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October 26, 2010

TRUTH ON THE SCAFFOLD
by Russell S. Miller

"Truth is on the scaffold, and wrong is on the throne."

Though this may be expected in an ungodly world, such a mentality ought not to exist in the Church. Honesty, integrity, and uprightness should rather be the watchwords amongst the people of God, especially with regards to the evidence in the Word of God.

The evidence of Creation could not be clearer (Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 1:2), yet some people won't believe.

The evidence of the Inspiration of the Scriptures couldn't be greater (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Hebrews 4:12,13), yet some people won't believe.

The evidence of the Virgin Birth of Christ couldn't be stronger (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35), yet some people won't believe.

The evidence of the Pauline Revelation could not be plainer (Romans 16:25,26; Galatians 1:11,12; Ephesians 3:9), yet some people won't believe.

The evidence of the eternal security of the believer in Christ could not be more obvious (Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 7:25), yet some people won't believe.

The evidence of a pre-millennial, pre-tribulational rapture of the Body of Christ could not be more imminent (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 5:9), yet some people won't believe.

The reason that many people don't believe these wonderful truths in God's Word is because "the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, LEST THE LIGHT OF THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF CHRIST, who is the image of God, SHOULD SHINE UNTO THEM" (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Remember: God holds us accountable to "rightly divide the Word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will BRING TO LIGHT THE HIDDEN THINGS OF DARKNESS, and will make MANIFEST THE COUNSELS OF THE HEARTS: and then shall every man have praise of God" (1 Corinthians 4:5).

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October 27, 2010

REBELLION AGAINST PAULINE AUTHORITY
by Cornelius R. Stam

One of the chief reasons why so many sincere religious people are left in doubt and uncertainty as to salvation is because the organized Church has rebelled against a distinct and important revelation from God to us who live in this present age. This revelation is found in the inspired words of Paul, in Romans 11:13:

"For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles. I magnify mine office."

Many minimize that which the Word of God magnifies here. They insist upon following Peter rather than Paul, failing to see that Peter's authority concerned the now-rejected kingdom of Christ on earth over Israel and the nations. Our Lord had said to His twelve apostles:

"Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, YE ALSO SHALL SIT UPON TWELVE THRONES, JUDGING THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL" (Matthew 19:28 ).

Surely there are no twelve tribes in the Church today, nor was any provision, specific or implied, made by our Lord for "apostolic succession." This dogma is built upon the unscriptural assumption that the Church today is the kingdom which Christ established when on earth, and that our ministry today is but a perpetuation of that which the twelve began.

The fact is that the ministry of the twelve was halted by the rejection of the King and His kingdom and that the apostles themselves finally agreed to turn their proposed Gentile ministry over to Paul, that other apostle, to whom had been committed "the gospel of the grace of God" (Read carefully, Galatians 2:2-9 and Acts 20:24).

If only the confused religious masses could see that when Israel joined the Gentiles in rebellion against God, when the world's sin had risen to its height and all was ready for judgment, God revealed "the exceeding riches of His grace" by saving Saul, the chief of sinners, and sending him forth as both the herald and the living example of His grace! Thus he writes:

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound, BUT WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND: "THAT AS SIN HATH REIGNED UNTO DEATH, EVEN SO MIGHT GRACE REIGN, through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20,21).

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October 28, 2010

HOW THEY SHINE!
by Cornelius R. Stam

Years ago, while preaching the Word at a Bible conference, I noticed a young lady in one of the front pews who wasn't listening to a word I was saying.

I could understand, however, for evidently she had just become engaged to be married. Her eyes were focused on the ring on the third finger of her left hand, and her heart and mind, evidently, on the young man who had placed it there.

With a pleased look on her face, and cocking her head from one side to the other, she gazed at that diamond from every angle. No matter how she looked at it, it shone -- entirely apart from the quality of the stone. It shone because it spoke to her of him and of his love for her, and was the symbol of her betrothal to him.

For some time after I had concluded my message, my mind went back to that scene. The ring that had so occupied this young lady's attention, made me think of the Bible, the very Book we had been studying that night. Examine that blessed Book ever so carefully; look at it from any angle and it shines! It made me think too of the grand Subject of that Book, the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we believers have been "espoused... as a chaste virgin" (2 Corinthians 11:2). Unlike any earthly friend, He shines no matter how one looks at Him. Examine His words, His deeds, His personal attributes, from any angle and ever so carefully, and no matter how you look at Him He shines!

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October 29, 2010

SIN KILLS -- CHRIST SAVES
by Cornelius R. Stam

The Bible clearly states that "as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law; and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law" (Romans 2:12).

Some people overlook or forget the fact that entirely apart from the Law, sin kills. This is evident on every hand. Envy, hate, vice and profligate living dissipate the human frame and destroy it.

This is why so many in pagan lands barely live out half their lives. "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" entirely apart from law and judgment.

But Romans 2:12 goes on to say that "as many as have sin- ned in the law shall be judged by the law." Let's think this through too.

Here, let's say, is a man who begins to take narcotics. He gets deeper and deeper into drug addiction, and has to cheat and steal to get the money to buy more. Soon his life is ruined; he's a human wreck -- entirely apart from the law.

But now the law catches up with him and there is a new situation. He is taken to court and found guilty and sent to jail. This is the legal penalty for his crime, a crime which was destroying him anyway. So the Law is of no help to sinners; it only adds the just condemnation of sin to the natural -- and deplorable -- results of sin.

How wonderful, then, to know that the death of Christ is so complete a solution to man's twofold problem! Romans 5 explains how Christ, at Calvary, came to our rescue, both in our helplessness and in the condemnation that spelled our doom.

Ver. 6: "When we were yet without strength... Christ died for the ungodly."

Ver. 8: "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

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October 30, 2010

THE WORD OF TRUTH
by Cornelius R. Stam

In Ephesians 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" (Romans 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" (Romans 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" (Ephesians 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" (Romans 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" (Romans 3:24). We are saved, then, as we hear and believe what Paul calls, "the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation" (Ephesians 1:13), and we are established in the faith as we obey 2 Timothy 2:15: "rightly dividing the Word of truth."

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October 31, 2010

GOD HATH SPOKEN
by Cornelius R. Stam

In his farewell address to the nation Israel, Moses said:

"Ask now of the days that are past... since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?" (Deuteronomy 4:32,33).

Moses referred, of course, to the giving of the Law, when God spoke to Israel by word of mouth amid the lightnings and thunders of Sinai. In Israel's case alone "God spake all these words" audibly. Never before had He undertaken to address a nation personally.

This was indeed a great honor for Israel, but God has since spoken to all mankind in an even more striking manner, for in Hebrews 1:1,2 we read:

"God... hath in these last days spoken unto us by [in] His Son... who... when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."

At Sinai God spoke the words of the Law, but now, in Christ, He speaks of mercy and grace. There He spoke of the righteousness which He demands, but here He tells of the righteousness which He provides in Christ.

Some suppose that the absence of miraculous demonstrations, the want of divine intervention in the affairs of men, etc., indicate indifference on God's part, but actually this apparent indifference speaks to us of His love and grace.

Remember, the Psalms and all prophecy had predicted God's judgment upon men for their rejection of Christ, yet today the Son still remains a voluntary Exile from His own world, while neither He nor the Father do anything to avenge His cruel crucifixion. Meanwhile, still lingering in mercy, He sends His ambassadors to offer reconciliation to His enemies by grace through faith. Thus His silence actually cries: "The door of grace is still open. Be reconciled while you may. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

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November 1, 2010

THE ONE TRUE CHURCH
by Cornelius R. Stam

Religious people -- even sincere Christian people -- may divide themselves into various denominations or churches, but there is no indication in the Bible that God recognizes these divisions. Indeed, God makes it abundantly clear that in His sight there is but one Church, composed of all who truly trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. In 1 Corinthians 12:12,13 the Apostle Paul declares by divine inspiration:

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ:

"FOR BY ONE SPIRIT ARE WE ALL BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY...."

Again, in Romans 12:5, he says:

"SO WE, BEING MANY, ARE ONE BODY IN CHRIST, AND EVERY ONE MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER."

Indeed, it is on the basis of the fact that there is but "one body" in God's sight that He exhorts us to seek to "keep the unity of the Spirit":

"ENDEAVORING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE.

"THERE IS ONE BODY...." (Ephesians 4:3,4).

How can we become members of that "one Body ," the true Church? Ephesians 2 explains how Christ died for all, Jew and Gentile alike, "that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross..." (Ver. 16). Indeed the Epistles of St. Paul show how God "hath concluded... all in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all" (Romans 11:32), and offer to them reconciliation and salvation by grace through faith in Christ who died for our sins.

The question, then, is not: What church do you belong to? but, Do you belong to the Church, the Body of Christ, composed of all who have acknowledged themselves to be sinners in the sight of God and have trusted in Christ and His finished work for salvation?

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November 2, 2010

ACCESS TO GOD BY GRACE
by Russell S. Miller

If "grace" reigns today, and the Apostle Paul states emphatically that it does, then it must reign from "the throne of grace" in Heaven.

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20,21).

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

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

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

In this new dispensation Jews and Gentiles are bidden by God, Himself, to come confidently into His presence "through Jesus Christ our Lord":

"IN WHOM WE HAVE BOLDNESS AND ACCESS WITH CONFIDENCE BY THE FAITH OF HIM" (Ephesians 3:11,12).

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

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

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November 3, 2010

THE MAKER OF ALL MADE SIN FOR US
by Cornelius R. Stam

It is thrilling to trace through the New Testament and find the word "made," and to observe how our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Creator of all, humbled Himself, died on Calvary's cross and arose again from the dead to save, justify and glorify sinners.

St. Paul says of Christ: "All things were created by Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16), and St. John adds by inspiration: "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made... The world was made by Him" (John 1:3,10).

How wonderful it is, then, that He, the Creator of all, came to be one with us -- yes, one of us! John tells us again that the Maker of all was "made flesh" (John 1:14) and Paul declares that "when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law..." (Galatians 4:4), that He "made Himself of no reputation ...and was made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:6,7). In his letter to the Hebrews he adds that Christ was "made [for] a little [while] lower than the angels for the suffering of death" (Hebrews 2:9). More than that, he declares that our Lord was "made a curse for us" (Galatians 3:13) to redeem us from the curse of the law, and that God "made Him to be sin for us..." (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Thus in one stroke, at Calvary , our Lord, the great Creator, bore the penalty for sin that would have sunk a world to hell, and for this "God also hath highly exalted Him" (Philippians 2:9), having "raised him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all..." (Ephesians 1:20,21). "God hath made that same Jesus... both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36) so that now He has been "made higher than the heavens" (Hebrews 7:26).

As a result the simplest believer in this mighty Savior is "made... accepted in the Beloved One" (Ephesians 1:6) and "made [to] sit... in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6). He is "made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21), "that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7).

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November 6, 2010

PAUL'S THREE "I AM'S"
by Cornelius R. Stam

Three times in Romans 1:14-16, the Apostle Paul uses the phrase "I am", and each one carries an important message for every true believer in Christ.

First, he says in verse 14: "I am debtor" -- debtor to all men, to tell them about the saving work of Christ. But why was he indebted to people he had never even seen? For several reasons:

First, he had in his hand what they needed to be saved from the penalty and power of sin. If I see a drunkard lying across the railroad track and I do nothing about it, am I not a murderer if he is killed by the train? If I see a man drowning and I have a life buoy in my hand but do not throw it to him, am I not a murderer if he goes down for the last time? If I see millions of lost souls about me and, knowing the message of salvation, do not tell them, am I not guilty if they die without Christ?

Further, Paul felt himself a debtor to others, because the Christ who had died for his sins had also died for the sins of others. As he says in 2 Corinthians 5:14,15: "Christ died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them and rose again."

Finally, the Christ who had died for Paul's sins, had commissioned him to tell others of His saving grace. Thus he says in I Corinthians 9:16,17:

"Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For...a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me" (1 Corinthians 9:16,17).

Paul could say further what every true believer should be able to say: Not "I am debtor, but", but rather, "I am debtor...SO, as much as in me is, I AM READY..." (Romans 1:15). He was ready to discharge his debt because he had that with which to discharge it -- the wonderful "gospel of the grace of God". And he did indeed make this the message known to others with all that was in him.

And now the third "I am": "I am debtor...So I am ready... For I AM NOT ASHAMED of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..." (Ver. 16). Paul was always proud to own Christ as the mighty Saviour from sin. Do you know Christ as your Saviour? Do you tell others of His saving grace?

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November 7, 2010

The Seventh from Adam
by Paul M. Sadler, President

Scripture Reading:

"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints."
-- Jude 14

About two weeks prior to teaching the Dispensation of Conscience in my Dispensational Survey class at the Berean Bible Institute, I raised the following question to the student body. What is the significance of Enoch being addressed as "the seventh from Adam"? The entire class drew a blank -- they were stumped!! Although it may seem rather insignificant at first glance, the Holy Spirit has added this phrase for good reason. In fact, this phraseology is only used in reference to Enoch.

A number of the students gave some thought to the matter and even ventured a couple of explanations, which were true, but not the answer I was looking for. Finally, one student eventually got two or three hints out of me and came up with the answer. Upon arriving at the fourth and fifth chapters of the Book of Genesis, I explained to the class that there were two Enoch's before the days of the great flood. Therefore, we must carefully distinguish between the Enoch who descended from Cain, and the Enoch who was the "seventh from Adam" (Genesis 4:16-18 cf. 5:22-24). The first Enoch walked in the way of Cain -- his descendants were morally bankrupt.

God would have us follow the example of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, who walked in the way of faith. Thus "Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found [implying everyone searched for him], because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5). In addition, the path of the coming Redeemer would pass through Enoch, the seventh from Adam, not Cain's Enoch (Genesis 3:15). So then, a seemingly insignificant phrase suddenly helps us better appreciate that:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).

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November 8, 2010

COMFORT ONE ANOTHER
by Cornelius R. Stam

Increasing world tension and the present trend of events in the Middle East have always filled many with fear, and there are even sincere believers in Christ who fear that perhaps the "Great Tribulation" of prophecy, with all its horrors, is at hand.

It is true indeed that even Paul's epistles warn this world of the judgment to come. "...The Day of the Lord", he says, "so cometh as a thief in the night".

"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape" (1 Thessalonians 5:2,3).

But before this time comes, the Lord will recall His ambassadors, as the apostle tells us in the following passage:

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
"Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 ).

This is the event with which "the dispensation of the grace of God" will be brought to a close. Then will follow "the day of His wrath", but even as Paul goes on to tell about this in the passage which follows, he reassures the members of Christ's Body that they will not be included amongst those to whom the Lord will come as "a thief in the night".

"But ye brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light...God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us...Wherefore comfort yourselves together..." (1 Thessalonians 5:4-11).

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November 9, 2010

THE REIGN OF GRACE
by Cornelius R. Stam

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

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

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

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

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November 10, 2010

DELAY IN JUDGMENT
by Cornelius R. Stam

The Scriptures leave no doubt that the Lord Jesus Christ will come to this earth again, "in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God" and who "receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thessalonians 1:8; 2:10). Nor will He forget His promise to give the twelve apostles thrones in His kingdom (Matthew 19:28 ). There can be no successors to Peter and the eleven, for they themselves are to reign with Christ in glory. What is happening now is a parenthesis in God's prophesied program. Delaying Christ's return to judge and reign. God chose another apostle, separate from the twelve, to bring a message of grace to this Christ-rejecting world. How great is His mercy and love!

And how are men saved today? How are their sins remitted? Must they come to some recognized authority and be "baptized for the remission of sins"? Some, still following Peter rather than Paul, say, "Yes." But let us see what St. Paul, by divine inspiration, has to say about this.

"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" (Ephesians 2:8,9).

"NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, BY THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND THE RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST" (Titus 3:5).

This stands in striking contrast to Peter's "Repent and be baptized... for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38 ). It stands in contrast, also, to the words of the so-called "Great Commission": "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). Does not this indicate that a change in dispensation took place with the raising up of Paul, that other apostle?

But what about the kingdom? Does some man on earth hold the keys? No, for both the King and His kingdom are in exile. When a sinner obeys God and receives Christ as His Savior he is "translated into the kingdom of His dear Son" (Colossians 1:13), and "made accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6).

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November 11, 2010

Your Greatest Need
by Pastor Ricky Kurth

Even in these challenging financial times, the greatest need of a Christian is not monetary. It is rather found in Colossians 1:11, where Paul prays that we might be

“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all...”

Unto all what? Whatever it is, Paul is convinced we are going to have to be “strengthened” with “all might” according to “His glorious power” to obtain it. As we read on, Paul tells us the goal of all this empowerment:

“...unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”

Patience? The reason we need all this mighty empowering is so we can be patient? While this may seem anticlimactic, we submit that patience is our greatest need. We need patience to put up with the world’s wickedness, the abortions, etc., patience in knowing the Second Coming of Christ will right the world’s wrongs. We need patience as televangelists continue to dominate the airwaves with their dilutions and pollutions of the gospel, and patience as Bible teachers muddle the minds of the saints by their failure to rightly divide the Word. And since no man today has the gift of healing, we need patience with our physical infirmities, and longsuffering as we wait for that wonderful change that will come to our bodies at the Rapture (Philippians 3:20,21).

Finally, we need patience with one another, as we learn to not just put up with other believers, but to actually give them the same unconditional love and acceptance God extends to us. Moses was patient with unbelieving Pharaoh, but lost his patience with his brethren. How like us! But ask yourself, when did David show greater spiritual strength, when he slew Goliath, or when he refused to slay Saul?

Paul says we are to be strengthened to all patience “according to His glorious power,” but what is God’s glorious power? The destructive power He exhibited at the Red Sea is called “glorious” (Exodus 15:6), but we suggest that God’s glorious power today is seen in His patience. The fact that God could put an end to the abortions and religious confusion, but doesn’t, is His most glorious power in the dispensation of grace.

The apostle concludes by praying that we might be patient “with joyfulness,” perhaps the hardest part of longsuffering. God doesn’t chafe under the vexations He receives from the world, religion, and the Body of Christ, and neither should we!

If this kind of power were not available to us, Paul would not be praying that we might have it. And so may his prayer also be the prayer of our hearts, as we enthusiastically study the only source of spiritual strength, God’s Word rightly divided.

—Pastor Kurth