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May 4, 2011

BUY THE TRUTH AND SELL IT NOT
by Cornelius R. Stam

Every true Christian should understand that the truth costs. If you don't think so, make it your own, value it, defend it, stand for it, and see if it doesn't cost. Before you are through it may cost you far more than you had thought -- hours of ease and pleasure, friends and money. Yes, the truth costs. Salvation is gloriously free but the truth costs -- that is, if you want it for yourself. Many who know the truth won't buy it. They won't pay what it costs to say: "This is what I believe. This is my conviction." The truth isn't worth that much to them.

But in Prov. 23:23 God's Word urges us: "Buy the truth"! Not, "Buy it if you can get it at a bargain; if the price is not too great." No, "Buy the truth"! Buy it at any price. It is worth far more than anything you can give in exchange for it.

And when you have bought it: "sell it not." How many, alas, have bought the truth only to sell out again! For a while they valued and defended some God-given light from His Word, but presently they sold it again for something that seemed more valuable. Perhaps it was peace with others, or position, or popularity or some other temporal gain. They still gave mental assent to it but it formed no part of them. It was no longer a conviction.

Such should read again the Spirit's counsel: "Buy the truth, and sell it not." He does not say: "Don't sell it unless you can get a very good price for it." He says: "Sell it not." Sell it not at any price. Buy it, no matter what it costs and when it is yours do not sell it for any price or under any consideration.

It is because the truth is so little valued in this indifferent age, that many of God's people have become so spiritually powerless. They hold opinions instead of convictions, because they have given the infallible, unchangeable Word of God little place in their lives. God blesses and uses those who "buy the truth and sell it not."

[nChrist]

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May 5, 2011

EVERY-MAN EVANGELISM
by Cornelius R. Stam

"Do the work of an evangelist."

Paul's Spirit-inspired injunction in II Tim. 4:5 applies indirectly to every believer in Christ. Are not our pastors simply leaders in the work of the Lord? Shall the congregation sit idly by as the pastor alone does "the work of an evangelist?" God forbid! The pastor is rather to be an example to his flock to go and do likewise.

How well this writer recalls the days of the so-called Darby-Scofield movement when multitudes all over the country thronged to hear Bible teachers like Gaebelein, Gray, Gregg, Ottman, Chafer and Newell. These able men of God expounded the Word as the "blessed hope" of the Lord's return was being recovered. But these Bible teachers were evangelists too, in the truest sense of the word, and their evangelism was contagious.

In those days almost all premillenarians, including the young people, carried New Testaments in their pockets wherever they went. Why? They hoped and prayed for opportunities to testify to others about God's plan of salvation through Christ and they wanted to show them the way from Scripture. In those days if a Christian failed to have a New Testament with him he was apt to be reproved with the words: "What! a soldier without a sword?" By contrast few believers carry New Testaments about with them today, and they certainly don't carry Bibles!

Some are telling us today that this brand of fundamentalism is out of date and ineffective in these fast-changing times. We reply that all of us ought to get back to this brand of fundamentalism, this earnest effort to personally win souls to Christ by showing them God's plan of salvation from the Scriptures.

God help his people in general and each spiritual leader in particular, to "do the work of an evangelist."

[nChrist]

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May 6, 2011

WHAT IS SAVING FAITH?
by Cornelius R. Stam

"What saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3).

The Apostle Paul uses the above quotation from Genesis 15:6 to prove that "to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness" (Rom. 4:5).

It is wonderful that God does not require -- indeed, does not permit -- human works for salvation, but only faith. But the question is: What is faith? What kind of believing saves?

There is no indication in Scripture that "the gospel of the grace of God" or "the preaching of the cross" was proclaimed to Abraham. We must go back to the passage which Paul quotes to see what Abraham believed. Genesis 15:5 says:

"And [God] took [Abraham] forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell [count] the stars, if thou be able to number [count] them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be." It is this simple, wonderful promise about the multiplication of Abraham's seed which is followed with the words: "And he believed in the Lord; and He counted [reckoned] it to him for righteousness" (Ver.6). We do not mean to imply that this was the first expression of Abraham's faith, for in Hebrews 11:8 we read:

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."

This took place considerably before the Genesis 15 incident and we are specifically told that through his faith he "obtained a good report" (Heb. 11:2).

>From all this it is clear that Abraham believed what God told him and was counted righteous -- as we now know, through a redemption still to be wrought by Christ. We, now, must believe what God tells us -- and this is nothing less than the account of the all-sufficient finished work of Christ, wrought in our behalf, on Calvary's cross.

"[He] was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4:25).

[nChrist]

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May 7, 2011

BE YE RECONCILED
by Cornelius R. Stam

Reconciliation postulates alienation. Only enemies can be reconciled. Thus God's message of reconciliation takes us back to Adam, the father of the human race, who first rebelled against God, and explains why God must deal with us all on the same level, as sinners who need salvation.

In Romans 5:12, we read: "...By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned".

Thank God, though, the message of reconciliation is not concerned exclusively with the "one man" by whom sin entered into the world. Indeed, it is chiefly concerned with the "one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (I Tim. 2:5).

"Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men unto condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift [of salvation] came upon all men to justification of life.
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (Rom. 5:18,19).

It is by this other "one Man" and His death on Calvary, then, that sinners may be reconciled to a holy God. In Colossians 1:21,22, Paul, the Apostle of reconciliation, writes to believers:

"And you, that were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled,
"In the body of His flesh, through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight."

Thus "when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son" (Rom. 5:10). And thus, too, the Apostle pleads: "We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, [Christ] who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Cor. 5:20,21).

[nChrist]

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May 8, 2011

SEVEN TIMES A FAILURE
by Cornelius R. Stam

Despite man's natural tendency to boast, history has proved again and again that he is a failure, in deep need of God and His grace.

The Age of Innocence closed with man rebelling against his Creator and becoming a fallen, sinful creature (Rom. 5:12).

The Age of Conscience opened with one murder (Gen. 4:8 ) and before another age was ushered in "the earth was filled with violence" (Gen. 6:11).

Then came Human Government, but the world's first ruler made a spectacle of himself through drunkenness (Gen. 9:20,21). Little wonder we soon find the race intoxicated with its own importance so that God had to confuse their language at Babel (Gen. 11:4,7,8 ).

The Age of Promise came next, with Abraham failing to enter the promised land through unbelief (Gen. 11:31- 12:3). It closed with Israel, his seed, failing to enter the promised land through unbelief (Heb. 3:19).

The Age of Law began with Israel worshipping a golden calf before Moses had even gotten down from Sinai. Little wonder it ended with the rejection of Christ.

The Age of Grace commenced with the Apostle Paul, God's ambassador of love and grace, persecuted and imprisoned (Eph. 6:20). This showed man's attitude toward God and His grace. It will be brought to a close as man continues persistently to go on in his sin rather than accept redeeming grace through Christ (II Cor. 4:4; II Tim. 3:1-5).

The Kingdom of Christ, which is to follow the present age, will begin with our Lord rebuking strong nations (Micah 4:3) and will close with multitudes, who for a time had rendered enforced obedience, following Satan (Rev. 20:7-9).

How all this demonstrates man's need of God and salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ! "All have sinned" (Rom. 3:23) but, thank God: "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13). Though surrounded by sin and rebellion, multitudes down through history have called and have been saved.

[nChrist]

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May 9, 2011

INEXPRESSIBLE JOY
by Cornelius R. Stam

Have you ever noticed that the Apostle Paul never speaks of his love for Christ? Rather he keeps talking about Christ's wonderful love to him. Neither does he exhort us to love Christ, but keeps telling us how Christ loved -- and loves, us. This is consistent with the message specially committed to him: "The Gospel of the Grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

The Law said: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God" (Matt. 22:37). This is the very essence of the law. And we should love God, but the law cannot produce love, so God comes to us in grace and say: "I love you". This is why Paul's epistles are so filled with "the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:29).

The fact that God deals with us in grace does not mean that believers should not, or do not, love Him. The very opposite is true, for love begets love. It is when men come to know the love of Christ that their hearts respond to him in love.

Peter, like Paul, had once been a strict observer of the Law, but had since come to know the love of Christ in growing measure. The result: A deep love for Christ and the overflowing joy that accompanies such love. This is why we find in I Peter 1:8 those touching words that naturally overflow from the heart and lips of one who has come to know the love of Christ: "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory".

Yes, knowing and loving Christ does indeed bring inexpressible joy, but we cannot love him by trying. We must accept His love for us in faith so that our hearts may naturally respond.

[nChrist]

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May 10, 2011

A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST
by Cornelius R. Stam

"Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (II Tim. 2:3,4).

In the soldier it is courage and self-discipline that are important. It has been well said that the measure of a good soldier is not how much he can "give," but how much he can "take," how much he can endure -- how much it takes to make him give up.

It is a sad fact that many of God's people simply do not want to be soldiers. They are sure that the battle for the truth can be won by "love." They decline to obey God's specific order to "fight the good fight of the faith" (I Tim. 6:12). Some even find fault with those who do stand as soldiers for Christ and wield the Sword of the Spirit in defense of the truth.

But if God does not wish us to be soldiers in the fight of the faith, why did He command us to be such in the first place, and why, in Ephesians 6:10-20, does He urge us to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might," instructing us to "Put on the whole armour of God," naming each piece separately, so that not one might be missing? Why does He bid us to "take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God"?

Does He mean that we should put our sword in the scabbard and go on dress parade, to show what fine soldiers we are? No! We are to wield the Sword of the Spirit, "standing against the wiles of the devil", and to keep standing until, "having done all," we are still found "standing."

Four times in this passage the word "stand" is used, and God has provided a complete armour so that we may be enabled to stand.

But there is more. A "good soldier," says the Apostle, is careful not to "entangle himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (Verse 4).

What a lesson! Should not we, who have been bought with the precious blood of Christ, be "good soldiers" for His sake, single-minded, and disentangled from the affairs of this life?

[nChrist]

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May 11, 2011

REDEEMED
by Cornelius R. Stam

"We have redemption through His blood..." (Eph. 1 :7).

Our English word "redeem" is actually a translation of three beautiful Greek words:

Agarazo: to buy at the market.
Ex-agarazo: to buy out of the market.
Lutro: to set free (upon receipt or payment of the ransom price.)

It is the last of these that is used in Eph. 1:7. The believer in Christ has liberty -- purchased liberty -- through Christ's shed blood.

First we were "bought with a price" and "redeemed to God" (I Cor. 6:20; Rev. 5:9). Further, we were "redeemed from the curse of the law" (Gal. 3:13). And now, best of all, we have been set gloriously free (Eph. 1:7; Gal. 5:1).

Why not turn in your Bible to Ephesians 1:6-8 and read this brief passage thoughtfully to see the boundless generosity of God's dealings with those who put their trust in Christ as their Savior.

"To the praise of the glory of His grace" God "hath made us accepted [or, hath engraced us] in the Beloved One, " in whom we have, "redemption" and "the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded toward us..."

Redeemed! Purchased out of the slave market of sin and the law -- and set gloriously free! Does this foster loose, careless conduct? By no means! When our Lord had given a blind man his sight, He said to him: "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole," but the record hastens to add that he "followed Jesus in the way" (Mark 10:52).

Could anything be more natural? And could anything be more natural than a redeemed, liberated sinner longing to please and serve his divine Benefactor? The Apostle Paul expressed this well when he wrote, in II Cor. 5:14: "The love of Christ constraineth us."

[nChrist]

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May 12, 2011

CHURCH-GOING
by Cornelius R. Stam

There is an important passage on church-going in Hebrews 10:23-25:

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering.... And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is... "

We are often urged, these days: "Go to the church of your choice." The implication is that one church is as good as another -- just so you go to church. But this is not so.

The Scriptures teach that the true Church is composed of those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior who died for their sins. Such are told to "hold fast" the faith which they have professed, without wavering. This must come first, for it is only those who have first exercised such faith who can meet together with unity of mind and purpose to encourage each other "to love and to good works."

It is a truly blessed experience for those who have been saved by the grace of God, to assemble to express their praise together in song, to lift their hearts together in prayer and to join together in the study of God's Word so as to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

In these days of tension and confusion there is a tendency for even the most sincere Christians to be so occupied with temporal things that they deprive themselves of the encouragement and spiritual uplift that comes from getting together with other Christians. But these are just the times when true believers need the encouragement of each other's company and should particularly remember the admonition of Scripture not to forsake "the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is."

[nChrist]

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May 13, 2011

HE GAVE THANKS
by Cornelius R. Stam

At the institution of the Lord's Supper, as He took the bread and the wine, we read that he "gave thanks" (Matt.26: 26,27; Luke 22:19,20).

Surely on this occasion He did not give thanks for food supplied! He was handling the symbols of His broken body and His shed blood. How we would like to know just what He said at this solemn moment; just what He gave thanks for!

This we shall never know in this life, but there are some basic facts we do know.

It was for love for sinful men that He was to die. He was to pay their debt of sin, and He looked forward to the time when, not only redeemed Israel, but the redeemed of every nation and dispensation will rejoice in sins forgiven and all that this entails for them. As He "gave thanks" in view of Calvary, He will then rejoice at the results of Calvary. The overflowing joy that will be the portion of the redeemed will be a greater joy to Him.

Thus Paul's words in Hebrews 12:2 give us cause to rejoice in true thanksgiving of our Lord's finished work of redemption on Calvary cross:

"Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

[nChrist]

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May 14, 2011

SEALED WITH THE SPIRIT
by Cornelius R. Stam

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13).

Most careful commentaries of the Bible make it clear that the words "after that," in the above passage, actually have an immediate result in view. Upon hearing (or heeding) we believed, and upon believing we were sealed with the Spirit.

What is perhaps even more important to note, is the fact that upon believing "the gospel of... salvation," we are "sealed with" the "Holy Spirit," not "by" the Spirit. There is a difference between the two, which can be simply illustrated.

Here is a housewife, let us say, who is "putting up" jam or preserves and sealing each jar with wax. Now, the jars are being sealed by the woman, but she is sealing them with wax. Thus the Holy Spirit does not merely cause believers to be sealed and made secure. Rather He Himself is the Seal that keeps us eternally secure as God's beloved children. We are sealed, not "by the Spirit," but "with the Spirit," -- the Spirit Himself the Seal!

It is wonderful indeed to know that before the bar of God, the simplest believer in Christ has been fully justified (Acts 13:38,39). But this is a court action, a matter of law and justice. Besides this, the Spirit, who first brought the sinner under conviction, now gives him life -- eternal life. This is why Rom. 8:2 tells us that "the law of the Spirit, [that] of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Thank God for the Spirit, who convicts, regenerates and seals every believer in Christ!

[nChrist]

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May 15, 2011

THE HOUR
by Cornelius R. Stam

History records many great and significant events, but none nearly so significant as the crucifixion of Christ on the cross of Calvary. Referring to the time, then still future, when this should take place, our Lord spoke again and again of "the hour," "that hour" and "My hour," and so does the sacred record.

When His enemies would have stoned Him at the Feast of Tabernacles, the record states merely: "they sought to take Him: but no man laid hands on Him, because His hour had not yet come" (John 7:30). Finally, when that dread time did arrive, we read:

"And when the hour was come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him" (Luke 22:14).

"And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12:23,24).

"Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say: Father save Me from this hour? But for this cause came I unto this end," (John 12:27).

"Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come... having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end" (John 13:1).

Finally, in His great High-priestly prayer, uttered in the very shadow of the cross, He "lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come..." (John 17:1).

This is the hour to which many of the Old Testament sacrifices and prophecies had pointed forward. This is the hour to which the redeemed will look back with gratitude and praise for the ages to come. There would have been no salvation for sinners without it, nor any hope of a restored earth with the curse of sin removed. Thank God, because Christ was willing to face that dreadful hour "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).

[nChrist]

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May 16, 2011

THE TRUTH
by Cornelius R. Stam

The Bible is unique among books as Christ was among men, in that it is the only book that claims repeatedly and consistently to be the truth.

It begins with the majestic words: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." It does not argue the case; it simply states it. The sacramental introduction to the prophecies is: "Thus saith the Lord," and a hundred fulfilled prophecies prove that the Bible is indeed the Word of God -- the truth.

Without apology it refers to:

    * The "manifestation of the truth" (II Cor. 4:2).
    * The "knowledge of the truth" (II Tim. 3:7).
    * Those who "have erred concerning the truth" (II Tim. 2:18 ).
    * Those who "resist the truth" (II Tim. 3:8 ).
    * Those who "hold [hold down, suppress] the truth in unrighteousness" (Rom. 1: 18 ).
    * Those who "turn away their ears from the truth" (II Tim. 4:4).
    * Those who "believe and know the truth" (I Tim. 4:3).
    * Those who "acknowledge the truth" (Titus 1:1).
    * Our Lord said to His Father: "Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17).
    * Paul wrote to those who were saved when they "heard the word of truth, the gospel of [their] salvation" (Eph. 1:13).

Where the truth is concerned God's Word is all we need, for:

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction in righteousness;

"That the man of God may be perfect [complete], THOROUGHLY FURNISHED unto all good works" (II Tim. 3:16,17).

[nChrist]

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May 17, 2011

PAUL'S LETTER TO THE ROMANS
by Cornelius R. Stam

One of the most enlightening books of the Bible, and indeed of all literature, is St. Paul's great Epistle to the Romans.

Paul was by nature and training a logician, perhaps the greatest logician of all time, and in this case his words were Spirit-inspired, so that we have in his Epistle to the Romans a powerful logical argument about God and man, condemnation and justification. It is wonderful thus to have God's plan of salvation explained for us. This is all too lacking in modern evangelism.

The doctrinal argument of Romans begins with a demonstration of the moral depravity of man. It says, even to the self-righteous:

"Thou art inexcusable..." (2:1).

The Apostle then goes on to show that the Law was given, not to help men to be good, but "that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought in guilty before God" (3:19). The conclusion:

"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" (3:20).

The Apostle presses his argument further by showing how the Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself as a satisfaction for sin that we might be "justified freely by [God's] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (3:24). His conclusion again:

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without [apart from] the deeds of the law" (3:28 ).

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

Next he shows how those who trust in Christ are "baptized into Christ" (6:3), made one with Him by faith. The final conclusion:

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (8:1).

And the Apostle closes the doctrinal part of this great epistle by exclaiming:

"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? ...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (8:33,35).

Our advice to those who have questions about salvation: Study Paul's Epistle to the Romans, thoughtfully and prayerfully.

[nChrist]

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May 18, 2011

A CHRISTIAN OBLIGATION
by Cornelius R. Stam

Three times in Rom. 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 II Cor. 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 Cor. 9:16,17:

"Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel! For... a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me."

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" (Rom. 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 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 Savior from sin. Do you know Christ as your Savior? Do you tell others about Him?