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[nChrist]

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February 11, 2011

ONE IS ENOUGH
by Cornelius R. Stam

As a young man appeared in court, the judge thundered at him, "What's the reason your father is not here? He should have been here two weeks ago."

The young man responded: "Your Honor, there are seventeen reasons why my father is not here."

"What are they?" roared the judge.

The lad replied: "The first is that my father died a little more than two weeks ago."

"Well," conceded the judge, "I don't think we'll need to hear the other sixteen reasons!"

This brief interchange may well illustrate a principle involving the twelve apostles and Paul.

There has been much debate over whether or not Paul was God's choice for Judas' place as one of the twelve. Many hold that the eleven acted in the flesh and were out of the will of God in appointing Matthias as one of their number to replace Judas. Paul, they say, was obviously God's choice for this position. But many unanswerable arguments have been advanced from Scripture to prove that this is not so and that, indeed Paul could not have qualified as one of the twelve.

Some of these argument are: The twelfth apostle had to be chosen before the kingdom could be offered at Pentecost; the eleven acted only after many days of united prayer; the candidate had to be one who had followed with Christ all through His earthly ministry (Matt. 19:28 ); Paul did not even see Christ until after His ascension; he was not even saved at the time; he persecuted the Pentecostal Church and laid it waste considerably after the choice of Judas' successor had become necessary. Finally, Acts 1:26 says that Matthias "was numbered with the eleven," and Acts 2:4 adds: "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost."

Any one of the above arguments would suffice to vindicate the action of the eleven and silence their critics. But this is particularly so of the last one. What further discussion need there be when God's Word says that Matthias "was numbered with the eleven...and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost?"

[nChrist]

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February 12, 2011

FAITHFULNESS TO OUR COMMISSION
by Cornelius R. Stam

In Paul's day, his "preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery" encountered opposition on every hand. For faithfully proclaiming the glorious message which had been committed to his trust, he was constantly made to bear affliction and reproach. In one of his earlier epistles we already find a long list of the perils and persecutions he had by then been called upon to endure (II Cor. 11:23-33) and this opposition, bitter and relentless, continued throughout his ministry. In his last letter, written from prison in Rome, he calls attention to the distinctive character of his message, and adds:

"Wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds..." (II Tim. 2:7-9).

The almost constant suffering to which the apostle of grace was subjected naturally had its effect upon timid souls. Some, who saw the truth and the glory of his message, lacked the courage to stand with him in making it known. Others, who had started with him were tempted to -- and some did -- turn back. Of his first appearance before Nero, the Apostle had to say:

"At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: pray God that it may not be laid to their charge" (II Tim. 4:16).

In the light of all this it is not strange that Paul should write to Timothy:

"FOR GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR; BUT OF POWER, AND OF LOVE, AND OF A SOUND MIND.

"BE NOT THOU THEREFORE ASHAMED OF THE TESTIMONY OF OUR LORD, NOR OF ME HIS PRISONER; BUT BE THOU PARTAKER OF THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE POWER OF GOD" (II Tim. 1:7,8 ).

[nChrist]

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February 13, 2011

IS "FAITH" THE "GIFT" OF GOD?
by Russell S. Miller

Is "faith" in Ephesians 2:8,9 the "gift" of God?

Some have taught that the Greek word here, for "gift", suggests that faith is the gift of God. Can this thinking really be justified in the light of what the Apostle Paul says of salvation in Romans 6:23? The answer is an emphatic "NO".

Meditate upon this for a moment: Who created us? The Scriptures reply with a resounding: "GOD". God, "who created all things by Jesus Christ" (Eph. 3:9), created us in His own "image" and "likeness" (Gen. 1:26). And this great and mighty Creator, who "formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2:7), put within this man, whom He had created, the ability to "seek the Lord" (Acts 17:23-27). This quotation from Acts is no less than the words of "the Apostle of the Gentiles" (Rom. 11:13). Is there not within every one of us that vacuum that can only be filled with Christ? Yet the Apostle to the Nations declares:

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no not one" (Rom. 3:10-12).

The Bible does not contradict itself here. God has built within every man, woman and child--upon creation--that ability within him to believe. He can discern the sky; he can choose whatever he pleases; he can believe a lie. If man is responsible before God, and he most assuredly is, then he may choose to "receive" the gift of God:

"For the wages of sin is death; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD" (Rom. 6:23).

It is not that he is unable to believe the gospel, as we have demonstrated, rather it is a matter of his will. Consequently, man will stand to give an account to his Creator, for his faith -- his ability to believe -- is indirectly given of God in creation. Man, however, is a rebel from his birth, and intentionally disobedient. In the words of John 3:18, "...he that BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God". This is why his sinfulness is defined in terms of "total depravity".

[nChrist]

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February 14, 2011

The Wonders of His Grace
by Paul M. Sadler, President

Scripture Reading:

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich."
-- II Corinthians 8:9

Whether the occasion is a holiday, a birthday celebration, or a graduation, it is customary to give a gift. While some gifts are given out of necessity, for the most part, a gift is an expression of our love. We normally bestow these tokens of our affection on those whom we feel deserve the honor. But God's ways are not our ways. He gave the gift of His beloved Son to His enemies. That's a true love story! Oh, the wonder of His grace that God sent His only begotten Son, the Son of His love, to save sinners like you and me while we were fleeing from the glory of His presence. Little wonder the Apostle Paul says, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift" (II Cor. 9:15).

The word "unspeakable" here has the idea of "indescribable." The gifts I've received through the years were all describable. Some may have been a little harder to describe than others, but describable nonetheless! But the gift of God's dear Son is indescribable. Who can explain the incarnation, how the eternal Son of God left heaven's glory and took upon Himself the form of human flesh, yet was not tainted with our sin. Who can explain how Christ was wholly God and wholly human in one person? These wonders can only be received through the eye of faith.

The manger and the Cross stand at the two extremes of our Lord's life, but they are connected by the tapestry of redemption. Hence, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." A love story that ends with a death is tragic; in contrast, the death of Christ is the greatest demonstration of love this world has ever seen. How much does God love you? He gave His only begotten Son to die on your behalf. You see, Christ wasn't dying for His sin, He knew no sin; He was dying for your sins and my sins at Calvary. He was made sin for us that we might receive the righteousness of God in Him. Have you trusted Him?

Surely you would never think of paying for a gift; why, the giver would be highly offended -- how much more so with God. The payment for your sins has already been furnished by the Giver; simply receive Him as a gift from God. If you have, then why not thank Him today for His unspeakable gift? After all, this is the Gift that includes all others!

[david749]

Praise God for this great gift.



Thanks Tom for the post. 



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATqJ1azhr_A

[nChrist]

You're most welcome Brother David.

[nChrist]

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February 15, 2011

THE LAW AND THE WRATH OF GOD
by Cornelius R. Stam

Romans 4:15 clearly states that "the law worketh wrath," but so many people, it seems, do not wish to see this. Even some clergymen tell us that God gave the Law to help us to be good, when God Himself says the very opposite; that it was given to show us that we are bad and need a Savior.

"The law worketh wrath." Every criminal knows this and every sinner should know it, for the Bible has much to say on the subject. Rom. 3:19,20 declares that the Law was given "that every mouth may be stopped, and that all the world may be brought in guilty before God," and this passage goes on to say:

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

II Cor. 3:7,9 calls the Law "the ministration of condemnation" and "the ministration of death." Gal. 3:10 says that those who are "of the works of the law," i.e., who seek to make themselves acceptable to God by keeping the Law, "are under a curse," because the Law can only condemn them.

Those who approach God, expecting eternal life in return for "good works" are offering Him their terms -- which He will never accept. God will not sell justification to those already under condemnation for sin. But He does offer sinners complete justification by grace because:

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written; cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree"
(Gal. 3:13).

Thank God, those who trust in Christ, "having redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7), "being justified, freely by His [God's] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

[david749]

Praise God


Thanks Tom     Hope that you and your family are doing well.


David

[nChrist]

Praise God


Thanks Tom     Hope that you and your family are doing well.


David

Hello Brother David,

You're most welcome. God has richly blessed me and my extended family. We are all doing great, and I hope that the same is true for you and yours. I was just thinking about my four grandsons - all healthy and happy. I also give thanks that my entire family are Christians, so I don't know how we could be doing any better.

Love In Christ,
Tom

[nChrist]

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February 16, 2011

"ACCEPTED"
by Cornelius R. Stam

In Ephesians 1:6 the Apostle Paul sings a doxology, as it were, "to the praise of the glory of God's grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved".

In the story of the Prodigal Son it is touching to see the father accept his wayward son back to his bosom --- and so generously! He does not merely admit him back into his home; he clothes him with his best robe, puts a ring on his hand, shoes on his feet and kills for him the fatted calf so that they call all to "eat and be merry" in celebration of his return.

But the prodigal was after all the father's son, whereas Paul bids us "Gentiles in the flesh" to remember that originally we were "without Christ...aliens from the commonwealth of Israel...strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Eph. 2:12).

Hence it is even more touching to contemplate God's gracious acceptance of us who were not sons but "aliens" and "enemies" (Col. 1:21).

The word "accepted" in the above passage actually comes from the word "grace" (Gr. karis) with which the verse begins: "...His grace, wherein He hath engraced us in the Beloved One".

Thus God looks upon us now with delight; He delights to favor and bless the believer because He sees him in Christ, His beloved Son.

This passage reminds us how God once broke through the heavens to declare: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17). And now He is delighted with us and blesses us with "all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies" because we are in Christ, the "Beloved Son". Not that we have attained to this position, far from it, for "HE hath MADE us accepted" --- HE hath engraced us in the Beloved.

[nChrist]

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February 17, 2011

A GIFT FOR YOU
by Cornelius R. Stam

"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 3:16).

In the light of the Pauline epistles these well-known words have become more appropriate than when our Lord first spoke them. Through Paul, Christ's redemptive work at Calvary has been proclaimed and fully explained. In this light, then, we suggest that our readers take the time to really meditate on this passage about God's greatest gift to man.

Think of the love that prompted it! "God so loved...." We were the "children of disobedience" and "by nature the children of wrath, even as others" (Eph. 2:2,3). We deserved judgment, "but God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us," gave His best, His all, to save us (Eph. 2:4).

Think of its priceless value! "His only begotten Son -- everlasting life." Christ, the holy One, had to be given up to disgrace and death in order that our sins might be justly dealt with, and that we might become the rightful heirs of everlasting life (Rom. 3:25,26).

Think of your need of this gift! "...that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish...." How perilous not to accept "the gift of God, eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23)! What folly to spurn or ignore a gift we need so sorely!

Finally, think how gracious the offer! "...that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Whosoever believeth! Any sinner may have this gift by simply believing, accepting in simple faith what God says about Christ paying for our sins at Calvary. In fact, this is the only way we can become the recipients of this wonderful gift, for Rom. 4:5 declares:

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith [believing] is counted for righteousness."

[nChrist]

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February 18, 2011

A FAITHFUL SAYING
by Cornelius R. Stam

"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" (I Tim. 1:15).

Of all Paul's "faithful sayings," this is perhaps the most wonderful, and the one through which most people have found the joy of sins forgiven.

The subject is that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Why else would Christ have had to leave His glory in heaven if it were not, as the Bible says, to come to earth in human form to represent us in the payment for sin? And, thank God, He paid the full price for the sins of all men, for it was not a mere man who died on Calvary's cross. So complete was His payment that Paul could exclaim: "He came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." Paul, himself, though once Christ's chief enemy on earth, had now been saved by Him and, had come to know the joy of sins forgiven.

The great tragedy is that so many people do not feel their condition to be hopeless apart from Christ. They have not yet seen how far they come short of the glory and holiness of God. They know they are sinners, but they do not yet feel that their condition is so hopeless that they need a Sav- ior. Thus they keep trying, trying, trying -- and failing, failing, failing!

How much wiser we are to confess our sins before God -- to take the place of sinners, so that He can save us. This is the first step to heaven. When we have done this we are in a position to accept God's offer of full pardon and justification through Christ, who died to pay the penalty for our sins.

Since none are perfect and all have sinned, "this is," indeed, "a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Why not believe God's Word, accept Christ as your Savior and be saved today?

[nChrist]

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February 19, 2011

GOD CENTRAL
by Cornelius R. Stam

Paul's Epistle to the Romans is the foundation book of Christian theology. It brings us face to face with facts we ought to know and must know to be saved.

In the 16th and 17th verses of the first chapter the Apostle declares that he is proud of the gospel because therein the "righteousness," or rightness, of God is revealed. God had to deal righteously with sin before He could offer salvation to sinners. Sin is not merely an affliction; it is moral wrong and kindles the wrath of a just and holy God. The wrath of God is too little discussed by modern evangelists and preachers. They like to talk about the love and mercy of God, as though He were a Grand Old Man with a tolerant attitude toward sin. But such never fully appreciate His love and mercy because they do not understand His infinite wrath against sin.

Much evangelism today has become sort of a "try God" gimmick. The pleasures of the world don't satisfy? Try God. You can't shake off some terrible bondage? Try God. When all else fails try God! But this humanistic approach is foreign to Scripture. God, His holiness, His wrath against sin and His love in providing salvation -- these are central in Scripture rather than man, his condition and his needs. We are not to look upon God as our servant, who will help us in time of need, but as the Holy One whose justice we have offended, but who in infinite grace, paid for our sins Himself so that we might be redeemed. This is why the Epistle to the Romans begins its mighty argument with almost three chapters on the subject of sin. Then follows the good news of God's grace in settling the sin question so that we might be "justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

And thus the same inspired writer declares in Eph. 2:2-4 that we were "the children of disobedience," and therefore "the children of wrath," but then goes on to show how "God, who is rich in mercy" and "great" in "love," saves believers by grace, giving them eternal life in Christ, who died for our sins.

[nChrist]

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February 20, 2011

214 IS GOING DOWN
by Cornelius R. Stam

I heard something over the radio a few weeks ago, the like of which I've never heard before -- and certainly never want to hear again. I heard the last words of the pilot on aboard.

Because of the weather conditions the planes were "stacked" rather high around the Philadelphia airport, so the airport tower had just asked him: "Do you want to go on or do you want to hold?" The pilot had barely replied that he wanted to "hold," when he said something about his big Boeing 707 being on fire! Then came the awful words: "We're going down. Two fourteen is going down in flames." He said it calmly, and the Philadelphia tower answered back: "We have your message, two fourteen."

Just imagine, hearing the actual last words which the pilot uttered while he and eighty others were being hurled more than 5,000 feet to their death amid the flaming parts of their stricken plane!

Yet, one does not have to be in a plane to meet death suddenly. He can stumble off a curb and be killed or die suddenly in a hundred different ways.

The important thing is to be ready. We do not wish to frighten people into accepting Christ as Savior, but it is a fact that we ought to think more than we do about the uncertainty of life. Prov. 22:3 says: "A wise man forseeth the evil and hideth himself, but fools pass on and are punished."

No wonder Paul wrote in II Cor. 6:1,2:

"We then as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.... Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation."

We cannot offer salvation yesterday, for yesterday is passed. Nor can we promise it for tomorrow, for the opportunity may be withdrawn by then. The best we can do is to tell you that God loves you, and that Christ died for you, and urge you to act upon this now.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

[david749]

Thanks Tom for this very important message.