Two Minutes With The Bible

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Two Minutes With The Bible - THE SINS THAT ARE PAST


Feb 21

THE SINS THAT ARE PAST

By Cornelius R. Stam

In Chapter 3 of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans he declares that God has set forth Christ as a satisfaction for man’s sin and that redemption is obtained by faith in "His blood," or His payment for sin at Calvary, entirely apart from works, religious or otherwise (Rom. 3:21-26).

But in this same passage he states that this "remission" concerns the "sins that are past" (Ver. 25). What does he mean by this? Some have taught from this verse that when a sinner turns to God for salvation all his sins are forgiven up to that time and now that he is saved he is henceforth responsible for himself. But this would mean that God saves men by His grace only to turn them over again to their own weak and sinful natures. If this were the case, the converted sinner would be lost again the same day, for
what Christian believer is wholly free from sin?

Paul rather looks back here at past ages and declares that we now know and proclaim that men like Abel, Noah and Abraham, and also like Moses, David and Daniel (who lived under the Law) were actually saved by the redemption wrought by Christ, although Christ’s death was still future in their day. In other words, Christ died, not only for the sins which we have committed, but also for the "sins which are past." The believers of past ages simply believed what God told them then, and God counted them righteous (Gen. 15:6) on the basis of Christ’s coming payment for sin.

We have the same truth set forth in Hebrews 9:15, where we are told that Christ’s death availed also "for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant," i.e., the Law.

How blessed we are to live at a time when God’s plan of salvation has been fully revealed, and that we can now look to the Lord Jesus Christ and exclaim with Paul: "He loved me, and gave Himself for me!" (Gal. 2:20).

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - CHRISTIAN LIBERTY


Feb 22

CHRISTIAN LIBERTY

By Cornelius R. Stam

Christian liberty is a priceless possession. It can be abused, of course, but legitimately used it is an overflowing source of spiritual joy and power.

God’s purpose with regard to the liberty of the believer in Christ is aptly summed up for us in one short verse in the Galatian letter:

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (Gal. 5:13).

As the cause of spiritual decline in Israel was always their departure from God’s Word to them through Moses, so the cause of spiritual decline among believers today is always their departure from God’s Word to us through Paul, and if anything is made unmistakably clear in the Epistles of Paul, it is the fact that believers in this present dispensation of grace have been delivered from the Law and, as God’s full-grown sons in Christ, have been "called unto liberty." The failure of God’s people to appropriate and enjoy this liberty today results in spiritual decline as surely as did the failure of the people of Israel to observe the law of Moses in their day.

Could anything be plainer than those passages in this same Galatian epistle, where the Apostle says by the Spirit:

"CHRIST HATH REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Gal. 3:13).

"But when the fulness of the time was come, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON, made of a woman, made under the law, "TO REDEEM THEM THAT WERE UNDER THE LAW, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION OF SONS" (Gal. 4:4,5).

Thus, to reject our blood-bought liberty and go back to the servitude of the Law is to repudiate not only the Word of God, but the Word of God to us, and this must necessarily result in spiritual decline.

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - CONFIDENCE IN DEATH


Feb 23

CONFIDENCE IN DEATH

By Cornelius R. Stam

In the forty years of my ministry I have seen many people approach death and have seen some die.

Some, who knew Christ as their Savior, were ready, even eager, to go to be with Him. Some passed from this scene with songs or words of praise on their lips. Others, who had failed to prepare, died in mortal fear, not merely of death, but of what lies beyond.

These things do not always run true to form, however, for I have also seen the most hardened unbelievers go out of this life joking and seemingly unafraid, while, on the other hand, I have seen sincere Christians cringe with fear at the approach of death. These human reactions did not change the fact that the unbelievers had reason to be afraid, while the believers need not have feared.

The Word of God tells us that "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27,28). It is the "after this" that makes men so afraid to die. They fear the truth of Rom. 14:12, that "every one of us shall give account of Himself to God."

But wait: we did not quote all of Heb. 9:27,28. The full passage reads as follows:

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time apart from sin, unto salvation."

This can mean only one thing: that Christ died for us and bore the judgment for our sins, the "second death." This is why Heb. 2:9-15 declares that "by the grace of God" Christ "tasted death for every man... that through [His] death He might... deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - FAITH AND HEARING


Feb 24

FAITH AND HEARING

By Cornelius R. Stam

"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17).

This important passage of Scripture is, sad to say, little understood. Many people think of faith in the abstract, as though it had some mysterious power in itself. They speak of faith, but what do they mean? Faith in what? or in whom? Surely it is not possible just to have faith, without something or someone to have faith in.

Faith is not wishing hard, or feeling confident. It is not optimism or presumption or imagination. Faith must have a basis, a foundation. Thus the Christian’s faith is founded on "the Word of God" -- on what God has said in the Bible. The above passage explains: "Faith cometh by hearing."

Isn’t that simple? Isn’t it true? Some have said that "seeing is believing," but a moment’s reflection will reveal that, like the phrase: "I’m from Missouri," this saying is an expression of unbelief. When we have seen a thing we need no longer believe it; it has been demonstrated to us. But when we hear [or read] a matter reported, we may either believe or doubt it. "Faith cometh by hearing." And likewise hearing comes through what has been said. We believe, or doubt, what we hear and we hear what has been said. The Christian’s faith, then, comes by hearing (God) and hearing by the Word of God. All true Christian faith is founded on the Word of God.

Actually the word "hearing," in Rom. 10:17, however, has the idea of heeding -- paying attention, listening eagerly. This is why Gal. 3:5 speaks of "the hearing of faith." And thus Eph. 1:13, referring to Christ, says: "In whom ye also trusted, having heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation." Thus, too, we read in John 5:24 the words of the Lord Jesus:

"HE THAT HEARETH MY WORD, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT SENT ME, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE, AND SHALL NOT COME INTO JUDGMENT, BUT IS PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE."

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - THINGS NEW AND OLD


Feb 25

THINGS NEW AND OLD

By Cornelius R. Stam

When our Lord had finished His familiar discourse on "the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven," He said:

"THEREFORE, EVERY SCRIBE WHICH IS INSTRUCTED UNTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A MAN THAT IS AN HOUSEHOLDER, WHO BRINGS FORTH OUT OF HIS TREASURE THINGS NEW AND OLD" (Matt. 13:52).

A new era had just dawned in the world’s history. A new message was being proclaimed. John the Baptist had begun to cry: "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" and the Lord Jesus and the twelve had taken up the same message.

Some listened eagerly, others turned away -- among them many of the scribes, the Bible teachers of the day. They did not welcome any new teaching. Yet Christ’s message of the kingdom in no way conflicted with the Old Testament Scriptures. Indeed, it was based on the Old Testament and confirmed by it. This is why our Lord reminded His hearers that the right kind of scribe would bring forth out of the treasure-house of Scripture, things both new and old.

How this lesson is needed today! Some cast away precious treasures out of the Bible, contending that they are old and out of date. Others, while clinging tenaciously to old truths, reject new light. While mere professors of religion too often cast aside old truths with the complaint that they are out-worn, true possessors often reject new light simply because it is new. They vie with each other to be orthodox instead of vying to find more light from the unfathomable Word of God.

Is it possible that we have drained the Well of Scripture dry? Are there no more precious stones in that exhaustless Mine? Have any of us received all the light that shines from the Holy Bible?

Then, cost what it may, let us keep digging into the Scriptures, that as we minister to others we may bring forth out of the divine Treasure-house things both new and old.

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - How to Have Boldness


Feb 26

How to Have Boldness

By Paul M. Sadler, President

Scripture Reading:

"And [pray] for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
  -- Ephesians 6:19,20

In our modern day there is a great demand for instant success.  We read frequently of how many have risen to fame and fortune practically overnight.  Seldom, however, do we hear of the hours of labor, practice, sacrifice and discipline it took to build that career.  Most times we only hear and see the end result.  Many have been deceived and disillusioned to think that they can have fame and fortune with little or no effort.

In these days in which we live, the world seems to have a powerful influence over the lives of many believers.  For this reason many members of the Body of Christ are looking for that book, conference or seminar that will be a shortcut to spiritual maturity.  When it comes to our spiritual lives and having boldness of faith we want instant results with little or no effort put into it.  As a Pastor, I would have to say that to have boldness in the faith as the Apostle says, there must be three key ingredients.

Time: Just as physical growth takes years, spiritual growth also takes time.  As we come to spiritual maturity we become more and more confident to speak out for the Lord.  It takes time to learn that we have to take our eyes off of ourselves which causes us to be reluctant to speak because of the fear of men.

Discipline: It takes discipline to sit down with the Word of God and study to acquire a knowledge of the Scriptures.  We don't mean just reading the Bible devotionally.  It is said that we retain only about 20 percent of what we read.  But, if we read and study, we retain about 60 percent when comparing Scripture with Scripture.  The better equipped you are in the Word of God the more comfortable you will be to share the truth, rightly divided.

Consistency: If we are to gain the respect of others in order to more effectively minister the gospel, we must be consistent with the truth. Don't sound an uncertain trumpet, be able to substantiate what you teach with the Blessed Book.  Not only should we speak the truth in love consistently, we must also live the truth.  Our lives are the only Bibles some men see.  That's why the Apostle Paul warns us to put "away lying, [and] speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another" (Eph. 4:25).  True boldness in the faith does not come naturally, it is something we grow into as we increase in the knowledge of Him Who has called us into the glorious light.

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - THE FATHER OF BELIEVERS


Feb 27

THE FATHER OF BELIEVERS

By Cornelius R. Stam

"Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3).

Has it ever occurred to you that the most loved, the most honored, the most respected person of all history is -- not Christ, but Abraham. Christ ought to be most loved, honored and respected, but Abraham is. Besides the millions of professing Christians there are untold millions of Jews and Mohammedans who speak with reverance of "our father Abraham."

Clearly this is why God used this man to show how to be saved and justified before a holy God. As Paul is God’s great example of grace, so Abraham is God’s great example of faith -- saving faith.

"If Abraham were justified by works," says Rom. 4:2, he has something to boast about -- but not before God, who sees and knows all. But Abraham was justified. How? "What saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness" (Ver. 3).

God, of course, had planned salvation through the redemptive work of Christ and has always saved anyone who simply trusts Him and takes Him at His Word.

Since Abraham, of course, more of God’s Word has been revealed and we know the details of Christ’s death for sinners. If we now take God at His Word and simply trust Christ as Savior we are completely justified, for salvation is not; cannot be, by works:

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

"...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).

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - THE NEW NATURE IN THE BELIEVER


Feb 28

THE NEW NATURE IN THE BELIEVER

By Cornelius R. Stam

It has been well said that if there is anything good in any man it is because it was put there by God. And something good -- a new, sinless nature -- has been imparted by God to every believer.

While there is still within us "that which is begotten of the flesh," there is also "that which is begotten of the Spirit," and just as the one is totally depraved and "cannot please God," so the other is absolutely perfect and always pleases Him.

Adam was originally created in the image and likeness of God, but he fell into sin and later "begat a son IN HIS OWN LIKENESS, AFTER HIS IMAGE" (Gen. 5:3). It could not be otherwise. Fallen Adam could generate and beget only fallen, sinful offspring, whom even the Law could not change. But "what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending His own Son IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, and for sin," accomplished, "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:3,4),

As Adam was made in the likeness of God, but fell, so Christ was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, to redeem us from the fall, that by grace, through the operation of the Spirit, a new creation might be brought into being, a "new man... renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Col. 3:10) a "new man, which, after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4:24). Referring to this "new man," John says:

"Whosoever is born [begotten] of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him: and HE CANNOT SIN, BECAUSE HE IS BORN [BEGOTTEN] OF GOD" (I John 3:9).

"WE KNOW THAT WHOSOEVER IS BORN [BEGOTTEN] OF GOD SINNETH NOT..." (I John 5:18).

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - PAUL AND HIS GOOD NEWS


Mar 1

PAUL AND HIS GOOD NEWS

By Cornelius R. Stam

St. Paul opens his Epistle to the Romans by declaring that he has been "separated unto the gospel [good news] of God" (1:1). This agrees with Galatians 1:15,16, where he says:

"It pleased God, who separated me, from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me..."

The last book of the Bible tells of the coming "revelation of Jesus Christ" in glory, to judge the world and reign on earth, but here in Galatians we have "the revelation of Jesus Christ" in Paul, the chief of sinners, saved by grace. The salvation of Paul, the one-time leader of the world’s rebellion against Christ, indicated God’s willingness, yes His desire, to save sinners. Thus it was appropriate that God should choose him as the apostle of His grace, making the good news known "to all nations for the obedience of faith."

Let us not suppose, however, that Paul’s gospel concerned only himself or God’s grace to him. Apart from Christ’s payment for sin at Calvary God could not justly have saved Paul -- or any of us. Thus the Apostle goes on, in Romans 1, to explain that this good news which God has sent him to proclaim is "concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1:3).

All through Paul’s epistles he proclaims salvation by grace, on the basis of Christ’s finished work of redemption:

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

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

"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that... grace might reign through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord" (5:20,21).

So the message of salvation by grace is essentially good news about Christ and what He has wrought to purchase our redemption.

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - RESURRECTION POWER


Mar 2

RESURRECTION POWER

By Cornelius R. Stam

How comes this flower to bloom so fair,
With loveliest fragrance to fill the air?
A short time ago the seed lay dead,
The cold, wintry ground its desolate bed.
But now, behold, from the dampened earth,
Without a sound to betray its birth,
This thing of beauty has blossomed and grown
To possess a loveliness all its own.
And as we view it, standing there
With a majesty quite beyond compare,
A mighty conviction grips the heart:
This beautiful flow’r has a counterpart.
Our Savior once suffered and died for sin.
Though no one so righteous as He had been.
It seemed that the devil had sealed His doom
As they buried His body in Joseph’s tomb.
But what is this wonder that greets our eyes
As the rays of the third morning’s sun arise?
Behold, He is risen! The grave could not hold
The Author of Life; the Anointed of God!
And now the dead who have trusted in His name,
Though sleeping in Jesus, will rise again
With bodies more glorious than this flower
--Sown in weakness, but raised in power!
C.R.S.

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - PAULS PHRASEOLOGY


Mar 3

PAUL’S PHRASEOLOGY

By Cornelius R. Stam

The careful student of the Epistles of Paul soon observes that the Apostle makes many specific statements as to the distinctiveness of his ministry and message. Even apart from this, however, and considering his phraseology alone, we often wonder how anyone could possibly deny that his message was distinct from that which the twelve had proclaimed. Note the following examples:

Rom. 2:16: "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to MY GOSPEL."

Rom. 16:25: "Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to MY GOSPEL, and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began."

II Tim. 2:7,8; "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. "Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to MY GOSPEL."

Gal. 1:11: "But I certify you, brethren, that THE GOSPEL WHICH WAS PREACHED OF ME is not after man."

Gal. 2:2: "And I went up [to Jerusalem] by revelation, and communicated unto them THAT GOSPEL WHICH I PREACH AMONG THE GENTILES, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain."

I Cor. 15:1: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you THE GOSPEL WHICH I PREACHED UNTO YOU, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand."

Add to this the Apostle’s explicit claims as to the distinctive character of his ministry and message and you have irrefutable proof of the fact.

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - HAVE YOU HEARD?


Mar 4

HAVE YOU HEARD?

By Cornelius R. Stam

"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward" (Eph. 3:2).

Could it be that those to whom Paul addressed his Ephesian letter had not yet heard that God had committed to him "the dispensation of grace"? Next to the death and resurrection of Christ, the conversion of Paul and his commission to proclaim "the gospel of the grace of God" was the greatest event in history .

The apostles at Jerusalem had recognized the importance of Paul’s part in the divine program. They themselves had at first been sent by Christ into "all the world," yet in Gal. 2:9 we find James, Peter and John publicly shaking hands with Paul in a solemn agreement that he should henceforth be the apostle to the nations.

Could it be that some twelve years later, when he wrote the Ephesian letter, there were any who professed the name of Christ who had not heard of Paul’s special place in the program of God as the apostle of grace? Little wonder his words "if ye have heard" carry with them a touch of reproach.

It is possible, of course, that there were some among them, but recently brought into the Church, who had not heard, but what seems utterly incredible is that there should be even one believer at this late date who has not heard that after Christ and His kingdom had been rejected and the world was ripe for prophesied judgment to fall, God intervened, saving Saul, His chief enemy on earth, and sending him forth with "the good news of the grace of God." This good news is based, of course, upon the fact that since Christ was the spotless Lamb of God, His death is accepted by God as full satisfaction for the sinner. Thus Paul, by divine inspiration, declares that believers are "justified freely by His [God’s] grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - THE TIME ELEMENT IN SCRIPTURE


Mar 5

THE TIME ELEMENT IN SCRIPTURE

By Cornelius R. Stam

How many Scriptural problems would be solved, how many seeming contradictions explained, if we were more careful to note the time element, emphasized so strongly in the Word of God.

In Romans 5:12 we learn that sin entered the human race by Adam. Then later "the law entered" (Ver. 20). But still later the Apostle Paul arose to say: "But now, the righteousness of God without the law is manifested" (Rom. 3:21).

Early in man’s history blood sacrifices were required for acceptance with God (See Gen. 4:4; Heb. 11:4), later circumcision and the Law (Gen. 17:14; Ex. 19:5), and still later, repentance and water baptism (Mark 1:4; Acts 2:38). But not until Paul do we learn of salvation by grace through faith alone, on the basis of Christ’s finished, all-sufficient work of redemption.

This is why the Apostle refers in Gal. 3:23 to "the faith which should afterward be revealed." This is why he declares that our Lord "gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time", and adds: "whereunto I am ordained a preacher and an apostle" (I Tim. 2:6,7).

It is only as we recognize the time element in Scripture that we see the difference between "the kingdom of heaven" and "the Body of Christ," between "the gospel of the kingdom" and "the gospel of the grace of God," between the
"dispensation of law" and "the dispensation of the grace of God."

A comparison of Romans 3:21 and 26 shows how this time element is emphasized in Scripture.

After discussing the function of the Law in Verses 19 and 20, the Apostle Paul declares: "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested..." Then, in Ver. 26 he states that it is God’s purpose: "To declare, I say, at this time His [Christ’s] righteousness; that He [God] might be just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus."

________________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible - THE SUPREME CRITIC


Mar 6

THE SUPREME CRITIC

By Cornelius R. Stam

About 1900 years ago St. Paul wrote to Timothy, with regard to the sacred Scriptures:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"
(II Tim.3:16).

This truth has been confirmed by overwhelming evidence, and those who have tried, through the centuries, to overthrow the Bible have been about as successful as a man trying to overthrow the Rock of Gibraltar with a pea shooter.

Furthermore, the Word of God towers above the clergy as well as above the laity. The Bereans were called "noble" because they put the words of even the great Apostle Paul to the test of Scripture, to see if he taught anything contrary to it.

That blessed Book is the Supreme Critic. If we overlook vital doctrine, it is the Book that will "teach" us. If we handle the Word deceitfully, it is the Book that will "reprove" us. If we go astray in our conclusions, it is the Book that will "correct" us. Where moral questions are involved, it is the Book that will "instruct us in righteousness."

Well do we remember when we were first convicted by the Bible as the written Word of God -- and we have never ceased to thank God for the blessed results.

This Book condemns men as sinners before a holy God, but presents salvation free and complete through the vicarious death of Christ at Calvary. "Christ died for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3). "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

________________________

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[nChrist]

Two Minutes With The Bible - "GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON"


Mar 7

"GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON"

By Russell S. Miller

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal.4:4,5).

"When the fulness of the time was come" —

Vine’s dictionary defines fulness as "the end of an appointed period". It might easily be answered, "It was the time appointed of the Father".

"God sent forth His Son"—

Isaiah foretold how God would "send forth" His Son. "...A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel [God with us]" (Isa.7:14). So it was that Joseph was told, "...Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

"And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matt.1:20,21).

His death on Calvary’s cross is sufficient and efficacious, not for His people only, for the Apostle Paul declares that He "tasted death for every man" (Heb.2:9).

"Made of a woman" —

Note: He was NOT made of a man and woman. Our text very distinctly states that He was "made of a woman". When was the last time that you saw a child born of a virgin? Such a thought as a virgin birth is scientifically impossible. But, then, so is "resurrection", but nothing is "too hard for the Lord" (Gen.18:14). There is a very specific reason that Christ was born of a virgin. You see, though Mary had tainted blood coursing through her veins, Christ was miraculously conceived, and entered the stream of humanity as a babe in a manger with NONE of Adam’s tainted blood being transferred to Him. So the sacrifice He offered to God on our behalf was accepted.

"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God" (Rom. 3:26).

"Made under the law" —

Consequently, not only did He fulfil the righteousness of the Law, but He can impute His very "righteousness" to every believer (Rom.4:3-5; II Cor.5: 21).

"To redeem them that were under the law" —
There was no other way to redeem mankind.

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us..." (Gal.3:13).

"For [God] hath made Him to be sin for us, [Christ] who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (IICor.5:21). Make this Christmas the year that you trust Christ as your Saviour, and a Blessed Christmas will be yours indeed:

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

________________________

Subscribe at:
http://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/twominut.html
Two Minutes With The Bible

Reply:
If you would like to ask a question or make a comment regarding the content of this article, please email:
berean@execpc.com

Literature:
One year's worth of Two Minutes With The Bible daily devotional articles are also available in book form, along with many other Bible study materials, in the Literature Corner section of our website at:
https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/literature