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May 9, 2007

ENEMIES OF GOD AND WORSHIPPERS OF SATAN
by Cornelius R. Stam

"...we were enemies..." (Rom. 5:10).

"...the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not..." (II Cor. 4:4).

Many religious but unsaved people will not accept the fact that they are enemies of God, and fail to understand why the Bible should insist that they are.

But the God who says that they are sinners, worthy of everlasting judgment; that their only hope of salvation lies in the One who poured out His life’s blood to pay the penalty for their sins -- this God, the God of the Bible, they cannot abide. Let one of His servants tell them what He says about them and they are insulted. When this God, the true God, refuses to accept their "good" works or their "righteous" conduct they react like Cain, of whom we read: "And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell" (Gen. 4:5). They simply will not bow to this God, and their attitude betrays their enmity against Him.

But why will they not turn away from their self-righteousness and trust in Christ, who died for their sins?

Simply because they worship Satan, "the god of this age," who "hath blinded the minds of those who believe not." Worship Satan? This too is hard for the unregenerate man to believe about himself. As he has his own conception of God, he also has his own conception of Satan -- a wrong one.

Unbelievers do not know that the real Satan, the Satan of the Bible, has a vast wardrobe and, in this dispensation of grace, doubtless appears most often as "an angel of light" with "ministers of righteousness" (II Cor. 11:14,15). This Satan they do indeed worship. They adore him, and try to live by his precepts, convinced that the way to salvation is to do and be good.

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May 10, 2007

CAN THE LAW SAVE?
by Cornelius R. Stam

This writer does not wear clerical garb, but somehow when he visits a church away from home, someone is apt to step up to him and ask: “Are you by any chance a minister?’’

Acts 13 tells how this once happened to Paul and Barnabas. They had entered a synagogue as strangers and simply sat down to listen. After “the reading of the law and the prophets,” however, the leaders of the service sent someone to ask them: “Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on” (Verses 14 and 15). Somehow Paul and Barnabas had been recognized as men of God.

The custom at that time was to read a passage from the Law and then some passages in which the prophets urged the people to observe the Law. This was followed by an exhortation by one or more of the religious leaders present.

Well, Paul did have a word of exhortation for the people, but it would be somewhat of a surprise. Getting to the point of his message, he preached to them Christ and the resurrection, and closed his talk with the words: “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” (Verses 38 and 39).

This was the gist of his “exhortation”: Don’t trust in the Law for salvation -— trust in Christ, who fulfilled the Law and died for your sins. This makes sense, and it agrees with the Bible as a whole. “By the Law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20): "it was added because of transgressions" (Gal.3:19): “for as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse” (Gal.3:10); but “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us” (Gal.3:13). “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law” (Rom. 3:28 ) .

It should be obvious that the Law can only condemn sinners, but it is also a fact that Christ died for sinners, to save them from the condemnation of the Law. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).

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May 11, 2007

CHRIST’S DEATH FOR US
by Cornelius R. Stam

Three times in Chapter 5 of Paul’s letter to the Romans we read that Christ died for us.

Ver. 6: "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Ver. 8: "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Ver. 10: " ...when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son...."

Thus, in our helplessness, in our sinfulness, even in our willfulness, Christ loved us and gave His life to save us. But why does the Apostle say that Christ died for us "when we were yet without strength," "while we were yet sinners" and "when we were enemies"? Did not Christ die for us before any of us were even born? Yes, but here the Apostle writes historically of the whole human race. The rest of the chapter bears this out.

In Verse 12 he refers to Adam, the "one man" by whom sin and death entered into the world. This rendered man truly helpless. In Verse 20 he refers to Moses, by whom "the law entered, that the offence might abound." Thus by the law men were condemned as sinners. Finally, in Verses 20, 21, he refers to Christ, "[who] died for all" (II Cor. 5:14,15), that helpless sinners might be saved, yea that even God’s enemies might be reconciled to Him by grace, through faith. By Adam we have the entrance of sin, by Moses the condemnation of sin and by Christ the forgiveness of sins.

Only gradually was the importance of Christ’s death for mankind revealed, but now we know that the saints of all ages have been saved on the basis of our Lord’s vicarious death alone. No one else could have paid a debt so great. Thus, in our helplessness, in our sinfulness, yes, thank God, in our willfulness, the Lord Jesus Christ died to save us.

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

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May 12, 2007

PETER AND JOHN, AND THE CROSS OF CALVARY
by Russell S. Miller

Do you recall that during our Lord’s earthly ministry, and the announcements of His approaching crucifixion (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33,34), that His disciples did not comprehend a thing He had said to them about His impending death (Mark 8:32; 9:32; 10:35)?

“And they understood NONE of these things: and this saying was HID from them, NEITHER KNEW THEY THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN” (Luke 18:34).

However, in Galatians 2:7-9, “when James, Cephas [Peter], and John, perceived the grace that was given unto [Paul], they gave to [Paul] and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship….” It was here at this Jerusalem Council that Peter forsook his baptistery (Heb.6:1,2) for the truth of “THE SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST” as the only means of salvation from sin today (I Peter 1:2,18,19).

But this is not all, for John also rejoiced in the same “propitiation” (I John 1:7) that had first been revealed to Paul (Romans 3:25-26). Of course the Apostle John was later inspired of God, in John 3, to write about Moses “in the wilderness” and how it typified the cross of Calvary. This explains how John 3:14-16 is so greatly used of God today. Hear the very words of the Lord Jesus in this particular passage:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. 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 3:14-16).

How wonderful that both Peter and John both came to see the true meaning of Calvary’s cross through Paul’s distinctive ministry. Thus, it is Paul alone, by the revelation of Jesus Christ, who first sets forth God’s plan of salvation “without works” today:

“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

“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;

“To declare, I say, AT THIS TIME His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:24-26).

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May 13, 2007

THE GRACE OF GOD
by Cornelius R. Stam

In the Bible, the grace of God is His loving favor toward fallen man. St. Paul has more to say about grace than any other Bible writer, opening every one of his epistles with the declaration: "Grace be unto you and peace."

Little wonder, for he himself was God’s greatest demonstration of salvation by grace. In I Tim. 1:13,14, he says:

" was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy... and THE GRACE OF OUR LORD WAS EXCEEDING ABUNDANT...."

After years of service and suffering for Christ, he declared:

"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 [GOOD NEWS] OF THE GRACE OF GOD" (Acts 20:24).

Salvation is wholly by God’s grace, not partly by man’s works, for in Rom. 11:6 we read: "...if [it be] by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace."

And in Rom. 4:4,5: "...to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Thus salvation is "not of works" but "unto good works" (Eph. 2:8-10). Good works is the fruit, not the root.

"All have sinned," says Rom. 3:23 but, thank God, all may be "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

Thus it is God’s purpose "that in the ages to come He might show THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7).

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May 14, 2007

THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW
by Cornelius R. Stam

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight..."
(Rom. 3:20).

It is strange that so many sincere people can so misunderstand God’s written Word as to suppose that He gave the Law "to help us to be good" or "as a rule of life." The Law was not given to help us to be good, but rather to show us that we are sinners and need a Savior. Rom. 3:22,23 says that "there is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." How foolish, then, to look to the Law for help. Though the Law provides for just trial it does not help the criminal; it condemns him. Thus the Bible teaches that the Law was given:

"That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought in guilty before God" (Rom. 3:19).

"For by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20).

"The law entered that the offense might abound" (Rom. 5:20).

"That sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful" (Rom. 7:13).

"It was added because of transgressions" (Gal. 3:19).

This leads us to St. Paul’s great conclusion:

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight" (Rom. 3:20).

This makes sense, for doing a few "good" things cannot right the wrongs we have done. Good is what we should do, hence we should not expect to be rewarded for it.

But, thank God, "Christ died for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3) and "by Him all who believe are justified" (Acts 13:39).

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law"
(Rom. 3:28 ) .

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

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May 15, 2007

THE WORKS OF THE FLESH vs. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
by Russell S. Miller

Adultery heads the list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21, with fornication and uncleanness following second and third in succession. There is a world of sinners out there, unrestrained with unbridled lusts, to which the Lord sends His ambassadors with "the message of reconciliation" (II Cor.5:14-21).

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revel-lings, and such like..."

It was adultery that ruined King David, for when it came time for the king to go to war, he was on his rooftop:

"And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon" (IISam.11:2).

Did the Lord have this in mind when He said: "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt.5:28 ) ? It is truly "from within, out of the heart of man, [that] proceed evil thoughts"; and "adulteries" are at the top of this list in Mark 7:21-23 also.

Again, in Romans Six, the Apostle Paul speaks of the works of the flesh as unfruitful and leading to death: "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death" (Rom.6:21). In Colossians, we read that these works of the flesh originate from within, and pointing to the Christ of Calvary’s cross, Paul says: "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, YET NOW HATH HE RECONCILED IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight" (Col.1:21,22).

Consequently, there is real "joy and peace in believing" (Rom.15:13) as God’s grace saves and transforms lives so that Christ may be seen, and not the works of the flesh.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22,23).

It is only right that there are laws against the works of the flesh, but how could there be laws against the fruit of the Spirit? A striking contrast indeed!

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May 16, 2007

WHEN THE LORD ASKED WHY
by Cornelius R. Stam

There are two occasions when the Lord asked "Why?" that stand out from all the rest.

Once it was to God He cried it and once to Saul of Tarsus. Once to the Holy One and once to the chief of sinners. Once He cried it from the shameful cross and once from His glory in heaven. In each case the name was repeated.

In Matt. 27:46 we find the first anguished "Why?" as He cried: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" The other is found in Acts 9:4, where He called from His exile in heaven: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?"

These two questions represent the greatest riddles of history and yet strangely, one of them is the simple solution to the other! Why did God forsake His Son? You will find the answer when you ask why mankind, represented by Saul, forsook and even persecuted God’s Son. God’s action, in giving Christ up to die, was the antidote to man’s. Christ’s death was the remedy -- the only possible remedy -- for man’s sin. It was because of the utter unreasonableness of man’s sin that God, to save him, had to be more than reasonable.

Saul had led his nation and the world in rebellion against Christ, but this is just why, in infinite love, God chose him to become the great apostle of grace, telling the world that "Christ died for our sins."

Hear him tell how he had been "a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious" but how "the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant" (1 Tim. 1:13,14). Hear him say:

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief, Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting" (Vers. 15, 16).

Since the "chief of sinners" is now in heaven, there is hope for us all if we but trust in the Christ who died for us.

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May 17, 2007

THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
by Cornelius R. Stam

“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

How blessed to know that the Author of the blessed Book which has changed so many hearts and lives and homes is “the Spirit of truth.”

The Spirit did not, of course, reveal all truth at one time. “The Law was given by Moses;” later the prophesies were penned by men of God as they were “moved by the Holy Spirit” and still later our Lord uttered truth “kept secret since the world began.”

But even our blessed Lord, while on earth, did not lead His followers into all the truth which God would have His people know. “I have yet many things to say unto you,” He said, “but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16: 12,13).

But when the Spirit came at Pentecost, did He immediately lead the disciples into all truth? Not yet. They still proclaimed the prophetic program, the message which our Lord had taught them and committed to them (Luke 24: 45; Acts 1:2,3).

It was not until some time later that the glorified Lord revealed “God’s purpose and grace” to and through the Apostle Paul, and the Spirit in turn caused others to understand it (Gal.2:2,7,9; Eph.3:1-5; IITim.1:9).

The glorious message revealed to Paul is the capstone of divine revelation, thus he says that it was given to him to “fulfil [complete] the Word of God” (Col.1:25).

St. Paul wrote more books of the Bible than any other writer and in them we have the fulness of divine truth as God would now have us know and understand it!

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May 18, 2007

A MEMORIAL OF CALVARY
by Cornelius R. Stam

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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May 19, 2007

RED LIKE CRIMSON
by Russell S. Miller

“Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you” (Heb.9:18-20).

There are three different Hebrew words for “crimson” in the Old Testament with 41 occurrences translated by four different English words in our King James Version of the Bible. Of these Hebrew words one is always rendered “crimson” in the English (IIChron. 2:7,14; 3:14). Another is rendered by “scarlet,” “scarlet thread,” and “crimson,” in 35 passages. While the third Hebrew word is translated “worms” in Exodus 16:20, “like crimson” in Isaiah 1:18, and “scarlet” in Lamentations 4:5.

Another interesting Hebrew word, “worm,” so rendered seven times, used of the color from it and of the cloths dyed therewith, is also translated “scarlet” twenty-nine times. Under the law, in David’s day, a sacrifice was required for sin. The Psalmist, therefore, uses the same word in Psalm 22:6 to describe the Lord’s sufferings on the cross as your sin, and mine, twisted and wrenched His body: “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people” (Psa.22:6). Not only was there the shame and disgrace associated with that accursed cross, but these words also speak of the writhing agony that His soul bore for the sin of the world (IICor.5:21).

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt.27:46).

The prophet Isaiah also described our Lord, and His appearance, as He suffered there for your sins and mine: “His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men” (Isa.52:14). They “scourged” the Lord, and made Him carry that heavy wooden cross until He could no longer bear up under its weight. They drove spikes into His hands and feet and they “crucified” Him in “a place called Golgotha—a place of a skull” (Matt.27:27-35). The Lord’s words in John 15:25 could not have been more true; “They hated Me without a cause.” Yet from that cruel cross, our Lord prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34), and still the Father pleads:

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa.1:18 ) .

In the revelation that was given to the Apostle Paul, he further confirms these things concerning the sufferings of Christ and His death on Calvary’s cross: “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). That “scarlet thread” (Jos.2:18,21) that followed Joshua, and Israel, throughout their history answers to the blood-stained cross of Calvary, and we must also look to Jesus Christ, and Calvary’s cross for salvation from sin today. The blood that flowed from the crown of His head, from His hands and feet, and from His side that was pierced with that spear, was NOT tainted with sin. The Creator, our Lord Jesus Christ, died, that day, to redeem the creature from his sins.

“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).

“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; To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that [God] might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom.3:25,26).

Have you trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour? Won’t you trust His finished work of redemption on your behalf? Won’t you believe on Him who died for you on that cross to save you from your sins? Believe, and be saved, today.

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May 20, 2007

THE HIGHEST EXPRESSION OF FAITH
by Cornelius R. Stam

In Rom. 8:26 we read what our hearts must often confess to be true:

"...We know not what we should pray for as we ought..."

But the Apostle hastens to explain that the Spirit makes intercession for us according to the will of God, adding:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom.8:28 ) .

Believers may not receive whatever they ask for in the darkness of this age, but

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (II Cor. 9:8 ) .

We may not receive whatever we ask for, but by His grace we may have so much more than this, that the Apostle, in contemplating it, breaks forth in a doxology:

"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

"Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (Eph. 3:20,21).

In the light of all this the highest expression of faith today is found in the words of Paul in Phil. 4:6,7:

"Be careful [anxious] for nothing -- but in everything -- by prayer and supplication -- with thanksgiving -- let your requests be made known unto God -- and..."

"And" what?

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive"?

NO!!

"...and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [garrison] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

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May 21, 2007

ONE THING
by Cornelius R. Stam

Referring to the great Temple of God, which King David so earnestly hoped to build, he said:

“ONE THING HAVE I DESIRED of the Lord; that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple” (Psa.27:4).

Similarly, when Martha of Bethany complained to Jesus that Mary “sat at [His] feet and heard His Word” while she was left to serve alone, the Lord answered:

“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but ONE THING IS NEEDFUL, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10: 41,42).

Today, with regard to the message of grace from the ascended, glorified Lord, the Apostle Paul exhorts us: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col.3:16). Wonderful results follow such a determination to know Christ through the Word.

When the Lord Jesus opened the eyes of the blind beggar, the poor man was immediately persecuted by the religious leaders of the day. He could not answer all of their questions but he could answer the one most important to himself:

“ONE THING I KNOW, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).

The rest of the narrative relates how the blind beggar also received spiritual sight as, face to face with the Son of God, he exclaimed: “Lord, I believe! …and…worshipped Him” (Ver.38 ) .

But what about our conduct after spiritual sight has been bestowed? The most consecrated believer will acknowledge that he often fails to live up to the light he has received. St. Paul, by inspiration, gives us the solution to this problem also, saying:

“THIS ONE THING I DO: forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press [strain] toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3: 13,14).

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[def]

May 21, 2007

ONE THING
by Cornelius R. Stam

Referring to the great Temple of God, which King David so earnestly hoped to build, he said:

“ONE THING HAVE I DESIRED of the Lord; that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple” (Psa.27:4).

Similarly, when Martha of Bethany complained to Jesus that Mary “sat at [His] feet and heard His Word” while she was left to serve alone, the Lord answered:

“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but ONE THING IS NEEDFUL, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10: 41,42).

Today, with regard to the message of grace from the ascended, glorified Lord, the Apostle Paul exhorts us: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col.3:16). Wonderful results follow such a determination to know Christ through the Word.

When the Lord Jesus opened the eyes of the blind beggar, the poor man was immediately persecuted by the religious leaders of the day. He could not answer all of their questions but he could answer the one most important to himself:

“ONE THING I KNOW, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).

The rest of the narrative relates how the blind beggar also received spiritual sight as, face to face with the Son of God, he exclaimed: “Lord, I believe! …and…worshipped Him” (Ver.38 ) .

But what about our conduct after spiritual sight has been bestowed? The most consecrated believer will acknowledge that he often fails to live up to the light he has received. St. Paul, by inspiration, gives us the solution to this problem also, saying:

“THIS ONE THING I DO: forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press [strain] toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3: 13,14).

____________________

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Phli 3:13-14.have a Blessed day every body

[nChrist]

Phli 3:13-14.have a Blessed day every body

Good Morning Sister Def!

Every day is a Blessed day in JESUS and we wish you the same. All we have to do is think about who we belong to and who we are in CHRIST. This should be more than enough to set a happy tone for the entire day. I've posted some of these before, but I like to be reminded of them often, so I'll post a few.

BECAUSE I AM A CHRISTIAN - Page 1

I am the salt of the earth.

Matthew 5:13 NASB  "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

I am the light of the world.

Matthew 5:14 NASB  "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

I am a child of God.

John 1:12 NASB  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

I am Christ's friend.

John 15:15 NASB  "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

I am God's gift to Christ.

John 17:24 NASB  "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

I am made right in God's sight by faith.

Romans 5:1 NASB  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

I am at peace with God.

Romans 5:1  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

I am in the place of highest privilege and joyfully look forward to becoming all that God has in mind for me.

Romans 5:2 NASB  through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

I am rejoicing in troubles, for through them God is building me up and making me strong.

Romans 5:3-5 NASB  And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

I am reconciled to God.

Romans 5:10 NASB  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

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