Two Minutes With The Bible

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Religious Mixtures
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


The largest segment of the professing Church offers her devotees neither peace for the present, nor assurance for the future. She does not tell them that believers in Christ are given a position in heaven at God’s right hand (Eph. 2:4-7). She even brings Christ down from His exalted position and offers Him to the world on a crucifix, requiring men to eat His flesh and drink His blood to be saved. And this when Paul, by the Spirit, so emphatically says:

    “…yea, THOUGH WE HAVE KNOWN CHRIST AFTER THE FLESH, YET NOW, HENCEFORTH, KNOW WE HIM NO MORE” (II Cor. 5:16).

Man’s religion, especially in “the Church,” is built upon an appeal to the senses. Her devotees are occupied with beads and bells, statues and crucifixes, candlesticks and sacred objects, robes and incense; so far has she departed from the teachings of Paul and from his declaration that “we walk by faith, not by sight” (II Cor. 5:7).

Lingering still among the types and shadows of primitive ages and mingling these with meaningless pagan rituals, she keeps millions from trusting and rejoicing in an already accomplished redemption.

We beg those who read these lines to look in faith to the risen, exalted Christ and to trust in His finished work:

    “Who… when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3).

    “This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Heb. 10:12).

This is clear enough. Our Lord came to earth to accomplish our redemption and, having accomplished it, He returned to heaven and sat down with His Father. The work was finished. And now He invites us to rest in His finished work.

    “THERE REMAINETH THEREFORE A REST TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD.

    “FOR HE THAT HATH ENTERED INTO HIS REST, HE ALSO HATH CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, AS GOD DID FROM HIS” (Heb. 4:9,10).

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The One Essential Thing
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


The place of the Word in the life of the believer is settled once and for all in the inspired record of one of our Lord’s visits to the home of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42).

Commentaries on this passage generally point out that both Mary and Martha had their good points! This, of course, is true, but if we limit ourselves to this observation we rob the account of its intended lesson, for our Lord did not commend both sisters for their “good points.” He reproved Martha and commended and defended Mary with regard to one particular matter.

What, exactly, was Mary commended for? How often she has been portrayed as an example to us to spend more time with the Lord in prayer! But this is missing the point of the passage. Mary was not praying; she “sat at Jesus’ feet, and HEARD HIS WORD.” She just sat there, drinking in all He had to say. This was “the one essential thing” which Mary had “chosen” and which our Lord said was not to be “taken away from her.” Thus, while prayer and testimony and good works all have their importance in the life of the believer, hearing God’s Word is “the one essential thing” above all others. Indeed, let this “one thing” be given its rightful place and all the rest will follow naturally.

It is granted, of course, that we must study the Word prayerfully and with open heart, or it will have disastrous, rather than beneficial results, but this only goes to place still further emphasis upon the supreme importance of the Word of God, which we seek, by sincere and prayerful study, to understand and obey.

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Your Greatest Need
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


Even in these challenging financial times, the greatest need of a Christian is not monetary. It is rather found in Colossians 1:11, where Paul prays that we might be

    "Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all…"

Unto all what? Whatever it is, Paul is convinced we are going to have to be "strengthened" with "all might" according to "His glorious power" to obtain it. As we read on, Paul tells us the goal of all this empowerment:

    "…unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness."

Patience? The reason we need all this mighty empowering is so we can be patient? While this may seem anticlimactic, we submit that patience is our greatest need. We need patience to put up with the world's wickedness, the abortions, etc., patience in knowing the Second Coming of Christ will right the world's wrongs. We need patience as televangelists continue to dominate the airwaves with their dilutions and pollutions of the gospel, and patience as Bible teachers muddle the minds of the saints by their failure to rightly divide the Word. And since no man today has the gift of healing, we need patience with our physical infirmities, and longsuffering as we wait for that wonderful change that will come to our bodies at the Rapture (Phil. 3:20,21).

Finally, we need patience with one another, as we learn to not just put up with other believers, but to actually give them the same unconditional love and acceptance God extends to us. Moses was patient with unbelieving Pharaoh, but lost his patience with his brethren. How like us! But ask yourself, when did David show greater spiritual strength, when he slew Goliath, or when he refused to slay Saul?

Paul says we are to be strengthened to all patience "according to His glorious power," but what is God's glorious power? The destructive power He exhibited at the Red Sea is called "glorious" (Ex. 15:6), but we suggest that God's glorious power today is seen in His patience. The fact that God could put an end to the abortions and religious confusion, but doesn't, is His most glorious power in the dispensation of grace.

The apostle concludes by praying that we might be patient "with joyfulness," perhaps the hardest part of longsuffering. God doesn't chafe under the vexations He receives from the world, religion, and the Body of Christ, and neither should we!

If this kind of power were not available to us, Paul would not be praying that we might have it. And so may his prayer also be the prayer of our hearts, as we enthusiastically study the only source of spiritual strength, God's Word rightly divided.

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Pithy gems from Thomas Watson #2

What fools are they who, for a drop of pleasure, drink a sea of wrath!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Every time you draw your breath, you suck in mercy!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

We are more sure to arise out of our graves, than out of our beds.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Read the Scripture, not only as a history, but as a love-letter sent to you from God!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

God would have us part with nothing for Him, but that which will damn us if we keep it! The only design He has for us is to make us holy.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Death is the last and best physician. It cures all diseases and sins--the aching head and the unbelieving heart. Sin was the midwife which brought death into the world--and death shall be the grave to bury sin! O the privilege of a believer!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

There is more evil in a drop of sin--than in a sea of affliction!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Knowledge without repentance--will be but a torch to light men to Hell.

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From Grace Gems - Free and Public Domain:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
http://www.gracegems.org/19/literature.htm
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Pithy gems from George Whitefield #2

Oh for a thousand lives to be spent in the service of Christ!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Left to himself--man is half beast and half devil.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

God, give me a deep humility, a well-guided zeal, a burning love and a single eye!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

If one evil thought, if one evil word, if one evil action, deserves eternal damnation--then how many Hells do every one of us deserve, whose whole lives have been one continued rebellion against God!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

The reason why congregations have been so dead--is because they have dead men preaching to them. How can dead men beget living children?

   ~  ~  ~  ~

I expect perpetual conflicts and struggles in this life. I expect only a cross, while on this side of eternity.

   ~  ~  ~  ~

There are many who go on in a round of religious duties, who think that they will go to Heaven when they die. But if you examine them, though they have a Christ in their heads--they have no Christ in their hearts.

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Don't Study the Grace Message!
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


You heard me! Don’t study dispensationalism, study the Bible dispensationally. Rightly dividing the Word is the key to understanding the Bible, but what do you do with a key? You don't study it. Once you know how it works, you use it to unlock the lock for which it was designed. Well, once you understand the principle of right division, use it to unlock the Scriptures it was designed to open to your understanding.

If you are a grace pastor or teacher, don’t teach dispensationalism, "preach the Word" (2 Tim. 4:2) dispensationally considered. Brother Les Feldick has done a tremendous job of reaching people with the truth of the rightly divided Word, grounding them in it, and helping them grow in it, all by simply teaching through the Bible, verse by verse, "according to the revelation of the mystery" (Rom. 16:25). The saints to whom you minister can flourish under the same type of ministry.

So whether you are a grace believer or even a grace pastor, don't study the grace message. If that's all you do, you will never be able to answer the challenges our opponents raise to the truth. But the man of God who has studied every verse they cite in its context will be thoroughly equipped to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim. 6:12), "war a good warfare" (1 Tim. 1:18), and "please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Tim. 2:4)

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Not Dying For Lack Of Love
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


It has been said that “the world is dying for the lack of a little bit of love.” When this statement is examined in the light of Scripture, however, it is found to be the exact opposite of the truth. Listen to what God’s Word says about this:

    “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

    “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).

    “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:9,10).

Many about us are dying in their sins, but not “for the lack of a little bit of love.” It is rather because they reject the great love that God has manifested to us in His Son. We are told in John 1:10,11 that “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” This is the problem: men are rejecting His love. “And this is the condemnation,” says John, “that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light” (John 3:19).

But while others reject Him, you may accept Him as your Savior and know the joy of sins forgiven and of everlasting life, for “as many as received Him, to them gave He the power [Lit., right] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).

    “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.
    “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).

    “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

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A Gift For You
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


    “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

In the light of the Pauline epistles these well-known words have become more appropriate than when our Lord first spoke them. Through Paul, Christ’s redemptive work at Calvary has been proclaimed and fully explained. In this light, then, we suggest that our readers take the time to really meditate on this passage about God’s greatest gift to man.

Think of the love that prompted it! “God so loved….” We were the “children of disobedience” and “by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Eph. 2:2,3). We deserved judgment, “but God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,” gave His best, His all, to save us (Eph. 2:4).

Think of its priceless value! “His only begotten Son — everlasting life.” Christ, the holy One, had to be given up to disgrace and death in order that our sins might be justly dealt with, and that we might become the rightful heirs of everlasting life (Rom. 3:25,26).

Think of your need of this gift! “…that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish….” How perilous not to accept “the gift of God, eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23)! What folly to spurn or ignore a gift we need so sorely!

Finally, think how gracious the offer! “…that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Whosoever believeth! Any sinner may have this gift by simply believing, accepting in simple faith what God says about Christ paying for our sins at Calvary. In fact, this is the only way we can become the recipients of this wonderful gift, for Rom. 4:5 declares:

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

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Pardon vs. Justification
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


Did you read, recently, about the man, named Zimmerman, who spent nearly twenty-five years in prison for a murder which, it is now clear, he never committed! The mistake was discovered two years ago, and he was released, of course, but only after spending almost a quarter of a century in prison for a crime he did not commit!

This was a grim mistake, but even at that, it must be wonderful in such a case, to be free — and to have people actually sympathize with you! Yet, after two years of liberty, Zimmerman says he still feels a bit numb. Waking up mornings he still imagines he hears the harsh sound of the prison bell, and looking about he still thinks he sees bars on the windows.

Things could be worse, though: Suppose he were guilty of the crime, merely pardoned and released. Then everyone would be saying: “There goes that murderer. They pardoned him. Don’t get too friendly with him.” The stigma would always remain – -as long as he lived.

Let us thank God that believers in Christ are not merely pardoned. Rom. 3:24 declares that we are “justified freely by [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Christ died for our sins and satisfied the just claims of the Law, and more: through the Holy Spirit He revolutionizes our lives and makes new creations out of us, for “If any man be in Christ,” says II Cor. 5:17, “he is a new creation.”

    “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, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:8-10).

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What's the Word?
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


    "...if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

    "He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:47,48).

I'm sure that the unbelievers among the Lord's hearers were relieved to hear Him say that He had not come to judge them. But some of them may have remembered hearing Him say that "the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22). Well, if the Father committed all judgment to the Son, how could the Son say that He had not come to judge people?

The answer to this question is found in "rightly dividing the Word of truth" (II Tim. 2:15). You see, the Lord was making a dispensational statement. He had not come to judge the world in His first coming, but in His second coming, He will come to "judge and make war" (Rev. 19:11).

Then, after the fiery judgment of the Second Coming (II Thes. 1:7,8), "God…hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained" (Acts 17:30,31). We know that Paul speaks here of the Lord Jesus Christ since he goes on to say of this man "that He hath raised from the dead." In that day, the day that the Lord described as "the last day" (John 12:48), the unsaved of all ages will stand before the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11), where they will be judged guilty and condemned to the lake of fire (vv. 12-15). It is concerning this judgment that the Lord said, "the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).

Did you ever wonder what word will judge men in the last day? Believe it or not, this question must also be answered dispensationally! The word by which the Lord will judge unbelievers among the Jews to whom He was sent under the kingdom program (Matt. 15:24) is different than the word by which unbelievers who lived in the dispensation of grace will be judged.

The word by which unbelievers in the kingdom program will be judged was, as the Lord said in our text, a word that He had "spoken" during His sojourn here on earth. He gives us a hint as to what word that might be when He went on to call this word "a commandment" that the Father had given Him (v. 49), adding: "And I know that His commandment is life everlasting" (v. 50). Thus we know that whatever word the Lord spoke that will judge unbelievers under the kingdom program, it is a word that gave everlasting life to those that did believe this word.

He was speaking, of course, of the word of the gospel. It is the gospel that saves men's souls in any dispensation, and it is the gospel that will judge men guilty if they do not believe it. In the kingdom program, the gospel word that gave eternal life was Jesus is the Christ (John 6:67-69). This is the word that will someday judge unbelievers who lived under the kingdom program when they stand before the Great White Throne if they refused to believe the word of that gospel.

Of course today, in the dispensation of grace, it is not enough to have the kind of "faith in His name" (Acts 3:16) that constitutes believing that "Jesus is the Christ" (John 20:31; I John 5:1). Today you have to have "faith in His blood" (Rom. 3:25) to be saved; that is, you have to believe that "Christ died for our sins" and rose again (I Cor. 15:1-4). When unbelievers who lived in the dispensation of grace stand before the Lord's Great White Throne, this is the word of the Lord by which they will be judged, the word He spoke through Paul.

How do we know that unbelievers from the dispensation of grace will be judged by the word of a different gospel? It is because our apostle Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles (Rom. 11:13; 15:16), describes the last day as "the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel" (Rom. 2:16), not according to the word that the Lord spoke when He ministered to the Jews. As you can see, even the very gospel of salvation has to be rightly divided!

We sometimes hear it said that rightly dividing the Word of truth is "an interesting doctrine, but not a very practical doctrine." We couldn't disagree more. What could possibly be more practical than knowing which words of Scripture have the power to give eternal life in the dispensation of grace, and which words will judge men guilty of their sins when they believe them not? Dispensationalism doesn't just help us when it comes to figuring out things like why the Lord said He wasn't sent to judge men after the Father committed all judgment to Him. Rightly dividing the Word ensures that we are able to make a clear presentation of the gospel that saves men's souls to those who will suffer the flames of eternal torment without it.

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Grace Not Earned
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


Have you ever noticed that God does not hold the great men of Scripture up to us because of their personal goodness? Almost invariably their records are marred by failure and sin, but God bids us look at their faith, to see what their faith did for them. Even those who lived consistently good lives are not held up to us for their personal worth, because God knows their imperfections. Thus Rom. 4:2,3 says:

    “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory– but not before God. For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

And Verse 6 goes on to say about David:

    “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.”

This is because man cannot live a life good enough to make him acceptable to God, for with God only perfection is good enough. One sin spoiled the earth; God will not allow one sin to spoil heaven too. This is why in grace He gave Christ to die for our sins and to pay the just penalty for us. Because of the all-sufficient payment of Christ in our behalf, God can now be “just, and the Justifier” of those who place their faith in Christ (Rom. 3:26).

The famous eleventh chapter of Paul’s letter to the Hebrews bears out the fact that salvation, or acceptance with God, is obtained, not by human effort, but by faith. This great chapter on the heroes in God’s “Hall of Fame,” begins with the words: “For by it [faith] the elders obtained a good report,” and then goes on: “By faith Abel …,” “By faith Enoch…,” “By faith Noah…,” “By faith Abraham…,” etc., and closes with the declaration:

    “…these all…obtained a good report through faith…”

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Redeemed
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


    “We have redemption through His blood…” (Eph. 1 :7).

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

Agarazo: to buy at the market.

Ex-agarazo: to buy out of the market.

Lutro: to set free (upon receipt or payment of the ransom
price.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Creation
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler


Scripture Reading:

    “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.”
    — Genesis 1:3-5

I am a creationist. I personally believe that God created all things in heaven and earth in six literal 24-hour days. A proper understanding of creation is essential, since it is the foundation upon which all the doctrines of God rest. Sadly, some in Christendom have sought to erect an elaborate system known as the day-age theory to accommodate the geologic timetable of billions of years. But does this position pass the Berean test?

Those who subscribe to the day-age theory believe that the Hebrew word “day” (yom) can refer to a 24-hour day or a long period of time. This is true! For example, the day of the Lord is an extended period of time which covers well over one thousand years. Consequently, the context must always be consulted to ascertain the duration of time under consideration. Of course, those who defend this position teach that the days of the Genesis record quite literally cover millions and millions of years, which conveniently accommodates evolution.

Interestingly, when the Hebrew word yom is used with a number, it always refers to a 24-hour day, without exception. In regard to the Passover God instructed Moses, “Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel” (Ex. 12:15).

Would we conclude otherwise that the “first day” here is anything other than a normal day? Furthermore, when perimeters are set on the term yom, such as “the evening and the morning,” as found in Genesis 1:4, this limits the day to 24 hours.

But perhaps the most conclusive evidence that each day was 24 hours is found in Exodus 20:11: “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Here Moses uses the term yamin, the Hebrew plural for “days,” which exclusively speaks of 24-hour cycles.

If the Holy Spirit had intended to convey that the days of creation were “eras,” He would have used the used the Hebrew olam, which is defined as “indefinite time.” We accept by faith that God is sovereign and all-powerful; therefore, it was a small matter for Him to speak all things into existence in six days (Psa. 33:6-9).

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Which Name of the Lord?
by Pastor Ricky Kurth


"Which name of the Lord do we have to call on to be saved?"

    "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13).

The Lord had many names, but Paul is quoting Joel 2:32 here, where the name "Lord" means Jehovah. In Romans 10:13, the name we "call" on today (1 Cor. 1:2) is "Jesus Christ our Lord."

Calling on the Lord's name means different things in Scripture. After God stopped speaking to men directly, as He did with Adam and Cain, "then began men to call upon the name of the Lord" (Gen. 4:26). That means calling on His name can mean to pray (Zech. 13:9) and ask God for things (1 Kings 18:24,36,37; Psa. 116:4). Or it can just mean to know Him (Psa. 79:6; Jer. 10:25).

But in Joel 2:32, we know that it means to believe the gospel, for Joel predicted that whoever called on the LORD would be saved. But when Peter quoted Joel (Acts 2:21), he went on to say that whoever would repent and be baptized would be saved (Acts 2:38). Paul likewise makes clear that calling on the Lord's name (Rom. 10:13) means to believe the gospel (v. 11), only today the gospel is "the word of faith" that Paul preached (10:8):

    "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Rom. 10:9).

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Glorious Consummation
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


In Eph. 1:9,10 Paul makes a statement regarding the mystery which has baffled many students of the Word:

    “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:

    “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him.”

This will be the glorious consummation of the mystery but we, of the dispensation of grace, are to show men and angels that true oneness is to be found only in Christ (Eph. 3:9-11).

The world knows nothing of this perfect oneness and, indeed, the Church does not experience it — except in Christ. There is no true oneness anywhere — in the world or in the Church — except in Christ. We might illustrate this by two members of the body: our two arms. They hang from opposite sides of the body yet work together as one. But wherein lies their oneness? The answer is: In the head. It is the head which makes my arms and hands operate as one, and so our oneness as members of Christ’s Body, is in Christ, the Head. It is the recognition of Christ as our Head, then, and this alone, that can make us one, experientially. Thus the Apostle says:

    “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5).

Soon enough the Lord will take us out of this world and all those events will transpire which will finally bring in “the fulness of [the] times,” when all in heaven and earth will be “gathered together in one… in Christ”! “What a day of rejoicing that will be”!