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August 1, 2011

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD
by Cornelius R. Stam

It is not enough to use the Bible as a grand book of wonderful sayings from which we may choose what we wish for our inspiration, nor will one who truly realizes that "God hath spoken" ever hold so shallow an opinion of the sacred Scriptures.

"The Word of truth" must be "rightly divided"; for while it is all given for our spiritual profit, it was not all addressed to us, or written about us. Thus one who truly desires to understand and obey God's Word will seek first to determine what Scriptures are particularly related to him and will study all the rest in the light of these.

Sad to say, however, there are many who fail to give the Book of God the respect and reverence it deserves. They flip it open at random, let a finger light upon the open page and then read the verse indicated to see if perchance they may find leading from the Lord in that way. And if it doesn't "work" the first time they try it again and again until it does "work." They use "promise boxes" in the same way, on the basis that "every promise in the Book is mine." They take passages out of their contexts, "spiritualize" them, and give them "private interpretations." Finding "precious passages" anywhere at all, no matter to whom addressed or when or why, they place their own constructions upon them and claim them as promises of God to them! To take isolated statements from the writings of men and use them in such a manner would be considered dishonest, but even Bible teachers do it with the Word of God!

The Word, rightly divided, is of supreme importance to the Church at large as well as to the individual believer, and it is because this fact has not yet been sufficiently recognized that we have not experienced the true, heaven-sent revival that the Church so sorely needs.

[nChrist]

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August 2, 2011

PEACE WITH GOD, ACCESS TO GOD AND THE HOPE OF GLORY
by Cornelius R. Stam

According to Rom. 4:25, Christ was delivered to death for our sins and then raised from the dead because He had fully settled our debt. The results of this mighty work of redemption are marvelous indeed to ponder over.

First, it means for every believer in Christ, that "being justified by faith we have peace with God" (Rom. 5:1). If Christ has paid for our sins and the barrier between God and us has been removed, why should we not enjoy peace with God? Why should we not rise in the morning, go about our work during the day and retire at night with complete confidence that all is well; that we are at peace with God and that He loves us as His very own?

But more: Verse 2 goes on to say that by Christ we also have "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." If the barrier of sin has been removed and we are at peace with God, what is there to keep us out of His presence, especially when He Himself bids us to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need"? (Heb. 4:16). How wonderful to have a standing before God in grace! to be at peace with Him and to enjoy free access into His presence by faith!

But there is still more. Not only does the believer in Christ enjoy peace with God and access to God, but, as this same verse says: "We rejoice in hope of the glory of God." "Hope" in the Bible is, of course, more than a wish. It is an eager anticipation of wonderful things to come. Heb. 6:19 says: "Which hope we have as an anchor to the soul, both sure and stedfast." Man has always been afraid of the glory of God. When the glory of the Lord shone round about the Judaean shepherds "they were sore afraid." This was because "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). But the simplest believer in Christ may rejoice in the anticipation of sharing God's glory some day.

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August 3, 2011

THE CHRISTIAN HOME
by Cornelius R. Stam

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15).

There is no place in all this world so wholesome and refreshing as a Christian home, a home where Christ is truly loved and honored.

This writer was brought up in such a home. There were ten of us: dad, mother and eight children. There was lots going on all the time, but a truly happy home it was, for dad and mother never let us get so busy with temporal things that we brushed eternal values aside.

On the basis that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" (Luke 4:4), we read some small portion of the Bible before every meal, and had family devotions before retiring at night.

Result: all eight children have blessed the dear dad and mother who led them aright, morally and spiritually, and best of all, taught them the importance of trusting in the Savior who died for all our sins. More: five of the children and many of the grandchildren have given themselves for full time Christian service, and have become pastors, college deans, Christian writers and missionaries in various parts of the world.

This is not because we are one whit better than others, but because we have experienced the help and grace of God in our lives. And it all began as, one day, a young American, like Joshua of old, came to a decision and declared:

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

[nChrist]

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August 4, 2011

THANKSGIVING
by Cornelius R. Stam

God's verdict upon the pagan world is that "they are without excuse, because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful..." (Rom. 1:20,21).

The Psalmist, on the other hand, declares:

"IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH:

"TO SHOW FORTH THY LOVINGKINDNESS IN THE MORNING. AND THY FAITHFULNESS EVERY NIGHT" (Psa. 92:1,2).

Believers today have even more to be thankful for than did the Psalmist, for we can rejoice in what God has done for us through Christ and His redeeming work. Thus Paul, by divine inspiration, speaks of...

"GIVING THANKS UNTO THE FATHER, WHO HATH MADE US MEET [FIT] TO BE PARTAKERS OF THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS IN LIGHT:

"WHO HATH DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS, AND HATH TRANSLATED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON" (Col. 1:12,13).

It is because of this "deliverance" that the humblest believer can cry with Paul: "Thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ!" (II Cor. 2:14) and "Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (I Cor. 15:57). How appropriate, then, are the following exhortations:

"In everything give thanks" (I Thes. 5:18 ) and "By [Christ], therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise... giving thanks to His name" (Heb. 13:15).

"For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God" (II Cor. 4:15).

Most of all, "THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT," our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! (II Cor. 9:15).

[nChrist]

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August 5, 2011

THE VALUE OF ONE INDIVIDUAL PERSON
by Cornelius R. Stam

Just imagine! It had been three weeks since a big Air Force plane had disappeared over the Pacific with a crew of eight and a Navy enlisted man.

Now, in that general vicinity, the pilot of an Air Force cargo plane reported sighting a raft with one man standing up in it, waving for help.

Almost immediately the Air Force dispatched sixteen planes to the area and called upon all ships nearby to help, in the hope of finding this one man.

Again and again we have witnessed the almost unlimited effort and expense that men will go to to rescue even one of their fellowmen from death. This is as it should be, for it is only in this life that we can prepare for eternity and it is important that each of us should have the greatest possible opportunity to prepare, in case through carelessness we may have put this important matter off.

It was with eternity in mind that the Lord Jesus Christ paid the greatest possible price to save men from judgment to come, and what the Bible calls "the second death."

"Christ also hath once suffered for sins," says I Pet. 3:18, "the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." Tit. 2:14 says that "He gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity." I Pet. 2:24 declares that He "bore our sins in His own body on the tree," and in Gal. 2:20 St. Paul exclaims: "He loved me and gave Himself for me."

After three weeks alone on the ocean, the man referred to above was keenly conscious of his need. He stood up and waved frantically, in the hope that someone on the plane might see him and bring help. Some people, adrift in this world of sin and trouble, go on for many years before they become aware of their need-or at least, before they will acknowledge it. But not until we do acknowledge our sin and our need, can we expect help or salvation. "Christ

Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15). Good people do not need a Savior, but who is really good? Rom. 3:23 says that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God," and our consciences bear witness. But let us rejoice that "Christ died for our sins," and trust Him for salvation.

"He that believeth on the Son [of God] hath everlasting life" (John 3:36).

[nChrist]

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August 7, 2011

TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD
by Cornelius R. Stam

Because of a failure to understand God's purposes as outlined in the Scriptures some have felt it necessary to alter many of the plainest statements of Holy Writ. Supposing that God could not have meant exactly what He said, they have concluded that these things must be interpreted in a "spiritual" sense.

Actually there is nothing spiritual about failing to take God at His Word, and seeking to explain away difficulties by arbitrarily altering what He has plainly said.

First, this would leave us at the mercy of theologians. If the Scriptures do not mean what they say, who has the authority to decide what they do mean? And how can we turn to the Word of God for light if it does not mean what it says, and only trained theologians can tell us what it does mean?

Second, this altering of the Scriptures affects the veracity of God. It is a thrust at His very honor. If the obvious, natural meaning of the Old Testament promises are not to be depended upon, how can we depend upon any promise of God? Then, when He says: "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13), He may also mean something else instead of what He actually says.

Third, this "spiritualizing" of Scriptures endorses apostasy, for it allows men to alter the meaning of God's Word according to their will.

The path to a true understanding and enjoyment of the Bible is not in altering but in "rightly dividing" it (II Tim. 2:15).

Those who have resorted to the "spiritualization" of the prophetic Scriptures because they cannot account for the seeming cessation in their fulfillment, will find the solution to their problem in a recognition of the unique character of Paul's apostleship and message. Recognize "the mystery" revealed through Paul and there will be no need to alter prophecy.

[nChrist]

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August 8, 2011

LEGITIMATE PRAYER
by Cornelius R. Stam

Prayer, in Old Testament times, was based upon a covenant relationship with God, or it was an appeal to His revealed nature as merciful, gracious, etc. Today it is based upon the redemptive work of Christ, whose death opened the way for us into the Father's presence. This is why acceptable prayer today is offered "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ". With our Lord's departure from this world in view, He said to His disciples:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me" (John 14:6).

"Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name...At that day ye shall ask in My name: and I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved Me..." (John 16:24-27).

Thus today we pray directly to the Father in the name of the Son.

Our prayers, however, are often faltering and sometimes the way is so dark before us that we do not even know what to ask for. Thus Paul declared: "We know not what we should pray for as we ought" (Rom. 8:26). But he was quick to follow this with the declaration:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28 ).

This is why the Apostle Paul encourages God's people:

"Be careful [anxious] for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God:

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6,7).

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16).

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August 9, 2011

THE SPIRIT OF PROMISE
by Cornelius R. Stam

"[Having] believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13).

Of all the wonderful Scripture passages on the eternal security of the believer in Christ, this is perhaps the most blessed of all.

"[Having] heard the Word of truth you believed," says the Apostle, and "[having] believed, you were sealed." Now a seal speaks of finality and permanency, whether it be the official seal on an important document, the seal on an electric transformer or the seal on a jar of preserves. But the most blessed fact of all is that the believer in Christ is "sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." Mark well, he is sealed not by the Spirit but with the Spirit; the Spirit Himself is the seal.

Here, let us say, is a woman sealing jars of preserves with wax. The jars are sealed by the woman, but with the wax. Thus the humblest believer is sealed with the Spirit. It is He Himself who keeps us safe in Christ through all eternity.

And this is but the "earnest," the first installment, "of our inheritance" (Ver. 14), for the Spirit keeps us secure in "this present evil age" so that "in the ages to come" God might show "the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (2:7).

Little wonder the Apostle closes this passage on our security with those appropriate words: "To the praise of His glory" (1:14).

What some theologians have called "the perseverance of saints" is not our perseverence at all, but God's faithfulness. We have not persevered; He has preserved us by His grace for His glory.

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August 10, 2011

"LIBERTY NOT LICENSE"
by Cornelius R. Stam

The fact that we are given perfect liberty in Christ does not mean that we should spend our lives in gratifying our own fleshly desires. Just the opposite is the case. Believers have been delivered from the bondage of childhood and given the liberty of full-grown sons in Christ (Gal. 3:24; 4:1-7), and this advance from infancy to maturity in itself implies the acquisition of a sense of responsibility.

The doctrine of our liberty in Christ does not support, it rather refutes, the false theory that those who are under grace may do anything they please. Paul was "slanderously reported" in this connection (Rom.3:8 ), but there were carnal believers then, as there are now, who actually did use their liberty as license to gratify their own desires. To turn from liberty to license in this way is fully as serious an error as to turn from liberty to law.

Many a believer, motivated only by his own fleshly desires and not at all by love for Christ or others, has indulged in pleasures of the flesh and of the world, justifying himself on the ground that he is under grace and has liberty in Christ. Taking others down with him in his spiritual declension he complains of any who would help him, that, "They are trying to put me under the law".

Such are actually guilty of departing from grace, for "the grace of God...hath appeared":

"Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world;

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

"Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:11-14).

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August 11, 2011

GRIEVE NOT THE SPIRIT
by Cornelius R. Stam

The first lesson each believer in Christ should learn is that immediately upon believing he is given everlasting life. Referring to this fact Ephesians 1:13,14 says:

"In whom ye also trusted, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also having believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise."

Mark well, the believer is not sealed by the Holy Spirit, but "with" the Holy Spirit. The Spirit Himself is the seal. Every sincere believer in Christ, then, should rejoice in an accomplished redemption and rest in the fact that the Holy Spirit will keep him eternally safe.

But while we cannot lose the Holy Spirit we can, and often do, grieve the Holy Spirit, as we read in Eph. 4:30. This is why we are told in Rom. 8:26 that the Spirit "helpeth our infirmities" and makes intercession for us, that we might live lives which please and honor God.

The wonderful fact is, however, that "nothing," not even an aggrieved Spirit shall "separate us from the love of God" (Rom. 8:38,39). Thus in the same breath with which the Apostle exhorts us not to grieve the Spirit he again reassures us that this same Spirit keeps us eternally safe:

"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30).

Does this encourage careless living? Those who think so have missed the whole point of Paul's appeal. The Apostle does not warn the believer that if he grieves the Spirit he will be lost. Rather, in grace he exhorts:

"Do not grieve the very Spirit who in mercy and love has sealed you as forever His own. Do not repay such love with such ingratitude."

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August 12, 2011

ONENESS WITH CHRIST
by Cornelius R. Stam

"I am [have been] crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20).

What is salvation? It is actually coming into oneness with the Lord Jesus Christ.

"The wages of sin is death" and "the soul that sinneth it shall die," but Christ was not a sinner. Even Pontius Pilate, after having examined Him carefully, said: "I find no fault in Him" and "I find no cause of death in Him."

It was therefore not His death that He died at Calvary. It was ours. He had come from heaven to be born into the human race as one of us in order to die our death.

It is when we view that death at Calvary and say: "This is not His death He is dying. It is mine;" it is then that, by an act of faith, we become one with Him. His death was ours; the penalty for our sins, but it is not applied to us until by faith we accept it as ours. Thus the Apostle Paul declares by divine inspiration:

"I have been crucified with Christ" and he adds: "the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith [the fidelity] of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

Since the believer has been united with Christ in death, he is united with Him in resurrection life also. Col 2:12 says that believers are "buried with Him in baptism." This is not baptism by water. This is a divine baptism, the work of the Holy Spirit, for he goes on to say: "wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God."

Little wonder the Apostle begins this lesson for believers with the declaration:

"For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the godhead bodily, and ye are complete in Him"
(Col. 2:9,10).

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August 13, 2011

AN OLD-FASHIONED DOCTRINE
by Cornelius R. Stam

How many there are whose hearts would be thrilled if they understood the old-fashioned Bible doctrine of sanctification!

Sanctification is not a negative matter: "Don't do this" and "Don't do that." It is rather the positive truth that God wants us for Himself as a sacred possession, much as a bridegroom considers his bride his very own in a special, sacred way.

Bible sanctification is a twofold truth, affecting both our standing before God and our spiritual state. In one sense every true believer in Christ has already been sanctified, or consecrated to God, by the operation of the Holy Spirit. Thus we read:

"...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit..." (II Thes. 2: 13).

"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit..." (I Pet. 1:2).

This has nothing to do with our conduct. God did it. Sanctification begins with Him. Thus Paul could write to even the careless Corinthian believers and say: "Ye are sanctified" (1 Cor. 6:11; cf. Acts 20:32; 26:18 ), i.e., "God has set you apart for Himself." This phase of sanctification is based on the redemptive work of Christ in our behalf, for Heb. 10:10 says: "We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

But now God would have us appreciate this fact and conduct ourselves accordingly, consecrating ourselves ever more completely to Him. This is practical, progressive sanctification. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification" (I Thes. 4:3). Hence Paul's benediction: "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly" (I Thes. 5:23), and his exhortation to Timothy to be "a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet [fit] for the Master's use" (II Tim. 2:21).

How can believers be more wholly sanctified to God in their practical experience? By studying and meditating on His Word. Our Lord prayed: "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17), and Paul declares that "Christ... loved the Church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word" (Eph. 5:25,26).

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August 14, 2011

SALESMEN AND SOLDIERS
by Cornelius R. Stam

It is true indeed that salvation is bestowed by grace and received through faith -- entirely apart from works, religious or otherwise. But it is equally true that it costs to embrace the truth and costs even more to stand for it, rather than selling out. This is why Proverbs 23:23 exhorts us to "buy the truth and sell it not". In this sense we are not to sell the truth. Yet in another sense we are salesmen of the truth, urging men to buy it.

As we do this we find that there are those who would actually seek to hinder men from buying the truth. Yet it is not primarily they who oppose our efforts, but Satan and his hosts.

"FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD [age], AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS [wicked spirits] IN HIGH PLACES" (Eph. 6:12).

This is why God's salesmen must also be "good soldiers of Jesus Christ" (II Tim. 2:3). We must make the glorious message known despite the opposition. We must "put on the whole armour of God" and meet our adversaries with "the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Eph. 6:11,17). When they would shut our mouths we must pray for ourselves and each other:

"...that utterance may be given unto me, THAT I MAY OPEN MY MOUTH BOLDLY, to make known the mystery of the [Paul's] gospel.
"...THAT THEREIN I MAY SPEAK BOLDLY, AS I OUGHT TO SPEAK" (Eph. 6:19,20; Rom. 16:25, 26).

This, by the grace of God, is our prayer and our resolve.

[nChrist]

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August 15, 2011

PAUL TELLS OTHERS ABOUT HIS GOSPEL
by Cornelius R. Stam

It is true that now there is but one gospel and God's anathema is pronounced upon any who would presume to proclaim any other (Gal. 1:8,9), but those who suppose that Paul proclaimed the same good news which the twelve before him had proclaimed, should carefully read Galatians 2:1-9.

The twelve had been proclaiming our Lord's kingdom rights in "the gospel of the kingdom". The kingdom having been rejected, however, God raised up Paul to proclaim "the Gospel of the Grace of God" (Acts 20:24). In Galatians 1:11,12, this apostle declares:

"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man, for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."

This is only one of many passages in which he declares that he was commissioned to proclaim a special message by the glorified Lord Himself (Eph. 3:1-4; Rom. 16:25; etc.).

Now in Galatians 2:2, the apostle states: "I went up by revelation [God sent him] and communicated unto them [the apostles and elders at Jerusalem] that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles...." But was he not merely checking to make sure that he and they were preaching the same good news? No, for he goes on to say: "But [I went] privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain".

Verses 7 and 9 then go on to tell how "they saw" and "perceived" the grace that had been given to Paul, so that they publicly and officially gave him "the right hands of fellowship", acknowledging him as the apostle of grace, sent to the world with a message of grace:

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

[nChrist]

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August 16, 2011

NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS
by Cornelius R. Stam

"And the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And He was numbered with the transgressors" (Mark 15:28 ).

The progressive fulfillment of this passage from Isaiah 53 is the amazing story of our Lord's three baptisms. First, this prophecy must be applied to our Lord's incarnation. Born a babe at Bethlehem, He was baptized into the human race, becoming, not merely one with us, but one of us, a true human being, though still also "very God." This is how He was first "numbered with the transgressors."

Later the Lord was baptized again, this time with water, by John the Baptist. John's baptism was unto "repentance for the remission of sins" and those who responded came to his baptism "confessing their sins" (Mark 1:4,5). Little wonder that John at first refused to baptize this sinless One, saying: "I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?" But the Lord insisted, saying: "Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 3:13-15). Thus our Lord joined repentant sinners in baptism and was, in this practical way, "numbered with the transgressors."

But after His baptism into the human race and His subsequent baptism with water, our Lord spoke of a third baptism, saying: "I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened [Lit., "What a spot I am in"] till it be accomplished!" (Luke 12:50). This third baptism was, of course, His death at Calvary, where He was baptized into God's judgment upon sin in order that He might save us from it.

Finally, then, Isaiah 53:12 was fulfilled, for it is in connection with His death at Calvary that Mark 15:27,28 says:

"And with Him they crucify two thieves; the one on His right hand, and the other on His left. And the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And He was numbered with the transgressors."