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A Picture of a Fool
by Pastor John Fredericksen


[When atheists complain that Christians get too many holidays, we like to reply by pointing out that April 1 is National Atheist Day, for "the fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" (Psa. 14:1; 53:1). But it is no laughing matter when God's people play the fool, as Pastor Fredericksen makes clear in this excerpt from his book, Daily Transformation.]

For decades, our family has put together a large puzzle over the Christmas season. For us, it is an enjoyable project. It encourages us to take time out of busy schedules to simply spend time together and visit. But there is also a sense of satisfaction as, one by one, pieces of the puzzle are added, and we see a clear picture emerge. In the Book of Proverbs, God gives us a clear picture, though an unflattering one, of a fool.

A fool can easily be identified by at least ten characteristics described by King Solomon. A fool "refuseth instruction" to the detriment of his own soul (15:32). He just won't listen when given wise counsel.

The "words of the pure are pleasant words" (15:26), but the words of "a fool's lips enter into contention" (18:6-8), and it is to his own "destruction." He tends to be looking for trouble, and is usually harsh in his words. "He that uttereth a slander is a fool" (10:18). Criticizing others has become a favorite sport.

"The way of the fool is right in his own eyes" (12:15), and "it is as sport to a fool to do mischief" (10:23). He seems to always think he is right and that wrong is right. A "fool layeth open his folly" (13:16), and perhaps he does so because "the fool rageth, and is [over] confident" (14:16). As someone once said: "It is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

Proverbs also conveys the concepts that a fool will not heed reproof (17:10), speaks when he should listen (17:28), will be continually "meddling" to stir up strife (20:3), and "uttereth all his mind" (29:11). This sounds like a busybody who delights to continually gossip about others, or insert himself into the affairs of others.

As we look more carefully at this picture of a fool, we should each ask ourselves if any of these qualities describe us. If so, we encourage you to do something about it. Take one or two of these practices you know you need to work on, ask the Lord to enable you to change your pattern, then ask a godly loved one to hold you accountable in this area. In so doing, allow God to transform you.

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Standing, Walking And Running For God
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


In a way the Christian life is a stand; in another it is a walk, and in still another a race.

In I Cor. 15:1 the Apostle Paul writes of “the gospel… wherein ye stand” and in Rom. 5:2 of “this grace wherein we stand,” while in Gal. 5:1 he bids us: “Stand fast… in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.” Perhaps all this is well summed up in his appeal to his beloved Philippians:

    “Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown… stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved” (Phil. 4:1).

But the Christian life is more than a stand — it is a walk (which in Scripture refers to conduct). Once, says Paul, we walked “in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1,2) but having been saved by grace, through faith in Christ, we are now to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). Thus the Apostle bids us to “walk worthy of the Lord” (Col. 1:10), to “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16).

But the Christian life is even more than a walk; it is a race. Sad to say, many Christians whose “walk” is consistent and commendable, have never come to look upon the Christian life as a race. These never put enough into it so that it might be said of them that they are running. Yet the same great Apostle wrote, by divine inspiration:

    “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).

The word “patience” in this passage points up the fact that the Christian life is not a short “hundred-yard dash”; it requires much endurance. Thus we should put into it all that we have. “They which run in a race,” says the Apostle, “run all,” but they do not all receive the prize. Hence the admonition: “So run that ye may obtain” (I Cor. 9:24).

Those who have not trusted Christ as Savior have not even begun to stand, or walk, much less to run a race for Him. These might as well forget rewards until they first accept “the gift of God… eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).

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The Departure From Paul's Message
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

THE RESULTS OF DISOBEDIENCE

The Church, even the true Church of believers in Christ, is doubtless larger today than it has ever been. Yet it is weak and sick, confused and divided.

Many feel that the causes of the Church's low spiritual state are: failure to live separated lives, lack of prayer, indifference toward the lost, etc. These, however, are the effects, not the causes. The cause is the Church's departure from God's message and program for our day, as revealed through the writings of the Apostle Paul. There lies the root of the trouble, though few as yet recognize or acknowledge it.

With Israel it was the departure from Moses' law that constantly got her into trouble; with us it has been the departure from Pauline truth. For, remember, as surely as the dispensation of the Law was committed to Moses, so surely was the dispensation of Grace committed to Paul (Eph. 3:1-3), and those who have lapsed or backslidden from his day to ours, have done so, not so much by departing from the Word of God in general as by departing from the Word of God through Paul in particular.

Toward the close of his life Moses urged the people of Israel not to take the riches of Canaan for granted. Indeed, he warned them that if they did this they would soon "utterly perish from off the land" which they had gone to possess, and would be scattered among the heathen.

Likewise Paul, also, warned believers that they would lose the blessings intended for them if they departed from the truth and the program made known to them. Some, indeed, had already begun to depart, and the loss of blessing had become evident. The Galatians are a striking example of this and a lesson to us.

How they had rejoiced when Paul first came to them with "the preaching of the cross" and "the gospel of the grace of God"! As they heard him preach, and noted the difficulty, and perhaps pain, he experienced with his eyes, one said to another: "I wish I could give him my eyes! I would gladly do without them. He needs his sight so badly, and think of the joy and blessing he has brought to us!"

Soon after his departure, however, they were taken in by the Judaizers who "zealously affected [courted]" them to draw them away from Paul and his message (Gal. 4:17). And now Paul had to write them:

    "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel" (1:6).

    "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched [charmed] you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently [plainly] set forth, crucified among you?" (3:1).

    "WHERE IS THEN THE BLESSEDNESS YE SPAKE OF? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me" (Gal. 4:15).

Gone was the blessedness! Those who had rejoiced so greatly in the riches of God's grace proclaimed by Paul, had now turned back to Moses and the Law.

In Paul's epistles we find both the tendency on the part of believers to depart from the path of blessing and God's diagnosis of the particular cause of the trouble. In every case the cause is rebellion against Paul's God-given authority and departure from his God-given message and program.

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Peppermint
by Pastor John Fredericksen


I like peppermint. It has a refreshing taste and it can help refresh my breath, when it needs it, making it more suitable to interact in public. Peppermint also serves as an illustration or reminder of what we should be striving to be for the Lord.

Among Paul's praises of Philemon was that "the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee" (Phile. 7). This precious saint had chosen to be like a peppermint for all the believers with whom he came in contact. It's wonderful to read about this kind of testimony and what made him so refreshing to others. He demonstrated a sense of “love and faith… toward all saints" (v. 5). When these characteristics are present and genuine, they manifest themselves in a warmth and interest in others that is unmistakable. It will also be obvious in the tone and content of every word that comes out of one's mouth.

Philemon was approachable even about sensitive matters. Paul felt free to be bold in asking him to kindly and lovingly receive someone (Onesimus) who had wronged him (vv. 10-16). This quality of being approachable engendered a respect, closeness, and freedom in relation- ships that made Philemon a blessing to others.

Philemon could be expected to respond in a correct spiritual way. Paul had "confidence"(v.21) that Philemon would do the right thing in the right way and with the right spirit. No wonder, then, that this believer refreshed the saints around him, including the Apostle Paul. Philemon was a grace believer who not only believed in grace doctrine, he lived and demonstrated grace.

As we consider this godly example, we should apply these truths by asking ourselves if we truly want to be the kind of saint that is like a refreshing, spiritual peppermint. We should want to be this kind of saint! A good way to begin is by asking the Lord to help us develop the kind of Christian character that makes us refreshing to other saints: loving, approachable, and so responsive to the Scriptures that others can be confident in our actions and reactions. If this is your prayer and heart's desire, we encourage you to look for verses in Paul's letters that will further empower you toward becoming this kind of godly example.

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Church-Going
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


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

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

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

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

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

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

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Light For The Soul
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


A Christian believer talking to an atheistic evolutionist one time, took his watch out of his pocket, noted the time and put it back in again, saying to his friend: “This is a wonderful watch; never misses a second. I never have to do anything to it, yet it keeps perfect time.”

“What make is it?” asked the evolutionist. “Oh, no make,” was the reply. “Well who manufactured it?” “Oh, no one. It just put itself together somehow.”

“Nonsense!” said the atheist. “A watch can’t just come into existence. Somebody had to manufacture it.”

“That’s true,” replied the Christian, “yet you expect me to believe that this vast universe with its billions of planets and stars, all revolving in perfect order, just came about by itself; that it has no Designer, no Creator, and no one to keep it running. Isn’t that nonsense!”

According to the Bible God holds the pagan world responsible for its idolatry and declares: “They are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20) because all that the heathen witness about God every day calls for their worship and praise and thanksgiving (Rom. 1:20,21). But they have not had this attitude. They have denied and rejected God and, as St. Paul says, they “became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Ver. 21). It was thus that pagan idolatry, the worship of the creation, rather than the Creator (Ver. 25) had its beginning.

All this is very much like what we read in Ephesians 4:17,18 where God exhorts His people not to live like “the Gentiles,” in “the vanity [shallowness] of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.”

Not very complimentary, is it? But it does reflect the condition of the human heart without God and apart from faith in Christ our Savior. It explains why the world, with all its increased technical knowledge is worse off than ever.

How wonderful to know that “God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,” can give light and joy and blessing to the simplest soul who places his faith in Christ, who died for our sins! (See IICor. 4:3-6; Acts 16:31; ICor. 15:3,4).

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Mercy To All
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


Years ago, during Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia, I asked a class of boys: “Who is the most respected, most honored, most loved man of all history?” Immediately hands shot up, as one said this and another that. One boy said Mussolini was the most beloved and honored, but the others laughed at that idea. Finally, one sincere-looking lad said: “Jesus.” But he was as far off as the one who had suggested Mussolini.

We wish that our Lord were as greatly honored, respected and loved as He should be, but He is not. Rather He is widely rejected and blasphemed, while many are hypocritical in pretending to worship Him.

Without question the most honored, most respected, most loved man of all history is Abraham, proudly owned as “father” by millions of Jews, millions of Mohammedans and millions of professing Christians. Clearly this is why God used this man to demonstrate to all mankind how we may be declared righteous before a just and holy God. Note what Romans 4:2,3 says about this:

    “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to boast; but not before God.

    “For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Thus God uses the most beloved, respected man of history to demonstrate the fact that salvation is received by faith alone. And thus the Apostle concludes:

    “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:5).

In every age men have been saved by doing what God commanded them to do then. Now He tells us to do nothing, but simply to trust in Christ, who died for our sins. This is God’s plan of salvation.

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Offering Up of the Gentiles
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


    "What does Paul mean when he says that he was the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles 'that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost (Rom. 15:16)?"

Under the Law, the Gentiles couldn't offer themselves up as an offering that would be "acceptable" unto God as Paul tells us to do (Rom. 12:1,2). But now we are "sanctified" or set apart to God by the Holy Spirit--that is, by the Word of the Spirit, the words the Spirit teaches in His Word (1 Cor. 2:13). In His rightly divided Word, He teaches in Paul's epistles that the grace of God is now available to Gentiles as well as to Jews. Paul told the Ephesian elders,

    "...the word of His grace...is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:32).

See the connection? The Jews were sanctified, and so their sacrifices
were acceptable to God, and now we too are sanctified by "the word of
His grace" that the Spirit presents in His Word through the Apostle Paul.
So when the Macedonians "gave their own selves to the Lord," they
were able to do this "by the will of God" (2 Cor. 8:5). They couldn't
have done that under the Law, for God wouldn't have accepted their
offering. But under grace, "the offering up of the Gentiles" is "acceptable,
being sanctified by the Holy Ghost."

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Do You Worship At Your Church?
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


When a Christian lady asked us this question many years ago, we knew she was really asking if our church service was characterized by the kind of emotionalism that is found in so many churches. Her question prompted me to do a study of the word worship in Scripture, in an effort to obtain a Biblical definition of what constitutes genuine worship of Almighty God.

A Worshipful Life

Our study begins with God's command to Abraham to sacrifice his only son (Gen. 22:1-4), and Abraham's announcement that he planned to "worship" God in so doing (v. 5). The law of first reference suggests that the Bible's first use of the word worship here defines it as a willingness to obey God no matter how one's faith is tested, a good overall definition even today. And since Abraham indicated that "the lad" was also going to worship, the willingness of Isaac to give his life up at his father's behest (as a young man, Isaac could have easily overpowered or outrun his elderly father) suggests that when we willingly offer our lives as living sacrifices at our Father's behest (Rom. 12:1), this too is an act of worship. We find confirmation of this when the Lord equated worshipping God with serving God in Matthew 4:10.

Years later, when Abraham sent his servant to his homeland to find a bride for Isaac (Gen. 24:1-11), his faithful servant prayed for God's help (vv. 12-14). When he received it (vv. 15-25), he "worshipped the Lord" by thanking Him (vv. 26,27), suggesting that each time we bow to thank God for answered prayer, we too are worshipping Him.

Many years later, the people of Israel "bowed their heads and worshipped" (Ex. 4:31) when they acknowledged that God was honoring His promise to visit and redeem them from Egyptian bondage (Gen. 15:13-16). This leads us to believe that it is a form of worship when we today acknowledge and thank God when He honors promises He has made to us, such as that found in Romans 8:28.

Next, the Bible calls it "worship" when the people of Israel brought "the firstfruits of the land" to God (Deut. 26:10). Thus we believe that God considers it worship when we put God first in our lives. We well remember the day we asked one of the men in our church to help us with some work on the building. This faithful man listed all of the things that he had to do that week, then paused, and said simply, "But the Lord comes first." We believe he worshipped God that day, when he gave Him the firstfruits of his time and effort.

As we come to Judges 7, Gideon "worshipped" God for the assurance He gave him that his little band of 300 would defeat the Midianites (7:9-14). Similarly, when we thank God today for all the assurances we find in God's Word, we believe God is thrilled with this kind of worship.

Then when we consider the patriarch Job, it takes our breath away to see how he "fell down upon the ground, and worshipped" after losing all of his children and possessions (Job 1:20). Here we see worship characterized as a firm resolve to maintain one's spiritual "integrity" (2:9) in the face of even the most horrendous ordeals of life. Add to this how David is also said to have "worshipped" God in the aftermath of his heart-wrenching loss (II Sam. 12:18-20). The worship of God at times like these is a powerful testimony to the lost that we have something they do not possess.

Contributing financially to the Lord's work is probably not commonly thought of as worship, but the worship of the wise men is said to have included presenting the Lord with their gifts (Mt. 2:11), suggesting that giving
to the Lord's work is an example of worship that is fit for a King.

We don't always feel like worshipping God when a loved one is sick, and He does not extend to us the same "mercy" He granted Paul and Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25-27). But when the Lord refused mercy to the Syrophenician woman, she "worshipped" Him anyway (Mt. 15:21-25), and her faith and her understanding of why He was refusing to help her touched His heart (vv. 26-28). Surely God's heart is still touched when we are able to worship Him at such difficult times, understanding that when He forbears to bestow such help, it is so that we will "rather" learn to rejoice in His all-sufficient grace, and the perfecting of His strength in our weakness (II Cor. 12:9).

If your heart longs to worship the Lord, but you find it difficult, remember that worship always comes much easier when you find yourself in the place where God has "appointed," just as the disciples did long ago (Mt. 28:16,17). Of course, in this dispensation, God has "appointed" that we suffer "afflictions" for the cause of Christ (I Thes. 3:3), but there is perhaps no time when our worship is more pleasing to God than when we worship Him in the face of such affliction.

A Worshipful Church Service

While we have looked at several ways to worship the Lord, we began by asking if the church service at a grace church is characterized by worship, and the answer to this is a resounding yes! To begin with, when Joshua is said to have worshipped the Lord, he asked, "What saith my lord unto His servant?" (Joshua 5:14). This worshipful attitude of seeking the words of God is the same mind-set we display every time we gather in a grace church to hear God's Word taught, for it is only when the Word is rightly divided that we hear the Lord's words to His servants today.

Then too, remember how the Lord said of the Pharisees, "in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mt. 15:9)? Well, if teaching the commandments of men constitutes vain worship, then teaching the commandments of God must be considered true worship! And only grace churches are emphasizing the commandments of God given to us through Paul (I Cor. 14:37; I Thes. 4:2).

This does not mean, of course, that we throw away the law and the prophets, for even Paul himself professed that his "worship" included "believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets" (Acts 24:14). Here we see that we worship God when we go to church and simply believe His Word, His entire Word. Of course, it is only when we recognize dispensational differences and changes that we "worship God in the spirit" (Phil. 3:3).

And so if others have caused you to feel that you don't worship at your grace church, we trust these thoughts from God's Word have helped you to see that, as a grace believer, you worship God in ways that are far more pleasing to Him than those who attend services characterized by mere shallow emotionalism. We feel certain that if Jeremiah were to visit some of these churches, he would post a sign above the door that read: "Hear the word of the Lord, all ye…that enter in at these gates to worship" (Jer. 7:2). Hearing the word of the Lord is the highest form of worship, for when we recognize just who it is that is speaking to us through the Scriptures, we see that this too is a form of worship (cf. John 9:35-38).

A Worshipful Future

Finally, once we draw our last breath and enter His presence, we can look forward to worshipping the Lord in a very unique way. Consider how the people of Israel "worshipped" the Lord after they saw how He accepted their sacrifice (II Chron. 7:1-3). Then think of what a thrill it will be when we stand someday at the Judgment Seat of Christ and see Him accept every sacrifice we have ever made for Him, and reward us accordingly. It will be our highest honor and deepest privilege to worship Him in that day.

In closing, we would be remiss in this brief study of Biblical worship if we did not call your attention to Isaiah 66:23,24, where we read that in the kingdom of heaven on earth, they will "worship" God by going forth on a regular basis, as God says, to "look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against Me." The prophet speaks here of souls in Hell, where "their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched." At the present time, of course, our hearts break at the thought of friends and loved ones suffering eternal torment. But once we reach the eternal state, our minds will be so much like His that we will worship Him by acknowledging that even this most severe of all His judgments is "true" and even "righteous" (cf. Ps. 19:9; Rev. 16:7; 19:2). What a burden this should lay on our hearts to reach these dear ones now with the wonderful gospel of the wonderful grace of God.

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Grace Abounding In Paul's Ministry
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


    “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and THE MINISTRY WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD JESUS, TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.”
    –The Apostle Paul in Acts 20:24.

    “GRACE to you, and peace” (Rom. 1:7);
    “Being justified freely by His GRACE” (Rom. 3:24);
    “we have access by faith into this GRACE wherein we stand” (Rom. 5:2);
    “the GRACE of God, and gift by GRACE… is by one Man” (Rom. 5:15);
    “the abundance of GRACE and of the gift of righteousness” (Rom. 5:17);
    “where sin abounded, GRACE did much more abound…that GRACE might reign” (Rom. 5:20,21);
    “for ye are not under the law, but under GRACE” (Rom. 6:14);
    “not under the law, but under GRACE” (Rom. 6:15);
    “there is a remnant according to the election of GRACE” (Rom. 11:5);
    “if by GRACE, then it is no more of works; otherwise GRACE is no more GRACE…. But if it be of works, then is it no more GRACE” (Rom. 11:6);
    “By the GRACE of God I am what I am; and His GRACE… was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the GRACE of God which was with me” (I Cor. 15:10);
    “that the abundant GRACE might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God” (II Cor. 4:15);
    “receive not the GRACE of God in vain” (II Cor. 6:1);
    “ye know the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Cor. 8:9);
    “God is able to make all GRACE abound toward you” (II Cor. 9:8);
    “the exceeding GRACE of God” (II Cor. 9:14);
    “My GRACE is sufficient for thee” (II Cor. 12:9);
    “I do not frustrate the GRACE of God” (Gal. 2:21);
    “the praise of the glory of His GRACE” (Eph. 1:6);
    “the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His GRACE” (Eph. 1:7);
    “the exceeding riches of His GRACE” (Eph. 2:7);
    “For by GRACE are ye saved, through faith” (Eph. 2:8);
    “the dispensation of the GRACE of God… given me to you-ward” (Eph. 3:2);
    “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…singing with GRACE in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16);
    “the GRACE of our Lord was exceeding abundant” (I Tim. 1:14);
    “who hath saved us…according to His own purpose and GRACE, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (II Tim. 1:9);
    “Be strong in the GRACE that is in Christ Jesus” (II Tim. 2:1);
    “GRACE be with you all” (Titus 3:15).

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Believers Justified
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


Our Lord’s appearance to Saul of Tarsus (later called Paul) on the road to Damascus, changed the pitiless persecutor in a moment into the docile, yes the devoted follower of the Christ he had so bitterly hated.

This transformation took place not only because he had now seen the risen, ascended Christ; it was caused also by what he had learned from Christ. From heaven the Lord had revealed to Paul the glory of His finished work of redemption and had sent him forth to proclaim “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

This is seen in the closing words of the Apostle’s first recorded sermon, delivered at the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia. After mentioning the death and resurrection of Christ, the Apostle said:

    “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).

Paul never changed this message, but kept emphasizing it wherever he went as well as in his writings. He saw in this truth the answer to man’s condemnation for breaking God’s holy law. Thus he wrote to the Romans:

    “…by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested” (Rom. 3:20,21).

    “[We] declare, I say, at this time, [Christ’s] righteousness; that [God] might be just and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26).

Mark well: He does not say, “believeth and is baptized.” This was the message committed to the twelve (Mark 16: 16; Acts 2:38). With the ushering in of the dispensation of grace God was manifested as “the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

[nChrist]

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The Spirit of Holiness
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


    "… Jesus Christ… was… declared to be the Son of God… according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead" (Rom. 1:3,4).

What does it mean that the Lord's resurrection declared Him to be the Son of God according to the spirit of holiness? Well, have you ever heard it said that there is a difference between the letter of the
law and the spirit of the law? When you drive 66 m.p.h. in a 65 m.p.h. zone, you are breaking the letter of the law, but you are not breaking the spirit of the law. The spirit of the law is for you to drive safely and responsibly. This is why most police officers will not ticket you for going one mile per hour over the speed limit.

The letter of the law of holiness is expressed well in Proverbs 17:15:

    "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord."

But isn't that what God did at the Cross, when He condemned "that Just One" (Acts 22:14) and justified wicked sinners such as ourselves? In so doing, He surely broke the letter of the law of holiness.

Or did He? For those who would argue that God was not acting in accord with the law of holiness, we would reply that when God the Father took your sins and placed them on the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary, He justly condemned the One who was made wicked (II Cor. 5:21). Then when you believed the gospel, God took His righteousness and put it on you, enabling Him to justify the ones who were made the very righteousness of God in Christ (II Cor. 5:21). The resurrection of Christ then proved that this was also done in perfect accord with the spirit of holiness, for Christ's sacrifice surely satisfied the just demands of God's righteousness.

If you haven't yet trusted Christ as your Savior, however, God has not yet given you the righteousness that is available only in Christ. Speaking of the Lord Jesus, the Apostle Paul says,

    "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).

The forgiveness of sins purchased by Christ's blood is only available in Him. If you are not in Christ, you are still "in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1). "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

[nChrist]

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Faith
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


Faith is one of the most precious treasures a man can possibly possess. It is a pity that so few understand what the Bible teaches about it.

Faith is often confused with presumption, optimism, determination, superstition and imagination. Actually it is simply believing. This is why we read in Rom. 4:5:

    “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

Obviously, faith honors God, while doubting His Word must insult and displease Him. The Apostle John wrote:

    “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater…. He that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.

    “And this is the record: that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son” (I John 5:9-11).

Little wonder that we read in Heb. 11:6:

    “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

But why did God give the law, if salvation can be obtained by simple faith? St. Paul answers:

    “The law was our schoolmaster, to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Gal. 3:24).

    “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law”
    (Rom. 3:31).

How grateful we all should be that God, in the Bible, has told us about redemption through Christ and how we may be saved by faith in Him!

    “[Christ] was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore, being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 4:25; 5:1).

[nChrist]

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Be Strong
by Pastor John Fredericksen


There was once a young man who stood in the shadow of a great leader. When that leader passed away, it fell to his young apprentice to pick up the reins of leadership. As he did so, he faced his circumstances with a certain amount of understandable doubts and fears. Then someone encouraged him, telling him to be strong and exhibit courage, because God would enable him. The leader was Moses, his apprentice was Joshua, and the encourager was the Lord Himself (Josh. 1:1-9).

God likewise challenges believers in the dispensation of grace to be strong. Paul told grace believers to "...quit you [or act manly] like men, be strong" (1 Cor. 16:13) and to "...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" (Eph. 6:10). We must not cower in fear nor surrender to Satan who is waging spiritual warfare against us. We must be strong!

We can do so by remembering God's power is available to us. Paul prayed the saints would comprehend "...the exceeding greatness of His power [is available] to us-ward who believe" (Eph. 1:19). The Lord offers us His power, and wants us to have it. Believe it! God's power is accessed "by His Spirit in the inner man" (Eph. 3:16). We can never triumph over Satan in our own strength, but we can when we allow God's power to flow in our lives in our inner man. Nourish your inner "new man" in Christ!

Our inner man is empowered by equipping ourselves with "the whole armour of God" (Eph. 6:11). This can be summarized by choosing to have a consistent daily walk in truthfulness and righteous behavior as our standard (v. 14), being always prepared to give the gospel (v. 15), protecting our minds through faith in God's Word (v. 16), living in the confidence of our eternal victory (v. 17a), using the Scriptures to slice through Satan's lies (v. 17b), and being constant in prayer (v. 18). Be vigilant in clothing yourself with apparel that enables you to have victory in your daily life!

Paul's admonition is "...and having done all to stand, stand therefore..." (Eph. 6:13-14). Have you done all you need to do to stand victorious today? Are you remembering God's power is available to you? Have you been spiritually strengthening your inner man? Will you consistently equip your soul with the whole armour of God? Be strong believer! God will enable you if you look to Him for His power to overcome whatever you face today.

[nChrist]

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Why Christ Came
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


Have you ever asked yourself why the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world? Have you ever “searched the Scriptures” to find out why? The majority of religious leaders and their followers seem to think that Christ lived on earth to teach us by His words and His example how we should live. But let’s think this through.

Our Lord did indeed show men how they should live with each other and before God. But what were the results? Did the people say: “How wonderful! Now we know how to live together and enjoy life! Let’s follow His teachings and the world will be a happier place to live in!” Is this what they said? Far from it! As the record indicates, they hated Him, they ridiculed Him, they heckled Him and finally nailed Him to a cross.

As to His example: Have you ever seen how a jeweler will put a diamond on a piece of black felt to show it to a prospective customer? The diamond is seen most clearly in all its brilliance against a dark, black background — and vice versa. In the same way, man has never really followed Christ’s example — he couldn’t. Rather, the pure white light of Christ’s holiness only shows up the dark, black character of the human heart, and man by contrast stands rebuked and condemned.

But why, then, did Christ come into the world? The whole volume of Scripture bears witness to St. Paul’s answer in I Tim. 1:15: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

Consider the Old Testament types and prophecies. Consider its Psalms and poems. Consider the words of Christ Himself and you will see that He came, not to live, primarily, but to die — to die “for our sins” (I Cor. 15:3), to pay our penalty that we might be justified — cleared of all the charges which the Law held against us.

These same Scriptures also declare that He, the Prince of Peace, arose from the dead and will come again as King of kings and Lord of lords. But meantime we may trust in the rejected Savior and enjoy “peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).