Two Minutes With The Bible

[Soldier4Christ]

Good morning, sister. Another wonderful for the Lord.

[nChrist]

June 4, 2007

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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[def]

June 4, 2007

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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I hear you loud and clear Tom.AMEN.Love in Jesus.good night my brother.Def ..take small bites Ok.and please sip the coffee..

[nChrist]

June 5, 2007

THE ABUNDANT MERCY OF GOD
by Russell S. Miller

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (IPet.1:3).

Upon several different occasions in the Gospels our Lord spoke of His coming death and resurrection (Matt.12:39-42; 16:21-26; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33,34), yet His disciples did not understand that He would die, much less that “CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS” as Paul later wrote to the Corinthians. Luke clearly states that all the disciples were totally ignorant of Christ’s approaching death:

“And they understood NONE of these things: and this saying was HID from them, NEITHER KNEW THEY THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN” (Luke 18:31-34).

The Apostle Peter had believed Christ to be the very Son of God in his affirmation: “Thou art the Christ [Messiah], THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD” (Matt.16:16). This is what was “revealed” unto him of “My Father which is in Heaven” as the Lord states in Matthew 16:17. And Peter’s reaction in Matthew 16:21-26 to this announcement of Christ’s approaching crucifixion confirms that he most definitely did not understand Calvary’s cross!

It was those “fifteen days” with the Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:18, as well as the light and understanding which that Jerusalem Council afforded this beloved brother (Acts 15:7-11; Gal.2:7-9), combined of course with the Spirit’s working as recorded in Acts 10, 11, that opened Peter’s eyes to see the truth of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Until Peter had met the Apostle Paul, he did not know what could free him from the law, “which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear” (Acts 15:10).

This is why Peter now writes concerning “the abundant mercy of God” and “the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” Hear what this Apostle has to say to his brethren about the very subject of “obedience” in their salvation today:

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied” (I Peter 1:2).

This is very different from any thing he had ever preached before. A far cry from his “repentance and water baptism” on that momentous Day of Pentecost in Acts 2! At Pentecost he did not offer the death of Christ, and His shed blood, as the payment for sin. Rather he brought a stunning indictment against his own nation for having “killed the Prince of life” (Acts 3:14,15). The “remission of sins” was there based upon their repentance and submission to water baptism (Acts 2:38 ). Nothing was said in Acts 2 about the shed blood of Christ for salvation.

It is not until we come to Paul’s epistles that we learn about Christ’s shed blood “for the remission of sins”:

“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" (Rom.3:24,25,26).

“NEITHER BY THE BLOOD OF GOATS AND CALVES, BUT BY HIS OWN BLOOD HE ENTERED IN ONCE INTO THE HOLY PLACE, HAVING OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION FOR US” (Heb.9:12).

Brethren, “propitiation” is a Pauline concept of the Old Testament “mercy seat.” Jesus Christ became the mercy seat, sprinkling His own blood upon Calvary’s cross. And this is FIRST made known in the Pauline revelation. If God is therefore “satisfied” with Christ’s redemptive work, shouldn’t you be satisfied with His finished work also?

In Galatians, Chapters One and Two, we see that the Apostle Peter had comprehended this aspect of the “mystery” which had been “committed to his trust” through the Apostle Paul. In this he most assuredly came to see the grace message through Paul’s ministry. This does not mean that God has changed His mind about the Kingdom promises to the “Little Flock” of Messiah’s followers (Luke 12:32; Rom.11:29; IPet.2:9; IIPet.1:16). Don’t worry. When He shall come, “at the revelation of Jesus Christ” with all His holy angels, the Twelve Apostles “shall sit upon Twelve Thrones, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel” (IPet.1:7; Matt.19:28; 25:31). However, it does mean that Peter “stood” in the very same position where all believers “stand” today, in “THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD” (I Peter 5:12)! The Apostle of the Circumcision had become well acquainted with “the present truth” as he writes in II Peter 1:12,13:

“Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in THE PRESENT TRUTH. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.”

The Apostle Peter had forsaken his Pentecostalism for “THE SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.” Thus he could write to “the strangers scattered” throughout Asia Minor:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which ACCORDING TO HIS ABUNDANT MERCY hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (IPet.1:3).

Thus in his first epistle, Peter’s own words reveal his understanding of Paul’s gospel and the grace message:

“FORASMUCH AS YE KNOW THAT YE WERE NOT REDEEMED WITH CORRUPTIBLE THINGS, AS SILVER AND GOLD, FROM YOUR VAIN CONVERSATION RECEIVED BY TRADITION FROM YOUR FATHERS;

“BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, AS OF A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH AND WITHOUT SPOT” (I Peter 1:18,19).

____________________

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[def]

June 5, 2007

THE ABUNDANT MERCY OF GOD
by Russell S. Miller

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (IPet.1:3).

Upon several different occasions in the Gospels our Lord spoke of His coming death and resurrection (Matt.12:39-42; 16:21-26; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33,34), yet His disciples did not understand that He would die, much less that “CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS” as Paul later wrote to the Corinthians. Luke clearly states that all the disciples were totally ignorant of Christ’s approaching death:

“And they understood NONE of these things: and this saying was HID from them, NEITHER KNEW THEY THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN” (Luke 18:31-34).

The Apostle Peter had believed Christ to be the very Son of God in his affirmation: “Thou art the Christ [Messiah], THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD” (Matt.16:16). This is what was “revealed” unto him of “My Father which is in Heaven” as the Lord states in Matthew 16:17. And Peter’s reaction in Matthew 16:21-26 to this announcement of Christ’s approaching crucifixion confirms that he most definitely did not understand Calvary’s cross!

It was those “fifteen days” with the Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:18, as well as the light and understanding which that Jerusalem Council afforded this beloved brother (Acts 15:7-11; Gal.2:7-9), combined of course with the Spirit’s working as recorded in Acts 10, 11, that opened Peter’s eyes to see the truth of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Until Peter had met the Apostle Paul, he did not know what could free him from the law, “which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear” (Acts 15:10).

This is why Peter now writes concerning “the abundant mercy of God” and “the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” Hear what this Apostle has to say to his brethren about the very subject of “obedience” in their salvation today:

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied” (I Peter 1:2).

This is very different from any thing he had ever preached before. A far cry from his “repentance and water baptism” on that momentous Day of Pentecost in Acts 2! At Pentecost he did not offer the death of Christ, and His shed blood, as the payment for sin. Rather he brought a stunning indictment against his own nation for having “killed the Prince of life” (Acts 3:14,15). The “remission of sins” was there based upon their repentance and submission to water baptism (Acts 2:38 ). Nothing was said in Acts 2 about the shed blood of Christ for salvation.

It is not until we come to Paul’s epistles that we learn about Christ’s shed blood “for the remission of sins”:

“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" (Rom.3:24,25,26).

“NEITHER BY THE BLOOD OF GOATS AND CALVES, BUT BY HIS OWN BLOOD HE ENTERED IN ONCE INTO THE HOLY PLACE, HAVING OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION FOR US” (Heb.9:12).

Brethren, “propitiation” is a Pauline concept of the Old Testament “mercy seat.” Jesus Christ became the mercy seat, sprinkling His own blood upon Calvary’s cross. And this is FIRST made known in the Pauline revelation. If God is therefore “satisfied” with Christ’s redemptive work, shouldn’t you be satisfied with His finished work also?

In Galatians, Chapters One and Two, we see that the Apostle Peter had comprehended this aspect of the “mystery” which had been “committed to his trust” through the Apostle Paul. In this he most assuredly came to see the grace message through Paul’s ministry. This does not mean that God has changed His mind about the Kingdom promises to the “Little Flock” of Messiah’s followers (Luke 12:32; Rom.11:29; IPet.2:9; IIPet.1:16). Don’t worry. When He shall come, “at the revelation of Jesus Christ” with all His holy angels, the Twelve Apostles “shall sit upon Twelve Thrones, judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel” (IPet.1:7; Matt.19:28; 25:31). However, it does mean that Peter “stood” in the very same position where all believers “stand” today, in “THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD” (I Peter 5:12)! The Apostle of the Circumcision had become well acquainted with “the present truth” as he writes in II Peter 1:12,13:

“Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in THE PRESENT TRUTH. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.”

The Apostle Peter had forsaken his Pentecostalism for “THE SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.” Thus he could write to “the strangers scattered” throughout Asia Minor:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which ACCORDING TO HIS ABUNDANT MERCY hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (IPet.1:3).

Thus in his first epistle, Peter’s own words reveal his understanding of Paul’s gospel and the grace message:

“FORASMUCH AS YE KNOW THAT YE WERE NOT REDEEMED WITH CORRUPTIBLE THINGS, AS SILVER AND GOLD, FROM YOUR VAIN CONVERSATION RECEIVED BY TRADITION FROM YOUR FATHERS;

“BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, AS OF A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH AND WITHOUT SPOT” (I Peter 1:18,19).

____________________

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Two Minutes With The Bible

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____________________

thank you Tom ,good teaching (1 Pet 1:3)and Paul was sent to me a gentile Hallelujah! so I could understand the mystery,.and i do...whatever the word of God the Holy Bible all of it is the Word of God By the Holy Spirit..I just bade in it all i think is the words of God God God..Good night Tom goodnight every one rest in His peace, stay happy do not fear He is near..Pastor Roger byebye.Def

[def]

thank you Tom ,good teaching (1 Pet 1:3)and Paul was sent to me a gentile Hallelujah! so I could understand the mystery,.and i do...whatever the word of God the Holy Bible all of it is the Word of God By the Holy Spirit..I just bade in it all i think is the words of God God God..Good night Tom goodnight every one rest in His peace, stay happy do not fear He is near..Pastor Roger byebye.Def

Tom you have help me a lot today thank you..Def

[nChrist]

thank you Tom ,good teaching (1 Pet 1:3)and Paul was sent to me a gentile Hallelujah! so I could understand the mystery,.and i do...whatever the word of God the Holy Bible all of it is the Word of God By the Holy Spirit..I just bade in it all i think is the words of God God God..Good night Tom goodnight every one rest in His peace, stay happy do not fear He is near..Pastor Roger byebye.Def

Hello Def,

Goodnight and sleep well Sister Def. I'm happy that you enjoy these devotions. I enjoy them also and get many good ideas for Bible Study. I'll holler at you tomorrow.

Love In Christ,
Tom

 

[nChrist]

June 6, 2007

"GOOD FRIDAY"
by Cornelius R. Stam

There has been much debate among theologians as to whether the Lord Jesus Christ was actually crucified on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. Traditionally, of course, it is supposed to have taken place on Friday, but this writer has never been able to get very excited about such details. What matters is that Christ, the Creator, God in flesh, died in shame and disgrace and agony for sins He had never committed — for your sins and mine.

But have you ever considered that this in itself is not necessarily good news? Many an innocent person has died in the place of some guilty criminal who has gone free through some miscarriage of justice. We didn’t see anything good about this. When St. Peter addressed his kinsmen he blamed them for the crucifixion of Christ, saying: “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you... as ye yourselves also know... ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:22, 23), and later he faced the Supreme Court of his nation and charged them with His death (Acts 4:5-11).

What then, was “good” about the death of Christ? Well, we come to this when we reach the Epistles of Paul in our Bibles. There the chief of sinners, saved by grace (ITim.1:15), exclaims: “He gave Himself for me” (Gal.2:20). He says: “God hath made Him to be sin for us... that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (IICor.5:21). He does not blame us for Christ’s death — though our sins helped to nail Him to that cross — but proclaims the glad news that, “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace” (Eph.1:7). And why did He do this for us? “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).

So, for us who have trusted Christ as our Savior, the death of Christ at Calvary is indeed good news. We rejoice in it, sing about it, preach about it and all it has accomplished for a lost humanity. Little wonder Paul declared:

“God forbid that I should boast,” except in one thing: “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14).

____________________

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[nChrist]

June 7, 2007

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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[nChrist]

June 8, 2007

BELIEVERS JUSTIFIED
by Cornelius R. Stam

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

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

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

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38,39).

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

"...by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested" (Rom. 3:20,21).
"[We] declare, I say, at this time, [Christ’s] righteousness; that [God] might be just and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom. 3:26).

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

____________________

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[nChrist]

June 9, 2007

WHAT ABOUT ME, AND THE FUTURE?
by Cornelius R. Stam

Is it not amazing that men who can produce intricate electronic mechanisms, build giant sky-scrapers, fly men to the moon and back — is it not amazing that such men often do not even know what will finally become of themselves! And what is more amazing still is that most of them do not even try seriously to find out.

They are intelligent enough to plan carefully for the future where temporal affairs are concerned, but foolish enough to neglect their eternal welfare. They make plans for themselves in case they become ill and need additional funds for surgery, medicine and hospital care. They even make plans for their loved ones in case of death and bereavement, but fail to ask themselves: “What will become of me after death?”

Daily “the wise of this world” witness the truth of Hebrews 9:27, that “it is appointed unto men once to die”, and most of them know that the Bible adds: “after this the judgment”. They may hope that this is but a false alarm, but they do not know. They can only wonder and worry. Hebrews 2:15 declares that “through fear of death” they are “all their lifetime subject to bondage”. Like Adam, they run and hide from God instead of running to Him and asking: “What must I do to be saved?” Too cowardly to face up to their own grave, no hope beyond the tomb — too afraid, generally, to even discuss death.

The believer in the Word of God is not left thus in the dark. He glories in the truth of the passages from which we have quoted in part above. We quote them now in full:

Hebrews 2:14,15: “Forasmuch then as the children [of Adam] are partakers of flesh and blood, He [Christ] also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

“And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

Hebrews 9:27,28: “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 without [lit., “apart from”] sin unto salvation.”

____________________

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[nChrist]

June 10, 2007

THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY
by Russell S. Miller

“How that by revelation He made known unto me the Mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

“Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

“Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

“That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel” (Eph.3:3-6).

When the world was ripe for the judgment of God to fall, the Lord Jesus Christ in mercy and grace reached down from heaven to save “the chief of sinners,” and in so doing “shewed forth all longsuffering” to this doomed world. Unlike the Twelve and their Kingdom gospel, Paul was made a minister of the Church and a dispenser of God’s grace today. In Colossians, the Apostle Paul says:

“Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body’s sake, which is the Church:

“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the Dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the Word of God;

“Even the Mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints:

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col.1:25-27).

Paul declares that those things concerning the Church were a “secret” hitherto “NOT made known” (Eph.3:5), “…HID IN GOD…” (3:9) and, “HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERATIONS, but now is made manifest to His saints” (Col.1:26). He says that “this mystery” is NOT found in the Old Testament scriptures. Search and see that its absence is conspicuous. And furthermore, in Galatians, he states again exactly how he got his message:

“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

“For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, BUT BY THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST” (Gal.1:11,12).

Paul got his gospel from the Lord Jesus Christ. No man taught Paul the gospel that he preached. He “received” it “by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The fact that PAUL got this “knowledge” from the glorified Lord, Himself, boldly proclaims that he DID NOT preach Jesus Christ according to a prophetic gospel; rather Paul is specially “chosen” of God through whom “this Mystery among the Gentiles” was to be revealed to the world. The message that he preached in all fourteen of his epistles concerning “the revelation of Jesus Christ” are summarized in the words of Romans 16:25,26:

“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,

“BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Rom.16:25,26).

____________________

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[nChrist]

June 11, 2007

THE CHARACTER OF A NATION
by Russell S. Miller

"Truth is on the scaffold, and wrong is on the throne."

This statement has more accuracy to it than any of us care to realize, when men in high places lie under oath, lie their way through the courts, across the country, and around the world; and the populous at large does not care enough to stand up and be counted, just so long as the economy is not upset. But this mentality is to be expected, I suppose, in the ungodly world in which we live.

It matters not what the evidence is, just so the villain manages to get away with his sin. Honesty, integrity, and uprightness are unimportant, apparently, in the character of a nation.

God doesn’t look at it this way, however, and will bring every sin into judgment. He has brought great empires down to the dust because of pride and arrogance in the peoples of those nations. And regarding these who insist upon perpetrating lies, the words written in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians apply:

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a [the] lie:
"That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (IIThes.2:11, 12).

Here, the Apostle speaks of the end times, after the Church is caught away and just before Messiah returns to set up His long prophesied Kingdom on earth. During that great tribulation the world shall believe the big lie of antichrist—-that he can successfully rule the world without Christ.

The book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ explicitly describes the outcome of his, and the world’s, contest with God in Twenty-Two detailed chapters.

"IN FLAMING FIRE TAKING VENGEANCE ON THEM THAT KNOW NOT GOD, AND THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST" (IIThes.1:8 ).

Clearly, current events affirm that the Coming of the Lord is much nearer today than it has ever been. Are you ready for this moment of "truth"?

"BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED..." (Acts 16:31).

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June 12, 2007

SO VERY RICH (II COR. 8:9)
by Cornelius R. Stam

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

- C.R.S.

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June 13, 2007

FORGIVENESS THAT CANNOT BE REVOKED
by Cornelius R. Stam

Centuries before Christ, the Psalmist said:

"If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities... who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee..." (Psa. 130:3,4).

It is doubtful whether the Psalmist understood the basis upon which a just God, through the ages, has so graciously forgiven sins, but this has since been revealed in the Epistles of Paul.

There we read: "God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32). But this is only part of the truth, for God forgives sinners, not merely because Christ desires this, but because Christ paid for their sins and purchased their redemption. Thus Eph. 1:7 declares: "In [Christ] we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."

And thus Paul could proclaim to his hearers in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch:

"Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

"And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38,39).

Obviously such forgiveness can never be rescinded or revoked, for it is based upon the full and complete payment of our whole debt of sin by "the precious blood of Christ."

Sad to say, many people do not feel they need forgiveness, for they have not seen themselves as they truly are in the sight of a holy God, but those who are conscious of their sins and are willing to say with the prodigal son: "I have sinned," may experience the peace and joy of sins forgiven by faith in Christ who paid sin’s penalty for us.

Here is forgiveness that can never be revoked because it is based on the "one offering [of Christ at Calvary]" by which our Lord "hath perfected forever them that are sanctified [i.e., set apart as His own]" (Heb. 10:14).

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