therefore, and by faith in Jesus Christ, we may also now walk in the light of His Word. Why else would God have sent "His own Son" into this sin cursed world to die on a cruel cross for our sins?

"HE THAT SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON, BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR US ALL, HOW SHALL HE NOT WITH HIM ALSO FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?" (Romans 8:32).

The Love of God had no bounds at Calvary, as His wrath upon sin was poured out upon Christ. Shouldn't we, then, in love, be showing people from the Bible the Love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord? It is what Christ did on the cross that God accepts (Romans 3:25), and as we accept Christ's redemptive work on our behalf (Ephesians 2:8,9), God "accepts" us (Ephesians 1:6). It is not our "good works," then, but "faith" alone in the Lord Jesus Christ that saves from sin and hell and the Lake of fire. It is a matter of whether or not we believe what God has said in His Word about Jesus Christ. Do you believe the truth of the Word of God or do you still believe the devil's lies? God loves us, each and every one of us, with an everlasting love, an eternal love. How MUCH He loves us:

"BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US" (Romans 5:8 ).

"BE YE THEREFORE FOLLOWERS OF GOD, AS DEAR CHILDREN; AND WALK IN LOVE, AS CHRIST ALSO HATH LOVED US, AND HATH GIVEN HIMSELF FOR US AN OFFERING AND A SACRIFICE TO GOD FOR A SWEETSMELLING SAVOUR" (Ephesians 5:1,2).

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July 3, 2010

KNOWING THE POWER OF GOD
by Russell S. Miller

It will greatly assist the child of God to know that when the Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary’s cross, He not only died for our sins, past, present and future, but He also died to put away that old sin nature, that part of us that always sins.

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6).

This word, knowing, has been defined in the Companion Bible as “to know (by experience and effort); to acquire knowledge, become acquainted with; hence, to come or get to know, learn, perceive.”

Thus with “experience and effort” through the study of God’s Word, and prayer, the Holy Spirit leads us to “perceive” (Galatians 2:9) and “understand” (Philippians 1:12) what Christ actually accomplished for us through “the death of the cross,” and such “knowledge” (Acts 17:13) refutes the doctrine of sin’s eradication.

The child of God is to know that his old sin nature has been “crucified” with Christ. He is to know that no matter how much effort he puts into its restoration the old Adamic nature of man has been “crucified” and “buried,” positionally, with Christ. Thus Paul’s exhortations to practical Christian living:

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

“Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instrument of righteousness unto God” (Romans 6:11-13).

Knowing the power of God’s grace the child of God is no longer to “serve sin.” And through knowing these things he can truly appreciate all that Christ accomplished for us at Calvary, and occupy, experientially, that position in Christ that Jesus “purchased with His own shed blood” (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:7).

“But GOD BE THANKED, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have OBEYED FROM THE HEART THAT FORM OF DOCTRINE which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:17,18 ).

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July 4, 2010

The Other Sheep
by Paul M. Sadler, President

Scripture Reading:
"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." -- John 10:16

A short time ago I made a passing reference to the "other sheep" which generated a lot of interest among our readers. Some were under the impression that this phrase had to do with the reunification of the divided kingdom. Others had been taught that the "other sheep" is the Church, the Body of Christ. Having been in the ministry for many years, it has been my experience that when someone has a question such as this, there are normally twenty standing in the wings wondering the same thing. So, with God's help I shall do my best to shed additional light on the matter.

Those who are Acts 2 dispensationalists normally hold the position that the ones who "are not of this fold" are the members of the Body of Christ. This is an inexcusable dispensational blunder, but it is understandable since they do not consistently rightly divide the Word of truth. Once again, we must ask ourselves the question: To whom was our Lord speaking, and at what time? The discourse on the Good Shepherd was delivered by Christ when He was on the earth at least two years before the Apostle Paul was given his special revelation.

Inasmuch as Paul was the first to receive the truth of the One Body, the "other sheep" in the above context could in no way be the Body of Christ.

But there's more. None of the Apostle Paul's Gentile epistles contain a reference to the members of Christ's Body being sheep, much less a sheepfold. However, these metaphors are found throughout the pages of prophecy, which serves as another distinguishing factor between the two programs of God.

THE HOUSES OF ISRAEL

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah" (Jeremiah 31:31).

Under the reign of Rehoboam the kingdom was divided in Israel. The division proved to be devastating as the ten northern tribes, which came to be called the house of Israel, appointed Jeroboam as their King. He, of course, destroyed the religious unity of the nation when he erected altars at Dan and Bethel and caused the children of Israel to offer sacrifices unto the gods of Egypt (1 Kings 12:16-31).

On the other hand, the house of Judah (tribes of Judah and Benjamin) followed in the ways of the Lord and continued to offer their sacrifices in Jerusalem, thus obeying the Law and the prophets. They remained in the Lord's favor in spite of the fact that He allowed them to be carried off into the Babylonian captivity for their lapse of faith. These two tribes were by far the more spiritual tribes in Israel, not to mention that it was in Bethlehem of Judaea where the Prince of Peace chose to be born.

Consequently, some believe that the "other sheep" are the ten northern tribes who will be brought back into the fold at the Second Coming of Christ. Hence, there will be one fold and one Shepherd. We surely concur that there will be a reunification of the tribes of Israel as represented by the binding of the two sticks in Ezekiel 37:15-28.

This, however, must not be confused with the sheepfold. Israel is the sheep of God, whether they were of the northern or southern tribes. The Lord would have never called His chosen people the "other sheep." They are the sheep and therefore the primary fold.

If we say that the ten northern tribes are the "other sheep," then what about the kingdom Gentiles -- where do they fit into the picture?

It is often overlooked, but God had made a provision in prophecy for the Gentiles to be saved through Israel. Thus, they are also said to be joined to the Lord. And Isaiah goes on to add, "Even them [the Gentiles] will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer..." (Isaiah 56:6,7). Insofar as the Gentiles are the last non-Jewish converts to be reached under the Great Commission, the classification "other sheep" fits them perfectly. But some are sure to inquire: "Are the Gentiles ever called sheep in prophecy?" Indeed they are, please read prayerfully Matthew 25:31-46.

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July 5, 2010

FORGIVENESS THAT CANNOT BE REVOKED
by Cornelius R. Stam

Centuries before Christ, the Psalmist said:

"If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities... who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee..." (Psalms 130:3,4).

It is doubtful whether the Psalmist understood the basis upon which a just God, through the ages, has so graciously forgiven sins, but this has since been revealed in the Epistles of Paul.

There we read: "God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32). But this is only part of the truth, for God forgives sinners, not merely because Christ desires this, but because Christ paid for their sins and purchased their redemption. Thus Ephesians 1:7 declares: "In [Christ] we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."

And thus Paul could proclaim to his hearers in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch:

"Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

"And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38,39).

Obviously such forgiveness can never be rescinded or revoked, for it is based upon the full and complete payment of our whole debt of sin by "the precious blood of Christ."

Sad to say, many people do not feel they need forgiveness, for they have not seen themselves as they truly are in the sight of a holy God, but those who are conscious of their sins and are willing to say with the prodigal son: "I have sinned," may experience the peace and joy of sins forgiven by faith in Christ who paid sin's penalty for us.

Here is forgiveness that can never be revoked because it is based on the "one offering [of Christ at Calvary]" by which our Lord "hath perfected forever them that are sanctified [i.e., set apart as His own]" (Hebrews 10:14).

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July 6, 2010

GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE
by Cornelius R. Stam

Have you ever considered carefully the opening words of the Bible? "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Why doesn't it simply say that God created the Universe? Why the heaven and the earth?

As we go on reading we find the answer to this question, for the Bible clearly teaches that God has a two-fold purpose; one having to do with the earth and the other with heaven. The former is the subject of prophecy, while the latter is the subject of the "mystery", or secret, revealed to and through St. Paul. (See Acts 3:21; and cf. Romans 16:25). The former concerns Israel and the nations; the latter "the Body of Christ", the Church of the heavenly calling.

Some people are surprised to learn that there is not one promise in the whole Old Testament about going to heaven. There the whole outlook is earthly, with Messiah reigning as King (Jeremiah 23:5; et al). When our Lord appeared in the flesh the angels cried: "Peace on earth" (Luke 2:14). He Himself said that "the meek" shall "inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). He taught His disciples to pray: "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).

Even at Pentecost Peter declared that after "the restitution of all things" God would send Jesus back to earth and the times of refreshing would "come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19-21).

Not until the raising up of Paul do we learn that now all believers in Christ are "baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13), and Colossians 1:5 and many other Pauline passages, speak of "the hope which is laid up for you IN HEAVEN". Indeed, before God, believers are already given a position "in heavenly places" and are "blessed with all spiritual blessings IN [THE] HEAVENLIES in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3; 2:4-7).

The prophecies regarding the Kingdom, however, will still be fulfilled and Christ will reign on earth and bring the promised "times of refreshing". Thank God, this world will not forever be a place of war and bloodshed, sickness and death, misery and woe. Indeed, at that time, heaven and earth will be opened to each other, and thus will be fulfilled God's two-fold purpose: "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ..." (Ephesians 1:10).

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July 7, 2010

LIGHT FOR THE SOUL
by Cornelius R. Stam

A Christian believer talking to an atheistic evolutionist one time, took his watch out of his pocket, noted the time and put it back in again, saying to his friend: "This is a wonderful watch; never misses a second. I never have to do anything to it, yet it keeps perfect time."

"What make is it?" asked the evolutionist. "Oh, no make," was the reply. "Well who manufactured it?" "Oh, no one. It just put itself together somehow."

"Nonsense!" said the atheist. "A watch can't just come into existence. Somebody had to manufacture it."

"That's true," replied the Christian, "yet you expect me to believe that this vast universe with its billions of planets and stars, all revolving in perfect order, just came about by itself; that it has no Designer, no Creator, and no one to keep it running. Isn't that nonsense!"

According to the Bible God holds the pagan world responsible for its idolatry and declares: "They are without excuse" (Romans 1:20) because all that the heathen witness about God every day calls for their worship and praise and thanksgiving (Romans 1:20,21). But they have not had this attitude. They have denied and rejected God and, as St. Paul says, they "became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened" (Ver. 21). It was thus that pagan idolatry, the worship of the creation, rather than the Creator (Ver. 25) had its beginning.

All this is very much like what we read in Ephesians 4:17,18 where God exhorts His people not to live like "the Gentiles," in "the vanity [shallowness] of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart."

Not very complimentary, is it? But it does reflect the condition of the human heart without God and apart from faith in Christ our Savior. It explains why the world, with all its increased technical knowledge is worse off than ever.

How wonderful to know that "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness," can give light and joy and blessing to the simplest soul who places his faith in Christ, who died for our sins! (See 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Acts 16:31; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

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July 8, 2010

BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM
by Russell S. Miller


The Apostle Paul not only preached the death of Christ but he also declared what was accomplished in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This no other writer Old Testament or New, had ever done before!

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3,4).

In Romans 6 Paul teaches us that when we got saved God took us back to Calvary, and made us one with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Our old Adamic nature, "that old man" that we are all so ashamed of, was crucified with Christ: "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6). Thus "sin [is] not to reign" in our "mortal body" (6:12). And what's more, we have also "become dead to the law by the body of Christ" (Romans 7:4,6).

"Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace" (Ephesians 2:15).

But not only are we made one with Jesus Christ in His death, and set gloriously free, there is another very important reason for Christ's burial, which again is only revealed in Paul's epistles.

That Adamic nature has been buried in Joseph's tomb with Christ. Yes, our sins, and that sin nature, has been put away forever out of God's sight, and we are free (Leviticus 16:1-34; Hebrews 13:10-14)! Just as Jesus Christ was actually buried, so we have been buried with Him. "Therefore," says the Apostle, "we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Yes, this is true, it has really taken place. And because you can't reform that old sin nature, nor justify it, Paul here declares that the old Adamic sin nature must be buried, and we must reckon it to be so daily:

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:11).

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July 9, 2010

Sad, But True
by Paul M. Sadler, President

Scripture Reading:

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." -- I Corinthians 10:12

Heard a story told by a Grace Believer who met another Grace Believer in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge:

"I was standing in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge admiring the view when another tourist walked up alongside of me to do the same. I heard him say quietly, as he took in the beauty of the view, 'What an awesome God.'

"I turned to him and said, 'You a Christian?'

"He said, 'Yes, I am a Christian.'

"I said, 'So am I,' and we shook hands. I said, 'Are you a liberal or a fundamental Christian?'

"He said, 'I am a fundamental Christian.'

"I said, 'So am I,' and we smiled and nodded to each other." I said, 'Are you a Covenant or dispensational, fundamental Christian?'

"He said, 'I am a dispensational, fundamental Christian.'

"I said, 'So am I,' and we slapped one another on the back." I said, 'Are you an early Acts, mid-Acts or late Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian?'

"He said 'I am a mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian.'

"I said, 'So am I' and we agreed to exchange Christmas cards each year. I said, 'Are you an Acts 9 or 13, mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian?'

"He said, 'I am an Acts 9, mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian.'

"I said, 'So am I' and we hugged one another right there on the bridge. I said, 'Are you a pre-trib, or post-trib, Acts 9, mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian?'

"He said, 'I am a pre-trib, Acts 9, mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian.'

"I said, 'So am I,' and we decided to exchange kids for the summer."I said, 'Are you a 12 in or 12 out, pre-trib, Acts 9, mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian?'

"He said, 'I am a 12 in, pre-trib, Acts 9, mid-Acts, dispensational, fundamental Christian.'"I said, 'You heretic, and I pushed him off the bridge!'" -- Author Unknown

The above is sad but all too true, with the exception of being pushed off a bridge, although some may have even considered that! Of course, the shoe could have been on the other foot; that is, the weary traveler might have held the 12 out position -- heaven forbid! The point is, no matter how deeply our convictions may run on secondary issues, they should never disrupt our fellowship together. Issues such as: Are the 12 in or out of the Body of Christ? Was Paul the author of Hebrews? Should we observe holidays? Was Paul in or out of the will of God in Acts 21? Where did the Church begin -- Acts 9, 11, or 13? And on and on we could go.

Our Fellowship in Christ must rest solely on the Fundamentals of the Faith and the Doctrines of Grace found in Ephesians 4:4-6. There is no room for further discussion on these matters. On other areas of the Word of God where we may find ourselves in disagreement, let us "agree to disagree" in a Christ-like manner. This will help maintain the unity of the Spirit among us and glorify God in the process.

[nChrist]

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July 10, 2010

HEAVEN IS BETTER THAN THIS
by Cornelius R. Stam

A large percentage of the people of the world wake up every morning with some kind of ache or pain. If you are one of the many victims, with some infirmity of the flesh, perhaps you will agree with the little chorus which says: "Heaven is better than this."

The Scriptures tell us that "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans 8:22). Note the expression: "the whole creation." This takes in the whole world; no one is excluded. Indeed, the very next verse goes on to say to Christian believers:

"And not only they, but ourselves also... even we ourselves groan within ourselves... waiting for... the redemption of our body."

No doubt many of us feel like crying out with the Psalmist David, "Look upon mine affliction and my pain" (Psalms 25:18 ). In spite of all sorrow, trouble and pain which the child of God must endure, however, he can be assured with the Apostle Paul that: "our light affliction, which is but for a moment [comparatively], worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17). When we go to be with the Lord we will no longer be living in "this earthly tabernacle," but will have "a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1). Paul even adds that as Christians we earnestly desire "to be clothed upon with our house [our new body] which is from heaven" (2 Corinthians 5:2).

Finally, St. Paul declared that "to depart, and to be with Christ... is far better" (Philippians 1:23); far better, not only than all earth's sorrow and trouble and pain, but far better even than earth's greatest joys and its dearest treasures. How wonderful it is to know that "Christ died for our sins," to have a light beyond the grave, a hope beyond the tomb! Surely "heaven is better than this!"

[nChrist]

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July 12, 2010

GOD'S TWO POEMS
by Cornelius R. Stam

In Romans 1:18-20 the Apostle Paul declares that ungodly men are "without excuse" because they are surrounded by the evidences of the Creator's "eternal power and Godhead."

Our Authorized Version calls the creation, in this passage, "the things that are made," but in the Greek it is called literally "the poyeema," from which we get our word poem. The Apostle refers, of course, to the harmony of God's creation, and is it not indeed amazing how billions of heavenly bodies can continually revolve in the vastness of space and never collide! And are not the flowers, the seasons, the sunsets all part of a harmonious creation, which God alone could have conceived and set to music?

But very interestingly, this word poyeema is used just once more in Scripture. We find it in Ephesians 2:10, where it is translated "workmanship." Let us consider this passage in its context:

"For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of your- selves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.

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

Romans speaks of the poem of creation, Ephesians of the poem of redemption, and the latter is the more wonderful. An old hymn says: "'Twas great to speak a world from naught; 'tis greater to redeem."

In this poem of redemption which God has composed, we believers too often want to change some word or phrase. We would like this or that in our circumstances to be different. Ah, but this would destroy the meter and meaning of God's new creation.

Thank God, when we believers go to be with Christ, we will see the beauty and glory of the poem of redemption. Then we will rejoice that He did indeed "work all things together for good" for us.

[nChrist]

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July 13, 2010

"THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS"
by Cornelius R. Stam

St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, refers to those who receive "the abundance of grace" and "the gift of righteousness" (Romans 5:17) which God in love bestows upon all who trust in His Son for salvation.

The Bible declares that no man can ever stand uncondemned in the sight of God, the Judge of all, unless he receives righteousness as the gift of God's grace.

Quoting from the Psalms, the Apostle says in Romans 3:10; "It is written, there is none righteous, no, not one". This is why Paul pitied those who continued to go about "to establish their own righteousness" (Romans 10:3). He knew that their struggle was utterly futile, that they needed to be saved (See Verse One).

Let us thank God that the Lord Jesus Christ took the condemnation and judgment of our sins upon Himself at Calvary so that His righteousness might be imputed to us by grace through faith. Regarding Abraham's justification before God, the Apostle says: "What saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3).

Abraham's justification, of course, was based on the fact that Christ was to die for sin, but Christ's death is now past; it is an historical fact. Thus righteousness is now proclaimed through Christ and offered to all as a gift. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 ). "God hath made Him to be sin for us...that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

But we must receive this righteousness as a gift, for "to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, HIS FAITH is counted for righteousness" (Romans 4:5).