Two Minutes With The Bible

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Sealed With The Spirit
by Pastor 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!

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A Famous Young Man
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


Has it ever occurred to you how Timothy became so famous a young man?

H. L. Hastings tells of a group of British archeologists who, years ago, came upon a huge marble slab, evidently very ancient, high atop a mountain where no one would be apt to find it — or remove it.

Experts were called upon to decipher the hieroglyphics which covered the marble monument. They found them to be a declaration by an ancient ruler of his great exploits, and an explanation that he had used this means of recording his deeds so as to secure to himself everlasting fame.

The trouble was that no one could find any historical account of a king who bore this name or who had accomplished the glorious exploits recorded on the marble slab! Thus the archeologists had found, engraved in marble, a glowing self-tribute to — whom? It might as well have been to nobody!

By striking contrast, young Timothy has been well known by Christian people all over the world for nearly two thousand years! During all this time, without interruption, he has been read about, written about, preached about and used as an example of consistent Christian conduct. Yet, have you ever read one great deed done by Timothy? Have you ever read of one great sermon from his lips, one brilliant book or letter from his pen, one great exploit of any kind? No, you hardly know more than that he was a young preacher, a friend of Paul, and that he had been taught the Scriptures in early life by his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice (II Tim. 1:5), so that Paul could now write to him:

    “…FROM A CHILD THOU HAST KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, WHICH ARE ABLE TO MAKE THEE WISE UNTO SALVATION, THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS” (II Tim. 3:15).

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The Kingdom Reign Of Christ
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


The Kingdom Reign of Christ, often called the Millennium, is, of course, still future, but even this dispensation will commence with a clear indication that our Lord’s beneficent reign will not change the unregenerate heart. Man is still a failure.

This will be evident from the fact that to put the rebellion down our Lord will have to “break” the nations “with a rod of iron” and “dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psa.2:9). Indeed, He will have to “rule them with a rod of iron” (Rev.2:27). It is not strange, then, that we read in Revelation 20:7-9:

    “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

    “And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

    “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”

This final rebellion is followed by the casting of Satan and all unbelievers into the lake of fire and the bringing in of the new heavens and the new earth in which all the reconciled find their all in Christ (Rev. 20:10-21:1; Eph.1:9,10; Col. 1:19,20). It is interesting and instructive to see in the book of Revelation how the Lamb slain occupies the center of the glory of the universe. Not one saint from any age will ever boast of his own righteousness in that day. All will acknowledge their own unworthiness and proclaim the praises of the One who died that they might live and be justified and gloried. And even the unsaved and all demons and angels will acknowledge Jesus as Lord in that day. Because He humbled Himself and submitted Himself to “even the death of the cross… God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:

    “THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF THINGS IN HEAVEN, AND THINGS IN EARTH, AND THINGS UNDER THE EARTH;

    “AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER” (Phil.2:8-11).

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The Power Of The Gospel Of Grace
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


    “…the gospel… is come unto you, as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth” (Col. 1:5,6).

How wonderful to see the gospel of the grace of God do its work! Paul had never even seen the Colossians. He had only sent missionaries to them from Ephesus with the good news of the grace of God, but this had produced amazing results.

Wherever the gospel of the grace of God is preached in its purity it produces results. No one hearing that message can go away the same. Either he will consider it utter foolishness and be hardened by it, or he will see its vital importance and be softened by it. Ultimately he will either be eternally condemned, or eternally saved and justified by his response to that message.

    “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (I Cor. 1:18).

    “Christ crucified… unto them which are called… the power of God and the wisdom of God”
    (I Cor. 1:23,24).

    “The power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth” (Rom. 1:16).

Mark well: it is “the gospel of the grace of God,” the “preaching of the cross,” that produces such results. The law of Moses never did, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,” God sent His Son to accomplish for us (Rom. 8:3,4). This is why Paul proclaimed, at Antioch of Pisidia:

    “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” (Acts 13:38,39).

God’s message to us is a message of love, proclaiming to even the vilest sinner that he may be “justified freely by [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24).

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Some Certainties in Uncertain Times
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


It is certainly evident that we are living in uncertain economic times. At such times, certain industries fare better than others. For instance, there will always be a need for people to work in the food industry, for people will always need to eat. There will also always be a need for health care workers, since people will also continue to get sick and need health care.

It is equally evident that we are living in uncertain spiritual times. At such times, there will always be a need for Christians who are willing to work to bring the gospel to the lost. There will always be "certain" among the lost who will actively seek salvation (Luke 18:18), but "certain" others will trust in themselves that they are righteous (Luke 18:9), so God's people will need to reach out to them.

It is also certain that some will continue to oppose Paul's gospel, "certain" of them opposing it on philosophical grounds (Acts 17:18), "certain" others because they are set in their ways and so naturally resist the new truth that Paul set forth (Acts 15:1).

Who will step up to meet these challenges? In Paul's day, "a certain disciple... named Timotheus" answered the call (Acts 16:1). How about you, man of God? Why not consider enrolling in our Berean Bible Institute, "that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed" (Luke 1:4). Then go out and "preach the word" and "do the work of an evangelist" as the Lord would have you do (II Tim. 4:1-5).

When Paul preached in Athens, "certain men clave unto him" (Acts 17:34), just as grace believers have today. But just as "a certain young man named Eutychus" fell asleep when "Paul was long preaching" (Acts 20:9), many long-time grace believers have fallen asleep under the ministry of Pauline teaching. If you fear that describes you, why not wake up and follow the example of "a certain man...named Justus" (Acts 18:7) and "a certain woman named Lydia" (Acts 16:14) who opened their homes to the ministry of Pauline truth and helped establish grace churches in their respective cities.

Many Christians are at a complete loss as to knowing what to do in these uncertain spiritual times, but that doesn't apply to those who know the certainty of Paul's gospel. We have the answer to the religious confusion all about us! If you're not part of the movement that is bringing the solution to these poor confused people, you're part of the problem.

One thing is sure. "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out" (I Tim. 6:7). With that in mind, why not begin today to live with eternity in view?

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When Things Look Bleak
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler


    "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
    --Psalm 73:1-3

This particular Psalm, along with eleven others, is ascribed to Asaph, a Levite who ministered as the chief musician at the temple. After many years of faithful service, Asaph began to waver in the faith. With a heavy heart he says, "My feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped." Most believers can relate to this having experienced the same struggle in their own lives. In fact, it is an all too common problem.

Notice what the stumbling block was: Asaph became envious of the prosperity of the ungodly. He made the mistake of comparing his life with the lifestyle of the rich and famous. "They have more than the heart could wish" (vs. 7), everything had been handed to them on a silver platter. And what was even more disturbing to the Psalmist was they had obtained their ill-gotten gain through corruption and violence (vss. 6,8). Meanwhile, Asaph had labored day and night to barely make ends meet. He had compassion on the poor, but the wicked oppressed them seemingly with impunity. It just didn't seem fair! As the old saying goes, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

The wicked in those days, as now, were not interested whatsoever in God and acted as though He really didn't know or care (vs. 11). And to add insult to injury, the heavens were silent! The Psalmist, on the other hand, sought to live a righteous life only to find himself afflicted by the world and chastened of the Lord. This caused him to ponder, "Have I cleansed my heart in vain?" The more he dwelled on this, it was just too painful for him to bear. "Until!" Until what?

    "Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely Thou didst set them in slippery places: Thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors" (Psa. 73:17-19).

Have you ever awakened from a nightmare and felt thankful it wasn't real? For the ungodly the nightmare described here is very real. The Psalmist's "foot had almost slipped," but he was spared by God's grace and mercy in salvation; but the slippery slope the ungodly will find themselves on ends in terror. When things look bleak--Remember Psalm 73!

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Does the Lord Reveal Himself in Dreams?
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


"I hear that Muslims are getting saved after being visited by Christ in a dream. Does the Lord reveal Himself in dreams today?"

God spoke to men in dreams in past dispensations, but now that the Bible is complete, He speaks only through His Word.

If these stories were true, it would give unsaved men an excuse when they are sentenced to the lake of fire for their sins (Rev. 20:12-15). They could rightly argue, "It's not fair. The Lord never visited me in a dream. If He had, I would have believed too."

But we know that unsaved men will have no excuse in that day, for it is still true that "the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork" (Psa. 19:1). The testimony of God's creation reaches all men (v. 2-6) and is enough to leave men "without excuse" to not "seek the Lord" and "feel after him, and find Him" (Acts 17:27; Rom. 1:20).

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Who Would Think That God Could Lie?
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


    "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:2).

The story is told of a rather simple-minded factory worker who got called into his supervisor's office for talking back to his foreman. His supervisor asked, "Did you call your foreman a liar?" The man admitted that he had. "Did you call him stupid?" He had to admit to that was true as well. "Did you call him an opinionated, narcissistic egomaniac?" To this charge, the simple-minded man replied, "No, but could you write that one down so I can remember it?"

Of course, no one would ever accuse God of lying--or would they? There must be a reason the Apostle Paul wrote to Titus about the hope of eternal life, "which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began" (Titus 1:2). Why would Paul have to vouch for God's integrity like that? Surely somebody was thinking that God could lie, or it wouldn't have been necessary to affirm the opposite. And it isn't likely that it was Titus.

But Titus was stationed on the island of Crete (Titus 1:5), and the Cretians to whom he ministered used to worship the Greek god Zeus, who is said to have been born in Crete. And according to Greek mythology, Zeus was always lying to his wife Hera to cover up the affairs he had with gods, nymphs and mortal women. So the Cretians needed reassurance that the God of the Bible wasn't lying in promising them eternal life, an assurance that Paul was more than happy to give them in an epistle that became a part of God's written Word.

By the way, did you ever wonder why the gods of the Greeks were such moral degenerates? Why would anyone invent gods who were guilty of lying, cheating, stealing, fornicating, and even killing? It was because if your gods acted like that, it gave you an excuse to act like that! The Greeks invented such gods to justify their own sinfulness! After all, the gods couldn't righteously deny men entrance into heaven because of their sins if they themselves were just as morally depraved!

How different is the God of the Bible! The Bible doesn't justify men by lowering God to their low level of wickedness. The Bible justifies men by lifting them up to God's level! As the Lord Jesus Christ hung on Calvary's cross, God made Him "to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21). That means if you've trusted Christ as your savior, you have the very righteousness of God. God Himself is no more righteous than you are, for you have been "made the righteousness of God." And that means God can't righteously deny you entrance into heaven, for He has lifted you up to His own level of righteousness.

If that makes you feel eternally secure, say amen!

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A Memorial Of Calvary
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


It is disappointing to find some well-meaning brethren calling the Lord’s Supper the Passover.

Surely Luke 22:14-20 proves conclusively that after the observance of the Passover, our Lord instituted a “remembrance” of His death.

When Paul recounts what our Lord did and said at the Lord’s Supper he mentions only bread and wine, while at the Passover there was certainly much more than this.

The Passover, like water baptism, was an Old Testament ordinance, but the Lord’s Supper is as distinctly associated with the New Testament, or Covenant.

    “For this is My blood of the New Testament…” (Matt. 26:28).

The Passover, like water baptism, spoke of an unfinished work, for if water cannot wash away sin, neither can the blood of bulls and goats take away sins (Heb.10:4). Both were shadows of the redeeming work of Christ.

Because so many stumble over the fact that water baptism was practiced even after the cross, we repeat that the full results of Calvary were not manifested until “due time,” through the Apostle Paul. Blood sacrifices, circumcision, the sabbaths and feast days likewise spoke of an unfinished work, yet these were all observed after the cross — by the Spirit-filled disciples. This is simply because the time for the unfolding of God’s secret purpose and the gospel of the grace of God was not ripe until God raised up that other apostle, Paul. Indeed, even then its unfolding and the passing away of the old order were gradual matters.

BUT— whereas the Passover and water baptism were Old Testament ordinances, the Lord’s Supper is distinctly a New Testament celebration. The celebration of the Lord’s death should never be classed with the ordinances, not even with the ordinance of baptism, for while water baptism spoke of an unfinished work, the Lord’s Supper is clearly a celebration of the finished work of Christ.

At least three times the Lord’s Supper is stated to be “in remembrance” of Christ and His redemptive work.

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Peace in Trying Times
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler


The other evening I turned on the national news to see what chaos and mayhem was going on in the world. I really wasn't surprised by what I heard! Year after year, the headlines are becoming increasingly more ominous. In the Middle East, Syria is embroiled in a major civil war; Israel is repeatedly threatened with annihilation; and ISIS is attempting to build an Islamic State where the beheadings of those who reject their ideology is commonplace. Then there's Iran, which is nearing the completion of a nuclear bomb, that will undoubtedly result in the nuclear proliferation of other nations in the region.

In Europe, many countries are facing financial collapse. Greece has already declared bankruptcy. Here in America, our government has managed to rack up a national debt to the tune of 17 trillion dollars, which our country will probably live to regret simply because there's no one to bail us out. If this isn't troubling enough, most of our cities are becoming more like the wild west where lawlessness has taken over our streets with daily carjackings and shootings being a common occurrence.

The opportunists have seized the moment to run commercials between these alarming headlines to alert everyone to the coming economic collapse that will make the 2008 crash look insignificant. The survivalist takes advantage of this mass hysteria to warn everyone to be prepared for the next act of God or man-made disaster by purchasing a survival kit with a large supply of food.

If you had to take two aspirins and lie down after reading these lines, it is important for you to remember that Paul predicted that perilous times (II Tim. 3:1) and lawlessness (I Tim. 1:9) would be widespread in the last days of the age of grace. These troubling events have caused many believers, who fail to rightly divide the Word of truth, to wonder if we are in the early stages of the Tribulation. But we want to assure everyone who reads these words that if you are a believer in Christ you are delivered from the future Tribulation and wrath to come (I Thes. 1:10; 5:9 cf. Rev. 6:15-17).

Not one Old Testament prophecy is being fulfilled today, including those found in the four Gospels and early Acts. This does not necessarily mean that the stage isn't being set by Satan for coming world events. The above headlines should remind us that we are living in man's day and will experience many times the injustices of man's wrath (I Cor. 4:3). Through it all, we can rest in the peace of God that passes all understanding--it will keep our hearts and minds through the most trying times!

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A New World Order
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


    "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy..." (I Tim. 1:12,13).

As "a blasphemer," the Apostle Paul had good reason to be thankful that he had obtained mercy! Don't forget, just a couple years before Paul was saved, the Lord Jesus Christ had said,

    "...All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

    "And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come" (Matthew 12:31,32).

In light of these words, how could God have mercy on a blasphemer like Paul? If you're thinking that perhaps he blasphemed a member of the Trinity other than the Spirit, think again. As a Jew who followed the Law of Moses scrupulously (Phil. 3:6) he would never have broken the Law by blaspheming God the Father (Lev. 24:16). And there is no concrete evidence he ever even met God the Son. No, it wasn't until the twelve were "filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:4) that Saul showed up, and led the blasphemous persecution against them (Acts 7:57--8:3).

So when the Lord said that those who blasphemed the Spirit couldn't be forgiven, "neither in this world, neither in the world to come," this is one of the many proofs we have that with the salvation of Paul, God introduced a whole new world, a world called "the dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph. 3:1,2).

We see further proof of this when Paul called himself "a persecutor." As Saul of Tarsus, he "persecuted the church" (Gal. 1:13). But in persecuting the Lords people, he was persecuting the Lord (Acts 9:1,4,5). And to be saved in the Lord's world you had to be one of His followers, not one of His persecutors (Mt. 19:16,21; Lu. 18:28-30; John 10:27,28). This will also be true in the world to come (Rev. 14:1,4).

When Paul further admitted he had been "injurious," this too rendered him beyond the pale of redemption in the Lord's world. When He vowed that judgment would fall on any who would "offend one of these little ones which believe in Me" (Mt. 18:6), He was using the child He had "set in the midst of them" (v. 2) as an object lesson of the "little children" of the disciples who believed in Him (John 13:33). You know, the disciples whom Saul later offended (Acts 8:3). And offending God's little ones in Israel will be just as unforgivable in the world to come (Rev. 16:5,6).

There's just no getting around it, beloved. The Apostle Paul couldn't have been saved under the kingdom program that the Lord taught the Jews when He was here on earth (Mt.4:17; 15:24). That means when God saved Saul, He ushered in a whole new world and a whole new world order, an "order" in which men receive Christ by grace through faith alone, and then walk in Him the same way (Col. 2:5,6).

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How to Get to Heaven from Your Current Location
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler


MapQuest(R) is an ingenious website that many have probably used at one time or another. Simply type in where you live and where you want to go and, voila! It gives you step-by-step directions to your final destination. Of course, it cannot give you directions on How to Get to Heaven from Your Current Location. Only the Word of God can give us these instructions.

The year leading up to the conversion of George Whitefield, the famous English Evangelist, is a good example of how God will have nothing to do with good works or acts of self-denial for the salvation of a lost soul. Both are repulsive in His sight. Shortly after entering his third year at Oxford, young Whitefield underwent a spiritual crisis. It was said of him:

"The life of God in his own soul was what he craved and must have--but how to obtain it! The thought of his sins caused him to sweat and groan. He shunned all company, wandering the fields and woods, deep in prayer--sometimes lying all night upon the freezing ground. He wore the shabbiest of clothing; his only fare [meals], dry bread and tea. In time even his prayers seemed to become sinful." (George Whitefield and the Great Evangelical Awakening by Anthony Beaurepaire, The Protestant Truth Society, London, England, Pg. 13).

It wasn't until Mr. Whitefield came to the end of himself that he began to reflect on his reading of Christian literature, how it was "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." With the burden of his sin greater than he could bear, he turned to Christ, the great Sin-Bearer, and was gloriously saved by the grace of God. In his own words, he gave this touching account of his conversion:

"God was pleased at length to remove the heavy load, to enable me to lay hold on His dear Son by living faith…Oh, with what joy, joy unspeakable, even joy that was full of, and great with glory, and my soul was filled when the weight of sin went off, and an abiding sense of the pardoning love of God and a full assurance of faith broke upon my disconsolate soul!"1

Perhaps you are like Mr. Whitefield prior to his conversion, trying to find acceptance with God apart from Christ. Your defense may be, "I'm not so bad. After all, I've never murdered anyone," as if God will accept you because you never committed the act of murder. But which sin is worse, murder or lying? According to Proverbs 6:16,17, lying is the greater violation of the two in the sight of God--because lying leads to murder! We need to remember and remember well, all sin has eternal consequences for those who reject Christ as their Savior.

Perhaps your pursuit of God has taken you down the path of religious rituals. Surely here you will find favor with God! Interestingly, it is in this area that Satan has done his most effective work to blind men to the light of the glorious gospel. He uses religion! If men think their religious service will gain them acceptance with God, he has accomplished his purpose to keep them eternally damned.

Here is a short list of religious practices that men do, hoping to earn their way to heaven: church attendance, water baptism, first communion, confirmation, reciting the Lord's Prayer, responsive readings, doing the sign of the Cross, confessing and receiving forgiveness of their sins from a priest, etc. Before his conversion to Christ, Martin Luther, the founder of the Lutheran Church, visited Rome, where he climbed the steps of Scala Santa on his knees. The Scala Santa is believed to be the stairway the Lord ascended to reach Pilate's Judgment Hall on the day of His crucifixion. The Catholic Church supposedly had it brought from Jerusalem to Rome.

As a Roman Catholic, at the time, Luther believed such acts of self-sacrifice would increase his chances of entering heaven. But it wasn't long thereafter, in a monastery at Wittenberg, he saw things in a whole new light. As Luther was reading Romans 1:17, where it states, "The just shall live by faith," he paused a moment, and then it suddenly dawned on him that salvation was by faith. Up to that point he had tried to earn his salvation through religious observances, but never felt he had done enough. Now, for the first time, he saw that a lost soul is declared eternally righteous by God through faith on the basis of the finished work of Christ. He was delivered from the bondage of his sins and indescribable joy flooded his heart. So dramatic was the change in his life that Luther went on to be the spark that ignited the great Reformation.

If you would like to get to heaven from your current location, simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We want you to know that God loves you and Christ died for your sins (Rom. 5:8). You see, the day Christ died at Calvary, He wasn't dying for His sins. He knew no sin. Instead, He was dying for the sins of the world--my sins and your sins. God has made a provision for all, but to receive the benefit of this provision you must believe that Christ died personally for you and rose again (I Cor. 15:3,4; I Thes. 4:14). Salvation is in a person, and that person is the Lord Jesus Christ! He alone can save you from your sins!

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Living a Dedicated Christian Life
by Pastor John Fredericksen


Why do missionaries leave their families and native country to labor in distant lands? Why do Christian workers (teachers, secretaries, etc.) labor in ministries instead of working in higher paying positions in the world? Why do most believers cheerfully give from their income to the local church when they could spend it on things of pleasure? Why do Sunday School and Bible teachers sacrifice their time to prepare for their ministry to the saints instead of using that time for leisure? Why do so many believers make it a priority to set aside time to consistently be in Bible class, the preaching hour, and mid-week prayer and study services when they could choose to spend this time at work or play?

The answer to the above questions is found in II Corinthians 4:18: "We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." You see, a truly spiritually minded believer does NOT simply live for this life alone. Instead, he weighs his present actions and choices from a heavenly and eternal perspective of gain or loss. He is able to look at today's time, ministry, finances, and choices as an opportunity to invest in eternal future reward, and he is motivated to do so with consistency, diligence, and joy.

How have you been looking at your life? Have you been only looking at the "things which are seen," or have you been looking at, and valuing most highly, the things which are eternal? This may be a good day to change focus and priority.

[nChrist]

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So Very Rich (II Cor. 8:9)
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


So rich, so very rich, was Christ
Through past eternity!
As God the Son, with God enthroned,
The Heir of all was He.
So poor, so very poor, did He
As Son of man become!
From manger birth to shameful death
Rejected by His own.
For us, ah yes, it was for us
He bore such poverty.
That we by His redeeming grace
Might be as rich as He!

– C.R.S.

[nChrist]

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You're Welcome!
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


Like many Americans, I used to spend Sunday evenings watching 60 Minutes. My favorite part came near the end of each week's show, when Andy Rooney would voice his complaints and opinions about things. Since his complaints were often aimed at new things, I figured he was just a crotchety old man who didn't like change. Now that I'm about the age that he was then, I'm finding that I'm not so crazy about change myself, and there is one societal change that I find particularly vexing.

When I was a boy, I was taught that if someone says "thank you," the polite way to respond is to say, "You're welcome." In recent years I have noticed that "you're welcome" has been replaced by "no problem," or "not a problem." I'm not sure why this vexes me, but in true Andy Rooney-like fashion, it does!

Maybe it is because, if we think it through, this response isn't nearly as good. Saying "you're welcome" after a kindness means that the person who did you the kindness feels that you are a good person who is welcome to such kind treatment. "No problem" just says, "Being kind to you didn't inconvenience me;" it says nothing of your worthiness to be treated so well.

If God were speaking aloud these days, one wonders how He would respond when we thank Him for all the spiritual blessings we have in Christ (Eph. 1:3). I doubt He would say, "No problem, being kind to you didn't inconvenience Me," for the price He paid at Calvary to procure these blessings was too high. We feel He would rather respond to our thanks with, "You are welcome to such blessings." Of course, we are not worthy of these blessings because we are good people in ourselves, but rather because of who He has made us in Christ. As difficult as it is for humble Christians to accept, now that we are children of God, we are welcome to the same treatment from God that He gives His own Son. As Paul put it, we are "joint-heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:17), and so "how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (v. 32).

Remember every day to thank God for all that He has done for you in Christ. Anyone can thank Him for "life, and breath, and all things" of that nature, for these "He giveth to all" (Acts 17:25). Only the child of God can thank Him for "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." If we don't thank Him for these things, who will?