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nChrist
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WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
«
Reply #495 on:
May 10, 2006, 11:20:11 AM »
May 9, 2006
WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
by Russell S. Miller
Thank you for that "good" question.
God’s plan of salvation today is not difficult to understand. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). There is no one exempt from sin. We are ALL guilty of breaking the Laws of God. We are sinners by nature and by choice, because we also choose to sin.
"The wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23). There is a penalty for sin. You go to work every day and at the end of the week you receive your wages. "The wages of sin is death..."
"...But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Eternal life is a gift. You cannot buy it, or earn it, or deserve it. It can only be received as a free gift because Christ paid the penalty of sin with His own blood. The love of God, therefore, has provided a way back to God in the person of Jesus Christ our Lord.
"...CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS...was buried, and rose again the third day..." (I Corinthians 15:3,4).
He died for our sins because there is no other way in which man could be redeemed.
He was buried that our old Adamic nature "might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6).
He arose from the dead to prove that our debt of sin, and its penalty, has been FULLY paid (Romans 4:25).
"Therefore being justified BY FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
Does it get any better than this? Yes, indeed it does, for we read in Ephesians 2:7:
"THAT IN THE AGES TO COME HE MIGHT SHEW THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS".
God is very patient, kind, and loving, and longsuffering, but He will not be mocked of men. Consequently there is a "Hell" and "the Lake of Fire" awaiting all who reject this gift of salvation in the person of His Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This is clearly taught in Revelation 20:11-15.
When the Philippian jailor asked, "What must I do to be saved?", the Apostle Paul answered: "BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED..." (Acts 16:30,31).
This is the one really important issue of life, and there is no time like the present, to make that decision to trust Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour and Lord.
If you cannot say, "I know I am saved and I'm going to Heaven", then I exhort you to trust Christ as your Saviour, right now, and God will bless you with all the bounty of Heaven, and more.
"BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US" (Romans 5:8).
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WASHED, SANCTIFIED AND JUSTIFIED
«
Reply #496 on:
May 10, 2006, 11:21:33 AM »
May 10, 2006
WASHED, SANCTIFIED AND JUSTIFIED
by Cornelius R. Stam
"And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (I Cor. 6:11).
The preceding verses of I Cor. 6 contain a long list of vile sins and vices into which men have fallen, and the Apostle adds:
"And such were some of you." God’s Church is not made up of "good people" who have never fallen into sin. It is rather made up of sinners, saved by grace, through the infinite payment made for sin by Christ on Calvary’s cross.
"And such were some of you." Had the Apostle included the more "refined" sins, such as pride, self-righteousness, etc., he would have had to say: "And such were all of you."
Note further, however, that the Apostle says: "And such were some of you." Thank God, he goes on to say of those who had been thus stained with sin: "But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
How beautiful these three phrases: "But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified"! The word "but" appearing before each phrase indicates that each should be considered separately. Such vile creatures were some of you, "but ye are washed," cleansed from the sins that contaminated you. "But ye are sanctified." Having been cleansed you are now set apart as sacred for His glory. "But ye are justified." When God justifies us, who can condemn?
"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth?"
All this is done for the believing sinner, as our verse says, "in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
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"THE WORD OF HIS POWER"
«
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May 14, 2006, 07:37:20 AM »
May 11, 2006
"THE WORD OF HIS POWER"
by Russell S. Miller
God is so powerful that by simply speaking, He created "Heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is" (Ex.20:11). Yes, the Universe was brought immediately into being: "by the Word of His power" (Heb.1:3; IIPet.3:5)! And neither was His power confined to the animal creation, for He "breathed into the nostrils" of Adam, "the breath of life, and man became a living soul" (Gen.2:7). He is so powerful that He can "inspire" mere men to write exactly what He wants them to write, in a Book that we call the Bible (IITim.3:16). So powerful that to enter the stream of humanity and become a man, He was "born of a virgin" (Matt.1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35), which, with men is a total impossibility. And again, to show His mighty power, after "He [had] by the grace of God, tasted death for every man" (Heb.2:9) HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD (Rom.4:25).
God is so powerful that when we believe on Christ, He makes us one with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection; saves us for time and eternity, and nothing can separate us from His love. This is why the Apostle Paul defends the doctrine of eternal security in his Epistle to the Romans:
"FOR I AM PERSUADED, THAT NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS, NOR PRINCIPALITIES, NOR POWERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH, NOR ANY OTHER CREATURE, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD" (Rom.8:38,39).
Some people don’t believe in the Bible and all it says about Creation, the Inspiration of the Scriptures, the Virgin Birth of Christ, His resurrection from the dead, and the Lord’s Return to catch us away to be with Him for all eternity, but those who do, can say with the Apostle Paul:
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).
By the "word" of His power He shall catch us away to be with Him eternally.
"LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE, AND THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF THE GREAT GOD AND OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST" (Tit.2:13; IThes.4:13-18).
"In whom WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph.1:7).
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THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION
«
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May 14, 2006, 07:38:41 AM »
May 12, 2006
THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION
by Cornelius R. Stam
Years ago a man of God was asked to preach at the funeral of a young soldier whose parents were unsaved.
During the course of his message the preacher sought to impress upon his hearers the basic fact that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom.6:23).
This greatly upset the parents. After the service they complained: “This is embarrassing. Our boy was not a sinner.”
The truth was that shortly before his death this young man had done what every true, born-again Christian has done. He acknowledged himself to be a lost sinner and, trusting Christ as his Savior, had been so gloriously saved that his parents were mystified that he could be so happy in the face of death.
The simplest believer in Christ understands all this. He knows that for the “old man” the death of the body is indeed a “dishonorable discharge” for laws broken, orders disobeyed, responsibilities unmet, and trusts betrayed. But for the “new man the death of the body is the vestibule through which he is ushered into the blessed presence of “the Captain of our Salvation,” the One who “by the grace of God tasted death for every man” that He might “bring many sons unto glory” (See Hebrews 2:9,10).
This is why we read in Hebrews 2:14,15:
“Forasmuch, then, as the children [of Adam] were partakers of flesh and blood, He [Christ] also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
“And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
No wonder St. Paul’s simple message of salvation was: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
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GOD, WHO CANNOT LIE, PROMISED
«
Reply #499 on:
May 14, 2006, 07:40:11 AM »
May 13, 2006
GOD, WHO CANNOT LIE, PROMISED
by Cornelius R. Stam
"In hope of eternal life, which GOD, WHO CANNOT LIE, PROMISED..." (Tit. 1:2).
In the Mediterranean Sea there lies an island which in Paul’s day had a very bad reputation. It’s name is Crete. To Titus, a pastor sent to evangelize the inhabitants, the Apostle Paul wrote: "One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said. The Cretians are always liars..." (Tit. 1:12), and he added: "This witness is true" (Ver. 13). Paul knew this to be a fact, for he had labored among them. Indeed, even secular history bears witness to this trait of the Cretians, for we are told that in ancient times to call a man a Cretian was to call him a liar.
How wonderful that St. Paul had succeeded in establishing a few small Christian assemblies on this island and that Titus was now laboring there as his successor! And how reassuring that to Titus and these few believers, surrounded on every hand by people who could not be trusted, Paul could write about "eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised"!
"God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken and shall He not make it good?" (Num. 23:19).
Thank God, millions have trusted His Word, especially about salvation through the all-sufficient and finished work of redemption wrought by Christ at Calvary, and they have found it to be blessedly true.
In dozens of passages of Scripture God has promised eternal life to those who trust in Christ and His payment for sin. "Christ died for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3). "[He] was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4:25). "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36). "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). Take Him at His Word; His promise is good. "GOD, WHO CANNOT LIE, PROMISED."
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OUR GREAT COMMISSION
«
Reply #500 on:
May 14, 2006, 07:43:04 AM »
May 14, 2006
OUR GREAT COMMISSION
by Cornelius R. Stam
Much is said of the “great commission” which our Lord gave to His apostles just before His ascension. We wonder whether our readers have ever examined the various records of this commission carefully.
This “great commission” does not say one word about “the preaching of the cross” or “the gospel of the grace of God”. The “gospel” which they were sent to preach was very evidently the same “gospel” they had been preaching — the Gospel of the Kingdom — only they could now declare, as Peter did at Pentecost, that the King had risen from the dead and would still some day occupy the throne of David.
The “great commission” demanded faith and baptism for the remission of sins (Mark 16:15,16); it included the power to heal the sick and work miracles (16:17,18), but it did not include the glad message that “Christ died for our sins” (ICor.15:1-3). At Pentecost, when Peter began to carry out this commission, he rather blamed his hearers for the death of Christ and when, convicted of their sins, they asked: “What shall we do?” he did not say: “Believe on Christ who died for your sins.” He rather commanded them to “repent and be baptized every one…for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).
But after Christ and His Kingdom were again rejected, God interrupted the prophetic program and sent Paul forth to proclaim “the preaching of the cross” and “the gospel of the grace of God”. In II Corinthians 5: 14-21 this apostle proclaims “the love of Christ” who “died for all” and instructs us as to our “great commission”:
“And all things are of [provided by] God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, AND HATH GIVEN TO US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION;
“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself… AND HATH COMMITTED UNTO US THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION” (II Cor.5:18,19).
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THE HOLY SPIRIT AT PENTECOST
«
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May 15, 2006, 05:46:19 AM »
May 15, 2006
THE HOLY SPIRIT AT PENTECOST
by Cornelius R. Stam
The one hundred twenty disciples in the Upper Room had, of course, been much like any other group of believers in history. They had not all been equally spiritual or devoted, or faithful. Some had been more so than others, and where some had excelled in one virtue, others had excelled in another. Yet now they were all FILLED with the Spirit, from the least to the greatest of them.
The thoughtful student of Scripture will, of course, ask why all these believers were now filled with the Holy Spirit. Was it, perhaps, because they, as a group, had been more godly than those before them? The gospel records prove that this is not so. Peter boasted, Thomas doubted, James and John sought personal gain, and when our Lord was taken prisoner, "they all forsook Him and fled."
Was it then because they had prayed long enough or earnestly enough for the Spirit to come upon them and take control? No; they had been instructed to go to Jerusalem, not to pray for the Holy Spirit to come, as some suppose, but to "wait for the [fulfillment of the] promise" regarding the Spirit (Acts 1: 4,5) -- and right here is the answer to our question.
The believers at Pentecost were filled with the Holy Spirit, not because they had prayed long or earnestly enough for the Spirit to come, but because the time had arrived for the fulfillment of the divine promise. The Old Testament prophets and the Lord Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit should some day come to take control of God’s people (Ezek. 36:26,27), and that day had come. They were filled with the Spirit because God, according to His promise, had baptized them with the Spirit (Acts 1:5).
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What We Believe
«
Reply #502 on:
May 16, 2006, 03:10:09 PM »
May 16, 2006
What We Believe
by Paul M. Sadler, President
Scripture Reading:
"Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
-- II Corinthians 3:6
We have been hearing from a good number of our readers who are confused, perplexed and even concerned over the doctrine of the New Covenant. Apparently there are a number of strange teachings floating around the Grace Movement on this subject, which has given rise for alarm among some of the brethren.
It is our firm conviction that the Body of Christ falls under the umbrella of the New Covenant. Paul clearly teaches in Romans that we are partakers of Israel's spiritual blessings (Rom. 15:27 cf. Eph. 1:3-14). There is absolutely no possibility that this could refer to anything other than the New Covenant. One thing that should never be overlooked, however, is the fact that Israel received it by promise whereas we are the glad recipients of it by grace (Jer. 31:31 cf. Titus 2:11).
As we know, one of the principal blessings of the New Covenant is the blood of Christ. This particular element can never be divorced from the covenant nor should it be. We have often said that if the Body of Christ has no connection to this covenant whatsoever, then our Savior must return a second time to die for the Gentiles. To us this is unthinkable. Christ died "once for all" (Heb. 10:9-12). Furthermore, the New Covenant shows that there is a connection between the two programs of God which highlights His eternal purpose. Surely, He is Lord of all.
Who could fail to see that Paul charges us to remember the blood of this covenant until the Lord comes: "This cup is the New Testament [Covenant] in my blood: this do ye... in remembrance of me. For as often as ye [Members of His Body] eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come" (I Cor. 11:23-26).
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Cremation
«
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May 18, 2006, 03:10:02 AM »
May 17, 2006
Cremation
by Paul M. Sadler, President
Scripture Reading: "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." -- Psalm 90:10
With the rising cost of funerals these days many families are faced with the decision as to whether or not cremation should be considered as a viable option to burial. Many have concluded that this is an acceptable alternative since the matter is not addressed in Paul's epistles, and we are living under grace. While there does seem to be liberty here, perhaps it is the better part of wisdom to consult the whole counsel of God.
In Biblical times cremation of the body was primarily identified with the pagan nations of the world. According to the Old Testament there were a few isolated occurrences of this practice, although they always seem to be associated with judgment or cases of emergency rather than merely disposing of the body (Josh. 7:25,26; I Sam. 31:6-13).
Consequently, cremation was more the exception than the rule.
Throughout the Scriptures it is said that they buried their dead.
"Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah..."
"Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury."
"And the young men arose, wound him [Ananias] up, and carried him out, and buried him."
In keeping with the Word of God, we believe it is preferable to bury our loved ones even though we may have liberty to do otherwise. Of course, the additional financial burden can be eased by planning ahead for our inevitable departure. The services that normally accompany a funeral bring the unsaved face to face with their own mortality.
Thus, the occasion, heartbreaking as it may be, has often been used of the Lord to bring many sons to glory. Whatever your conviction may be on the matter, it is important to heed the words of the Apostle Paul:
"Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind" (Rom. 14:5).
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THE RESURRECTION DAY
«
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May 18, 2006, 03:12:21 AM »
May 18, 2006
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 offi- cially 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!
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DEAD WORKS
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Reply #505 on:
May 20, 2006, 09:00:01 AM »
May 19, 2006
DEAD WORKS
by Cornelius R. Stam
Twice in Paul's epistles he refers to "dead works". In Hebrews 6:1 he writes about "repentance from dead works", while in Hebrews 9:14 he declares that the blood of Christ avails to "purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God".
Mark well, these references are not to wicked works but to dead works. These "dead works" are the so-called "good works" (whether moral or ceremonial) which men did — and still do — to make themselves acceptable to God. They are "dead" because they are not the product of regeneration or spiritual life, but the mere attempt on the part of unregenerate sinners to justify themselves before God.
Paul himself, once zealously religious, but wholly unsaved, had to repudiate his "dead works" and count them "loss" to find salvation in Christ, through whom alone he could produce good works which God could accept. (See Philippians 3:4-9).
This is why he later declared by divine inspiration: "For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works..." (Eph.2:8-10).
"Dead works" are not only unacceptable to God, but an evil substitute for the faith He desires, "for without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb.11:6). But "he that believeth on the Son of God hath life" and this life is bound to bear fruit — the good works with which God is truly pleased.
The difference between the "good works" of the unregenerate man and the "good works" of a true believer, then, is that the former are "dead works" while the latter are the precious fruit of life possessed.
No man can please God while he denies the truth of His Word or rejects His Son, so graciously given to die on the cross as our Saviour. To try to win His favor by "good works" while rejecting Christ is like sending a gift to a man whose beloved son you spurn and despise.
"The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hands. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:35,36).
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"DISCIPLES AND APOSTLES"
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Reply #506 on:
May 20, 2006, 09:02:43 AM »
May 20, 2006
"DISCIPLES AND APOSTLES"
by Cornelius R. Stam
"And when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples: and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles" (Luke 6:13).
Many people fail to distinguish between our Lord's disciples and His apostles. They suppose they are the same. This is incorrect, however, for our Lord had a multitude of disciples while He had only a few apostles. His apostles were chosen from among His disciples, as we learn from the above message from Luke's gospel.
A disciple is a follower; an apostle is a "sent one". A disciple is a learner; an apostle is a teacher. There is a great lesson here for us all to learn.
We must come before we can go. We must follow before we can be sent. We must learn before we can teach. We must listen to the Lord before we can speak for the Lord.
"Thus saith the Lord", was the familiar phrase with which the Old Testament prophets began their messages. But at the head of the long list of Old Testament prophets we find Samuel, a young lad, saying: "SPEAK LORD, FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH" (I Sam.3:9).
Before we can do or say anything for God, then, we must listen to God. This explains why the reading and study of the Word of God is so important.
First, salvation itself comes by hearing and believing God's Word, especially about Christ, and His death for our sins. Romans 10:17 says: "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God", and I Peter 1:23: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever". Then, having been saved, we can serve God acceptably only by diligent study of His Word. Perhaps the most important passage in the Bible on this subject is II Timothy 2:15:
"STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH."
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BECAUSE HE LOVED US
«
Reply #507 on:
May 21, 2006, 04:20:40 PM »
May 21, 2006
BECAUSE HE LOVED US
by Cornelius R. Stam
Why did the Lord of glory
Leave His heav’nly home,
To come to earth and suffer here
For wrongs He had not done?
Why did He go to Calv’ry
To bear the shame and loss,
And give His life for sinners vile
Upon th’ accursed cross?
Why?...Because He loved us,
And longed that we might be
His very own -- not only now,
But through eternity.
-- C.R.S.
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FORGIVEN
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Reply #508 on:
May 24, 2006, 10:25:07 AM »
May 22, 2006
FORGIVEN
by Cornelius R. Stam
"We have... the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).
The climax of Paul’s first recorded sermon is reached in Verses 38 and 39 of Acts 13, where he declares:
"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
"And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."
Thus God, through Christ, forgives and justifies those who believe. Nor is this all that was accomplished for us by the death of Christ at Calvary. There is also reconciliation, baptism by the Spirit into Christ and His Body, a position at God’s right hand in the heavenlies and all spiritual blessings there.
"The forgiveness of sins" must come first, however, and the above passage assures us that in Christ we have this -- not barely, but "according to the riches of His grace." Indeed, the next verse continues: "wherein He hath abounded toward us..."
Thus Eph. 2:2-7 declares that though we were once "the children of disobedience," and therefore "by nature the children of wrath," "God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us" has given us life and raised us from the dead, exalting us to "heavenly places in Christ..." His purpose in all this? "That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Verse 7).
When God forgives us He no longer sees us in our poor selves, but in Christ, who took our place, dying for our sins on Calvary’s cross. There He hung in our place that we might now stand in His -- "complete in Him" {Col. 2:10).
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THE "WILFUL SIN" OF HEBREWS 10:26
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Reply #509 on:
May 24, 2006, 10:27:45 AM »
May 23, 2006
THE "WILFUL SIN" OF HEBREWS 10:26
by Russell S. Miller
It is asserted that the "wilful sin", here, does not apply to this dispensation because, as members of the Body of Christ, God has already given us eternal security in Christ as Paul declares in his epistle to the Romans:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... NAY, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that [nothing] shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom.8:35-39).
Please note that the Hebrews also have "eternal salvation" (5:9), "eternal redemption" (9:12), and "eternal inheritance" (9:15). So today, those who trust in His finished work of redemption, whether Hebrews or Gentiles, have "eternal salvation", "eternal redemption", and "eternal inheritance":
"FOR EVEN CHRIST OUR PASSOVER IS SACRIFICED FOR US" (ICor.5:7).
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, BUT BY HIS OWN BLOOD HE ENTERED IN ONCE INTO THE HOLY PLACE, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Heb.9:12).
Now, on the other hand, there is "no more sacrifice for sins". Those who reject His all-sufficient sacrifice for sins, whether Hebrews or Gentiles, reject "eternal salvation", "eternal redemption", and "eternal inheritance", and do so, "wilfully", as those who rejected Christ on the day of Pentecost. There is no other sacrifice in the sight of God. If you miss Christ, the only thing left is "eternal judgment" (Heb.6:2), because God has made no other provision for sin:
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" (Heb.10:26,27).
Therefore I implore you, do not tread "under foot the Son of God", nor count "the blood of the covenant" an unholy thing, and do not despise "the Spirit of grace" (Ver.29).
"VENGEANCE IS MINE; I WILL REPAY, SAITH THE LORD" (Romans 12:19).
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