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December 27, 2010

GLORIOUS PROSPECT
by Cornelius R. Stam

To the true Christian one of the most wonderful passages in the Bible is Eph. 2:7, where we read of God's purpose, "That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." This passage appears the more wonderful when viewed in the light of its context.

Verses 2-6 tell how we were all once the "children of disobedience," and therefore "by nature the children of wrath, even as others." But then we read those wonderful words of hope, "But God." "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love wherewith He loved us..." And the next verses tell how He has taken believers in Christ from the lowest position of condemnation and wrath and given them the highest place of favor and blessing in Christ at His own right hand in the heavenlies.

The simplest, humblest believer in Christ has been given this position in the heavenlies, for God no longer sees him in himself, but in Christ, who died for his sins. This is why St. Paul so often writes about "those who are in Christ Jesus."

It is for the believer now to occupy this exalted position, to appropriate by faith the "all spiritual blessings" which are his in Christ (See Eph. 1:3). Like Paul, he may be lifted by grace, through faith, above the troubles and sorrows of "this present evil age" and enjoy his position and blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. And even this is not all, for looking far ahead to the future the Apostle, by divine revelation, goes on to say (in Eph. 2:7) that God has done this all for us, "that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

[nChrist]

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December 28, 2010

SIX 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 one central Will. Alienated from God, man now reaped the fruits 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" (Gen. 1:26,27) we read later that Adam begat Seth "in HIS own likeness, after HIS image" (Gen. 5:3).

And so parents down through the ages have begotten children like themselves, with fallen natures and wills of their own, until today we have some six 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 six billion fallen creatures, but at least we get a glimpse of why the world is in the mess it is. 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" (Eph. 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" (Rom. 8:28 ).

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December 29, 2010

Does the Word of God Contradict Itself?
by Paul M. Sadler

Satan has sought to undermine the authority of the Word of God since the beginning. He whispered to Eve, “Yea, hath God said,” suggesting God was withholding something from our first parents. But more often than not his attacks are far more subtle. The liberal, for example, would have us believe the Scriptures contradict themselves; therefore they cannot be trusted. This is nothing more than an attempt to cast a shadow of doubt upon the veracity of God’s Word.

Despite the claims of the liberal, God never contradicts Himself. He’s omniscient! He knows the end from the beginning; how could He possibly contradict Himself? When we’re confronted with an alleged contradiction, the problem isn’t with the Word of God; rather, it’s with our understanding of the Scriptures. Most times there is a simple solution to the problem.

The account of Judas’ death is often appealed to as a glaring contradiction:

“And he [Judas] cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matt. 27:5).

“Now this man [Judas] purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out” (Acts 1:18 ).

We believe the Acts record is merely an augmentation of Matthew’s account of Judas’ dishonorable end. After Judas hanged himself, either the limb or rope broke, and since the top part of the body is heavier than the lower extremity, he fell headlong to the bottom of the ravine where his body burst open upon striking the jagged rocks.

Another supposed contradiction is found in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians:

“Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand” (I Cor. 10:8 ).

“And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand” (Num. 25:9).

Once again, Paul’s account of the plague is simply a fuller description of what actually transpired during the wilderness wanderings. The key is found in the apostle’s words, “and fell in one day.” Paul reveals 23,000 died in this judgment on the same day, but according to Numbers, the total number of Israelites that perished, which included the days that followed, was 24,000. The apostle was merely emphasizing the seriousness of committing fornication, by showing how many fell in one day.

While these two purported contradictions are easily resolved, this is not always necessarily the case. In those areas where we are unable to adequately address a discrepancy, we must patiently wait upon the Lord for additional light, which may not be given until eternity.

[nChrist]

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December 30, 2010

OPEN DOORS
by Cornelius R. Stam

"I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it" (Rev. 3:8 ).

This prophecy concerning the church at Philadelphia doubtless looks forward to a future day, but who can deny that it contains a lesson for our day?

When, in our walk through life, God sets before us open doors of opportunity, He clearly intends us to enter them. The only way to avoid entering an open door set before us would be to deliberately sidestep the opportunity. Alas, how prone we are to do this! Indeed, we often pray God for open doors when He has already set them before us and all about us.

Examine the record of Paul's ministry and see how he thanked God for open doors (Acts 14:27;
I Cor. 16:9), grasping such opportunities as God set before him on every hand. He did not pull strings or ask his friends to use their influence to gain more comfortable or better-paying positions. He faithfully entered whatever doors God set before him. His best known requests for prayer for open doors came from Rome, where a prison door had closed behind him. Should not this put us to shame!

May God convict us of the inconsistency of praying for open doors while failing to enter the many open doors He has set before us! May He forgive us for ever being selective about working for Him! May He give us the grace to take advantage of whatever opportunities present themselves to us, "buying up the time because the days are evil."

[nChrist]

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December 31, 2010

THE RESURRECTION DAY
by Cornelius R. Stam

In Psalm 2:7 we find the prophetic words: "I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son: THIS DAY have I begotten Thee."

Should we ask: "What day?" or "When was Christ officially declared to be the Son of God?" We will find the answer in Acts 13:33:

"God hath fulfilled the same [promises] unto us... in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm: Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee."

So it was at Christ's resurrection that the "decree" was made and He was "declared" to be the Son of God -- "begotten" in the larger sense of the word.

This agrees with what we find in the first chapter of Romans, where St. Paul speaks of God's good news,

"Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power... by the resurrection from the dead" (Rom. 1:3,4).

This is a wonderful truth. It was Christ's resurrection from the dead in power that proved that He was indeed God the Son. And more wonderful still: it was our death He died at Calvary, so that He might impart to us this everlasting resurrection life. In Eph. 2:2,3, we are all declared to have been "the children of disobedience" and therefore "by nature the children of wrath," but see how this passage continues:

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved), and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:4-6).

Thus, because of Christ's finished work of salvation, those who place their trust in Him are given His resurrection life and "blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3). This is their RESURRECTION DAY!

[nChrist]

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January 1, 2011

SCRIPTURE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE - I Corinthians 2:6,7,8
by RUSSELL S. MILLER

"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect; yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought; But we speak the wisdom of God in a Mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (I Cor. 2:6,7,8 ).

The Apostle Paul was given wisdom which none of the Old Testament writers knew--neither prophets, nor the Twelve Apostles understood it. Paul says: "We speak the wisdom of God in A MYSTERY, THE HIDDEN WISDOM, which God ordained before the world unto our glory..." (I Cor. 2:7).

In my study of the Scriptures it became evident that "the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory," was first made known unto Paul by "the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Gal. 1:11,12). His epistles are filled with the glorious truths of this "wisdom." Oh, if only more recognized the "Mystery" given to Paul they would also realize "what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles" today (Col. 1:27).

The knowledge of the Mystery has given me a much greater understanding of God's plan of salvation; a greater sense of where I fit in the Will of God. And it has helped me to grow spiritually from a babe in Christ into the maturity that God's Word is so profitable to do. It has given me a great respect for the ministry of the Apostle Paul. But most of all, and greatest, the knowledge of the Mystery has brought me closer to the Lord.

"The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the Mystery" gives us an inheritance in Christ. God has "made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light," not in real estate, but "in light" (Col. 1:12). He has given us an inheritance in "THE LIGHT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST" (II Cor. 4:6). Thus the importance of "Walking in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16)! And this aspect of the Mystery has been what God has used to lend power to my life and ministry:

"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world 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" (II Cor. 4:3,4).

Our adversary hates this great body of truth because it spells his defeat. In the wisdom of Calvary's cross Christ accomplished more than the devil ever dreamed: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers HE MADE A SHEW OF THEM OPENLY [a public spectacle], TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN [THE CROSS]" (Col. 2:15).

"Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (I Cor. 2:8 ).

It is this message, and these Scriptures, and the Spirit of God, who has "enlightened" the eyes of my "understanding," and changing my life, has helped me to "see" the truth of God's Word, rightly divided. PRAISE BE TO THE LORD!

[nChrist]

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January 2, 2011

WONDERFUL NEWS
by Cornelius R. Stam

The newspapers are filled with sensational news these days, but the divine extension of this present age of grace is the most sensational news of all, yet most newspapers rarely, if ever, mention it.

We are prone to take the blessings of our times too much for granted. We forget too easily that for more than 1900 years the world has been ripe for God's judgment -- ever since His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, was crucified and sent from this world a royal Exile.

All through the Old Testament Psalms and prophets it is clear that the world's rejection of Christ was to be visited with awful judgment. The Second Psalm, describing the world's rejection of "the Lord and His Anointed," goes on to say: "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath and vex them in His sore displeasure." In Psalm 110:1, too, we have the Father saying to His rejected Son: "Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool."

Yet, when all seemed ready for the divine judgment to fall, God interrupted the prophetic program and saved Saul of Tarsus, the "chief of sinners," the leader of the world's rebellion against Christ. More: He appointed this Saul, as the Apostle Paul, to proclaim "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24), the wonderful news that because Christ suffered, the Just for the unjust, at Calvary, any sinner may be saved by grace through faith, apart from religious or other works.

"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). And therefore: "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:5).

Judgment will come, but thank God, He has in grace delayed it until now.

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (II Cor. 6:2).

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January 3, 2011

SATAN AND THE TRUTH
by Cornelius R. Stam

"If any man be in Christ he is a new creation..." (II Cor. 5:17).

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus..." (Eph. 2:10).

"And ye are complete in Him..." (Col. 2:10).

"In Christ!" What a glorious truth! What a high and holy position! No religious ceremony, neither circumcision nor baptism, needed to make us spiritually complete. God only asks now: "Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Eph. 4:1).

Many Christians are satisfied with salvation through the blood of Christ, but God wants us to have much more than this. He wants us to have "the full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2), to know the security, the blessedness, the glory of a position in Christ. He wants us to know "the exceeding riches of His grace" (Eph. 2:7), and to enjoy "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3).

But Satan does not!

For proclaiming these glorious truths the Apostle Paul was bitterly opposed on every hand, even by some saved religious leaders of his day.

And Satan has not changed!

Proclaim this message today and "your adversary the devil" will soon be roused to action. He hates this message of grace which the glorified Lord revealed through Paul (Eph. 3:1-3) and let us not be asleep to the fact that, as in Paul's day, he will again seek to use even saved religious leaders, evangelical "big guns," if he can, to oppose it, thus robbing Christ of His glory and believers of their blessings.

[nChrist]

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January 4, 2011

CHRIST'S DEATH FOR ALL
by Cornelius R. Stam

Paul preached Christ's death for all men. In I Tim. 2:4-7, he states emphatically that this glorious truth was first committed specifically to him:

"Who will have ALL MEN to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
"For there is one God, and one mediator BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, the man Christ Jesus;
"Who gave Himself A RANSOM FOR ALL, to be testified in due time. "WHEREUNTO I AM ORDAINED A PREACHER, AND AN APOSTLE, (I SPEAK THE TRUTH IN CHRIST, AND LIE NOT;) A TEACHER OF THE GENTILES IN FAITH AND VERITY."

Note the words "to be," "in due time" and "whereunto I am appointed." Thus this glorious message of Christ's death for all was not part of prophecy or of the so-called "Great Commission," but was later committed to Paul.

Nowhere in Old Testament prophecy do we read that Christ would die for all, including the Gentiles. Even in that famous prophecy, Isaiah 53, which Gentile believers are so apt to apply to themselves, the Hebrew prophet says: "All we like sheep have gone astray ," and "the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Ver. 6). Now, if I tell you that "we all," or "all of us" are going on an outing, this does not mean that all the world is invited. And in this case Isaiah's meaning is especially clear and emphatic for, speaking still as a Hebrew prophet, he goes on to say: "For the transgression of my people was He stricken" (Ver. 8 ). How then could Paul have meant in I Cor. 15:3 that his preaching of the cross as good news for all, was in fulfillment of prophecy? Indeed, he distinctly states that it was a "mystery," a secret, first revealed to him.

"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..." (Eph. 3:1-3).

[nChrist]

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January 5, 2011

THOU SHALT NOT SMOKE!
by Cornelius R. Stam

Have you read about the clear law against smoking cigarettes in the state laws of Illinois? It's been on the books since 1907 and here is what it says:

Every person who shall manufacture, sell or give away any cigarette containing any substance deletrious to health, including tobacco, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $100.00 or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed 30 days.

This law has been on the Illinois state law books for 96 years, but in late years, certainly, it hasn't been enforced and most Illinoisans don't even know it's there. The reason is that so many people smoke cigarettes that the authorities don't even try to enforce it.

The prohibition era demonstrated the fact that human behavior cannot be legislated. This is so even with the law of God. Some people think that the Ten Commandments were given to help us to be good, but this is not so, for the Scriptures themselves state clearly that they were given to show us that we are bad and need a Savior.

Rom. 3:19 declares that the Law was given "that every mouth may be stopped, and that all the world may be brought in guilty before God." Rom. 3:20 says: "By the law is the knowledge of sin."

This is why we read in Rom. 8:3 that "what the law could not do, in that it was weak [on account of] the flesh," God sent His Son to accomplish. Also in Heb. 7:19 we read that "the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did." This is the "better hope" that we proclaim: that through Christ we may have "the forgiveness of sins" and that "by Him all who believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38,39).

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January 6, 2011

CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
by Cornelius R. Stam

A man's conduct, in Scripture, is called his "walk"! The Bible has much to say about how we walk, morally and spiritually. Many "walk after their own lusts" (II Pet. 3:3) and "walk in darkness" (John 12:35). Some even "walk in craftiness" (II Cor. 4:2) trying to lead others astray. Indeed, even Christian believers are sometimes careless about their "walk" and so cause others to stumble.

Every true child of God should be very careful about his walk, or conduct. In Eph. 2:8-10 we read that while believers are not saved by good works, they are saved "unto good works." God's grace is the root of our salvation, and good works are the fruit.

Sincere believers in Christ are counted as one with Him, and it is expected of us that "as Christ was raised up from the dead" after having died for our sins, "even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4).

Christians are exhorted in the Bible to "walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing" (Col. 1:10), to "walk in the spirit" that they might not "fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16). They are exhorted to "walk worthy of [their] calling" (Eph. 4:1), to "walk in the light" (I John 1:7) and to "walk as children of the light" (Eph. 5:8 ). They are exhorted to "walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise" (Eph. 5:15), to "walk honestly" (Rom. 13:13), to "walk in love" (Eph. 5:2) and to "walk by faith, not by sight" (II Cor. 5:7).

Much more is said about the believer's walk in the Bible, but never are we told that it is our "walk," or conduct, that makes us acceptable for salvation. Our failing, stumbling ways could never earn salvation for us. On the contrary we are exhorted to walk pleasing to the Lord out of sheer gratitude to Him.

[nChrist]

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January 7, 2011

THE BIBLE AND ITS AUTHOR
by Cornelius R. Stam

Back on the shelf she placed the book with a sigh. It was too dull and uninteresting to wade through. She didn't feel like reading anyway; in fact, she was utterly bored, and didn't feel like doing anything.

The next night was different -- very different. At a party she had met the kind of man she could really go for. He seemed interested in her too, and in the weeks that followed they saw more and more of each other, until she was sure she loved him.

One night he mentioned something about a book he had written, and somehow the title rang a bell with her. Where had she seen it? It bothered her that she couldn't remember. When she reached home, however, it dawned on her all of a sudden. This was the book she had found so boring. She hadn't even noticed the name of the author.

Taking the book down from the shelf again, she began reading. As she read page after page, she asked herself: "Why did I think this book was dry? Say, this is some book! I had no idea he could write -- and so well!" And thus, avidly, she continued reading far into the night.

Yes, it makes a great deal of difference if you know the Author -- and especially if you love him! How many believers in Christ there are whose most precious hours are spent in reading and studying the Bible -- a Book which once seemed dull and uninteresting to them! The reason? They have come to know and love the Author!

Our Lord said: "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3). But how do we obtain the "life eternal" with which this knowledge is bound up? Our Lord said: "He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life" (John 6:47). Salvation is, after all, a love story to be believed, and by which we come to know Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

[nChrist]

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January 8, 2011

JUSTIFIED FREELY
by Cornelius R. Stam

"Being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"
(Rom. 3:24).

It is wonderful to know that we sinners are not justified by praying, or paying, or saying, or sighing, or crying, or doing anything. We are justified freely, by the grace of God. But this passage from Romans will mean more to us when we learn how the word rendered "freely" here is translated elsewhere in the Bible. The same expression is found in John 15:25, where our Lord, quoting from the Psalms, said: "They hated me without a cause."

Why did men hate Him? He went about doing nothing but good: healing the sick, giving the blind their sight, causing the lame to leap for joy, preaching good news to the poor and deliverance to those who were bound. There was no good reason for crying, "Away with Him!" and "Crucify Him!" They hated Him "without a cause."

But in the same way we might ask: "Why should He die for sinners? Why should He pay for their sins? He had done nothing wrong." Ah, it was in love that He deliberately gave Himself into the hands of sinful men, that He, the sinless One, might pay for their sins. He did not die His own death, for death is "the wages of sin." He died our death, paying for our sins. So, as men hated Him "without a cause" (except their own sinful condition), so Christ has "Justified" believers "without a cause" (except His own divine love).

And so it is that we can now proclaim the glorious news that God has sent us to tell all mankind, that His righteousness is conferred "upon all those who believe," and that believers are "justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

[nChrist]

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January 9, 2011

Conversation Peace
by Pastor Ricky Kurth

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27).

Interestingly, whenever Paul uses the phrase “stand fast,” it is always to challenge people to stand fast in an area in which they were not standing fast! For instance, he tells the Corinthians to “stand fast in the faith” (I Cor. 16:13), for they had lost their faith in one of the fundamentals of the faith, the resurrection (I Cor. 15:12-50). He told the Galatians to “stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free” (Gal. 5:1) because they were forsaking grace for the law. He told the Thessalonians to “stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught” (II Thes. 2:15), especially the “tradition” of working for a living (3:7-12). The Thessalonians had become so excited about the Rapture that many of them quit their jobs in anticipation of the Lord’s coming!

But here in Philippians 1:27, Paul tells the Philippians to “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” This is because two ladies in the church were quarreling (4:2), and some in the church were siding with Euodias and some with Syntyche. “Striving together” is the Greek word sunathleo. The prefix sun means together with, and athleo is the word from which we get athlete and athletics. Athletes are often teammates who must strive together to achieve a common victory, and this is what Paul was calling on the Philippians to do for the cause of Christ.

Notice Paul isn’t talking about faith in the gospel. The faith of the gospel is our faithfulness or fidelity to maintaining the gospel as God gave it, just as old “high-fi” or “high-fidelity” records claimed to be highly faithful to the sound recorded in the studio. We are to strive together to maintain fidelity to the gospel God gave to Paul.

Finally, Paul does not say we should strive with one another for the faith of the gospel. He rather says we should be striving “together” as those who see the fellowship of the mystery with those who don’t. With all the about “peace on earth” that we hear this time of year, how refreshing it would be if we could enjoy the “conversation peace” Paul longed to see in Philippi! (Psa. 133:1; Eph. 4:3).

[nChrist]

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January 10, 2011

PEACE WITH GOD
by Cornelius R. Stam

When our Lord was born at Bethlehem, the angels proclaimed:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).

Today we see anything but peace on earth, for He, "the Prince of Peace," has been rejected, and this world will never know peace until He is in control. This is why the Father said to the Son: "Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool" (Matt. 22:41-45). It is possible, however, for each individual to enjoy peace with God and to know that all is well as far as his eternal destiny is concerned.

Job 22:21 rightly says: "Acquaint now thyself with Him and be at peace," and Psa. 25:12,13: "What man is he that feareth the Lord? ...His soul shall dwell at ease." Even when the multitudes were about to crucify Christ, He said to His own:

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

Every one of Paul's epistles opens with an important official declaration which God sent him to proclaim to all men: "Grace be to you and peace." And he explains how we may have this peace.

By nature all of us have sinned against God, but in Paul's epistles we are told that "He [Christ] is our peace" (Eph. 2:14), "having made peace through the blood of His cross" (Col. 1:20). In other words, we have sinned against God but Christ died for our sins so that we might be reconciled. And those who trust Christ and His finished work at Calvary are thus reconciled.

Surely this great truth could not have been more plainly stated than it is in Rom. 4:25; 5:1:

"[Christ] 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."